Columbina followed the young shopkeeper into her bookstore.
How should one put it?
The decoration was indeed quite nice and exquisite; the various books were a feast for the eyes, accompanied by a rich, scholarly fragrance.
Now, it was Columbina who couldn’t understand why this shop was so deserted.
Was it because it had just opened?
Then things should get better once everyone knows about this place; after all, buying books here is a real bargain.
“What kind of books would the young lady like to buy?”
Seeing that Columbina was just ‘looking’ and didn’t seem to have any intention of actively choosing, the little shopkeeper immediately recalled a sentence taught by a successful businessman.
In business, you have to be proactive.
So, she enthusiastically began to actively promote her wares.
This put Columbina in a difficult position; Sandrone had only told her to stop reading isekai light novels, but hadn’t taught her what genre she should actually read.
Moreover, she hadn’t read light novels before and didn’t know much about them.
“Does the lady not know what genre of light novel to choose?”
It seemed this little shopkeeper had learned something after all, at least knowing how to read people’s expressions.
Columbina nodded and said softly, “A friend recommended that I buy a few light novels, but I’ve never read them before.”
“Oh, so it was a friend’s recommendation,” the little shopkeeper understood.
“If you haven’t read them, I can recommend some for you!
Um…
if I may ask, what are your usual hobbies?
That can help me determine which novel genres you might prefer.”
“Hobbies?”
Columbina lowered her head and thought for a moment, “Gourmet food, small animals…
especially kittens, and…
the moon.
Do those count?”
“Uh…”
Hearing this, the little shopkeeper was also quite troubled.
The things Columbina mentioned didn’t seem to have corresponding light novels; she felt more suited for…
popular science books?
Or the kind of books filled with various pictures.
Her shop mainly sold titles from major booksellers across various nations, like Liyue’s Wanwen Bookhouse and Inazuma’s Yae Publishing House.
The kind of novels Columbina wanted were very rare.
“Eh?” Columbina noticed the shopkeeper’s hesitation, “Is it not quite suitable?”
Columbina felt a bit disappointed; it seemed there was no chance to buy a suitable novel this time, so she would come back next time.
These words made the little shopkeeper anxious; she couldn’t let her very first customer just walk away like that!
“Wait, miss!” Seeing Columbina preparing to leave, the little shopkeeper quickly called out to her.
“Hmm?
What is it?”
Columbina didn’t look back; although this shop offered a great discount, if there weren’t any suitable books, she would just have to forget it.
She would wait until she got back and ask Sandrone properly about what light novels she should read.
The little shopkeeper’s brain CPU was running at high speed; she had to think of a way to keep her first customer in a short amount of time.
Furthermore, the little shopkeeper had noticed long ago that this guest had kept her eyes closed, yet seemed to be able to’see’ the whole time.
What did that mean?
It meant she was of some rare race or bloodline!
This VIP must be kept!
Think faster, brain!
“Miss!” The little shopkeeper went all out, blabbing whatever came to mind, “If you don’t know which light novel to read, why not try the most popular ones on the market right now?”
The most popular ones?
Columbina thought about it; it seemed that was indeed a good idea.
If everyone liked reading them, then she should probably like them too, right?
And ten books were half price!
As long as she took ten different genres of the most popular ones, there would surely be one she liked, right?
If it was too many, she could also give a few to Sandrone, Arlecchino, and the others when the time came.
Columbina made up her mind and walked back, “Then please give me ten of the most popular light novels, in ten different styles.”
She finally stayed!
The little shopkeeper was already crazy with joy.
Who could understand the feeling of having the very first sale of a new opening be such a large order!
The little shopkeeper’s grin was so wide she couldn’t close her mouth as she hurried to the most prominent position on the back shelf to take out ten light novels.
She didn’t even need to look at the labels; weren’t the most popular light novels lately all published by the Yae Publishing House?
They seemed to be written by someone with the pen name ‘Exquisite Fried Tofu.’ She didn’t know what was written in them, but they were exceptionally popular across all seven nations anyway.
Especially among young boys and girls like the lady before her.
Particularly that book ‘Please, My Fox Immortal Guuji’; its sales had reached a fifty-year high.
Even in a place as nearly isolated from the world as Natlan, people were buying it.
This reputation was truly terrifying.
So she had to pack a whole set.
Before long, the little shopkeeper had all ten light novels packed up; without exception, they were all written by that ‘Exquisite Fried Tofu.’
As for the different genres Columbina had just requested… This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Please forgive the brain of a’successful’ shopkeeper; it really couldn’t remember anything more.
Because they were all short stories, even though there were ten of them, they didn’t look very thick.
“Miss, here are ten light novels.
And because of our grand opening event, ten books are half price.
It comes to a total of five thousand Mora.
Please take them.”
Mora?
Don’t overthink it; unlike certain deities, Columbina did have Mora.
After all, she was the third seat of the Harbingers; the Fatui hadn’t reached the point of being so inhumane as to not pay salaries.
So the transaction went smoothly.
Columbina planned to give a few to Sandrone when she went to her house for lunch later.
Sandrone had already helped her a lot; as friends, they should give each other small gifts.
She hoped Sandrone would like them.
“Take care!
Please come again!”
Under the enthusiastic waving of the little shopkeeper, Columbina left carrying those ten light novels.
At this time, neither the shopkeeper nor Columbina knew that they would never have the chance to meet again.
For no other reason than the next day, this newly opened shop directly declared bankruptcy, and all the books that had been bought were donated to The Hearth.
Alas, a sad entrepreneurial experience…
Of course, this had nothing to do with Columbina.
At this moment, she had already arrived at the entrance of The Hearth.
“Lady Damselette.”
The entrance to The Hearth looked no different from an ordinary welfare institution’s entrance, but many guards were hidden nearby.
As soon as Columbina appeared nearby, a hidden guard immediately emerged and bowed respectfully to her.
The Servant had specifically instructed that if Lady Damselette, Sandrone, or the Fair Lady came, they could enter directly without needing to report.
But the necessary salutation was still required.
“Is Arlecchino in?”
Columbina looked inside The Hearth and asked softly.
“The Servant is right inside.
Does Lady Damselette need a subordinate to lead the way?”
Columbina waved her hand and shook her head, “No need, I’ll go in myself.”
“Yes!”
The hidden guard complied, then quickly vanished into hiding, moving so fast it was as if she had never appeared.
And Columbina, following her memory, walked into The Hearth.