This is way too bad for education!!

With Dea at E-rank, I decided to entrust him to Blade-senpai for a bit.

"Dea-kun. I've got some business talks to get through. Have Blade-senpai teach you the ropes in the meantime. Buy him drinks and he'll share everything — good senpai, guaranteed."

"Oi, Karina, you want us to babysit?"

"Hey, barkeep! drinks and snacks for the senpai. Oh, and cover Dea's meal too."

"Leave it to us, Karina. We'll take care of him."

I like how quick they are on the uptake.

"Nice to meet you, Dea."

"N-nice to meet you, Blade-san."

"If you lay a hand on Dea, you'll have me to answer to."

"I don't touch other people's women… er, boys. Either way, I won't."

Good then. I left the guild.

Next stop: my lotion buyer, Shun Lai Pavilion, of course!

Sorry, Dea — Shun Lai Pavilion is too much for your education!!

It's a place for grown-ups!!

I might accidentally be out till morning, but I can count on senpai!!

With a spring in my step, I arrived at Shun Lai Pavilion.

It wasn't open yet given it was still daylight, but I was here to deliver. I knocked on the back door.

"Excuse meee."

"Oh? Karina. It's you? So you made it back fine."

"Harumikazuchi-oneesama! Long time no see! I'm back and I brought lotion!"

"Oh? Come in then. Can't pour booze right now, but I'll give you tea."

Ehehe, still gorgeous face. Great personality too. And a perfect bust and legs.

I followed her inside. The glossy fox tail swaying before me was beyond tempting. I want to fluff it, to sniff it. Gotta resist…!

"Well, show me. Not junk, I hope?"

"Here you go."

I set out 33 pouches of lotion. They covered the table.

"… I did ask you to buy some… but this many?"

"More is better, right?"

"I didn't say how many… Let's see the contents… Hm."

She wet a finger, dipped the powder, and tasted it.

She nodded thoughtfully as she evaluated it. I'm getting nervous.

"Excellent quality… At a silver per bag, there's no profit for you."

"Yeah, it's basically cost. I negotiated a tiny discount, so that's the margin."

I mean, normally you'd be deep in the red once you factor in transport and labor costs.

"… You sure you're cut out for trade? I figured you'd bring two or three on the side. And people usually cut them to pad volume."

"It was your request, so I went all-in, Onee-sama!"

"Good grief, what a handful."

Harumikazuchi-oneesama shrugged as if to further invoke that "good grief" feel.

"… At this quality, we can use less per service. Three bags for four silvers… forty-four total… I'll make it forty-five, clean."

"Eh, really? Yay, your generosity is so big-bellied!"

"Hah!? You calling my toned belly fat!?"

"I'm sorry!"

I practically fell to my knees in apology. Don't call women 'big-bellied,' right.

"But really, forty-five silvers?"

"Don't worry. I can parcel some to the neighboring shops and I'll make it back."

"Huh, so that's how it works."

"Come, let's close the deal before I change my mind."

We settled it via the Merchants' Guild token. Delivery complete.

"Oh, right — Onee-sama, I made this."

"Hm? What's that odd stick with a ball?"

I produced the massager. Entirely wholesome.

Dea helped build it.

Not erotic in the least, but I'm sure this shop needs it.

"How to use it… Here's the switch, it vibrates, so…"

"Hmm? … A vibrating device. 'Denma,' huh. It does hit the shoulder nicely. Heavy chests cause such knots."

"You can apply it other places than your shoulders, too. For example…"

"… Huh? H-hold on. Using it there…!? D-doesn't that hurt?"

"Want to try? I also have a mini version. There are only a few prototypes for now, buuuut…"

After a hands-on demo and pitch, she bought a prototype set for five silvers. Yep — time to source materials properly and make production models.