Volume 2 - CH 71

Afterwards, Falk went back to the temple after lingering in Alme’s house.

He started to say that he did not want to go home, so Alme finally dragged him to the street and pushed him into a carriage.

She received a letter the next day saying he will be in the inpatient hospital ward for the rest of the week. She hoped he would not slip out this time and get a good rest.

…and the necklace she received had already become her favorite by the end of the day.

From now on, she’s going to have her neck adorned every day.

A few days later

Kaya, an apprentice craftsman at Citrali hardware workshop, came to the ice cream shop. Holding a cloth bag in both hands, she walked over to the counter.

“Hello Miss Titty! Um, I’m here to deliver popsicle molds!”

“Oh? I thought the delivery date was next week.”

“Daddy…ah, no, my father said ‘We finished it early, so deliver it quickly!’.

Kaya’s father, the workshop manager, is cheerful and impatient.

He’s the type of person who is always so excited to finish a project and show it off to the clients. This time was no exception.

The more he is in the inventing mood, the faster his order will be delivered. Such items are usually ‘new things that have never been seen’. He seems to like making new things.

“Thank you very much. Your fast delivery is very helpful. I will try to make popsicles as soon as possible. Please pass my thanks on to the workshop manager.”

“Yes, I did make these ‘ice cream sticks’…Um, so, if you don’t mind, when the popsicles are done, I’d like to see the finished product too.”

Kaya’s face turned red while saying so. She seems to be curious about how the tools she made will be used.

“I have all the ingredients, so I can make it right away. If I use magic, it will go by in a blink of an eye, so if Kaya-chan has time, would you like to see how the ice cream is made?”

“Eh, is it okay? Yay!”

Kaya looked up quickly and smiled a cheerful, age-appropriate smile. She is only a fourteen year old girl. Alme enjoyed chatting with her, it’s like having a little sister.

Since Ena is also working today, she would ask her to take care of the shop.

“Well then, please come with me to the kitchen in the back.”

“Thank you, I’m sorry to bother you!”

“Ena, may I ask you to watch the shop so I can try out the popsicle molds?”

“Yes, of course! Popsicles are a new product you said you’d sell for children, right? Children are playing in the small plaza right now, so it’s a chance to try them out.”

Today’s weather is dry so there are children playing and families walking in the small plaza.

The inside of the shop is also crowded, and it is a day when the number of customers is good. It’s a good time to release a new product.

“Okay, popsicles, let’s work hard and prepare!”

Alme got fired up while moving to the kitchen.

“Well then, let’s see the molds first.”

“Yes! Two sets of molds that can make 10 pieces. There are 25 ice sticks, including spares. Five of them have the word ‘Atari’ written on them.”

Arranging the items on the counter, Kaya explained.

The ice molds are two sets of ten cylindrical tubes in a row. They are made of shiny metal. The shape is like a test tube stand Alme saw in a science lab in a previous life.

The ice cream sticks are flat with rounded ends. The color is whitish silver, so it does not seem to interfere with the color of the ice cream.

The character position of “Atari” is also perfect.

“Excellent workmanship! The ‘atari’ is perfect!”

“Ehehe, thank you very much.”

“Well then, let’s make it right away. Kaya-chan, please take a seat.”

“Then, excuse me.”

With Kaya sitting down, Alme started making popsicles.

First, clean and dry the ice molds and sticks. She had a special brush made for this purpose, and it works perfectly.

Next, she took out the fruit from the refrigerator and arranged it on the table. Grapes, oranges, melons, strawberries. For now, she’ll make it with these four.

Peel the fruit quickly and cut into pieces. She threw it into the mixer and made four kinds of juice at once.

Carefully pour the juice into popsicle molds using a soup ladle.

Since the cylindrical tube part of the mold can be removed, it is easy to use. Pour the juice as if pouring the liquid into the test tube. She felt like she was doing a science experiment.

All the molds, 20 pieces were poured, while inserting a popsicle stick. She decided to use all five ‘atari’ sticks. There is a one-in-four chance of winning.

While Kaya looked on with interest, Alme used ice magic with both hands on the mold.

Wrapped in cool air, the mold cools down. The popsicles hardened in no time.

“Wow! Ice magic is so cool! Is this complete?”

“Yes, then I’ll remove it from the mold.”

Set the fire magic stone in the hollow of the popsicle mold – the part where the magic stone is inserted.

This ice cream mold is also a magical tool. The heat of the fire magic stone’s magic reaches the cylindrical tube containing the ice cream through an engraved spell.

The surface of the ice cream melts with a slight heat, and the ice cream can be taken out smoothly.

