19) Subaru's restaurant

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{3rd Pov}

A full month had passed since Subaru had arrived in the bustling region of Kararagi, and after dedicating countless hours of effort and meticulous planning, he had finally begun to establish his own company.

From the very start, he had been accompanied by Halibel, who assisted him in navigating the often complicated bureaucracy of the Merchant’s Trade Union.

Thanks to his guidance and his persistence, he was able to get his company officially registered in record time, avoiding unnecessary delays that often plagued newcomers trying to start a business.

He chose to name his company Pleiades, a decision that carried multiple layers of meaning.

On the surface, it directly related to his own name—Subaru being the literal Japanese translation of Pleiades.

Yet the name held far more significance beyond mere coincidence. Subaru knew that by naming his company after such a high-profile symbol, it would inevitably draw attention.

The Pleiades Watchtower was famed for literally sealing the Witch of Envy and had deep historical connections to the legendary three great heroes.

Choosing such a name might be seen by some as audacious, even arrogant, as if he were comparing himself to that illustrious watchtower or placing himself on a pedestal alongside the legendary heroes.

But Subaru paid no mind to the potential disdain or jealousy of others.

In fact, he took pride in the name.

Pleiades was a meaningful symbol given to him by his parents, representing the seven sister stars of a constellation, a mark of destiny and hope.

More importantly, in a literal sense, Natsuki Subaru was acting even more like the Pleiades Watchtower than the actual historical landmark itself.

At that moment, he was the one exerting control over the Witch of Envy, protecting the world in a way no mere structure could.

Fully aware of this responsibility and embracing the pride that came with it, he boldly and confidently named his company after the constellation, fully committing to the symbolism and the legacy it represented.

The name Pleiades had yet another advantage, one that Subaru knew could not be overlooked: publicity.

Simply by hearing that a company and its products were named after one of the world’s most legendary and revered structures, people would be naturally drawn to investigate.

Curiosity alone would drive them to approach his company, wondering who could be so bold as to give their business such an audacious name, and what kind of products would be offered that could justify such overwhelming self-confidence.

Subaru understood that the audacity behind the name would spark both intrigue and respect, creating a magnetic pull that few other names could achieve.

He was well aware that this alone would give his fledgling company a significant edge in attracting attention and building a reputation.

And yes, Subaru fully intended to exploit this advantage to its fullest potential; he knew he was going to have an absolute field day with the impact this name would generate.

The next major step for him was assembling a capable workforce.

He had already arranged a group of workers recruited from the slums, individuals he had personally trained and guided over the course of two weeks.

Their task was to construct the ovens he had designed for his company, an essential part of his production line.

Now, expecting these workers to learn how to forge ovens entirely from scratch, including mastering the intricacies of metalworking, shaping, welding, and assembling complex parts, was entirely unrealistic in such a short span of time.

The skill set required to build a complete oven from raw materials simply could not be instilled in just a fortnight.

Subaru, being pragmatic and strategic, devised a solution.

Rather than attempting the impossible, he focused on training the workers to construct individual parts of the ovens, segment by segment, until each person became proficient in a specific component.

To facilitate this, he enlisted the assistance of experienced blacksmiths that Halibel personally knew.

These skilled craftsmen supervised and guided the workers, ensuring their learning was structured and efficient.

By the eighth day, the workers were already capable of producing a fully functional oven, though Subaru, emphasizing thorough experience and mastery over speed, did not consider their formal training complete until the fourteenth day.

This extra time allowed them to refine their skills, gain confidence, and internalize every process involved in the creation of his ovens, ensuring quality and consistency in the final product.

Subaru then arranged a dedicated location within the slums to serve as the manufacturing hub for his ovens, ensuring that the production of his devices could continue efficiently and on a large scale.

After securing the manufacturing space, he moved to the city center of Banan, where he rented a three-story building of decent size, constructed with reinforced wood and stone, providing both stability and durability.

This building was intended to serve as the foundation for his upcoming restaurant, a place where he could demonstrate the practical superiority of his ovens to the general public.

By this point, Subaru had accumulated over one thousand fully constructed ovens in stock, each carefully made to meet his standards.

The total expenditure for these ovens alone amounted to more than 1.5 Royal Gold Coins, a significant investment.

