Chapter 24 Yamano Cooking

Sales of glasses are growing steadily . There was that matter before too, I am grateful to the Prime Minister . Other goods are being sold little by little . Even though it’s so expensive .

Oh, I also sold the wagon . Sven-san and the others bought it after a lot of consideration . Their unexpected sudden income would eventually run out . “If so then let’s invest in the future before that happens”, they seem to had decided . Just in case I also explained renting and leasing, but after mostly understanding the arrangement they still decided “that’s no good” . Un, manly right .

The reselling price was almost the same . That’s already a huge service . I gave them a strict order to not disclose the actual purchase price . Threatening, “If others also asked to sell them at that price, the store will collapse . ” Everybody nodded with serious faces . They probably thought that it was a big deficit . Please act as a billboard and create the demand!(需要を掘り起こしてくれたまえ！)

They were satisfied with the product . Until now we had to collect small and light medicinal herbs due to carrying capacity, and that took time . If we could carry a lot then we can center around hunting and stop collecting medicinal plants and wild vegetables . Faster movement speed on the way back, less stress on our bodies . Un, your shoulder among other things would be worn-out if you carry that weight on tree branches and you won’t be working for a while .

They already went to the forest centering around hunting several times, and it seems that it has produced considerable results . That’s because the hunting time has nearly doubled . It’s probably fine to say that they now specialize in hunting .

But Ilse-chan seems to can’t help but be curious about the crossbow, every time we meet she seems conflicted looking like she wants to say something . Umm, crossbows have been around for a long time, on Earth that is . I wonder what to do…

What about the general sale of wagons… Maybe for order only . What about the price? If it’s for mercenaries and hunters then it can’t be very expensive . Un, that’s the main problem . (要・熟考)

Ah, I finally used the saving hole . When I deposit the first gold coins, I had great expectations . Putting my ear on the pipe at the same time I deposited……

But it didn’t make a sound . That’s right, it won’t make that “chari~n” sound until a certain amount of gold coins is already inside . Darnit . (ちくせう)

Recently, Sabine-chan’s mood has been worsening . The reason is the many interruptions to her DVDs from the number of customers increasing . “Lower the number of customers”, no, that’s a little……

”Or allow entry to the 3rd floor?” No, I’m too scared you’ll say something like “I’m going to live here” if you go there .

Also, please stop bringing Prince Ruben, please .

Oh, before this, Beatrice-chan came and encountered Sabine-chan . I was really surprised . They know each other . They had a chance to interact even before their debutants .

Ah, was the low-rank princess and the earl’s eldest daughter appointed to be playmates? It’s something like a school friend, is that so . You’re a bit older so you get to care for the princess right .

Sabine-chan, please stop talking about DVDs to Beatrice-chan . Don’t show it!!

Chiri Rin

A 17~18 year-old girl heads straight my way . Eh, what?

「Excuse me, is the consultation office here」

Oh, it was worth hanging the completed wooden sign! A consultation request after a long time!

Oh, a signboard with the store name was also made, of course .

The content of the consultation was roughly like this .

The girl’s home runs a dining hall; with both parents, the girl, and 2 hired chefs for a total of 5 people running the place . The father is the chief, a 28-year-old man employee is the second, a 19-year-old man is an apprentice/laborer, the girl and her mother work as the waitresses/clerks, and the girl is studying cooking . The store was running without any problems .

However, things started going bad when the second son of a big restaurant in the city laid his eyes on the girl . The bright and lively girl has the ability to attract people, the second son unilaterally hits on the girl . The second son keeps being persistent no matter how much the girl refuses being already attracted to a young apprentice chef .

Meanwhile, the second son’s father: a restaurant shopkeeper, plans to have his second son who won’t inherit the restaurant to take over the dining hall by marrying the girl and having the second son succeed it . He couldn’t cause any direct disturb or harassment them because that would hurt the reputation of the dining hall he planned to have his son succeed, to temporarily deteriorate its management and create a debt, he first offered the senior chef favorable conditions to lure him away .

And then a subsequent incident where her father 『was suddenly attacked by a mysterious assailant who aimed only at his right arm and cleanly fractured the bone』 happened . It’ll heal completely after some time, but he cannot cook for a while . And so, unable to continue running, the dining hall has been closed for several days .

Regarding restaurant shopkeeper’s plan, it seems that one of their employees who owns her father told them secretly .

The content of the request was extremely simple .

