Daedalus Spot

Trait...

Jackal originates from a planet dubbed Trait Maker. The reason for such a name should be fairly obvious— The existence of Traits.

Like magical spells of this world, Traits produce wondrous results. In some cases, admittedly, results far beyond what spells like the creation of elements can achieve. But these two aspects of strength are not dissimilar.

Spells, as far as Jackal's knowledge of this world gleams, need chants. It needs focus. It needs the thought to trigger the magic within.

Traits are similar. Traits need a trigger. But here is the doozy part...

A trigger is unique to each individual. It can be a phrase. It can be an action. It can be thought. It can be a state of mind. In essence, in his previous world, only the lucky ones triggered their traits and could hope to work on them.

Now, Traits ARE wondrous. Jackal has heard of traits that can glean other's triggers, allowing the users of such traits to earn a lot of money. Then there are Traits as simple as the change of a body. For instance... one's spit can become Cola. One's fart can be a trigger to breathe fire...

In contrast, there are some famous traits.

Quest Maker.

A trait that allows the user to actively form personal quests that will give rewards in return. These rewards are not 'stolen' from the world but created as a perfect copy!

Manipulation of the matter!

Jackal's trait is somewhat similar.

Humble Store.

This trait seems to link with the very concept of the market of the world. It provides an accurate, live exchange rate for any item that may exist. What items are to be searched for, what currencies to be exchanged, and even things like sorting items based on certain filters are dependent on the user's thoughts.

In sense, Jackal controls a private market. And this private market will consume currency or an equivalent exchange of items to CREATE the item he wishes to 'purchase.'

So, for instance, if he wants to purchase Eina's panties, the ones in her drawers will be safe and Jackal will receive duplicates.

In his past life, his 'Family' used his trait to form a vast arms enterprise... until Jackal was bored. He'd had enough. Raise his voice, fuck someone's wife... and die.

Sighing softly, Jackal recalls the previous words.

'Another trait. Death Eater. The trigger is the death of the target which... lets me consume, digest and excrete something. I'll have to see if that's true but let's confirm Humble Store.'

Being an orphan and perpetually hungry, Jackal's Trait came quickly when he once openly raised his voice—

"I want..." He whispers and a red panel that only he can see opens up in his gaze.

Humble Store!

Jackal grins!

To be fair, even if he did not have this trait, he intended to run a store and have some adventures. What's the point of doing another job when he has a similar experience under his belt?

Besides... he will be doing his new life a massive disservice if he did not make the best use of the fantastical elements of this world!

'But...' chewing his bottom lip in worry, Jackal frowns, 'I wonder if I'll get into some shit for signing up to a God or a Goddess for Falna. Being a dungeon advisor for years has its uses and I know a lot more about Familias and how they operate... If possible, I want my last life behind me.'

He didn't have concerns like what will happen if others know he jumped universes.

Who cares?!

Jackal simply wants to move on and one thing he knows about the Divines is that they are disgustingly curious and playful.

Not that he minds it.

But he would rather not experience their manipulation.

Understanding about Gods... and their acts barely fazed Jackal.

'So what? Gods want to have fun. Mortals want to have fun. Everyone wants to live. The strong will live the way they like. Rules exist in every form of civilization and society but the one constant of strength remains.'

Leaning back on his chair and moaning comfortably, Jackal chuckles, 'One thing I have to thank my 'family' for is that they did open my eyes. I wonder... if I would have felt butthurt about how gods act willfully. Many cause downright mayhem! But... whatever. If can talk back to Jona, I can talk back to anyone!'

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Hurried knocks broke Jackal out of his wild fantasies.

"Jackal-san! Jackal-san! I know you're in there! Please open up! If something is troubling you, please tell me. We will deal with it together!"

Jackal blinks and registers the voice before sitting up and pursing his lips.

"Uh... Jackal ain't here! I'm his Cousin! Coyote!"

"..."

"Coyote-san, let me in!" The voice urges again.

"Who are you?"

"Sigh... Jackal-san, it's me, Eina. Please open the door."

