#62
In Korea, selling at a low price for high volume was the norm, but here where there were no competitors, there was no reason to do so, so the price Noah set wasn’t particularly cheap.
[Place of Origin
Chestnuts: Heidel Mountains
Sweet Potatoes: Austen-grown]
This was the first time anyone here had tried displaying the place of origin. Combined with sweet potatoes grown in Austen—a region that felt like a dream and fantasy to people—and precious chestnuts from the Heidel Mountains, it made even incomprehensible prices seem completely reasonable.
Everyone believed that farming was impossible in the barren Austen region, but somehow these sweet potatoes had grown well there. Moreover, the harsher the weather, the higher the sugar content became, which couldn’t be more perfect.
As for the chestnuts… well, he’d asked the knights to gather some when they had business in the mountains, and he’d also gone out to collect them himself, hanging pouches on Aeongi’s back for exercise.
Everyone might be surprised by the place of origin or ask how he’d obtained them, but it was obvious that no one would dare question Noah. After all, who would challenge the precious only son of the Grand Duke Schwein, the lord of the Austen region, who personally procured and sold these items?
“Now, let’s set out the cooked ones and put out some samples~”
Deliberately ignoring the numerous gazes that had been watching him for a while, Noah moved diligently. The sweet aroma of sweet potatoes vibrated through the air, and the sound of chestnuts with knife cuts opening up with a crackling noise delighted him.
When he opened the door of the machine where the sweet potatoes had been tightly sealed and roasting, the sweet smell that wafted out made Noah’s lips curve upward gently, reaching for the sky.
“Well, that smells good. Does sweet potato smell this nice?”
“Of course. You’ve never tried Austen-grown sweet potatoes, right? Once you taste these, you won’t be able to eat any other sweet potatoes.”
When the man at the neighboring stall showed curiosity, Noah took out a few chestnuts and a sweet potato with his hand covered in thick gloves.
The roasted sweet potato machine, made after days of struggle with the blacksmith at the only forge in Austen, boasted the best performance. Lucas, who had been confused by the strange machine, had even embedded magic stones that maintained a constant temperature as a gift, so there was no risk of burning or cooling.
On the day Noah first roasted sweet potatoes at the optimal temperature for the best taste, Schwein Castle literally held a party with sweet potatoes and chestnuts.
Since the blueprint for the sweet potato roaster had been given to the blacksmith, mass production might be impossible, but there would be no problem opening regional chains. Besides, how easy was the cooking method? Just light the firewood and wait…
“Be careful, it’s hot.”
After giving the steaming food to the man, Noah hummed a tune while placing sliced roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes on a sampling plate.
“Come on~ Come on! A taste so good you wouldn’t know if you both died eating it! Samples are here, so taste them and decide! By the way, it’s first come, first served. Once our prepared quantity is gone, we’ll close immediately, so you won’t be able to buy if you’re late!”
As Noah raised his voice, Aeongi, who had been sitting quietly until now, got up and moved back a little.
“…”
From that moment, a storm-like time ensued. People would try it out of curiosity, but honestly, it wasn’t as delicious as cakes or cookies. It wasn’t seasoned with anything; it was just the natural taste of sweet potatoes and chestnuts. Simply put, a familiar taste.
The samples disappeared in an instant, and despite the expensive price, people’s wallets opened just as quickly.
“What are you doing?”
Noah should have been refilling and roasting more as they sold, but among people calling out to him and making a fuss about wanting to buy first, he had no time for that. Then, noticing something interfering at his side, he looked down, and an incredulous remark escaped his mouth.
Aeongi, though not an ordinary snow leopard, was opening the sweet potato machine with his mouth and efficiently filling the empty spaces by himself.
“…Isn’t that a cat?”
“Come on, where would you find a cat that big?”
“The pattern is really pretty.”
That’s right. Some people were attracted by Noah and the taste of the food, but there were just as many watching Aeongi, who was voluntarily filling the machine with sweet potatoes and chestnuts and bringing Noah what he needed without being asked.
“Hey, what are you doing here!”
Busy taking orders, filling the emptying machine like Aeongi, and packing hot sweet potatoes and chestnuts, Noah looked at the person who was calling out to him with slightly upturned eyes that were now even more raised.
“Huh? Hey, perfect timing. Come here and take the money and give change.”
Noah, who really wished he could borrow cat hands, grabbed Benjamin’s pointing finger and pulled him over. Ignoring whatever Benjamin was saying, he placed him at his side and patted his shoulder a couple of times, and the quick-witted customers began handing their money to Benjamin instead of Noah.
“How much is it? I don’t know the price.”
