NOVEL NEXT Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Menas' Recommendation
Chapter 122: Menas’ Recommendation
When we returned to the village, everyone from the Menas Trading Company and the Vaintz Mercenaries was busy unloading goods. There was a cheerful atmosphere in the air. The once somewhat cheeky young members of the Vaintz Mercenaries seemed to have been completely tamed now. They were happily following not only Menas’ instructions but also those from Gazat and Jeda. Perhaps seeing the real dealings of professional merchants in this large procurement had been an eye-opener for them.
When surrounded by demons, it’s easy to lose touch with that sort of sensitivity, but the Menas Trading Company members have an impressive and cool presence. It’s clear that they’ve earned their reputation through years of dealing with tough business environments. Although they’re all quite eccentric, they are very calm and good-natured. It’s no wonder the young ones look up to them.
“Menas, thanks for your hard work.”
“Thank you. There are a few things I’d like to discuss about the Savoia market stalls, so how about having lunch together?”
“Of course, I’d be delighted.”
“Alright, Bonus, I’ll start preparing lunch a bit earlier.”
“Mil, I’ll help out too.”
“Then, Zamza, please lend a hand as well!”
“Bonus! I’ll check the wood we’ve procured until the meal is ready.”
“Okay, Oscar, I’ll give you the blueprints and the list of materials, so please review them. Feel free to jot down any concerns.”
“Got it! Oh, Menas, can I start marking the wood?”
“Of course.”
Oscar is remarkably quick when it comes to work. Especially since he decided to join the Bonus Trading Company, he seems even more enthusiastic and involved. Running a workshop must have been really stressful for him…
As the unloading finished, some of the group joined in preparing the meal. We all know each other well. While sharing the various ingredients each of us brought, we naturally collaborated on getting the meal ready. Mil and Zamza took charge of the arrangements, and a variety of ingredients began to appear on the table. It was a mix of items from Savoia and Vaintz Village, as well as supplies from the hideout. By the time everything was ready, Kuro, Shiro, and Laura would probably join us too.
“What should we talk about first? Let’s start with the seaweed and dried fish.”
“Oh, speaking of which… How did they respond?”
Menas put a finger to her lips and seemed to ponder for a moment. She then decided to start with the ingredients, noticing the dried fish being grilled before. In fact, I had previously entrusted Menas with the seaweed and dried fish to test their value as products in Savoia. However, I view seafood more as a tourism resource than a commercial product. Due to diplomatic reasons, we can’t send out ships. The fish yield isn’t enough to sustain an industry.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of fish in the area. For personal enjoyment, it should be enough to secure a good catch through shore fishing. The scenery in Vaintz Village is quite beautiful despite the current situation. It has an emerald-green sea and the Tamir Mountains, providing a rich natural environment. Rain is rare in this region, but it can still yield crops, and wine was apparently produced here in the past. It’s also close to the hideout, making it an attractive location where I’ve even considered building a personal villa.
Currently, the eastern part of Savoia has a strong image of being a hellish place, and the general public avoids it. However, the route to Vaintz Village is mostly safe from attacks by Kidanakemo. There are occasional monster attacks, but the probability isn’t much different from other areas. As long as one travels with a mercenary group, there’s little risk to personal safety.
Thus, I think promoting Vaintz Village as a nearby tourist destination with the protection of the Vaintz Mercenaries could be quite effective. The Vaintz Village tourism development plan… Although it probably won’t be easy and various challenges will arise, the current village scale is uncertain for long-term survival. A bit more vitality would be welcome. For the Vaintz Mercenaries, it would also be a good way to contribute to the village and earn some extra money.
“The dried fish was fairly well received. Although it was a small amount, it seems fish from other regions are also being distributed in Savoia. For people coming from outside the territory, it might not be too unusual. Many mercenaries seemed quite nostalgic about it.”
“Wow, is that so?”
“As Bonus mentioned, we offered free samples this time to gather broad opinions. It seems like it would fetch a pretty good price if sold “
“Then what about the seaweed?”
“Well… Seaweed probably won’t be ready for sale immediately. It’s difficult to attract interest as it is. It would be great if we could market it as part of a signature dish.”
“Ah, I see. It does make a pretty good broth, so it would be great if we could create a novel soup dish with it…”
I suddenly remembered a noodle dish I had at the black market before. It was a hellish experience at the time, but the noodles might work well with that broth. I think it could be great in a soup, whether it’s udon, soba, or ramen. It could be interesting to come up with something that would be popular in Savoia.
“Thanks, Menas. I’ll think about it some more.”
“Oh? It sounds like you have some ideas. Let me know if you need any help.”
“Yeah, I really appreciate it every time. So… was everything alright with our market stall?”
“Yes. We’ve restocked the coffee, chocolate, and Mil’s new sweets as requested. Ah, they look delicious today too. Thank you, Mil.”
“The fried fish is easy to eat because the bones are removed. So, Menas, how did the sweets I sent to Savoia turn out?”
Mil brought the fried fish just at the right moment, and Menas was elegantly enjoying it with a soft smile. Watching her made me suddenly feel hungry. It looks so good…
I sandwiched the fried fish in bread, squeezed some citrus juice similar to lemon over it, and took a bite. The tanginess was refreshing and pleasant, and the aroma was wonderful. It’s become my favorite way to eat recently. By the way, Pink seemed to dislike it and got really mad when I sprinkled it without asking.
“Mil’s sweets from the Bonus Trading Company are booked up for six months in advance, you know?”
