CHAPTER 1
✦ ✦ ✦
The fourth month of 920 E.C.—
In the newly-formed Pelfe region of the Principality of Wiltia stood the small mining town of Organbaelz, and on the edge of that town was a bakery called Tockerbrot.
It had opened a year ago and was now in danger of going out of business.
“There we go! It looks great. Here Jacob, have a taste!”
Inside of Tockerbrot, the young owner passed his newest, fresh-from-the-oven creation to the young boy, Jacob, one of the owner’s few friends and a regular customer.
“Munch, munch … hmm, what is this?” Jacob asked, as he bit into the enticingly-fragranced bread.
There was a sweet paste packed into the soft, fresh bread.
“You like it? It’s an invention from the east, called anpan. It’s filled with a paste made from sweet, boiled beans. Over there it’s known as a type of sweet roll.”
The baker had learned this from an acquaintance from the Far East during the war.
“It’s intriguing, isn’t it? This is the kind of bread that a country of rice-eating people comes up with. Even the yeast they use is different; they ferment rice to make something called ‘kome-koji’ and use that to make bread.”
Oddly enough, it paired very well with milk.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“Really? In that case, it’s a success!”
The owner was delighted with Jacob’s seal of approval.
This bread couldn’t be found anywhere else in Wiltia—or anywhere else on the entire Europea continent.
“I’m sure that with my new, mysterious eastern-style bread, the customers will come rolling in!”
The owner clenched his fist, as if he was grabbing tightly onto his hopes for the future.
“I still think it’s impossible.”
Jacob’s reply doused his optimism in an instant.
“Why?!”
Even though Jacob was only twelve years old, he held his fingers up to his forehead and shook his head like a cunning old gentleman admonishing the owner for his foolishness.
“I’ll start by saying that I think you’re a good guy.”
“Oh, um, well, thank you.”
The owner made a puzzled face and wondered why Jacob was saying this.
“I think you’re diligent and passionate, and you’re always eager to learn.”
“Oh, heh, don’t make me blush …”
The owner looked down in embarrassment and scratched his head.
“But!”
Jacob thrust out his finger, as if to flip up the owner’s drooping head.
“The real reason this bakery isn’t popular … is you, Lud! Your face scares them away!”
Tockerbrot was in trouble and the reason was clear.
The bakery had no customers.
It wasn’t because the bread didn’t taste good. In fact, through the owner’s hard work, the taste continued to improve steadily over time.
And it wasn’t because the bread was too expensive. The baker’s prices were as low as possible, low enough that children could buy it with their spending money.
The owner hadn’t neglected to do market research either. He discovered the regional foods in the area and had an understanding of the flavors that the local residents preferred.
✦ ✦ ✦
