Opening the Shop (Part 2)

Half a month later, Rika Town's first potion shop finally opened its doors. Bearing everyone's blessings and under countless curious gazes, it opened with great ceremony.

After all, over the past half month, Romon's shop had thoroughly whetted everyone's appetite. Even those so-called respectable people who prided themselves on never buying potions from Romon were full of curiosity about his mysterious actions.

Rika Town was remote to begin with and lacked entertainment. What was more, it was now winter, with heavy snow filling the sky. Thus, Romon's strange actions gave the townsfolk plenty to talk about after meals and over tea.

That shop, whose very renovations seemed shrouded in mystery, had already drawn most people's attention before it even opened.

What was more, it was Rika Town's first potion shop.

Thus, although the opening ceremony had originally been scheduled for nine in the morning, by a little after eight, quite a few people who loved excitement were already peering over this way.

"Romon, I think I finally understand what you meant." Merchant Barnel stood on the steps with Romon. Seeing the scene before them, he immediately wore an enlightened expression.

"You understand?" Romon glanced at him and sighed. Judging by that look, he understood nothing at all.

"Yes, using gimmicks to arouse everyone's interest is a method merchants love to use. But..." Barnel still did not quite understand. He looked at Romon. "Does a potion shop need such a grand display too? Yours is the only one here. Even without all this, it wouldn't affect your business, would it?"

Romon sighed again. He said he understood—did he really? His true gimmick was not here at all... Did a potion shop need such a grand display? Romon silently gave the answer in his heart. Yes, it did.

A potion shop was unlike other shops. With adventurers becoming more and more numerous, one potion shop clearly would not be enough to meet all the demand.

Where there was demand, there would be supply. In the future, perhaps this would not be the only potion shop here.

No one had opened one before for three reasons: no one had noticed the business opportunity for the moment, there were not many people who understood the trade, and demand was not great enough.

But now... once the first person to eat crab appeared, the second, the third... would likely appear very quickly as well. There were few shops in other industries because demand was low, but potion shops were different. At the very least, ordinary medicines that did not require divine arts had no restrictions at all...

Thinking of the things he had heard adventurers mention, Romon had long since made plans. Would there be more and more adventurers in the future?

If so, running this shop well would truly be of great help to him in the future!

"Romon!" At that moment, two men and a woman appeared in the distance, walking toward them. The youngest man waved at him. Nick and his family had arrived.

"Nick, you look pretty well. It seems you recovered quickly." Romon hurried down the steps and hugged the young man.

Caught in Romon's embrace, Nick actually blushed a little. "Romon, you've changed a lot too. I almost didn't recognize you."

That made sense. During this period, Romon had been busy with his own affairs. Even when he brought money to Nick's home, he often did not get to see Nick.

Now that they met again, Romon had changed quite a bit in both temperament and physical strength because of Shennong Horn's transformation. Those who saw him often would not think much of it.

But Nick, Romon's good friend who had not seen him for a long time, naturally noticed the change at a glance.

Romon chuckled without explaining much. He first greeted Nick's parents, who had come with Nick, then invited them onto the shop's steps. The simple, honest couple absolutely refused to stand beside Romon. Romon was now a Second-Level Druid, his status far higher than theirs, and they did not dare show such disrespect.

"Romon, is it... all right for me to stand here?" Nick was no longer the reckless fool he had once been. Seeing this arrangement, he did not feel awkward because of Romon's changed status, but he still felt that something was not quite right.

Romon chuckled, patted his shoulder, and said, "Of course it is."

Though he did not force Nick's parents to stand beside him, he would not allow Nick to refuse and firmly pulled him over. Seeing that struggling was useless, Nick gave a bitter smile and could only remain standing there.

At that moment, it was almost time for the opening. Romon looked at the people around them, who were stretching their necks and peering about, smiled confidently, and had someone open the shop doors.

But that was not the most important part. What drew the most attention was that rows of cute red lanterns were hung outside the shop, while many multicolored ribbons danced in the wind. Against the white world of snow, they looked extraordinarily beautiful.

This immediately drew a crowd. At this moment, Romon was truly basking in boundless glory. The townsfolk who had distanced themselves from him for certain reasons now looked at him with a touch of flattery and reverence. This was the direct result of his change in status.

Barnel, standing beside Romon, cleverly stepped down at this point. Only Romon and Nick remained atop the high steps. Romon was easy enough to explain, since he was the star of the day, but Nick's presence made everyone speculate. Before long, however, the lanterns lighting up distracted them.

"Wow! So beautiful! What kind of lamp is that?" someone exclaimed.

"They're lanterns!" Romon said with a smile.

Almost everyone was stunned by the beautiful scene. Yet after looking, the question people cared about most still had to be asked.

"Romon, is the potion shop opening today?" someone asked. "Are the potions expensive?"

Romon first smiled at those who praised it, then answered solemnly, "Yes, it opens today."

As he spoke, he stepped up another level, standing directly on the highest step, then said loudly, "Everyone, to thank you for your support, anyone who purchases potions from this shop today will only need to pay half the usual price!"