In addition, he had spent another 4 Royal Gold Coins on the extensive training of the slum workers, the establishment and outfitting of the manufacturing hub, and acquiring all necessary tools and equipment required for production.

He had also rented the central city building for a total of 1 Royal Gold Coin, covering a period of six months.

When tallying all of his expenditures—construction, training, tools, and rent—Subaru’s total spending came to approximately 6.5 Royal Gold Coins.

However, he had also purchased additional essential ingredients and materials, including the components necessary for producing mayonnaise, which pushed his overall expenses up to roughly 7 Royal Gold Coins.

Despite this significant outlay, Subaru still retained about 18 Royal Gold Coins in his bank, giving him a healthy financial buffer for future needs and unexpected costs.

Now, with all of the preparation complete and everything in place, Subaru was finally ready to officially launch his business.

Today marked the first day he would begin cooking and preparing various food items using his meticulously crafted ovens, with the goal of clearly demonstrating to the population how vastly superior his ovens were compared to the rudimentary mud stoves and makeshift cooking methods commonly used by the local residents.

It was a critical first step in proving the value of his products while simultaneously establishing the reputation of his company.

He had also hired several workers from the slums, all of them female, and personally ensured that they received specialized training tailored to the specific dishes he planned to introduce to this world.

Each of them had undergone rigorous preparation so that the meals they served would meet his high standards and showcase the quality and versatility of his ovens.

Meanwhile, Mia would be stationed at the restaurant as the primary guard.

Given her impressive combat abilities and her own strong insistence on having a position close to him, Subaru agreed, confident that her presence would ensure both the safety of the restaurant and the protection of his staff.

At the same time, Karl was diligently overseeing the operations of the factory in the slums that Subaru had established.

He had already finalized the wages and benefits for all of his workers, ensuring that everyone was properly compensated for their labor.

Each worker received a monthly pay of 2 silver coins, in addition to being provided with three meals per day.

While this salary was relatively modest compared to the average wage of 1 High Karagian Shells, Subaru had deliberately set it at this level after careful consideration.

He understood that the combination of steady wages and guaranteed meals three times daily was sufficient to motivate the workers while keeping the costs sustainable for the nascent company.

He had also made the decision regarding the pricing of his ovens: standard models would be sold at 2 silver coins per piece, while the more advanced copper ovens would be priced at 3 silver coins each.

To ensure brand recognition and authenticity, Subaru had meticulously designed a unique Pleiades logo for his products.

This logo was crafted from a carefully controlled mixture of zinc and copper, combined with specific trace impurities, resulting in a very distinct color and shine that could not easily be replicated.

This careful attention to detail was deliberate, as Subaru wanted to prevent any counterfeit products from entering the market.

Each oven bore the etched logo, which shimmered with a unique brilliance, and the formula for creating it was kept extremely secret.

All of the workers involved in the metal mixing process had been explicitly warned: they would be handsomely compensated with higher salaries for their work, but absolute secrecy was non-negotiable.

Should anyone ever reveal the formula to outsiders, Subaru personally vowed to hunt them down, along with any competitors who dared attempt imitation.

Subaru had no intention of tolerating deception, betrayal, or disloyalty from anyone.

He made it clear in his mind that forgiveness for such acts was not an option.

Anyone who attempted to double-cross him would face his wrath without mercy, and the consequences would be so severe that it would serve as an unmistakable warning to everyone: betraying him would come at the cost of one’s life, and there would be no leniency under any circumstances.

At the break of early morning, Subaru officially opened his restaurant, proudly displaying the name Pleiades Restaurant on a bold wooden sign hanging at the entrance of the building.

The name itself seemed to draw attention, and within just ten minutes of opening, a few curious customers had already begun to enter.

Among the first to arrive were three demi-humans—one Lizardman and two Dogmen—who cautiously stepped inside, their eyes scanning the interior.

They immediately noticed Mia standing near the entrance, who greeted them exactly as Subaru had instructed, bowing politely.

“~Nyaah, welcome to the Pleiades Restaurant,” she said with a courteous bow, her voice carrying a polite and friendly tone that made the newcomers feel slightly more at ease.

Subaru, noticing the early patrons, quickly moved to the counter with his usual composed confidence.

