Val was wandering around the second-class area of the Imperial City on his way home from work one day when a familiar man approached him.
　One day after work, a familiar man approached him.
He said, "Hey, Val. Are you going to have dinner now?
Yes,
　Val stopped and observed carefully.
　The man was in a good mood and had an unfamiliar food item in his hand.
'Then you should go to the food stall area in Central Avenue. 'Then you should go to the Central Avenue food stall area, because there's a place here that serves some unusual and delicious food.'
Yeah, that'll be fun. Thanks.
　Val thanked him and parted with the men.
　It's not surprising that the Imperial City is a place where unusual things gather.
　Since the Empire has a very large territory, the first thing it does is stop in the vicinity of the place it enters.
　And what is accepted there will spread to the imperial capital.
(They don't come to the imperial capital out of the blue, they try to see if it will be popular in the provinces, so merchants are a big deal.)
　Val thinks.
　It is said that if something is established in the provinces, it is usually accepted in the imperial capital.
　Since this is the information that the viziers have, it is reasonably reliable.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends.
　They were in their mid-thirties, with a sallow face and red hair.
(I don't see them in the east of the continent.)
　Probably a central or western tribe.
Welcome.
　A man sees Val and speaks to him in the lingua franca of the continent.
"What do you sell?
Oh, it's called tempura. They fry vegetables and fish in oil. We have fried food in the Imperial City, don't we?
　He had a tone of voice that I was getting used to explaining.
'The only fried food in the Imperial City is croquettes.
It's just a bunch of different ingredients.
　Val thought that was too appropriate an explanation, no matter how much, but he didn't say anything.
　A person living in the second class area would naturally be convinced by the current explanation.
'Oh, I see. ''Frying vegetables and fish is a new thing,''
You want to try it?　
　The man holds out the fried shrimp.
'Thank you.'
　Val will try it.
It's good.
　I couldn't help myself.
'Right?　They're best when they're freshly fried.
　The man shows his white teeth.
　Val thinks it's enough to make a big statement.
'How much?'
I don't want it. If you like it, buy it. Three for two hundred tula.
...... cheap. Are your profits okay?
　Val became uneasy.
'That's nice. You're the first person who's ever worried about your profits. I was thinking of ...... when I said "imperial city", but then I'm reminded that it's not abandoned.
　The man shows his white teeth again.
'Good things are expensive. Isn't that natural?'
　The man nodded and lowered his voice at Val's opinion.
'Between you and me, this isn't as good as it sounds, so the profits are decent. Rest assured.
Nice.
　Val can't help but chuckle at the overly honest revelation.
　He realized that he had underestimated the business spirit of the merchants who came all the way to the Empire.
'Well, I'll take six. 'Then I'll take six, a fish, a pumpkin and a squid. Three shrimp.
Oh. Shrimp are the pinnacle of tempura. You know exactly what I mean.
　With that, he is handed a freshly fried tempura and Bal pays four hundred tula.
　They take turns putting it into their mouths.
'It's good, but hot. But when it's hot, you're good at it. This is a conundrum.'
Ha-ha-ha.
　Val growls, and the man in the stall laughs with amusement.
　The other man holds out a paper-wrapped item.
Here's a pastry called sponge cake. This is a sponge cake. It's called sponge cake.
Castella?　I don't know that candy.
　Val tries it.
'It's soft and sweet. And it's delicious.
　And I was surprised.
'That's pretty sweet for something that folks can eat.
　Basically, sugar and sweets are a luxury item.
　Even the Empire is no exception.
'Well, one seven hundred tula.
Isn't it cheap?
　Even a size small enough to fit in the palm of your hand will set you back one thousand five hundred tula.
Thanks to advances in cost containment, they are profitable.
If you're making enough money, you don't have to say a word.
　In any case, Val is not a business savant.
　After finishing his tempura, he pulls out his wallet.
'Seven hundred tula, right?'
'I'll give you that one for free. If you like it, advertise that you have a good pastry.
Okay. I'll do it.
　Val thinks it's a pretty good way to do it.
　The sponge cake is so good that I would gladly consider advertising it.