Ch.26 Collab Stream : "Becoming a Convenience Store Clerk with Kikyo-senpai ②"
"What's wrong, Kikyo-senpai?"
I called out to Kikyo-senpai, who was standing there in shock, while acting sly.
"What do you mean "what's wrong"?! What kind of game is this?! Wasn't this supposed to be a normal part-time job game?!"
"Eh? If you turn that into a game, it won't be any fun."
"That's so blunt!"
Why do I have to work hard even when playing a game?
There is a genre called business simulation though.
A regular part-time job game in Full Dive is just work, right?
"This 'Korokoro Part-Time Worker' is a game where you have to eliminate troublesome customers, protect your store and make a profit."
"What kind of crazy game is that?! Did the 'Korokoro' means to 'kill' or something?!"
"Korokoro Comic"
"Why did you say that now?! Who are you trying to make an enemy out of?! Is Alpheria on that side too?!"
"No, I thought since we're doing a collab stream, it would be better to split into two roles, the jokester and the tsukomi. Wanna swap?"
"Eh?"
"Okay then, Kikyo-senpai's one-liner joke in 3, 2, 1, Go!"
"Huh? What?! Um, well... my futon blew away!"
"Do- (deadpan)"
"This child!"
"Lol"
As her face becomes bright red with embarrassment, Kikyo-senpai grabbed both of my shoulders and shook me violently.
: That's terrible ww
: What a sloppy act. If it wasn't me, the rest would be omitted.
: The reply is too cruel lol
: Nattsun should only be the tsukomi. If she's the jokester it would be boring as hell.
: Nattsun shines the most when she's being toyed around.
"You listeners are rude too!"
"Ahem, let's get back to the topic at hand. The core of this game is defense. Do you have experience in violence, Kikyo-senpai?"
"There's no way that's possible???"
: The question lol
"Then I'll be the main defender."
I continue, taking swords and firearms from the rack on the counter.
"However, I don't know if I can protect them on my own, so if necessary, I'd like you to help me out - with this Morning Star."
I then held out a weapon that looked like a giant spiked iron ball with a chain attached to the handle ー a flail-type weapon.
"The incarnation of wickedness and atrocity! I can only sense malice in that choice of weapon!"
"Kikyo-senpai, it seems like you tend to get stressed out easily. So, I think striking someone would be more refreshing than slashing or shooting."
"Nobody has ever told me anything like that! I mean, that's what someone with experience would say, and it's scary!"
"It's okay. After all, they're just data in human form. NPCs don't have human rights or laws."
: That's such a cruel thing to say it makes me laugh
: Well, it's just a game after all.
: At least we know that Alphery isn't suited to be the main character in a VRMMO.
: The type of person that will never encounter any rare event with NPC
: I'll treat all NPCs equally!
"If you have the energy to spare on communication with NPCs, you should spend it on real life~."
I respond to listeners' prickly comments with my own.
: Sh- sh- sh- shut up!
: Huh? I don't have communication disorder though? Huh? Huh? Huh? ?
: What on earth are you saying?!!
"Ahh. Basically, if you have the communication skills to spare on NPCs, give it to us instead, please."
A service shot of sidelong glance.
You guys like it when beautiful girls give you sidelong glances right? I used to love it too.
: Ye- yeah
: This guy has suddenly become lovey-dovey!
: Rather than lovey-dovey, I think we're just rolling around in the palm of her hand.
: Yes!
: NPCs are trash (slap)
: Didn't You just said you would treat everyone equally?
: Men are so weak!
As we were talking, a new customer suddenly arrived.
They were strange trio dressed in all black and wearing ski mask.
As soon as they walked through the automatic doors, they pulled their guns out of their pockets.
"If you don't want to dieー"
Bang, a gunshot.
The source was the pistol in my hand that was emitting smoke.
In these cases, the first to move is always the winner.
The man was shot precisely between the eyes and collapsed, shattering like glass.
"Mo, Molru Dutto Niketta Kotanuso III !!"
"No, that's such a bad name!"
Kikyo-senpai's tsukomi exploded.
"You bastard, how dare you do that!?"
Another man fired a shot.
I pull the trigger matching the bullet's trajectory, parrying the bullet with another bullet.
: Haa!?
: You're kidding me!
I can fire faster.
The second shot came at the same time. The third shot I did first. And the fourth shot pierced the man's forehead before he even pulled the trigger.
Of course, their second and third shots were parried as well.
The last person screamed as another one of them was killed.
"T- the person i just meeeeeeet?!"
"You guys are not even friends!"
"Pfft."
That exchange took its toll on my stomach.
"Eh, wait, Alpheria-chan?!"
"Ha, haha. Ki- Kikyo-senpai, please finish him off."
"Dammit! I'll At least get you!"
"Ahh, whatever! Whatever will be, will be!"