“Please, have your seats and make yourselves comfortable,” he said warmly.

“Feel free to explore our exclusive dishes! You can look over the menu and choose whatever you wish to try. Every dish has been prepared with care to ensure the best quality, so I hope you enjoy your experience here!”

“Well, we just wanted to see who would be so bold as to name their restaurant after the Pleiades Watchtower,” the Lizardman said, his voice sliding with a subtle hiss, carrying both curiosity and suspicion.

“What do you think? Should we try it?” the second demi-human asked, tilting his head as he studied the interior.

The third one, with a slight nod, added, “Well, I suppose I’ll see what kind of new dishes they ‘have’ here.”

With that, the three of them approached the menu hanging on the wall, their eyes scanning it carefully.

“Let’s try something cheap,” suggested the Lizardman cautiously, “that way we won’t waste our money if it turns out to be bad.”

As they read the prices, their expressions shifted.

Everything seemed noticeably more expensive than they were accustomed to; even the standard soups that most restaurants sold were priced at around forty percent higher than usual.

“This is daylight robbery!” the second demi-human exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.

However, the third one’s eyes lit up with curiosity, an unmistakable spark of interest gleaming within them.

“They’re asking for so much money… maybe there’s something special about their food, no?” he suggested thoughtfully.

After a brief discussion, the three finally decided to take the risk and ordered the cheapest item on the menu—the mayonnaise sandwich—a dish none of them had ever heard of before, and whose taste they could only imagine.

In fact, the menu featured a variety of sandwiches, ranging from simple vegetable sandwiches to hearty meat-filled options, each carefully crafted to appeal to different tastes.

After a moment of consideration, the three demi-humans ultimately decided on the vegetable sandwich, as it was the cheapest choice available.

After a few minutes of waiting, a female waiter named Sumihine approached their table carrying the order.

She bent slightly at the waist and said politely, “Thank you very much for your order. Please enjoy your vegetable mayonnaise sandwich.”

With a graceful bow, she left them to their meal.

The three diners looked down at their plates, observing the three neatly arranged sandwiches and the accompanying glasses of water.

They examined the sandwiches closely, noting that each consisted of two slices of thin, lightly toasted bread, with fresh vegetables layered inside and a curious yellow spread in the center.

The appearance was simple, almost unassuming, yet something about it caught their attention.

Exchanging glances with one another, they hesitated for only a moment before taking a bite.

The instant the sandwich touched their tongues, they were utterly stunned.

A unique and unexpectedly delicious flavor exploded in their mouths, sending waves of delight through every nerve.

The taste was so perfectly balanced, so remarkably satisfying, that it felt as though every single molecule in their bodies was being electrified by the sheer intensity of its deliciousness.

Their eyes widened in unison, and a stunned silence filled the table as they tried to process the extraordinary sensation.

They soon began devouring the sandwiches with an almost frantic intensity, as if they had never in their lives tasted anything remotely this delicious.

Each bite was met with wide-eyed amazement, and the flavors seemed to overwhelm their senses completely.

“W-What is this?! This is absolutely freaking deliciousss!” the Lizardman shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of shock and delight.

The second demi-human nearly choked from how quickly he had been eating, hastily gulping down water to help wash down the sandwich.

Once he managed to swallow, he exclaimed loudly, “Woof! I have never in my life eaten anything this incredibly tasty!”

“This… this is divine!” the third one cried out, practically unable to contain his amazement.

Without even pausing to catch their breath, all three of them immediately returned to the menu, their excitement barely restrained.

They scanned the options with urgency and quickly placed their next orders.

“Give me one chicken mayonnaise sandwich!” the Lizardman shouted, his voice brimming with anticipation.

“Woof! Give me a crisp cutlet sandwich or whatever you’ve got!” the second one barked excitedly, already licking his lips in anticipation.

The third one nodded eagerly and said, “I’ll have the same as him!”

Their faces were flushed with eagerness, and it was clear they could not wait to taste the next round of sandwiches.

Subaru grinned widely as he saw their uncontainable enthusiasm and excitement.

“Sirs! I will make the sandwiches right here in front of you!” he announced proudly.

