477 - - Episode 475 Betty, The Shelf

"Whew. It's time to start another day at work..."

As I change into my uniform and take my seat at the reception desk, I feel tightened up and a little depressed at the thought of a hard day ahead.

Even though I have run for the position myself, the milk-related work is very difficult. From meetings with the Culinary Guild to arranging for milk and planning new farms, I am busy, even though things have calmed down recently.

However, I cannot let go of this job. Thanks to my involvement, I am able to eat Toruku's very popular dishes frequently, as well as the Culinary Guild's prototypes.

The sweet treats that are causing a huge boom among the royalty and aristocrats in the capital. I can only imagine how much money it would normally take to eat them, as I am only involved in arranging the ingredients.

Well, both the commercial guild and the cooking guild are so happy that even one month's salary of mine would not be enough. And since it's free, I make a lot of money too.

The only thing I regret is that I had to go up one size in uniform because of .......

I'll try to get as much exercise as possible by getting a job as a ranch inspector.

Torque's inn has been newly renovated, so we will be able to eat a lot of delicious food again. If we don't reduce the amount of exercise beforehand, we may have to go up one more rank. Dangerous.

"Betty, don't dawdle. We're going to have a visitor soon."

As I was thinking about how to consume the fat, Arda, who was sitting next to me, warned me. Aadha is kind and good at her job, but she is not very formal.

However, if you don't follow her advice, Franco will get angry with you afterwards, so it's best to nod your head and do your work seriously.

He straightens his posture and turns his gaze toward the guild door. Many merchants jump in first thing in the morning, so I greet them with a smile.

Huh?　I recognize the first person coming in: ...... Oh, it's Yuta, isn't it? After checking my face, he comes toward me in a straight line. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm not sure what's going on.

"Hello Betty, it's been a while. I'm sorry to bother you, but could you give me some time in the morning?　I need your help with something."

Before I could call out to him, Yuta called out to me. He seems to be in a hurry.

And it's the middle of the morning. ...... Ada and her friends are looking so disappointed. I can understand how they feel.

But if it's Yuta's request that benefits the commercial guild, it's no wonder that he sacrifices his friends.

Above all, Yuta-san smells very delicious. I cannot help but listen to what he has to say.

"Awe, sir. Let me show you to the reception room.

"No, sir, I'd like to ask you to go out. I have a few requests about the food. ......"

I'm sorry, I'm going out. If it's about Yuta's cooking, I'm sure I'll be hearing more and more about it.

Please wait a moment.

Yuta waits for me and rushes to Franco's office.

"Mr. Franco. Mr. Yuta would like to talk to you. Please give him permission to go out.

"...... What is your business, Mr. Yuta?"

I forgot to ask ...... for more details.

"I didn't ask for details, but I think it probably has something to do with good food. Also, he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry."

"Phew. ...... Mr. Yuta is an important customer for the Commercial Guild. Please don't be rude."

I was about to get in trouble, but I got permission without incident. He is indeed the secretary-general of a commercial guild. He is very generous when it comes to profit.

Now, let's hear more about that delicious smell.

**

"Mr. Yuta. What's that crowd?"

Yuta gave us a brief explanation and we understood the situation to some extent, but we had not heard that people were gathering in front of the intended restaurant.

"Oh, it looks like they have gathered again. I made a dish with a strong smell, so people who are interested in it gather at the diner.

Well, it is true that there is a strong smell of Yuta's clothes all around here.

It is difficult to describe the smell, but it is a smell that ignites the appetite, so it is not surprising that people gather here. This is very promising.

We make our way through the crowd to the cafeteria, but Yuta-san is apologizing to us when he is yelled at ...... not to push us on the way there.

Yuta-san is a rank A adventurer, right?　Isn't there something wrong?

As I entered the cafeteria with doubts, a violently good smell assaulted my nose.

...... is not good. My stomach is growling even though I had a good breakfast.

"Well, Betty, please have a seat here. This is Pete, the owner, and his wife Daniela. This is their daughter and my apprentice, Gina."

Yuta-san introduces each of them and greets each of them. I enjoy visiting diners, but I have been avoiding this area because of the sensitive security situation, so this is my first time here except for Gina's.

"So, I'd like to discuss this dish with you. First of all, I would like to have a tasting.

It seems that they got down to business without even saying hello. He seemed to be in a hurry, or was he busy?

I observe the food served to me with some doubt.

Despite the ...... violently delicious smell, it looks a little ...... like something that doesn't look like food.