“I know. Just give 400 in change.”
The customer who handed money to the confused Benjamin spoke up, and Benjamin, who seemed prickly but had a good nature, suddenly found himself manning the stall alongside Noah.
Next to Noah, who had curly platinum blonde hair, a delicate white face with sparkling green eyes, and who flashed charming eye-smiles at the customers, stood Benjamin, who was just as beautiful with black hair and deep brown eyes.
The rumor that a cute and pretty boy was suddenly selling something, and that another beautiful boy had appeared beside him, spread in an instant.
“Argh… stop putting more in. Close up shop!”
Benjamin, who had come out for a pleasant stroll after all the academy classes ended and getting permission from the dorm supervisor, muttered through clenched teeth at Aeongi, who was coming with a basket full of sweet potatoes.
“We have to sell everything we have. I’ll pay you generously for your part-time work, so hurry up and finish the calculations.”
“What’s part-time work?”
“I’m saying I’ll pay you. I’ll give you a generous wage… Ah, four roasted sweet potatoes and a basket of roasted chestnuts?”
Noah, who had been grumbling and poking Benjamin in the side, speaking in a threatening tone quiet enough that customers couldn’t hear, immediately answered the customer calling him in a bright and cheerful voice as if nothing had happened.
“I… money…”
I have a lot of money. I’m the son of the Duke of the South. I’ve never done this kind of work before, and I never planned to. My mother would faint if she knew about this. You might not know, but I’m the only omega in my family. And there’s a twenty-year age gap between me and my eldest brother.
Benjamin’s inner thoughts couldn’t escape. The endless stream of hands holding money coming toward him prevented him from confronting Noah.
If he’d known it would be like this, he would have brought someone with him. He regretted coming out alone just for a casual stroll.
“Customer, this is the last one…”
Noah’s voice, which had initially been clear, bright, and full of dreams and hope, was now so small and tired that one had to strain to hear it. Somehow, there seemed to be more people gathered than when they started, but they had run out of the prepared ingredients.
It was just early evening, and the market stalls were entering their golden hours. Facing the surprised customer, Noah showed a roasted sweet potato slightly smaller than his fist and five roasted chestnuts.
“Please give me that, at least.”
As he handed the packaged food to the last customer, Aeongi, who had been moving as busily as Noah, stepped forward. Then, from among the many signs Noah had brought for decoration and explanation, he found the [OPEN] sign and quickly flipped it over, revealing the unfamiliar word [CLOSE].
“You see this CLOSE? When this appears, it means we’re done for the day. We’ve sold all we prepared for today. We’ll see you again tomorrow. When you see OPEN, that’s when you should come to buy.”
As people murmured at the announcement that they were closing because they had sold out, disgruntled voices erupted from the crowd. Noah was sorry to keep them waiting, but even he hadn’t anticipated it would be this popular.
“…Is your family bankrupt?”
After shouting once more to the gathered crowd that they were closed, Noah collapsed on the spot, drained of energy. He chuckled at Benjamin’s disgruntled voice, who had already sat down on the ground before him.
“No, I’m trying to make it big. You’re looking at me with such resentment dripping from your eyes. I’ll be generous just this once.”
Although he had clearly told the customers everything was sold out, there was still one warm roasted sweet potato left. He had urgently called for help in a situation where he needed to borrow even cat hands, and he hadn’t expected Benjamin, who he thought would just snap at him and leave, to stay by his side until the end.
“Ugh…”
Making a groaning sound, Noah reached out and picked up the sweet potato, then took out a knife to slightly cut it open. Just in case, he brought out a sauce he had prepared by mixing sugar, cinnamon, and fresh cream—ingredients he had brought along. He had planned to add this and charge a bit more if the sweet potatoes didn’t sell well, but he hadn’t even had the chance.
As the sauce, its sweetness maximized by the heat of the sweet potato, melted smoothly, a burst of sweet aroma rose.
“You worked hard, so eat this. I’ll pay you for today.”
Noah placed the sweet potato on a small paper plate with a small spoon and handed it to Benjamin, then pulled over the money box in front of Benjamin. How much is all this…
At this rate, he could repay the money Lucas had provided in just two weeks. Though he might fall ill from accumulated fatigue before that.
“Here’s your pay.”
Noah took about 1/4 of today’s earnings and held out the neatly organized money to Benjamin.
“…”
“Hey.”
“…”
“Benjamin.”
“…Um… well… no… drink?”
As Benjamin, who had eaten almost all of that hot food in an instant, looked for something to drink, Noah handed him a small container of cold cinnamon tea that he had prepared just in case.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
