Do something about Ken-san’s shop**
Barley planting is entering full swing.
Actually, the area planted with barley has been gradually increasing in recent years, but this year it seems to have expanded even further. I wonder what kind of influence this is…
However, whiskey still doesn’t circulate much, which is frustrating.
It seems to already be sold to the general public, but since it’s a luxury item, it can’t be helped that it’s mostly distributed in the noble districts. The rest goes to the royal capital or for export… Come on, send some to Legol’s downtown already. This isn’t even at the level of selling goods.
Well, it’s not like they can satisfy all demand from the start, so it can’t be helped… but once you’ve tasted it, you want more.
“Hmm, malt syrup has gotten slightly cheaper, but… whiskey is still the same as always…”
Malt syrup made from barley has dropped in price a little, probably due to increased yield. It’s still quite expensive though.
The beautiful amber-colored malt syrup, which is said to be the origin of the word “candy-colored”… Damn… it looks just like whiskey…
“Mongrel-san!”
“Oh, Ken-san. Hello there.”
“Good afternoon. It’s been a while.”
“It has been a while. …I saw your shop open for the first time in ages. I thought you might have quit the confectionery business.”
“Nufufu… I haven’t quit yet. Things have been tough lately and I was right on the edge of quitting though.”
After walking through the market for a while, I came across a familiar confectionery shop that was unusually showing its face.
A middle-aged man with romance gray hair. His name is Ken-san. He used to be a confectioner who worked at a confectionery shop in the royal capital, but got fed up with his boss’s arrogant personality and came to Legol – he seems like someone who’s been through hardships.
Well, I suppose he’s still going through hardships now…
“If the shop is open, I’d like to go in for the first time in a while.”
“Really?! Please, please come in. Ah, I will be charging money though?”
“No no, I’ll pay. I’m a well-earning single guild member, you know.”
“Nufufu, being single is nice. It doesn’t cost money. Being able to spend money however you like is a good thing.”
Ken-san’s shop is a renovated old tavern, so the interior layout is basically that of a tavern.
There are no counter seats, and instead he uses the wider kitchen space to make confections.
His main products are sweets like cookies and biscuits, and while they’re popular items that he supplies to various other shops, he’s troubled by the fact that customers don’t eat them in his store.
His money-making baked goods are mostly delivery items. He delivers them elsewhere and that’s the end of it.
Of course, it’s precious income so he can’t stop doing it, but for Ken-san, it must be complicated since the shop never gets lively.
“This is my new Harvest Cookie. Please, go ahead.”
“Ooh.”
What was served was about three square florentine-like sugar confections arranged on a plate.
On the cookie base… citrus and sunflower seeds were placed, and it looked like they were hardened with malt sugar syrup. The surface was shiny and beautiful with the candy glaze, and it looked genuinely delicious.
Munch munch… Ah, this is good. The sunflower seeds have a rich, fragrant flavor and it’s really delicious. The dough is moist, yet not sticky…
“Here’s some dandelion tea. The bitter flavor goes well with it.”
“Oh, thank you. …Mm, this bitterness is good.”
“Nufufu.”
This shop serves black tea made from dandelion roots… or rather, a coffee-like drink.
In my previous life too, as a coffee substitute, drinks made from roasted dandelion roots had quietly spread. There’s no caffeine, but that makes it healthier instead. As for taste, it’s close enough to suppress coffee cravings. It’s called tea, but it does feel like a tea-like drink.
“Phew… With something this delicious, why don’t customers come?”
“Thank you. …Hmm, it’s something I’m troubled by too… I suppose this location isn’t suitable for luxury confections.”
That’s right. This is on a street near a market that commoners frequently use. It’s a place where wealthy people don’t often pass by.
“Recently, both syrup and honey have become cheaper, so I’ve been able to offer confections at more affordable prices, but… perhaps this location is still difficult.”
Ken-san was terribly serious when it came to the taste of his confections, and was someone who wasn’t good at compromising.
The mass-selling cookies he’s doing now are probably not what he really wants to do. Like the florentine I just ate, he should want to go with a luxury route.
“Hmm… but the economy is picking up now, so as time passes, opportunities should arise, right?”
“Yes, I think so, but… whether this shop will last until then…”
“Is it that tough?”
“It’s tough indeed…”
Both dandelion roots and sunflower seeds are crops native to Sangrail. This shop uses imported ones that come via the allied nations, so of course the costs rise ridiculously.
But Ken-san can’t compromise. He’s too stubborn a man.
…This dandelion coffee, it’s hard for individuals to source. If this shop disappears, I won’t be able to drink it whenever I want. That would be a bit… no, quite a shame.
…Should I give it some support?
“…Ken-san. I have a good idea.”
“Eh, Mongrel-san does?”
“You sound like you’re not expecting much… No no, it’s a good idea. I’ll make this shop prosper… let’s see, I’ll become an advisor.”
“I don’t have the money to spare to hire an advisor…”
“No no, only when you make a profit is fine. Besides, I don’t need money. Just, if you do make a profit, then… from now on when I drink this dandelion tea, could you give me half price?”
