Chapter 53

This time, it's a bit shorter due to the break in the story...

Summary of the previous episode ------------------------------------------------------

After collecting the Dindles, they had lunch.

On the way back, they defeated a Task Boar and hurried home.

Along the way, they dispatched a Goblin with a single touch of the gauntlet.

"I'll put the meat in the cooling storage for now."

The kitchen of Aera's shop, where we entered for the first time, had a large cooling storage—basically a refrigerator.

It was about 2 meters wide and deep, and 1.5 meters in height. It seemed to be a rather expensive magical device.

"It's incredibly convenient! ...Well, if you don't make a lot of dishes for a small profit, it's just a useless luxury."

Aera had a wistful expression, as if saying "hmm."

It was expensive to buy, and the larger it was, the more it cost to maintain.

In other words, if you couldn't use it fully, it would just be a waste of money.

"No, no, Aera. If you focus on pastries, a refrigerator is essential!"

"That's true. With this, we can serve fresh pastries, which would be a big advantage, right?"

"Is that so? ...By the way, what are fresh pastries! They sound delicious from the name alone!"

"Oh, oh? You don't know what fresh pastries are?"

"Yes, I haven't studied them. Please teach me!"

Come to think of it, the pastries at the café we visited before were only cookies and other baked goods.

There were also sugar candies on the menu, but after hearing Haruka's comment, "Probably just a lump of sugar," I decided not to order them. At the time, I was thinking of the sugar candies offered to the Buddha, but I guess that's probably not far off.

Considering the price of the sugar candies at that time, the pastry industry itself may not have developed much.

Aera, who heard about the new pastries, approached Natsuki with sparkling eyes, and Natsuki, a bit puzzled, nodded.

"Understood. I'll teach you when I have time."

"Sure, I will!"

"Yes. But for now, let's focus on the Inspire Sauce..."

"Ah, right. First, we need a jar. We'll go buy one for the shop and one to share with everyone."

"But Aera, don't we need to go get the sign?"

"Oh, right!"

When they ordered it yesterday, they said they would pick it up today.

Yuki explained that the sign could probably be made in a day, but to make it look nice and clean, they gave it an extra day.

"What should we do? Both shops will close soon."

In this world, most shops close when the sun sets, except for some restaurants and red-light districts.

Considering the time, it would be difficult to visit both.

"Hmm, then I'll go get the sign. Aera, you go with the two of them to buy the jars."

"Is that okay?"

"Yes. Since I'm just going to pick it up. In return, can we call the other two, Haruka and Toya? I want to teach Haruka how to make the sauce, and then we can make and eat tonkatsu afterward."

"Sure, of course. If I can learn how to make tonkatsu, I'll do anything!"

That's how it was decided.

"This is the shop where I got the tableware."

Aera led us to a shop located a bit off the main street.

A shop that you wouldn't know about unless someone told you.

It seemed to be a pottery specialist, with all the tableware and jars made of pottery.

In a world where wooden tableware is also common, the fact that this shop can operate by selling only pottery suggests that they are either very skilled or selling high-end items at a high profit margin.

"Ah... (Natski, do you have money?)"

"(What? Not much. Just what I earned in Saarstadt.)"

"(Damn. Our money is managed by Haruka, so I only have pocket money.)"

Combined, we don't have 3,000 rea.

Moreover, the items on display don't have price tags. Hmm...

Ignoring our predicament, Aera walked to the back of the shop and called out to a clerk.

"Hello. I'd like to buy a jar. Something practical and sturdy."

"Then perhaps these would be suitable."

The jars displayed, as pointed out by the clerk, were light brown and had lids.

The largest was about 50 centimeters tall, and the smallest could fit in the palm of your hand.

"If we're going to use them in the shop, we'll need two of this size... Naoto, can you help carry them?"

"Sure, no problem."

The "size" Aera mentioned was the largest jar, so it would be difficult for one person to carry two.

We need to decide which ones to get...

How much sauce do we use, anyway?

"Natsuki, which one do you like?"

"Well... this size should be enough, right?"

The one Natsuki pointed to was about the size of a slightly larger vase, with a capacity of about 3 to 4 liters.

"Excuse me, which is the cheapest jar of this size?"

"Then this one. It's a bit warped, but it should be fine for practical use."

Looking at the jar the clerk pointed out and comparing it with the others, it did seem a bit more warped.

However, since the jars here are not made on a potter's wheel, none of them are perfectly symmetrical.

Natsuki picked up the jar, tapped it lightly, and nodded.

"How much is this one?"

"That's 600 rea."

Hmm? Not as expensive as I thought.

Considering that they are all handmade, it might even be cheap.

"(Natsuki, what do you think? Isn't it cheaper than expected?)"

"(Probably. It might sell a lot for everyday use. In modern times, they can't produce as many.)"

"(I see. Even with mass production, if it doesn't sell, it won't be cheap.) Let's buy it."

When I nodded, Aera, who seemed to be waiting, called out to the clerk.

"Excuse me, I'll buy this jar and this one. Can you give us a discount?"

"Let's see... how about 3,000 rea for both?"

"Sure, that works."

Aera paid the money right away.

However, while it was cheaper, I don't know how much of a discount we got...

"Let's go back. Naoto, can you carry that jar?"

"Sure."

I followed Aera, who easily picked up the large jar and left the shop, and I also picked up a jar and left.

"Thank you."

We were seen off by the clerk's voice, and Natsuki also came out with a small jar.

"Um, Aera, how much should I pay? I'm not sure about the price, so let's say 600 rea?"

"No, no, consider this jar a gift from me. The two jars for 3,000 rea are already a bit cheaper than the market price, so the clerk probably considers this jar a bonus."

Aera added with a wry smile, "I bought a lot from this shop the other day."

It seems that all the tableware for the shop was bought there, so it must have been a significant amount.

"Is that okay...?"

Natsuki looked at me, saying that.

Aera doesn't seem to have much extra money, so I feel like I should pay something...

"Besides, you took us to collect Dindles today. Considering the cost of buying Dindles, this jar is cheap."

Indeed, two Dindles would cost more than this jar.

Actually, Dindles are really expensive.

"...Then, thank you very much. Thanks."

"Thank you."

We thanked Aera again and ended up getting the jars for free.