Unwilling to stew and simmer in her worries since she wouldn't get it anytime soon even if she tries to, Jackal shrugs and opens the door.

Greeting him is the sight of a slightly 'red' Eina who most likely ran all the way over. Her neat hairstyle now has a few strands sticking out and her fair and beautiful face now sports the excited glow of sweat. Her slightly longer and pointed ears twitch when seeing him smile but not letting her start Jackal grins, "Ah, Eina, good timing! I was just about to look around a bit. Did you come here after taking the day off?"

She nods in a stupor.

This may as well be the first time she is conversing with a 'happy' Jackal.

"Very good~!" He chuckles and closes the door behind her. His abrupt step forward almost caused Eina to stumble back on her butt, a sight Jackal wouldn't mind on the right occasion.

Once he locks his door, he taps her shoulder and walks past her, "Look alive, Eina. We're going shopping and I know you love it! So help me shop a... shop, why don't you?"

Eina mechanically turns around and seeing Jackal putting quite a bit of distance between them already, she groans and jogs forward to quickly reach his side.

It didn't help that all he had to offer was a giggle at her antics...

'As if I'm some kind of a kid...' She puckers her lips sourly.

"Jackal-san... she begins again, is something... wrong?"

"No?" Jackal looks at her and tilts his head slightly, "But something will be very wrong!"

"What do you mean?" Eina asks quickly.

'Ah, ever the helpful lass with a heart as big as her chest,' Jackal sighs.

But he is a troll.

He just doesn't fuck wives, he also fuck children's mothers in video game lobbies every night!

"Eina... I don't want you to react too exaggeratedly. Promise me!" Jackal inclines his head with a serious expression.

Gulping and hesitating for a moment, Eina declares her will with a determined gaze and a simple nod.

"Your flyer's open."

"I beg your pardon?" Eina blinks.

Glancing down, Jackal shakes his head and whispers, "Don't look down. But your..." he drawls.

With a heavy dusting of red, Eina quickly looks down while covering her front with her hands!

But then she realizes something.

"Female uniforms don't have zippers in their trousers, Girl," Jackal begins to snicker again, "Bring your head to the game!"

Eina's lips part in shock once again.

She would be annoyed if not outright angered by such inappropriate behavior but...

"Jackal...-san? Are you really my Jackal-san? The one who taught me—"

"Of course, I'm YOUR Jackal," He grins but his tone leaves a lot to be misinterpreted, "Or did you forget flunking your second report that I covered for you and had our supervisor chew my head off?"

She lowers her head with a shade of crimson on her cheeks as she defends her honor, "I was a newbie at that time..."

"Aw, you still are~!" Jackal provides in a comforting tone but... she does not feel comforted at all!

"Jackal-san!" Looking at the youth critically, Eina chews her lips with a mildly-frustrated expression, "Please... be honest. Nothing is troubling you, right?"

"Well..." Glancing down at her pants again as she resists the urge to roll her beautiful green eyes, Jackal grins, "All seems to be in order. So, no. I'm all good!"

She sighs in relief before questioning again, "So, please tell me, why are you acting like this?"

"I've always been like this."

"No, you aren't!"

"How would you know?!"

"I—" Eina stutters softly before huffing, "I just know, alright!"

Again, there are a hundred different complicated lies and explanations for it but Jackal can give a rat's ass.

Shrugging, he smirks, "Well, I am like this, too. What can you do?"

And again, Eina finds herself speechless.

Jackal used to leave her speechless by the quality of his work and while she did not doubt his skills even now... Eina truly had to wonder if she is dreaming. Because if not...

"Hey, Sweetheart, two rounds of pasta for us," Jackal stops in front of a stall.

The old lady behind the stall smiles, "My, how polite! But buttering me up won't lower the price."

"Who needs to do that?" Jackal shrugs, "I tell 'em like I see 'em. If I were just as old, you'd have trouble breathing."

The old lady scoffs at a guffaw while Eina blushes harder and apologizes.

"Please don't take any offense—"

"None was taken, child," She smiles, "And you need to look out. If he's leaving me breathless then you're the one in trouble, you know?"

