Isekai Nonbiri Nouka Chapter 1089: Product Selection

I am the wife of Count Blackriver.

I am known as Countess Blackriver.

Now then, I have been running around like mad to get a shop selling Alfred-sama’s beauty products up and running, as my neighbor, Countess Godrake, Mate-chan, asked me to do.

I really have been running around like mad.

But it’s all for the sake of getting my hands on beauty products with such wonderful effects.

I won’t cut corners.

-0-

And as the days went by…

The shop selling Alfred-sama’s beauty products was finally completed.

Alfred-sama had stipulated that there could only be one shop, so we made it as large as possible.

However, although we’d been told that commoners would also be allowed to use it, the shop looked unmistakably like a luxurious establishment for nobles.

The interior was just as lavish.

Inside, the employees, all dressed in matching uniforms, were practicing how to serve customers.

From what I could see, the shop looked ready to open at any time, as soon as the products were delivered.

Oh, right. We still hadn’t settled on an official name for the shop.

We had asked the royal family to decide on one.

I wanted them to hurry up, but even though it was the royal family, there were actually three kingdoms in Raywhite, so reaching a consensus must have been difficult.

For the time being, although it wasn’t the official name, we were calling it Alfred’s Beauty Shop.

I was looking forward to its opening.

However, an incident occurred.

Apparently, Countess Godrake had collapsed.

I was relieved to hear that her condition wasn’t critical, but she’d been discussing which products to stock at Alfred’s Beauty Shop with Fushu-sama of the Korin Religion, who had become Alfred-sama’s representative, when it happened.

I hurried over to the Godrake estate to visit her.

After all, when someone has collapsed, visiting them by calling over the wall is hardly appropriate.

-0-

My visit was warmly welcomed, and I was shown to Countess Godrake, who was lying in bed.

She seemed to be groaning, so I thought she was asleep, but she was awake.

Mate-chan, what on earth are you doing?

Overwork?

I knew you’d been busy, but… No?

Mate-chan handed me a letter and urged me to read it.

I understood that part, but why were the maids surrounding me with cushions?

She wanted me to read the letter without worrying about it?

W-well, fine. I’ll read it…

-0-

The letter was simple. It contained a list of candidate products for Alfred’s Beauty Shop, their effects, and the suggested retail prices.

Did that mean we were free to decide the final selling prices ourselves?

How generous.

I continued reading.

《Makeup Remover》

《Facial Cleanser》

《Toner》

《Serum》

《Moisturizing Cream》

《Sunscreen》

Oh! These are the ones!

These are what I’ve been wanting!

There are several varieties with different levels of effectiveness, each with a different suggested retail price.

The prices differ by an order of magnitude… Hmm, that’s a difficult choice.

Even so, I’ll buy the expensive ones.

Fufufu.

I have several businesses that I have my people run, so I enjoy a stable income.

I can easily afford these.

And with these products, there’s no doubt that Alfred’s Beauty Shop will be a success.

How wonderful.

-0-

But there are still more products.

《Liquid Soap for Hair (Shampoo)》

《Hair-Coating Liquid (Conditioner)》

These… Are they hair care products?

These should sell well, too.

I’ll try them myself once they’re available for sale.

-0-

《Facial Cleansing Towel》

《Hair-Drying Magic Tool (Hair Dryer)》

《Hair-Styling Magic Tool (Hair Iron)》

So they’ll also be selling grooming tools.

The magic tools are rather expensive, as expected.

If we’re going to handle magic tools, should we also add replenishing their magic stones to Alfred’s Beauty Shop’s responsibilities?

Actually, rather than that, we should form a partnership with the Adventurers Guild to ensure a stable supply of magic stones.

-0-

《Hair Shine Serum》

《Facial Beauty Cream》

《Skin Beautifying Cream》

These… must be products for maintaining beautiful hair and skin.

I’ll definitely buy them.

-0-

《Medicine for Damaged Hair》

《Medicine for Skin Problems》

So these are remedies for when you have problems with your hair or skin.

Still, I’m glad they have products like these.

