Read Novel Full Vol 15 Chapter 6
Vol 15 Chapter 6
TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!
Thanks toSi-guy for the Ko-Fi and this chapter~
(2/4)
Chapter 6 – Store Manager
During the preparations for the store’s opening, I could hear the rough handling of money and the warm mother-daughter conversation between Cecilia and Felicia. Now, if only the ice-cooled refrigerator that Alessia-san and the others built with the help of a dark elf carpenter could be successfully completed, it would be a store that everyone would want to visit. It will be, right?
I seriously examine the ice-cooled refrigerator that Alessia-san and the others made.
It is about the size of a refrigerator for a family of four or five.
The main body seems to be made of Japanese zelkova-like wood coated with preservative paint. Just as I had requested, the wood seemed to be hard and tightly grained.
And it looks good. The candy-colored paint shows the grain of the wood, giving it a somewhat antique look, even though it is still new.
All the corners are reinforced with steel, so it must be very strong. There is no warping or gaps. I think it will hold up. Probably.
Now, let’s take a look inside.
As with Japanese refrigerators, I opened the two thick doors, which are separated at the top and bottom.
The inside is one size smaller than the outside. Just as I ordered. The space between the outside and the inside is filled with sawdust, which should provide some insulation.
Copper boxes are placed at the top, middle, and bottom of the refrigerator. These contain water that will be frozen to cool the inside of the refrigerator.
The old ice-cooled refrigerators I know were not so big and only had ice in the top, but this time, since it is a large refrigerator, I had ice tanks for each of the top, middle, and bottom.
I only vaguely knew how ice-cooled refrigerators worked, so I took precautions. Even if the structure is a bit wrong, it is also a strong idea that if there is a lot of ice, it can be expected to have a certain effect.
In the meantime, I’ve checked the refrigerators in the ship’s galley, so there shouldn’t be too many structural flaws, but a worry is a worry.
Now, all that remains is to build shelves inside to hold the products efficiently.
Three of the four units were built in the same style. At first glance, none of them seems to have any problems.
And the last one. This is an experimental attempt, so I am not even sure if it will be successful.
The basic structure is the same as the other three. However, I asked them to increase the number of copper boxes as much as possible. The top, middle, bottom, both sides, the door, and along the back wall.
Also, the copper boxes are larger than the other three units. The challenge was that if all these boxes were frozen, it would be possible to store ice cream.
The large number of parts to be frozen will reduce the storage rate and increase the burden on the manager.
So, I plan to monitor the progress of the project, and if it is too inefficient, I plan to remove the extra parts and treat it as a regular ice-cooled refrigerator, but if it can store ice cream and frozen meat, it will expand the scope of the project. I hope they are successful.
If we could use coolers like those found on luxury liners, it would be even more efficient.
However, considering the possibility that not only the store but also other residents would want a refrigerator, I decided that we should build one using only the materials available on the island.
If this project succeeds, there may come a time when every inhabitant of this island will have an ice-cooled refrigerator.
Hmm, the structure seems to be okay. However, it is not something that can be judged just by looking at it, so the only way is to actually use it.
“Thank you, everyone. I don’t know if it will work, but it is built exactly as I asked.”
“I don’t mind that much. The structure was simple, and I learned a lot. It is difficult to continue using it if you cannot use ice magic, but if it spreads, there will be a new job for ice magicians. Will you patent it?”
When I thanked her, Ilma-san complimented me. Maybe I had stimulated Ilma-san’s thirst for knowledge.
But magicians are the elite, and I wondered if they would open an ice cream shop.
“What should I do about the patent? Frankly, it’s a hassle…”
Even now, the royalties for the patents I applied for when I first came to this world are being deposited into my account.
I am very grateful for this, but I consider it a modest hassle because I have to check detailed documents when I go to the Guild.
“Then why don’t you just let Camille do it?”
Lately, I feel that Ilma-san has no hesitation in throwing things around. Maybe it’s because of my influence? Hmm?
“Oh, by the way, Camille-san and the others said that they would apply for a patent for the ship’s equipment and products when we open the castle to the public. Maybe they have already applied for them.”
They applied for so many I can’t keep track of which ones, but I’m sure the smart Camille-san and the others would have applied for most of them.
“That reminds me. I’ll check next time I see her, just to be sure, and if she hasn’t applied for it yet, we can just throw it to her.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
Well, after we succeed, that is. And while I’m at it, I’ll also let Camille-san take care of the patents that I personally own.
