Chapter 44: New Faces, New Foundations

After leaving Bernard’s shop, the next place I headed to was the Rose Inn.

“I’m here to see Mr. Robert.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Not long after, Robert came hurrying over.

“Fabir. What brings you here without notice?”

“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced like this.”

“No, not at all. Come inside.”

We moved to the reception room and sat facing each other.

“What did you want to discuss?”

I took a sip of the black tea he offered and opened my mouth.

“Would you perhaps be interested in investing in us?”

“Investing?”

“Yes. We’re planning to expand the shop, but we need funds.”

“The shop? That would require a lot of money.”

Robert stroked his chin, deep in thought.

“So, you’re asking me to provide the funds?”

“Yes. Of course, I’m not asking for a free loan. Until the funds are settled, I’ll supply citronella fragrance exclusively.”

“R-really?”

As expected, Robert was tempted.  

But my proposal didn’t end there.

“If you make it interest-free, I’ll also supply tea tree soap exclusively, as much as you need.”

“Tea tree soap?”

“If you provide our already word-of-mouth products as amenities, you’ll definitely have an edge over other inns.”

“Amenities… Providing amenities would certainly earn good scores in the upcoming inn evaluation. It’s a tempting offer.”

Robert’s deliberation didn’t last long.

“Alright! I’ll lend you the funds.”

“Thank you!”

After that, discussing the loan period, repayment method, and finalizing the contract under interest-free terms didn’t take long.

Robert was generous.  

He provided the funds right there on the spot.

With the funds secured, I immediately proceeded with Bernard to acquire the neighboring shop.

“Please stamp here.”

The moment I stamped the contract.

Tap—

This shop is now mine!

Bernard, looking around the shop, had the excited face of a child.

“There’s even a warehouse in the back!”

“It’ll take a while to clean everything up. Let’s start cleaning quickly.”

I rolled up my sleeves.  

While I discarded unnecessary furniture, Bernard swept and wiped the floors and windows.

“After cleaning, it looks much bigger?”

Once the junk was removed, it was at least twice as spacious as the herb shop.

“It seems roughly organized, so we should post a job notice soon.”

***

A few days later.

I flew hurriedly to the herb shop.

Bernard was pacing anxiously inside.

“Sorry I’m late!”

“You arrived right on time. People are waiting in the next shop, so let’s go.”

We quickly moved to the new branch.  

Twenty people were inside.

“More applicants than I expected.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Fabir.”

People were dressed neatly, murmuring with tense faces.

I shouted to them.

“We’ll now begin employee interviews. When your number is called, please come inside one by one.”

We had set up a temporary interview room in the warehouse.

“Then, applicant number 1, please come in.”

Interviews began.

“I really want to work at the herb shop!”

“If you hire me, I’ll work my hardest!”

“My grandfather was a regular at this herb shop. It would be an honor to work at such a historic place!”

The applicants showed passion and enthusiasm.

But no one had quite caught my eye yet.

Interviews continued.

“Applicant number 19, please come in.”

Step step.

A man confidently walked into the room.

“Hello!”

“Wh-whoa?!”

“Do you know him?”

I recognized that face instantly.

“Number 19, Baski!”

The man introduced himself boldly.  

His voice overflowed with ease.

I couldn’t help but stand up in surprise.

“Baski! Why are you here?”

“Why else? I saw the job posting, obviously!”

My orphanage friend and the one who helped with aloe vera burn treatment in Alian village last time—Baski.  

He grinned widely.

Was his personality always like this?  

He used to be so timid—what happened in the meantime?

“You’re acquaintances with Fabir?”

“Yes, we’re friends.”

Before I could answer, Baski responded first.

“But I’m not asking to be hired because of connections! I believe I’m exactly the talent the herb shop needs!”

Rustle rustle.

He pulled something from his pocket.

“Please look at this.”

Da.

“What is it?”

“It’s a letter of recommendation from the inn lady in Alian village!”

“A recommendation?”

My eyes widened.

“You don’t mean…?”

“Yeah, I worked really hard at the inn! Even the lady acknowledged me!”

Baski proudly held out the letter.  

No doubt—it was the inn lady’s recommendation. 

The paper captured her speech perfectly, along with details of how well Baski had worked.

“I really want to work at the herb shop!”

Sparkle sparkle.

Baski’s gaze toward me was so intense it felt burdensome.

It was nice seeing Baski after so long, but my head started to throb.

Why quit a good inn job to come here?  

After leaving Alian, I thought he was doing fine and had forgotten about it.

