Chapter 02.
When Kazuma finished his thoughts, Wiz had finished cleaning up the mess he had created. Content with her work, Wiz went and put the broom away. Only to find discontent and serious-looking Kazuma standing before her counter.
"Kazuma-san? Is there something wrong? If this is about the jar, it's okay-." "Wiz, I want you to hire me."
Wiz stopped dead in her tracks. Then quickly backtracked and stood in combat position he had seen in many veteran wizards. She narrowed her eyes and slowly raised her hands, glowing deep purple. Kazuma swore he saw her eyes turn purple and red. He jumped to his feet, searching for her reason for alarm. But stopped also when he realized his friend was glaring at him.
"What are you, and what have you done to Kazuma-san?" Her voice was cold as a blizzard middle of a tundra. Kazuma couldn't breathe for a moment; crushed by a deathly aura closing in on every inch.
"W, Wiz. It's me, Kazuma. It's really me."
"You're lying." "What?" "You're lying. Kazuma-san will never willingly work." "Eh?"
"Kazuma-san never works if he has to. He thinks working and questing is the worst. He only works because he had to survive. Vanir-san told me his ultimate wish is to lay back and enjoy his wealth, doing nothing all day! Like, like a NEET!"
Kazuma inwardly spewed blood. NEET. He never cared at Aqua calling him that. It was, what they said; pot calling a kettle black. And over time, that insult had become one of her favorite repertory insulting him. It was like a brother calling another brother 'dickhead'; an offensive insult but with sort of affection. ...Sort of. But on the other hand, Wiz, a good person and pure through and through calling him a NEET, hit him hard. ...Although it wasn't true. I still hurt, a lot.
"Wi, Wiz. I just want to help out." "No, that can't be true either! Kazuma-san isn't good enough to help out 'freely'. He only steps in when it's his concern! If there was an accident and if he was an only witness, he wouldn't step out to testify unless it was his problem! And he's, he's-." Suddenly, Wiz stopped assaulting him. "...in the end, he's a good person." "..." "...I'm sorry Kazuma-san. I was too confused for a moment."
Wiz's hand fell and she took a seat across from Kazuma. "So, what did you say about hiring you?" "..." "...Kazuma-san?"
Kazuma's head was swimming. Wiz considered him a good person. She thought she was a good person. He felt something tingle at that compliment. It was nice being complimented once in a while. "Kazuma-san? Are you okay?" He looked up at Wiz's Cocoa warm eyes and started talking.
"I want to work for you because I want to repay you." "Repay me? Why?" "I learned some skills from you which helped me out in critical moments. You helped me and my party when we were in a tight spot. You managed to sell us items that were useful. -Only a few, but still." He quickly added the last part to stop Wiz boosting her 'business ego'. "It's thanks to you that we have a nice house to live in, a chance to hit big with Vanir. It might've been my luck, but the medium was all you. And I want to help you, at least get better food then... those."
Kazuma stopped and breathed out. That was one of the truest and sincere words he had ever spoken. He was surprised at himself being able to speak this honest. Wiz looked surprised herself. She knew Kazuma meant well. And that he was very sincere. She took a moment to take it all in. And opened her mouth;
"Sorry, but I can't hire you."
"Not because I hate you or anything!" She quickly waved her hands in front of her face, in full denial. "Well, then, do you like me?" "It's not that either!" She cut the line so clear that it was almost too cold. "Eh, it's not that! I like you, but not like-like you. It's just-." Kazuma laughed. The tension was flying away at her confused, bewildered waves. Wiz seems to calm down at his laugh. "Sorry. I was off a bit. I can't hire you- because I can't afford to pay you." "Pay me?" "Of course. I must pay you for your time and troubles." "Wiz, I want to help you. It's more of volunteer work for me. You don't have to pay me." "Oh? ...But, but Vanir-san will be angry deciding things without consulting him..." Kazuma knew Vanir did this to stop the money flowing out of the leaks in the shop safe. But he wasn't going to be trouble. And Wiz needed to take confidence in herself to grow. ...If it goes in a better way then she was going now.
"Wiz, you're the owner and manager of this shop, right?" "R, right." "Then why are you too timid? I won't cost you any money. I swear, if I cost you anything, I'll take it off my share of the money." "...I really can't pay you anything. Is it okay?" "No, no, no. Really. Truly. " "Then, Welcome to the team, Kazuma-san!" "Yosh! Nice to be working for you too!"
Kazuma looked through the ledger and the inventory of the shop. Wiz wrote in a simple version of the Belzergian Alphabet while Vanir wrote in a graceful cursive of the noble house. And while Wiz wrote losses and purchases of ridiculous sums, Vanir wrote small profits and reasonable sale. This place was filled with more nicknack than he imagined. He needed to give Vanir applause for being able to handle this boat.
He knew this shop needed change. And ultimately give Wiz a change. He had some ideas but really, where to begin?
While pondering this, Wiz came out from the back, smiling at Kazuma. "How's the inventory check going Kazuma-san?" "Ah, well, good. Good. Wiz, I need to ask you something-." "Oh, before that, Kazuma-san, can you go to the market with me?" "The market?" "Yes. I need help carrying the purchases." Purchases? Was she going merchandise hunting? This looked like a good opportunity to assess Wiz in her purchasing skills. "Well, then. Let's lock up the shop and go." "Wait, didn't you have something to tell me?" "Hm? No. It's nothing important." "Alright. Let's go then."
They locked up (on Kazuma's insistence) and went out. Out of the ally, and into the main road. The festivity of the market day was in the air. Kazuma didn't know then that, this was going to be a market day to be remembered for a long, long time...
A/N 2019, Project Augustus. In courtesy of Sammo909.
