Chapter 65 : The Most Important Table One and Two
The Most Important Table One and Two
The next morning.
I went to Ken's shop and showed him what I had made.
「Is this... a signboard?」
「Yeah, it's a simple A-frame sign for Ken's Confectionery Workshop to let people know the shop is here. You just spread it open like this, hook this stick onto the two notches, and voilà.」
「Oooh!」
It was an A-frame signboard you'd often see in my previous life, kind of like a folding stepladder in the way it sets up and locks in place.
On the sign, I'd written big, bold letters saying 'Ken's Confectionery Workshop', with an illustration I'd drawn of what was supposed to be baked goods... though I admit it might not really look like that. There's also a simple menu, along with the prices of some of the recommended items. The board itself was actually a failed attempt when I'd tried to make a washboard before—glad I found a good use for it.
「But, I already have a sign for my shop, you know? I haven't had any customers recently, sure, but it's not like people don't know I exist...」
「You're too soft, Ken. That's softer than Mikaberry jam.」
「Softer than Mikaberry jam!?」
「Look, Ken. Sure, you have a sign, but it's just hanging on the door, right?」
「Yeah.」
「Don't you think it's kinda... small?」
「Small, you think...?」
No, it's definitely small. Just look at that thing.
I suppose I have to explain or it won't make sense, but your "signboard" isn't a big sign above the door. It's just a nameplate attached to the door of a windowless tavern, like an office plaque—just the shop's name. No one's going to notice that.
This isn't a bureaucratic government office, you know...
「The sign I made isn't that big, but it's way bigger than your nameplate. That's the problem right there.」
「But... my sweets are delicious, you know?」
「We're talking about the stage before anyone even tastes your sweets...」
「I see... that's another way to look at it, I suppose...」
If this is the level you're struggling at... well, as a consultant, it's nice because it's easy to get results with a client like you—but still.
「If you put this sign outside your shop, passersby will notice it. Then, they'll get lured in and never leave.」
「I do let customers leave, though?」
「Nah, you want to have the mindset of keeping everyone inside until the end. Look, for example, you can offer dandelion tea at half price from the second cup onwards to keep people here longer. The tea's bitterness will eventually drive them to order a second plate of sweets, see?」
「Mongrel... are you really thinking about my shop...?」
「Heh, saying it like I just made an empty promise while drunk at a bar... that hurts, but—I'm serious. I even did some advertising at the guild yesterday, and the sweets I brought as souvenirs were well-received. Have some confidence, Ken!」
「... Thank you, thank you, Mongrel! Yes, I'll imprison customers in my shop for sure!」
That's the spirit, Ken.
All right, let's open up for business right away!
「By the way, Mongrel, what are those cleaning tools for?」
「Oh, I do city cleaning and maintenance around here in the mornings.」
「... Thank you for your hard work.」
「No need to thank me. Ah, I'll focus extra around your shop, Ken.」
「Nufufu, that makes me so happy. Thank you!」
So, Ken's shop opened for business that day as well.
But, of course, customers don't start flooding in conveniently from early morning.
After all, people have work to do. Ken seemed to know this, too, so in the early hours, he'd go out to deliver batches of cookies to other shops.
He'd flip over the hanging sign on the door so that it read "Out for deliveries" during that time... The problem was, when he did, the shop name completely disappeared from the front. There'd be no sign at all of Ken's shop—no wonder it went unnoticed. Ken, at least make separate signs for "open" and "closed"...
「No customers yet, huh...」
「It's only noon, Ken. Don't worry, this is when people start showing up.」
「Lunchtime... if they don't come now, it's going to be tough.」
In this world, sweets are thought of as almost like a staple food—something that can substitute for a meal. Calorically, that makes sense, I suppose. Only a very small portion of people think of them as dessert after a meal.
In that sense, Ken's shop is unusual, but good food is good food. Someone will come eventually...
