How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 17

Preparations were underway, steadily and swiftly.

I cleaned the shop and arranged the delivered furniture.

First, I set up the workshop for producing potions and the room where I would rest, then I tidied up the customer area.

‘Cleanliness is paramount.’

Strict hygiene!

Hygiene is key!

It’s not just that I can’t stand a mess, but from a psychological standpoint, a clean shop makes a better impression.

I spent several days working hard to decorate the shop.

As a result, a decent-looking shop was neatly born.

“……Is this enough to at least look like a proper shop?”

I looked up at the newly hung sign and nodded in satisfaction.

This sign was also commissioned from master woodworkers.

That’s probably what it says.

I checked it several times when ordering, so it should be right.

This darn illiteracy.

‘I need to think about how to learn to read when I get the chance.’

Anyway, the ingredients for making potions are scheduled to arrive this afternoon.

Then, starting tomorrow, I’ll spend two days making Nymph’s Healing Water.

And once I have enough stock, I can open the shop.

‘……Will it really go as planned?’

I can’t help but feel anxious.

In reality, I was just someone who toiled away, so I have no business acumen.

I saw my former colleague quit his job and open a restaurant that went bankrupt in real-time…….

Watching that, I told myself I should never go into business, but who knew I would end up opening a shop.

You never know what life holds.

‘I can’t back out now that I’ve come this far.’

I’ll just give it a try.

If it doesn’t work out, I can find other ways to make money.

Let’s think positively.

I haven’t even succeeded yet, so why be afraid of failure?

* * *

And the time has come!

The time to finally open the shop has arrived!

I removed the bolt from the door and put up a sign announcing the grand opening.

Alright! From today on, Farmer Aileon is no more!

From now on, I’m Shopkeeper Aileon!

A future where money piles up is waiting for me!

…….

…….

……And about three hours later.

“Why…… why aren’t any customers coming?”

I muttered, resting my chin on my hand at the counter.

“No customers at all?”

Current cumulative customers: zero.

The shop is just swarming with flies.

I can’t even hear the sound of people passing by outside.

It’s really a deserted street.

“……Well, that’s how it is.”

I said to myself and slumped on the counter.

It’s a bit disheartening, but this situation is to be expected.

“Wouldn’t it be too much to expect a jackpot on the first day?”

The location isn’t that great either, and usually, no one would think of opening a shop in a place like this.

It will take time to build up a customer base.

‘Since I planned for it to be sluggish for a few months anyway.’

I was planning to gradually make the shop known and increase sales.

‘Should I be more proactive in promoting this place?’

Should I go around to inns or the mercenary guild and try selling potions myself?

I’d even strip naked and dance in the middle of the city if it meant the business would do well.

……Well, the moment I actually do that, business won’t be the problem anymore.

‘As expected, customers don’t swarm in as soon as you open a shop.’

Even in a fantasy world, that doesn’t make sense.

Maybe if I were the protagonist, but it’s impossible for me.

I can’t keep doing this. I should start promoting actively from tomorrow.

“Tomorrow’s work is for tomorrow~.”

I was thinking of having a snack.

It’s okay. I have enough living expenses. I can afford three meals and some snacks for at least two months.

Then, I heard a small bell ringing.

The sound is coming from the bell hanging on the door.

Huh! A customer?!

I had to greet the customer in the same posture as I was about to get up from the counter.

“……Ah, welcome?”

The people who came in were a trio who looked to be in their mid-20s.

Seeing them wearing sturdy tanned leather armor and swords at their waists, they must be mercenaries.

Seeing that they are all extras [minor, unimportant characters], they must be ordinary mercenaries.

While scanning their names, I met their eyes.

Solben, the man in the middle, asks me.

“Are you open for business, shopkeeper?”

“Ah, yes. I’m open for business, for now.”

Even though it’s just swarming with flies.

Come to think of it, they are my first customers?

Realizing that fact a beat late, my heart fluttered a little.

First customers!

‘If I do well, will they be the first to buy my potions?’

What should I do? Should I actively recommend it? Or should I let them look around at their leisure?

While I was worrying, a young man named Rent among the mercenaries asked, looking a little embarrassed.

“But what kind of shop is this?”

“…….”

Ah! That’s the problem!

“Did you three come in without knowing anything at all?”

“We just came in because we saw a shop open for the first time in ages. But it doesn’t seem like you’re selling anything.”

“Oh, come on~ Of course, I’m selling. You guys seem to be mercenaries, so you’ve come to the right place. I’m selling exactly what you need.”

I put on a friendly smile and took out a wooden bottle from the display case behind me and placed it on the counter.

It’s a wooden bottle containing the potion.

“This is the product we sell.”

“A wooden bottle? Are you a wood craftsman?”

“No, no. What I’m selling is the contents of this bottle.”

But the three of them just tilted their heads and said nothing.

As expected, they wouldn’t know just by looking.

Since they are my first customers, let’s make sure to make a good impression.

“I’ll show you directly.”

I held out the bottle containing the potion towards the young man named Rent.

“You, on the right? It looks like you’re a little hurt.”

Rent, that young man’s arm is slightly swollen. Is it sprained?

“……Are you talking about this? I made a slight miscalculation earlier during training. It’s nothing much. It’ll be better in two days.”

