Volume 1 - CH 32

The first day of the festival was quickly turning into evening as Alme was busy processing one order after another.

The ice blocks she had prepared were gone, so she was sold out. The sales bag she was carrying on her shoulder was also thankfully full.

The town is still full of life, but the ice cream shop is closed for the day. Alme quickly loaded the syrup bottles and magic stones onto a cart and prepared to leave.

While many establishments start their business at night, there are also many that only operate during the daytime. There are no specific rules, and it is up to the individual.

Since she had to prepare for the next day, she originally decided to stay open until the evening on the first and second days.

Jayla next door seemed to have the same schedule, so they cleaned up together.

Finally, leaving the protection to the wooden tag of the participation certificate, for Alme, today’s festival is over.

“Thank you very much for today, Jayla. See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, too. –Where is Alme’s house? Let’s go home together on the way.”

Jayla lined up next to her just as she was about to push the cart out after saying goodbye. She also has crates on her own cart.

“I’m in the back alley of the eastern district, what about you?”

“I’m also in an alley in the east district. It’s all the way back, between the third small plaza and the fourth small plaza.”

“Oh! It may be quite close to my house. My house faces the third small plaza.”

“Okay! Then let’s go home together.”

Jayla said so casually and started pushing the cart. It seemed to be handled a little wobbly, and the wooden boxes that were piled up made a loud noise.

On top of the wooden box, there are leather bags and other small articles. Mixed in among the knick-knacks is what appears to be a sword. It is a short sword, about the length of an elbow to fingertip.

Alme couldn’t help but wonder how a woman could carry a sword. The possession of a sword is publicly permitted, but it is rare for a woman to carry one. It is usually men of status who wear them on the streets.

“Is that sword used by Jayla?”

“Well, it’s a crime prevention item. In case of emergency, it’s for fighting.”

“How are you going to fight?”

“Like this! and then jab it like that and then stab it that way.”

Alme had no idea about fighting, but she had a feeling that Jayla would be able to do exactly what she said she would do.

She is not likely to be able to handle a sword, though. As if seeing through that thought, Jayla recommended a sword.

“You should at least have one of those with you, Alme. Especially on festival days, when the ruffians are making a lot of money.”

“Well, it’s true… but the sword is a bit too much for me.”

“But Alme-chan can use ice magic, so is that stronger than the sword?”

“No, the magic is not strong enough to be used as an attack…Yes, a security item, I should at least have one of those.”

Hmmm, she thought to herself.

Her ice magic is to freeze cold air, so it’s unclear if it can be used in an emergency. It seems that there is not enough time to concentrate with both hands on the ice.

On the other hand, she can’t use weapons such as swords. She doesn’t even know how to hold it.

“Do you have any such training in swords or martial arts, Jayla?”

“I just graduated from military academy.”

“Wow, amazing!”

She said it casually, but it is rare for a woman to have graduated from a military academy.

It is said that 80% of the military personnel are men. Limiting to the combatants who face demons, the unit is made up of all men. Is it to avoid bias in physical strength and stamina?

“It’s not amazing. My father is a soldier, so I was just thrown into a military academy for some reason.”

“But you graduated because of your ability, didn’t you? I guess a lot of people quit during the course of their careers.”

“Well, I liked running around with a sword in my hand. I had no intention of becoming a soldier in the slightest. My younger brother was also sent to military academy, but he entered the army as it was. I got this dagger from my brother too.”

“Oh, you have a younger brother. I can’t believe you two are so close, giving you presents.”

“No, he shouldn’t give a woman a sword that’s so heavy. There’s something off about that guy.”

Jayla was smiling and laughing while complaining in a lazy tone of voice.

Jayla’s story was candid and funny. While enjoying their conversation on the way home, they entered an alley from the street and had already arrived at the small plaza in front of the her house.

Alme felt sorry to leave, but this is where she had to say goodbye for today. In front of the information board in the middle of the small plaza, they exchanged farewells.

“Well then, see you tomorrow. Take care on your way home.”

“Oh, let’s make a lot of money tomorrow.”

With a fist pump, Jayla walked into the back of the alley. The sound of the rattling cart moved away.

After seeing her off, she opened the front door, push the entire cart into the store, and locked the door. The setting sun shining through the window is dazzling.

The moment she got home, she was overwhelmed by the tiredness she had forgotten about.

But she couldn’t rest just yet.

She had to make another pile of syrup later today and add more ice blocks to the freezer.

Alme stretches out her arms widely once and then regains her energy.

For the time being, she went up to the second floor and put the sales bag on the table in her living room.

She took out the money from the bulging bag and put it together while counting. Sales were better than expected today.

After deducting expenses, it’s about 200,000 G. She didn’t know what will happen tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but if she can get the same amount of sales, it will be much easier to pay back the Beatos family…!

She breathed a sigh of relief while checking the ledger. With this condition, she had a bright feeling that she will do her best tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

The banknotes spread out on the table are placed in a leather bag and placed in a safe behind the shelf. After the three days of the festival are over, they will be put together and deposited in the bank.

The safe has never been so well-stocked. But she felt just a little bit unsatisfied. Not because of sales, but because of something else.

(Mr. Falk, I guess you can’t come after all. I was just thinking that maybe you could drop by during a break from work…maybe I was just thinking too much.)

This little dissatisfaction is probably due to the lack of a certain regular customer who loves ice cream.

In a corner of her mind, she had hoped that he might suddenly appear, as he always does, but as expected, things did not work out that way.

She was able to make other flavored syrups that were also delicious, so she wanted him to try them. There was a strange feeling of frustration, and she groaned in her heart.

(–I can’t keep thinking about things that can’t be helped. Now, I have to do what I have to do.)

She slapped her cheeks to snap out of it and changed her mind.

Falk has a life and Alme has a life. There is no use dwelling on the fact that things didn’t work out.

Shaking off the faint feeling in her chest, she headed for the kitchen on the first floor.

Meanwhile, there was a shadow staring at the lights of Alme’s house from the back of the alley in the small plaza.

From leaving the stall to arriving at her home, Alme didn’t notice that the shadow was following her.