Chapter 11 – A DEVICE FOR COMMONERS
After lunch, Jin and Beana went to open the stall.
As usual, a simple table placed at the edge of the stall area with magic tools displayed there. That’s how it was supposed to be.
「Wha-What’s with this crowd…」
It was already overflowing with people.
「Ah! It’s come!」
「Oh, quickly sell the 『Popcorn』 please! My children are waiting」
「Two popcorns, make it quick please!」
「3 popcorns here!」
It seemed like most customers came to buy the popcorn.
「Okay okay, please wait a moment」
Saying that Beana put corn into the popcorn-producing device, adding in oil and salt and activating it. About 3 minutes later the corn began to pop.
「It’s always so interesting to see」
「Ohh, smells good」
The finished popcorn is sold packed up in foliage of Breadfruit. Since the leaves of Breadfruit are supple and don’t tear easily, it is a leaf that is widely used for packaging.
「Here, thank you for your patronage, that will be 5 copper coins」
1 packet is 5 torr (about 50 yen), it was set well. To begin with, half of it was for publicity.
「Ooh, I’ve been waiting for this. This is it, this taste!It pulls you back for more」
Some people opened their package on the spot and started eating. Jin was taken aback seeing that popularity, but quickly noticed the thing they had prepared for the goods displayed on top of the table that were prepared.
There was a tag with the name and price of the good. Looking around the stall there were many price tags left to see, however there was close to no description of the goods. And so he had made preparations for this.
「Hey, what is the 『Lighter』 thing?」
Sure enough, the customers lined up to buy the popcorn had bit.
「Yes, this is a magic tool to ignite a fire. This is a sample」
Saying that Jin showed how to use the sample lighter. In his hand was a rectangular case, and pressing the round button attached to centre, a small fire lit up.
「By doing this, you can use it to light a fire」
Having given the demonstration,
「Heeeh, sounds good. Could I have try?」
A housewife perhaps, about 30 women aid that so Jin handed over the lighter.
「Do this… wah, fire came out. So this is connected to wood for lighting. It’s convenient that the pilot flame goes out. This is… 50 torr? Un, I want it. Please give me one」
「Okay, thank you for your patronage」
One was immediately sold. Jin received the sample, handing over the good and receiving the money.
「F-un, it looks useful. I’ll take one too please」
「Thank you for your patronage」
The customers who were waiting to buy popcorn saw the usefulness of the lighter and people came out to buy it.
「Un, I want it but I don’t have any money on me right now, hey, are you coming to sell this tomorrow too?」
「Yes, I’ll come」
「Then perhaps I’ll buy it tomorrow」
Like that, before the evening, the corn that was prepared was all used up and the lighter had also sold out.
「Shall we go home?」
「Yeah…」
Beana had a worn out face. Not accustomed to it, Jin who was also tired decided to return.
「However, it sure sold well」
「Aah, I was also surprised. More than 200 people came to buy」
「Seems like it. The turnover was remarkable」
The pouch hanging on Beana’s waist was full of copper coins. As for Jin, he had a mix of silver and copper coins.
「Can’t we go exchange the money?」
Jin asked,
「It’s dull since a handling fee is taken」
Was the answer that was returned.
Returning to Beana’s house, the turnover was calculated.
Popcorn sales were 2200 torr, the lighter sales were 1000 torr. A total of 3200 torr.
From there the cost of the materials was 500 torr for 10kg of of corn, 100 torr for salt, and 300 torr for oil. The magic stone for the lighter was 500 torr and the other things were 100 torr.
「After deduction is a profit of 1700 torr」
About 17000 yen in one day, Jin converted it mentally. It was so-so.
「Then for Jin, half is 850 torr. Here, take it」
A pouch filled with copper coins was presented.
「Wait a moment, I don’t need so much」
「But, this is an equal split」
「There’s no need for that. The things produced in the workshop are yours and you also supplied the materials. 7 to 3 is fine」
「Umm, then that would be…? Please take 700 torr since it’s a pain to calculate. Here, I did receive things like fruits」
Saying that Beana held out 700 torr of silver coins. By the way, the correct calculation is 510 torr.
「… well that’s fine」
Jin received it with a bitter smile.
「Now then, since there’s still time shouldn’t we procure materials?」
「That’s right, although I’m tired I need to go buy them by the end of today」
Beana carried a big bag on her for shopping. Jin did too.
「First we’ll go buy 《Magic Stones》」
To buy light things Jin stopped Beana who moved to go buy《Magic Stones》 for the lighter.
「Wait wait, if it’s 《Magic Stones》 I can prepare them」
「Eh? Aah, come to think of it, you did you had 《Magic Stones》」
「Yep. I’ll sell it at cost price so don’t worry」
「I feel bad… but thank you」
So the two went around to buy salt, oil, and corn. Jin had finally obtained barley and wheat for food.
「All the profit has flown away」
Beana was slightly dispirited. Still barely keeping the business, there was no way to have a break.
「A little bit longer and an allowance will appear」
Jin said to comfort her. Beana,
「That’s right. I couldn’t sell at all before Jin came, there was no room for luxury」
Saying that she raised her face.
「But, the reputation of the lighter, I’m glad. After all, it’s worth making something useful for everyone」
「Yeah, I think so too. Well then, you should think of something to make besides making the lighter」
「Ah, are you going home?」
「Aa, sorry. I’ll make sure to come tomorrow」
「Ok, thank you for today」
Saying that Jin bid farewell to Beana, returning home carrying the corn and wheat.
＊ ＊ ＊
Changing scenes, in the mansion of a noble within the walls. A 12 or 13 year old boy was in a lavish room. Sitting on an also lavish chair. There a servant came over.
「Young Master, I’ve bought the thing you spoke of」
The servant presented the thing packed in the leaves of Breadfruit.
「Ooh, here it is. Un, let’s see」
That was without a doubt popcorn. The boy took a bite,
「Un, delicious! This has a taste I’ve never had from what I’ve eaten until now」
While saying that, munch munch he ardently ate it all up.
「It’s already finished? Oi, go buy me some more」
Saying that the employee had an apologetic expression,
「They’ve already closed up shop today, you will have to bear till tomorrow to buy more」
Saying that the boy seemed displeased,
「Then order the cook to make it」