Chapter 17: Store Summoning 3

The next morning, after waking up, Father and Mother bombarded me with questions about yesterday. When I told them about Luca and Tifa, whom I had befriended, Father immediately sent a messenger to the hotel where both Princesses were staying, delivering the playing cards and a mountain of cheap sweets as promised. Of course, he had the same things delivered to Estelle as well. I did drag her along quite forcefully yesterday, after all. Good grief, Elliott’s birthday party, which I was worried about, is over, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Well, I’m not without anxiety about how the events at the party will intertwine with the future, but there’s nothing I can do about it at this point. I just have to pray that it won’t lead to a ruin ending in a few years. Now, putting that aside, there is something I have to test today. When I woke up this morning, the crest of Samonia, the Goddess of Summoning, on my right hand had leveled up. I don’t know why. If I have any idea, it would be playing with the game characters like Estelle, Luca, and Tifa. Is increasing the approval rating of main characters the key after all? Or is it because I got to know Jean, a capture target? I wonder what’s going on. In the game, the [Gift] leveled up through event progression or by increasing the capture target’s approval rating. Ah, it also leveled up with special items. But in this world, it is said that leveling up basically happens by being favored by the god who granted the [Gift]. In other words, if it’s a God of War, the more you fight, and if it’s a God of Commerce, the more business you do, the easier it is to level up. However, if you act against the god’s will, you won’t level up. On the contrary, at worst, the [Gift] could be taken away. And it will never return. Acting against the will means, for example, deceiving people with fake products for a God of Commerce, or plagiarism for a God of Art. So, having a [Gift] from a God of Commerce is the greatest credit. It is proof that you are doing business honestly as a merchant. Incidentally, forging a god’s crest is the greatest sin in the Church, and divine punishment will fall. Not metaphorically, but literally. Scary… However, regarding the judgment of acting against a god’s will, it seems difficult to draw a clear line because some gods are broad-minded while others are sensitive. For a God of War, as long as you fight, you level up even if you are a villain. By the way, my Goddess of Summoning, Samonia-sama, apparently won’t take it away unless I don’t summon for decades or intentionally damage the summoned items. Well, let’s just be happy that the number of stores I can summon has increased. Now then, let’s summon the new store right away!

“To receive a blessing again in such a short period… I’ve never heard of such speed.”

“Truly. Sakura must be very favored by the Goddess of Summoning.”

Father and Mother said such things upon learning of my level up. Well… I wonder about that? The Goddess might not be that involved… Personally, I suspect that leveling up is triggered by the approval ratings of characters from “Starlight Symphony” or by ‘events’ like meeting them, but I don’t have absolute proof. The reason I think it’s limited to game characters is Father and Mother. If the approval ratings of Father and Mother, who don’t appear in the game, were included, my level should have skyrocketed much more. Even among the characters, I’m not sure about the scope. Are His Majesty the Emperor and the Chancellor, who only appeared briefly in CGs, included? What about Hanger-on A? I wonder about that. At least I think the heroine and villainesses are included in the target. I don’t know about the capture targets. I have no intention of raising their approval ratings. I don’t want to get close because I don’t know what will happen if I do. However, since I don’t seem to be hated, there is a possibility that the approval rating has increased a little. Friends, or something less than friends? How will this affect things…? Could it be that the total approval rating of all the game characters acts like experience points for leveling up? I still can’t rule out the possibility of the Goddess’s whim, though. Well, either way, leveling up is something to be grateful for. Incidentally, the speed of blessings… leveling up for general [Gifts] apparently differs depending on the gods who granted them. With the God of Growth, Grow-sama, or the God of Wind, Wind-sama, it seems easier to level up, allowing the use of new techniques or increasing power and effects. The Goddess of Summoning, Samonia-sama, is apparently on the harder side to level up, which is why Father is surprised. There is a theory that harder-to-level [Gifts] are more powerful. Indeed, in the game, Estelle remained at Level 1 until she turned sixteen. Since Estelle’s [Gift] powers up significantly at Level 2, that theory might be correct. Does that mean [Store Summoning], which levels up easily, isn’t powerful…? Hmm, without the characteristic of ‘summoning things from Earth,’ maybe it’s not that useful of a [Gift]? In the end, money is required. It’s no different from buying normally at a store. It’s just that the store comes to you. Thinking about it that way, it feels not much different from mail order. Well, it’s a useful [Gift] for me, so I’m grateful. Thank you, Goddess of Summoning, Samonia-sama. While I’m at it, I have a request. Next, a convenience store, or if I can be greedy, a supermarket… ultimately, a department store, please. …That might be impossible… As before, I offer a prayer to the Goddess of Summoning, Samonia-sama, in the garden where the barrier has been erected. Please, a convenience store… If not, at least a restaurant. I want to eat delicious food from Earth already. Not cheap sweets! A family restaurant… a family restaurant would be nice too! Of course, a high-class restaurant is acceptable too! Ah, but I’ve never been to a high-class restaurant… No, did I go once when I was little? Wait? But for a restaurant, how do I buy things without waiters or cooks? …W-well, I’ll find out when I summon it.

