I Became a Food Developer in Another World

Chapter 11: This is called canned food (1)

The bulk of the money for the gelato came from the Church.

Therefore, the ownership of the gelato was split between me and the Church, and the production was controlled by the Church.

The problem is that gelato was developed as a ‘sacrament’.

It was a sacrament offered to God and a dessert intended to energize the faith of the churchgoers.

It was a small gift to the people who visited the church.

That was certainly the intention at first…….

“One day, people started coming to the church not to pray, but to eat gelato,” he says.

“So you cut off the supply of gelato.”

“Yes. Because a place of worship for prayer shouldn’t be a place to eat gelato.”

The problem came after that.

As usual, people who came to the church for gelato were disappointed when they realized that the church no longer served it.

Some of them said, “I’ll pay for it, but please sell me some gelato.”

But a church is a place of prayer, not a food store.

When their demands were rejected, they began to protest, demanding that the gelato be served.

The protest escalated into a “church has a monopoly on gelato” protest.

“This feels like I’m watching a full-scale defense of gelato.”

Cardinal Bruno’s words reminded me of a similar incident in my previous life.

“Defend the gelato.”

An incident where a country and its people fought over a dessert.

In Italy, there is a tradition of gathering by the riverside or in public squares during summer nights to enjoy gelato together as a way to beat the heat.

However, when the state banned it, there were protests to bring back gelato.

The current situation is similar.

The summers in the empire were murderously hot but for the vast majority of the people, there was no way to escape the heat.

Even in a society where magic was widespread, not everyone had access to its benefits.

The church was happy to serve gelato to the heat-weary, which led to the gelato craze.

A cool cup of gelato on a hot summer day had become an indispensable sacrament for the people.

When it was suddenly cut off, it was not unreasonable for the people to protest for the return of gelato.

Favor had become an entitlement, but the imperial summer was hot enough that it had to be.

The Church, on the other hand, was confused by the fact that their chapel, which was supposed to be a place of worship, had become a place to eat gelato.

Both sides were understandably frustrated.

“So that’s why you came to see me.”

“Yes, we want you to take care of the gelato.”

Although sacraments had a reverent connotation – food offered to the gods – they had humble beginnings.

It started out as a way for farmers to gather the leftover grain or crops from the harvest and offer them to God.

That’s why the sacraments of the church are tasteless.

The sacraments were supposed to be accessible and palatable to everyone.

That’s why the Church decided to take gelato outside the church.

“Very well, I’ll talk to the top of the Trion Company and get the gelato distributed.”

Cardinal Bruno’s complexion brightened.

“I know it’s a sudden favor, but I’m glad you’re willing to do it.”

“No, it’s a great opportunity for me, too.”

I was about to launch Häagen-Dazs’ ice cream menu.

In the process of creating Häagen-Dazs gelato, Ciel and I had also finished working on Häagen-Dazs in ice cream formulations.

If we added gelato to it, it would be a natural synergy.

Ice cream & gelato.

I couldn’t wait to see the reaction.

*

[Gelato, a sacrament of the Church and a forbidden dessert for priests, is now available!]

The people of the country reacted enthusiastically to the news that gelato would be released into the market.

A long line had formed in front of the shop since early morning.

Among them were nobles, knights, and mages with their entourages.

“…It’s gelato, after all! This melt-in-your-mouth smoothness, it tastes just like the ones we used to have in church!”

“…Alas, it was worth lining up early in the morning.”

“It’s a shame I can only buy one, I want to freeze it and eat it every day.”

The public’s praise for the gelato, which had already been tested in a church, was expected but not everyone had the same reaction.

“……Hmm, is it that good?”

“Why the reaction?”

“No, it’s good. It’s good, but I can’t get over the ambiguity.”

“What do you mean, ambiguous gelato?”

“Honestly, it’s not even close to Häagen-Dazs ice cream, is it?”

“…You’re kidding, how can you compare ice cream to gelato!”

“You would know it if you tried it! Ice cream is a new product that was introduced to compensate for gelato’s shortcomings!”

“You’re a nice guy, but you really don’t know how to eat!”

“You’re the one!”

People were divided into ice cream and gelato factions, arguing fiercely over which was better.

