Chapter 7 - 007_Let's Make Zarai Tekko Delicious
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007_Let's Make Zarai Tekko Delicious
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He enters the labyrinth once every two days, but still hasn't obtained source power. He has already broken over 100 Life Light Stones, so even Rodney is getting impatient.
Today is not a labyrinth day, but a day for paperwork. While he was at his desk keeping the books, he heard a knock. When he permitted entry, the retainers came in.
Aside from the burly head retainer Rodmel, the veteran member Hortus, and the sole woman with sharp eyes Yulin, there are also the thirty-something Roxwell and the twenty-something Endever. Roxwell and Endever are the two who had been resting after being wounded in the war.
"We apologize for being absent for so long."
"Both of us intend to work with all our might from now on."
Roxwell had a cut scar left on his left cheek, but Endever had no visible scars.
"I'm glad you two have returned. Also, I've already told Rodmel and the others, but our house is in financial difficulty. As a solution, we are selling Galim Syrup as a specialty product. I want you to understand that."
"Yes."
In about another month, the Galim Syrup workshop will be completed. The workshop itself will be entrusted to the widows to run, but they must also provide security for it. Having said such things, Rodney emphasized that it was an important industry.
The two had been informed by Rodmel about the financial difficulty and debt troubles, and they obediently followed Rodney's words.
"By the way, Rodmel. How are this year's crops growing?"
It is the autumn harvest, and as a lord, he is concerned about the quality of the crops. Because that determines tax revenue.
"If things continue like this, I believe they will be average for the year."
"I see. Understood. Everyone, you may withdraw."
When the retainers returned to their respective duties, Rodney's workplace became quiet. Rodney thought that just having those five gone made it quite lonely.
"Average for the year, huh. So that means tax revenue is about 120 large gold coins..."
Two types of grain are cultivated in the territory: Shishikam and Zarai. The poll tax collected from the villagers and the commercial transaction tax collected from merchants and shops constitute the income of Forvas House. The total amount is approximately 120 large gold coins.
Since it's a small village with a population of just over 1,000, it's an amount sufficient for managing the territory if they don't live lavishly. However, once every few years damage from large typhoons occurs, and each time income drops drastically. Moreover, they have to provide sleeping quarters for villagers whose houses have collapsed. If they don't, the villagers will abandon this land and go elsewhere.
This year, no typhoons have come so far. In a few more days, the harvest will be over, so he hopes they won't come. But natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes come regardless of Rodney's wishes.
Thanks to Hacklehoff canceling the debt, the amount of debt decreased. He plans to pay only the interest to Count Banyusas, and wants to repay the debt to Baron Menisas as soon as possible.
"What the hell? This annual interest of 120%?"
Every month, 10% of the principal is added as interest. The reason just paying the interest is tough is because the interest on the money borrowed from Baron Menisas is exorbitant. They are charged 120% interest annually.
The principal is 80 large gold coins. He pays 96 large gold coins a year in interest alone. Just that makes most of the tax revenue disappear, and not only does he have Hacklehoff wait for repayment, but he also had to borrow money every year.
"It's frustrating that I can only hope that Galim Syrup sells."
As he was resting his chin on both hands, there was a knock, so he permitted entry. The one who entered was Yulin.
"The merchant caravan of Lord Hacklehoff has arrived."
"The old man's... it's about the Galim Syrup, right."
Leading the caravan was the second head clerk, Manas. Manas said he wanted to buy up all the current Galim Syrup.
"There's only about 100 Rodem (200 kilograms) left."
"That's fine. We want to put it on the next ship to the royal capital."
According to Manas, when Hacklehoff marketed Galim Syrup in the royal capital, orders flooded in. He said that if only the quantity was sufficient, they wanted to market it not only in the royal capital but also in other countries.
"It's selling that much?"
"Yes, it has become extremely popular."
After they loaded the Galim Syrup stored in the warehouse, he received a leather pouch containing money from Manas.
"The chairman said that as much as there is, it will sell. I apologize for being rude, but could you please hurry the increase in production?"
