While we waited for Hitori to arrive, Ikumi proudly explained about her family's business. She mentioned that it was because of their family's exceptional handling of high quality meat that Erina had taken notice and had brought her into her circle. She was one of their biggest clients, regularly purchasing large amounts of premium meat from them.
She was especially boastful about the fact they could get their hands on and sell the rarest meat- A5 Wagyu.
"About that, Ikumi, there's something I'd like to talk to you about," Erina told her. "While I'm satisfied with your expertise in meat, I understand you may have been neglecting the other ingredients and how to balance them with meat. I'd like you to take your focus off of closing down clubs for a while and instead take this time to refine your cooking skills to bring them up to the same level as your meat preparation."
Ikumi blinked in surprise. "I... Of course, if you believe it's necessary, Erina-sama. But why...?"
"I think I can answer this one," I decided to speak up. "It's because if one ingredient in a dish is too much further ahead in skill than the others, it can overpower the whole dish, and customers will end up leaving it half finished. This will lead to reviews like, 'The meat was good, but I wish the rice was paid more attention to' and things like that. While specialising in meat is fine, you need to also consider the other ingredients you use to bring out the flavour of the meat to its peak while not letting it overshadow any of the other ingredients."
"Make the ingredients work together to enhance the flavour..." Ikumi repeated slowly, looking considerate.
"It's just like how Hisako and Erina work together," I told her, making both girls look at me in surprise. "Erina is skilled at many things, yes. But Hisako is the one who arranges her schedule, who makes notes for her in case she forgets, and so on. With Hisako aiding Erina, it allows Erina to be able to work to her full potential."
Erina and Hisako shared a look before they both looked away from each other, clearly feeling slightly embarrassed by my words.
"Right... I think I understand," Ikumi nodded. "I understand, Erina-sama. I'll do my best to refine my other skills from now on. When the Autumn Election comes, I'll make sure to do you proud."
"See that you do," Erina nodded, clearing her throat.
Finally, the door opened up. "Um, please pardon my intrusion, Erina-sama," a quiet voice spoke timidly.
I turned my head and finally looked upon the Gotoh Hitori of this world.
She was dressed in the Totsuki uniform, gripping the bottom of her brown plaid skirt timidly. Her body alone was absolutely stunning- curvy with a breast size that shocked me from just how big they were. She could probably rival Ikumi, or she might have been even bigger than her!
Her long pink hair cascaded down her back, a small strand of hair tied up and poking out to the side. Her blue eyes timidly looked at us, with hundreds of thoughts racing behind them- no doubt negative thoughts about herself, thinking she'd done something to upset Erina.
Why the hell was this girl so insecure!? She was beautiful!
In fact, had she been more confident, I would put her beauty on par with the likes of Erina!
"Perfect, I'm glad you are here, Gotoh-san," Erina nodded at her. "Now, we can begin... Oh, of course, this is Lynx Tiberius. He's the one who provided those Stamina Drinks."
"Ah! Th- th- thank you for your help, Tiberius-sama!" Hitori quickly bowed, not wanting to seem like she was ungrateful or rude.
"Please, raise your head," I told her. "I'll head into the shop and get things ready for you, Erina. You can explain everything to Ikumi and Gotoh-san."
"Yes, thank you for your help, Lynx-kun," Erina gave me a small smile before she turned to focus on Ikumi and Hitori. "Now, what I am about to tell you may seem unbelievable- but it is also the truth..."
The words were cut off for me as I headed back into my shop. Unum was stood behind the counter, waiting patiently.
Once she noticed me, she bowed. "Welcome back, Master. No visitors came while you were away."
"Good," I nodded. "Take all the stamina potions off of the shelf and box them up. A customer is coming to buy them. Also, prepare 8 Low-Mid Healing Potions, 4 Mid Healing Potions, 2 Mid-Low Mana Potions, and 2 Mid Mana Potions."
Unum nodded and stepped out from behind the counter, immediately fulfilling my orders as she began to box up potions.
It was when she was halfway done that Erina entered with both Ikumi and Hitori. Ikumi looked around the shop in wonder, her eyes sparkling. Hitori looked far more subdued, but her eyes still had a small light of excitement within them.
"Welcome," I smiled. "Unum is just packing up your order of Stamina potions. Since I'm aware of your intention to enter the Dungeon as well, I've also taken the liberty of having her prepare eight 10% and four 50% healing potions, along with two each of 40% and 50% mana potions."
"Perfect," Erina nodded at my words. "In that case, we'll take it all. Plus, some basic armour for all of us, and some basic weapons."
"What sort of weapons are you looking for?" I asked her.
"I'll take a spear," Erina told me. "Gotoh-san will take a pair of daggers, and also a sword."
Gotoh nodded timidly, ready to fulfil the role Erina had chosen for her.
"I will take a bow with a quiver of arrows, and also a staff if you have one," Hisako told me.
"I'm not quite sure, what I want," Ikumi admitted. "If possible, can I choose once I decide my class?"
"Certainly," I nodded. "Oh, and I'm sure you'll also be purchasing the systems for both Gotoh-san and Ikumi?"
Erina gave a firm nod to confirm my words.
"Perfect," I nodded. "Normally this would all run you around 15,000,000 yen. But since this is a bulk purchase, I'll knock off ten percent. That brings your total to 13,968,000 yen!"
