So, You Want No Ice in Your Iced Americano?
“Manager!~”
Luna burst into the convenience store. No longer disguised as Jane, she was in her full Luna glory—wearing a dress that exposed her cleavage and let her underwear peek through, strappy high heels, and sparkling makeup on her face.
“It's been a while since I've seen you like that.”
“Yeah, all my work's done now. Thanks to you, it wrapped up quicker than expected. Once they confirmed it was a vampire who made that magic circle, I wasn't needed anymore.”
She did have more knowledge about monsters and beasts than the Magic Tower mages, but she wasn't better at casting spells. Once they'd pinned it down to a vampire, Luna's role there was pretty much over.
“Must be nice finishing fieldwork early.”
“It is, but it's kinda annoying they won't just let me clock out.”
Luna shook a box of condoms in her hand. She was here for her usual condom run, but today seemed to have a different purpose.
“Manager.”
“Yeah?”
“Um, you know...”
What was this? Whenever Luna lowered her voice like that, something serious was usually brewing.
“I heard the store's been selling that lately...”
“That?”
“Yeah. Apparently, it's all the rage with guys these days. Noblemen are snapping them up like crazy.”
If she was glancing around nervously to even mention it, it had to be the dildos and rotors.
“We sell 'em.”
Today's not the day for the lake order, so was she buying one personally?
“Really? But why sell that to guys? It's for women, right?”
“Hm...”
Well.
“Maybe as gifts?”
“Gifts...”
Luna propped her chin on her hand, deep in thought, her slightly upturned red lips pouting. Then she looked at me.
“Manager, could you gift me one too?”
“What?”
“Come on, it's not sold anywhere else, and it's way too pricey on my salary... We've known each other for over two years now—not like it's just once or twice. Don't you think it's okay to give me one as a present?”
Hold up.
“You're asking me to gift you that?”
“Why not? You don't wanna? I get it, it'd be embarrassing. You're immune to this stuff, but you've never gifted anything like it before.”
“True, but that's not something for you to point out.”
“Why? I like you too, Manager.”
“Cut the crap.”
“Hng~. Why assume it's a joke?”
“I've fallen for your pranks once or twice? Never.”
“Tch, as if you've ever fallen for any.”
She was being way too forward. She'd flashed her tits or panties plenty of times before, but this was new.
Did she want a rotor that bad?
“But is it okay to ask me for it?”
“Yeah, you're fine.”
“...”
Damn, the chastity norms in this world were hard for me to grasp.
“Got it. Wait here a sec.”
“Yay! Okay!”
If she wanted it that badly, gifting her one was no big deal.
I headed up to the third floor and picked out the priciest rotor for her—a silver one that matched her name. I wrapped it carefully in a bag.
“Here.”
“Oh my. I didn't think you'd actually give me one. Thanks, Manager.”
Luna peeked into the paper bag, and her face turned beet red.
“M-Manager?”
“Yeah?”
“W-What's this?”
She pulled out the silver rotor and stared at me in shock.
“What else? The thing you mentioned. The one guys are buying up and gifting to women lately.”
“N-No, th-this isn't what I meant!”
Her face flushed crimson; she could barely speak.
“Not this?”
“I meant the underwear... the silk bra...”
“Ah.”
The new product for women that men were buying as gifts. It was selling like hotcakes. I'd assumed rotor, but it was lingerie.
Underwear or rotor—embarrassing either way, right?
“Sorry. I'll pick something else.”
“No, it's fine. I'll take what you gave me.”
“...You sure?”
“Yes. It's my fault for not being clear.”
Her face redder than a strawberry, Luna hurriedly stuffed the silver rotor back in the bag.
“Gotta go.”
“No underwear then?”
“N-No, I can't! Anyway, thanks. I'll... use it well.”
“Use it well?”
“N-No! Forget I said that. I'll just keep it safe.”
“If you're gonna do that, might as well take something else...”
But my words didn't reach her. She'd already bolted with the condom box and the paper bag.
“She didn't pay for the condoms.”
I'll put it on her tab.
“Phew. That was a shock.”
Luna stared at the paper bag in her hand and let out a breath.
“What a lewd thing...”
She knew exactly what it was. A rotor. Every woman at the lake had tried one at least once.
After the store started stocking them, almost every client added it as an extra option. She'd been stunned seeing those proud women lose their minds with it inside them—turning into utter beasts.
