Competition (Part 1)

Romon's potion shop was doing exceptionally well—well enough to make people jealous. Though most of the customers who came every day to buy potions were adventurers, townsfolk who had used Romon's medicine also came by from time to time.

Even after the initial discount period ended, Romon's shop continued to generate considerable profits every day. And after the tax collector came several times to make trouble, the young Nick gradually matured as well.

He began seriously studying the basic laws of the territory. Don't doubt it—perhaps since the early days of feudal lordship, the continent had developed a relatively complete set of public laws, especially with the God of Law and Order driving things from behind the scenes. At the same time, he diligently memorized potion knowledge, and when customers asked questions, he could now handle them with practiced ease.

Romon saw all these changes. He felt guilty toward this boy who had been injured because of him. Giving Nick something to rely on, allowing him to live by his own abilities, was something Romon had to do.

And Nick's earnestness and hard work were also exactly what Romon had expected. On the surface, Romon had helped Nick, but in truth, Nick's efforts had brought profits to the shop. Nick's loyalty was something none of the hired workers could match.

So in the end, who had really helped whom? That would be hard to say in the future.

At the very least, every time Romon came to the shop, he saw a face full of diligence and seriousness. Because of his body, Nick worked harder than anyone else.

It was also worth mentioning that Nick was not the only one. Fafier had been invited to help at the shop as well, but since his greatest dream was to become a warrior, he did not pour his whole life into the potion shop as Nick had. He had come a few times and helped out voluntarily, but he was not really a formal employee.

Besides the two of them, Romon had also asked the merchant Barnel to find him an experienced and clever shop assistant. This young man had only recently settled his family in town and planned to find work there. He had worked as an assistant in a potion shop before, so naturally he picked things up quickly after arriving at Romon's shop.

Meanwhile, Romon, the true owner, leisurely retreated behind the scenes. Other than occasionally visiting the shop, he spent his time practicing martial skills and checking on the growth of plants in his space.

That day, just as he withdrew his mind from the space, Nick came to his room. When Romon had taken over that shop, he had also rented the courtyard behind it. To prevent anyone from causing trouble at night, he had long since moved over from Motte and his wife's place.

Though it was not easy for people to catch him during the day, at night he was usually staying in the shop.

Since he had risen early that day, he had practiced his martial skills in a clearing in the forest outside town before returning to his room. The shop had not yet closed, and Nick happened to catch him there.

"Hehe, Nick!" The moment Romon saw the other boy's somewhat thin face, he wondered whether he, as the boss, had been too lazy.

"Romon, you're still lounging around here?" Nick looked uneasy. He turned and shut the door, then said in a low voice, "I just heard that the shop across from us has been taken over. Do you think it might have something to do with us?"

"Really?" Romon paused, then smiled. "Nick, you're overthinking it. Opening a shop isn't something we can control. Don't worry about it. Come, sit down and rest."

"But... these past two days, I've just had this bad feeling..." Nick muttered.

Seeing Romon's calm, carefree expression, Nick immediately said irritably, "You really have it easy as a boss. I'm starting to wonder whether I got carried away back then and fell for your trick, only to end up working like an ox and horse for you!"

"Haha, you finally understand? Too bad—you've boarded the pirate ship now, and there's no getting off!" Romon laughed loudly. That punchable expression of his made Nick howl even more.

After the two of them fooled around for a while, Nick remembered the matter again. "Romon, you should still go take a look. I think that shop might really be coming for us."

Hearing this, Romon's warm smile faded, only for a hint of cold laughter to surface. He nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Nick's mother brought over steaming meat pies. Before she had even reached the back, the fragrance had already drifted in. The moment the two boys smelled it, they charged out with howls without needing to be called.

Watching them wolf down the food, Nick's mother's face was filled with affection. Ah, no matter what, they were still children...

A short while later, Romon appeared at the entrance of that shop.

It was a shop still under renovation, located directly opposite the potion shop Romon was currently running.

This shop was even larger than Romon's, and its exterior was better as well. Even its lighting was superior to Romon's shop.

Workers bustled about both inside and outside the store, and there were even more of them than Romon had hired last time. From the looks of it, this shop's opening ceremony would only be livelier than his, never more shabby, right?

Romon thought to himself.