"Eh?"

Eina looks up with a blank gaze.

"See? All Grandmas are naughty." Jackal shakes his head with a sage-like expression.

'This must be a nightmare... it has to be...'

But as the old woman began to cook their food... when the spicy aroma comforted Eina... she accepts the reality quickly.

'On the other hand, she is a good cook. And... and he just ordered food for both of us! Oh, no... this isn't a date! I'm sure! How would I explain this to my family otherwise... No, of course, this is not a date. We're co-workers...'

Eina stops.

'No... we're no longer co-workers...'

It doesn't take long for Eina's mind to become a scrambled mess.

The food is prepared in a few minutes and seeing Jackal pay, Eina had to hold herself from squeaking and making weird noises.

"Thanks, ~!" Jackal inclines his head in the direction of the old woman and leaves.

Eating her food slowly, Eina continues to glance at Jackal constantly before returning to look at her meal.

While she has been a little terrified of her young 'senior,' something about him eating his food with a sincere look of gratitude, which he pointedly lacked before, feels infectious. All the jokes aside, she's never seen him happy.

She's never seen him so... alive.

"Want some?" Jackal pushes his disposable fork forward with noodles wrapped around it which snaps Eina out of her thoughts.

"Eh? Ah..." Eina averts her gaze and nods. One bite wouldn't hurt, right?

Oh, how wrong she was.

As she gently parted her lips to take a bite, Jackal pulled back his fork and swallowed the food while her teeth bit empty air.

She froze.

Who said one bite wouldn't hurt?!

WHO?!

She will fight them!

But seeing his infectious, foolish giggles, Eina cannot help but reluctantly feel her anger sizzle away.

'Just... what is going on?' She sulks internally.

---

The first step toward having a store is understanding the market. With years of experience as a Guild Employee, Jackal has quite a thorough understanding of the market— Everything.

He can sell anything.

The main laws against the products involve illegal channels of procurement and utilization of a part of God to create a product.

But should he sell everything and anything?

No.

Consumer goods then? Maybe, as long as the shelf life is within a reasonable period.

But Jackal is the most interested in selling adventure goods. Weaponry, armor, spells, potions, and a lot more. These things have a long shelf life and well... this is Orario! Should one not enter the strongest category of the competitive market and make a name regardless?!

The next step is choosing a location but the market district in the west alongside flea markets are out of his consideration.

Not that the land or the desirable shop is too expensive. Nothing a mortgage on his house in any gnome bank won't settle.

But Jackal already found the choicest location.

Sure, he was enticed to open a store near the Witch's Secret House to try and gain clout from that premium shop...

But...

"Ah, visitors from the Guild? Did the Guild need something from us?" A woman applying ointment to a cheeky little runner playing around the front garden stands and bows toward Jackal and Eina.

While Jackal would love to see more of the woman, no doubt... he found himself inexplicably fond of the children playing and tumbling.

"Um... Jackal-san?" Eina nudges his shoulder with hers and whispers.

"In a minute..." Jackal hums. It's the climax of this game of catch, after all.

The two boys are sprinting at a quick pace! For them, that is. One reaches out with his hand and the other pushes forward!

They could try and catch slower targets but from the looks of it, this is rivalry!

The woman, most likely the 'Mother' of the orphanage adopts an amused expression and waits, too, more than happy to see someone else take an interest in treasures that others consider discarded.

"Huff... aw!" The black-haired youth failed to catch his rival. But...

"Don't worry!" The loud cheer abruptly shocks the children out of their happy little world as they see Jackal clapping, "You'll get him in no time!"

"As if!" The other boy sniffs and points his nose high.

"Hehe, well, Rye, continue playing, alright?" the woman smiles fondly and all the children speak in a chorus, "Yes, Mama Maria~!"

"Sorry about that," reapplying all the professionalism his new life has attained, Jackal extends his hand toward the woman, "My name is Jackal and this is my serious but deceptively playful junior— Eina Tulle."