It was unfamiliar to Luna. Makes sense; she'd just returned from fieldwork when they arrived, and she hadn't taken clients since.
It must be amazing, right? My sisters were losing their minds over it.
“Should I try it once...?”
But she shook her head immediately.
“No way.”
One taste, and she might never turn back. She decided to seal the bag away for a good long while and headed back to the lake.
It had been a while since I'd dealt with a real asshole customer.
He ordered coffee from the store's fresh-ground machine. Nothing wrong there—happens all the time.
“So... you want an iced Americano?”
“Yeah, that's right. Iced Americano.”
“Got it, sir. But here's the thing—take the ice out of iced Americano, and it's not iced Americano anymore.”
“No ice. I hate ice.”
Hm. What to do.
Never thought I'd hear someone demand no ice in an iced Americano.
“No ice in iced Americano means you want a hot Americano, right?”
“Can't do hot.”
“Lukewarm then?”
“No. Iced Americano. Are you stupid? Why can't you get it?”
This fucker? Worlds may differ, but assholes are universal.
In my old world, I'd have catered to his bullshit till I gave myself stress ulcers. But not anymore.
“So hot Americano's no good, iced Americano's no good?”
“Sigh, last time. No ice in the iced...”
“Then fuck off.”
“What?”
“We don't sell ice-free iced Americanos here. You want something we don't have, so leave.”
“You little shit?”
Fancy clothes, innate arrogance. Some backwater noble who thought he was hot shit.
Wrong target this time.
“Looks like you just rolled in from the sticks. One smack to wake you up.”
“What? Do you know who I—”
But our haughty noble customer didn't finish. Smack!
“Guhk!”
I slapped his cheek flat-palmed. Thud! He spun in midair and crashed to the floor.
From his view, the world must've flipped. His left cheek ballooned up.
“Gaaah!!!”
I tossed a word to the screaming, thrashing noble.
“Quiet down. Before I smack you again.”
“Hup... hngh...”
Nothing beats a good slap for entitled nobles.
“What's it gonna be? Iced? Hot? Or another punch?”
“I-Iced...”
His hand shook as he picked iced.
“One iced Americano coming up, sir.”
Vrrr! The machine poured coffee into an ice cup.
“Your iced Americano's ready.”
The noble grabbed the cup and desperately gulped. Gulp gulp gulp. Coffee leaked from his gaping, swollen cheek.
“You gonna go? Sir? You're making a mess.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Our problem customer left. Had to spell it out for him. Dense bastard.
I mopped up the blood and spit from the noble's mess. Like bar fights wrecking the owner's place, store brawls hit the manager and part-timers hardest.
“Manager, I'll clean it ssumda!”
Sylvia popped her head from the drink aisle, where she'd been watching, and came running.
“You don't help during the fight, but now you wanna pitch in?”
“Hehe, I'd blow up the store if I tried.”
Fair point. She'd been dramatically expelled from the academy. One slip-up, and it'd wreck the store, not just the customer.
“Fine. Good job.”
“Of course ssumda!”
I had to hold back. Store gets trashed, it's on me.
“Cleanup done?”
“Yes, all done ssumda. Lately, customers exploded—shelves are empty.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Might need extra orders.”
“Got it.”
As I mopped, Sylvia watched me intently.
“Something to say?”
“Well...”
“Yeah?”
“Manager, did you meet Professor Repis last time?”
I paused mopping and looked at her. Faint anger simmered in her blunt gaze. Her voice was icy.
“How'd you know?”
“Felt her mana in the store warehouse ssumda.”
“...”
“Did you meet?”
“Yeah.”
“No mention of me?”
“Nope. Wasn't there for your stuff.”
Unavoidable incident. Wanted to settle it on-site. But after sending her away, I'd cleaned up the mana—and she sensed it? Talent's real.
“...I see.”
Voice thick with disappointment. Still hung up on the academy? Promising star, backed by sponsors with a bright future. Understandable.
“If you see Professor Repis, could you pass a message?”
“What?”
“I'll burn her hair off if I do.”
Her eyes blazed. Don't actually do it.
“Ach oo!”
Repis suddenly sneezed.
“What? Chills out of nowhere.”
She rubbed her shivering arms and eyed the rotor her assistant had bought.
“This the one? The thing that guy used on me...”