“…If the shop becomes lively, that would be too cheap a price. But will customers really come?”
“It’s simple. Ken-san’s confections are perfect, so all that’s left is to get customers in here. I just need to rack my brains for that.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
I bought several florentines as souvenirs, settled the bill, and stood up from my seat.
“I’ll come again tomorrow too, so please keep the shop open. I’ll show you something good then.”
“…Despite my age, may I look forward to it?”
To Ken-san, who smiled somewhat anxiously, I nodded firmly.
Well, I don’t really know what will happen though. I don’t really understand business management.
But if I can get half-price dandelion coffee… I’ll have to put in even more effort than my usual work!
“Hey Elena. Good work.”
“Ah, Mongrel-san, good evening. This isn’t… work, is it, at this hour?”
I came to the guild after finishing some light preparations during the bright daytime hours.
The tavern was bustling with people who had finished their missions, but the reception was free. I had been waiting for this time.
“I wanted to ask if I could post this near the bulletin board. There aren’t any particular notices right now, so it should be fine, right?”
“What’s that… Ken’s Confectionery… Is it an advertisement for a confectionery shop?”
What I brought was an advertisement poster for Ken-san’s shop drawn in ink on parchment.
Simple shop location information and new confection information arranged in an easy-to-understand diagram. Since there’s no printing technology, I can’t distribute it in large quantities, but if I post it in a conspicuous place, there shouldn’t be a problem.
“Heh, there was a confectionery shop on a street like that? I didn’t know.”
“Can I post it?”
“Hmm… I’d need to check with the deputy guild leader… I suppose.”
“If you let me post it now, you can eat this.”
“…”
Looking at the florentine I smoothly placed on the desk, Elena glanced around at her surroundings.
Then with a stern expression, she took the florentine… and ate it.
“…”
“Elena, your face, your face. It’s relaxing. You’ll be found out.”
It seems she liked it. Good, good.
“…Well, for a while then. If it’s just for a few days, I’ll permit it.”
“Thank you, I’m glad you’re someone reasonable to deal with.”
“Mongrel-san, you have one more, don’t you?”
“No.”
“Mmm…”
You glutton. These are expensive confections, so I can’t give you that many.
More importantly, this florentine needs to be used for an important mission.
“Hey there, Artemis folks.”
“…What is it, Mongrel?”
“What is it, what is it?”
I came to Artemis’s table with ale in hand.
Knowing that I don’t usually go out of my way to bother Artemis, Sheena was looking at me with a somewhat suspicious expression.
“Don’t be so unwelcoming. Today I’m just here to advertise a confectionery shop.”
“Advertisement? Confections?”
“Eh, what what, is that what you were talking about with Elena-san earlier?”
“Here. How’s my hand-drawn poster?”
When I spread the parchment poster on the table, the Artemis members peered at it with interest.
“…The large letters are fine, but the small letters are messy.”
“Shut up, I was bad at it from the start.”
Rather, it’s on purpose though. I usually write a bit messily so it doesn’t resemble Lord Chaos’s letter writing.
“Heh… I’ve never been there.”
“I… haven’t either. I didn’t know…”
“Harvest Cookie, huh. Hmm… I wonder what it tastes like.”
“Ah, here’s a sample.”
“You have the actual thing?!”
“Wow, it’s pretty! Eh, Mongrel-san, is it okay for us to take this?!”
“It’s fine, everyone share and eat it. If you Artemis folks show interest, Ken-san’s shop might get more customers.”
There are many women in the guild. Especially the women who work inside the guild are high earners. Posting a poster in the guild where there’s a lot of foot traffic isn’t bad.
And Artemis is a party composed almost entirely of women. Moreover, there are many married people within, connected to housewife networks.
Women means sweet things. If I can target that connection, it surely won’t lead to bad results.
“Mm! Delicious…! It’s crunchy!”
“Oh, it really is. These kinds of nuts aren’t bad either. …It makes me want tea.”
“Mongrel-senpai, can I take a confection?”
“Do as you like.”
“Yay… mm! Sweet! Delicious!”
Good good, it seems to be quite well-received. All that’s left is to post the poster near the bulletin board and I’m done.
Then, when morning comes tomorrow, I’ll put out a triangular standing sign in front of the shop to appeal that the shop is here, and it’ll be perfect.
“…Even so, this isn’t a mission. What kind of wind is blowing that has you doing confectionery shop advertising?”
“It’s not like I have any ulterior motives… it’s just that when the shop prospers, the dandelion tea I order at the shop will be half price.”
“I figured it was something like that.”
“Nufufu.”
“That’s a weird way of laughing…”
“This is Ken-san’s way of laughing.”
“Seriously?”
Well, even I don’t move for free.
Basically, I only do things that make my life richer.
In that sense, this move to make a private shop profitable might be unusual.
Now then. Tomorrow, how will Ken-san’s shop become lively? I’m a little excited to see.
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