ITSUJITA ~ C23: Got caught

 

Chapter 23: Got caught

 

 

"So how was it, Shirou? Did you learn something by accompanying the adventurers?"

 

Karen-san sits down on the chair and change the subject as if she's trying to hide the awkward feeling after I lend her my shoulder.

 

"Yes. I learned a lot. As long as I can stock in time, I'm sure the people who came to visit will be amazed by my store's products."

 

Karen smiled at my words.

Then she put her mouth close to my ear.

 

"Fufu. As long as you can stock up in time. No need to hide it. You have storage skills or storage items, don't you?"

 

She whispered to me.

She put her mouth close to my ear so that Aina won't hear it.

I couldn't help but feel surprised by her words.

 

"What, what are you talking about?"

 

"Pfft. You seem to be a man who can't tell a lie. I'm sure that's your good point, but as a merchant, maybe that's not good."

 

"......"

 

I can't even answer her back.

 

"Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to do something to you.

Storage skills and item ownership are rare, but I've met several people who have them before. And from the first moment I saw you, I knew you smelled just like them."

 

"Smell?"

 

"Yeah. Well, I guess you could call it intuition. So what do you think......? Is my intuition right?"

 

I raise my hand to show my surrender.

 

"Correct. I have storage skills."

 

"I knew it. I was wondering how you managed to stock up on so many matches in this remote area....... Hmm. The answer is simple. You've had a lot of them from the start."

 

"Are? If you're saying it that way, your intuition is......?"

 

Karen finally laughs and says...

 

"That's a lie."

 

"Eeeh!?"

 

I couldn't help but shout out loud.

Aina is looking at me with a worried look on her face.

 

"Shirou Onii-chan...... What's wrong?

 

"Oh, I'm sorry I surprised you. It's nothing."

 

"Ng?"

 

I turn to Karen again and give her a bit of a sulky look.

 

"Was that a lie?"

 

"I'm sorry. It's a good practice for bargaining, isn't it? I was thinking about your future. Please don't be so angry."

 

"I'm not mad at you, but ...... I see. I need to learn more about bargaining."

 

Being a merchant is a game of deception.

I've always had a tendency to believe people's stories easily, so I have to be careful.

 

"That is what I mean. Your business partner may not always be honest. Sometimes you have to bargain with them. You should keep that in mind."

 

"......I'll do my best."

 

When I pretended to be sulky and said so, Karen-san laughed happily.

 

"Well, let's get back to the story."

 

Karen-san cleared her throat.　

Her face became serious again.

 

"Are there any items that you currently have that the inspectors would want?"

 

"Yes, I am sure of it."

 

"Fufu. You speak so confidently. But that is reassuring. I have to thank God for my good fortune in meeting you. Of course, I also thank you."

 

"Jeez, you're exaggerating."

 

Karen and I both laughed at each other.

 

"By the way, Shirou, what exactly are you planning to sell in your store? I don't mean to spy on you as a merchant, but if you don't mind, can you show me a little?"

 

"Aina too! Aina wants to see too!"

 

When she heard Karen's words, Aina rushed over to me.

 

"I don't mind. The items I'm going to show the inspectors are......"

 

I showed it to Karen-san and Aina-chan.

 

Aina doesn't know what it was used for, so she just tilted her head with a puzzled look on her face.

But when Karen realized how useful it is, her eyes widened.

 

"I never expected such an item to exist......."

 

She muttered with a serious face.