BXBX NOVEL Volume 3 Behind the Scenes 1.1
Volume 3 Behind the Scenes 1.1
Translator: Kureha
Editor: Weasalopes
_______________________________________________________________
1. Norton Sister’s (somewhat against their will) luxurious lifestyle.
The morning for Primula and Judith Norton, the trainee priestesses at the main Igreos temple started with the sweet scent of tea.
「Oh, good morning.」
「Good morning…」
It has been three days since they have been relocated to Azuma Workshop’s Darl branch. As usual, by the time they woke up, the breakfast was ready in the kitchen. Ever since they started living with Hiroshi’s party, they have never been able to wake up earlier than Haruna.
「Were you able to sleep well?」
「Yes, it was as if I was catching up with all the sleep I have lost…」
Haruna couldn’t help it but let out a laugh at Primula who really did sound refreshed. It seems that both Primula and Judith have been losing against the comfortable bed which they have been provided with.
To keep up the sisters’ reputation, the sisters did not wake up late. In fact, most people would be still asleep; apart from fishermen and other people working in a specific industry. It was that these Japanese people who happen to wake up very early.
The reason why Hiroshi’s party had early morning was simple. The other three have been influenced by Hiroshi and Haruna’s routine from when they were running a food stall back in Wulls.
「I am sorry for not being able to help this morning either…」
「There’s not much to do in the morning anyway so don’t worry about it.」
Haruna swiftly got the sisters a breakfast while talking to them. Today’s breakfast was garlic grilled rock boar sandwich. It was the stall’s main menu. The most popular dish was curry bun but other menus at the stall changed depending on the day.
At least today’s dish was something cute using rock boar. Yesterday’s dish was a soup-based dish using Wyvern’s milk and it was exotic, to say the least. At the stall, one bowl cost 1000 seneca which was expensive for a food stall. Even though the dish was limited to one bowl per person, it was sold out within half an hour of opening.
Although Wyvern milk soup was refreshingly light, it had a rich, complex flavour to it. The team managed to introduce the beauty of light and a savoury dish to people of Darl who was used to the spice-heavy dish. This was expected from a dish using high-quality ingredient which only a handful of people know how to cook.
Yet eating a high-quality dish for breakfast every day would be bad for their system. That is especially the case for the temple authorities who have been living a minimalist life.
「By the way, if we introduce soy sauce, do you think people will buy them?」
「If we manage to arrange the use for it, I think a lot of people would be interested in buying them.」
「Onee-chan, if we increase more items that we import from Farlane, don’t you think that would cause a national problem?」
Judith commented to Primula’s response with a bitter smile. Darl did not grow soybeans and even though they could make miso from wheat, it didn’t work as an ingredient for soy sauce. So, if the demands for soy sauce was to increase, they would have to import soybeans from Farlane.
「Then how about curry powder…」
「Well, I think they will sell well once people understand the amount they should be using.」
「Well, that was the same in Farlane as well.」
Not only in Darl but people who are from this universe are very careless on the amount of ingredients which they use. Precise instruments that can measure up to grams are only ever used for brewing medicine. However, looking at Hiroshi’s work, it was obvious that even those measurements weren’t precise each time. Also, the reason why normal people don’t weigh out their ingredient and why Hiroshi’s group doesn’t weigh them had a completely different reason behind it.
The reason why normal chiefs don’t weigh out the ingredient is that they don’t feel the need to weigh them out. However, Hiroshi’s group has not only learnt to measure the ingredients with their eyes, but they also adjust its amount depending on the temperature, humidity, season and the state of magic the ingredient had while harvesting. So, the amount of each ingredient used in their dishes was different each time.
「So, do you think this dish will sell well in Darl?」
Haruna questioned.
「Personally, I think they will be sold out very fast.」
Judith responded honestly.
「At this point, as long as you don’t sell something pretty strange looking, I think they will all be sold out before noon.」
Primula laid out her opinions based on all the food which she has tasted at the Workshop.
「I see, then I guess it would be fine?」
Hearing the sister’s opinion, Haruna confirmed the potential sales for the garlic grilled rock boar and left her seat. She has finished eating her breakfast a long time ago.
「Judith, do you think we can go back to our original diet?」
「How about you, onee-chan?」
Although it hasn’t even been one week, the Norton sister’s eating habit was already starting to change. The sisters knew that they could not let this lifestyle overtake them. However, the Japanese people continued to treat them as guests and the two ended up spending another luxurious morning.
==
Midday on the same day.
「We’re sold out!」
As usual, all the dishes were sold out. The customers who came in late dispersed to nearby stalls with regretful face after Haruna’s announcement. Hiroshi’s food stall has been keeping their stocks low so they wouldn’t cause any negative impact towards other stalls in the area. Even then, their sales were consistent. Depending on the dish, some of them were so expensive you would only order one from a luxurious restaurant. However, it seemed that the higher the price, the faster they were sold out.
