The next day, the day of the stationery store's grand opening dawned. Finally, I put up an 'open' sign at the stationery store and took a look at the scenery.
In the middle, there was a counter with balloons hanging on it. On the left side was a box containing small rings and accessories bought on the antique street. I used a clean spell to sanitize them and even packaged them hygienically. Next to it was a large slushie barrel. Thanks to the demon's power, you could keep the slushie in there for a long time, and it wouldn't spoil for months.
"Perfect." I nodded with a proud face.
There were several cupboards on the right side of the stationery store. On top of those cupboards were reminder cards made of woven paper from last night, a diary with ancient words written on the front, a pen with feathers, and an embroidered pencil pouch.
"Rejoice, Mel?" Dominic asked with a light smile.
"Yes, but there are still a lot of things missing..." The assortment was roughly matched, but I was disappointed that there were almost no items I made myself. 'Stationery stores should have beer candy, paint candy, slushies, and a lot of junk food, but the problem is there are only slushies here...'
Dominic, who had dark circles under his eyes after wearing an apron all night and making dalgona with me, sat down at the counter and laughed mischievously. "How did you think about developing new items?"
"Hmm... I thought about it a lot. But it's not something that can be implemented right away." I had about 100 million Becquerels in my hands now. "Items that aren't here can be implemented using magic, but there are no wizards." This was a lot of money to run a small shop. However, it wasn't enough to hire an intermediate or higher-level mage and pay them a salary. That's why I coveted the demon that Dominic summoned!
"Tell me what."
"I want to make beer candy first."
"Beer candy? What's that?"
I straightened my mouth and shook my head. "You don't know beer candy? You've lost half your life, Dominic." Dominic, the arrogant boy hero, had his eyes widened.
"Is it that big?" Dominic was often too naive to make fun of. I decided to explain further. "Listen, Dominic. Originally, our children learn by watching everything adults do."
"...Is that so?" Dominic tilted his head.
"Yes, adults like to drink." In addition, thanks to the rapidly hot weather, the number of breweries had increased, and beer had become very popular even among the aristocracy. In summer, it's all about beer. "So the kids must have looked over their shoulders and seen the adults drinking. But kids shouldn't drink, right?"
Dominic nodded. "That's right. I know it's illegal for children to drink beer. It makes them weak physically and mentally."
"That's right, that's it."
"Then what do you want to do?" I smiled at him with a curious expression.
"I'm going to make two kinds of beer candy. One is beer candy that even adults can eat. It's made like real beer. And the other is a children's candy that looks like beer. Children's candy won't have any alcohol or a hangover. I'm going to make it sweet."
"That's amazing." Dominic looked at me and shook his head seriously.
'It's hard to implement something that doesn't exist in this world at all. It would be nice if there was a wizard.' I shook my head with a sad expression.
Seeing me like that, Dominic clicked his tongue a few times. "I also know how to arrange basic life magic. If you have the ingredients to make beer candy, you can use some beginner magic."
"Oh, really? Really?" I thought that if the stationery store got bigger, I would really be able to supply it! Suddenly, I felt hopeful. "Yes, we need a lot of raw materials for candy and beer."
Dominic frowned. "Why do you need that?" 'Wasn't it just a snap and it was made?'
"In order to make beer candy for adults, you have to embody the taste of beer itself."
"Oh, I see."
"The same is true for children. It also looks like beer. I need a reference to make the perfect beer look."
"Oh..." I looked at Dominic with sparkling eyes as he shared his expertise. He was already my savior.
Dominic lowered his gaze and muttered lowly, as if he was embarrassed. "...Well, you know, I was trapped when I was underage. So I don't remember drinking beer, and I don't remember seeing alcohol up close." I had forgotten that Dominic was a boy knight who died immaturely. "He lived in the sword for more than a thousand years." Somehow, I felt sorry for his extraordinary life. I raised my hand and patted him on the shoulder.
"I understand."
"Yes."
"..."
"...I've tried everything else." When his earlobes were reddened, it was Dominic to bluff openly.
I nodded and turned to him. "Yes. Then I need to get some beer. All you need are references, right?" Beer acquisition was easy. All you had to do was buy it. So, was it a success?
But Dominic ignored the burdened twinkle in my eyes. "Nope. The magic of creating and combining things requires a lot of delicate work. The same goes for beer candy. We'll have to make the brewing process magical."
"The brewing process?"
"Yes, you need to know the brewing process to make magic food, and someone who is knowledgeable about alcohol should teach me about the brewing process one by one." Dominic continued. He seemed a little embarrassed. "...The more beginners are, the more likely they are to rely on specific magic formulas. I'm a beginner in life magic."
Looking at it now, I guess he was worried that there were restrictions and that I would be disappointed. But Dominic used magic and swords, so it was understandable. I nodded quietly.
But even if alcohol was available, where could we find such people? In the first place, I didn't know anyone who was knowledgeable about alcohol, and I didn't have the money to buy a lot of alcohol.
First, I smiled bashfully and looked around. "Then I should think about beer candy and sell what I have first. That's how I'll save seed money."
"Yes. Maybe even if you sell all of them, you will be a big hit." Dominic replied cheerfully.
"That's right! We have slushies made of ice that even high-ranking nobles can't easily eat!"
...Until that morning, we were full of unfounded confidence.
Wheeing.
A few hours after opening, I, who had been excited about the big day and making business items with Dominic, was embarrassed. "Even though we haven't promoted it yet, how can there be no customers who taste it?" I looked around and muttered to myself. "Why do only flies fly around?"
Dominic, who had been put to work by me last night, dozed off and stretched. He spoke as if it was no big deal. "Is it because it's not time for the children to come yet?"
"Then let's start with the merchants around us." The children of the academy may visit often. I muttered with a sad face. "Not bad." I stood up stiffly. If nothing happened, I'd have to do some publicity around me.