“Now all we have to do is actually use it… We had to find someone who could use the ice magic. Felicia, do you know anyone?”
“Oh, Wataru. In that case, we know who it is, so we’ll go get her. They came to observe, which they said was their job.”
“Thank you.”
Alessia-san and Dorothea-san called to me and left the room.
But still, had they come to observe beforehand? They seem serious and might be the perfect person to run the shop.
“I am sorry for all the trouble Almiro has caused you, Wataru-san. I am his mother, Anita. I look forward to working with you.”
“Wataru-san, thank you for always taking care of Ciro. I am his mother, Bertha. I am also looking forward to working with you.”
“Oh, yes, it’s nice to meet you. And who are Almiro and Ciro?”
Two beautiful women I see from time to time came over. I was a little excited, but they seemed to be married women with children. It was sad.
“The kid who makes the most noise is Almiro.”
“The one who eats the most is Ciro.”
“I see. Now I understand.”
It was very easy to identify the person in an instant. I see; those kids are Almiro and Ciro.
Come to think of it, I had talked to them many times, but I didn’t know their names. I had no time to ask them their names because most of the time, when I came in contact with them, they were either hanging around me or begging me for something.
“”I’m so sorry.””
Anita-san and Bertha-san bowed their heads again, probably because I had identified them at once. I am sorry.
“No, no problem, please raise your head. That’s how children are. But more importantly, can you do the ice magic for me?”
Well, I don’t have children, so I can only imagine.
“Y-yes, I understand. I just need to freeze the water in the copper box, right?”
Anita-san answered my question as if to confirm. She had checked before, and the information seemed to be perfect.
“Yes, please. There are a number of them. Is that okay?”
“Yes, each one is not that big, and one person can handle it. This time, we will divide the work between the two of us so there is plenty of room.”
It is good if there is a lot of room. If things go well, there may be more refrigerators in the store.
“Then please do it.”
Anita-san and Bertha-san took out their wands, which looked like conductor’s sticks and made complicated patterns appear in the air.
I was satisfied to be able to use life magic, but seeing it seriously in front of my eyes made me want to study ordinary magic as well.
However, I have to learn how to use it first.
When a blue-white light came out of the magic circle and hit the copper boxes at the top, middle, and bottom, the boxes froze with a crackling sound.
It seems that it is possible to freeze at least three boxes at a time. It’s very efficient.
Anita-san and Bertha-san froze all the copper boxes in no time. As long as we can determine when the ice will thaw, ice management does not seem too difficult.
When I touched the frozen copper box to check it, my fingers almost stuck to it because of the extremely low temperature. This would cool the inside of the box completely if the door were closed.
But there is frost on the surface, so we need a saucer to catch it when it melts and turns to water. I’ll put a plate on the bottom later.
“That looks pretty good. I’ll close the door and wait until the inside is cold. In the meantime, I’ll finish displaying the other merchandise.”
“I want to get to know the products, so please let me help you.”
“Please let me help too.”
Anita-san and Bertha-san offered to help me. With Alessia-san and the others also willing to help, the display work would soon be finished.
“Huh? By the way, the kids haven’t come yet.”
It had been quite a while since they went out for a snack. I wondered if they would come back to watch us after they finished their snacks.
“If it was those kids, they were making a lot of noise, so I told them to go outside and play. Did you have anything to do with them?”
Anita-san asked a little uncomfortably. She must have felt that she had done something unnecessary.
“No, there is no problem. Thank you very much.
Now I can work without being disturbed by the children.
Hmm, if she is the mother of the kid general and can control her children well, she can handle it even if children come to play in the general store.
If the village chief has thought this part through, he’s a brilliant guy. He may not be able to stand up to his wife, but…
The number of helpers increased, the work went on uninterrupted by the children, and the display was finished in no time.
I thought Anita-san and Bertha-san’s eyes changed color while we were arranging the beauty products, but it didn’t cause a fuss, so I’ll just say it was tolerable.
After finishing the work, I checked the temperature of the ice-cold refrigerator.
Hmm… still pretty cool, even though not much time has passed. At this rate, it might be manageable.
I put juice and alcohol in the refrigerator and put them in the freezer? I’ll just put some ice in the freezer, just in case.
Meat will have to wait until I check the freezer’s performance.
It’s pretty much ready to go. Now, all we have to do is let it sit overnight, and if it stays cold, it’s ready to go.
I honestly don’t know how long it will take for the ice in the freezer to melt, so I’m a little nervous.
The store opens tomorrow, and I hope it goes well…