73rd Street, New York.
"Devil Fruits? That's a weird name."
"What do you think they sell?"
"Only one way to find out, let's go inside!"
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The moment those curious voices drifted in from outside, Rosh felt his mood lift.
Almost on reflex, he straightened his back and adjusted his posture, making sure he looked as presentable as possible. A shopkeeper's first impression mattered especially when your merchandise already sounded suspicious.
A second later, the doorbell chimed.
In walked a tall, curvy blonde woman dressed in fashionable clothes, her presence instantly filling Rosh's modest little store.
"Welcome," Rosh said, stepping forward with a polite smile.
She took one look at him and grinned. "Didn't expect the shop owner to be this handsome," she teased, throwing him a playful wink.
"Thank you for the compliment, my lady," Rosh replied smoothly, completely unfazed. He returned the wink with a calm, practiced smile. "Your beauty alone has elevated the atmosphere of my humble shop."
The blonde laughed softly, clearly enjoying the exchange, before her attention drifted to the display of vividly colored fruits lining the shelves.
"Hey, handsome," she said, pointing, her surprise obvious. "What exactly are these?"
She stared for a few seconds longer before realization hit. "Wait… don't tell me. Are these the so-called Devil Fruits?"
"That's right," Rosh said, nodding. "They're called Devil Fruits. The name sounds a little scary, but they grant truly extraordinary powers."
"Extraordinary?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You mean they taste incredible?"
Her gaze landed on the darker fruits, especially the black ones, and her expression shifted into open doubt. They looked less like food and more like something that shouldn't be touched, let alone eaten.
"No," Rosh said quickly, shaking his head. "I mean extraordinary as in gaining supernatural abilities after eating them. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I swear, it's the truth."
His tone was earnest, his sincerity impossible to fake.
"So… magic fruits blessed, or cursed, by demons?" she said, laughing outright now. She gave him a look halfway between amusement and pity. Handsome or not, this shopkeeper had to be at least a little unhinged. Superpowers from fruit? What's next, turn invisible by eating an apple?
"The origins of Devil Fruits are still a mystery," Rosh replied calmly. "But interpreting them that way isn't entirely wrong. Now, my lovely lady, may I introduce you to a few of them?"
Despite the skepticism in her eyes, Rosh continued as if this were perfectly normal business.
She shrugged. "Sure. I've got time. Let's hear it."
Mostly, she just wanted to see how deep he planned to dig this hole.
"For example," Rosh said, lifting one fruit, "this is the Slip-Slip Fruit, also known as the Smooth-Smooth Fruit. Eat it, and your skin becomes incredibly slippery."
He gestured to another. "This one is the Kilo-Kilo Fruit. It allows you to freely control your own weight. With the right control, you could even float using something as simple as an umbrella."
"And this fruit..."
"Shopkeeper," she cut in sharply, her smile gone. "Do you seriously think I'm an idiot?"
Rosh paused, then shook his head. "Not at all, miss. I understand how ridiculous it sounds. That's why we offer samples of our fruit. Just one bite, and you'll experience the power firsthand."
Yes, Rosh's shop provided samples of Devil Fruits. A single bite was enough to grant the corresponding ability for five minutes.
Her eyes widened. "You're insane!"
She spun around and stormed toward the door without another glance, her voice dripping with dismissal. "Get real."
The bell chimed again as she left.
"…Again," Rosh murmured, watching the door close before letting out a bitter smile.
This exact scene had replayed itself countless times over the past month.
Most people lost interest the moment they realized these bizarre fruits were meant to be eaten. And even when someone hesitantly agreed to try a sample, they usually spat it out immediately. The taste was beyond awful, something indescribably foul. Without properly swallowing it, the power was never activated.
Timing was everything.
Push the sample too early, and people panic. But really, who would believe that eating a fruit could grant superpowers?
Even in a world that already had Captain America, this was a bit much.
And as if that weren't bad enough, there was another looming problem. In the future, Devil Fruits wouldn't be sold for cash at all, only gold. That meant customers would need to exchange their money first, adding yet another layer of resistance.
"If this keeps going like this…" Rosh muttered, unease settling in his chest. "Who knows when I'll finish my beginner task?"
Earlier that day, the news had been flooded with reports about Stark Industries unveiling the Jericho missile.
The so-called "death missile" had officially entered the world.
That meant Tony Stark's kidnapping by the Ten Rings was just around the corner, and not long after that, the birth of Iron Man.
Once that happened, the era of superheroes would truly begin.
Aliens. Artificial intelligence runs amok. Dimensional invaders. World-ending threats arriving one after another.
For ordinary people, survival would be pure luck, dying without even understanding how it happened.
Rosh's only lifeline was his system.
He wasn't originally from this world. He had transmigrated here from another Earth and awakened a system known as the Devil Fruit Supplier.
The rules were simple: sell Devil Fruits, hit sales milestones, receive rewards.
His very first task?
Sell one Devil Fruit.
It sounded laughably easy.
And yet, after a whole month, he still hadn't completed it.
"…Guess anyone willing to buy Devil Fruits really would need a screw or two loose," Rosh muttered with a self-deprecating chuckle.
But deep down, he knew...
Once the right person walked through that door, everything would change.
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Author's Note:
*P.S.: For now, fruits are sold for money. Once the system upgrades, it'll switch to gold. Rest assured, this won't be a problem later on!*
Translator's Note:
Yeah what the Author said, so seat back, relax and enjoy ;)
Also, the original translated name of the MC is Rorschach; however, it didn't really roll off the tongue that much, so I changed it to Rosh. It's shorter and simpler, making it easier to remember and pronounce.