Alme took the stick and popped out a popsicle. A melon popsicle with a beautiful light green color was produced.

“Now it’s done! Yes, it came out very nicely.”

“It’s an interesting dessert! It looks like sausage skewers.”

“Certainly, the shapes are similar.”

Once Alme returned the ice cream, she opened the freezer. She removed the ice cube container and poured out the ice blocks into a large glass bowl.

She made a heaping pile of ice blocks and stuck the popsicle sticks into it. For the time being, she thought of putting it in the shop in this way.

She’d like to display it a little more stylishly, but she’ll discuss that with Ena later.

Kaya stood up and bowed to Alme.

“Thank you for allowing me to visit!”

“Thank you for making such good tools.”

The two of them exchanged greetings and left the kitchen.

Alme took the bowl with the popsicle sticks to the counter.

Ena peered into the bowl.

“I’ve never seen such a bold way of decorating. But it might be fun to choose the color of ice cream and pull it out yourself.”

“That’s right, Kaya. If you don’t mind, I’ll treat you to thank you for coming to deliver the goods, but do you want to eat?

“Are you sure? Wow, thanks. Which one should I choose?”

Twenty popsicles stuck in the ice. Kaya let her outstretched hand wander and wander, then pulled out a red strawberry popsicle.

“I’ve decided on this one!”

“Enjoy.”

She took a popsicle in her hand and bit into it crisply.

“It’s cold and delicious! I think I’m going to want to eat this every day… ah!”

While she was eating, Alme suddenly heard a loud voice from Kaya who smiled when she saw the popsicle stick that came out.

“Look! I’ve won!”

“Wow, that was quick!? Even though there are 20, Kaya-chan is amazing.”

“Congratulations! Good things will surely happen!”

The three girls got excited when she won for the first time.

“Good things happen, huh? Then I want love to come true. It’s been a long time coming, and I think I’m lucky today, so maybe I’ll try talking to someone I like…!”

And when Kaya raised an innocent voice, Alme heard a voice from a customer in the shop.

A group of young female customers stopped by the counter to peek at the popsicles.

“Is that a ‘love fortune’?”

“Looks like fun. Maybe I should try it too.”

“Oh, it’s pretty cheap. I’ll try it!”

Love fortunes, as the name suggests, are fortunes for love luck. When they heard Kaya’s voice, they thought it was a love lottery…Not in particular, though.

The women’s group gave money for popsicles while chatting. Pulling out one of each and started eating.

Another female customer, who was watching the scene, came up to the counter and pulled one out. Two more girls, their eyes shining with curiosity, each pulled one as well.

Intrigued by the hustle and bustle, customers peered in again.

Young girls gathered around the counter, creating a lively scene.

Ena whispered in Alme’s ear.

“Um, Alme. Isn’t popsicles a product for children…?”

“Um, ……, that was my intention.”

Colorful popsicles have become the dessert of maidens who try their luck at love.

Since fortune-telling is so popular in this world, people basically love this kind of thing. Especially when it comes to love fortune-telling, women are always on the lookout.

…It seems that the fire has been lit in a place different from the expected customer base.

(Well, well, …… everyone seems to be having fun, so let’s just call it this kind of product.)

Alme’s face turned into a half smile when she saw the popsicle sticks plucked from the bowl.

In no time, the popsicles were quickly pulled out and emptied by the maidens.

Starting tomorrow, it will need to be mass-produced. It is a city where interesting fortunes spread quickly.

Alme passed through the crowd of female customers to see Kaya off to the front door of the shop.

“Thanks for the ice cream treat. It was delicious!”

“Please come back to eat again. And, good luck chatting with the person you love.”

“Yes, I will try my best…!”

“Oh, and there’s one other thing I’d like to ask you, aside from the order to the workshop.”

Come to think of it, there was something Alme wanted to ask. She had something she wanted to use for the next project, so she wanted to stock up on information.

“There are many craftsmen who make things on the street of Citrali Hardware Workshop, right? Are there any craftsmen out there who can custom-make ‘fireworks’ for me?”

“Fireworks? I think there is a shop just a short walk east of our workshop…sorry, my father might know more. Miss Titty, are you having some kind of big party?”

“Hmm, it’s a secret. I’ll show it off when it takes shape.”

When Alme had a small celebration party with Falk the other day, it occurred to her to make a gorgeous parfait for celebrations.

She didn’t know if it would work, so she decided to keep it a secret for now. If all goes well, she was sure she’ll end up with something fun.

Looking at Kaya’s puzzled face, Alme put her index finger to her lips and smiled.

~❆~