Without wasting a moment, he quickly instructed his employees to hand him all the necessary ingredients and materials.

Then, right before their eyes, he lit up his stove with precision and flair.

“W-What is that?” one of the dog-men stammered, completely baffled as he stared at the oven Subaru was using.

Subaru’s grin widened even further as he replied confidently, “This is our special product! An oven with far better heat control than any ordinary mud oven, and it’s extremely cost-effective compared to magical ovens!”

He then added with a playful challenge in his voice, “Why don’t you all watch closely and see how it works?”

The three demihumans eagerly moved closer, eyes wide with curiosity and amazement, as Subaru began preparing their sandwiches right before them.

They watched intently, completely stunned by how effortlessly he manipulated the flames, increasing or decreasing the heat with absolute precision.

“I-It’s… it’s so easy to control this!” the Lizardman gasped, barely able to contain his shock.

The other two remained frozen, completely captivated by Subaru’s speed and skill, as he rapidly assembled their sandwiches with incredible efficiency.

“Your sandwiches are ready!” Subaru declared with a broad, proud smile.

The three demihumans immediately grabbed their sandwiches and began eating on the spot, too excited to even bother returning to their seats.

Once they had finished, they all let out satisfied burps, completely overwhelmed by the delicious taste and the experience of watching Subaru in action firsthand.

“I-I really want to eat more… but I feaaar we need to head to work soon,” the Lizardman said reluctantly, fully aware that he had to report to his duties on time.

Despite their strong desire to continue enjoying the delicious food, responsibility weighed heavily on them.

The other two demihumans also nodded in agreement, acknowledging that their obligations could not be ignored, no matter how tempting the food was.

“Thank you, Sir…” one of the dog-men said, looking at Subaru with a mixture of gratitude and admiration, suddenly realizing that he didn’t even know his name.

“My name is Plead,” Subaru replied with a polite bow, a confident smile on his face.

“You can call me Sir Plead.”

“Yes! Sir Plead!” the dog-man exclaimed enthusiastically.

“We immensely loved your dishes! Your restaurant is absolutely worthy of bearing the prestigious name Pleiades, I daresay so!”

The Lizardman nodded in agreement, recalling the vegetable sandwich he had eaten with a newfound appreciation.

“I never thought vegetables could taste this amazing!” he admitted, reflecting on how he had initially expected the vegetables to be bland and far inferior to meat dishes, yet they had far exceeded his expectations.

Thus, after paying Subaru and promising that they would return soon, the three customers left the restaurant.

However, once outside, they began discussing boldly among themselves whether they should bring their wives later that evening so they could also taste the extraordinary food.

Unbeknownst to them, their conversation was overheard by many passersby who had already taken notice of the restaurant and the bold name “Pleiades” displayed on the hanging signboard.

Hearing the excited discussion of the three demihumans, curiosity immediately sparked within the crowd, and one by one, people began entering the restaurant to see what the excitement was about.

Before long, Subaru’s business began booming tremendously.

Every customer who tasted the mayonnaise sandwich was astonished by its unique and exquisite flavor, a taste they had never experienced before.

The combination of ingredients and the careful preparation created a flavor that left people both surprised and delighted.

When the news spread that Subaru also sold the main ingredient, “Mayoinnase,” curious women immediately rushed to purchase it for themselves.

Subaru even demonstrated how simply applying a bit of Mayoinnase to any otherwise bland food, even thick, ordinary bread, instantly transformed it into a flavorful, enjoyable dish.

For the people who had long endured plain and tasteless meals simply to save money, this was nothing short of a dream come true.

By buying a small portion of Mayoinnase—which was reasonably priced—they could instantly elevate their simple, inexpensive food into something delicious and satisfying, making every meal a small luxury they could afford.

Soon, by the time evening arrived, Subaru’s restaurant was already packed with dozens of customers, all eager and impatient to try his food for themselves.

Praise for the restaurant spread rapidly through word of mouth, as people talked excitedly with their friends, coworkers, and even strangers.

Hearing others enthusiastically praising the food, many came just to find out what exactly this mysterious thing called “Mayonnaise” was, and why people were speaking as if the God of Cooking himself had descended into Kararagi.

Even Subaru himself had not expected the seats to fill up so completely by evening.

