Wraith and Rotia faced each other at the counter of the quiet shop before it was still open for business. The Mimi on top of Rotia's head still looked sleepy and had a large absent-mindedness.

''Well, you'll be working in the shop from today.......By the way, can Rotia put a smile on your face?''

　Wraith confirms it, just in case.

　Even though it's only been a day since they've known each other, I haven't seen Rotia smile at all so far. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to be too friendly in the customer service industry, now that I've seen it.

　Well, I think looks can cover it to some extent.

''Maybe it's okay...?''

　While saying it, Rotia lifted the edge of her mouth slightly. The Wraith, who was having trouble reacting, looked at Rotia with half-eyes.

''........What are you doing?''
Smile....
..........

　Wraith looks at Rotia once again. However, no matter how much you look at it, there is not much change other than the corners of the mouth are slightly lifted.

　It is difficult to call this a smile, that's the truth. It may be that this is a smile to the best of Rotia's ability, but it's impossible to call this subtle change a smile.

''Yeah, there's no need to push yourself...''
Yeah...?

　In the end, he comes to the conclusion that nature is best. Rotia tilts her head, but she can't afford to embarrass her guests.

''Well, the rest is Mimi, but...''
What is it?
Stop being so high-handed with your customers.

　That's what Wraith is worried about. It's true that Mimi has the appearance of a lovely fox, but she's only a spirit and has a lot of pride. If she treated the customers the same way she treats Wraith, it could lead to a decline in the store's reputation.

　That much must be avoided.

　Mimi listened to Wraith's advice and looked a little troublesome. She wags her tail languidly.

''I know. I'm sure you're aware that a promise is a promise. As long as I don't break it from you, I'll help you.
Understood. You just have to stick with it and I won't have a problem with it.

　This would be the only thing I should check beforehand.

　Rotia will still be getting used to it on her first day, and besides, I have to hand out the flyer I made yesterday, so Wraith is going to be at the shop counter all day today.

''Then let's get started, shall we?''

　It's still the first day after Rotia and Mimi joined, so we won't be able to get many customers, but we'll be steadily increasing the number of people from here on out.

　It was Wraith, alone, who was filled with motivation.


　******


Hmmm, well, I guess that's what the first day is all about.

　The time was past noon.

　Lace and Rotia, standing at the counter, had a lot of free time on their hands. Mimi, for example, is asleep on the counter due to the small number of customers. It's not a good attitude, of course, but Wraith can't help but understand that feeling.

　The fliers made yesterday have already been handed out, so all that's left is time to stand at the counter for a long time. Since Rotia doesn't talk much, it's not much different than when she's alone.

　Only the sound of the clock's hands dominated the store.

　At that time, the door of the store was opened with a light bell sound. The ones who entered were two people that Wraith knew well.

''Oh, it feels like a shop after all. Hello, Wraith-san.
Come in, you two!

　It's Raffy and Sylvia. A little bit of people's activity returns to the deserted store. That alone is enough to bring tears to my eyes as a Wraith.

　Raffy and Sylvia giggle at the over-the-top Wraith's reaction. They look around the shop for a little while and then pick up a potion and a ring-shaped magic tool.

''How are you feeling?''
Well, that's not very flattering...
I see.

　Raffy is convinced by the magnitude of Wraith's reaction. Her gaze shifts to Rotia, who is standing beside Lace.

'Oh, I've got you working in the shop today.
''I'm Rotia......... Nice to meet you........?

　I can sense an appropriate atmosphere from Rotia, I don't know, but I'll just say my name for now. Raffy and Sylvia are a bit bemused by the elusive appearance, but they return the greeting.

''So, so the fox over here is...?''

　Raffy glanced at Mimi with a slight blush on her cheeks. A smile could be felt in her reaction, as usual.

''Mimi, Rotia's contract spirit. By the way, her personality seems to be difficult.''
'What, a genie...?　And a contracted spirit....

　Sylvia looks at Rotia with eyes that seem to see something unbelievable. She must have a firm understanding of the meaning of Wraith's words.

　But it didn't matter to Raffy, her eyes were drawn to Mimi's tail, which was swaying as she slept.

'You can touch it if you want,' she said. We're both guests in this place, you know.
Oh, really?

　That's the kind of promise I made to Mimi.

　Raffy's expression quickly changed to one of sheer happiness. She couldn't wait to get started and gently stroked Mimi's back. Her cheeks loosened involuntarily as she was mesmerized by the fluffy fur.

''Well, did you need something today?
'Huh...'

　As if Wraith's words hadn't reached her, Raffy continued to stroke Mimi with a voice and expression that she couldn't let others hear.

'Sis,'

　Unable to watch, Sylvia poked Raffy's side. Then, Raffy bounced her body with a bikin, and her face turned red.

''I'm sorry!　Forget about that one...!

　Even though the reaction is loud, it's still a girlish reaction, so I'm not particularly ashamed of it. Raffy takes a deep breath and regains her composure.

'One of the purposes of my visit was to look at the store... well, you know, the girlfriend thing...'

　Her complexion, which had finally returned, is turning red again. She doesn't even try to make eye contact with Wraith. Seeing that, Sylvia gives a nasty smile.

''Sis, your face is red.''
No, it's not that.

　Raffy turned her face down and denied it in a fading voice. Her cheeks, visible through the gaps in her bangs, were tinted red by all accounts.

''Sylvia, don't embarrass Raffy too much.
Yes, I'm sorry.

　Although she apologizes verbally, Sylvia is smiling and smiling happily for some reason. When she gets close to Wraith's ear--

I hope we're not too far apart.

　To put it one way, Sylvia winked at Wraith. Seeing that wink, which seems to say please do your best, Wraith realizes.

