Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Flaws of the Shop and Kurt’s Flaws

The mechanism of the intricate clock given by Duke Lenaril finally activated, and the sound of the bell rang out.

At last, closing time had arrived.

However, there was still a line outside the shop.

The number of customers was staggering.

“Tina, head to the end of the line where people are waiting. Stay there and inform the newcomers that we’re closing and apologize for the inconvenience.”

“Yes, Kurt-sama. I’ll go right away!”

I want to close the shop, but it would be cruel to turn away customers who have been waiting for hours.

That said, if new customers keep joining the line, we’ll never be able to close.

So, I’ll explain the situation to those behind the current last customer and ask them to leave.

…I feel bad for Tina.

It’s obvious that the newcomers won’t be accommodating. They’ll probably start yelling. I’ll have to make it up to Tina later.

Now, the end is finally in sight. Let’s handle the remaining customers.

◇

It was about two hours past the scheduled closing time when we finally managed to close the shop.

The number of customers was unbelievable.

We expected it to be busy, but not to this extent.

Three days’ worth of stock disappeared in just five days.

The stock for tomorrow is already in doubt.

We’ll have to make a large batch of sweets tomorrow morning and deliver them in the afternoon. We should be able to hold out until then.

Nevertheless, it was a good decision to increase the number of staff. If we had operated with the same number of people as during the pre-opening, we would have definitely collapsed.

Dolwart, who is responsible for staff training and is the ace of customer service, clapped her hands and gathered the staff in one place.

“Everyone, let’s discuss today’s points for improvement and suggestions.”

This has been a habit since our practice sessions in Arnoldt.

Every day, we reflect on the day’s events at the end of the day.

The staff members voiced the problems that occurred today and collectively brainstormed solutions.

A shop that can do this is strong.

Dolwart is truly exceptional.

Once the opinions had been gathered, we began organizing them.

“Next Baron of Arnoldt, various issues have arisen today, but the biggest problem lies with you.”

“…Shameful.”

“The most popular Custard Pudding sold out within an hour of opening. Many customers were looking forward to it, and we wasted a lot of time apologizing for the stockout. Even though it’s a limited quantity item, it’s deemed unacceptable to run out within an hour.”

Yes, of all things, I messed up.

Thanks to the people I invited during the pre-opening, word of my shop, Arnoldt, spread like wildfire through word of mouth.

Among them, Custard Pudding seemed to leave a particularly strong impression. It had been conveyed firmly even to the discerning ears of gossip.

Moreover, Custard Pudding was a special item for this week only.

Every customer ordered Custard Pudding.

However, Custard Pudding is a delicacy where everything depends on the skill of the pastry chef, and it cannot be made by anyone else but me. Moreover, it cannot be stored, so we cannot prepare it in advance, and we always end up with insufficient quantities.

As soon as we opened, it vanished within an hour, leaving the customers who came for it disappointed, while our staff apologized profusely.

“We’ll make double tomorrow.”

“Five times the amount is the minimum necessary, you know?”

“…It’s impossible. Trying to make that many will affect the quality.”

Custard Pudding, being simple, requires the skill of a pastry chef.

If we strive for perfection, the quantity becomes limited.

“If the next Baron of Arnoldt says it’s impossible, then it really must be. …We need a solution.”

“Right, for next week’s special, we’ll prepare a menu with more quantities, but for this week, we need to somehow get through it.”

Now, what should we do when we can’t prepare enough?

“In that case, why not just not sell it?”

Blond elf Chloe spoke up in a casual tone.

“If such a talked-about item is unavailable, customers will be angry.”

“Well, we’re not saying not to sell it at all. But you see, there are people who buy like ten or twenty at once. Let’s stop that. It’s fine for other sweets because we can prepare them in advance, but if everyone buys out the Custard Pudding, no one else can get any. Let’s limit it to three per person or something.”

Chloe’s suggestion is a widely used method in Japanese confectionery shops.

“…That might be a good idea. After all, Custard Pudding is meant to be eaten on the same day it’s given. Even if a lot are bought, there’s nothing we can do.”

Fruit cakes and berry cookies are often purchased not just for personal consumption but also as gifts.

So, limiting their quantity would inconvenience customers.

But Custard Pudding is a same-day treat and cannot be used as a gift.

Then, it shouldn’t be a problem to limit the quantity.

“Ah, Kurt-sama. There’s something I’ve been really curious about. It’s about when I went shopping at noon.”

Tina raised her hand to speak.

I had asked Tina to order ingredients for the sweets during the day.

If we didn’t order them during the day and have them delivered by evening, we wouldn’t be able to prepare for tomorrow, so that’s what we did.

“Tina, go ahead.”

“Yes, Kurt-sama. There were many people selling sweets outside, and they were selling them for more than twice the price of your shop.”

“…Well, that’s within expectations.”

In an era where sweets were expensive, delivering the cheapest sweets possible was key.

That way, demand would skyrocket.

Naturally, merchants would think about it. They could make a profit by reselling them.

There were plenty of customers willing to buy our sweets even at double the price.

“But to start that on the first day… Truly, their business sense is sharp.”

We had anticipated it, but we hadn’t prepared any countermeasures.

At least, I had expected that such people wouldn’t appear at least for a while after the opening.

