Promotional Activities

As soon as the gas generators they had ordered from the glass workshop were completed, the twins approached wine cellars and the tavern beside the Adventurers’ Guild, where adventurers frequently gathered, with business proposals.

“This is sparkling wine. We’re planning to make carbonated potions widely available, so how about stocking this in your establishment as part of a promotional campaign to help people get accustomed to carbonated drinks?”

The twins were remarkably skilled at sales.

Adventurers were already familiar with the rapid effects and usefulness of carbonated potions. In Flaretalia, which was close to a hot spring resort famous for its natural carbonated springs, interest in them was particularly high.

There was no way sparkling wine marketed as a means of getting accustomed to the sensation of drinking carbonated potions wouldn’t sell.

Adventurers often visited taverns to gather information or strengthen their bonds with party members before entering dungeons, so the tavern owner readily agreed to stock the wine.

The twins were so thorough that they even conducted a demonstration on the first day sparkling wine appeared on the tavern’s menu.

Simply put, the sparkling wine was a hit.

Some adventurers grimaced at the unfamiliar sensation of carbonation, but when their party members encouraged them to drink it as practice for taking carbonated potions in emergencies, they found it difficult to refuse.

By supplying inexpensive nonalcoholic sparkling water as well, the twins managed to popularize carbonated drinks even among those who disliked alcohol.

Next, the twins negotiated with the alchemists’ workshops that manufactured potions and the Adventurers’ Guild, arranging for the production of carbonated potions and the sale of effervescent powder.

Adventurers who ventured into dungeons teeming with monsters welcomed the development with open arms, and everyone involved found themselves earning substantial sums of gold.

Using their earnings as capital, the twins signed contracts with the alchemists’ workshops, connected them with the glass workshop, arranged for gas generators to be delivered to the alchemists, and established a reliable production system for carbonated potions that ensured a steady supply.

Watching the twins take their business from its initial launch to stable operations in just ten days, Tōru recalled something Wenz had said.

‘—With those sisters’ knowledge, they can use the money they’ve earned to rebuild their lives as many times as necessary.’

After seeing how the twins worked, Tōru could only agree.

He watched the two of them calculate the taxes they owed to Flaretalia.

He felt reassured that even if he suddenly disappeared, the twins would be financially secure. Just as he was thinking this, Euphie spoke to him.

“We’ll have to submit an escort request for you, Tōru-san.”

“An escort request? Are you planning to enter another dungeon?”

“No. The reason we’ve managed to stabilize the carbonated potion business so quickly is because you were here with us, Tōru-san. It’s thanks to you that nobody tried to seize control of the rights to carbonated potions.”

“Come on, as long as you’re in Flaretalia, I doubt you’ll encounter much danger.”

Flaretalia was a city bustling with adventurers, and it had plenty of guards responsible for maintaining public order.

Tōru found it difficult to imagine anyone openly mistreating the twins.

“Besides, you’ve both learned how to use Enchantment now. You’re still Rank D because you haven’t defeated any Magical Mechanical Beasts, but your actual abilities are at Rank B. Even if someone attacks you, you’ll be able to turn the tables on them.”

“You might not understand because you’re so indifferent to money, Tōru-san. But the amount of money circulating through the carbonated potion business is more than enough to attract people with malicious intentions.”

“You think so? Either way, I’m not accepting an escort request. I have no intention of taking money from my companions.”

“Your companions, you say?”

Euphie and Mary stared intently at Tōru.

Tōru asked them a question while weighing some seaweed ash on a scale.

“Don’t you like that?”

“It’s not that we dislike it.”

“It’s just surprising to hear you describe us as your companions, Tōru-san.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I suppose that doesn’t sound much like me.”

Tōru was a solo Rank B adventurer.

Far from having companions, he could count the number of times he had even formed a party on one hand.

Euphie and Mary smiled warmly.

“That’s wonderful. Companions. That’s exactly how it should be.”

“Is it really something to get that excited about?”

“Of course. If you consider us your companions, then there’s no reason for you to keep your distance from us.”

“I wasn’t trying to keep my distance.”

Tōru was taken aback, having thought that he already maintained a fairly close relationship with them.

Mary gave him a wry smile.

“You hadn’t even realized what was motivating you to give us combat training, had you?”

“…Ah, I suppose part of my motivation might have been a desire to protect myself.”

Only after she pointed it out did Tōru become conscious of his own motives. Just as he wondered whether he ought to apologize, Euphie and Mary bowed their heads.

“Whatever your reasons, thank you for teaching us how to use Enchantment.”

“You’re thanking me after all that? If anything, I’m the one who should apologize. I was keeping my distance from you, even if I didn’t realize it.”

“No, we understood your concerns, Tōru-san. In fact, one of the reasons we started making carbonated potions and earning money was to put those concerns to rest. We’re simply happy to know that we’ve accomplished our goal.”

“Besides, regardless of your motives, we can’t help but be grateful for everything you’ve done for us and everything you’ve taught us. We truly appreciate it.”

Faced with the twins’ sincere gratitude, Tōru smiled wryly.

“You’ve got me there. Thank you for being so considerate of me, too. I suppose trying to hide my worries now would only make me look even more foolish. I’ll be counting on you both as my companions from now on.”

He doubted he would ever get the better of these two.

Tōru cleared his throat lightly and changed the subject.

“Well, it looks like you’ve earned enough money to keep yourselves going for a while. What are you planning to do next? Is there anywhere you’d like to visit outside Flaretalia? Maybe do some sightseeing?”

“No, we’re thinking of expanding the carbonated potion business a little further and laying the groundwork for distributing them beyond Flaretalia.”

“It would be impossible for just the two of us to manage this entire business, so once we’ve established the foundations, we’ll appoint suitable managers through the Adventurers’ Guild and the Alchemists’ Guild.”

“That sounds like a good idea. If carbonated potions become widespread, adventurer mortality rates should fall. I’ve also heard that progress in clearing Flaretalia’s dungeon has been accelerating.”

Just the other day, rumors had circulated that an Adventurer Clan equipped with carbonated potions and effervescent powder had reached the ninth floor, pushing the dungeon’s exploration record forward for the first time in ten years.

Other parties had also begun making remarkable progress thanks to the increased stability of their front-line fighters, who had previously suffered frequent injuries. Overall, adventurers were now venturing deeper into the dungeon.

“The Guild Branch Manager was grateful to you two, you know. Apparently, the other branches had been pressuring him because too many adventurers were tied up in Flaretalia’s dungeon. Adventurers are already in seriously short supply, especially with dungeons appearing all over the place lately.”

Adventurers were an essential force for maintaining the safety of roads and surrounding regions.

Concentrating too many of them in one location risked destabilizing other areas, so it was preferable for them to move around and spread out to a reasonable degree.

Once the dungeon was cleared, the adventurers would naturally disperse into neighboring regions. The development of carbonated potions and effervescent powder, which accelerated dungeon exploration, must therefore have been welcome news for the Guild Branch Manager as well.

“Money attracts malicious intentions, but when used properly, it can also save a lot of people. You and Mary should both be proud of what you’ve accomplished, Euphie. And if anyone gives you trouble out of jealousy, I’ll make sure they keep their mouths shut.”

Having encouraged the twins, who remained wary of the malice that money could attract after their experience with the smuggling incident, Tōru returned to dividing the effervescent powder into smaller portions.