Some of their customers were chiefs. However, the party members were not worried since although curry buns and fish and chips would be manageable, they would not be able to copy Takoyaki and fish cakes which requires special equipment. On top of that, their daily menus used ingredients which only a skilled adventurer could obtain it. And most other ingredients weren’t something which normal chiefs would be able to cook like rock boar and wyverns. So, most of the time, the chiefs were more interested in how the Japanese people were arranging the food rather than copying the dishes.
「Your dishes were delicious as usual.」
A beautiful woman who visits the food stall every day came up to them with a satisfied look. Every day, she shows up at the time where she would be able to buy all the dishes, eat every last crumb that’s left on the plate, observe how the food stall is doing then stays around until they start busking. Sometimes she wonders off after all the dishes are sold out but almost always, she was back for busking and sorts out the queue and so on, on her own will.
「I shall prepare for the busking. So how about you all go and get something to eat.」
Bowing at the woman who always helps them on her own will, they headed off to stalls in the area to research the food in Darl and also to disperse the income they made. As their current lifestyle does not cost them a lot, if they don’t use it up some of their income, the money which they have in their hands would save up to a dangerous amount.
「Oh, this one is pretty good!」
「It’s a stewed dish but you barely notice the alcohol…」
「I think there’s too much spice on this one…」
As they continued to chat away, they finished one dish after another. Although they thought that the food they usually eat is better, or his wife back in their original universe cooked better food, they never said it out loud. Although they gave their personal opinion the dish, they never insulted the overall dish and ate everything that was on the plate.
「Shall we start the busking now?」
「Sure,」
As the beautiful woman asked, Haruna stepped outside and bowed. The others watched her sing while cleaning up.
「… Although it is your job, I feel like we have been given a very luxurious lifestyle…」
「Maybe just think of it as a perquisite?」
「I am unsure if we are allowed to spend such a laid back time even while we are working…」
「Well I don’t think just being busy is part of work.」
As Judith and Primula listened to Tatsuya’s failed attempt at comforting them, Mio gave the sisters chai which she has made for them. As Mio finished giving out chai to everyone, Haruna’s prologue’s end song started.
Like that, the Norton sisters spent another relaxed working day and spent the rest of the noon listening to beautiful songs.
==
At night.
「…Life here is really ruining the proper life routine…」
「Onee-chan, I think I gained weight after we moved in here…」
In their room which was dimly lit by a magic-powered lamp, they blurted out their new most used phrase after they had a bath. As they felt uncomfortable for just being treated as guests, they have also been cleaning up equipment around the workshop, preparing bathtubs, and other chores which they could help with. After all, those were jobs which the sisters have been doing every single day back at the temple. Apart from the chores, they have also been continuing with their religious practices. However, they admit that their routine was less strict now.
The over-convenient lifestyle which the environment of this workshop creates was the reason behind it. The building was designed to maintain the optimal temperature at all times. All the furniture at the workshop were high-quality. The chairs were designed so you could naturally sit in a comfortable position. So, even if they were to work for long hours, they did not get tired. On top of that, they were able to take a bath every day and the food which they prepared were always delicious. Even the royals of this nation would struggle to take a bath every single day. In another word, the sisters were having a lifestyle which was more luxurious than the royals.
That is problematic enough, but the workshop also had a massage chair and a washlet. The most surprising part for the sisters was that for the Japanese people, although not every household had them, none of these items wasn’t a rarity. And the sisters could tell that the party members could not understand why the sisters were so surprised. And that again made them realise the difference in the lifestyle which they were raised in.
「The saying ‘the devil’s whisper will overtake any good intentions’ seems to be true… 」
「Onee-chan, people at this workshop are doing this from a place of good intention…」
「That is why the nature of this situation feels even worse…」
Primula checked her hair and skin in the mirror as she said that. Along with the bath, ever since they started to using shampoos and soaps, the condition of her hair and skin has gotten better. Their new diet could also have an impact. But considering how fast the effects were, their new routine was most likely the cause. So, even though they weren’t using any cosmetic items, from Primula’s perspective, Judith was much better looking than before. As they have been living in the same condition, Primula thought that the same effect must have applied to her as well.
Even before the sisters moved into the workshop, they were considered good looking. So, when the sisters started using high-quality soaps and shampoos, they would be looking like a goddess. Even though it’s not their fault, if they go back to their original lifestyle, they were guaranteed to be told that they have become very plain. That was the level of change which they have gone through in this short period.
「We moved in to return our favour but I feel like we’re still been treated by them…」
「Onee-chan maybe this is our punishment for pushing our request to them…」
As they were not able to enjoy the lifestyle which everyone dreams of, Judith made a regretful comment and Primula added to her sister’s comment.
「Judith, tomorrow, let’s wake up earlier than anyone in this workshop and do all the work we can in the morning!」
「Yes, onee-chan! Let’s do our best!」
They thought that making regretful comments weren’t doing them any favour. So, the Norton sisters set their mind to improve their position. However, their extremely comfortable bed was not letting the sisters wake up until their usual time.