“Then I’ll give you this as a service. Here~ Drink it all up, bottoms up!”

When I held out the potion and recommended he drink it in one shot, Rent hesitated for a moment, but eventually took it and drank it.

He probably doesn’t think I’ll give him something poisonous in front of his companions.

Yes, hehehe. You drank it! You!

“Hmm?!”

After drinking the potion, he narrowed his eyes and stroked his injured arm.

The swelling has already subsided quite a bit.

It’s within the effective range of Nymph’s Healing Water, so it’s only natural.

“……This is, could it be.”

“Yes. What you just drank is a potion. It’s a type of low-grade potion called Nymph’s Healing Water. Have you heard of it?”

“I’ve never heard of it. ……Wait? A potion?!”

A mercenary named Solben widened his eyes in shock.

He doesn’t seem to know the types of potions, but he seems to understand the effect for sure.

“Are you saying that was really a potion?”

“The effect is only about that of a low-grade potion, as you can see.”

Now that he’s seen it with his own eyes, there’s no reason to deny that it’s fake.

“……So, this shop is selling potions?”

“That’s right.”

“Wait a minute…… then what I just drank was…….”

Rent turned pale.

“Of course, that’s also a potion. It’s the same thing as what’s in these wooden bottles.”

For some reason, Rent’s complexion is not good.

The other guys seemed to be watching, and then they started to back away.

‘Ah, they think they’ve been forced to buy it.’

Oh ho! There was such a method!

He’s already consumed it, so he can’t return it, and he knows the price of low-grade potions to some extent.

But I, who dreams of being a gentlemanly and conscientious shopkeeper, would never do such a thing.

……I was a little tempted, though.

“Ah, it’s okay. What I had you drink just now is a service. You guys are my first customers.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. If possible, please let other mercenaries know about this shop later, that’s all I ask.”

When I said this, the three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially the two who didn’t drink it were ready to abandon their companion and run away.

“Of course, I wouldn’t ask for anything more if you could buy something. But that’s up to you.”

“……I have a question, how much is that potion?”

Judging from the way Solben is asking me, it’s clear that he doesn’t have high expectations regarding the price.

That’s because he knows the existing market price.

The price of a potion.

I said the price I had been pondering for the past few days.

“Twenty silver coins.”

“In that case, for us…… um? Shopkeeper?”

He was probably about to say that he couldn’t afford it, but Solben stopped talking and blinked in surprise.

He seemed to suspect that he had misheard.

“I’m sorry, but how much did you say just now?”

“I said twenty silver coins?”

I announced the price of the potion again.

After hearing the price, they looked at each other as if they were reading each other’s minds.

I know the reason.

The reason why they are dumbfounded is probably because it is somewhat cheaper than the potion price they knew.

In fact, I was worried about the price for several days.

Should I take advantage of it and charge a high price, or should I sell it relatively cheaply?

But the conclusion came soon.

Selling it cheaply is the wisest thing to do.

‘It’s impossible to make a significant profit with just a low-grade potion.’

If it’s a potion with a mid-grade or higher effect, it’s possible to make a profit.

But I can’t make or sell such potions.

‘I know the recipe, but I can’t get the ingredients right now…….’

Also, if I sell potions of mid-grade or higher, there will be more than one or two people who will be interested.

If I’m not careful, the secret guild of spiritists might try to interfere.

But they don’t bother with low-grade potions.

It’s because it’s also a hassle for them.

‘The sense of keeping that line is important.’

To be blunt, anyone can make Nymph’s Healing Water if they know the recipe and has a contract with a spirit [a magical being that provides power].

The effect is not strong, so there is no reason to be obsessed with it.

So, no problem!

“Is that really the price?”

“Anyway, it’s twenty silver coins. Well, it might change if the price of the ingredients suddenly goes up.”

The price of the ingredients is also cheap, so it’s a profitable business in most cases. Hehehehe.

In the end, the price of the potion was set slightly lower based on the current market price sold by the guild.

If it’s too cheap, it has no value.

If it’s too expensive, there’s no reason to buy this.

‘It’s like no one would buy an ointment to apply to a wound if it cost 100,000 won [an extremely high price].’

The price that fits the purpose exists.

For Nymph’s Healing Water, this is the right compromise.

‘In terms of market competition logic, this is the right discount range.’

It’s not always a good thing to be unconditionally expensive.

How many businesses have gone bankrupt in the real world because they only raised prices excessively?

My old colleague also went bankrupt because of that!

Therefore, I will not be like that.

“Anyway, that’s the price. Of course, buying it is up to you.”

I didn’t force them to buy it and waited leisurely for their decision.

So, what will you do?

Will you buy it? Or not? Choose!

The mercenaries who were hesitating soon left the shop.

Carrying three potions they bought from me.

I shook the chest containing 60 silver coins and shouted happily.

“Come again next time~.”

* * *

After they left, what remained in my hand was 60 silver coins.

The price of three potions.

I shook it and enjoyed the sound.

The sound of money is truly beautiful.

‘I can increase customers little by little like this.’

I will make a proper profit in three months…… no, two months.

Let’s not be impatient for now and keep the shop open steadily.

Thinking so, I shook the silver coins I earned for the first time and grinned.