Chapter 8: Donuts, Cats, and Call Centers
With Hime’s full cooperation, the points system I devised began to move significantly. Originally operated on handmade paper point tickets, the points system had now been digitized.
At the breakfast table, Hime, while savoring the salmon ochazuke made from hometown tax contributions, nudged my smartphone and then placed her bowl on the table with a clunk before pointing at it.
“I set up a point redemption system for online shopping, so promote it,” she said.
Taking the phone to check, I saw a website displayed that resembled a credit card point exchange service.
“Wow! Amazing! … And there are more products!” I exclaimed.
“With more people joining, it won’t be so difficult. But make sure to explain it to Abukuma-san properly,” she added.
” Of course it is.”
While I felt sorry for the increased workload of buying magic stones and shipping point exchange items, the convenience it provided would elevate the importance of points, likely leading to a better workforce. While the sudden realization of the plan might surprise some, it was likely that more web services would sprout up like this in the future, so they needed to get used to the pace.
“Oh, and starting today, I’ll be sending drones out. If anyone asks, just explain,”
“Drones?”
“Over here, they call them drones, right? Or maybe multicopters? Anyway, I’ll be sending out cameras to search for those dragon-class monsters.”
“Really? Is that allowed?”
“Dungeon drone usage is permitted, so it should be fine. As for other places, as long as they’re under 200 grams, there are no restrictions except for specific prohibited areas under current law.”
If Hime said it was okay, then it probably was. I stopped worrying about the details and sipped my salmon and corn miso soup while checking the online shopping site. Hime’s miso soup was quite different from what my mother used to make, but it was still delicious. Placing the empty floral bowl on the table, Hime, who was sitting next to me, poked my shoulder with a smile.
“Hey, hey. I tried making this miso soup for the first time. How is it?”
As I was about to say “It was delicious,” I heard a thud from the other side of the table.
“Huh? What’s this residue…? Did I accidentally eat trash?”
Mars, with miso dripping from his nose, asked Hime anxiously.
“How rude. That residue is what’s left when making sake. It’s an ingredient. It was featured in today’s Kitekote recipe, so I tried making it.”
“Oh, so it wasn’t trash…”
Relieved, Mars wiped his nose with a tissue.
“Isn’t Kitekote that cheap palace near the station where Tonbo often buys food? Hime seems to like that messy store. She also buys clothes there.”
“Hime looks good in anything because of her background. There were brands she liked in her hometown, but… honestly, as long as the clothes are easy to wear on this planet’s level, anything goes.”
“But they only sell jerseys and hoodies there, right? Shall we go shopping for clothes next time?”
Even though anything suits her, it’s probably better to have clothes bought from a proper store. I’ve only been to fast fashion stores, but they’re totally different from the cheap palace.
“Hmm… Tonbo, are you going to buy clothes for Hime?”
“Um, I can’t afford anything too expensive…”
“Don’t you shop at Work Mace? It’s not that expensive.”
“Well, I wouldn’t take Hime to a workwear store. I know some regular clothing stores too.”
It’s true that since I started diving into dungeons, I’ve been going to Work Mace often… it’s close, cheap, and has everything.
“Well then, shall we go there next time? What about Machan?”
“I have my own fur unlike you guys with thin hair.”
Mars proudly said, stroking his fur with his paw.
“But isn’t it hot in the summer?”
Mars shrugged slightly at the princess’s words and laughed, “Well, at least I won’t get a sunburn.” she reached out towards Mars’s fluffy fur, only to have her hand swatted away with a meow.
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scene transition
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With thoughts of his furry friend’s thick coat lingering in mind, I finished barley tea from a mug matching the princess’s and mine.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
It was noon that day. While manning the shop in Tokyo 4th Dungeon, I had finished checking all the information on the online shopping site and sent out the batch email using the expensive and slow computer I bought from the electronics store. Then, a samurai in a powered suit arrived at my doorstep.
“Procurement guy! Your drones with your name on them are flying all over the place!”
“Oh, those are ours, Kaneki-san. We’re using them for reconnaissance.”
“No, I mean, there were like tens or twenties of them flying around! Who’s controlling them all?”
“Well, it’s AI. AI.”