He was forced to work without rest, continuously preparing one order after another, barely having time to breathe.

While he handled customers and cooking at the front, his hired employees and the other chefs worked tirelessly in the large kitchen at the back, coordinating to keep up with the overwhelming demand.

Thankfully, the building he had rented was a three-floor structure, which made handling the crowd possible.

The first and second floors were filled with seating for customers, allowing a large number of guests to dine at once.

Behind those floors was a reasonably sized kitchen designed for efficient cooking, and at the back of the building was a small oven shop.

All the ovens he had manufactured were carefully stored on the third floor, ready to be sold or displayed.

Although the restaurant itself appeared somewhat small at first glance, Subaru had never expected such explosive success on the very first day.

In fact, he had initially believed it would take several weeks before the restaurant gained even a moderate level of popularity.

This overwhelming response was far beyond his expectations, yet it proved that his gamble had paid off far sooner than he had ever imagined.

Subaru clearly understood that he would need to acquire another shop within the next few days if things continued at this pace, but for the moment he had no choice except to focus entirely on handling the endless stream of orders.

He worked from the small kitchen counter positioned beside the money counter, where he had already placed another employee whose sole responsibility was to manage payments and keep track of the growing flow of customers.

People gathered nearby, watching with obvious interest as Subaru rapidly prepared food using his metal oven.

Most of them did not truly understand how the device worked, but they could tell that it resembled the magic ovens used by wealthy merchant families, government officials, knights, and nobles.

In short, it looked similar to the equipment commonly found among the upper class of this world, which only increased their curiosity and admiration.

“Sir Plead! I have brought my wifeee!” a familiar voice called out.

Subaru looked up and recognized the speaker immediately—it was the same Lizardman who had been his very first customer earlier that day.

“Oh, it’s you,” Subaru replied with a friendly expression.

“It’s great that you brought your wife along. However, as you can see, I’m a little busy at the moment.”

He gave an apologetic smile before returning his attention to the oven for a brief moment.

The Lizardman nodded in understanding and then turned toward his wife, gesturing toward the counter.

“Darling, why don’t you order the mayonnaise sandwich and see how good it really is?”

His wife crossed her arms and grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“I told you we should have eaten at home, yet you dragged us to a restaurant instead. I already saw the menu when we came in,” she continued, casting another glance around, “and everything here is so expensive.”

The Lizardman did not know what to say in response to her complaint.

While their household lived a reasonably stable life, they were by no means wealthy, and every coin still mattered to them.

He usually ate outside only in the mornings before heading to work, allowing his wife to manage her own tasks during the day without worrying about meals.

Dining out together was not something they did often, especially not at a place that appeared more expensive than usual.

“Pleaaase,” he said in a slightly pleading tone, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

“Since we are already here, why don’t you just order whatever else you like? Anything is fine.”

His wife let out a tired sigh, clearly conflicted.

Eventually, she relented and walked with him toward the menu, which was already crowded with several other customers reading it with curiosity.

She scanned the options carefully, her eyes lingering on the soup listed near the bottom.

It was the same soup that most of the population consumed daily—no special recipe, no secret ingredients, nothing fancy or unfamiliar.

Although her husband kept trying to convince her to try one of the other dishes, especially the ones people were praising so loudly, she shook her head.

In the end, wanting to save as much money as possible while still giving the place a chance, they made a modest choice.

They ordered two mayonnaise sandwiches along with the basic soup, deciding that this was the safest option that would not strain their finances too much.

Subaru began preparing the soup using another oven, moving seamlessly as if this level of multitasking was completely natural to him.

In reality, he was already managing three different ovens at the same time, handling multiple orders without slowing down even slightly.

While his physical body worked nonstop, he was quietly using Invisible Providence to assist him in the background.

Yes, he was using his Invisible Hands—the literal Authority of Sloth, an ability considered one of the most powerful forces in this world.

An ability capable of shattering massive boulders, phasing through solid matter, and striking at the speed of sound was currently being repurposed for something far more mundane: cooking food.

After all, Subaru only had two natural hands, and those were already fully occupied with flipping ingredients, seasoning dishes, and managing flames.

To make up for that limitation, his invisible hands handled additional tasks, such as stirring pots, adjusting cookware, and moving utensils with perfect precision.

