Bastard Swordsman

Chapter 64 : Do Something About Ken's Shop

Do Something About Ken's Shop

Barley planting season was entering full swing.

Actually, the area of barley cultivation had been steadily increasing year by year, but it seemed they expanded it even further this year. Just what kind of whiskey fever is causing this...?

But it's so frustrating that whiskey still isn't widely available.

It's already apparently being sold to the public, but since it's a luxury item, it mostly ends up in the noble district. Then there's what goes to the royal capital and what's exported... Come on, send some to Regor's lower town already. This is no way to run a business.

Well, I get that you can't fulfill all the demand from the start, but... Once you get a taste, you just want more.

「Hmmm. Malt syrup has gotten just a tiny bit cheaper, but... whiskey is still as expensive as ever...」

Malt syrup made from barley seems to have dropped in price a bit, probably due to increased supply. Still plenty pricey, though.

It's that beautiful amber malt syrup said to be the origin of the word 'amber'. Damn... It looks just like whiskey...

「Mongrel-san!」

「Oh, Ken! Hey there, hey there.」

「Hello! Long time no see.」

「It's been a while. ... I haven't seen your shop open in a while. I was starting to think you'd quit the confectionery business.」

「Nu fufu... Not quitting just yet. I've come close, what with how tough it's been lately, but I'm still here.」

A little way down the market, a familiar confectioner—who rarely appears these days—was out front.

A middle-aged man with 'romance gray' hair. That's Ken. He used to be a pastry chef at a sweets shop in the royal capital, but he hated the owner's overbearing attitude and moved to Regor—a man who's clearly had his struggles.

Well, those struggles probably haven't changed, even now...

「If your shop's open, I'll drop in. Been a while.」

「Really?! Please, come in, by all means! Ah, but I'll have to charge you, okay?」

「No problem, I'll pay. I'm a well-paid, single guild member after all.」

「Nu fufu, being single is great, isn't it? No extra expenses. It's nice to spend money the way you like.」

Ken's shop was a former bar that he remodeled, so the interior is basically like a tavern.

No counter seating; instead, a larger kitchen where he makes all sorts of sweets.

The main products are cookies, biscuits, that sort of thing—popular items he wholesales to various shops, but apparently he's troubled because customers rarely eat them inside the store.

The real moneymaker is the baked goods he delivers elsewhere. Drop them off, end of story.

Of course, that's precious revenue, so he can't quit, but for Ken—who wants a lively store—it must be bittersweet.

「Here's my new 'Bountiful Harvest Cookie'. Please, give it a try.」

「Ohh.」

He served up three squares of something like Florentine bars on a plate.

A cookie base... topped with citrus, sunflower seeds, etc., bound together with barley malt syrup. The glossy surface glistens beautifully—it just looks delicious.

Mmmm... ah, this is good. The aroma of sunflower seeds is rich and fragrant. The dough is moist, yet not sticky...

「And here is dandelion tea. The bitterness pairs well.」

「Ohh, thanks. ... Yeah, this bitterness is great.」

「Nu fufu.」

At this shop, he serves a black drink made from dandelion roots—in my past life, a kind of 'herbal coffee substitute'.

Back then, too, roasted dandelion root drinks were spreading as coffee substitutes. No caffeine, but that might actually be healthier. The taste is close enough to restrain my craving for real coffee. You could call it tea, but it really feels more like coffee.

「... Haaa. These are so good, so why doesn't anyone come here?」

「Thank you. ... Well, that's my worry too. I suppose this location just isn't suited for luxury sweets.」

Exactly. The shop's near a market used mostly by commoners. A place rich folks seldom visit.

「These days, syrup and honey have gotten cheaper, so I can offer my sweets at more reasonable prices... Still, with this location, things are tough.」

Ken is incredibly serious about the taste of his sweets, and not very good at the idea of compromise.

Even the cookies he's selling in bulk now probably aren't what he'd like to do. Ideally, he'd want to pursue high-class confections—like the Florentine bars I just ate.

「Hmmm... But the economy's picking up now, so in time, you should get opportunities.」

「Yes, that's what I think... But the question is whether this shop will survive until then.」

「Tough times, huh?」

「Very tough...」

Both dandelion root and sunflower seeds are native to Sangreal, and he's importing them to use at his shop—that's bound to drive costs sky-high.

But Ken can't compromise. He's just too stubborn.

... And this dandelion coffee, you can't really buy it as an individual. If the shop closes, I can't have it whenever I want. That's... honestly, a big loss.

... Guess it's time for an intervention.