　Even Sylvia feels the same as Amelia-san........

　The gentle Sylvia looks like a demon just now. Even though she firmly understands that she is pretending to be a lover.

''Huh........''
Hey, what's up?
'No, it's nothing. It's more about the pretend lover thing.
'Yeah. Any day you're free, but I figured I'd go out for once...

　It's a so-called date, part of pretending to be a promised lover. The word "date" is embarrassing, so they never try to say it.

'Well how about in a week's time then?'

　If that's about it, Rotia should be used to the job. Well, as it stands, I don't even have a job that looks like a job. Thinking about it makes me sad, so I quickly chase it away from my thoughts.

　There's a possibility that perhaps it will be a great success in a week's time.

I'll see you in a week.
Copy that.
Good luck with that, Mr. Wraith!

　After paying for the potion and the magical tools, they left the shop. Wraith wasn't sure if Sylvia's last words of good luck were a wish for the shop to thrive or if she was referring to her lover's pretense.

　Some things in the world were better left unacknowledged, that was for sure.

　As Lace made an indescribable expression, Rotia's gaze pierced her.

''........Lover?''
Pretending to be my girlfriend, to be exact. We're not really in a relationship.
Why are you pretending...?
It's...

　Wraith is about to answer the question, when he hears a clang and a bell. Thinking it was a guest, she reflexively turned toward it. Standing there was another familiar figure.

　However, it was someone I would never want to meet.

　The person walked up to the Wraith, snapping his armor, and walked up to the front of the Wraith.

'Hmm, so this is your shop. Not bad, why not?

　The blonde S-class adventurer, Erial, laughs with a hook. He's the dang top of the Wraith's list of people I don't want to see right now.

''Thank you very much for that ... what can I do for you?
'What, I was going to talk to you for a minute, but um, you next to me...'

　Erial's gaze slides from Wraith to Rotia. Suddenly being stared at, Rotia blinks her eyes and has a strange expression.

'Yes, you're the young lady in the dragon car. Do you remember me?

　Erial looks at Rotia with an expression of confidence. Lortia poured her dark blue eyes intently into Erial.

''Who........?''

　The unexpected word makes Erial's cheeks twitch. However, he quickly smiles and nods yes.

''Well, it certainly wasn't that long that we exchanged words so it's no wonder I don't remember. That's the way it is!

　For some reason, Erial points a finger at Bishis and says so to Wraith.

''Ha, ha........''

　It wasn't that Wraith thought anything of it, but Erial seemed to be concerned about appearances for some reason. There's more that the empty answer Wraith wants to know.

''So, what is the story...?''
Mm-hmm. Wraith, I think I said. Are you really dating Raffy?
'I've answered that before. We're going out.

　Wraith assured me that before I made a promise to Raffy. From next to her, a puzzled look came from next to her. Rotia was clearly questioning Wraith's statement.

　That was also true, because just a moment ago, Wraith himself said that he was pretending to be dating Raffy. A moment later, Wraith moved to avoid the worst of it.

'But just now...'
'No, you must be tired of standing around all the time, Rotia!　You can go rest in the back!

　Before the fatal remark comes out of Rotia, he drives her towards the workshop. She doesn't seem to be convinced, but I'll have to explain that thoroughly later.

　Our first priority is to get through this moment.

"And what's happening all of a sudden...
'No, I'm sorry. She looked like she was in a lot of pain and I couldn't help myself.
Is that...?

　It would be nice to complicate things, but as long as I can say the right thing and get it off my chest for now, that's fine. Wraiths are also desperate to avoid ragging.

''But you seem to be getting along quite well. Maybe it's an affair........
'None. Rotia is just an employee, nothing more.

　And, I might add, he's also my apprentice, and he lives in this store. If they know about this, they'll be out in ten minutes. There's no room for error.

''I see...or rather, you're the alchemist your daughter says she was looking for.
Yeah, well...
Rumor has it that you're a tremendous alchemist. Do you have any recommendations?
You recommend it?

　It seems that Erial is also willing to buy something as a customer for a time. If that's the case, it's also a bit of a relief for Wraith.

I'm sure you'll be able to see that they use swords, so how about a potion of Gura fruit? It's a good way to improve your physical abilities for a certain amount of time.
Well, that's interesting.... okay, I'll have one.

　With the best of intentions, Erial pays the price and buys the potion. He settles it in a pouch on his hip with satisfaction.

But in no way do I see you and Raffy as being together. It's true that your cheeks blushed and you seemed intimate, but...
...hmm?

　The moment he braced himself to see if the topic was still going to continue, Wraith felt caught by Erial's words.

''Could it be that........you were watching that earlier?
No, no, I just happened to be... well, I just happened to be passing by!
Huh....coincidentally?
'What's with that scandalous look in your eyes...'

　No matter how you think about it, it can only be considered intentional, and Wraith's gaze is naturally harsh. Just now, the initiative of the conversation was taken by the Wraith.

''That's right, you don't think the S-class adventurer Erial-san would imitate peeping!
Oh, of course!

　Heartlessly, I feel something like sweat on Eyal's forehead, but I'm sure it's just my imagination. Erial smiles, feigning equanimity.

''Let's leave it at that for today. I'll use the potion gratefully.''

　Erial moves to retreat instantly and disappears from the shop in a flash. Wraith looks away from his back and then sighs heavily.

''I'm tired.......This is going to continue until that guy gives up.......''

　It's depressing to think about that. When I sigh again, something fluffy hits Wraith's face.

'Can you stop sighing all the time?'
..........

　Wraith looked at Mimi in an indescribable mood. For once, she wasn't even in the mood to get angry.