『Help us!』

「Please wait a moment」

Saying that Mitsuharu puts a 『Taking a special request so the shop will be closed for a while』 notice outside the door, lock it and close the curtain .

General Store Mitsuha consultation request department, it’s big job after a long time!

But, such a heavy story, why did you feel like consulting me who looks 11~12 years old?

Oh, you’re friends with a Liner family servant, is that so .

「Then first, let’s confirm the situation . First of all, the goal is restarting the store and continuing business . And stopping the financial situation’s deterioration . Furthermore, eliminating the interference from the restaurant and preventing further tampering . And getting a goal in(marriage) with the apprentice if possible . Is this alright」

「Y, yes……」

The girl was surprised at the much younger Mitsuha’s calm words and got a little red on the last item .

「First of all, it will be hard to hire a new chef at this time, won’t it? Even if an inexperienced person is hired they won’t be an immediate asset, and there shouldn’t be any skilled veteran chefs looking for a job . If done badly, a cook paid off by the restaurant could pull the rug from under you」

「Eh……」

The girl who never thought of such a thing was surprised at Mitsuha’s intelligence and how bad the situation really was .

「So, to solve this problem we need to, reopen the dining hall with the personnel at hand and resume business without recruiting any strangers, make enough profits to recover the losses during the closed period, take measures to ensure stable profit afterwards, lure the restaurant owner who plans to speed up the dining hall’s self-destruction(料理店店主の思惑を潰して焦らせて自滅を誘うこと) and imprint enough damage and fear to make him give up meddling further . Something like that」

「That’s absurd! How would you…」

「Doing that is the job of General Store Mitsuha’s consultation request department . Leave it to Mitsuha!」

Hearing Mitsuha’s confident words, the girl replies .

「Um, the goal in part is missing……」

This girl was quite a tough customer . (なかなかの大物であった)

21 o’clock, the dining hall 『Paradise Pavilion(Rakuentei)』’s guest table .

In the darkness where only a single lamp was lit, there five people .

The restaurant owners Bernd and Stella, their daughter Arena, the apprentice cook Anel, and Yamano Mitsuha .

Mitsuha explain what she told Arena during the day to the 4 people .

「Impossible!」Bernd affirmed .

「First of all, I’m in this condition . Anel can do preparations, but it’s absolutely impossible to run the kitchen alone . Arena can only do so much . And, if we 3 are in the kitchen, customer service will be left for Stella to do alone . It’s impossible to do the serving and accounting by herself」

Bernd cut though Mitsuha’s words and discard them .

「Bernd-san, why do you think it takes years for an apprentice chef to mature?」

Mitsuha asks Bernd .

「Eh, well, of course, to train from the basics, remember the skills of senior cooks by watching, practice in their spare time…」

「There! An apprentice isn’t taught by anyone and has to polish their skills little by little using discarded scraps by trial and error in the slight time when they are not busy with working . Isn’t that right?」

「Yes, all the cooks do so and become full fledged」

「Then, if Bernd-san patiently teaches the know-how of cooking a single dish nonstop all day long from morning till night, then couldn’t Anel who has learn the basis of preparations make something that’s about 90% the quality of Bernd-san? It doesn’t have to be exactly the same as Bernd-san’s, only 90%」

「Ah, ahh, then, if it were Anel… . he might be able to make 2 or 3」

「Beat it into Anel-san and Arena-san for a week . What, even during the real deal Bernd-san can watch from behind and bud in every now and then to hand out advice and adjust the taste . Can’t you do that even with a single hand?」

「U, well……」

Anel opens his eyes in astonishment . In the world of cooking, only the person who will succeed the shop or the other party in a Goodwill division will be instructed by the chef directly . And that applies until the very end .

(tl note: Goodwill division means to let a servant or a family member make a business with the same name)

「But that alone… The taste will fall somewhat, and there is nothing special here compared to other places . It’s unlikely that the customers that have flown other eateries while we were closed for a while will be returning immediately, and the regulars will notice the difference in taste .

Besides, as I said earlier, Stella also has to do customer service alone…」

At Bernd’s words, Mitsuha broadly smiled .

「No problem . I have a secret plan . Please be relieved as if on a sinking ship(泥舟に乗った気持ちで安心して下さい)」

「I can’t be relieved at all!」

And after 7 days . The dining hall 『Paradise Pavilion』 opened .