Shooting her senior a glare and a huff, making 'Mama' Maria smile a little wider, she shakes Jackal's hand and introduces herself, "I'm Maria Martel but as you can see, children here are fond of calling me Mama."

"For good reason, I hope," He nods, "Anyway, we didn't wish to bother you particularly but... I caught the glimpse of your orphanage. May I know what it's named?"

"Maria's Orphanage," She smiles.

"Hmm, I just wanted to see one good thing before sleeping. Counting Eina here, I've seen two so it's a day well spent," Jackal laughs and Eina finally loses a bit of composure and grumbles.

"Please, Jackal-san... just return to who you were before..." But the freckle of red on her cheeks just made her look cuter as she adjusts her glasses.

"I see," Maria nods, "We don't see many Guild Workers around Daedalus Street."

"That so?" Jackal hums, "We have to do something about that. I'll make it my duty to check on this side of the streets to make sure everything is safe."

More than surprised, Maria speaks hurriedly, "Please, there is no reason to go out of your way! The gesture is kind as is and I know you enjoyed watching them play. If nothing else, a weekly visit for some stories, or even a monthly one would do."

Smirking, Jackal gestures to the area around the orphanage, "I will keep that in mind. Meanwhile, Miss. Martel, do you know of any properties here for sale or rent?"

Cocking her head sideways a bit, Maria throws both of them an inquisitive glance but Eina remains quiet, exhaustingly so, while Jackal maintains a rather winning smirk.

After all, he spent the day grilling her with compliments, then spicing her with even more compliments! Oh, and for the finishing touches— Compliments.

By now the half-elf did not know what to feel happy about. Her ears, eyes, hair, lips, or her sharp mind...

And because of her sharp mind... she knew that he is still holding back on some 'Obvious' areas of compliments...

Not that she is seeking such compliments, mind you! She is NOT.

"Properties..." Maria hums ponderously, "Well, there are a few. Although the slum regions here are now very... attractive. But it's not exactly riddled with crimes as long as we know where to go and what to avoid. On that matter..."

Leaning forward, Maria whispers in a hushed tone, "The few buildings opposite the orphanage are held by 'Fat Licker' Gonjo. He used to be a Rank 3 Adventurer but... he left his familia. Rumors are that his god exiled him and locked his falna."

"Any reasons why?" Jackal questions. The Fat Licker did ring some bells but said bells were old and rusted.

Maria shakes her head with a thin smile, "I don't. But it's mostly rumored. I have met him a few times and he was... the quiet type."

"Thank you," Jackal smiles and bows slightly, indicating that he will be leaving now. Eina does the same while Maria is quick to reciprocate it.

Once she believed they were out of Maria's earshot, Eina mutters lowly, "Jackal-san! You have to stop... saying things about me in front of others!"

"None of them were mean!" Jackal retorts.

"But you are!" She, too, gives a snappy retort before sighing, "Do you really wish to have a store there? That would be a bad investment! Was it because of... Maria?"

Matching her skeptical gaze, Jackal smirks, "Maybe."

Vibrating in her place with frustration, Eina whispers, "You know I can still go to your Senpai, right? You always do as she asks!"

"You can try," He shrugs off the well-natured threat, "I do hope you visit me once I get my store running~! You'll liven the place up!"

The half-elf merely 'hums' and stays silent. Not trying to fill the very comfortable silence with more quips, Jackal starts to plan his next step.

Well, usually, the next step would be to meet Fat Licker.

But he doesn't only have Humble Store as a trait. He wants to understand the principle and functions of the Death Eater.

As the evening sun begins to set, Jackal finally bids Eina farewell who seemed oddly in conflict. On one hand, she couldn't wait to leave.

On the other hand... she admitted she enjoyed herself.

But her conflict was for naught!

Jackal could not stop for a moment!

Traits call him and if Eina can't offer hers then it is his traits' wonderous bosom he shall suckle from!

***

Alternate Title: The Shop of Labyrinth; Fat Licker?; The Orphanage; Eina's Top Tier, so is Maria!; Mommy Maria; Jackal Shall Love Thy Neighbour

***

Eina Tulle

Maria Martel