NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Reopening the Stall - Morning
Chapter 36: Reopening the Stall – Morning
When I woke up in the morning, the room smelled of alcohol.
Thanks to drinking that mystery ale, I felt a bit nauseous, but after sleeping, I was completely recovered. Shiro drank an insane amount in the end, but she was making breakfast with Kuro as if nothing happened.
It’s a relief that no one is hungover.
Yesterday’s drinking after so long was quite enjoyable. Gisella and the three of us ended up eating and drinking a terrifying amount. The bill was frightening, but thanks to Kuro’s mysterious dance being quite popular, we got a considerable discount. The shop owner took a liking to Kuro and even asked us to come again. With her around, the atmosphere really brightens up.
We all had breakfast together, then washed our faces, regained our focus, and started preparing the stall. We’ve prepared a considerable amount this time, so we’re prepared for a long haul. There’s also the possibility of Gisella joining us as a companion in the future. We have to earn well.
When we arrived at the Misharl Market, we rented our usual stall from the slippery old lady. We were taken to the same spot as last time.
“Oh! It’s Bonus! Long time no see!”
“Melanie, long time no see! Well, quite a lot has happened since then. Let’s keep working well together.”
“W-wait, that person was a woman…”
“I am Shiro, the oni. Nice to meet you.”
As Shiro smiled, Melanie seemed embarrassed and fidgety. What’s with her blushing? Well, Shiro has a kind of androgynous beauty, and that smile of hers is unfair…
“Also, here’s a souvenir for you. Orange and milk chocolate. I might sell these next time, so let me know what you think.”
“It’s been a while since I had chocolate. Thank you. Your coffee and chocolate have become quite popular.”
“Really?”
“Mercenary Marie keeps complaining about wanting chocolate every chance she gets. Because of that, it seems to have become a popular item among mercenaries and merchants.”
“Ohh…”
It seems like Marie’s been spreading the word more than I thought. But next time we meet, I’ll have to give her extra as a gift.
“Well then, Kuro, Shiro, let’s get ready.”
“Gu-gyaah!”
“Yeah.”
“Shiro-san is cool, and beautiful…”
For some reason, Melanie seems enraptured, so I’ll leave her be.
This time, to gauge reactions, I decide to try burning some frankincense. Immediately, a refreshing and cool scent spreads around the stall. Surprisingly, this scent doesn’t overpower the aroma of the coffee.
“Wow, it smells so good.”
“Yeah, it’s a nice smell. Good morning, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Good morning! It smells nice, right? We’ll be back at the stall starting today, so please come by.”
“Oh my goodness, the stall is reopening! One coffee, please!”
“Give me one too!”
“Hey? I heard Bonus died, but you’re alive? You reopened?”
“In that case, I’ll have one too, please!”
“Hey, Bonus! We’ve been waiting for you! Hurry up with the coffee!”
“Coming, coming! Just wait a minute!”
Customers flock in all at once. Well, it seems like everyone really liked it here. Even the boss came by promptly. I was honestly worried, but I’m glad we’re off to a good start.
“I made these cups! They’re pretty good, right?”
“Indeed, these are nice. It’s nice that they come as a set with plates.”
The customers are getting excited among themselves. It’s delightful, but now the stall feels cramped. That’s a challenge for the future.
“Good morning. It’s been a while, Bonus-san.”
“Menas! It’s so good to see you! I’ll treat you to a coffee, so please have some.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Kuro, take care of Menas’ order too!”
“Huh? Is this the imp from before?”
“That’s right. By the way, the one in the back is Shiro, an oni who recently became our companion.”
“I don’t even know what to say anymore. It’s amazing. Kuro doesn’t even look like an imp anymore, and it’s really rare for an oni woman to be outside the village.”
Menas seems quite surprised. But she seems to know quite a lot about oni.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Gyaaah!”
“Yes, nice to meet you too.”
“Here, coffee and chocolate. Menas, you used to like the slightly bitter taste, right? If you don’t like it, let me know, and I’ll add some milk.”
“Thank you very much.”
Menas carefully smelled the coffee and took a slow sip. Her graceful gestures never change.
“Delicious…”
Seems like the feedback is quite positive. Menas’ opinion will definitely be valuable. When she tried the chocolate, her expression suddenly changed.
“This is…”
Uh oh, she might have realized the presence of sugar. It wouldn’t be strange if Menas noticed.
“What do you think?”
“It’s very delicious. Bonus-san, you really are quite something. Still keeping such secrets hidden.”
“Well, hearing that from you boosts my confidence. How about this?”
“There’s no mistake that it’s delicious. Both the coffee and chocolate are wonderful. However, you need to be careful when selling them. Strong and cunning merchants might try various tricks.”
It seems more serious than I thought. Maybe I should have consulted Menas earlier.
“In reality, the supply is quite limited. We can probably only sell what we have at our stall.”
“I see… It might be best to quickly expand our customer base and increase our recognition in the city, or make sure to establish connections with influential figures.”
“You think so?”
“While your safety should be assured with Shiro around, it’s best not to let your guard down for a while.”
“Thanks as always, Menas. I should have consulted you earlier.”
“No problem at all. Besides, if you’re too cautious, you won’t be able to do business.”
With that, Menas smiled and took another piece of chocolate. She’s quite mature, but her actions are always seductive.
“Menas, this was a souvenir I was planning to give you next time. It’s dried meat from the Kidanakemo and… chocolate, right?”
“Yeah, I want to treat everyone in the caravan, so tell them to come visit again.”
“I’m so happy. Thank you, Bonus-san.”
She looked genuinely happy as she packed it into her bag. I’m glad she liked it. Even though Menas is a savvy merchant, she genuinely cares. I need to make sure not to lose her trust.
“By the way, there’s a rumor that the Sturmm Trading Company will be coming from the neighboring territory soon. They’re very powerful merchants, so please be careful. Especially watch out for the company president, Camilla.”
“Got it. I’ll be careful.”
After Menas left, we managed to close the stall during the bustling morning.