Chapter 13: Selling Gelato
We borrowed an unused table from the inn and opened a gelato stand in front of it.
The customers who tried gelato for the first time were all delighted, exclaiming, “It’s cold! It’s sweet! It’s delicious!” My prediction that a cold dessert requiring ice magic, although not difficult, wouldn’t be readily available in this warm season turned out to be correct.
The unique gelato stand thrived, and all three buckets were empty before evening.
Looking inside the empty can in the coin purse, it seemed we had made quite a profit. I was excited to see how much it would be after deducting the cost of ingredients.
The next day and the day after, the gelato stand gained a reputation, attracting long queues. We increased the amount we sold slightly and earned by announcing “Sold out when it’s gone.”
At night, Victor and I were having dinner at a nearby tavern.
“Why don’t we sell in larger quantities? I could make more.”
“It’s fine like this. The limited quantity stimulates the desire to buy.”
“Is that how it works?”
“Yes, it does. By the way, do you think the Prime Minister is still looking for us?”
Victor pondered for a while before answering.
“I don’t think that Prime Minister has given up. He’s someone who never gives up on anything.”
“That’s why he rose to the highest position in practical affairs, right?”
“That’s right.”
We returned to the inn feeling a little down. Living while being pursued gradually wears away at one’s heart. I want to live peacefully. If I can’t return to my original world, I want to settle down and live securely in this country.
“What should we do?”
“Hmm?”
“I want a calm life.”
“I’ll do my best so that someday we can have a calm life.”
“. . .”
I wonder how long I can stay with Victor. At first, I thought he was troublesome, but now I’ve come to rely on him completely. However, Victor has his own life. I feel bad for burdening him with me.
So, what should I do? The answer isn’t clear right now.
At night, we hung a sheet over the rope stretched between the two beds, serving as a curtain for privacy while doing laundry. It’s not that I suspect Victor, but I don’t want him to see my sleeping face or how I sleep. It also allows me to change clothes comfortably. The sheet curtain has become a part of our daily life.
The gelato continued to sell well. Victor even went the extra mile to secretly chill the gelato under the table to prevent it from melting for customers who wanted takeout. It’s amusing to see someone who was solely focused on magic paying attention to such details.
“Hey, you two.”
Startled, we looked up, and it was the person who had collapsed after having their magical power drained before.
“What can I do for you?”
“I said you don’t need to thank me.”
We unintentionally tensed up, and the man said in a low voice, “Let me talk to you for a moment. I assure you, I’m not a suspicious person.”
(What should we do?), I asked Victor with my eyes, and he shook his head slightly. Seeing that, the man spoke up.
“That stone tablet, it’s empty, right? It’s actually you who’s using magic to cool it down, isn’t it? Is there some reason why a wizard is working at a stall like this?”
Victor stepped forward, ready to use magic.
“Oops. It’s not wise to use magic in a crowded place like this. Let’s refrain from doing anything dangerous. I just want to talk.”
“If you want to talk, I’ll listen here.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
We tidied up our belongings and stood by the side of the road, ready to listen to the man’s story.
“I am Conrad Sloane. I am the lord of the neighboring Sloane territory.”
“A lord? Really?”
Then the man who introduced himself as Conrad showed Victor some kind of identification.
“Hmm. What kind of story does the lord have for us?”
“It’s about what happened the other day.”
“You mean the whirlwind incident?”
“Ojou-san, how did you know that I ran out of magical power? You’re not a wizard, are you?”
Victor looked at me with accusing eyes. I shouldn’t have said unnecessary things, I’m sorry.
“It’s just a hunch.”
“Can you be honest and tell us? The truth is, the residents of my territory often come to this market.”
“Huh.”
“Some of the magic users among them came to this market to shop and collapsed. They experienced the same magical power depletion as I did the other day. There have been several official reports about it.”
Both Victor and I remained silent, urging him to continue.
“I came to investigate based on those reports as a wizard. And I also ran out of magical power and collapsed. That’s when I noticed that you two seemed to know something.”
“Are you suspecting us? I was worried and rushed over, and Victor called a carriage for you.”
“No, no. I don’t think you two are the culprits. I just want to know if you know something or if you can tell me anything.”
I was hesitant. To think that the same thing was happening elsewhere.
“We don’t know anything. We just want to live quietly. Can’t you leave us alone?”
“I’m begging you, if you know anything. . .”
At that moment, I noticed it. It was slowly approaching from far down the street.
“Victor! That thing is coming again!”
“Huh?”
From the other end of the street, that thin whirlwind was wriggling and slowly getting closer.
What should we do!
“Quick, run! Conrad-san! Victor! Hurry!”
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