「Are you sure this is the place?—Wait, Mongrel-senpai?」
「Hey there, Artemis.」
「If not for that new sign, I'd have totally missed it.」
「I know, right? It's so small. Hey, Mongrel, good afternoon!」
The Artemis trio had arrived: Raina, Ulrika, and Sheena. They seemed to have fewer tagging along than usual.
「We were in the noble district teaching archery today. We thought we'd drop by on the way back. Oh, is it okay if we sit there, Mongrel-senpai?」
「Go ahead. Honestly, I was worried none of you would show up after recommending the place. Thanks for coming.」
「Oh, you're drinking something super dark!」
「It's dandelion tea. Tastes kind of like roasted barley tea. It's good for your stomach.」
「Wow, sounds tasty.」
When customers arrive, the whole shop lights up all at once. Especially with the Artemis crew—this is the kind of lively atmosphere a sweets shop needs.
「Welcome. Are you friends of Mongrel?」
「Yes, well, we're in the same guild. I think it was the bounty cookies I had yesterday? They were delicious, so I thought I'd order today as well.」
「Nufu, I'm so glad to hear that.」
「Nfuu...」
「Raina, don't laugh!」
「? Oh, I recommend having some dandelion tea with the sweets. Would you like some?」
「Alright, we'll have one serving of sweets and tea each.」
「Right away.」
Ken retreated to the kitchen in high spirits. He seemed truly happy—was it really that rare to have customers?
... Still, Raina, what's got Ken's laugh hitting your funny bone? You find the weirdest things funny.
「So this is a sweets shop, huh... but, how do I put it... it's different from what I imagined...」
「Yeah, I know what you mean...」
Soon, the sweets and dandelion coffee arrived.
Shiny florentines, rich dandelion coffee. Not bad at all. They're not cheap, but for this price, I don't think you'll get better quality anywhere.
「Thank you for waiting. Since you're a friend of Mongrel, no point in hiding it... Our shop, for some reason, has a hard time attracting customers. If you notice anything, please don't hesitate to tell me.」
「Let's eat first, Ken.」
「Oh, of course. Please, take your time...」
The three started munching away at their florentines.
「Mmm, delicious!」
「Yummy!」
「... Yeah.」
Even Sheena, whose face is usually stoic, cracked a smile—the power of sweets is amazing.
Personally, I might have preferred almond slices to sunflower seeds, but that's just me being picky.
Still, this is good too. Maybe this is what Sangreal's supposed to taste like...?
「You said to speak freely, right? Was it Ken-san? There's something I was wondering about—may I ask?」
「Oh, by all means!」
「I welcome any feedback. I've decided to make this shop the best in Regor together with Ken.」
「For real, senpai?」
「He's probably joking as usual... probably.」
Sheena took a sip of dandelion coffee, hesitated a moment, then spoke up again.
「... Why is it that the only furniture in this shop is those plain round tables and chairs?」
Hmm, now that she points it out, it really is just tables and chairs. No counter seating—the would-be counter is being used as shelves for nuts and ingredients.
Aside from that, there were no decorations, wall hangings, or carpets—nothing but a plain, flavorless room.
Now that I'm thinking about it, it's definitely noticeable.
「I prioritize ingredients and cooking utensils over spending money on furnishings...」
「There's a limit, though... Even if what you serve is delicious, customers won't want to linger like this...」
「But the sweets I make are the best in Regor...」
「She says that with absolute confidence... I'd like you to focus on the comfort of the interior too, not just the food.」
「I get what you mean. It is a bit barren in here.」
「There's less here than in the cheapest tavern...」
I see... Sheena does have a point.
As long as the food is good, I personally don't mind eating at a counter focusing on the taste itself—if cutting costs is part of the deal, I even welcome it. That's why it never occurred to me.
I thought it was fine as long as customers made it inside.
