THE NEXT DAY
"Welcome to the store! Please enjoy your visit!"
After a seven-day closure, the store doors are opened once again. Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, and Salacia welcome everyone in unison as Salacia adorns the same clerk uniform as the others. And just like that, the customers flood in like a storm and split off toward the familiar sections as each woman smoothly returns to her post.
As usual, the toiletries section returns to its usual frenzy as Pinna informs everyone about the new products.
"We have added new variants of toothpaste today. These formulas contain a species of seaweed, along with crystallized sea salt harvested from Oserin."
"So it's good for teeth?"
"Yes. The seaweed provides essential minerals, and the salt improves both cleansing and fragrance. These ingredients increase hygiene efficiency by approximately thirty percent."
That's all it takes for the customers to practically climb over each other to grab the new items as Pinna continues to watch over.
Meanwhile, the kitchenware section becomes its usual hub of energetic housewives as Yomogi demonstrates bronze cookware.
"See? When you stir like this, it heats evenly. It makes soup and stew taste richer."
"It's so light!"
"I'll take two!"
On the other side, the ceramics section remains the quietest corner of the store, but never empty. Kimberly stands among rows of dishware as she holds a delicate cup between her fingers, presenting it to the nobles.
"This pattern... is inspired... by spring petals…"
"This is magnificent..."
But one of today's biggest surprises lies at the woodwork section, as the area once run by Chantal is now taken over by someone new, Salacia, who offers a flirty smile to the wandering customers.
"Who wants to play a game with me~? If you win, you get a kiss… and a free board game~."
The men freeze, and they instantly whisper to one another.
"Who is she?"
"A merfolk, maybe?"
"I've never seen her before..."
And just like that, they gather like moths and eagerly want to be chosen.
"I want to play with you!"
"Choose me, miss!"
One strand of Salacia's tentacled hair lifts and points at a young man, and his eyes widen in delight yet nervousness.
"You, what do you want to play, sweetheart~?"
"G-Go! I wanna play Go!"
"Excellent. If you win, you get the kiss and a free game. But if you lose…every single one of you will have to buy a board game. Understand~?"
"I-I'm ready!"
And she teases him again.
"Ohhh~ everyone's hopes rest on you, so don't lose, okay~?"
The match begins and ends quickly.
"You lost?!"
"Bro, seriously?!"
"Noooo!"
The men groan in despair, completely overwhelmed with Salacia's marine charm throughout the game. She rises from her stool, stretching with a satisfied sigh.
"Well~ don't you all have something to buy?"
Despite their groans, they rush to the shelves anyway. And then, the nobleman who's been observing the game suddenly freezes, staring at the damp butt-shaped imprint left on her stool.
"Wh… what is that?"
Salacia giggles again as she slides her hand across a polished tabletop, lifting it to reveal another moist imprint.
"Do you like what you see, sir~?"
"Y‑Yes…"
"This table is made from Oserin coconut timber… double‑polished. The second polish is a blessing from the sea~. It helps the wood last for years."
"How much?"
"Two silver coins."
"I'll take it!"
"Wonderful~."
Soon after, more customers come in, drawn by Salacia's flirtatious approach, marking her first day as the new woodworks clerk as a success.
Speaking of Chantal, there's another big surprise at the store today...
"Hey! You loud builders out there, listen up!"
Her voice rings out as she stands in front of a brand-new section that wasn't there a week ago.
"We've got something fresh on the shelves today. Slabs, pavers, mortar, and plaster! All perfect for masonry, so come check it out!"
A beat of stunned silence comes before the masons and construction workers whisper to each other, recognizing her voice.
"Was that Chantal?"
"No way!"
Then, they rush toward the new section, with wide eyes.
"Chantal?! You're selling bricks and stones now?"
"I can't believe it, girl!"
Chantal laughs, scratching the back of her head.
"Heh… yeah. I figured it was time for a change. Nobles are a pain in the ass sometimes."
That earns a round of grunts and laughs from them.
"Ugh, don't even get me started."
"One guy asked me if I could carve a column with more emotional depth."
"I had someone say their plaster wasn't 'aesthetic' enough!"
Then, she smacks a marble slab beside her.
"So? Don't just stand there whining. Go take a look. This might be what you need to fix that shortage you're all always crying about."
And the men don't need to be told twice as they scatter toward the clean-cut stone slabs, textured pavers, and bags of powdery plaster and mortar.
One of them inspects a mortar sack and turns to her.
