Chapter 19 The First Sale
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next day, we opened our tableware stall.
Since the items were fine pottery, I prepared wooden crates and padding to sell them as luxury goods. I set the starting price at one Small Gold Coin¹-a staggering sum-but the girls insisted that those with a discerning eye would gladly pay even more.
I painted the brand name above the pushcart: Sha-sha.
It was a portmanteau of Charlotte and Lisha. As a mark of our brand, I engraved a cute kitten seal on the base of every piece. Though the two of them were incredibly bashful about it, they seemed to love the design.
I took my spot at the storefront, but naturally, nobody came. No one even ventured close enough to see the products.
”Nobody knows who we are yet. It can’t be helped,” I said, trying to soothe their nerves.
I sat down to relax, hoping that if I stayed calm, they wouldn’t get unnecessarily anxious. I pulled up my skill screen and started tinkering. I wanted to show them there was no reason to panic, but I actually had something in mind-something that sat at the very top of my priority list.
I was craving the staples of Japanese flavor: soy sauce and miso. With those two, I could recreate almost all my favorite dishes. I live to eat, and I refuse to compromise on my palate. Soy sauce and miso were non-negotiable.
I recalled the process. Steam the soybeans, roast the wheat. Cultivate the koji², mix it with brine to create the moromi³ mash, then press and boil. I remembered hearing it takes ages, and it certainly drained a massive amount of my Mana, but I pushed through.
The koji stage was quick, but the moromi really ate into my reserves. The rest happened in a heartbeat. Soon, I had fifty kilograms of finished soy sauce. I took a quick taste.
Yep, that’s the stuff. It was legitimately delicious.
Now I wanted to test it out. My mind immediately went to ramen, and once the thought took hold, I couldn’t stop. I had the ingredients. Wheat for noodles, Orc bones and vegetables for a bone broth, and sesame for oil. I already had salt and pepper. I lacked oyster sauce for that extra punch, but I could live without the secret ingredients for now.
I ran everything through my Processing⁴ skill. I crafted deep ceramic bowls and carved sets of wooden chopsticks. I ended up making enough for five thousand servings. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right-I’d eat this until it came out of my ears.
I set the steaming bowls in front of the girls. Since they weren’t used to chopsticks, I gave them forks and spoons.
”This is a favorite from my hometown,” I explained. “I wanted you two to try it.”
”Oh! It smells wonderful!” Charlotte cried.
”Gulp…! Ibuki-sama, this soup is divine desuwa!” Lisha squealed.
Lisha was even more hooked than Charlotte. She polished off every drop of broth and immediately asked for seconds. While we were making a scene of our meal, a young girl approached. She looked about thirteen-maybe two or three years younger than me.
”Um… how much for that?” she asked, her eyes glued to the bowls. “It smells so good… if it’s cheap, I’d love to buy some.”
”Well, it’s not really for sale… but if you’re that hungry, give me five copper coins.”
”P-please! I’ve never smelled anything like this, but it looks too good to pass up!”
I prepped a bowl for her and pulled her over to our side of the stall.
”Here you go. Don’t ask for the recipe, though.”
”Thank you! Gulp…!”
The moment the noodles hit her tongue, her entire body jolted. She froze.
”Hey, you okay?” I asked.
Her eyes snapped open, and she began inhaling the noodles with terrifying speed. The bowl was empty in seconds. She looked up at me, wide-eyed.
”Can I have another? Please?”
”Kid, we’re a tableware shop. Look at the sign.”
”Ugh… if this was the last one, I should have savored it…” The girl actually started to tear up.
”I know the feeling,” Lisha said with a sympathetic nod. “It’s so delicious I couldn’t stop my hands either.”
”Right!?” the girl wailed.
The two of them were really hitting it off. I rolled my eyes and, while keeping my hands out of sight, produced a massive plate of fries. I set it on the table with a heavy thump.
”Fine, here’s a snack. You can have some too, kid. They’re just cheap potatoes,” I said, giving her the green light.
For some reason, potatoes were dirt cheap in this world. I could give them away for free without a second thought. They probably grow like weeds here.
As they sat there crunching on the fries, the commotion drew a crowd.
”Whoa, those prices are steep. I’m sure it’s quality work, but man…” A cool-looking woman in traveler’s gear winced at the tag.
However, the merchant woman next to her shook her head.
”Actually, for this craftsmanship? It’s a bargain. Honestly, it’s too cheap. A street stall isn’t the right venue for this level of work.”
”Heh, if a merchant like you says it’s a steal, it must be the real deal. Maybe I’ll grab one.”
”Don’t bother unless you’re actually going to use it,” the merchant replied. “The resale margin isn’t worth the effort. You’d only flip it for a coin or two.”
