I stepped outside, basking in the warm sunlight.
Walking past the beautifully decorated stationery store garden, I saw a woman struggling to drag a large wooden barrel.
She appeared tired and strained, moving goods with her messy, brown hair and wearing an old, faded blue tunic.
I cautiously approached her and struck up a conversation.
“Um, hello!”
“Ah, hello!”
“Hello.”
The woman moving the round oak barrel stopped, looking weary, and turned to face me.
“Ah! I’m the owner of this store, Meldenik. Nice to meet you.”
“Uh, I’m Lily.”
After exchanging nods with me, Lily looked behind me and exclaimed in admiration.
“The building looks pretty.”
But I found it hard to focus on her words.
‘Oh? There’s a bruise on her face…’
There was a bluish bruise on Lily’s face.
‘Could it be a domestic issue?’
It’s polite not to ask about sensitive issues unless they bring it up themselves.
Deciding to cautiously change the subject, I pointed towards my stationery store.
“Do you see that building with the yellow walls up front? I’ve just opened a new stationery store.”
“A stationery store?”
Ah, right. The concept of a stationery store was still foreign here.
Nodding, I explained to her.
“It’s like a general store that sells various things for kids!”
“Wow, I see, after all, it’s in front of the academy… That’s intriguing. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a new merchant around.”
Lily’s soft brown eyes widened then narrowed. Though she looked tired, her face briefly lit up beautifully.
‘I want to give her something.’
I looked down.
I happened to be holding a dalgona as a promotional item in my hand.
“Here, have this!”
I cautiously extended the dalgona I was holding towards Lily.
“What is this?”
With a curious look, she took the dalgona I offered.
“Ah, it’s similar to candy. It’s sweet!”
After tucking the dalgona I gave her into the pocket inside her coat, Lily bowed in gratitude.
“Thank you. I work at ‘Lesa’s Tavern’ over there. Come and visit sometime.”
“A tavern?”
“Oh, yes. It’s a bit far from here, the academy street. Business is prohibited right in front of the academy.”
I watched her explain softly and smiled mischievously.
‘To think such a golden opportunity would fall into my lap.’
I had been pondering how exactly to make beer candy, how to incorporate the texture of beer into the candy, and how to make an adult version with alcohol.
‘Becoming friends with the tavern owner and collaborating would be perfect!’
With a motive of self-interest, I firmly grabbed her hand.
“Could I possibly talk to the tavern owner?”
“Yes, but the owner is…”
Her pupils shook.
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Why the boss?”
“He’s not feeling well. He won’t be able to make much time.”
I let out a disappointed sigh.
“Ah….”
But who would be so cold-hearted to talk business with someone who is ill?
“I hope he gets better soon.”
After a moment of thought, Lily bit her lips and said in a trembling voice.
“Then, come around lunchtime tomorrow. The boss said he would be at the tavern… You might be able to meet him then. It’s at the end of the street, so come find us!”
“Really? But is it okay to meet him in person if he’s sick?”
“Yes. It should be fine. The boss likes meeting new people.”
She lifted her chin and pointed beyond the street.
“You’ll see a big sign that says ‘Lesa’s Tavern’!”
“Yes, I’ll look for it.”
I chuckled.
I was sure that once I presented my blueprint, they wouldn’t be able to resist.
‘After all, I was planning to bear the cost and handle the development.’
I waved my hand cheerfully as I smiled brightly.
But Lily didn’t leave right away. Instead, she looked around cautiously and then asked in a low voice, carefully looking down at the drum.
“Was there no trouble?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Ah……”
But she shook her head from side to side.
She just gave my hand a tight squeeze, then struggled to pick up the liquor jar again.
“Come to the tavern tomorrow, and I’ll tell you everything. If we talk here…”
She looked around with a face as if being chased by something and hurriedly left.
I had no choice but to stand still in that place.
‘What, why?’
I couldn’t understand the reason at all.
Watching Lily’s receding back, I had a premonition that it wouldn’t be easy.
Suddenly, I found myself looking at Dominic, who had slipped outside the stationery shop, and crossed my arms.
“Dominic.”
“What’s going on?”
“I just saw someone near here who said they work at a tavern.”