"This is legit stuff… how much for this one, Chantal?"
"One silver coin."
And that freezes them.
"One silver, you say?!"
"Really?!"
"Damn, that's cheap!"
Chantal laughs proudly at their reaction.
"Hahahaha...! That's what makes this place famous, right? Good stuff for a fair price. Doesn't matter if you're a noble or a bricklayer, everyone walks out of here with something that's worth it."
The first guy nods quickly.
"Alright, I'll take one."
"You got it, baby!"
Without hesitation, she bends down, hoists the mortar sack, and tosses it onto her shoulder like it's made of feathers, amazing the workers.
"Whoa! You really lifted that?"
"That's so hot, Chantal!"
Chantal turns to them with a smug smile and flexes one toned arm, her biceps peeking through her uniform.
"Well? What do you think these muscles are for, huh?"
And the guys erupt into laughter.
"Alright, alright! Can you do it again with the slab this time?"
"Of course I can. But I'm doubling the price for the encore!"
And another loud, genuine laughter explodes again as the new masonry section is officially the rowdiest corner of the store and Chantal has found her new home, surrounded by rough voices and easy grins.
When chaos buzzes in every corner, Motegi stands at the counter and holds the line as usual.
"Next one, please."
"It's me!"
"That will be two large bronze and five bronze coins in total, sir."
"Here you go."
"Thank you, and here's your change, sir. Thank you for your purchase, we wait for your next visit."
"Absolutely!"
With that, the store returns to operation and thrives for another busy day.
LUNCH TIME
**********
When the last of the customers filter out, it's time for me to announce our next activity.
"Alright, it's lunchtime, everyone."
"Yay! I've been waiting for this, Motegi-chan!"
"Finally, my stomach's been growling louder than those guys..."
"A well-earned… break, it seems…"
"I agree. We have reached peak traffic. The current time is optimal for meal consumption."
It's not only just Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, and Pinna who are excited, even Salacia also sighs with delight.
"Mmm… I can have lunch made by Darling~..."
After the girls lock the doors, they all trail behind me as we head upstairs. Arriving at the kitchen, Kimberly is the first to speak up.
"So… what shall you… make today, Motegi-sama…?"
"Something simple."
Chantal snorts.
"Heh. Anything you call 'simple' ends up blowing our taste buds away."
"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment."
Yomogi asks hopefully.
"Will you use that tofu you made, Motegi-chan?"
"Yup."
Yomogi was right, though. Just before we opened the store, I finally succeeded in making tofu by curdling soy milk with nigari I brought back from Oserin. And this morning, when I lifted the lid on the ceramic jar, I was greeted by the familiar aroma of perfectly fermented miso. Four weeks of waiting, and it paid off.
Pinna asks me next.
"You previously mentioned that the miso fermentation would take approximately four weeks. According to my logs, it has now been four weeks and one day. Will you incorporate the miso into today's dish, Master?"
"Yeah, I'll use it too."
And Salacia adds.
"Ooh... this is my first lunch in your house, darling. I'm so curious what the usual meals here are like~"
"You'll find out soon, Salacia."
I wash the rice thoroughly in the sink until the water is clear. Then I add the right amount of water and place it into the rice cooker.
From the fridge, I pull out the tofu, eggs, and a few other ingredients, setting them all on the counter.
First, I place a saucepan on the stove, drop in some pieces of kombu, and bring it to a boil. Once the bubbles rise, I remove the kombu and toss in a generous handful of katsuobushi. I lower the heat, let it simmer for just thirty seconds, then kill the flame and wait as the flakes drift to the bottom. Once they settle, I strain the liquid into a bowl for a pure, golden dashi.
I return the dashi to the pan but set aside a small spoonful in a separate bowl. As it gently reheats, I prep the rest: cutting the tofu into cubes, slicing spring onions, and whisking the eggs with a bit of sugar, salt, and the reserved dashi.
I know the usual recipe needs soy sauce, but that's still fermenting. So today, I'm using dashi. And I know it will make the egg a little hard to roll, but I think I can do it.
I oil a square pan, let it heat, then pour a thin layer of egg mixture and pop the tiny bubbles that form on the surface with chopsticks. And once the bottom sets and the top's soft but no longer runny, I roll it toward the handle. I repeat the grease, pour, and roll process for another three layers until I've got a warm, golden log, and I rest it to cool.
When the dashi is simmering, I turn off the heat and spoon in a generous portion of miso on a ladle, dissolving it slowly with a small amount of dashi before I pour it into the pan. Once it's fully blended, I add the tofu cubes, wakame, and green onions.