Kikyo-senpai swung the spiked iron ball attached to a chain around and around, gaining plenty of centrifugal force before throwing it.
With a loud whoosh of wind, a huge iron ball the size of a balance ball hit the last person directly, killing him instantly.
The iron ball gained momentum and continued moving straight ahead.
The entrance was destroyed dramatically, but it was quickly repaired.
"Nice one~."
Having somehow managed to recover, I shouted praise at Kikyo-senpai, but there was no reaction from her.
She looks down and appears to be gazing at the handle of her weapon in a state of daze.
What happened?
"Kikyo-senpai?"
I looked at het face and was speechless.
Kikyo-senpai had an entranced look on her face, as if she was in a fever.
"Fu, ufu, fu."
Ah, that's not good.
I immediately snatched the morning star from Kikyo-senpai, who was smiling ecstatically with dark eyes.
She must have been under a lot of stress. My condolences.
Thus began our part-time job as a convenience store clerk.
In addition to the defense mentioned above, our tasks include stocking products and operating the cash register.
If anything, the latter is the main focus.
Stuff like before don't pop up all the time.
However, that doesn't mean we should let our guard down.
The previous one was an easy-to-understand tutorial, but there are some people who will watch what we're doing before committing a crime.
Of courseー
"Sir, may I have the product you just put away?"
Shoplifters also appear like this.
It is also important to determine whether or not the customer is a normal one.
If we miss any shoplifters, it will affect the results, so we have to keep a close eye on it.
"Wh, what are you talking aboutー"
"Eyy."
I took the item they had just stolen from the customer's pocket.
"Then what is this?"
"...Damn it!"
The desperate customer had taken out a nail clipper, and immediately start shooting.
………No, why nail clipper?
Ok. I'll just say something random for now.
"Phew, I can't believe you pulled out the nail clippers. If I'd been one second slower in pulling the trigger, I'd have been the one who was killed. I don't really get it though."
: Yes, nail clipper is dangerous (I don't really get it though)
: Nail clipper are Tier SSS (I don't really get it though)
: Rocket launchers are much easier to use (I don't really get it though)
: There are countless stories of nail clippers saving the world (I don't really get it though)
: There's no..... way that's true!
We then return to stocking the shelves, taking the items out of the cardboard boxes and placing them on the shelves.
"Ah, stop it, Alpheria-chan."
Kikyo-senpai, who had just finished ringing up customers at the cash register, called out to stop me.
"What's wrong?"
"The basic rule is to put the newest products at the back. And don't forget to check the expiration date of the products in front."
"I see. That is certainly true."
I do what she just told me.
Yeah, if you think about it, it's obvious.
I wonder if this also affects the results?
"Hahaha, I know because I did that at first too. If I thought about it carefully I should be able to figure it out, but it's surprising how often you don't realize something unless someone points it out."
"That's exactly how it is with my own habits. I've corrected it now, but I was surprised when people told me I had a habit of being cynical in the past."
"Oh, so Alpheria-chan has that side to her too."
"That's surprising," Kikyo-senpai said.
Of course, she's still moving around working during all that.
Kikyo-senpai is incredibly efficient.
As expected of a person with experience.
She smoothly restock the products at the back and check the expiration dates of the products in front.
She's way faster than me. That's the skill of a pro.
Ah, she removed a few.
That means there really was an expired product.
I thought this game was just a joke, but it's actually surprisingly well-made.
"By the way, what was your impression of me originally?"
"Hmm, that's right... a perfect superhuman who can do anything and has a good vibe?"
"No way, you don't have to tell me the truth. It's embarrassing."
I played dumb purposefully.
"...I really admire you for being able to respond like that so quickly."
I chuckle at Kikyo-senpai and reply.
"I'm Just kidding. I'm human too. I have my faults, of course. For example, I'm bad at gambling. Gacha and crane games are bad culture...!!"
"There's a lot of hatred in that statement."
But when i do it, I just can't stop.
"Cynicism can be cured once you know it, but once you pick up the habit of spending money, it's hard to break it."
The bad thing about impulse buying is that it leaves you with a lasting regret.
"People say, 'Just wait a little while and then buy it if you still want it,' but once you decide you want something, you'll want it all the time."
: So true
: It just increases the desire.
: The theory behind why people can't quit smoking is similar.
: Alcohol too.
Please stop drinking (seriously).
"A habit to spend a lot of money... I remembered something I shouldn't."
"Kikyo-senpai?"
"No, it's nothing."
"is that so"
If Kikyo-senpai says so, then it must be true.
"By the way, do you have any bad habits like that, Kikyo-senpai?"
This is also meant to change the subject.
“People often say that I tend to keep things to myself. I don’t really get it myself though.”
Ah (I can guess why)
Remembering the incident with Morning Star earlier, I quietly looked away.