Chapter 34
Chapter 34
‘Chapter 6. Vanilla Ice Cream’
The phrase I thought of most often since coming to Luwin was “Even a ruined rich family can last for three generations.”
At first, I pitied Cassis, wondering how he would manage after going completely bankrupt.
I still click my tongue sometimes.
How does one go bankrupt like this?
But as I worked and directly faced Cassis’s inner workings, it was better than I thought.
The connections and know-how that a long-standing noble family possesses are not something to be ignored.
Doors that would never have opened if I had knocked with the name of the Seike County opened when I visited in the name of the Grand Duke Luwin family.
The heads of families, their heirs, or those with real power would meet me.
[That makes a big difference.]
‘That’s right. For me, the opportunity to meet and persuade even once is important.’
Moreover, the title of the empire’s only ‘Grand Duke’ family was powerful within the empire.
Even if the imperial family tried to ostracize Luwin.
“That’s why working feels rewarding.”
Even if the tangible results are meager, I can see them.
“Then that’s good. I was worried that Irina might run away immediately.”
“Oh, really?”
“But you’ve adapted better than expected.”
“Haha, I hear that a lot.”
Roen nodded.
“That’s the attitude I’m talking about.”
Roen sat across from me and handed over a document.
The document was part of a copy of the contract I had signed with the Grand Duke Luwin family.
“There are three tasks we required from Irina when we signed the contract.”
The place Roen pointed to clearly stated those three tasks.
[Reorganize the existing industries of the Luwin family.
Propose and launch sustainable new businesses.
Repay Luwin’s debts and restore the honor of the Grand Duke family.]
What a modern contract this is.
“Is it okay to consider the first task resolved?”
“Yes. You solved it faster and more excellently than expected.”
I snorted at the slightly admiring tone.
“If someone couldn’t do that much, they shouldn’t come to the North.”
So now I have two things left.
To repay the debt in the third condition, I need to proceed based on the second condition.
“Thanks to the framework you’ve set, work has become easier.”
I understood what Roen was trying to say.
“Now you should be able to continue the existing internal management well even without me.”
“Yes, we’ve selected a suitable person. After the handover, please focus all your efforts on planning the new business.”
“Did you choose the right person?”
Maybe because I kept saying things like personnel is the most important, people represent the family, and such every day. Roen shuddered.
“We chose an academy graduate, regardless of status and gender.”
“And did they do well in the interview?”
“Yes.”
So now it’s really time to find a new business item.
[You’ve found it.]
[Ice cream.]
After parting with Roen, I spread out a notebook and collapsed on the table.
“What kind of business can I do with ice cream? Won’t it just become a neighborhood corner store?”
If this were a ‘I’ll just barely survive on my own!’ kind of mindset, setting up a cute and pretty ice cream shop would be fine.
I checked my current debt.
[SYSTEM | 99,992,310 jurang left until debt repayment.]
But if I have to repay a debt of 99,992,310 jurang by selling this ice cream, it’s a different story.
[Anyway, you’re the only one who can make and sell this ice cream.]
“Monopoly is good.”
Since it’s a monopoly, it will sell well.
But from convincing people who don’t know much about the existence of ‘ice cream’ to production, distribution, and promotion.
I wasn’t confident.
“It’s not easy to create a concept from scratch that didn’t exist before.”
Especially in an era where information doesn’t spread quickly.
[Then is it easier to start again in a market where many businesses have already entered, like wine?]
“…”
That’s definitely not the case.
I started looking for ways to persuade the system that was pushing the ‘New Business Item: Ice Cream’ popup window while holding my head.
“There’s one big problem with pushing ice cream as a family’s core business.”
[Let’s hear it.]
“For it to become a family’s core business in the first place, it needs to be sustainable, right?”
In other words, the business should run even without me.
Even if I die in an unfortunate accident, the company should continue.
“But this ‘cooking skill’ is mine, isn’t it? Without me, that business becomes meaningless.”
Also, the life of an industry is very long.
Let’s take the example of 21st century Earth.
Many world-famous companies had histories of over 100 years.
The founder couldn’t possibly maintain that for 100 years.
Even if the founder dies, even if the company is sold, it should be able to maintain the industry and continue to generate profits.
[So what you’re saying is that the ‘cooking skill’ should become Luwin’s skill, not yours.]
“That’s right.”
I can’t just cut off my ability and give it to Luwin.
“If that part can be resolved, I think we can give it a try.”
For a food product, if it’s a monopoly, once it’s established, there’s no worry about failing.
[But Irina. That’s a story for the distant future, isn’t it?]
[Right. Usually, these things start from a corner store.]
‘So I’m saying that it starts from a corner store, but growth beyond a certain level is impossible.’
There will definitely be a limit to the amount I can handle alone.
[Irina. There’s no guarantee anywhere that you can succeed to that extent.]
I closed my mouth at those words that pierced my heart.
I know that well too, but hearing such things from the system wasn’t without impact.
[So you have to do it first. Whether it works or not.]
I lowered my head and stared at the debt I had scribbled in my notebook.
99,992,310 jurang.
“…Alright. Let’s think lightly about it, I guess.”
It’s just giving it a try.
Let’s not think too deeply about it.
At that moment, there was a knock and Betty entered.
“Irina, refreshments are ready.”
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes, the master and young master Lemiere are in the reception room.”
I don’t understand why they care so much about me, who’s just a mere employee.
* * *
“You said you were going to the capital for a while, but you came back so soon?”
“It seems Irina doesn’t like that I’m back already.”