Finally, I slice the tamagoyaki into thick, golden pieces and fluff the perfectly steamed rice. I scoop it into bowls, ladle the miso soup into others, and arrange the sliced eggs on side plates into six trays of full sets of lunch. And then, I call out to the girls.
"Everyone, can you give me a hand?"
"Yes!"
With that, we each grab a tray and head toward the table. As we all settle around the table, we set their trays down one by one.
Yomogi leans forward with her eyes locked on the food.
"Motegi-chan… is this an omelette? And soup?"
"Yup. The omelette is called tamagoyaki, and the soup is made with miso."
Chantal picks up a slice of the egg roll, giving it a playful twirl between her chopsticks.
"Hehehe... it's kinda cute, Motegi-kun. Round, squishy, and golden."
Kimberly peers into her bowl.
"This… white cube… in the soup… is that… tofu, Motegi-sama…?"
"Correct."
Salacia's eyes sparkle as she inspects the soup.
"And this green part... you added wakame too, didn't you, darling?"
"Right again."
Pinna examines the tray as usual.
"Based on visual analysis and composition, this meal presents a low health risk. It appears nutritionally safe, Master."
"Glad to know I passed your health test, Pinna."
With that, I glance around the table.
"So, should we eat now?"
"Yes!"
With that, we reach for our chopsticks with eager hands, and the moment the first bites are taken, a wave of muffled moans follows from the girls.
"Mmmm!!"
Yomogi's cheeks puff adorably as she hums with joy.
"The egg is thick but so fluffy! It just melts in my mouth, Motegi-chan!"
Chantal's eyes widen as she slurps a spoonful of soup.
"This tofu's unreal! Silky, soft… and it's so good!"
Salacia lifts her bowl slightly, sipping delicately as she closes her eyes in delight.
"Oooh... I can taste it! The kombu, the katsuobushi... it's so gentle, but deep. This is what lunch should always be, darling!"
Kimberly dips her spoon slowly, savoring the broth.
"So… this is… miso, Motegi-sama...?"
"Yup. That's the real taste."
"I can't... describe it… but it is… so rich. Like it wraps... around your tongue… and stays..."
"Do you like it?"
"Yes… very much…"
Pinna finishes her first spoonful and gives commentary as usual.
"The tamagoyaki has a smooth texture, layered with precision. The miso soup delivers a mild salt content, tofu provides soft protein texture, and wakame contributes trace minerals. Overall, this meal is high in nutritional density and well-balanced. My initial hypothesis has been confirmed. It is both healthy… and satisfactory."
"Thanks, Pinna."
Finally, I take my own bite. The tamagoyaki is soft, fluffy, and just a little sweet. Then I follow it with a sip of the miso soup, letting the warmth spread instantly, rich and comforting.
"Mmh… that's good."
Honestly, I'm delighted.
The miso I made from scratch with kōji I cultivated myself actually turned out right. And I think Oserin also deserves some real gratitude because without the nigari, kombu, wakame, and katsuobushi they shared, none of this would have been possible, as dashi and tofu rely on ingredients that didn't exist here until recently.
And with everything else still stocked in the fridge — the seafood, coconut products, and even the sheets of nori — waiting to be turned into something wonderful, I can already feel ideas swirling in my head for our next culinary delight.
MINUTES LATER
After we finish our lunch, I let our stomachs settle and relax. As the girls sit back and lounge, I slip away and head for the terrace garden.
Arriving there, I look after my plants I grow with [Seedless]. From dahlias and sunflowers to potatoes and corn, to tomatoes and chilies, to strawberries and cacao.
But still, I can do better.
"Hmm... I think I have to add more..."
With that, I press both palms into the soil bed and imagine the things I want.
"[Seedless]!"
As always, there's no flashy effect, but I know it will work.
The first thing that I want is cacti. I don't know why, but I can picture how the girls will react, maybe they will call the odd little shapes and their tiny thorns cute. And Pinna will definitely analyze its water retention too.
Then the last one is sweet potatoes, and it's obvious because I've been craving roasted sweet potatoes like crazy. Soft, sweet, and caramelized, and just thinking about it makes me hungry again. So yeah, why not grow it too?
Once my business here is done, I head back inside, and the moment I return to the dining table, I speak up to the girls.
"So, should we reopen the store now?"
"Yes!"
And with that, we descend together, ready to welcome the next wave of customers and keep the day rolling.