“When did you arrive in Alburton?”
“This morning. I was passing through and thought I’d stop by.”
“You came at the right time. Please, have a seat.”
Bernard led me to a table.
“Are you here for business, by any chance?”
“That suggestion you made last time sounded pretty good.”
“Smart choice.”
“But it’s off to a rough start. Finding a spot is harder than I thought.”
“It’ll be tough, but once you secure a place, I guarantee you’ll make it big. I’m a local—I know.”
I glanced around the shop.
The worn display cases and creaky floorboards bore the marks of many years.
“Looks like you’ve been running this place for a long time.”
“It’s a family business, three generations strong.”
“Three generations? That’s impressive!”
“Now it’s just an old, rundown hole-in-the-wall.”
Bernard sighed softly, gazing out the window.
“Right next door is the biggest, fanciest alchemy shop in Alburton. Who’d come to a little herb shop like this?”
Adventurers streamed in and out of the alchemy shop next door.
“Hardly anyone brews herbs themselves anymore like they used to. I barely make a living selling herbs to nearby alchemy workshops.”
A bitter smile crossed Bernard’s face.
Jingle.
Just then, someone entered the herb shop.
“Well, look at that—a customer?”
“Austin. What do you want now?”
Bernard’s tone was sharp, clearly unenthused by the visitor.
“Why else? I’m here to see if you’ve thought about my offer.”
“I told you clearly last time, didn’t I?”
“Still stubborn as ever. Why cling to this washed-up shop? Sell it while I’m offering a good price. You won’t get another chance like this.”
“My answer hasn’t changed. So stop interfering with my business and leave.”
Austin shot me a glance, his eyes grating on me.
“Call me if you change your mind. And don’t be late on this month’s interest.”
With a sly smirk, Austin left.
Bernard calmed his flushed face and spoke.
“Sorry you had to see that.”
“No worries. Who was that Austin guy?”
“A notorious loan shark in this city. I had no choice but to borrow some money from him.”
“I see. And the offer?”
“He keeps pushing me to hand over the shop if I can’t pay him back.”
“What a jerk!”
“He’s a crook. But I’m the fool for borrowing from him.”
Bernard’s frustrated expression darkened.
“But maybe… maybe he’s right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hardly any customers come anymore. I might be the last to run this shop.”
He spoke as if he’d given up, but his attachment to this three-generation business was likely what kept him going.
“I don’t want to, but there’s no other way.”
Bernard gave a wry smile.
He didn’t want to give up his family’s shop, and I needed a shop.
Maybe there was a way we could both benefit.
“Um…”
After a moment’s thought, I spoke up.
“Would you mind if I made a suggestion?”
“A suggestion?”
“How about selling my products on consignment here?”
Whoosh.
Bernard shot out of his seat.
Did I offend him? I thought this could help us both.
“Looks like I said something wrong. Forget I mentioned it.”
It was a bit out of the blue.
“No, no!”
Bernard hurriedly spoke.
“I’m completely on board. Why would I refuse?”
I thought he was upset, but it was the opposite.
“But are you okay not selling directly yourself?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t stay at a shop all day due to my circumstances.”
It’d be great to have someone reliable to run a shop, but that’s not an option, and the Floating Island is my priority.
Starting a shop involves rent, decor, operating costs, and staff wages.
Consignment sales would cut initial costs and give me more freedom.
“How about a 30% commission on sales?”
“That’s more than generous!”
“I won’t interfere with shop operations, but I’d like us to discuss matters regarding my products. That okay?”
“Of course, that’s only fair.”
“Just to be clear, if there’s any issue with the contract, I might have to stop supplying goods.”
“I swear on the heavens, I’ll never break the contract.”
“Then we’re agreed. I look forward to working with you.”
I extended my hand.
“No, I look forward to working with you.”
We shook hands to seal the deal.
I pulled a silver coin from my pocket.
“This is the coin you gave me. The sign outside is so faded it’s hard to read. Use this to get a new one.”
“No, I should cover shop expenses.”
“Think of it as my first investment as a partner. I planned to return this coin anyway.”
As I stood, Bernard rose too.
“I’ll bring the goods as soon as they’re ready.”
“Leaving already? Stay for a meal.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I ate a hearty breakfast.”
I stopped Bernard from following me and left the shop.
My next stop was the alchemy shop next door. Knowing the competition would help me plan ahead.
The alchemy shop had a fancy glass door, offering a clear view inside.
Glass doors, fragile and theft-prone, were rare, meaning they employed plenty of security.
“Welcome.”