「Yes, 1 omelet rice, 1 udon」

「Hamburger meal set, dig in!」

Inside the lively 『Paradise Pavilion』 . Carrying the dishes are 4 women . The women are Bernd’s wife Stella and mercenaries like Grit and Ilse . Mitsuha issued a nomination request . Attracted by the request fee and the all-you-can-eat buffet, Grit and Ilse who’s tired from the continuous hunting and had taken a period of rest jumped at Mitsuha’s request .

Ah, only female members were requested . I didn’t need a man .

In the kitchen, Anel and Arena were frantically moving their arms while the voices of Bernd and Mitsuha fly at them from behind . Bernd is teaching the original 『Paradise Pavilion』 menu . And Mitsuha was teaching 『Yamano food』 .

『Yamano food』

It is the mysterious food which became whispered among nobility since a while ago . The cooking that suddenly came to be talked about among a considerable number of nobles had impossible ingredients, an unbelievable deliciousness, an unimaginable recipe and the dishes were shrouded in mystery .

Many cooks tried to reproduce them based on the stories heard from nobles, but they all were told to try again . Except for several who begged a certain chef of a noble house to teach them .

Those who received the teaching asked the chef for the name of the dishes . The chef answered,『Yamano food』 .

There are of course individual names for each dish . However, the name that encompasses all the dishes into one genre, is Yamano food .

Yamano food is not the name of one dish . Those using the techniques of Yamano, they all become known as Yamano dishes . As if they were the techniques of Sarutobi .

To the cooks who admire, the chef shakes his head . Saying “these dishes are not something I made . It was only all taught to me by my honorable teacher . And the countless dishes that were taught to me will be named 『Yamano cooking』 after my honorable teacher . ”(そして教えを受けたその料理の数々に師匠の名を戴き名付けたのが『ヤマノ料理』である、と。)

『Yamano cooking』

Its name was gradually spreading through the nobles and the wealthy and even to the commoners though servants and others .

Using word of mouth . I asked the servants of the Liner family and Sven-san to spread rumors that “It seems that you can eat Yamano food at the 『Paradise Pavilion』 . ”

I gave up on leaflets . Here, it seems that commoners have a high illiteracy rate . So that’s why the leaflets had no effect when opening my store!

And so Mitsuha will learn a more efficient method . So let’s review the strategy for this time . I won’t do anything too flashy . Even if customers flood in, we will not be able to handle it and it’ll become a mess . It’s not enough to only gather customers after opening . It’s important that you get the customers to come regularly over the long term .

And, Yamano cooking follows the general store’s formula . 『High profit, low sales』 .

It’s a restaurant after all . There is a limit to the number customers it can handle .

Wealthy people, people who want to do luxury once in a while, men accompanied by women who want to show off in front of the girls, elderly couples who save their what little money they have to celebrate some kind of anniversary, these are the targets .

Ah, just in case I prepared something cheaper . Something quick and easy to make and has a low cost . It’s obviously not expensive from its appearance, so we couldn’t ask for a ridiculous price, well, it’s food with a good turnover rate . Un, things like udon . 5~6 small silver coins .

Maybe word of mouth worked, although not fully occupied, most of the seats were filled on the first day . It seems that there was a man who looked inside the establishment and made a loathsome face before leaving, according to Stella-san it seems to be that shopkeeper .

Oh, though it’s called 『Yamano cooking』 . Marcel was trying to name it 『Mitsuha cooking』, but I stopped him . Really desperately stopped him . So, I thought of various things . It isn’t exactly 『Japanese cooking』 . Mitsuha himself is confused . 『Earth cooking』 is also wrong . After a discussion with everyone, it was decided on 『Yamano cooking』! Well, since I introduced myself with my surname to only a few people, I guess it’s okay .

The part-time female team has a 7 days contract . With that much time Anel and Arena will be fine alone, afterward Bernd-san can have a turn at the reception . Even with one hand, he should be able to do some serving and accounting, and he can probably hire waitresses for cheap .

Day 2 .

It seems that some wealthy and noble like people are mixed with the consumers .

Un, nobles cannot keep up appearances if they go into such a commoner establishment, although everyone dressed like a commoner in plain clothes . It’s plain to see…… .

No, it’s just as planned so they are greatly welcomed . Nobles and influential people getting friendly with this dining hall that serves 『dishes that can only be tasted here』 . (貴族や有力者が馴染みで、『ここでしか味わえない料理』が出る店) Un, if that restaurant meddles then there will likely be warnings and some arm-twisting . We’ll make powerful people into our regular customers and receive their favoritism!