That way, I won’t have to worry about something going wrong.

Oh, this medicine for skin problems works on rough hands, too?

The maids who do all the washing and cleaning have rough hands, so perhaps this will help them recover.

The price doesn’t seem too high, either. Once it’s on sale, I’ll try distributing some to them.

-0-

《Skin Rejuvenation Medicine》

Hmmm?

Huh?

What’s this?

Rejuvenation?

It makes your skin younger?

By about three years?

Is it real?

It’s a shame that the effects don’t last if you use it again too soon, but this is more than enough.

The price is certainly incredible, but I’m absolutely going to get my hands on it.

-0-

《Cold Medicine》

《Headache Relief Medicine》

《Medicine for Bruises》

《Medicine for Cuts》

《Disease Prevention Medicine》

《Nourishing and Strengthening Medicine》

《Eye Drops》

《Medicine for Eye Strain》

These… are ordinary medicines rather than beauty products.

I suppose the idea is that good health is the foundation of beauty.

I see. That makes sense.

There’s no point in being beautiful if you’re suffering from an illness.

Bruises and cuts might even enhance the beauty of a knight, but for an ordinary noble daughter, they’d detract from her appearance.

-0-

《Lice Treatment》

Lice.

So this can get rid of those troublesome insects that live in your hair?

I’d like some of this.

No, I don’t have lice in my own hair, but I know several people who are troubled by them.

Yes, it’s my acquaintances who are having trouble.

-0-

《Athlete’s Foot Treatment》

This… is for men, isn’t it?

I’ve heard that many men suffer from athlete’s foot.

Women?

Women don’t get athlete’s foot.

Still, I should buy some, just to be safe.

-0-

《Hair Growth Medicine》

Hair growth?

…I wonder how effective it is.

I doubt it will make someone’s head full of hair overnight, but if it has even a little effect, there will be plenty of people who want it.

And not just men, but women, too.

In fact, it’s quite common for people to lose their hair due to stress.

They hide it with wigs or hairpieces, but if it can be treated, of course they’d want to try.

-0-

《Medicine for Sexually Transmitted Diseases》

This is for commoners.

Outbreaks occur regularly in towns and villages.

However, only a limited number of commoners would be able to afford it.

Would it be better for the lord to purchase it and make people undergo treatment, even if they have to be forced?

This is something I need to discuss with my husband.

-0-

《Weight Loss Medicine》

…………….

In some countries, a fuller figure is considered attractive.

A fuller figure is proof that one possesses wealth.

But in Raywhite Kingdom, a slim figure is preferred.

It’s seen as proof of diligence.

Oh, I don’t need this.

I’m already slim enough.

Still, I’d like to keep a dose or two of this medicine on hand.

-0-

《Longevity Medicine》

Apparently, it extends one’s lifespan by about ten years.

Umm…………………………………………………………………

Is this the kind of medicine we should present to the royal family?

N-no, medicines that extend one’s lifespan are practically synonymous with fraud.

After all, there’s no way to determine whether someone lived longer because of the medicine or simply because they would have lived that long anyway.

But why is something like this on the list?

I can’t imagine Alfred-sama or Fushu-sama of the Korin Religion engaging in fraud…

Could it possibly be real?

Was this why Mate-chan collapsed when she saw it?

I nearly fainted myself, so that must be it.

Fufu.

But I didn’t collapse.

Those cushions surrounding me were a waste, then.

This was the end of the letter.

I folded it and was about to return it to Mate-chan.

「You haven’t finished reading it yet.」

Huh?

I’d read the whole letter.

The last item on the list was the longevity medicine.

There didn’t seem to be anything written on the back, either.

But Mate-chan shook her head.

I unfolded the letter again.

Sure enough, the last item on the list was the longevity medicine.

「The end of the letter.」

The end… Oh, the signature of the person guaranteeing the medicine’s effectiveness.

Since medicines can easily be used as tools for fraud, sometimes someone is named to guarantee their effects.

I’d overlooked it.

…………….

……………………………………………………………………..