Oops, did my true feelings show?
“Of course not.”
Isiel said he was going to the capital for a while because he was summoned by the imperial family, but he returned to Luwin in less than a week.
I heard he was the heir to Lemiere, but I doubted if he really was the heir.
He doesn’t work at all.
My gaze must have given my thoughts away, because Isiel made an excuse.
“This time I brought my secretary and work with me.”
“…I see.”
Shortly after I sat down, a maid came up with a tray.
It was ice cream in pretty glass bowls.
Since executing the recipe for the first time, I had been trying ice cream day and night, but unfortunately, they all failed.
As a result, my proficiency is currently…
[>Successfully cook C+ grade dishes 30 times. (2/30)
>Fail cooking higher grade dishes 1,000 times. (34/1,000)]
This is how it looked.
The day I first made ice cream.
I happily took some to meet Cassis, but he was away.
In the end, only Apple and I tasted my masterpiece(!) ice cream.
Today was the day I succeeded after that.
This morning, as usual, I sat in the kitchen with my eyes barely open, threw in ingredients randomly and used the skill, and it succeeded like this.
I asked Apple to bake some fruit or waffles to serve with it.
But he refused, saying we should enjoy the pure taste of ice cream.
“Is this the dessert Irina was so proud of?”
“Yes! It’s ice cream.”
Cassis took his share of the glass and spoon, and Isiel, with a face full of curiosity, examined the ice cream on the tray for a long time.
“If you don’t eat it quickly, it’ll melt.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Of course. Because I made it.”
Know that you’re lucky.
I was originally going to give it only to Cassis, but Isiel returned from the capital at the right time.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
I watched them with a heart full of expectation, worry, and excitement.
Putting aside complicated things like business, I wanted to introduce the food I once enjoyed. As much as I cherished and liked it, I hoped everyone in this world would enjoy it too.
Since they’re both people who have grown up eating only gourmet food since childhood, I think they’ll properly evaluate this ice cream.
“…!”
“Oh!”
They both ate another spoonful of ice cream with slightly surprised faces.
Only after confirming their expressions could I smile happily.
“It’s delicious, right!”
“Yes, it’s a really interesting texture.”
Cassis said as he scooped the ice cream with his spoon.
The spoon, slightly larger than a teaspoon, gently split the white ice cream.
“It’s like frozen fresh milk cream.”
“That’s why it’s called ice cream.”
Cassis seemed to be purely admiring the taste itself.
Recently, the dark circles under Cassis’s eyes have deepened, and it seemed like he was only eating essential nutrients out of obligation, so it was nice to see him enjoying something so genuinely.
I turned my head to check on Isiel, the self-proclaimed gourmet.
“…”
He was holding the cup with one hand and the spoon with the other, with an enraptured face.
He took a bite and marveled, then took another bite and had eyes full of love, and repeated taking another bite.
[He seems to like it.]
“Irina! How did you make this?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
[Say it’s a business secret.]
“It’s a business secret.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Isiel’s eyes changed dramatically.
“Are you going to sell this?”
[‘Well, I’m not sure’, say that.]
“Well, I’m not sure.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Isiel stood up abruptly and said.
“Sell it to me!”
Cassis and I sat in our seats and looked up at Isiel who had stood up suddenly.
He was really excited, his white cheeks flushed red.
He’s usually a very light and fluttering person, but not one to get excited easily.
It was the first time seeing such a person get excited.
I calmly responded to the excited Isiel.
“I always think, people who love cooking must really like Mr. Isiel.”
Is that why Apple likes Isiel?
These days, Apple’s hobby is mastering Isiel’s cookies.
Even I, who was hopeless, can make such excellent cookies, so he says that Isiel, with his gourmet palate, should be able to make something even more amazing.
And Isiel seems to quite enjoy kneading the dough.
“That’s not the issue, Irina.”
“Please calm down and sit down to talk.”
“I’ve tried eating everything I could find everywhere I’ve been. I’m not picky about ingredients.”
That seems likely.
Even the strongly flavored Eastern foods that Apple occasionally makes for fun, Isiel tends to enjoy well.
“But this is a first. You don’t get this texture by just mixing milk with sugar and freezing it.”
“Is that so?”
“You don’t get this texture by freezing cream.”
He leaned on the table and looked at Cassis and me, saying:
“I swear on the name of Lemiere, I’ll give you enough money that you won’t regret it. Sell me the recipe.”
What?
He’ll give me money he won’t regret?
“Really? Then I’ll sell it for 99,999,231 jurang!”
[Aah Irina don’t sell it no!]
As soon as I finished speaking, the system started typing chat messages furiously.
The screen in front of my eyes started scrolling down at an incredible speed.
I first closed the chat window and looked back at Isiel.
“…Shall we talk again?”
“How much were you thinking?”
“Um… I was thinking about 1 million jurang.”
I quietly closed my mouth.
He wants to buy my recipe for just 1 million jurang.
Thinking of the giant ice cream corporations dominating the 21st century Earth, 1 million jurang was too cheap.
[Right, that’s why you need to do business.]
[What are you selling?]
“It seems too cheap.”
“Our Irina is quite greedy, isn’t she?”
“It’s not that, but…”
I was about to say something more but stopped.
It’s not that, but with 1 million jurang I can only pay off 1/100 of the debt.
While I was sitting there feeling dejected, Isiel came a bit closer as if to persuade me and started explaining something.
But not to be outdone, the system also urgently popped up a quest window.
[SYSTEM | The quest ‘Ice Cream Selling Girl’ has arrived.]
