SC1 13.2 – Second Order

Two days had passed since I delivered soy sauce oyster noodle. The activity in the hut was pretty much like any other day. After accompanying Yunno and Yui study as Sanno, I left the hut and took my time to sell some harvests to Butcher Jin before returning as Warrior Deitoro.

With casual steps I walked across the bamboo forest. Then, the hut entered my vision and I was slightly taken back as in the dinning hut, I saw Minami and her bodyguard sat with Kato, Yunno, and Yui.

Minami’s bodyguard had calm expression and disposition as usual, while Kato and the rest cheerfully chatted and giggled, and happily enjoyed the ice lemon tea and peanut butter cookies that I made in my spare time.

In the trip to Toba Mie, Yunno and Yui had told Minami the exact location of our hut, so it was not surprising if Minami and her bodyguard could find it. However, their visit was only one thing. They wanted to put second order for soy sauce oyster noodles, or fatal problem had occurred because of this dish.

Wasting no time I increased my pace. After entering the hut’s yard, I went straight to the dinning hut and Kato immediately stood up and welcomed me.

“Dear,” Kato said after a smile. “Warrior Konno and Minami come to put second order.”

“I see,” I said as I took a deep breath full of relief.

Minami nodded and added, “It’s also an urgent one.”

“An urgent one?” I said as I sat next to Kato.

“Fragrant Flavor run out of soy sauce oyster noodles yesterday,” Minami explained.

“Do you mean all soy sauce oyster noodles from first order have been sold out?”

After nodding her head a few times Minami firmly replied, “Yes.”

“I have 400 hundreds bowl right now,” I calmly said.

Minami’s eyes instantly widened. Then, she put her hand in her chest while taking a deep breath. “Thank God, last night I couldn’t sleep because I was too worried it would took a few days before Fragrant Flavor received second batch of soy sauce oyster noodles.”

I bet Yunno and Yui had told Minami that I had spare soy sauce oyster noodles. That’s why she could happily chat and giggle a moment ago, but I said nothing and jumped in straight to the main topic.

“You can buy it all,” I calmly said. “But, can you limit the sales at 50 bowls per day?”

“Why do we have to limit its daily sales?” Minami asked as big question mark popped-up in her forehead. “Warrior Deitoro, are you planning to sell soy sauce oyster noodles to other eatery?”

“No,” I firmly replied. “I don’t have such plan currently.”

After a moment of pause Minami asked me in a serious tone, “Warrior Deitoro, can we have a contract that will tie the sales of soy sauce oyster noodle to Sotora, for 2-3 years at least? I assure you, you will receive a proper benefit in return.”

“I don’t mind if Sotora want to control the sales of soy sauce oyster noodles. I rely on Sotora to get lot of ingredient after all,” I calmly expressed my stand. “However, like I said, can you limit the daily sales at 50 bowls?”

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“I can talk it to Owner Tokuma, but I need the reason behind this limitation.”

I nodded and explained, “I want to add other dishes, and not focus only on one dish.”

“What other dish do you want to try, and how long before it’s ready for sales?” Minami curiously asked.

“Before I answer, may I know the criteria for low-tier dish in Fragrant Flavor?”

“It’s very simple,” Minami said. “It has to be a complete meal in one bowl or plate, and the price you offer doesn’t exceed 3.50 monn.”

After a smile I said, “Coincidently, last night I have made dishes that perfectly matched that criteria. It’s called rice-bowl dish, originated from a country called Japan.”

“May I check it?” Minami eagerly asked.

Wasting no time I put several bowl dish on the table one by one, “Egg and tomato bowl, sardine and tomato bowl, mapo tofu bowl, kung pao chicken bowl, and chicken and broccoli bowl.”

“Adding five dishes in one go,” Minami happily said. “It seems you have planned it all this time.”

“Sort of,” I openly admitted.

After a smile Minami then observed the dish one by one. I could clearly see she swallowed hard a few times, but she didn’t try the dish.

“Don’t hesitate, you can try it,” I happily gave Minami encouragement.

“Warrior Deitoro, believe me, I want to,” After heaving a deep sigh Minami added, “But Owner Tokuma have asked me, if you offer new dish, he want to examine it personally.”

“I see.”

Minami then asked Warrior Konno to store the rice-bowl dishes in his spatial ring. After that, we did the hand over for soy sauce oyster noodles.

“Minami, can you and Warrior Konno stay for a lunch?” I asked after counting the payment for soy sauce oyster noodles. “I want to make some nice delicacy for you.”

“We can’t,” Minami firmly replied but I could see a flash of regret in her eyes. “We have to bring back soy sauce oyster noodles as soon as possible.”

“I see.”

“Warrior Deitoro,” Minami hesitantly said before pointed her finger at peanut butter cookie on the table. “Can I bring a few pieces of this peanut butter cookie as a sample?”

“Does Fragrant Flavor also sell cookies?”

Minami gave me a nod. “Yeah, along with bread and cake.”

“Well, for now I don’t plan to enter pastry and cake industry,” I firmly said. “However, once Sotora has stable supply of dairy product, I will think about it.”

“I’ll be waiting. This peanut butter cookie is superb. Owner Tokuma will jubilant to work with a good cook pastry that lives nearby,” Minami happily said.

After a smile I took out a peanut butter cookies and walnut butter cookies from my spatial storage. Both cookies were neatly wrapped in baking sheet, weighing 0.5 kg each. Then, I put it before Minami

“Right now I don’t sell it yet, but I can give it to you as a gift.”

“Really?” Surprise was visible all over Minami’s face, before it was replaced by shred of shyness. Then, she firmly said, “Warrior Deitoro, you don’t have to give me such expensive gift.”

“I know, but I insist.”

Without many words I shifted both cookie packs to Warrior Konno, and after slightly nodded to me he put the cookie packs to his spatial ring.

“Warrior Deitoro, thank you so much,” Minami sincerely said. “Other than my late mother and Owner Tokuma, this is the first time someone give me a gift.”

“I can’t entertain you with a nice lunch, so at least I should give you something nice to enjoy.”

“I see,” Minami happily said.

Deep down in my heart, I truly hoped Minami can stay and talk more with Yunno and Yui. When they stayed in Sendai, the two almost had no chance to talk with other kids. While after staying in the hut, their chance to talk with other kids became thinner.

Maybe, that’s the reason why Yunno and Yui were very excited when Minami told them the story about Kamakura, and a moment ago their face was brimming with happiness when they had a chat with Minami.

Unfortunately, Minami was very strict with her priority, and I couldn’t just coax her to follow my agenda. And so, I could only let Minami return to Rokube once she cleared the purposed of her visit.

Kato, Yunno, and Yui walked Minami and Warrior Konno until they reached the ridgeline, and then watched them descended. After that the three went back to the hut, and went straight to dining hut where I enjoyed a cup of warm lemon tea.

As soon as she sat in front of me Yunno immediately gave me an expectant look, and then asked, “Uncle Deitoro, will you teach us how to make rice-dish bowl?”

“I will.” I calmly said. “But for now, you have to put your focus to master soy sauce oyster noodles.”

“Mhm,” Yunno firmly nodded. “We will work very hard to master soy sauce oyster noodle.”

“Yeah, we will,” Yui firmly added.

“I know you will,” I happily replied.

“Dear, do you need my help?” Kato asked while giving me an expectant gaze.

“Nope,” I flatly replied.

“I see.”

Kato pressed her lips while giving me a sharp glare, but I ignored it. After finishing my lemon tea, I took Yunno and Yui to the kitchen in the balcony and started the kitchen work as usual.

*****