CH 16

Episode 3-6 I was looking forward to a flavorful, simmering pot-au-feu on the second day.

All the farmers had gone home, and the adventurers and merchants had stopped coming to the store.

By lunchtime, the Aion Mall Otherworld Store had no customers.

“We get a good amount of people in the morning. …… Okay, I think it’s time to go.”

A section of the food court that is not open to the public.

I was cooking lunch in a rented restaurant kitchen.

I was raised by my grandma and grandpa since my parents died when I was still a small child.

They were full-time farmers and were busy every day, so I was always in charge of cooking dinner.

During weekends and long vacations, I was even in charge of cooking lunch.

Thanks to this, I did not have to worry about food after my grandma died when I was in high school and my grandpa died when I was in college.

Back then, I didn’t have much time to worry about that.

“The food was not so bad. It’s not that bad. If the taste soaks in a little more, it will be a little tastier.”

Even if there are no visitors now, you never know when a customer will come.

I can’t make a dish that takes a lot of time and effort.

What I made was a pot-au-feu.

It would be a waste to throw away vegetables that have become stale and unsold.

The fresh produce department is the only one that is open at the Aion Mall Otherworld Store, or rather, the only vegetables that are for sale.

With only 80 visitors in two days, it was obvious that they would eventually be disposed of.

Ever since I came to the other world, my diet has inevitably centered on vegetables.

I don’t get the discarded food, it’s calculated and deducted from my paycheck every day.

“It’s not so much that I’m a self-destructive business. I mean, I have to buy food. I’m not undead, I can’t live without food!”

I turn off the magic stone stove and prepare a pot-au-feu.

I warmed up the bread from this world that Chloe had bought for me.

“Naoya-san, did you invite the undead?”

“It smells kind of good! Naoya?”

“…….I’m hungry.”

The three employees who appeared in front of me.

Anna-san, Chloe, and Barbera peeked out at me at the entrance to the food court.

“You shouldn’t all be here, no matter how many no-guests we have. We’ll take turns taking breaks!”

“Don’t worry, Naoya, these girls will let you know if there are any visitors.”

Anna-san said and pointed her hand diagonally downwards.

A blurry figure emerges from the floor with only the upper half of its body.

She turns to me and bows her head.

“Oh I see, that’s convenient! Ha, I’ve been greeted by a ghost.”

“More importantly, Naoya! What’s that smell?”

“……. meal?”

“It’s food, but it’s my lunch!”

The three of them walked up behind me at the counter and peeked at my lunch.

The first person to swallow a gulp of drool is Chloe. The image of a graceful and elegant elf!

Barbera’s stomach growls. I knew you were a dragon, you seem to be a glutton for food! Hurrah!

Anna just looked at the pot-au-feu with a curious smile.

“I made more, so you guys want to try some too?”

“Are you sure, Naoya! Thank you, that’s my manager! I can’t believe I’m getting to eat a dish from a native Japanese!”

“Only at times like this is the manager so blatant.”

“Thank you very much, Naoya. I’ll help you serve the food.”

“….. Gratitude.”

“Ahh, sure, alright. Sigh, the second day’s pot-au-feu, which was soaked in flavor and boiled down, was something I was looking forward to.”

Unfortunately, it can’t be helped.

With such high expectations, I can’t say, “No, I won’t let you eat it.”

This is what they call ” food without food”. Unless you are an employee of one of the tenant restaurants, there is no such thing at Aion. It’s just an employee bonus.

“Delicious! This is delicious Naoya! What is this? How can it be so delicious with so little meat in it?”

“No, you’re an elf. Don’t you prefer vegetables? Only vegetables are sold in Aion right now.”

” It tastes good, Naoya-san! The golden, clear soup has a deep flavor that enhances the texture and sweetness of the quickly cooked vegetables! It is …… like a soup that gently soaks into your intestines and brings you back to life.”

“Anna-san, is that an undead joke? It’s not coming back to life! Are you waiting for me to comment on it? Are you actually a total clumsy* too, Anna-san?” (He said ponkotsu here)

“…… second.”

“Ah, sorry, no more refills. I’ll make you another one. I’ll make you another.”

“…… promise.”

The pot-au-feu was a hit, even though it tasted neither good nor bad to me.

It was just leftover vegetables with bacon and consommé.

Oh, I also bought the bacon and consommé ingredients.

They were in the baggage that was loaded when I arrived and not for sale to the market, but I was authorized by the store manager to do so.

No problem, I took it out of my paycheck without any discount, and booked it as a sale!

“This is just pot-au-feu, and it’s not even fully cooked, but it’s been so well received. What do you guys usually eat?”

“Meat! I haven’t eaten vegetable dishes in a long time!”

“I see a hideous elf. You should eat vegetables. Did you at least taste the vegetables for sale at least once?　Why did you look away?”

“I’m just glad the skeleton squad gathered all the wild plants, mushrooms, and game they hunted…”

“I’m glad you’re sane, Anna-san. Could you share some with me sometime? I know it’s not much to sell, but I’m getting tired of the same vegetables.”

“That’s fine,……, I don’t mind eating them, but I’m afraid Naoya won’t be safe,…….”

“I see… you are indeed undead and can handle the poison! No need to share!”

“Rabbit ……?”

“Finally, a decent answer! I’m interested in rabbits because I don’t get a chance to eat them in Japan. How is it eaten here?”

“As it is  ……?”

“Yup, it’s not right! Is it raw or uncooked? As expected of a dragon!”

These guys are no good.

My thoughts went out of my head.

Even though only a portion of the store is open, only vegetables are sold, but the employees of Aion Mall’s Otherworldly Store, which sells fresh food, can’t be fed this kind of diet.

I think the reason why my pot-au-feu is getting rave reviews is that these three people just don’t eat anything decent.

“Aaahhh! That’s not helpful at all! Let’s go to the city! I have to go to a city in another world and check things out!”

But even if the pot-au-feu is well received by people from other worlds and consommé ingredients and bacon become popular, they will soon run out of stock.

The unit price is low, and even if all the inventory were sold, sales would be insignificant.

The fact that we can only connect with Japan once every six months and can’t even place an order is still a pain.