★ chapter one
★ chapter two
★ episode
★ home line

chapter one

[Wizards’ Manor—Courtyard]

Riquet: Come one, come all! Welcome to my shop! A single bite from my delicious cookies will make you taste happiness!

Hmm, no, that’s not right…

Heathcliff: …Ah, so it was you that I heard, Riquet. I knew I recognised that voice, although you sounded a little different than usual. What were you doing?

Riquet: Heathcliff! I, um.. Well, only Master Sage is supposed to know about this, and I’d like to keep it between us as much as possible for now, but…

To tell you the truth, I have been secretly practising to be a shopkeeper.

Heathcliff: A shopkeeper?

Riquet: Yes! We stopped by plenty of stalls when we last attended Walpurgisnacht’s party, remember?

Heathcliff: I do; I also remember how lively the party was, and how uniquely solemn the Magic Mountain of the North felt.

Riquet: You see, I want to bring that same joyful atmosphere to the others from Central country, since they didn’t get the chance to come with us.

So I asked Master Sage for advice on the matter, and they told me that I should try to replicate the stalls I visited back then.

But I can’t really notice my own mistakes since I have been practising all by myself…

Heathcliff: I can understand. ...Oh, I have an idea: if you allow me, perhaps I could pretend to be a customer to help you out of your slump. What do you think?

Riquet: Really? By all means then! I’d be happy to practise with you!

Heathcliff: Of course, I’m always happy to help. Let’s see…

Excuse me, may I have one of those cookies over there, please?

Riquet: Hrm-hrm...! Our deluxe cookie, I see! You have the eye for delicacies, sir! Here, your order.

Heathcliff: Thank you very much. …Wow, that’s delicious.

And I could say the same about your warm and cheerful service: it’s a delight.

Riquet: Ehehe, and you know how to flatter a salesman. U-um, what do I say after that again, uh… Right, next should be the payment…

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chapter two

[Wizards’ Manor—Courtyard]

Riquet: …

Heathcliff: Riquet?

Riquet: What shall I do… I didn’t think about what I should get in return for the cookies…

Heathcliff: I believe money would be a natural answer, but maybe I was mistaken?

Riquet: Yes, and no: it just doesn’t feel right to accept money.

But I also want them to taste the same joy I had that night, so…

So if I want to play my role as a shopkeeper properly, then I must comply with this procedure, don’t I… Hmmm…

Heathcliff: …Riquet, you don’t need to mimic every single detail just because you’re playing your role as a shopkeeper.

Look, this is your shop, and no one else’s. Perhaps you could come up with a price that you find appropriate, don’t you think?

Riquet: A price that I find appropriate, huh...

… Um, is it okay if it’s not something material or money?

Heathcliff: Of course. What do you have in mind?

Riquet: I, I want to… share these cookies with everybody.

You know, I’ve put my everything into baking them. I just want to see their faces light up and catch their reactions as they eat them.

Heathcliff: …That’s it! Something more memorable than money would be… What a wonderful “price”, Riquet. That’s just like you.

Riquet: Thank you very much! Back to our practice then...

Dear customer, would you eat with me in exchange for the cookie?

Heathcliff: Gladly, I’d be happy to oblige.

Riquet: Yay! Fufu, I mean, thank you for your purchase!

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episode story

“Welcome to Riquet’s”

[Wizard’s Manor—Bedrooms Corridor]

Riquet: Ah, Master Sage!

Akira: Hey there, Riquet. What’s the hurry? Did something happen?

Riquet: I just wanted to thank you for your help last time. I sought you for advice the other day, remember?

So I did everything you suggested, and recreated a stall from the Walpurgis party for everyone, and…

Well, Prince Arthur, and Cain, and even Oz, they all were so pleased with it! Thank you so much, Master Sage.

Akira: Wow, that’s awesome! What did they think about it?

Riquet: Prince Arthur patted me on the head and complemented how much I had practised for that day!

Oz didn’t say much as usual, although he did say that the cookies I had for sale were well baked.

And Cain seemed to really like my cookies, because he ordered ten of them!

Akira: Ahaha, looks like your stall met a roaring success. I’m glad to hear you all had a wonderful time.

I know you had been hard at work to perfect your cookies, but Heath also told me how much you practised your shop-keeping skills.

Riquet: Thank you for your support, Master Sage! I will also have to thank Heathcliff later.

Akira: That reminds me, can I pay a visit to your shop if you ever open again?

Riquet: Of course!

Don’t worry, I will improve both my baking and shop-keeping skills for an even better stall experience by your next visit!

home line

“I want to try and go about my day without using any spells today—what do you think? I believe practising self-restraint can help better realise the significance of this miraculous power!”

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