Chapter 48 – Shopping
After having breakfast at the castle, I immediately returned home.
I more or less have other things to do.
The bread has gradually been used up, speaking of that, the natural yeast has also decreased.
Which reminds me, wouldn’t the eastern country have rice, miso, and soy sauce?
Since they have katanas, there’s a possibility they might have it.
Since I don’t know whether or not I could procure it, I’ll try asking.
Aah, since it’s becoming hot, I’d sure like some shaved ice ne.
Something like a freezer… I haven’t seen one ne. U~n, can’t it be made with『freezing』? I should look for one if there’s an opportunity.
Perhaps plum juice to prevent summer fatigue might be good too.
Since plum liquor… I won’t be able to drink that ne.
Eh? ‘Isn’t this nothing but food’ you say?1
Well of course. Eighty percent of life’s pleasures is food. Deliciousness is justice.
In other words, almost every person in this world has only enjoyed twenty percent of life.
I think it can be understood if you look at the recent Prince.
Even today, did he say ‘I want to eat delicious things’ desperately to that extent?
And with that said, today’s plans are to make bread, then go see a magic tool dealer-san and grocer-san during the time it ferments2.Aah, if they have a freezer, I’d like a container to make ice ne. Although it’s slight different, shall I go to Garam-san’s store?
Since it’s been decided, I’ll move into action at once.
First the leavening agent.
knead knead knead knead.
U~n, since I’ve made the effort, shall I try give it a twist?
I’ll have half of it be regular bread, half of the remaining half will be b.u.t.ter rolls, then the remainder will be honey bread.
knead knead knead knead.
Alright, now we’ll ferment it for one hour to start with…
In the meantime, let’s go to the stores.
Though I say that, whether or not the eastern country distributes their goods, I don’t know.
I started off by asking the grocer-san while searching for plums.
I found out surprisingly quick.
It seems a place named Sirius Firm has recently started a trade.
After hearing of the firm’s location, I immediately left. Ah, I also bought the plums okay?
Sirius Firm was located close to the castle on the main street.
「h.e.l.lo~. I have something I’d like to ask.」
I went inside and called out.
By the way the interior, should I say it looks a lot like it’s from a historical play with an impression of a western wholesale store?3
「Welcome. Ojou-chan, are you on an errand for your dad?」
Uwa, it’s been a while since I’ve been completely treated like a child.
「No, I came here to look for something.」
Although it’s troublesome being treated like a child, wasting time here will also be, troublesome.
It’s fine to just confirm the necessary things.
Un, dealing with it like an adult.
「Looking
for something? For Ojou-chan? Do we have it here?」
「I’ve heard this company here has recently begun a trade with an eastern country. Because of that, I wondered whether or not you handled the eastern countries’ unusual seasonings and food, so I came.4」
「U~n, we certainly do business with the east but… Unusual food, nee. We actually have some but… does ojou-chan plan to buy it?」
Oh, you have it? I’d like to see it by all means.
「Yes, if possible, could you show me what kinds you have?」
「That would be a problem… Is your dad or mum not here? If it’s ojou-chan alone, I can’t sell it you know.」
Well, I’m sure it has to do with the price…… it wouldn’t be good to carelessly show it to a child either.
「Aah, sorry. I, am called Sakura Fujino. I work as an adventurer. I’m 15 years of age.」
I made sure to present my adventurer’s card.
「With that, would you be able to show me it?」
The man receiving me was surprised at my self-introduction, and surprised again when he saw the adventurer’s card.
It’s been awhile ne, these exchanges as well.
But as expected of a merchant. He immediately recovered and responded.
「Please excuse me for that. Of course. Now now, please come inside. As I will immediately bring over a sample.」
Woah, even his interactions changed.
Could he be rubbing his hands together while inside the reception room? I was lead into the room with that sort of atmosphere.5
The man from just now immediately stepped out once I entered.
As I waited in the room for the time being, the man I interacted with, as well as two men carrying something in their hands, entered.
「Sorry to have kept you waiting. The merchandise we currently have that goes in accordance with Fujino-sama’s request are just these.」
What was placed on top of the table was…… three small barrels and three wooden boxes.
「Allow me to explain. Firstly, this one is an alcohol made in the eastern country.」
He points to the first barrel. If it’s alcohol, could it be sake? I don’t know state inside the barrel but…6
「Excuse me, what kind of alcohol is it?」
「Yes, I’ve heard it’s made with grain from the eastern country. Although it has a transparent water-like appearance, it’s alcohol is stronger than poor wine.」
Is it, refined sake? If that’s the case, since it can be used in dishes, it might be good to purchase it.