「... Hey, Ken. I've got a good idea.」

「You, Mongrel-san?」

「You're not sounding too hopeful... No, it really is a good idea! I'll make this shop thrive... Yeah, I'll be your consultant.」

「I don't have money to hire a consultant...」

「No need to pay. If you make a profit, then—just give me dandelion tea for half price from now on.」

「... If this shop livens up, that's a cheap price to pay. But... will you really bring in customers?」

「It's simple. Your sweets are perfect. All it takes is getting customers in here, and that's just a matter of thinking things through.」

I bought several Florentine bars as souvenirs, settled up, and stood to leave.

「I'll be back tomorrow, so keep the shop open. I'll show you something good then.」

「... Is it too much for me, even at my age, to hope?」

Ken smiled a little nervously, and I nodded back firmly.

Well, honestly, who knows. I don't know much about business.

But if I get half-price dandelion coffee from it... I'll have to put more effort into this than my usual jobs!

「Hey, Elena. Good work.」

「Ah, Mongrel-san, good evening. Not a job... right, at this hour?」

After taking care of my little project during the bright hours of day, I headed to the guild.

The tavern was lively with people finishing their mission, but the reception was empty. This is the time slot I had been waiting for.

「Wanted to ask if I could post this near the bulletin board. There aren't any notices right now, so it should be fine, right?」

「What's that... 'Ken's Confectionery Workshop'... an ad for the sweets shop?」

I showed off Ken's shop poster, hand-drawn in ink on parchment.

A simple map, information about the new sweets, all easy to understand. There's no printing press, so mass circulation isn't possible, but posting it somewhere that gets eyes on it should suffice.

「Huh, didn't know there was a sweet shop on that street.」

「Okay to post?」

「Ummm... I'll have to check with the vice-guildmaster...」

「If you let me post it now, you can have this.」

「...」

Elena glanced around as I offered the Florentine bar.

Then, with a tense look, she took it... and ate it.

「...」

「Elena, your face—relax. You're showing your delight.」

Looks like she liked it. Good, good.

「... Well, for a little while. I'll allow it for a few days.」

「Thanks, glad you're so reasonable.」

「Mongrel-san, you have another one, right?」

「No.」

「Grrr...」

Piggy. These are high-class sweets—I can't give you a ton.

Besides, I need to save these Florentine bars for my mission.

「Hey, Artemis girls!」

「... What's up, Mongrel?」

「What's this, what's this?」

I walked over to Artemis's table, ale in hand.

Maybe since I rarely approach them myself, Sheena looked a bit wary.

「Don't be like that. I'm just here to promote a sweets shop.」

「Promotion? Sweets?」

「Oh, is that what you were talking about with Elena-san just now?」

「Here, check out my handmade poster.」

When I spread the parchment poster on the table, the Artemis members leaned in with interest.

「... The big letters are fine, but the small ones are poorly written.」

「Shuddup, my handwriting's always like that.」

Well, that's intentional, really. I purposely mess up my handwriting so it doesn't look like Chaos Lord's writing.

「Huh... Never been there.」

「Me neither... Didn't know about it...」

「'Bountiful Harvest Cookie'... I wonder what it tastes like.」

「Here's a sample.」

「We get the real thing?!」

「Wow, it's so pretty! Mongrel-san, can I really have this?!」

「Go ahead, share it around. If you Artemis girls get interested in Ken's shop, he'll get more customers.」

Lots of women work at the guild—especially inside, and they're well paid. Posting the poster in the busy guild is smart.

Plus, Artemis is an all-woman party. Many have families, too, so the 'housewives' network' connection is strong.

Women love sweets. Targeting those networks can't go wrong.

「Mmm! So good—so crunchy!」

「Really. These nuts are nice, too... Makes me want some tea.」

「Mongrel-senpai, can I take a sweet?」

「Have as many as you like.」

「Yay... Mmm! Sweet! Delicious!」

Alright, looks like it's a hit. Now I just need to put the poster up near the bulletin board.

Tomorrow morning, I'll set up a triangle signboard in front of the shop—let everyone know where it is. Perfect.

「... Still, this isn't a mission. Why this sudden urge to advertise a sweet shop?」

「Nothing shady. If the shop does well, I'll get half-price dandelion tea, that's all.」

「Knew it.」

「Nu fufu.」

「Weird laugh...」

「That's how Ken-san laughs.」

「Seriously?」

Yeah, even I don't work for free.

Basically, I'll only do what makes my life better.

In that sense, it's rare for me to help out a small business like this.

Well then. Tomorrow, just how lively will Ken's shop get? I'm actually a bit excited.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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