I Don't Want An Ordinary Life

Chapter 30: Extreme Sports Are a Sure Way to Die

"Welcome!"

"...Welcome."

On Saturday, inside a sporting goods store, Ronan and Shirogane put on their work uniforms and greeted customers.

When Shirogane heard that Ronan had lost his part-time job, he happened to remember that his own workplace was short on staff. Seizing the opportunity, he enthusiastically invited Ronan to work there.

Ronan himself had no real need for a part-time job. After all, an hourly wage of 1,000 yen at a place like this was practically insignificant to him.

However, since the student council president had invited him, and he had nowhere else to go on the weekend in Japan, he decided to tag along with Shirogane to the sporting goods store.

The store manager was an elderly man. Seeing the two of them working, he approached with a warm smile.

"Shirogane, thanks to you, I now have an extra pair of hands."

"It's nothing. In fact, Ronan agreeing to come is a huge help to me," Shirogane replied with a smile.

The manager nodded and turned to Ronan.

"This is your first time working here, right? The job is simple—organize the merchandise when it's slow, greet customers when they arrive, and promote our products."

"Oh."

"By the way... you do know how to sell products, right?"

"That just happens to be something I'm good at."

Ronan nodded in agreement. Speaking of sales, it reminded him of something that had happened two years ago.

...

"Mr. Riel, if you want to withstand the pressure from the other two families, those little handguns of yours won't be enough. The key is firepower suppression."

Facing a group of mafia members dressed in suits and wearing sunglasses, Ronan calmly retrieved a submachine gun from his briefcase with practiced ease.

"The MP5K submachine gun, manufactured by HK, uses a 9mm caliber and has a theoretical firing rate of 900 rounds per minute. It features a roller-delayed blowback system, and most importantly, it's compact and easy to carry, perfect for handling unexpected situations."

"…Mr. Ronan, I understand all that, but what about the price?"

"The price is non-negotiable. You know I have to evade those annoying Interpol agents just to deliver a single shipment. And lately, some CIA punks have been on my tail. Getting it here at all is already a feat."

"Well… fine."

"Then it's settled. The usual rules—cash payment. Ammo costs extra."

...

"Manager, sales is my strong suit."

"That's great. I need to go restock some inventory, so I'll leave the store to you two for today."

Satisfied, the store manager turned and walked out of the shop.

As soon as he left, Ronan hurried over to Shirogane, who was still organizing the ski boards.

"President, give me a rundown of the products here. That way, I can hype them up properly when customers arrive."

"I thought you said you were good at sales?"

"I've never sold sporting goods before. Some things need a little specialized knowledge."

"...Fine."

Shirogane didn't refuse. After all, he was the one who invited Ronan to this part-time job. Leaving him to figure things out on his own would've been pretty inconsiderate.

"Which section are you handling?"

"The clothing section," Ronan replied. "So, President, mind giving me a breakdown of each outfit's features? Like whether they can stop shrapnel or prevent blunt force injuries?"

"...What are you even talking about?"

Shirogane often found Ronan's words baffling, but even so, he patiently explained the key points he needed to keep in mind.

"Most of the clothes here are sports-related. Ski jackets focus on insulation, while T-shirts emphasize breathability. The key is to consider the customer's needs."

"Thinking from the customer's perspective? Got it."

"As long as you understand. You've worked part-time before, so you should get the hang of it quickly," Shirogane said with a smile.

Even though it was a Saturday, the sporting goods store didn't see many customers. The main reason was its somewhat inconvenient location.

Apparently, the shop was about ten kilometers from Shirogane's house. Considering his only means of transportation was a bicycle, that meant he had to pedal for quite a while just to get to work.

As for Ronan, he simply hailed a taxi.

With an hourly wage of 1,000 yen and a five-hour shift, Ronan would earn 5,000 yen. Meanwhile, his taxi fare alone cost him 15,000 yen.

Clearly, he wasn't here to make money.

"Hello."

"Welcome!"

Just then, a young couple, seemingly dressed as lovers, walked into the store.

Without hesitation, they headed straight toward Ronan's section.

"Hello, you two. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Ronan slipped into his role as a salesperson with ease.

"Hi, we're looking for a ski jacket."

"A ski jacket… Are you planning to visit the nearby ski resort?"

"Yes."

The couple exchanged a glance and smiled. "We're extreme sports enthusiasts. A week from now, we're heading to the mountains for some fun."

"Oh, extreme sports…"

"Do you have any recommendations, store clerk?"

"I'd recommend this orange ski jacket."

Ronan took a thick, bright orange ski jacket from the rack and displayed it in front of them.

Shirogane, watching from the side, nodded in approval.

Looks like he didn't need to worry after all…

"What's so special about this orange ski jacket?" the man asked.

"Oh, it's very eye-catching," Ronan replied.

"Uh… and why is that useful?"

"If you get into an accident, it makes it easier for rescue teams to locate your bodies."

Couple: "…"

Shirogane: "…"

"Uh… Clerk, could you repeat that?"

"Of course, no problem. If you happen to meet an unfortunate end during your extreme sports adventure, this jacket will stand out in the snowy mountains. When the search and rescue team arrives with their helicopter, they'll immediately spot the two bodies lying in the snow."

"…"

"Think about it, dear customers—does extreme sports carry a risk of death? Of course, it does! If you don't die, that just means you weren't pushing the limits enough."

"…"

Shirogane: "Ronan, hold on a second—"

But Ronan continued his enthusiastic pitch. "And even if the rescue team doesn't show up, your bodies won't blend into the snow. Wearing such a striking orange jacket ensures that—even in death—you'll become a 'landmark.' Future visitors will see you and be reminded of the dangers of extreme sports. You'll even become a cautionary tale for thrill-seekers to discuss for years to come… Wait, hey, don't walk away! I haven't finished talking yet!"

The couple had surprisingly good tempers because, despite everything Ronan had just said, they didn't slap him on the spot.

However, judging by their trembling shoulders and determined strides as they left, a complaint was almost certainly on its way.

"That's strange… I was making perfect sense."

"…I should never have invited you to work here."

Shirogane buried his face in his hands, already regretting bringing this absolute disaster along.

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