Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 17: The “Leek-Harvesting” Plan
“Th…this taste!”
Otto’s eyes widened in shock. It was the first time he had ever tasted something so delicious; the flavor of the meat skewers was complex and rich.
First came the texture of the meat—crispy on the outside, tender within, juicy and flavorful. The rich aroma of the meat mingled effortlessly with the fat as he chewed. Then came the spices: the fragrant cumin, the sharp heat of chili, the piquancy of pepper—all interwoven in his mouth, forming a unique flavor that perfectly masked the boar’s gaminess.
As he chewed further, the meat juices and spices penetrated even deeper, and each bite offered a brand-new experience that lingered in the memory, impossible to forget.
“This flavor… it’s simply divine!” Otto suddenly jumped to his feet and ran straight for the door.
Merlin froze, staring at Otto’s retreating figure. Just as he opened his mouth to ask, he saw Otto dart out from the blacksmith’s across the street, carrying a large bucket of beer.
Bang!
The beer barrel hit the table with a dull thud. Without a word, Otto opened it, grabbed two cups from the nearby bar, and poured the beer straight in, not caring whether they were clean or not.
Gulp, gulp! Otto tilted his head back and drank, alternating bites of beer with bites of skewers. His face flushed as he shouted, “Amazing! This is incredible! This stuff is insanely good—paired with beer, it’s the ultimate pub snack!”
“Give me some too!” Pate snatched Otto’s cup and drank eagerly. The combination of skewers and beer was addictive.
Kanna smiled and blew on the beer barrel. Instantly, frost spread across its surface, chilling the beer to perfection.
“I think ice-cold beer suits it better,” Kanna said. She wasn’t a stranger to alcohol—in fact, her tolerance was excellent, easily outmatching most dwarves.
Merlin continued roasting the skewers, sprinkling a pinch of his soul-seasoning spice. “This is the secret formula I’ve developed—the soul barbecue seasoning and the marinating mix. With these two, even something like a shoe insole could taste delicious.”
Pate gave his son a thumbs-up. “Impressive. I never thought these spices could be used on food—and it tastes this good!”
“With these special skewers, Uncle Otto, do you think our tavern could make money?” Merlin handed Otto a freshly roasted skewer.
“Of course!” Otto said, grinning with his eyes half-shut. “I can already imagine the tavern raking in gold daily. With a scent like this, I’d drink barrel after barrel of beer—even if it tasted like horse urine!”
“But if you want the skewers to taste this good, you have to use top-quality spices,” Merlin continued thoughtfully. “That means they can’t be cheap.”
“One skewer should be sold for somewhere between 5 silver coins and 1 gold coin…”
Merlin’s parents froze at the price. They stammered nervously.
“Son, isn’t that a bit too expensive? Boar meat is cheap—two or three silver coins per pound. Each skewer isn’t that much meat. Even with expensive spices, it shouldn’t cost five silver to one gold, right?”
Merlin looked at his parents. “Food service is about profit. I calculated for more than five times the cost. Otherwise, who would run a tavern? And where else could people buy skewers this good?”
“Besides, this is the Arcane Capital—the busiest city in the world. There are rich people everywhere. I think this price is even low. If we don’t rake in their money, when will we pay back five hundred thousand gold coins?”
“But…”
Merlin cut them off. “There’s no ‘but.’ Besides, the spices cost nothing for now. Later, we won’t always need the expensive ones—ordinary ones will do, and most customers won’t notice once powdered.”
“Also, besides skewers, we’ll offer some vegetables—roasted potatoes, chili peppers, eggplants, mushrooms. Sprinkle on the barbecue seasoning, and they’ll taste great. As for the price, aim for at least ten times the cost.”
Merlin glanced at the street outside. Many people were sniffing the air, trying to find the source of the delicious aroma. Already, quite a few had gathered around the dilapidated tavern, looking around curiously.
“I also plan to offer marinated edamame and peanuts. They’re even more addictive with beer, and taste fantastic. As for drinks, with all this food, do you think guests will go thirsty?”
Merlin picked up a small plate, about the size of a hand. “Just this size for edamame or peanuts. Price it at ten to twenty times the cost.”
Pate, Kanna, and Otto were stunned. Otto turned to Pate, whispering, “Is this really your son? He has the knack for being a crafty merchant.”
“Uncle Otto, I don’t like that term,” Merlin said firmly. “What do you mean, ‘crafty’? I’m doing this for the residents of the Arcane Capital. We’re giving them top-notch service and food. Good ingredients deserve the price I set.”
Otto looked at the skewers in his hand. Weren’t these the discounted ones he bought from the butcher, almost going bad? Who would touch boar meat if they had any status?
And yet… who could resist this taste? Not Otto—he couldn’t say no.
“Nephew, can I stay at the tavern regularly? About the price of these skewers…”
“Uncle Otto, eat as much as you want—no charge for family! Just bring more dwarf friends next time.” Merlin waved his hand, deciding for his parents.
“Good, nephew! Come, let’s eat and drink!” Otto shouted in excitement.
“Drink! Let’s drink together!” Pate lifted his cup, but Merlin pressed his hand down.
“Father, don’t drink yet—you need to learn how to roast skewers properly.” Merlin pointed to the skewer grill in front of him.
“Me? Roast skewers?” Pate looked confused.
“Of course. We can’t let the secret of the soul barbecue seasoning leak. I have to go to school—this task can’t fall on Mother, can it?” Merlin recalled his mother was a bit scatterbrained; if she cooked, she might burn down the whole tavern.
Pate made a sour face. Though he had accepted the Leo family’s bankruptcy, being forced to roast skewers himself was still a bitter pill.