“Oh, really? Did you ask them to make candy together?”
Unlike Dominic, who looked very excited, I shook my head, immersed in suspicious thoughts.
“I didn’t ask to make candy, but I did make a promise for tomorrow.”
Dominic was about to clap his hands joyfully but hesitated.
“That’s good… No, what’s with that uneasy expression?”
At Dominic’s sharp words, I scratched the back of my head and answered.
“It’s a bit strange. The boss said he’s not feeling well, and the part-timer has a bruise on their face… and they asked me if nothing happened to me.”
Dominic tilted his head and asked innocently.
“Shall we meet tomorrow and find out?”
“I nodded my head. There’s definitely something here.”
***
The next day, I headed straight to Lesa’s tavern.
I closed the stationery shop for a moment and accompanied Dominic.
Upon entering the tavern, I soon saw Lesa, the silver-haired lady running the tavern, and Lily, the part-timer I met yesterday.
“Welcome!”
The tavern, filled with barrels of orc liquor, was silent as if no preparations for opening were underway.
It felt oddly empty and deserted, making me wonder.
“Please, have a seat here, miss.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Seated at a wooden table, I looked around and nodded my head.
There, after a brief introduction, I heard some casual conversations.
I learned that the tavern’s owner’s name was Lesa and that the tavern would be closed for a while.
‘But why is the tavern closed?’
I wanted to ask the reason, but their expressions were so gloomy that I couldn’t easily speak up, biting my lip in contemplation.
Lesa then changed the subject.
“Oh, what is that booklet you’re holding?”
I opened my mouth.
“It’s a business plan. Um, I have a proposal for you.”
Having presented the business plan on the table, I naturally began to explain.
It was a proposition centered around developing a new item that required alcohol, offering a share of the royalties.
After hearing everything, Lesa flipped through the proposal with a warm expression.
“That’s a great suggestion. It’s quite a unique plan too. I’m sure children would love it. I would really like to participate in this plan as well.”
Did he completely fall for it?
My eyes began to twinkle.
“Ah, shall I explain it to you in more detail?”
Now, all that’s left is to falsely introduce Dominic as a junior wizard and explain in detail how to make beer candy.
But then, the wrinkled hand of the boss gently smoothed out the wrinkles in his pants.
“What should we do?”
A foreboding feeling washed over me.
Just like the first time I heard about the temporary shutdown. I looked at the tavern owner with trembling eyes.
“I’ve decided to quit the tavern business.”
I was sure they could be persuaded!
“Really? It’s such a good throat… Why……”
Lily, whom I met yesterday, cautiously began to speak.
“It’s because of the protection money.”
“What’s that?”
A hesitating voice came through.
“There’s this group called the Red Priest Pirate Gang that dominates this area. They demand too much protection money… They plan to take all the remaining barrels of beer to them.”
I narrowed my brows.
“Is the temporary shutdown because of those guys, then?”
“You’re smart. Yes, it’s because we hardly have any beer left for customers as we’re gathering the protection money.”
“No, to have to close the business because of thugs…”
“Those guys, they’ll soon go to Mel too. They’ll probably demand at least five million beckerels. If you don’t give it to them, they’re the type to beat someone up and turn them into mush…”
Five million becquerels?
I gaped.
In Korean currency, that was equivalent to five million won. It was an amount that a small business owner couldn’t afford.
Lesa laughed weakly.
‘There are still thugs like service gangsters around!’
I, dumbfounded, asked carefully.
“Can’t you report them to the security force?”
Lily, who was next to me, slowly shook her head.
“The security doesn’t help us. We’re just commoners… Those guys know magic, have physical strength, and I heard they recently got sponsorship from someone high up. We can’t compete with them.”
The security force is useless, and whoever this high-up person is, they’re absolute trash.
‘Sponsoring gangsters who beat people.’
I grimaced and said.
“They’re completely insane, aren’t they?”
Lesa’s faint sigh dominated the table.
Dominic and I exchanged looks.
‘We need to get rid of those bastards so we can save the people at the pub and make beer candy.’
But just then.
There was a sound like something was about to break from the direction of the pub’s door. It seemed like someone was kicking the door.
Oh, it is getting more and more interesting!😜