“Here goes! [Store Summoning]!”

A torrent of dazzling light envelops the area. The entrance is flashy as always. Eventually, the light begins to subside, and the full view of the store starts to appear. …Huh? Isn’t it kinda small…?

“Eh?”

“Is this… a store?”

“Oh my, what a beautiful color.”

What appeared before my eyes was a small, van-like car with a colorful red and white body. The letters ‘HOT DOG’ were on the door. In the background, there were pictures of delicious-looking hot dogs and hamburgers, true to the name. Overall, it was a stylish and cute car. Beside the car body, a signboard and two small round tables had appeared, with three chairs at each table. On the tables, along with menus, there were condiments like ketchup, mustard, dressing, Tabasco, and salt. Could this be the hot dog mobile food truck that often set up shop near the high school I attended? I bought from this place quite recently. Well, two or three years ago. It was a very popular shop, and I remember buying and eating there many times on my way home when invited by friends. How nostalgic.

“Sakura, is this a shop that sells food?”

Mother, perhaps judging by the pictures on the body, approached happily.

“Um, yes. It’s called a hot dog, and as the picture shows, you eat sausage… stuffed meat sandwiched in bread.”

“Ah, Wurst. Hmm, in bread, you say.”

Apparently, sausages exist in this world too. Though they don’t seem to be eaten much in the Empire.

“Do we place the money here? Where are these hot dogs? Is the sales area inside?”

“No, the inside is the kitchen. The products are…”

Father immediately placed a gold coin on the change tray placed on the open counter on the side of the kitchen car. But how do I buy a hot dog? It’s not like there are pre-made ones, and am I supposed to make it myself using the ingredients in the kitchen? Self-service? I looked at the laminated menu on the table. I’m grateful that it has photos, making it easy for people here to understand. Let’s see, the menu has Plain Dog, Cheese Dog, Lettuce Dog, Chili Dog… there are various kinds. As expected of a popular shop, the menu is extensive. Not just hot dogs, but soup, salad, hamburgers, sandwiches, cold and hot drinks, and even small desserts. Normally, looking at this menu…

“Um, one Plain Dog.”

When I tentatively ordered from the unmanned kitchen car, the next instant, a piping hot hot dog wrapped in paper appeared on the table.

“I see! Ordering is also a summoning style!”

Father picked up the menu on the table in the same way, but immediately furrowed his brows and sought my help. Yeah, you can’t read Japanese. It’s extremely inconvenient that they can speak Japanese in the game but can’t read it. They seem to be able to read numbers, though. The prices on the menu seem to be unchanged, but this shop is probably a rip-off too.

“Sakura, Sakura. Mother wants to eat this.”

“Um, that is a ‘Cabbage Dog‘.”

“Then, one Cabbage Dog!”

When Mother ordered from the kitchen car, a Cabbage Dog with plenty of sausage and cabbage sandwiched in it appeared next to my Plain Dog. Wow, this looks delicious too.

“I think I’ll have this. Sakuraile, what is this called?”

“Eh…? That one? It’s a ‘Hot Sauce Special‘, but um, Father!? That’s probably very spicy!?”

“Hahaha, that’s fine. Despite appearances, I like spicy food. I have even eaten the Red Grilled Piriri Meat of the Queendom, you know?”