「Right, the interior... If I pick easy-to-clean options, I can probably manage... Anything else?」
「The sign is way too hard to spot. You should put up a bigger sign on the building.」
「Hear that, Mongrel?」
「It's your sign, Ken. The one on the door.」
「Is that not okay!?」
「No, I'm pretty sure it's not good.」
Come to think of it, I only ever came inside when I happened to meet Ken while he was doing deliveries. At all other times, the shop might as well have not existed.
If the name disappears from the door, it's like the whole shop is vanishing.
「So just pay attention to that, and things should improve a bit. ... I'll bring the others who couldn't make it today next time, so please try to make it even more inviting.」
「It was delicious! I'll come again!」
「Same here. I bet these would go great with liquor too.」
With that, the three left. They bought some florentines as souvenirs on their way out, so business-wise, the day wasn't bad at all.
Of course, you can't rest just because one group came by.
We need to take today's lessons to heart and use them to improve tomorrow!
「Excuse me... Oh, Mongrel?」
「Hey, Elena. Ken, another customer for you!」
「Well, well! Nufu, so busy already... Thank you, Mongrel!」
「No problem. I get to enjoy good tea for cheap, after all. Let's work on the décor starting tomorrow, Ken.」
「Of course!」
Right after Artemis left, the guild reception girls arrived, probably using their lunch break to try out the shop. Yesterday's florentine must have made an impression.
... The way customers look as they eat and head out isn't bad, either.
The shop was just unknown, but it still had lots of potential. Glad to see it.
It's a relief that my makeshift consulting didn't end up shaking anything up in a bad way.
I think I'll stop by this shop more often from now on.
One day, I hope Ken brings in some whiskey so I can have something sweet with a glass... Wonder if he will? Maybe not, since it's alcohol... Oh well, maybe I'll just ask and see what happens.
About ten days later, Ken's confectionery shop began to thrive.
He plowed the day's profits straight into furnishings in a manly investment move, and the spartan, "default avatar" look was completely gone.
Now, the former counter that was piled high with supplies had to be freed up as customer seating, and business was so brisk that he's even hired a young helper because he can't keep up with deliveries and serving.
It was almost like a grand re-opening. Turns out, the shop had just been too unknown before—advertising really can't be underestimated.
「Yo, Ken!」
「Oh, Mongrel, welcome. We only have counter seats left, if that's alright?」
「Looks lively... That's fine. Can I get a slice of that Mikaberry jam tart and some dandelion tea?」
「Of course. The end seat is reserved, so take the one next to it.」
Now, the shop was filled with women: ladies with time on their hands, high-paying young women, even men using the place to attract their attention.
Watching the clientele made me realize again how important the interior décor is for a shop like this.
Man, I'd love to run a sweets or coffee shop like this in my retirement...
But I wouldn't want it to be so busy—maybe I'd hire five staff and just polish glasses behind the counter while sipping coffee.
「Welcome... Ah, are you the reservation?」
「Excuse me. So this is the famous shop...」
「Here's your seat, right this way.」
「Thank you. ... Ugh, these chairs are high, I don't like that... There, hmmph... phew.」
The new customer was a short, plump, balding but well-dressed middle-aged man—he had the aura of a guild president or something like that.
「That cookie everyone's been talking about... the bounty cookie. I'll have that, and the roasted barley with cream.」
「Of course. Please wait a moment.」
With that, every seat was filled. This place really had become popular.
They were even serving cream—must be fun to experiment with more variety now that he has a bigger budget.
Someday, I'll have Ken make pudding for me.
I'll have to ask some farmers to ramp up egg production. My dreams are growing...
「Ken, can I have one of those candied nuts, too?」
「Hmm, that looks good... I'll have one as well.」
「Alright! Just a moment!」
With a shop this popular, you'd normally want to turn over customers faster, Ken.
But I won't let that happen! Now that I'm here, I'm going to drink at least three half-priced cups of dandelion coffee...!
I'll see how long I can linger here with just some cheap bean snacks...!
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
This is such a feel good novel...
I really like it...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】