”Nah, I thought it’d make a nice souvenir for the folks back home.”
”Oh, in that case, they’ll love it.”
The two women chatted for a bit before looking over at us.
”What’s that you’re eating?” they asked, eyeing the fries.
”Fried potatoes. Want some?” I offered.
The cool-looking traveler didn’t hesitate; she reached out and popped one into her mouth.
”Whoa! This is amazing! Can I have more?”
”Help yourself. They’re just potatoes.”
She kept munching, and her merchant friend joined in. Before long, both were reaching for more.
”Hey, Mr. Smith, why aren’t you selling these?” the traveler asked. “You’d have a line around the block.”
”I mean, I could, but I’m a ceramicist by trade…”
”Ah, sorry. Now that you mention it, these pieces you have out are world-class.”
”He’s right,” Lisha added. “One sale here is worth a hundred times what you’d make off a snack stand.”
The two women each bought a plate. I was in such a good mood from the first sale of my own work that I threw in an extra piece as a “first customer” bonus.
”Yes! We actually sold something I made!”
”They are exquisite, Ibuki-sama. It was only a matter of time!” Charlotte said, and we shared a triumphant high-five.
Amidst the celebration, the young girl was staring up at me.
”Listen! I’ll serve you for the night if you just give me one more bowl!” she shouted.
Lisha’s expression went cold. “You… you little…”
”Isn’t that backward!?” Lisha scolded. “Usually, you provide service in exchange for being taken care of! How can you offer ‘service’ and then demand more food on top of it!?”
”Ugh… but I want more… and I’m out of money…”
Lisha let out a long sigh.
”Ibuki-sama, you mustn’t be too soft on those who abandon reason. If we’re going to stay in this town, we can’t let people think they can walk all over us.”
”Yeah, fair point. Alright, kid. If you want more ramen, you’ve gotta earn it. Get to work.”
”Wait, really?! What do I have to do?! Also, what’s a ‘kid’?”
”You actually want to work? Fine… what can you do?”
”Um, well, I’m okay with a sword… but I’m still a student, so I haven’t been on any real hunts yet.”
As it turned out, the girl was a student at the Knight Academy⁵ in the Royal Capital, currently on her way home for break.
”Wait, are you a noble’s daughter?” I asked.
”Ahaha, not a fancy one! But yeah, my family has a title. I’m just a trainee, so people call me a ‘quasi-noble,’ but since we’re direct retainers, we’re officially nobles!”
Direct retainers, rear vassals… the hierarchy is a mess. I didn’t plan on getting involved.
”If you’re a noble lady, shouldn’t you be used to high-end food?”
”Our village is tiny! We don’t have anything fancy! When my mom brings home a big catch, we eat well, but that’s it. That’s why I’m going to be a Knight!” She puffed out her chest with pride.
”Still, a noble daughter shouldn’t be offering ‘night services’ for a bowl of noodles. Is that even allowed?” I looked to Lisha and Charlotte.
”It is absolutely not,” Charlotte said firmly.
”Indeed,” Lisha added. “In noble houses, marriages are decided by the head of the family.”
”Well, as long as I don’t get married, it’s fine, right?” the girl asked.
”No. Purity is paramount for noble brides. It’s a deal-breaker,” Lisha explained.
”Oh. Well, whatever! I’ll work! What do I do!?”
”Right. You help us mind the stall. Stay until just after lunch, and I’ll give you another bowl.”
”Deal!” she shouted, throwing her hand up.
”Ibuki-sama, you are too kind,” Lisha said, giving me a worried look.
”It’s fine. We can’t give out handouts, but if she puts in some time, a bowl of ramen is a fair wage.”
”You call sitting around ‘working,’ do you?”
Mostly, I just thought she was funny. But as long as she was “earning” it, the optics were fine.
”By the way, what’s your name?”
”Ivy. But you can just call me Ai.”
”Got it. I’m Ibuki. Nice to meet you, Ai-boy.”
”Wait, is that a pun on ‘Partner’?”
”Nope. Just calling you a little boy.”
”Hey!”
She was fun to tease. I patted her head while she grumbled. Over the next hour, more people stopped by, but most balked at the prices.
”Maybe they really are too expensive…”
”The quality justifies the price, Ibuki-sama,” Charlotte reassured me.
”I’m telling you, you should just sell both! The ramen and the potatoes!” Ivy chimed in.
”And what about the pottery!?” I snapped back.
She just gave me a cheeky grin.
”Hey, Charlotte. This little disaster is starting to grow on me. What am I gonna do?”
”Um, taking home a noble’s daughter might be a bit complicated…”
Ivy’s face went bright red when she overheard that.
