After finishing backgammon and eating lunch, me and Alice were sitting in a leisurely line.

''Well we don't have any guests.
'Well...'

　At the counter of the grocery store, I'm leisurely reading a book and taking care of the store, well, it's an expected result, but no customers come at all.
　However, Alice also knows that, and she was making some kind of small accessory while speaking in a loose tone of voice.

''........Really, no visitors at all.
...Well, I guess so~
The thing is, this place, do you ever have other people over here besides me?
Hmmm, I'll get about 'one a month' or so~
What's the point of the store?

　Apparently, Alice's General Store is really deserted at all times.
　Well, it's certainly a store off the main street.......but does it not come that far?　Maybe the store is being avoided as a dangerous place where suspicious stuffed animals appear....

　While thinking about this, my eyes suddenly caught sight of an item on the side of the counter.

''........Is this a magic box?''
Yeah?　No, it's not. It's a 'random box'.
...a random box?

　A small box next to the counter is filled with a black, square object much like the magic box I have, and it seems to be called a random box.

'It's a product made from a disposable magic box. It's made of magic paper, which is made from magic crystal powder that is shaved when making magic tools. You can't reuse it, but you can save a magic formula for about one time, and since it's cheaper than magic crystal, it's often used by adventurers.
Oh, you mean you can only put stuff in there once...
Yes, well, it's only about the size of a small chest of drawers, but it's convenient to carry around... and that random box is just like the word says, a product with random items in it... well... To put it plainly, it's a 'mess'!
Well that's very clear.
It's 10R a piece, and unless you open it, you won't know what's in it, but sometimes there's something valuable in it. By the way, it's made by the Seddiqi Magic Trading Company.

　1,000 yen per box........
　So if you pay for this random box, you can get the items inside. Maybe some of the items inside are even more than the price.

''It's a rather popular item.
Well, what's the point of stocking up on popular products if there are no customers coming in, but........
Of course.
....
'Oh, Mr. Kite?　Are you interested?
'Umm, yeah. I think I'd like to pull a little ... 10R, right?
If I'm going to buy five, I'm going to get 45Rs, okay?

　I was a little curious and wanted to pull it off, so I took out my wallet and Alice, not wanting to miss out on a business opportunity, offered me a great deal if I bought in bulk.

'Well, I'll take five.'
You're welcome to choose.

　I pay Alice and then choose five random boxes at random, many of them.

''....Huh?　How do I open this?
Pull the cord at the bottom, and it will release and reveal the contents.
Which one is... yeah?

　When you pull on the little string attached to the bottom of the box, the random box glows for a moment, and after it disappears, what looks like a single card appears in front of you.
　It's about the size of a common trading card, but it's beautiful, like it's made of good paper.

''Mmm, could that be...''
'What?　It's kind of unusual.......this is black.

　When I turned the card over, I found a picture of Kuro eating a baby sponge cake on it.
　I think it was drawn by a pretty good artist, and the soft colors of the drawing make me feel that Kuro's cuteness is enhanced.

'Ooh, it's amazing!　As expected of Kite, to draw Kuro-san's bromide....................it's extremely rare.
A bromide?
''Yes, there are bromides of the Sixth King and Supreme God in them as ultra-rare items, but among them, Black's was the one that he was embarrassed to admit was the first one he agreed to because it was from his own business association, a few of them. Nothing else exists.
Oh, really?
It's...so it's only in the initial lot, so it's usually not available anymore, but...you know, our lot has been unsold since the beginning... ...

　Only a few black bromides in the world exist...................yes, they are cute. I'll save it for a good cause.

''By the way, if you put it up for auction, the Underworld Lover's Club will sell it to you for a ridiculous amount of money.
Well I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep it for myself.
'That might be a good idea ... well, that's that, but try to leave it open next time.
Oh, yeah...

　Alice prompted me to open the next random box, and this time a large model of a.......dragon, about 50cm long, was revealed.

''Oh, this is also........an ancient dragon model that's only available in random boxes.
...What am I going to do about this...
By the way, the Duke of Lilia will want this.
Really?
Yes, they're no longer in production and she's been crying because she couldn't get her hands on them.
Mr. Lilia.

　
　Now then, next up........

........crown?
It's a toy crown. It's a toy crown. That crown is rather expensive because it's a real thing.
'Okay, so next up... er... well...'

　When you open the fourth one, you see a mask that looks somewhat familiar... or rather, a mask that looks a lot like the one the guy beside you always wears.

'Oops, that's a bonanza!　Phantom King-sama's hand-made mask, it's extremely rare!
What an outlier...
You threw it away like it was flowing!

　
　I toss the mask I got into the trash can as it is, and open the last random box.
　Then, this time, a plant in a flowerpot appears........I see, it doesn't deteriorate inside the magic box, so this kind of thing is in there too.......

''Alice, what's this?''
It's a crystal herb.
What's so rare about it?
'It's pretty rare. It's not effective on its own, but it enhances the effects of other herbs, so it fetches a pretty high price.

　
　Oh, by the way, does Dr. Fear grow herbs?　If that's the case, I might as well give it to Dr. Fea.

''........But Kite's luck is terrible.
No, there was one outlier a strange mask.
'Isn't that cool!　Put it on, Kite, and let's match me!
I don't want to die.
'Stronger refusal than ever!

　I look at Alice, who slumps her shoulders in a gulp, and I can't help but smile.
　

'....Oops.
"...what?　I didn't know we had a guest.......unusual.

　Neither me nor Alice expected to have a guest, so we both turn towards the door together.

'Welcome........'
"Sight-seeing, grocery shopping, visiting.
"...go home immediately, go home!

　Alice was about to say a cheerful welcome, but her words stopped mid-sentence and she quickly told the customer who appeared with a drawn-out face to leave.

　Dear Mom and Dad - Alice and I were leisurely tending to the store when, to my surprise, a customer arrived at Alice's grocery store. That's what I thought, but it appeared - a familiar angel.