No, I don’t know what Piriri meat is! But this is probably really spicy!? It says Habanero, and there are several chili pepper marks lined up!

“One Hot Sauce Special for me!”

Wow, he ordered it… It might be a drop in the bucket, but I’ll order an Oolong tea too. No, maybe ice cream is better than Oolong tea.

“It’s delicious if you put this red ketchup and yellow mustard on it… apparently, Mother. Ah, the mustard is spicy, so Father might want to skip it…”

“If Sakuraile recommends it, I’ll put it on. Is this how it’s done?”

Wow… What kind of punishment game is this? Did Father do something to deserve punishment? While I watched Father’s hot dog, piled high with hot sauce and mustard, with disbelief, Mother took a big bite of her Cabbage Dog with plenty of ketchup first.

“Mmm—! Delicious! This sweet and sour sauce called ketchup matches the meat and crisp vegetables incredibly well! This is the first time I’ve eaten something like this!”

Mother chewed happily with a blissful face. Seeing that expression, I heard the sound of gulping throats from the surrounding servants.

“Is it that good? Well then, I will too…”

I was worried about Father’s reaction and couldn’t eat my own hot dog while holding it. Is, is he okay? Since they are selling it, it must be edible, but… Ignoring my worries, Father took a bold bite. He went for it…

“Mmm! Indeed, this ketchup is sweet and sour and delicious! The spiciness isn’t that…”

Father’s movement stopped abruptly mid-sentence. His complexion suddenly turned red, then blue, and sweat began to pour down his forehead like a waterfall. Wait, is he trembling slightly? Glancing at me, Father seemed to make up his mind, slowly chewed in silence, and swallowed it with a gulp. He pushed himself…! He probably couldn’t show weakness in front of his daughter.

“H-haha… It, it has quite a stimulating taste and is delicious… I want to let Brother eat this too…”

Father? Are you planning to take His Majesty the Emperor down with you? You’ll probably get scolded, so I think you should stop. I silently held out the vanilla ice cream I had ordered. Father silently put it in his mouth and let out a sigh of relief, but his face was still distorted. It must have been extremely spicy. I decided to taste my hot dog after a long time and took a bite. Delicious…! Was a hot dog always this delicious? When I bit into it, meat juices overflowed from the sausage that snapped open. A simple hot dog topped only with pickles and chopped onions is so delicious. It wasn’t a convenience store, but thank you for letting me eat delicious food, Samonia-sama. After we finished eating, we immediately opened the kitchen car to the servants. Arisa the maid wrote down the menu items I translated.

“One Cheese Dog!”

“I’ll have a Shrimp Dog!”

“I’ll take a Lettuce Dog! Oh, and an Iced Tea too!”

In no time, the Ducal House’s garden turned into a garden party venue. Even after everyone finished ordering, I continued to order items from the menu. I need to establish a guideline for how much can be ordered in one summoning. Incidentally, this will become the servants’ meal later. Eventually, hot dogs stopped appearing even when ordered, and drinks like Oolong tea and Cola also stopped coming out. Hmm, it’s less than I thought. Since it’s different from a regular-sized store, I guess it can’t be helped. Well, the true value of this store isn’t there. The greatest value lies in the fact that it’s a ‘Mobile Sales Store.’ It’s a car. It has a kitchen, but I got a car. If I can use this, it will be a very convenient means of transportation. I opened the driver’s side door and entered the vehicle. …I could enter. This must also be recognized as ‘inside the store.’ Since it is a ‘Mobile Sales Store,’ the part for moving it is also part of the store. Then, although I can’t take anything other than products out of the ‘store,’ I should be able to ‘use’ them. I’m glad I got my driver’s license. Thanks to my father in my previous life who paid for it. The key is also properly attached. …Wait, I can’t take this outside, right? Does that mean I can’t lock the door? If I lock it from the outside, will I be permanently locked out? That would be… well, I can just dispel the car itself and summon it again. It resets. The gas is full too. I sat in the seat, thinking, With this, there should be no problem—, but then I realized something, went back outside, closed the door, and slumped to my knees on the spot. My feet… my feet don’t reach the pedals! I’m short, so I can’t even see the front through the windshield! I can’t drive! Driving a car was impossible for a six-year-old!