75 Ninth word, brother. (2/2)

It was supposed to be going well a while ago: .......

'What's the reason?　Is this my brother's shop?　No, it's a small shop over there, so it shouldn't affect my shop too much.

Yes, people say that the magic sword is great, but with the size of that store, we can't sell that much .

That's why they're not a threat to our store.

Sure, sales are down, but that doesn't mean ...... that we're losing money. ...... How come the employees are gone?

It's not your fault.

Oh, brother!

The voice was coming from the direction of my brother, whom I hadn't seen in decades.

Hey, long time no see. You've put on a lot of weight since I've seen you.

Oh, yeah.

I looked at my belly.

I was fat.

I ate and drank all day, every day.

My brother, on the other hand, still has the muscle (body) of a dwarf: .......

”You say you got run off by an employee?

Ummm, yeah, .......

There was no way to deny it here in this empty shop.

Okay, ......, explain to me what's going on here.

Okay. ......

Then I told him what happened until yesterday when my brother's sword became famous .

''You ...... are explaining yourself and don't you realize how stupid you are?''

What?

Am I stupid?

No, it's not!

I'm the richest man in the Imperial City!

”You're a fool now. You know what?　Your men aren't golems, okay?

'Golem?　Oh, ......

The golem ...... is a high-grade magic tool that does everything its master tells it to do.

If you ask me, I've always thought of my ...... subordinates as pawns who would do everything they were ordered to do. .......

''You ...... really, really don't sound like the ...... old you wouldn't have done this.

No, it's not: ......

I used to be ......

No, no way. First of all, you're not in the business these days.

'What?　Oh, I'm ...... involved ......

Nothing's happening. I'll leave it all up to my men. If you'd seen my magic sword first, you wouldn't have wasted six months. And you know you can't possibly invent a new magic tool in a month, right?

U......

I can't say anything back.

The brother was right about everything.

I was just playing along, letting my men do everything.

My brother's cold eyes stare into mine.

”You've changed, haven't you? You used to be such a serious person. ...... I left home so that you could take over this shop, you were a good businessman.

Oh, really?

I thought for sure you had a fight with my dad and left. .......

I didn't know that was the case...... If you ask me, I wouldn't have been able to own this store if my brother had been here.......

Well, ...... for me. .......

'My brother ...... sorry ......'

”Don't apologize to me. You need to be sorry. I'm gonna stop drinking from now on.

”Ki, sobriety ...... okay ......

And I'm worried about you now, so come on over.

Is this my brother's shop?

Yeah, go serve the customers. A month of this and you'll be back to your old self, won't you?

”Wow, okay. ......

Customer service. ...... I wonder how many years I haven't dealt with customers. .......

I'm not a merchant now .

It's no wonder the store is going out of business. ......