Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 176: Astonishing Sales
Although the details of Marquis Van Dyne’s return after three years inside the Babylon dungeon were kept secret, the fact that he had come back couldn’t remain hidden for long.
His disappearance was well known among those connected to the dungeon. When the soldiers saw him among the party emerging from Babylon, an enormous commotion immediately broke out.
Word that Marquis Van Dyne had returned alive spread throughout the Royal Capital before any order to remain silent could be issued.
As a result, the marquis found himself overwhelmingly busy every day.
He met with members of the royal family, underwent examinations, spoke with dungeon researchers, received numerous nobles, and attended social gatherings. It was a brutal schedule for a man who had only just returned after years of absence, yet Marquis Van Dyne handled it without showing any sign of exhaustion.
He also found time between appointments to be with Aeris, who had grown considerably during the three years he had lost. His stamina seemed almost limitless.
Meanwhile, Tauro was training the cooks for the opening of his curry shop in the Royal Capital.
The Garfish Company had selected capable workers, and they learned quickly, leaving Tauro with little cause for concern.
While Tauro and Aeris were both occupied, the Garfish Company finally began selling the new magic lanterns.
Following Tauro’s suggestion, the company held a demonstration in front of the store. The brilliant light immediately caught the attention of passersby, who stopped and gathered around.
“What’s that? It looks like a lantern, but it’s incredibly bright!”
“You’re right! You can clearly see the light even in the middle of the day!”
“Is it some kind of [Illumination] magic?”
More people crowded around to discover what was happening.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Did something happen?”
“They’re all watching that shopkeeper in front of the store.”
Once people learned that the dazzling device was an affordable new magic lantern, a line formed almost immediately.
The crowd grew so large that guards were dispatched to investigate, forcing the company to end the demonstration earlier than planned.
Even after the demonstration stopped, however, customers continued lining up until the store closed. The magic lanterns rapidly became a sensation among the ordinary residents of the Royal Capital.
By that same evening, they could already be seen glowing inside homes and shops and in the hands of people walking through the streets.
Their light was far brighter than that of oil lanterns, so anyone who hadn’t yet heard of them naturally stopped to ask questions.
Upon learning where the lanterns were sold, even more people queued outside the magic-tool shop the following day. The line itself attracted further attention, and word of mouth spread the product throughout the city.
The Garfish Company happily sold each lantern together with the low-grade or discarded magic stone used to power it.
The Adventurers’ Guild was equally pleased. It held a large stockpile of such stones, and the Garfish Company had contracted to purchase those already in storage as well as any obtained in the future.
As the lanterns spread throughout the Royal Capital, the Garfish Company achieved another major success after Reversi, dramatically increasing its public recognition.
The Marches Trading Company, which held the other sales rights, began distributing the lanterns in O’Circus slightly later. They proved just as popular there. Even after Marches partnered with the local Kishiwanda Trading Company to expand production, supply couldn’t keep pace with demand.
Tauro knew nothing of those developments, but his lanterns had already begun spreading across the kingdom.
Amid all the excitement, his new curry shop in the Royal Capital opened quietly.
People passing outside were eagerly discussing magic lanterns, but few entered the unfamiliar restaurant.
That was hardly surprising. A completely new establishment selling food the city had never encountered couldn’t expect crowds from its first moment of business.
Tauro had anticipated this.
“I didn’t think I’d have to use this trick again after Reversi…” he muttered.
“All right, everyone. I’m counting on you!”
He called to the large group waiting nearby.
Tauro had once again hired people to act as the shop’s first customers. They would be paid and fed for their help.
It was an especially attractive temporary job because their meal included sugar candy for dessert—a luxury even in the Royal Capital.
The restaurant’s diners were clearly visible through its expensive glass windows. As lunchtime approached, passersby gradually began gathering, their curiosity stirred by the sight of so many customers enjoying an unfamiliar meal.