kscans

Chapter 80 - Chapter 1. Culture Gap

It felt as if the flavor spreading across my tongue bypassed my brain entirely, reaching something even deeper inside me. I see. So there really is such a thing as memories etched into your very soul.

In my past life, I loved wagashi, traditional Japanese confections.

I could have eaten countless pieces of that famous confection from Ise, the soft white mochi enveloped in a generous amount of wavy red bean paste. I loved it so much, I am sure they must have offered some at my funeral.

The mere sight of gentle white bean paste wrapped in a soft gyuhi dough was enough to make my face relax into a smile. For coarse bean paste, nothing beats monaka wafers. Though I generally preferred the smooth paste, it was my firm belief that monaka were made for the coarse kind.

It has been over a decade since I regained my senses after reincarnating. I thought I had long since forgotten my craving for wagashi. But this anko has brought it all rushing back completely.

"Mia, how do we get this Ricardo to return to us?"

"My apologies, Your Grace. I did not expect him to be so easily... well, his reaction is a bit much. He is not even pretending to be a strategist anymore."

"I see. Then you shall explain in his stead. You are a co-owner, after all."

"...As you wish."

I felt like they were saying something vaguely rude behind me, but I did not care.

"Hey, get away from Natalie. And Natalie, why are you, you know, feeding each other the same thing?"

A golden tail swishing before my eyes pulled me back to reality.

"Huh? Oh, sorry."

"Oh, ah, ah! N-no, it is not like that! I just wanted to prove I did not put anything strange in my jam."

I was pulled away by Natalie's companion.

"Ricardo-kun."

"H-haha, well, it was just so delicious that I got a little carried away."

A worried-looking Alfina peered into my face. For a moment, I saw something in the depths of her eyes that seemed out of place for her. I raised both my hands like a salaryman wrongly accused of being a pervert.

"Is this sweet really that good?" Plural asked, tilting her head. She must have been interested because it used sugar.

"I suppose so. It looks a bit odd, but for Vinder to go that far."

"Indeed." "...I can't believe she made jam out of beans, but it is Vinder we're talking about..."

The members of Central Garden started gathering around me.

"That's right, you all have to try it. Um, Natalie-san. I will pay, so could you let everyone have a taste?" I said. It might not look great, but they would understand its value once they ate it. I was sure someone like Plural would be all over it.

When I took a gold coin from my wallet, Natalie shook her head with a startled look on her face.

"It is four copper coins each."

About four hundred yen per piece. Not a price commoners could casually afford. In Japan, that would be the price of a high-end wagashi. However, considering the sugar content, the profit margin must be quite tight.

While Natalie took out more bread spread with the bean paste from her basket, I swapped the gold coin for a silver one.

"Here, have a bite."

I waited for the reactions from the Central Garden members. Alfina was the first to take a bite, followed by Plural. Seeing them, the other members also began to eat. And then...

"......" "......" "......" "......" "......"

All five of them either tilted their heads or grimaced. Huh, this isn't the reaction I was expecting.

"It is the texture. The skins of these beans stick to the inside of my mouth, and it is a little unpleasant."

"Hmm. Vinder was raving about it, so I had high expectations, but I think fruit jam tastes better."

"I agree. I prefer French...... honey...... I'm sorry," Alfina said apologetically.

"As someone who deals in confections, let me be blunt. It is not sweet enough. That distinct beany flavor is ruining the expensive sugar, and it clashes with the bread."

"...Ah, the Plural Company."

Natalie's face stiffened when she saw the emblem of the renowned Plural Company.

"No, that gentle sweetness is what makes it so good."

No one responded to my rebuttal. Wait, what? What is going on?

"...I might not hate it that much. But. I think I would still rather eat the beans normally."

Even the quiet daughter of the vegetable merchant, Belmini, had a mixed reaction.

"I knew it was a trap. Sure, it might be an acquired taste at first. But once you get used to it, its flavor is so much better than fruit. There is nothing else like it."

Vinaldira's words made me remember. Even I, a wagashi aficionado, preferred ice cream and cake and other Western sweets when I was a child. Besides, this world is very Western in its culture, as symbolized by bread. Perhaps this was a culture gap.

"...Thank you for trying it."

While I was cursing the non-existence of rice, Natalie turned to leave with a somber expression.

"No, it is too early to give up."

I desperately called out to stop her. Besides me, two others, Natalie and this Vinaldira, understood the deliciousness of anko. There had to be potential.

"R-really?"

"Y-yeah, we can definitely make it more delicious. Anko... making beans sweet is justice!"

"J-justice? Yes, you are right. That is what I have always thought while making it."

"I will lend you my strength, so..."

"I am against it. Who knows what he will do to you if you rely on someone like him."

Vinaldira hastily stepped between Natalie and me. Natalie looked back and forth between my face and her friend's.

"Thank you, Vina. But I want to trust the look on this person's face when he ate my jam. Look..."

Natalie pointed to the side of her own mouth with her index finger.

"You still have some jam on your face."

"Ah, whoa. Haha."

I hurriedly wiped my mouth. Then, I turned to face Natalie again.

"Ahem. Um, I am Ricardo Vinder. I look forward to working with you."

This was the start of a new project. As an angel investor, I was going to make this anko venture a success. I would spread the taste of Japan throughout the kingdom.

"Putting Vinder's judgment aside, you need to properly explain this to Mia," Rilka said. Beside her, Belmini nodded emphatically.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course, since it'll be part of our business."

"Um, Ricardo-kun. This is strictly about the jam and... business, right?" Alfina asked, tugging on my sleeve.

"Ah, yes, that is right..."

"............I understand. As a shareholder, I will cooperate as well."

Alfina said, gripping my sleeve tightly.

"See, I knew it. This guy is..."

The sharpness in Vinaldira's eyes intensified. I felt a new kind of wariness dwelling in them now.

"...Another victim is born," Belmini muttered under her breath. Victim? What was she talking about?

Right, Belmini was the only one who did not completely deny the potential of anko. She has promise. I will have to ask her to take on a suitable role.