In fact, Romon had previously considered taking over this shop himself, but its owner had been insatiably greedy, so the two sides had never been able to agree on a price.

Yet judging by this display, the shop had still been taken over. He just wondered which fool with more money than sense had bought it? Standing in front of his own shop, Romon gazed at the shop across the street, a smile appearing on his face that no one else could understand.

"Romon, it's this one. Look, they're making such a huge fuss, opening right across from us at a time like this. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"

"When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it." Faced with Nick's worried expression, Romon suddenly said this.

"Huh? What does that mean?" How could anyone in this world understand what Romon meant? The moment Nick heard it, he was confused.

Romon did not want to explain too much. He merely looked at the shop across the street and smiled. "What's coming will come eventually. Without competition, there can be no winner."

He patted Nick on the shoulder, then returned to the shop.

"This Romon... I understand less and less of what he says." Shaking his head, Nick glanced once more at the shop across the street before following him inside.

Just as the two figures disappeared through the doorway, a carriage suddenly came from afar and stopped in front of the shop opposite.

A young girl jumped down from the carriage first, followed shortly afterward by a middle-aged man who stepped down as well.

If Romon had still been outside at that moment, he would certainly have recognized the middle-aged man as his former teacher, the Druid Jefa. And the girl accompanying Jefa was Jefa's beloved disciple, Weiwan.

"Teacher, when will the renovations be finished?" After walking around the shop once, the girl asked anxiously.

"Silly child, you need to change that impatient temper of yours. Doing business is not something to rush. The reason I agreed to let you manage this shop was to give you better training, so your future path of Druid cultivation may go more smoothly. You must not focus only on opening a shop and, like certain people, neglect your practice and put the cart before the horse." The Druid Jefa spoke earnestly.

As he said this, his gaze drifted toward Romon's shop across the street several times.

"Teacher, is the person you mean Romon? But I heard he's already advanced to Second-Level Druid. That speed is truly frightening!" Weiwan said enviously.

"First and second level are only beginner ranks. Advancing levels is not the hardest part. Only by becoming a Druid of the third level or above can one be considered a true Druid. He still has a long road ahead of him. You must not imitate him." The Druid Jefa lectured his disciple.

"Oh, I understand!" Weiwan merely answered.

Jefa had always doted on this disciple. Seeing that she had not taken his words to heart, he could only shake his head and turn his attention to the renovations.

"How many more days until it's finished?" Jefa asked calmly. The foreman hurriedly replied respectfully, "In reply to the esteemed Master Jefa, it will be completed in another three days."

"Good." Jefa nodded and said nothing more, taking the lead as he left the shop.

Weiwan could only cast one lingering glance at the little shop that had not yet been renovated, then followed him out.

Amid a swirl of dust, the carriage departed into the distance.

"It's them?" Romon's figure appeared at the entrance of the potion shop shortly afterward. His expression was complicated as he watched the carriage leave, then shook his head.

That complicated feeling was truly strange. But still, the same held true: without competition, there could be no winner.

Three days later, Rika Town's second potion shop opened. Just like when Romon's potion shop had opened, this shop adopted several strategies to attract customers.

But unlike Romon's people-friendly approach, they invited an acrobat troupe, built a stage outside the shop, and put on a performance. Though there was no beer or enthusiastic speech, the acrobats' show still packed the area in front of the shop with people.

And when the shop owner appeared, it caused another stir.

"Heavens! It's actually Master Jefa!"

"Master Jefa has opened a shop too?"

"From the looks of it, it's a potion shop as well!"

Amid the crowd's speculation, the red cloth covering the signboard was abruptly pulled away.

Jefa's Potion Shop.

Those five large characters immediately confirmed everyone's guesses. Almost by reflex, the spectators turned their gazes toward Romon's potion shop, but found no one coming out to watch the excitement.

That made sense. Those in the same trade were natural enemies, especially these two parties, who already had old grievances between them.

Thinking of how these two potion shops had opened directly opposite one another, the crowd could already smell gunpowder in the air without waiting for both sides to begin business.

Next, Jefa stepped forward and gave a brief opening speech. But just like his personality, his words were mild and bland, making it difficult to stir the crowd's interest.

Perhaps taking after Romon, the owner of this potion shop was likewise not Jefa himself. Instead, it was managed by his disciple, Weiwan.

After a few brief remarks came the wonderful performance.

!!