While I was lost in thought, Bernard and Baski continued talking.

“Baski, thank you for coming to the interview.”

“Thank you!”

After Baski left, Bernard said.

“He seems the most motivated out of everyone so far, doesn’t he?”

“Really?”

Interviews continued, and finally, the last applicant entered.

“Hello.”

The final applicant was a young woman wearing dark glasses.

“Please introduce yourself.”

“I’m Ellis, a new alchemist who passed the final alchemy exam this time!”

“An alchemist?”

My eyebrows shot up.

“But why apply to our herb shop instead of an alchemy store?”

“I compared vitality drinks, and your product was by far the most effective. How can it have such strong effects without alchemical processing?”

She was answering but suddenly threw a question and continued muttering to herself.

“It must be herbs grown in a special environment, right? Sourcing such herbs isn’t easy. How do you store them? Each has unique properties, so handling isn’t simple. If mishandled, the herbs spoil and become unusable. And…”

Mumble mumble mumble.

She poured out questions alone for a while.

Stop.

“Oh, sorry. I get excited whenever herbs come up.”

“You really like herbs.”

“Yes! I love herbs and alchemy!”

Her answer felt sincere.

“One last question. If you join the herb shop, what do you want to do?”

“I want to provide customers with the medicine they truly need!”

“Understood. Thank you for the interview.”

A faint smile formed at her response.

After the last applicant left, Bernard stretched widely.

“Finally, interviews are over. But that last applicant—somehow her face seems familiar.”

“Really? Since you’re from here, Bernard, you might have passed her on the street.”

“That could be. Anyway, Fabir, who are you thinking of hiring?”

“The last applicant stands out to me.”

Even if her customer service is a bit clumsy, I felt her genuine desire to provide good medicine.

Plus, as an alchemist, she could fill in areas I lack.

She even recognized our product’s superiority among many vitality drinks on the market. 

With her advice, the herb shop could offer customers a wider variety of products.

“That’s true. A new alchemist applying to a herb shop is extremely rare. Still—”

Bernard held the inn lady’s recommendation letter.  

When did he pick that up?

“Wouldn’t your friend be better as an employee?”

“Ah, Baski?”

“The recommendation is solid, and his bold personality is appealing. Sales experience can’t be ignored.”

“W-well, that’s true.”

Bernard glanced at me and said.

“Is something bothering you? Are you uncomfortable because he’s a friend?”

“No, it’s not that.”

I worried he might have quit his job impulsively to help me again, like last time.

But if even the inn lady acknowledges him, his work must be impeccable.  

Above all, with the branch just opening, we need a skilled salesperson.

“It’s better for you, Bernard, who’ll work with them, to decide.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll contact Baski.”

After that, as we left the warehouse, we continued talking.

“By the way, tell me about the dungeon last time. Cayton said you hunted monsters too?”

Chatting about trivial things to forget interview fatigue, then.

Jingle.

Someone entered the herb shop.

“Please help my child!”

A lady walked in with a child.  

The child’s body looked unwell.

“What happened? Please sit here first.”

I sat her in a chair.

“Calm down and tell me slowly. We’ll help however we can.”

She caught her breath and spoke.

“As you can see, my son has severe skin disease. He scratches his skin with his nails every day, so there’s barely any left.”

“Let me take a look.”

I examined the child’s skin.  

Clear nail marks, scabs, prominent red spots.  

Moreover, scales rose with sticky pus.

Bernard, watching beside, said sadly.

“Atopy is a chronic disease hard to treat. Athlete’s foot alone is painful, but full-body itching from atopy must be excruciating.”

“We visited every reputed alchemy shop, but found no solution. Then we heard this herb shop sells amazing health foods, so we came.”

The lady teared up, clasping her hands in desperate plea.

“Please help my child.”

“We’ll find a way somehow, so don’t worry too much.”

My heart ached.  

I couldn’t ignore a customer in need.  

This was responsibility.

I held the child’s hand tightly.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Tears welled in the child’s eyes.

“There must be a good solution if we look.”

The child wiped his eyes and nodded.

After sending them off, I suggested to Bernard.

“How about hiring two employees this time?”

“Are you thinking of the alchemist?”

“Yes. Her help is absolutely necessary.”

“That’s good, but there’s no space in the shop for alchemy work?”

“For now, let’s temporarily convert the warehouse into a lab.”

It wasn’t just out of pity.

I wanted to challenge it.

If we succeed where other alchemy shops failed, it’ll benefit the shop greatly.