Chapter 3
Biar has been giving me the general information I will need when stocking the shelves here at this store. It seemed this place was popular with adventurers that needed field rations as well as with mothers that needed ingredients to cook.
So far, Biar has taught me about how shelving certain items on certain rows leads to people buying more of that item. The items that are less important go in the middle rows while the items that are more important go on the higher or lower levels. As it turns out, shelving the items in a certain manner causes people to subconsciously want to purchase the closer items that wouldn't be sold otherwise. As expected of a shopkeeper of his age, Biar knew the secrets of the trade.
"Do you have any questions so far?" Biar asked me. I had to be careful about how much I asked or else they might get annoyed with me and throw me out. I hate to admit it, but I'm at this couple's mercy right now.
"None! You're great at explaining things Biar-san!" I lied. I have so many questions I can barely contain it, but I need to keep it in.
So far, I've learned that the average price of a grocery item here is between 5 to 8 juns. I have also learned that juns are named after the first emperor Invarnis Herim Dages Von Jun. I also learned that this country is an empire. I have also learned that there is a small amount of overlap between the fruits and vegetables of this world and those of Earth. There are potatoes, tomatoes, and apples here.
It would take roughly 30 minutes for Biar to fully stock the store after a day's worth of shopping. Biar said it would take me around double that time at first, but I would get faster the more I did
It was my duty to man the counter while Biar watched over me to ensure that everything was going well. I was given a sheet that listed the prices of each item.
I am actually fairly nervous about doing this job, aside from the fact that if I screw this up I would be out on the street back at square one, I also just have a generally nervous feeling. Maybe this was because this was my first job ever?
I didn't have time to explore my feelings as I heard the ringing noise of the store door opening.
"Ah, good morning Anisan!" Declared Biar. "We have a new hire here, his name is Kenji!"
"Ah, Korgi-san, it's nice to meet you, dear." Said this Ania woman.
Ania appears to be a rather old woman. I'd say she is around 80 years old at the earliest. I suppose the life expectancy of people in this world is actually rather good, at least in the cities.
Ania is wearing dark flowy clothing including a hood over her head. I can see a few strands of gray hair sticking out of her hood, but otherwise she is covered entirely. Ania is hunched over and very short. The wrinkles on her face make her age apparent.
As Ania began to walk around the store. Biar whispered to me "Walk near her. She's old and there's n.o.body else here. She might need your help getting items that are lower or higher than others."
I can't argue with that logic and it's not really a problem so I may as well do it.
I stepped away from the counter and kept a short distance away from Ania.
"…"
This woman is really slow. I understand that she's an old woman, but does she have to lose in races against snails?
"Ah, Korgi-san, could you please tell me what this label says?" Ania would ask me occasionally.
It seems like this woman's eyes were either bad from age or she couldn't read. Either way, I would read the label on the items for her.
"This is Juctrod, Anisan." I said to her.
"Ah. I need that. Thank you Korgi-san." She said as I handed the jar to her.
This woman keeps getting my name wrong. I wonder if she's doing it intentionally. I could probably beat up an old woman if I needed to.
After what felt like an hour, Ania finally finished her shopping. No one else entered the store while Ania was shopping.
"Your total will be… 114 juns, Anisan." I declared after calculating the prices of all her items together.
"Hmm… oh yes. Alright let me just get out my coin purse…" Ania said as she reached to her side.
After a long pause Ania finally pulled out a small leather sack from her side. Ania reached into the sack and pulled out 6 coins.
I took the coins and something odd happened. I could instantly tell the exact worth of each coin by the feel of them in my hands. I could tell that the amount I was given was exactly 114 juns.
"Thank you, Anisan. Have a good day!" Announced Biar as he escorted her out of the store.
I put the juns into the register. Biar returned back into the store and congratulated me.
"Good work Kenji-san! Keep working like that and you'll be perfect here." Biar told me.
Work continued like this for a while until Biar clapped his hands and said "Well, it seems to be about time to close. Kenji, come help me close up shop!"