Brownish soup and bread. Does the tasting mean we are going to eat this?

"Betty, I know it looks like that, but there's nothing in it that's inedible, and it tastes great, so try it."

Gina, perhaps sensing the reason for my confusion, follows up.

......It may look dangerous, but when I am told that it tastes great, I can't help but give it a try. But I'm still a gourmet.

I pick up a spoon and scoop the brown soup into my mouth.

What is this?　First time I've ever tasted that in my mouth!　It's delicious!　It's delicious!"

I excitedly ask questions about the taste I have never experienced before, and Pete, Daniela, and Gina look at me as if to say, "Of course you will.

I guessed ....... Pete and the others had the same reaction.

**

How about that?

"My stomach is in pain. ......"

It was so delicious that I ate too much, forgetting about its appearance.

Curry is the name of the dish, but it is also the best match for bread. It is too delicious.

Moreover, there were other kinds of curry with different flavors other than the first one, and I couldn't stop eating. I'm on the verge of a size-up crisis.

They say it's still a work in progress and will get better, but it's still amazingly delicious. If it gets better, I might burst. Dangerous.

"No, that's not what I mean. Do you think this dish will please the commercial guilds and the culinary guilds?　We'll even give you the recipe so that you can give us preferential treatment: ......"

"Of course!"

It's too obvious a question. This dish will surely create a boom that will rival even the pastry boom. It is a food revolution.

I'm glad to hear that. Now, in exchange for providing the recipe, I would like to ask you for a favor: ......"

**

"Are there a lot of spices used in curry that are not usually used in the labyrinth city?　And these spices can be collected in the labyrinth?"

"Yes. This curry is also made only with ingredients from the labyrinth, except for the vegetables."

My stomach is growling and my head hurts at the same time.

That means new products will be born in the labyrinth city, right?

Not only the commercial and culinary guilds would be involved, but also the adventurers' guild, and the apothecary guild would want to check out the new spices.

Could this one dish be enough to move the labyrinth city ...... or even the whole country?

"And in return for providing them with that information and the recipe for the dish, you will give them free processing of the spices used in this diner and leave the job of processing the spices to the women and children of the slum?"

I have some concerns about letting slum dwellers handle the spices, but if we put all the workplaces together and monitor the comings and goings, there should be no problem.

It's not even worth the trouble to dispose of the spices for this restaurant.

"...... Yuta. This dish will generate a lot of wealth. The price is too low, don't you think?

"I can kind of see how it would be, but we have enough money, so there's no point in making any more money, or something like that. ...... Well, that's the way it is. I'll leave it all up to you, so please make it nice."

I am incredibly envious of them, as I often hold back on what I want to eat because of the price, even though it has to do with my weight.

Well, Yuta is a rank-A adventurer, so I guess it's only natural that he doesn't have any money problems.

But that's not all. For a moment, he looked very annoyed at my question. That's the main reason.

As was the case with the milk, I can sense that he is feeling that it is too much trouble and he wants to let the commercial guild take care of everything.

"Even if you say you'll leave everything to us, ...... it's a very big deal, so could you please talk to the guild master once?"

If we end a story of this magnitude with "we'll leave it to you" or "we understand," we are sure to be scolded.

It is a good job, no doubt, but it is not a story that can be decided only by the receptionist.

"Ah, it's difficult because I'm planning to leave the labyrinth city early tomorrow morning and I have many things to do today as well. Oh, I'll leave this side to Mr. Pete, so please discuss it there.

"Hey, hey, I didn't hear you. I can't have a business meeting with a commercial guild. I'm just a small-time diner owner.

"Don't worry. As long as you don't give in to the conditions I just laid out, you'll be fine. Besides, you know what? It's an opportunity. You say the pay is low, and depending on how hard you work, you may be able to purchase ingredients for the diner at a lower price. Good luck with that."

Yuta has forced his apprentice's father to take care of the trouble. Do you hate it so much?

"Mr. Yuta. My husband is not good at such talks, do you mind if I negotiate?"

Daniela came out. And he has a glare in his eye. Those are the eyes of a merchant trying to make a profit.

I'll leave it to Daniela, then.

Yuta gives his permission to Daniela with a helpful look.

Daniela is going to be a tough negotiator, but since our profits are huge ......, it probably won't be a problem.

I will leave the negotiations to the guildmaster, and I will negotiate a reward for the secretary general.

I will be the one who put it all together, so I can get a special bonus and a vacation, depending on the negotiations. I'm motivated. I'm going out to eat!