Chapter 64

Chapter 64 – Fiji Company

　　The largest or second largest commercial company in the Guardia country・Fiji Company .

　　It’s a company that deals in food and monster materials, managing many shops and of course, they also deal with the goods found in dungeons .

　　The main store of the Fiji Company is in the royal capital, but they have many branch stores, and one of those is also located in Bailey .

　　「My my, Risner-sama . To think Risner-sama himself would visit our store directly! What may I help you with today?」

　　After leaving from the morning market’s plaza, we have visited the Fiji Company together with Cedric-san and others . Thereupon, we had no appointment, but the branch manager immediately appeared at the storefront .

　　It seems like there was an employee who has recognized Cedric-san and immediately went to inform the branch manager .

　　「I’m sorry for the sudden visit . Actually, I’m looking for an article called soy sauce, I wonder if you are dealing with soy sauce here?」

　　「Oya? Risner-sama desires the soy sauce too? Of course, we are dealing with them in this store」

　　It appears that the Fiji Company is dealing with soy sauce .

　　Moreover, from the branch manager’s words, there were other customers in search of soy sauce .

　　「That’s relief . As expected, the demand has increased, hasn’t it?」

　　「Yes . It has suddenly increased in the last two-three days . It apparently has something to do with the harbor’s street stall」

　　「Oya, you know of it? As expected of this store’s manager, you are well-informed」

　　「Information is the life force of bussiness」

　　「I’m ashamed to say, but I have not known of this flavoring until just recently」

　　「No, no, soy sauce is a commodity that finally came to light just recently, it can be said that it’s only natural that Risner-sama didn’t know of it . Me too, in spite of managing a store, I didn’t give it much heed」

　　Cedric-san and the branch manager are smiling on the surface, but it has some tingling feeling . Furthermore, the「Fufufu」and「Hahaha~」I hear at the end of their sentences…… it must be just my imagination .

　　「So, Risner-sama . Have you visited our store to purchase the soy sauce today then?」

　　「That too, but there’s something else . Do you have time?」

　　「Of course . Ah, I’m sorry for making you talk while standing at such place . I will immediately guide you to the reception office」

　　「Yes, thank you very much . ――Then, Tak.u.mi-san」

　　Because I was completely absorbed in thoughts, I got startled when Cedric-san called to me .

　　「I will talk with the branch manager for a while, so, I’m sorry but――」

　　「Yes, we will look around at the products they have here, please don’t mind us!」

　　Because I wanted to be excused from going to the reception office, I told Cedric-san that we will wait here before he could say anything .

　　「Is that so, I understand . Ah, I’m sorry but can I leave my sons with you?」

　　「Yes, don’t worry」

　　「Then, thank you」

　　Saying such, Cedric-san followed after the branch manager to the reception office inside the store .

　　Thus, while the two are talking, we have decided to have other employees guide us around the store .

　　The place we were guided to was not shelves of goods for ordinary customers, but a warehouse with all kinds of goods .

　　Because there are many goods that are not displayed at the storefront, normal customers won’t be guided here unless they are special customers . Because feudal lord’s companions are special, I have gratefully let them guide me to the ingredient section .

　　I mean, if they have goods that they are not displaying at the storefront, they might have ingredients that I have not laid my hands on yet, right?

　　It turned into the feudal lord’s sons accompanying me while I do as I please, but because the two were interested, I decided to do what I wanted to .

　　That being the case, it’s the three of us, me, Allen, Elen, plus Theodore-kun, Latis-kun, and Joshua-san, the six of us in total . The other two guards went together with Cedric-san .

　　「「Ah! Anko~」」

　　Immediately after being shown to the warehouse, Allen and Elena found something they recognized, but――

　　「Allen, Elena . Those are red beans」

　　「「Red beans~?」」

　　「That’s right . Anko is sweetened boiled red beans」

　　Allen and Elena seem to think that the red beans I used to make the bean paste are called「Anko」 .

　　「「Red beans~ Swe~et one is anko~」」

　　「Un, that’s right」

　　It’s not like all red beans made sweet are anko, but…… they are not wrong, oh well .

　　「Tak.u.mi-san, what is「Anko」?」

　　Theodore-kun who heard the exchange of the children and me became curious about what anko is .