“Wow… that much? I wonder if everyone really thinks they’re that good?”
“Of course. The reputation for taste is solid. Those who are lucky enough to taste them often book their next order right away. Actually, managing the reservations seems quite challenging for Melanie. But anyway… Bonus, could I also have some of that wonderfully fragrant fruit?”
“Certainly. It might depend on personal taste, but I think it pairs well with fried food. Here you go—”
“Thank you. Ah, it really does have a lovely aroma. It seems perfect for refreshing the palate with rich, fatty dishes.”
Menas brought the fruit close to her nose and smiled with pleasure. Though her actions seemed innocent, there was something oddly alluring about them. Hajiramu, who was eating a little farther away, seemed to be flustered and had dropped his dishes.
What’s he doing…?
“Hajiramu, would you like to use some as well?”
“Mmm, ah, yes… I suppose.”
Hajiramu answered nervously to Menas’ polite inquiry. I can understand his feelings, but I’d rather not see a red-faced, bearded man. Menas certainly has a knack for making middle-aged men everywhere look this way…
“Even though the market stall is quite a distance away, is everything alright?”
“Thanks to the support of the regulars, I think it’s going very well. However, the customers are eager to see Kuro-chan, Shiro-san, and Gisella-san soon.”
“It seems like I’ve been completely forgotten… Oh, and the tailor’s second daughter, Mary, has been helping out too, right?”
“Yes, she’s been working hard on various things. She’s prepared very nice tablecloths and linens for the stall. The fabric for the table’s sunshade has also been replaced with a lovely color and pattern. Plus, she was wearing a cute apron embroidered with motifs of Pink-chan and seemed to blend in perfectly with the stall.”
It seems Mary has been enthusiastically pursuing her personal tastes and doing things her way. Nevertheless, she has good taste and seems to be doing a great job, which I appreciate. I just hope she hasn’t been neglecting her main work…
“Gugyaaa, gugyaaa!”
“Oh, Menas-sama. Thank you for your hard work!”
“Thank you, Laura.”
Kuro skillfully drove the cat cart, making a flashy turn as she arrived. Of course, Laura was riding in the cart. Without getting off, she happily accepted the dishes handed to her by Kuro. They’ve become completely one with each other…
Kuro was directing the same gaze towards Laura as she does to the pet birds. By the way, the birds are now free to fly around and feed themselves. They are only coming around for affection. So, Kuro might be nurturing Laura as a substitute for the now low-maintenance birds.
Recently, she’s been helping her with grooming and even making comfortable clothes for her. However, Kuro, I think that young one might be growing in a slightly unfavorable direction…
“Wow, fried fish today! It goes so well with this bread! Oh, and you brought that fruit from the hideout too!”
“By the way, Laura, you’ve been riding that cat cart a lot lately.”
“Yes, at first, I was a bit scared, but now I’ve gotten used to it with Kuro-san. I feel more uneasy walking now! —Ah, today’s meal is delicious too!”
“Indeed, it looks like you’re having fun. But Laura, you need to be careful not to become physically inactive.”
“…Physically inactive?”
“Yes, if you keep eating without moving much, you might end up with health issues or gain unnecessary fat.”
“…Unnecessary fat…”
“That’s right. I also enjoy eating, but I make sure to stay active. As you get older, it becomes hard to shed excess fat once it accumulates. You need to be careful to prevent your body shape from deteriorating.”
“…Hard to shed… body shape deteriorating…”
While casually picking at the food, I was cheering Menas on in my mind. Laura, who had been full of energy earlier, gradually started looking like a discarded puppy as she stared at the sandwich in her hand.
“Laura, compared to me, you’re still young and beautiful. You’ll be fine if you take care now.”
“R-Really? I’m still okay… right?”
“Yes. Laura, your face has become a bit rounder recently. But you look healthy, so it’s okay.”
“…My face… rounder…”
Gisella’s innocent comment made Laura look like she had been stabbed in the back by a close friend. She then anxiously looked around, checking the faces of Menas’ trading company members and the Vaintz mercenaries one by one.
Whenever she made eye contact, everyone would awkwardly tilt their heads and look away with all their might. With each instance, Laura’s eyes widened more and more.
“Grgyaaa~”
“K-Kuro-san?”
Laura turned to Kuro’s voice. She was making a gesture as if to pat around her face with a cheerful smile. She looked very satisfied as if she had raised her himself.
“Y-You’re kidding me… Bonus-sama?”
“Hm? What’s the matter?”
“Did I become round?”
“Well, personality-wise, you’re a bit more gentle—”
“Physically?”
“W-Well, I’m not sure… It’s hard for me to tell, but it’s best to be careful about physical activity from now on, don’t you think?”
“Y-Yes, I suppose so. I’ll try to be more careful—”
As Laura was trying to compose herself and shift her position, there was a loud crack and clatter as the axle of the cat cart broke. It caused Laura to tumble out of the cart.
Everyone fell silent in shock.
“………..Ah, from tomorrow, I’ll walk on my own! Thank you so much, Kuro-san! Waaahhhh!”
“Grgyaaa~…”
Laura clumsily stood up with her slightly chubby body. She then declared tearfully, and wobbled away. A strange atmosphere hung over the scene.
However, I was secretly relieved. As always, I couldn’t be more grateful to Menas. She must have genuinely cared about Laura and us. Although I can’t say it out loud right now, I send my deepest thanks in my heart.
Kuro, on the other hand, was looking sadly at the broken cat cart. I’ll have to make her a new toy or something…