A few moments after I finished preparing the hamburgers, a slick blond boy with a brash tone came in through the front door.
He is Dusty, the baker's son.
A savory smell wafts from the box he is carrying.
'You're late, Dusty.
'Why? It's the same time as usual.
'Dusty didn't show up early enough, so I couldn't get out of here fast enough, so I had to help him set up.
I don't give a shit. 'I don't give a shit about that.
Dusty dismisses my explanation as if he doesn't care. That's cold.
Anyway, I open the box to check it out and see that it is covered with a cloth, and when I pull it away, I see the bread needed for the hamburger.
Mmmm, the bread smells good!
The aroma of wheat wafted through the kitchen.
It is not a fancy sweetness, but the soft aroma of pure wheat is very nice.
Yes, 120 regular-sized ones as ordered. There are thirty big ones.
'Well, the number has suddenly increased, but can you make that many?'
'I'll be fine. Thanks to the meat chopper, I can now make a lot of patties.
A concerned Dusty talks to the newly acquainted Ira, who holds a meat chopper in his hand.
The meat chopper has made it possible to produce meat in relatively large quantities.
Whereas before we could only make fifty meat choppers, now we can make a hundred and fifty with ease.
We can make more, but we don't want to increase the quantity so rapidly that the product will remain unsold.
Based on the sales so far, he has decided to make the number that will surely sell for now.
'Oh, that means we can sell more now.
'Well, how much more depends on how well they sell today, but if they sell a lot, I'll be able to give Dusty and the others a little more money back.
Heh, that's great. I don't have a problem with the number of loaves of bread, so just keep adding to it! Well, Mr. Abel. I'll leave today's bread here!
Oh, thanks for everything!
No, no, no, I'll leave you to it!
Dusty smiles, closes the door, and heads off to his next delivery destination.
'Dusty only changes his attitude towards adults, doesn't he?
'Well, that's Dusty's way of getting around.
He is very polite to his customers while he is a brusque person to those of us who are close to him. I must say, your change of attitude is quite impressive.
Now that we have all the ingredients, let's go to the market.
'Yes, that's right.'
So Ira and I leave the inn and get on our way.
We must have woken up very early, but it was already sunrise in Lubera, probably because Ira was excited about his first meat chopper and his father helped him prepare it.
The early morning air was still a little chilly, even though the season was now approaching summer after spring.
As I inhale, the cool air is sucked into my lungs and spreads throughout my body. I like the cold morning breeze in its own way, as it refreshes me deep inside my head.
I follow Ira through the streets with a gentle crowd until we reach the city.
As usual, we ask the unsociable man to complete the formalities.
'I'd like to open a hamburger stand, please.
'...... seems to be selling well, but I hear it's selling out fast. We're getting petitions for more.
I have a feeling that some of the people who said that were guests of our inn.
Oh, it's all right. We've been able to increase the number of guests since before.
'...... I see. Then it's not a problem.'
After paying two silver coins for the place and the rent of the stall, the procedure is complete.
I rent a stall and head for the allotted plot.
It's a relatively close place again today!
They sell out quickly and fold up, so maybe they're trying to make it easy for us to leave.
Our stall was withdrawn after about an hour.
Considering the next stalls coming in, they may think it is more efficient to have a place where it is easy to switch stalls.
Once in place, they light the stove, place the griddle, shred the lettuce, and slice the tomatoes.
As I make preparations like this, people who have come to have breakfast start to show up.
'Okay, I'm going to start cooking the p t .
'Yes, please.
Taking the patties out of the wooden case, Ira arranges them on the right side of the griddle. On the left side, he lined up the bread and began to heat it slowly.
I set up the pan on the stove at the end. I pour oil into the pan and keep it hot.
While waiting, I put up a sign saying "Big Burger (limited quantity) 5 coppers, Fries 2 coppers.
Hey, what are those fries?
'It's potatoes deep-fried in oil.
Is it good?
It's simple but tasty. Probably goes well with alcohol.
He is clearly interested, but fries need to be warm.
It's hard to make and taste them unless a customer comes over.
Oh, I'm doing it, I'm doing it, I'm doing it!
Ira's hungry eyes made me wonder what to do, and then I saw people coming towards me. It was Ralph, Sheik and Hermina.
Good morning, Tori! And Ira, too!''
Good morning, Hermina.
Hermina cheerfully raises her voice in greeting, and Ira responds with a smile.
Ira, you're looking even more energetic today, aren't you?
'Is that so? It's always like this.'
Maybe they are in a good mood because they can taste the fries thanks to Hermina and her friends.
'So you came to eat with us today too?
'Hey! I'd eat a hamburger every day. Well, I'll have another hamburger today--''
'...... wait,Ralph'.
'What the hell, Sheik?'
'...... menu is growing.'
'Are you serious?
Ralph was about to order as usual, but thanks to Sheikh, he noticed.
'A big burger is ......? Tori, what's this all about?
The 'Big Burger' is, as the name suggests, a large-sized hamburger. The price is a bit expensive, but it's twice as big as a regular hamburger.
'Really? I'll definitely eat that!
Ralph's eyes sparkle.
I knew Ralph, who loves hamburgers, would definitely bite.
'......What are fries?'
It's a dish made by frying potatoes in oil. It costs two copper coins, but if you buy it with a hamburger, you get one copper coin.
It's called the "value-for-money" system, based on a famous chain restaurant from a previous life.
It would be a hassle to prepare drinks as well, but it might be possible to do so in cooperation with a nearby beverage stall.
I'll talk to the lady at the juice stand, though she doesn't seem to be there today.
'Well, I'll have a big burger and fries, please!
'...... me too'.
'Me too!
'Okay. I'll make it now, just give me a minute.
I had no idea that we were suddenly going to make a big burger set.
Ira and I hurry to get ready.
I throw some thinly sliced fries into the hot oil.
I hear the sound of oil popping.
Ralph and the others look at me with their mouths half-open, and I feel the eyes of the passersby turn to me at once. The sound of popping oil seemed to naturally attract attention, and people began to gather one after another.
Ira was busy baking a number of patties.
'I'll take your order from the person behind you,' he said.
'One big burger and one of those things called fries.
I'll have two burgers and two fries, please!
As I asked, orders came flying in from customers in line one after another.
I know it's hard to remember when you're cooking at the same time, but I've been an employee at an inn for many years. But I have been an innkeeper for many years and it is easy for me to memorize such orders.
It is much more chaotic at a normal meal.
I shred the lettuce, slice the tomatoes and cheese while keeping the order exactly in my brain.
By the time I'm done, the fries are ready, so I drain them well and sprinkle them with salt. The fries are then placed in a thick triangular bag.
Three big burgers, please!
And three fries.
Ira has just finished his own, and hands it over to the first customers, Ralph, Sheikh and Hermina, to receive their money.
Woohoo! The burgers are huge!
These fries are kind of cute!
The three receive their food and eat it a short distance away from the stall.
'Yum!
'...... I guess it's more satisfying now that it's bigger.'
'You two should try these fries too! The outside is crispy and the saltiness goes very well with it!
'...... What the hell. I can't stop.
Ralph is devouring the Big Burger, while Hermina and Sheikh are marveling at the fries.
It seems that they like the new dish as well.
They serve the customers one after another, keeping a side eye on them as they go.