　　「Umm…… have you heard from Otousan about Anpan?」

　　「Ah! I heard about that . It’s one of the new bread that recently became popular, isn’t it! I heard that Cream bread and Anpan can be eaten only in the town of s.h.i.+rin where Ojiisama is!」

　　「Ah~…… yes, that’s it . It’s the filling of that Anpan . It’s made from these red beans」

　　「Eh, is that so!?」

　　「This will become Anpan?」

　　Theodore-kun and Latis-kun are listening while surprised .

　　Thus, Joshua-san and the employee who guided us looked at us with surprised expressions .

　　「Tak.u.mi-san, do you mind talking over here?」

　　「N?」

　　N? Is there a…… problem?

　　While doubting, Joshua-san glanced at the employee .

　　「Ah~……」

　　I finally noticed . Did I expose the method of making anko in front of the employee?

　　I don’t mind if the way to make anko spreads, but I don’t know how the Lauren House and Risner House would feel about that……

　　「Umm, from now on, I’m supposed to teach how to make Anpan to a shop recommended by Cedric-san . And, if the store starts selling Anpan, they will have to purchase red beans on a regular basis……」

　　「Let’s sign the contract of purchase!」

　　Joshua-san begins to speak with the employee at his side .

　　Perhaps, will the content of the contract include the incorporation of secrecy?

　　Joshua-san, I’m sorry for increasing your work, but I will leave it to you .

　　「Theodore-kun, I’m sorry . If I say carelessly, even more, I will make troubles for your Otousan, so I will answer what you want to know once we return, okay?」

　　「Yes, thank you very much . But, I will be able to eat Anpan, won’t I! I’m looking forward to it!」

　　「I’m looking forward to it as well!」

　　「Is that so~ Then, I will make them with my best effort, so look forward to it」

　　「「Yes!」」

　　While Joshua-san and others were talking, I looked at the things around .

　　This place is apparently a place where all beans are stored . In addition to the red beans, black beans and almost the same as soybean「Round beans」, there was something called 「Flower Beans」 that I have never seen .

　　「Ah, this is……」

　　There, I found familiar beans in a bottle .

　　It’s a black oval of the size of the thumbnail with a cracky dent . It’s slightly larger than those I know of, but the delicate smell is familiar .

　　「Oya, does Tak.u.mi-san know of Kahee Beans?」

　　「Kahe~ beans?」

　　The employee who seems to have finished talking with Joshua-san taught me the name of the beans I was looking at .

　　Kahe~…… Ahh, Kahee, is it? In Syl’s knowledge, the beans themselves are not suitable for edible use, but the extracted liquids are drinkable . That means, no need to guess, this are coffee beans, aren’t they!

　　「It’s my first time seeing the real thing . These are already roasted, aren’t they? Are these used with water or hot water to make a black colored beverage?」

　　「Yeah, that’s right」

　　It’s coffee! Coffee!

　　I found coffee!

　　「These Kahee Beans are Risner’s domestic production luxury item, so our country is not that familiar with them yet, but they are popular among n.o.bles . I’m surprised Tak.u.mi-san was aware」

　　「Well, I have a moderate knowledge about foodstuff……」

　　It’s all knowledge imprinted by Syl, though .

　　「Is it possible to sell me these Kahee Beans?」

　　「We surely can, but the price is a little expensive?」

　　「That’s fine . By the way, do you have a tool that handles these beans here?」

　　「Yes, we have . Shall I prepare that as well?」

　　「Yes please」

　　Yos.h.!.+ If they have a grinder, it looks like I will be able to make a coffee soon♪

　　Coffee after so long . Let’s make it immediately after we return!

　　While cheerful that I obtained coffee beans, Cedric-san and the branch manager who seemed to finish discussing returned .

　　「Thank you for waiting」

　　「No, it wasn’t that――…… N?」

　　「Tak.u.mi-san, what’s wrong?」

　　I caught the sight of the mark on the doc.u.ments Cedric-san held . That’s probably the crest of this store .

　　Looking carefully, isn’t it drawn everywhere including the shelves and bags?

　　Then, I remembered . That I have seen a branch of this store before, or not…… a different place . Where did I……?

　　N~…… ah! That thing! I remember .

　　The sunken s.h.i.+p in the Mermaid Village! The marks drawn on the body and flags of the s.h.i.+p should be the same as this mark!