A female clerk greeted me with a smile as I entered.
The shop was bustling with customers, especially those wielding swords.
Adventurers, prone to injuries and needing to efficiently handle monsters, stocked up on healing potions and poisons.
As I looked around, a young man approached the clerk.
“Do you have anything to boost vitality? I heard of something called a ‘vitality drink’.”
My ears perked up at the familiar term.
“Vitality, sir?”
“Sorry, we don’t sell anything like that.”
“What? Isn’t this the biggest alchemy shop in Alburton?”
“It is, but we don’t carry that product.”
“Ugh…”
“How about a quick-healing potion or one that boosts strength for a short time?”
“No, I don’t need those. It has to be the vitality drink!”
The young man didn’t hide his disappointment and trudged out.
I followed him.
“Hey there.”
He looked me up and down suspiciously.
“Do you need something…?”
“I overheard you in the shop. You’re looking for a vitality drink?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I might have some information that could help.”
His dull eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Really? You know about vitality drinks?”
“I do. Follow me, and I’ll show you.”
Jingle.
The bell chimed softly as I led him into Bernard’s herb shop.
“Fabir? Did you forget something?”
“No, I brought a customer.”
The young man scanned the shop.
“Isn’t this an herb shop? Why bring me here?”
“You wanted a vitality drink, right? You can buy it here.”
“What?”
As expected, he was skeptical.
A rundown herb shop selling something even the top alchemy shop didn’t have was hard to believe.
I pulled a bottle of vitality drink from my bag and placed it gently on the counter.
“Look. Here’s the vitality drink.”
“…That’s it?”
He narrowed his eyes, clearly doubting the plain glass bottle.
And why wouldn’t he?
The shop next door had elegant bottles and fancy packaging, making everything look luxurious.
My product, in a common bottle with no label, looked unremarkable.
“Looks a bit plain, doesn’t it?”
“Ahem. Can’t deny that.”
“But a fancy package doesn’t mean quality contents.”
I smiled lightly and continued.
“You seemed desperate for a vitality drink earlier, right?”
“I really want it. But…”
His expression grew serious.
Bernard chimed in with a smile.
“It’s natural to be skeptical. I didn’t believe it at first either. But the effect is real.”
“You’ve tried it?”
“When I was exhausted and lost in the mountains, one bottle of this kept me energized all day.”
The young man’s eyebrows shot up.
“That’s exactly the effect I need!”
“Then don’t hesitate. Once it gets famous, you might not be able to buy it.”
His eager face slowly sank.
“…How can I trust it?”
“If I were a scammer, I wouldn’t have kept this shop running for so long. I don’t betray my customers’ trust.”
The young man’s gaze slowly swept the shop.
At first, he’d looked at the shabby herb shop with disdain, but now his eyes held a hint of trust, as if seeing its storied history.
“I’ll buy a vitality drink right now!”
Swoosh.
I suddenly pulled the bottle back, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Before I sell, I have a few questions.”
“What?”
“How did you hear about the vitality drink, and why are you so eager to get it? I helped you out, so you can at least tell me that, right?”
“Alright.”
He nodded slowly.
“First, let me introduce myself. I’m Cayton, an aspiring adventurer.”
“An adventurer?”
Bernard couldn’t hide his surprise but quickly caught himself.
“Sorry, that was unexpected.”
As he said, Cayton’s slight frame didn’t scream “adventurer.”
“It’s fine. Everyone reacts that way. I am pretty scrawny.”
Cayton gave a wry smile.
“But I won’t give up! Let them laugh—I’ll pass the test and reach the top!”
“So you need the vitality drink for that?”
“Yes. A cousin from the next town over mentioned it. I went to Alian village, but it was a wasted trip. I’ve got a qualification test coming up, and I need it.”
“You’re not planning to use it during the test, are you?”
“No way! I’d never cheat to pass. I just want help during training.”
“For training?”
“With the vitality drink, even a weakling like me could train longer. With enough effort, I could at least reach average.”
With the vitality drink, he could definitely get closer to his goal.
“I understand your situation.”
I slid the bottle toward Cayton.
“With that determination, you’ll definitely succeed.”
“Thanks for the support.”
His tense expression softened.
“How much is it?”
“One small silver coin per bottle.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Compared to shop prices, it’s reasonable. Still too much?”
Cayton nodded, looking troubled.
“I’d need to drink one daily to build stamina, so it’s a bit of a burden.”
“I get it.”
“Any chance for a discount if I buy in bulk?”
“Normally, no discounts, but…”
I rubbed my chin, thinking.