It was a scene that resembled watching an endless debate between the “bureok” faction and the “jjikmeok” faction from my past life.

“Why are you guys fighting, the best flavor is mixed.”

Aria shook her head as she sucked on a spoonful of gelato and ice cream.

“…….”

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

Some people had weird tastes like Aria, I guess.

I don’t know if it’s because she has great taste, but her palate is a little unusual.

*

The launch of gelato and ice cream was a success. Although they didn’t become as popular as Pringles due to the limitations of otherworldly refrigeration technology, we did succeed in embedding the idea of processed ice cream in people’s minds.

In the cooler evenings after the sun had set, people would gather in taverns to chat over gelato and ice cream.

Gelato and ice cream became a staple dessert in social circles.

“The White Tower has donated gelato.”

“Ooohhhhh!”

“Gelato from the White Tower. Please take one.”

“Thank you, thank you so much! Mmmmm!”

The gelato even reached the marginalized, the people who were shunned by the public eye.

“Even if you don’t have a table, even if you’re poor, the sacrament should be for everyone, for everyone to taste.

That was Cardinal Bruno’s only request as he entrusted me with his gelato.

The cool breeze of the Häagen-Dazs was blowing away the sweltering heat of the Empire.

And with that cool breeze, the name “Yuri Grail” began to spread far and wide.

Far to the southern borders, even in the upper echelons of the military that defends this country.

*

The southern part of the empire has long been a hotbed of barbarian strife.

Of course, the barbarians were no match for the Empire’s best and brightest.

The barbarians’ crude weapons could never defeat the Empire’s southern army but even with their powerful armies, the Empire were unable to solve the barbarian problem for decades.

It wasn’t because the Imperial army was weak or stupid.

It was because of one thing: food.

No army, no matter how strong, can survive without food.

Food was the most valuable resource on the battlefield but the south, where the savages lived, was a vast grassland.

It was impossible to forage for food in the middle of nowhere.

Even if they did, the supply lines were often raided by the savages and the food was taken.

To make matters worse, the food they had brought with them would quickly spoil in a day or two due to the harsh climate of the steppes.

Even if you cast a spell to preserve it, it would only last for three months at most.

Three months was too short a time for a war that would last for years.

The enemy the Empire faced was not the barbarians, but ‘food’.

Even as the Empire army struggled with food, rumors from the capital reached them.

“General, there is a wizard in the capital who excels at improving food.”

“A wizard?”

“Yes. From what I hear, a wizard from the White Tower has improved the sacraments of the church. Why don’t you entrust him with the improvement of battle rations?”

Marquis Hughes, Commander of the Imperial Army South, grimaced at the Chief of Staff’s words.

“He’s the kind of man who makes children’s food. Don’t you know that we’re concerned with preserving quality, not flavor?”

The Marquis of Hughes had heard the rumors from the capital but for the army, it wasn’t the flavor of the food that mattered, it was its shelf life.

It was because of this food’s shelf-life that a soldier could only last three months in the grasslands before he had to leave the army.

There was no way a mage who had never been on the battlefield could solve that.

Even the military mages had increased the duration to three months after much research and experimentation.

“Still, why don’t you put in a request?”

Marquis Hughes sighed heavily and said in a voice that didn’t contain much hope.

“All right, I’ll give it a shot.”

“I see.”

*

It was less than a month later that the requested battle rations arrived at the Empire army.

“General, the battle rations you requested from the White Tower have arrived.”

“Already?”

Marquis Hughes clicked his tongue as the battle rations arrived much sooner than expected.

It was obvious that they must have brought some kind of food for the nobility.

‘So it is.’

The soldier’s rations were flat, round containers that looked as if he hadn’t bothered with the pretense.

“They say it’s canned.”

“Well, it tastes better than conventional rations.”

Marquis Hughes nodded as he opened and tasted the canned goods himself.

As far as flavors go, it wasn’t bad.

It was a feast compared to the dreary battle rations but the Marquis put the tin down quickly.

“Even so, it’s useless on the battlefield unless it’s preserved for a long time. At least three months, if not more……”

“Twenty years, they say.”

“…What?”

“They say it has a 20-year shelf life. General.”

“……?!”