The signature of the person responsible for guaranteeing the medicine’s effectiveness read: Lulushi Loo.

I checked it about three times.

She was a legendary apothecary.

It was said that the medicines she made were several times more effective than those made by anyone else.

It didn’t say that she’d made the products on this list, but…

She was guaranteeing their effectiveness.

That was huge.

Far too huge.

Once the shop opened, everyone would want medicines guaranteed by Lulushi-sama.

I could already foresee utter chaos.

The most effective solution would be to open more shops.

But we’d promised that there would only be one Alfred’s Beauty Shop.

The reason was that there was a limit to how many products could be supplied.

Grrr.

Th-then, we could sell them without mentioning Lulushi-sama’s name.

……..That’s impossible, isn’t it?

Most of the medicines were expensive products.

If there was someone responsible for guaranteeing their effectiveness, people would surely want to know who it was.

Even if we kept quiet, the medicines worked so well that people would eventually discover the truth.

We couldn’t keep it hidden.

No matter how carefully we tried to hide it, if Lulushi-sama’s name was printed on the product packaging, that would be the end of it.

Then should we cancel the opening?

That’s impossible.

We’ve involved too many people.

It was far too late to cancel the opening now.

Even if we forced the cancellation through, people would definitely ask why. And if Lulushi-sama’s name came to light then, the nobles would monopolize the medicines.

There was no way the commoners wouldn’t find out about such a move…

If it were only beauty products, that might be one thing, but monopolizing rejuvenation medicine, athlete’s foot treatment, medicine for sexually transmitted diseases, and longevity medicine would provoke a great deal of resentment.

Depending on the circumstances, it could even lead to riots.

Th-then, what if we simply didn’t stock products that commoners would want?

We hadn’t decided to carry everything on the list, after all.

We could stick to harmless beauty products.

Only products that commoners wouldn’t want.

It would be a shame to give up rejuvenation medicine, athlete’s foot treatment, medicine for sexually transmitted diseases, and longevity medicine, but I felt we could make it work if we let those go.

I’d have to explain things to Alfred-sama and Fushu-sama, his representative, but if it meant preventing unrest in the kingdom, I was willing to go that far.

Then, if we could discuss the number of products to be supplied and somehow work around the agreement to have only one shop, that would be ideal.

……..

No, that wouldn’t work.

Even if we only sold products that commoners didn’t want, the moment Lulushi-sama’s name came out, people would flock here from neighboring countries, regardless of whether the products were beauty-related.

They’d demand that we put them in contact with Lulushi-sama.

They’d insist that we find a way to provide the medicines they wanted.

We couldn’t reveal Lulushi-sama’s name.

Could we somehow manage if we kept her name hidden?

Mate-chan.

Who knows what’s on this list?

Naturally, Alfred-sama and Fushu-sama, but has anyone else seen this letter?

「Just you and me.」

……..We can do this.

We can keep it a secret.

Contact Fushu-sama and Alfred-sama immediately.

You understand that much, don’t you, Mate-chan?

This is no time to be lying around unconscious!

「I know, but… I heard something rather strange from Fushu-sama.」

Something strange?

「Apparently, Alfred-sama’s mother is Lulushi-sama.」(Translation: Since we’re deep in the thick of it, there’s no way in hell we can hide it, no matter how hard we try.)

……..

I looked at Mate-chan again.

She smiled at me as if to say, ‘Welcome to this side’.

I have never wanted to punch her smiling face so much.

With that thought in mind, I lost consciousness and collapsed.

Thank goodness for the cushions.

-0-

Maid A 「We saw the letter too, you know.」

Maid B 「Shh.」

Maid A 「Maybe it’ll be fine because boys don’t go around telling people about their mothers when they’re out and about?」

Maid B 「Alfred-sama is a guest of the Korin Religion, isn’t he? Do you really think Fushu-sama is the only one who knows?」

Maid A 「We’re too young to know much about Lulushi-sama’s achievements, though.」

Maid B 「Only the older folks know about them, right?」

Countess 「……..Would you two like some time off?」