”Oh, no, not like that,” I clarified. “I mean she’s like a stray neighborhood kid.”
Suddenly, Ivy lunged forward and bit my arm.
”Ow! You little brat! What was that for!?”
I gave her a noogie until she was giggling. She was definitely like a little sister.
”Kids are great, aren’t they?” I muttered.
”Why are you talking like an old man!? We’re practically the same age!”
”Not even close. I’m running a business and supporting myself. You’re a student begging me for a meal. The gap between us is an ocean, kid. Fuhaha! Argue with that if you can!”
Ivy made a frustrated face, unable to find a comeback. Meanwhile, the girls pressed in close to me.
”S-should we… make a baby then?” Charlotte whispered.
”I’m ready whenever you are,” Lisha added.
”Wha- I mean, sure, but let’s wait until we have a permanent house… though I do want them soon.”
Ivy watched us and scoffed. “A ‘big baby’? That’s just pathetic.”
That one actually stung. I immediately straightened up.
”Aww, but you were being so cute,” Charlotte teased.
Finally, another customer approached.
”Excuse me… may I see this one?” a woman asked.
”Of course. That one is three Small Gold Coins.”
”I’ll take it.”
Another sale. Just like that.
”See? It sold again.”
”Everyone wants them, Ibuki-sama. They are beautiful,” Lisha said.
”I still think three gold coins is crazy,” Ivy muttered. “I’d rather buy food!”
She was a bit of a buzzkill. I decided to feed her and get her on her way. I pulled out a bowl of ramen and set it in front of her.
”There. You earned it. Now eat and get going.”
”Oh! Thank you!”
She dove in, and once she was full, she finally left.
”I’m glad,” Lisha sighed. “I was worried you’d try to bring her with us.”
”Seriously. She’s a handful…” Charlotte agreed.
”Yeah, well. We’ve gotta be picky about our circle.”
The girls nodded.
We only had three customers all day, but as I packed up, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. It was a good start.
—
Summary:
Ibuki officially launches his tableware brand, Sha-sha. To boost morale and satisfy his own cravings, he uses his Crafter skills to mass-produce soy sauce and ramen. He hires a hungry noble-born knight student named Ivy as temporary help, and manages to make a few high-value sales to traveling merchants.
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Trivia:
- The brand name Sha-sha is a portmanteau of Charlotte and Lisha.
- Ibuki created 5,000 servings of ramen in a single session.
- Potatoes are noted as being exceptionally cheap in this world due to high yields.
- Ivy is technically a noble (direct retainer), even if she acts like a ‘bratty’ commoner.
- A Small Gold Coin is a high-value currency unit, making one plate an expensive luxury
—
Character Insight:
Ibuki shows a mix of entrepreneurial focus and a soft spot for ‘neighborhood kids’ like Ivy. Lisha shows her strict adherence to noble logic, being the one to point out the social risks Ivy is taking.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ramen-as-isekai-bridge trope is a staple, but the focus here is on the industrial-scale creation using the Crafter class.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Charlotte – Short, skinny late‑teen slave girl with messy brown hair, feline eyes, and a soft, slender body. Was an Ex‑Level 8 farmer, now Level 10 and bound to Ibuki, who she calls “Master” and calls herself his wife. Wears rags at first, then pretty clothes he makes, plus his bat‑wing hairband. Blushy, clingy, protective, and easily emotional, she follows him on runs, fights, and flights while always worrying if she’s useful enough.
• Lisha – Mature‑looking native woman with a soft “big‑sister” vibe, a big, bon‑kyu‑bon chest, and an hourglass figure. Polite, domestic, and secretly shy, she treats being with Ibuki as a blessing and quietly fixes the bedding after they’re done. A skilled cook, hot‑spring lover, and “doer” who melts when others take control. She’s the Guildmaster and receptionist/butcher for the Hasshi Subjugator Guild, good friends with Collet, and lets Ibuki and Charlotte stay at her place, worrying about his safety while torn between duty and her feelings for him. Has a younger sister and family in a nearby town.
• Ibuki – Broke high‑schooler from Earth who got tossed into another world with the “Crafter” class he first thought was useless—turns out it’s totally busted. Black‑haired, germaphobic, and low‑key bitter but sharp as hell. Uses Synthesis, Processing, and Inventory skills to survive, craft gear, and haul loot while exploring. Currently a Level 10 otherworlder, wielding a stone axe, traveling the frontier forest with Charlotte, and just trying to stay alive long enough to find a bit of peace.
• Ivy – A thirteen-year-old student at the Knight Academy in the Royal Capital. A direct retainer of a minor noble house. Blue-collar noble vibes.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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