Actually, it’s Hime controlling all of them. With our shortage of manpower, it was well-known to all our regulars, so the three executives decided to use AI.
We’ve made about a thousand and sent them not only to Tokyo 4th but also to most dungeons within Tokyo. According to Hime, we can manage to fly a thousand even if they’re dormant, but it would be quite a challenge as we would originally need a thousand people to operate them.
“AI for drones? That’s amazing! But, is that okay?”
“There’s no law against it. Drones are free to fly in the dungeon.”
In fact, many parties fly drones for reconnaissance in the dungeon. Of course, no party flies as many as we do.
“Is that so?
” That’s what the law of this country says, isn’t it “
I didn’t know…”
There are no regulations regarding AI in the law… Well, if Hime says it’s okay, then it must be okay. For now, anyway.
“By the way, Kaneki-san, how’s the powered suit?”
“Oh, this? It’s amazing! Speed and power are justice, after all!”
Kaneki-san tapped the frame of the powered suit he bought from us and smiled, showing his white teeth. Our powered suits had been in the hands of civilian adventurers before we started delivering them to the Self-Defense Forces. Since the Self-Defense Forces are a national organization, there are various procedures to go through before the purchase, so it’s taking quite a while to finalize things.
“But with this much power, my sword can’t keep up…”
As he said that, the sword at his waist he tapped wasn’t the usual golden hilt he always carries. It had a rough appearance, and upon closer inspection, the grip wasn’t wrapped in cloth but seemed to be made of molded rubber or something.
“Bro, did you ruin your sword?”
“Well, I got carried away and the blade chipped badly. What I have now is a spare imported one.”
Kaneki-san said with a wry smile as he weakly tapped the pommel of his sword. Well, Japanese swords aren’t made to cut monsters, after all.
Oh, speaking of which, there was a Japanese sword among the point exchange items that could cut through monsters…
“Kaneki-san, I sent you an email notification earlier. Our points service has gone digital. There are swords available as rewards, so be sure to check it out…”
“Huh? Really?”
Kaneki-san immediately took out his smartphone and started checking the catalog, muttering “Seriously?” as he looked at the sword’s photo.
The weapons available for points exchange were made from the same material as the incredibly tough and resilient outer shell of a spaceship. It could be said that this sword, too, was a demon sword that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else on Earth. Kaneki-san nodded in approval as he looked at the photo of the demon sword and glanced at me.
“By the way, can I see that sword?”
“Sorry, but the point items are sent from our shipping center, so I don’t have them with me right now. I’ll bring it next time.”
After all, it’s a product that suddenly appeared this morning. Maybe Hime hasn’t even started production yet.
“Seriously… Well, either way, I don’t have enough points…”
“At brother’s party, the ladies always end up converting all the points into cosmetics.”
“Yeah, that’s right…”
Since Kaneki-san’s parties have a high female ratio, it seems like the ladies always end up with the usage rights for the points through pressure and majority vote. Well, it’s not like it’s in exchange for something, but Kaneki-san does get expensive power suits in return… I’d like to think that there’s a balance maintained within the party.
“Anyway, points have definitely become important, so I’ll try a bit harder…
“Thank you so much! I appreciate it…
“…By the way, aside from magic stones, is there anything else the procurement agent wants?
“Well, as of now…
“If it’s the corpse of a monster of Tokyo’s catastrophic level, I’d want to buy it, but if I did, the Self-Defense Forces would definitely come barging in with swords. If the list of items for purchase expands, so will the work. Until combat robots are ready, I think the current system of specializing in buying magic stones is the best.
“What about skill orbs? I have some that I haven’t even put up for auction…
“I don’t need skill orbs for now…
“Oh, okay…
“Kaneki-san sighed, shoulders slumping, then turned back halfway and came back.
“I forgot I came to buy coffee. Café au lait, right?
“Thanks as always.
Kaneki-san exchanged 300 yen for coffee and left. Watching his back covered in a powered suit, I whispered to Mars.
“Hey, are you sure we can’t buy the skill orb? It looks useful.”
“Absolutely not. I’ve said it before, but don’t ever get involved with them, not even in the junkyard.”
Mars said, baring his claws with a scary expression.
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