Some people in the restaurant did notice that something felt off.

They saw ingredients moving a bit too smoothly and actions being performed faster than what seemed physically possible.

However, rather than questioning it deeply, they simply stared in amazement and chalked it up to Subaru using some form of advanced magic.

In a place where magic existed, strange sights were not entirely unbelievable.

After a short wait, once everything was finished and properly plated, Sumihine approached the table with practiced professionalism.

She gently placed the soup and sandwiches in front of the couple, bowing politely as she handed over their food, signaling that their order was ready to be enjoyed.

The Lizardman immediately urged his wife to taste the sandwich, boasting loudly that it was far better than any vegetable dish she usually made at home.

His confident tone only made her narrow her reptilian eyes at him in suspicion and mild irritation.

However, not wanting to cause a scene inside a crowded restaurant, she decided to humor him.

She took a cautious bite, fully expecting disappointment.

Instead, her eyes widened almost instantly, and a soft moan escaped her mouth before she could stop herself.

“T-This is deliciousss!” she praised honestly, her tail twitching slightly in surprise.

The husband puffed out his chest in pride, clearly pleased with himself.

“See? I told ya!” he said triumphantly, looking as smug as possible.

They wasted no time after that.

Both of them quickly finished their sandwiches, eating with enthusiasm and speed that made it clear they were enjoying every bite.

Once the plates were empty, their attention shifted to the bowls of soup placed in front of them.

The Lizardman stared at the soup for a moment, his excitement noticeably dropping.

He couldn’t help but wonder why he had agreed to order something so ordinary.

This was the same soup he ate almost every night at home, something so common it could be found anywhere—from private households to roadside taverns all across Kararagi.

He glanced at his wife, clearly questioning their decision in silence.

Why had they ordered something so basic in a restaurant like this, and now needed to eat it especially after experiencing something as unique as that sandwich?

“He used… thooose stove like thingy,” she said slowly, drawing out her words as if still trying to convince herself, “I sawww him making it with my own eyes.”

With that, she took a spoonful of the soup and slurped it cautiously.

The reaction was instant.

Her eyes widened in pure shock, and her body stiffened for a brief moment before she spoke again.

“T-This is much better than what I make! In fact, this is perfect!” she exclaimed, unable to hide her disbelief.

Her husband, now thoroughly intrigued by her reaction, quickly took a mouthful himself.

The moment the soup touched his tongue, he froze.

His pupils narrowed, and his tail twitched slightly as the realization hit him.

It really was different.

No, it was far better.

Due to the limitations of a mud stove and the constant lack of proper time at home, their soup was rarely cooked evenly.

Sometimes it was undercooked, sometimes burnt, and most of the time it was simply mediocre.

Yet this soup was perfectly heated, well-balanced, and smooth in a way he almost never tasted—not at home, not at taverns, and not even at most restaurants.

“This… this must be because of those stoves,” the husband commented slowly, his tone filled with realization.

He then noticed that his wife wasn’t even looking at the soup anymore.

Her gaze had shifted entirely toward Subaru—more specifically, toward the strange metal stove he was using.

“Why don’t you ask him where we can get one?” she slithered quietly, her voice low but filled with interest.

The husband let out a tired sigh.

“He already told me earlier this morning,” he replied, rubbing his forehead.

“He said he made them himself, and that they’re their special product.”

After watching Subaru work and tasting the results firsthand, he shook his head slightly.

“After seeing how amazing it is, there’s no doubt about it,” he added honestly.

“Something like that has to be expensive.”

However, in the end, due to his wife’s relentless insistence, the moment they finished the soup and walked toward the counter to pay their bill, he could no longer hold himself back.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, the Lizardman hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.

“Sir Plead… uh, you see…” he scratched the back of his head nervously, clearly unsure how to phrase it, “uh, my wife noticed those metal things you are using to cook the food with. May I know how one can acquire them?”

Subaru instantly stopped what he was doing and turned toward them.

A confident grin spread across his face as if he had been waiting for that exact question.

“These?” Subaru said casually, patting the metal oven beside him. “My company makes them. In fact, we even have a dedicated shop for them right behind this very building.”

