From New Year’s to spring, ‘Skylark Pavilion’ increases its closed days.
There are two reasons: customer traffic and ingredient costs.
The city of Sidera heavily relies on the resources of the ‘Void Forest’ for its economy. So, during winter, when the game in the forest dwindles, the flow of money slows down. People stop indulging in luxuries and avoid eating out, which causes a significant drop in customers at cafés.
This is also the time when food rationing takes place. It wouldn’t make sense to run out of food by indulging while game is scarce. Rationing means the cost of ingredients skyrockets, forcing restaurants to take countermeasures.
To cope with this, Sidera’s restaurants, including Skylark Pavilion, increase their closed days and rotate their business days together.
Even with fewer customers, if there are only a few open restaurants, the number of patrons per establishment can be maintained. By operating only a few days a week, they can offer their goods without raising prices, despite rising ingredient costs.
Of course, some places are more popular than others, and there will be disparities in revenue. However, this system is organized by the Guild of Tea Houses, and subsidies are provided based on the size of each establishment, so no major problems arise.
—That said.
With more days off, the poster girl of Skylark Pavilion found herself with time on her hands.
On top of that, she’s newly married. She’s in the honeymoon phase, where spending time with her beloved husband is the most enjoyable thing.
Naturally, she knows exactly what to do.
Yes.
It’s time to experiment with cakes.
※※※
「…You know, just because you have time off, doesn’t mean flour and sugar are cheap.」
Schnei frowned as he stuck his head into the kitchen, which was filled with a sweet aroma. Inside, his wife hummed cheerfully as she baked yet another cake.
「It’s fine, isn’t it? I’m paying for it with my own earnings.」
「Well, that’s true, but…」
Without even turning around, Tomoe waved her hand dismissively.
「But I’m the one who has to finish all that cake, you know.」
「No problem. Even if you’re full, there are still plenty of mouths eager for it.」
If the two of them couldn’t finish it, the leftovers would all be forced onto Tomoe’s siblings. They lived just a five-minute walk away and were often summoned via communication crystal.
Despite this, Schnei’s frown softened into a smile.
「I forgot to greet you. I’m home.」
「You’re late with your greeting. Welcome home.」
Finally, Tomoe turned around, and they met halfway, sharing a kiss.
Her lips tasted of cinnamon and pomegranate.
「Go change your clothes.」
「Got it.」
When Schnei got married, he renovated his house.
It was a house he’d built near Tomoe’s family home. After climbing the ranks as an adventurer and earning a decent income, he’d dreamed of getting married someday, so he made the house a bit larger than necessary—though he hadn’t told Tomoe this. The consequence of making such a selfish decision without consulting her came when they got married.
In short, there was no space for baking equipment or a pantry to store ingredients. Not to mention, no room for future children. All of Tomoe’s desires had been ignored. He couldn’t help but feel foolish.
「How was it today?」
As he changed in their room, a voice came from behind.
He answered while taking off his jacket.
「Ah, same as always… but it’s tough without the captain around.」
Schnei had been out working in the forest.
Not gathering or hunting, though. He was hired by the guild to train the next generation.
He took pride in his scouting skills, which were second to none, especially in the Void Forest. So, during this slow season, the guild often asked him to teach survival skills to rookie adventurers.
Schnei didn’t want them to die young, so he agreed whenever he could. Today, he’d been training the greenhorns in the forest.
「Did the young ones not listen to you?」
「Yeah, pretty much.」
「Well, you’re not exactly the friendly type, dear. Berde-san may look intimidating, but he’s got charm.」
「That’s not the only reason…」
He muttered under his breath. The rookies being unusually defiant today wasn’t just because Berde wasn’t there or because of his own stern face.
It was because they were regulars at Skylark Pavilion.
「…Why are you staring at me?」
「Because you’re beautiful.」
「Huh? W-what are you saying all of a sudden?!」
Schnei gently brushed her cheek with his hand before leaving the room.
Everyone knew that Schnei had won the heart of Skylark Pavilion’s poster girl. Their childhood friendship was well-known to longtime regulars, and most of them, through tears, had offered their blessings with phrases like, ‘As long as Tomoe-san is happy!’. Of course, Tomoe herself had always been polite to customers, but she never gave anyone the wrong idea or led them on. So, outwardly, there hadn’t been much fuss… but.
「There’s always someone who’ll get the wrong idea. And it’s always the young ones.」
He didn’t mind if they resented or even hated him. He wouldn’t care if they held a grudge. But when they start showing obvious attitude on the job, it becomes a problem.
Even with their own lives on the line, they let their foolish emotions get the better of them, defying him and refusing to take his teachings seriously. He’d already given them a thorough scolding and reported it to the guild master, Cliche, but he was still a little concerned.
「Just be careful when you’re out and about.」
「Oh… so that’s what this is about.」
Sitting at the dining table, Tomoe shrugged, as if everything made sense now.
「No need to worry. I’m not weak enough to be trifled with by some low-level adventurers.」
「I know, but still…」
「And have you forgotten?」
Tomoe raised her left hand, showing the ring on her ring finger as if to remind him.
「I have this, after all.」
The same ring gleamed on Schnei’s left hand as well.
The rings were crafted by Novium, and enchanted by Sui, making them far more powerful than anything an ordinary civilian would ever possess.
Forged by a master with the title of ‘Iron’ and finished by the forest guardian, the ring was a magic tool. Tomoe, though a mage who used magic for her baking, was fairly average in terms of skill. But thanks to the ring, her abilities had been boosted to rival that of a high-ranking ‘Priest’. If any of those young fools tried to mess with her, they’d surely regret it.
「We can never thank Sui enough.」
「Indeed. That’s why we need to repay her. Our target is the ‘Snow Melting’ festival. …I’m going to surprise everyone with a brand-new creation.」
Once they finished their meal, cake awaited them.
As always, Schnei would be the one to taste-test it. Ever since they were young, Tomoe wouldn’t be satisfied with any new recipe unless Schnei declared it ‘delicious’ even though he didn’t consider his own taste buds anything special.
As he sliced into his meat with a knife, Schnei smiled at his beloved wife.
「That sounds exciting. I’ll have to step up my game too.」
Though winter was often a slow season, it looked like this year would be anything but boring.
——————————————————
As for those brats who had been giving Schnei attitude out of jealousy, Guild Master Cliche made sure to discipline them thoroughly, and nothing Schnei had worried about came to pass.
Despite always being worn out by Sui and the others, the Guild Master was still a former apprentice of a witch and incredibly powerful by normal standards.
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