But, aren’t there a bit too many customers? There’s a line outside .

No, this is a bit of a miscalculation . I wonder will it settle down in 7 days…?

Ah, Arena, a Katsudon isn’t like that!

Day 3 .

The increase in customers doesn’t stop…

The cooking part is fine . Probably the cooking pair has gotten used to it, their skills have considerably improved .

I had a hard time choosing a Yamano cooking menu . So that there’s no problem even if I can’t teleport because of some situation, the ingredients are only things that are cheaply always available . As in we won’t use things like spicy cheese . Things that even beginners can easily and quickly cook during business if preparation is done in advance . Satisfying these conditions, we decided on several menu items such as omelet rice, hamburger, udon and so on .

Oh, I taught them how to make mayonnaise . It’s just mixing eggs, oil, vinegar, and so on a little . Developing cooking won’t be a problem right . It’s not like I’m popularizing the microwave oven . Ah, I bought one for myself, of course . It is necessary for frozen food .

Day 5 .

5 men came into the dining hall 『Paradise Pavilion』 just after opening . By cutting and ignoring the line of customers .

「Ah, customers, lined up properly…」

Stella who spoke was surprised and stopped talking .

「It sounds like a great success, 『Paradise Pavilion』-san」

What stood there was that shopkeeper, an unknown senior man, a former clerk who was brought out the other day, and two guards .

「What can I do for you?」

Called by Stella and coming out of the kitchen, Bernd sourly and expressionless inquired .

「No, no, today I can’t help but fulfill my duty as a good citizen」

「What the heck are you talking about?」

「I accused you of foul play and have come to do justice!」

The shopkeeper screamed with a triumphant face and his fingers pointed at Bernd .

Apparently, he seems to have changed his policy to counter the changed situation . It was the pattern where he changes to directly attacking .

「Foul play? What the heck do you mean?」

「Don’t play dumb! Even the guards came too!」

「No, what is this about… Would you please explain that first」

At Bernd’s words, the restaurant owner pointed to a menu posted on the wall .

「That! That’s irrefutable proof!」

「Eh?」

「A fraud using the now rumored 『Yamano cooking』 among the public, the act of cheating customers!　Now, guards, arrest him immediately and take him to jail!」

Bernd and Stella were flabbergasted . The 3 part-timers watch anxiously . Customers stop eating and watch breathlessly .

Bernd finally understood the situation and asked the shopkeeper .

「Um, what is the basis that our Yamano cooking is fake?」

「I figured you would use that to escape」

The shopkeeper broadly smiled .

「The one who is here is the Liner Viscount House chef and the founder of that Yamano cooking, Marcel-shi!」

An ‘oh!’ came from the audience . The noble seeming people are giving Marcel a hard look .

「Now, Marcel-san, testify!」

「No, I will not know until I eat it . Anyway, would you bring out the cooking」

At Marcel’s completely legitimate assertion, the shopkeeper being in front of the guards reluctantly approved it . It only a few moments anyway .

「Then I’ll have soup, something called omelet rice, and hamburger」

The restaurant owner is smiling . Marcel doesn’t seem to know the item’s name . It’s confirmed to be a fake .

After Bernd heads toward the kitchen and shouts the order, there’s only waiting . The guests also watched silently while resuming their meals . And so after a while, cooking was brought to the table .

Marcel quietly drinks the soup . He frowns .

Marcel brings the hamburger to his mouth . He’s in a bad mood .

Marcel eats the omelet rice . He seems about to shout out of anger…

「Please call the person who made this!」

Ah, he shouted .

「Who’s making a racket, it is noisy…」

Mitsuha that came out of the kitchen .

「What the heck is this!」

Looking at the shouting Marcel, the restaurant shop owner smiled .

「Why are you teaching a dish that you didn’t teach me at a place like this, honorable teacher!!」

「「「「Ehhhhhh~~~!!!」」」」

「Because we were making party dishes back then . Aside from preparation, this food is made one by one, so I wouldn’t have taught this back then」

「N, no, but, in every day cooking for my master’s family, such dishes would also…」

「Ah~ . Then, why don’t you go to the kitchen and help us while I teach? Please teach some things too Marcel-san . They are technically your brother and sister students」

「Acknowledged!」

Marcel flies to the kitchen . The restaurant owner’s jaw seems like it would fall off . The guards are bewildered .

「So what was that for?」

Mitsuha’s voice was enveloped by the silence of the dining hall’s interior .