Ikumi and Hitori both gulped at the sheer number they just heard, clearly taken aback by it.
Erina merely nodded and swiped her card on the card reader.
You have obtained 13,968 Gold!
Your Merchant Level has increased by 1!
25 --- 26!
I nodded in satisfaction and bestowed the system onto both Ikumi and Hitori without further delay.
Hitori's eyes lit up and, for a moment, she seemed to forget where she was as she eagerly began to read through the tutorial and learn how the system worked. Ikumi was likewise engrossed, reading everything eagerly.
Unum placed the box of stamina potions on the counter, along with the other sixteen potions lined up on the counter. The bottles all had their percentage on them in big numbers in order to ensure they wouldn't mix them up.
"Hisako, please take the Stamina Potions into your inventory and drop them off," Erina instructed her, with Hisako wasting no time in going to do just that.
I opened up the store, meanwhile, and purchased basic armour and the weapons they requested, setting them down on the counter. "Here you are. You can use the training room to change your clothes..." I paused and also decided to buy one more thing, setting a book on the counter. "And here, I managed to find this in my system's store- a book on that hammer space magic I told you about that allows you to store things inside and equip and unequip them- Requip Magic."
Erina's eyes lit up. "How much?"
I waved her off. "Take it for free. We're friends, I should be able to give you a gift every so often, right? Though I would appreciate if you could have this book mass produced so that I can give it to other clients in the future. It would be a great help to people like you, who live in more modern worlds."
"I'll get it done," she agreed with a warm smile. She turned to face Ikumi and Hitori.
I saw that both were finalizing the tutorial, so I took this chance to analyse them both.
Ikumi Mito
Race: Human
Job: Chef Level 9
Class: Berserker Level 1
Hitori Gotoh
Race: Human
Job: Chef Level 7, Musician Level 27
Class: Assassin Level 1
Hm... The Berserker and Assassin jobs? Those would definitely help round out their team rather nicely.
"I'll take an axe for my weapon," Ikumi informed me now that she had made her choice.
I nodded and made the purchase, setting it on the table.
Both she and Hitori quickly took their weapons and armour, thanking me before they headed into the training room to change their clothes.
Erina smiled and joined them once Hisako returned. They also took the potions to distribute among them.
I just smiled and turned my eye to Unum. "You'll be going into the Dungeon with them. Don't interfere unless they look as though they are in mortal danger. Your job is to observe and act as back up only in the worst case scenario, just to be safe. Understood?"
"Yes, Master," she fell on one knee before me. "I shall ensure they live."
"Oh... And, if you can, show that pink haired girl a few moves. I'm sure you can tell, she's timid. So, if you can, show her a few tricks to help her survive. Understood?"
"Understood," she confirmed.
"Good," I nodded at her words, and waited patiently.
It took some time, but the door finally opened as Erina came out with the others, all of them wearing leather armour and wielding their respective weapons- with the extra weapons like Hitori's sword and Arato's bow being kept in the inventory.
The leather armour gifted by the system was interesting in that it could change somewhat to match the user's preferences, while still providing the same protection.
... So, I did my best not to stare at Ikumi who was wearing it more like it was a bra.
"Well, it looks like you're all ready," I told them. "I'll be sending Unum with you," I gestured to her. "She's helped me clear the Dungeon before, so she knows how it works. She'll only step in should she believe one of your lives is in danger, she might also show Gotoh-san a few moves since she's a Rogue Class."
"P- Please take care of me," Gotoh murmured as she looked at Unum.
"Yes," Unum nodded at her words. "I will ensure your safety."
"Thank you for this," Erina said gratefully. "Really, I don't know how to thank you."
"Don't die," I responded with a playful smile. "I don't want to lose one of my best customers, after all."
Erina blinked and then smiled. "Then please restock on more potions, okay? I plan to keep using your services in the future, so be prepared."
"You got it."
With a smile on her face, Erina led the group to the Dungeon and entered- the four of them plus Unum vanishing into azure light.
I took a deep breath as I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling.
Today had not turned into what I was expecting. A small tour and introduction to Totsuki, learning that I'd utterly fucked the world's canon... I'd even revealed that Yukihira was Joichiro's son to get Erina off of his back.
As for if Yukihira would still grow without Erina putting pressure on him... Of course he would, the world was Shokugeki no Soma for a reason. Obstacles would appear in his path to facilitate his growth, even if Erina would leave him alone.
Granted, I also had no way of knowing if Erina would truly leave him alone- or if she would simply be less critical of him.
"Haaa, fuck me," I groaned and rotated my shoulder, cracking my neck slowly. The days just didn't end, did they?
The door opened and I quickly sat up in my chair properly, putting on a practised smile. "Welcome!" My eye looked to my new customer...
My heart skipped a beat.
An absolutely stunning woman entered, her blue hair cascading over her shoulders, her matching eyes slowly looking around the room in curiosity and intrigue. She wore black shorts with patterned leggings and black boots, along with a corset coated with armour that exposed her naval. She was clad in black and grey robe that did little to hide her immaculate figure, and various armour parts sprinkled all over her by.
"I'm here to buy some weapons and vulnerary for my students," Byleth Eisner spoke, her emotionless eyes staring into me.
"… Choke me with your thighs, mommy."