The Lizardman’s eyes widened slightly as Subaru continued without pause.

“They are called metal stoves,” Subaru explained clearly.

“The cheapest model sells for two thousand Kararagian shells, while the one I’m personally using here costs only three thousand Kararagian shells.”

The moment those numbers registered in their minds, both the husband and wife froze on the spot.

Their jaws nearly dropped in disbelief.

Three thousand shells.

That price was absurdly low.

Heck, even a common iron sword cost around five thousand Kararagian shells—or half a High Kararagian shell—yet this strange metal oven could perfectly control heat and cook food better than anything they had ever used.

They stared at Subaru as if he had just revealed something completely unbelievable, struggling to process how something so useful could possibly be sold at such a price.

Just to make absolutely sure that he had not misheard the price, the Lizardman hesitated before asking again, his voice slightly shaky from disbelief.

“Si–Sir Plead… did I hear that correctly?” he asked carefully.

“You mean it is only three thousand Kararagian shells, not three thousand High Kararagian shells, right?”

Subaru immediately raised his voice in response, looking almost offended by the misunderstanding.

“Absolutely not!” Subaru said sharply.

“That would be ridiculously expensive, even for magic stoves. Do you seriously think I would sell them for High-Kararagian shells?”

He shook his head and repeated himself clearly, making sure everyone could hear.

“As I said, the cheaper models cost only two thousand Kararagian shells, and the more advanced ones cost three thousand Kararagian shells. Not a single shell more than that.”

Because of how loud Subaru had spoken, everyone inside the restaurant heard his words.

One by one, people stopped eating mid-bite and turned their heads toward him, staring in complete disbelief.

Some even lowered their spoons slowly, as if they were questioning their own ears.

“T-That’s… that’s insanely cheap!” the Lizardman’s wife gasped, her eyes widening as she looked back at the metal oven with newfound greed and amazement.

“Yes! It runs on oil as fuel, and you can easily control the intensity of the flames using this lever right here,” Subaru explained confidently, pointing at the mechanism.

“If the internal threads wear out, you can replace them for just ten copper coins, and a single replacement lasts for roughly one full day of continuous burning.”

Hearing Subaru explain the details so casually only increased everyone’s interest even further.

While the fact that the oven required fuel did slightly increase the running cost, it was still absurdly cheap when compared to magic stoves that relied on expensive magic crystals.

Those crystal-powered stoves were something only wealthy merchants or nobles could afford, while this metal oven was clearly within reach of the lower class.

For people who struggled to cook properly every day, this product felt almost revolutionary.

Before long, customers inside the restaurant began whispering among themselves.

One by one, several people stood up, left their seats, and started heading toward the back of the building to take a closer look at the ovens being sold.

Behind the restaurant, two workers were already managing the shop located at the rear of the building.

The alley there was much narrower compared to the wide main road at the front.

“Damn it, I’ve been sitting here for the entire day and we still haven’t gotten a single customer,” one of the men complained under his breath.

Like the others, he was someone from the slums who had been hired directly by Subaru.

The other man, his coworker and friend, shrugged and replied calmly, “At least we’re still getting paid properly. Sir Plead said it might take a few days before customers start coming in here. Besides, his restaurant seems to be doing really well.”

He glanced toward the main building and added, “You can hear all the noise from behind, and the people working in the kitchen said customers keep pouring in.”

Just as he finished speaking, both of them froze.

A figure suddenly rushed toward their small shop.

No, not walked—ran straight at them.

“W-Wait… is that a customer?” the first man asked uncertainly.

Before the other could respond, his eyes widened as he noticed something far more shocking.

Behind that first person, dozens more were approaching, some walking quickly and others nearly jogging toward them.

“Can we buy metal ovens here?!” one man shouted as he reached the counter.

The second worker snapped out of his shock and nodded eagerly.

“Yes! Welcome to the Pleiades Shop! We are selling our newest product here—the metal oven—along with the required wick and fuel.”

He straightened up and continued loudly, “We currently have two variants available: one cheaper model and one more expensive version!”

“Get me the costlier copper one!” a Lizardman shouted loudly, slamming his hand on the counter.

Almost instantly, others began shouting as well, following his lead without even hesitating.

“I want the copper version too!”

