Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 208: A Proposal for Food Stalls
In a room at the Marches Trading Company in Dansas, Tauro and Marches were holding a business meeting.
“A food stall?” Marches repeated, momentarily caught off guard by the proposal.
“Yes. I think a stall is just the right scale for the people of the mountain village to operate.”
Tauro was referring to the village they had helped on the road to O’Circus, where they had defeated the griffon. Since the Marches Trading Company held the exclusive commercial agreement with the village, he had brought the idea to Marches first.
“I see. You want to turn their jagamo and tomoro dishes into products they can sell.”
“Exactly. The business would be inexpensive to start and simple to operate. It would also promote the village’s mustard mayonnaise and its ketchup made from tomate. The main concern is preserving the condiments safely.”
Marches explained that some villagers were reluctant to use raw eggs in mayonnaise.
“They’re worried about food poisoning, then,” Tauro said. “The recipe should be safe when it’s followed correctly. The vinegar is important, and they must never reduce the required amount merely to save money.”
He stressed the source recipe’s rule that vinegar should make up at least ten percent of the mixture. Marches promised that the company would supervise production and handling carefully.
“What about storage and transportation?” Tauro asked.
“Leave that to us. The magic-storage pouch already stationed in the mountains, together with the magic-storage bag you bought in the Royal Capital and lent to the company, will be more than enough.”
Marches tapped the bag hanging at his side.
The company could employ villagers at its local branch and have them make regular supply trips to neighboring settlements and O’Circus.
“How’s the O’Circus branch doing?” Tauro asked.
“It opened only last month, but the magic lanterns and water-repellent-cloth products are selling steadily. We’re already operating without a loss.”
Leada, who had previously handled negotiations with the Kishiwanda Trading Company, had quickly established herself as Marches’s trusted representative in O’Circus.
Tauro unfolded a sheet of paper across the desk.
It showed a lightweight, modular stall with a roof made from water-repellent cloth.
“This looks remarkably easy to assemble,” Marches said.
“That was the goal. I also included basic fire-safety measures. The dismantled frame, roof, cooking tools, and merchandise should all fit inside a magic-storage pouch. Even without one, the stall can be transported on an ordinary cart.”
Because the stall could be assembled and removed quickly, the operators could rent a location by the day, move between villages and towns, and avoid the expense of maintaining a permanent shop.
“Then the business can expand wherever demand appears,” Marches said.
“As far as the villagers’ motivation takes it.”
Marches immediately approved the proposal.
“Let’s do it. One of our contracted carpenters can build these directly from your plans.”
The mountain village accepted as soon as it learned that the proposal had come from Tauro. The villagers soon carried a completed stall to a nearby settlement and began selling fried jagamo, steamed jagamo, and salted popcorn.
The popping tomoro drew attention before the stall had even finished opening.
“The steamed jagamo with this mayonnaise is irresistible!”
“The popcorn is light, crisp, and delicious!”
“Try mixing all three condiments on the fried jagamo. That’s the best way to eat it!”
The food was simple, inexpensive, and strongly flavored by the village’s distinctive seasonings. Repeat customers appeared almost immediately, and before long a line formed whenever the stall opened.
Encouraged by the response, the mountain villagers consulted Leada about establishing a permanent shop in O’Circus. She readily agreed to support the plan.
The food would soon become popular in the port city as well, but that was a story for another time.