"Understood. I'll speed up the production increase as much as possible."
"Thank you very much."
Rodney saw off the caravan and made a victory pose.
"Yess!"
He was happy to get cash in hand, but hearing that Galim Syrup was very well received in the royal capital made him even happier. Now he could confidently proceed with increasing production.
"That is good, Lord Rodney."
"Ah, now we won't go bankrupt!"
Overjoyed, Rodney picked up Yulin and spun her around.
"Wha-wha-what are you doing!?"
"Ah, sorry. I got carried away."
"Honestly..."
Yulin wasn't entirely displeased, and her cheeks reddened. Rodney's cheeks also turned red. The soldiers and widows around them grinned at the two naive people.
"Yulin. Your face is red."
"Wh-wh-what are you saying, Grandmother?!"
"Lord Rodney. Yulin is shy, but please take care of her."
"What are you saying, Riti!"
Riti, Yulin's grandmother and a maid of Forvas House, teased them, and laughter arose from those around.
"Ahem. Ah, well. Um, I know I'm putting you all through hardship, but the more Galim Syrup we make, the more it sells. I'm counting on you."
"Yes!"
Rodney forcibly changed the subject, but everyone replied with loud voices.
Rodney went straight to the construction site of the Galim Syrup workshop.
"Master builder, how is the workshop?"
"It will be completed soon, Lord."
"That's a relief."
After thanking the master builder for completing the workshop ahead of schedule, Rodney returned home. There he noticed that Yulin had also come to the house.
Somehow, it's awkward. What should I do? Right, that thing!
Rodney took out three jars from the shelf.
"Lord Rodney, what are those?"
"These are something called natural yeast."
According to his memories from a past life, he could make a yeast liquid from dried grapes. If he made bread (called "tekko" in this world) using that yeast liquid, he could get soft bread. It was a simple matter of soaking dried grapes in water and leaving them for a few days, so he tried making it.
He dried a fruit called "ropos" that resembles grapes, and made a yeast liquid from the dried ropos. The yeast liquid had just been made, so he hadn't made tekko yet, but he hoped to make soft tekko. He was now going to try that.
"I'm going to make Zarai Tekko. Can you help me, Yulin?"
"Tekko...?"
Rodney didn't miss that Yulin's eyes were wandering.
"Don't tell me, Yulin, you can't bake tekko?"
Most village women bake tekko. They plow fields and cook. That's what country women are.
"Th-that's not true...!"
"I see, so you can't bake tekko. Well, you have your sword, Yulin. I'll bake the tekko for you in exchange."
"That's why I—"
"It's fine, it's fine."
Rodney started making Zarai Tekko. His face was strangely relaxed.
"Ah, please light the oven."
"...Understood."
When he left it to ferment midway, it had risen considerably. Yulin watched Rodney's Zarai Tekko making with great interest.
He put the tekko dough divided into fist-sized portions into the oven and baked them for a while. He made it hoping it would be even a little softer than the hard Zarai Tekko baked in the village.
After a while, a nice smell of baking Zarai Tekko came. Thinking it was almost done, Rodney prepared the dried grapes he used when making the yeast liquid and the Galim Syrup.
"Alright, it's done!"
"Big Brother, did you bake tekko?"
Emilia was drawn by the good smell and came.
"Oh my, what a nice smell."
Her mother, Sharume, also came to the kitchen.
"Are you two eating too?"
"Of course, I'll eat."
"Shall I have some? Hehehe."
He cut the baked Zarai Tekko. It was so soft it was far from the image of the hard Zarai Tekko they had been eating. On top of the cut Zarai Tekko, he drizzled dried grapes and Galim Syrup, and set it before the three.
"Oh, it's delicious. And this tekko is very soft."
"Really! The tekko is soft, and it's sweet even without Galim Syrup. And the sourness of these dried ropos is a nice accent, Big Brother."
"I-it's delicious..."
The three finished the soft Zarai Tekko, saying it was delicious. Their eating was so enthusiastic that even Rodney was impressed.
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