“Give me the best one you have!”

The two men behind the counter were completely stunned by the sight.

They had expected hesitation, bargaining, or at least questions about the price.

Instead, people were immediately going for the more expensive option and shouting over one another without restraint.

“W-Wait! Please come one by one!” the first man pleaded, raising his hands in an attempt to calm the crowd.

However, his words only seemed to make things worse.

The noise grew louder, and the people became even more aggressive.

“Get me a copper one! I’m willing to pay the full amount right now!”

“Shut up and just take my money already!”

“Give me two copper ovens! I don’t care about the price!”

The two workers exchanged confused looks, completely unprepared for the chaos that was unfolding in front of them.

Their training hadn’t included handling a mob of eager customers throwing money at them.

In the end, Subaru himself had to step in.

He quickly moved behind the counter, took control of the situation, and began selling the ovens one by one.

He also personally demonstrated how to use them, patiently explaining the functions, the flame control, and the maintenance process to each buyer.

From that moment onward, the popularity of both his restaurant and the oven shop exploded beyond expectations.

...

Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the city, a girl who looked no older than twelve years old stood quietly and stared at the distant outline of Banan.

Despite her childlike appearance, she was actually a granny well over four hundred years old, burdened with countless emotional issues and an equally large amount of pent-up frustration.

“Betty is finally out of that stupid forest, I suppose!” Beatrice grumbled under her breath, clearly irritated by the long journey.

She briskly patted the dust off her clothes, brushing away dirt and leaves that had clung to her during the trip.

After learning where Natsuki Subaru was located, Beatrice had spent several days carefully marking her route toward Banan on a map.

She had double-checked every path, crossroad, and landmark to make sure she wouldn’t get lost along the way.

Despite having been locked inside the library for nearly four hundred years, Beatrice still possessed an excellent sense of direction.

After all, she regularly used high-level spatial magic such as Door Crossing, which required precise spatial awareness and control.

However, since she had very few magical markers placed outside her library—and none at all even within Lugunica’s capital—she couldn’t simply teleport directly to her destination.

Because of that limitation, she was forced to travel the long way, following roads and paths step by step toward the city of Banan to finally reach him.

Now she knew that this generation’s Roswaal possessed a Tome of Wisdom just like his ancestors, with their long-standing task being the revival of the Witch of Greed, Echidna—her mother, and also the teacher of the original Roswaal.

Beatrice did not know what kind of plans Roswaal was currently scheming behind that painted smile of his.

However, one thing was clear to her: she absolutely did not want to become a chess piece for him, not now, not ever.

Especially not when she had finally found her “That Person,” the one she had been waiting for all these centuries.

Because of that, she made her decision carefully and without hesitation.

She chose to leave the mansion discreetly, avoiding attention as much as possible, and travel toward Banan on her own, completely in secret.

She would not inform Roswaal, nor would she allow herself to be monitored or guided by his influence.

Now, with over four hundred years’ worth of accumulated mana, Beatrice could have easily flown straight toward Banan without much trouble.

However, doing so would have rapidly burned through a massive portion of her mana reserves, alerted Roswaal almost immediately, and possibly caused unnecessary complications.

More importantly, she was painfully aware that Natsuki Subaru—her That Person—possessed a pitifully small and fragile magical gate.

She did not want to do anything reckless that could indirectly endanger him.

So instead, she chose the slower but safer option.

She spent most of her journey walking, only flying when it was absolutely necessary, and occasionally hitching rides whenever the opportunity presented itself.

She traveled cautiously, keeping her presence hidden and her movements subtle, until she finally made her way toward Banan.

Throughout the journey, she maintained absolute secrecy.

Along the way, she placed magical markers wherever she deemed appropriate, carefully selecting locations that would allow her to return back to her journey from the library quickly if the situation ever demanded it.

Each marker was set with precision and foresight, ensuring she would never be truly lost again.

And finally, after all that time and effort, she reached Banan.

She stood still for a moment, gazing at the Japanese-styled city spread out before her, its unique architecture clearly visible even from a distance.

With a small but determined frown, she muttered under her breath,

“Just wait. Betty is coming for her contractor, I suppose!”

Her four hundred years of waiting were finally nearing their end.

To be continued…