As soon as his words fell, many people revealed delighted expressions.

However, there were also unexpected voices.

"How much the potions cost is still entirely up to you, isn't it?" someone shouted from the crowd.

Romon frowned slightly, but he did not get angry. Instead, he raised his voice further. "Rest assured, everyone. Every potion in this shop will have a clearly marked price. Even if prices are adjusted in the future, we will make a public announcement. If you do not believe me, then after the opening ceremony, you may all enter and look around as much as you wish!"

With a wave of his hand, something similar to fireworks from Earth, prepared in advance for this world, was lit. Then the festive opening ceremony began.

Romon had prepared a simple canopy in front of the shop beforehand. Inside were over a dozen long tables temporarily borrowed from the Motte Inn's storeroom, their surfaces covered with cups. By now, someone had poured warm beer into them.

The frothing beer and its fragrance spreading through the air immediately made everyone's eyes light up.

An opening ceremony like this was truly pleasing!

Sure enough, after giving a few words for the opening, Romon merely said, "Everyone, drink to your heart's content!"

The atmosphere immediately reached its peak.

Though they had prepared quite a lot of beer, and the total expense was not a small sum, Romon felt it was worth it.

First of all, most of those who came today were adventurers. Building relationships with them could do no harm.

Romon wore a brand-new outfit today. It was light blue, and on him, it made his tall, straight figure and extraordinary bearing stand out even more.

Perhaps because of Shennong Horn, he had grown another head taller. Wearing this outfit and standing among the crowd, he immediately seemed like a crane standing among chickens. Nick, who had been watching his every move, was happy for his good friend, yet also felt rather envious and heartsore.

Watching everyone gather around Romon as though he were the moon surrounded by stars, Nick was happy for him, but felt even more lost about his own future.

Taking advantage of no one noticing, he slipped to the edge of the crowd.

"Nick, what are you thinking about?" Fafier, also Romon's good friend, had been invited along with his family. Seeing Nick walk out with a gloomy expression, Fafier became worried and followed him.

Nick looked at Fafier, who was also dressed in new clothes, hurriedly hid his sorrowful expression, and forced a smile. "My body can't handle alcohol, so I came outside to get some air!"

The snow was still falling, though it had lessened considerably. Only scattered snowflakes drifted all across the sky with the wind.

Fafier understood how he felt. He patted Nick's shoulder, wanting to comfort him but unable to find the words. He could only sigh and stand beside him, watching the falling snow.

Suddenly, a wave of exclamations arose from the crowd over there.

Then everyone's gaze abruptly turned toward the two young men. More precisely, every gaze fell upon Nick.

Suddenly being watched by so many people, Nick panicked. Before he could speak, the crowd parted to either side, revealing Romon standing within.

"I will be inviting Nick to serve as the manager of this potion shop. Everyone, welcome Nick to come over and say a few words!" Romon beckoned to Nick.

It was like a thunderclap. Not only Nick, but even his parents—the two townsfolk who had been standing amid the crowd—wore shocked expressions upon hearing this.

"Is... is this true?" they asked.

"Of course it's true." Romon smiled at them. Then, seeing Nick still standing there in a daze, he could only walk over and pull him across.

"I now announce that, from today onward, Nick will become the manager of this potion shop. The weather is rather cold, so I won't waste words. Everyone, please come inside!" As he spoke, he took Nick by the hand and entered the potion shop.

When everyone heard this, some were surprised, some puzzled, and some disdainful. Yet more people were filled with curiosity about this potion shop.

Seeing Romon enter first, they immediately followed him inside. Thus, countless gasps of breath continuously arose throughout the shop afterward.

It was completely unlike anything anyone had imagined. The decorations around Romon's shop had been arranged to imitate the layout of certain psychological clinics on Earth.

The warm, clean colors, the tidy wooden floor that was not slippery, and the rows of clean, soft chairs made everyone feel comfortable at first sight.

At the very center of the shop stood a row of long tables, along with partitions usually found only in small cities, all appearing within this little shop.

Countless potions were arranged according to their different types and effects, with clear classifications. Before every kind of potion stood a small sign explaining its price, method of use, and suitable users in detail. It could only be said that everything overturned everyone's expectations. After seeing it, they were astonished beyond measure.

Thus, on the first day of Romon's opening, he received support from countless people. Many bought some to store away because of the low prices. Business that day was truly good. Even though prices had been cut in half, Romon still made a profit without any loss, since the cost of the herbs could basically be ignored.

After learning that Nick truly could get this job, and that the salary was not low, Nick's parents thanked Romon profusely.

Nick was even happier, and he resolved to manage the potion shop well for Romon. Vitality returned to him, and this outcome delighted Fafier and the others as well.

Just as Romon's potion shop was selling medicines briskly, a figure suddenly appeared outside the little shop.

This person wore comfortable robes. Though he was no longer young, he always gave others a comfortable feeling. He was none other than Romon's former teacher, Druid Jefa.

However, this Fifth-Level Druid did not enter to offer congratulations. He merely looked from afar, stood there for a moment, then silently departed.