「Is it okay if I smell the fragrance a little?」
「Of course.」
kyupon, the cork was removed from the top of the barrel.
When I smelled it, it had a strong alcohol and a faint sweet fragrance. It seems to be sake.
After saying my thanks, I asked for an explanation on the next merchandises.
The remaining merchandise were respectively, miso, soy sauce, dried kelp, katsoubushi, and tea.
Oo, I want everything!
But I was amazed when I heard the price.
For the smallest units, respectively, one barrel of sake (about 4.5litres) is 30 silvers, one barrel of miso is 15 silvers, one barrel of soy sauce is 20 silvers, twenty pieces of kelp starts from 10 silvers, two counts of katsuobushi for 15 silvers, and approximately five kilograms of tea for 40 silvers.
Although it may be related to transportation…… isn’t that too expensive…?
U~n, I want it…… but…
A set of the smallest units would be 1 gold and 50 silvers……right…?
I think the tea is particularly expensive but…. Could it be because it’s a luxury item?
For now, although the price is high, it’s for the sake of my dearly missed j.a.panese meals.
Let’s buy it all! However, only, the smallest units…
Nevertheless, wouldn’t they sell rice since there is sake?
「Excuse me, do you not sell something called rice?」
「Rice? Aah, since it wasn’t an item from the eastern country, it wasn’t brought along but, we do sell it.」
「Eh? If it’s not from the eastern country, where is it being produced?」
「It’s an item from the southern country but, if you’re interested, shall I prepare some?」
「Certainly!」
So it wasn’t imported from an eastern country ne.
The rice was immediately prepared. But, when compared to the rice eaten in j.a.pan, it’s huge.
This is the difference!?
No, I can endure this. Even if it’s huge, the rice is innocent!
By the way, it seems it was 20 silvers for ten kilograms.
It’s strange how it feels very cheap after hearing the price of the tea.
Ah, the rice is brown rice.
I purchased it all in one go, since I naturally couldn’t carry it home, I requested it to be delivered to my house.
Even though my recent earnings has been completely used up, I’m satisfied.
Now then, next is the magic tool dealer-san. Let us make haste.
I went to the magic tool dealer-san who took care of me in my previous life.
Because that place has magic tools that don’t sell well made as a hobby, interesting magic tools will occasionally appear.7!
By the way, about the freezer… they sold it.
However, it had a concept of cooling and storing, but it seems there wasn’t a concept of freezing and storing.
In other words, it appears it’s one of the hobby magic tools that doesn’t sell.
I immediately purchased it. Though the shopkeeper-like person looked at me with strange eyes. Wasn’t it you who made it…?
By the way, since it happened to completely be a hobby, the price was 5 silvers, the price was completely dirt cheap.
Its size was around a freezer compartment of a small two-doored refrigerator.
Also, because they had an effect preservation magic tool, I purchased it.
It’s said it can preserve the condition of something placed inside this magic tool (box), it’s incredibly wonderful.
The price was a little under 15 silvers.
But if I have this, if I leave bread in the middle of leavening inside it, I can bake fresh bread anytime.
After requesting these to be delivered as well, I headed towards Garam-san’s place.
I discussed with Garam-san whether something like an ice tray could be made.
……He got angry.
However, I’m not someone who would give up from just that!
For the sake of my objective (shaved ice)!
I repeatedly explained (for around one hour) to the hateful Garam-san about the splendour of shaved ice, and the magnificence of adding ice into a beverage on a hot day and drinking it, and pleaded in order for him to somehow make it.
Whether Garam-san lost to my enthusiasm or not, he finally said ‘I’ll try make it’!
Partial dents were hammered into thin iron plate for the shape, when they were lined up, I requested to have the dents as large as possible.8!
It seems a prototype will be completed tomorrow. As expected of Garam-san, he works fast ne!
After I promised to visit tomorrow evening, I returned home.
When I returned home and prepared the leavened bread, the delivery from Sirius Firm had arrived.
For the time being, I had them carry it all to the storeroom in the bas.e.m.e.nt.
When the people from Sirius Firm left, this time there was a delivery from the magic tool dealer-san.
I received the package, then installed it at a suitable location.
Somehow, I have a feeling the magic tools in the kitchen is steadily increasing…
While the bread leavens, I use the free time to prepare the plum juice.
And then dinner preparations.
Although I’d like to have a j.a.panese meal, the rice hasn’t been polished and the little time left isn’t enough.
I’ll have to endure for today.
After what the Prince said in the morning, as expected, or should I say, as I feared…
He came right on time to eat dinner.
……Well, I also thought ‘he’d come right?’, and prepared nevertheless.