If we continued to supply the sweets at the store for a week, the quantity would increase and the rarity would decrease, making it difficult for them to resell.

That’s what I thought, but to do it from the first day…

“Alright, I’ve decided. We’ll impose a purchase limit on Custard Pudding. It’s limited to four per person. We won’t sell more than that.”

I assumed one per family.

Probably, those who bought thirty today were doing it for resale purposes.

Limiting it to four should put a stop to the reselling.

“What about the cakes and cookies?”

“They can stay the same as before. Just make sure we never run out and keep selling them in large quantities. If the supply increases, reselling will become difficult. Since they’re sweets we can prepare in advance, we should be able to keep up the quantity somehow.”

Eclava is the largest city around here.

Many customers sell the crops and game they’ve raised in the village and buy essential goods to take back home.

Some customers even buy souvenirs for everyone in the village.

I didn’t want to betray those customers.

“Was there any other problem?”

One of the staff raised their hand in response to my question.

“Um, we were asked a lot of questions, but there were some we couldn’t answer. Like, what’s the special item for next week?”

Ah, another issue of mine.

“Let’s think about the menu by tomorrow. I’m sorry. It’s my fault again. From now on, let’s decide on the menu for the next week in advance.”

After that, various issues were brought up, and improvement suggestions were made.

Then, we disbanded.

As an apology for extending the business hours by two hours, I gave them a temporary bonus from the sales.

Even though they were exhausted, the moment they received the money, they perked up and went out to enjoy the town.

They didn’t even have time for a meal. They deserve a good rest.

This shop operates on a two-day weekend system. Just two more days until the break.

We’ll endure until then. We’ll make it through somehow.

“I wonder if you are glad not to go with everyone.”

“Yes, I’m not fond of noise. Besides, I need to convey the biggest problem.”

“You could have said it in front of everyone.”

“I couldn’t, so I’m telling only you… The biggest problem with this shop is you, Baron Arnoldt.”

“…I know the custard pudding issue and the menu for next week were both bad.”

Both are my mistakes. They were foreseeable issues, and it’s understandable she’s upset.

“No, those are trivial matters. It would be unfair to blame you for this incident. Your performance itself is outstanding. You produce a large quantity of excellent sweets, and your customer service attitude is top-notch even from my perspective. When problems arise, you step forward as the manager to protect the staff. Your accounting is flawless, and you manage procurement and consider neighboring shops. Most importantly, you care for the staff. From start to finish, I have no complaints.”

“Thanks for the praise. So, what’s the problem then?”

“You’re overworking. Let me be clear: you will collapse eventually. You’re doing too much. Besides making sweets, you handle procurement, accounting, shop management, and customer service. And don’t you also manage your territory? You’re overworked to the extreme. After this, you’ll return to your territory, finish the miscellaneous tasks there, then prepare for tomorrow. You won’t even have time to sleep. Do you realize you’re pushing yourself too hard?”

“Maybe a little.”

There’s no denying I’m exhausted.

But now isn’t the time to complain.

“It’s okay to push yourself, but what I’m concerned about is if you collapse, everything will fall apart. Without you, we won’t have proper ingredients. Even if we had them, the taste of the products would decline, and some menu items wouldn’t even exist. No one knows how to manage the shop. Your territory will be in chaos. It’s only a matter of time. The fate of capable individuals who try to do everything alone is clear. When they collapse, everyone who depended on them will be affected and crumble.”
Dolwart speaks as if she’s talking about herself.

What happens after I collapse?

Certainly, I can’t see anything but a dire outcome.

I’m confident in my physical stamina. I’ll probably last a month. But what about a year from now? Ten years?

How long can this recklessness last?

It’s not a matter of if, but when, I’ll definitely collapse somewhere.

“It’s a painful truth. I need to take action before I collapse.”

“Please do. An organization where the leader can’t rely on others is fragile. Baron Arnoldt, forgive my frankness.”

Dolwart gracefully bows.

I can’t help but smile bitterly.

“Did you fail because of that?”

She seemed so passionate about it.

There had to be a reason why such a capable person couldn’t stay in one place. Maybe that’s what made her reject taking on more burdens.

“Yes, it was a mistake of my youth. Watching you reminds me of that.”

I see, so she knows.

Initially, I believed that Arnoldt’s shop should be protected by Arnoldt’s people. But if it’s her…

“I see. Then I entrust you. Please help me. You’re the only one who can save me, walking the same path as Dolwart. Can you become the manager of this shop? If you take command, I can focus on decision-making and sweets-making. I trust you with everything else.”

“I already declined that offer.”

“Oh, but you see, I’m currently vulnerable. You’re kind and sympathetic to me now, so I thought you might just take me up on it. Please, Dolwart.”

Half joking, half serious, I plead.

Dolwart exhales deeply.

Silence stretches on.

How long has it been?

Dolwart lets out a long, long sigh.

Then, she smiles warmly.

“Well, I suppose there’s no helping it. It pains me to leave someone who has bought into me so much in such a state. I’ll take care of the practical matters regarding the shop. You focus on liaising with the outside world, setting the shop’s policies, and everything related to sweets.”

“That’s a relief. Thank you, Dolwart.”

I give it a shot.

With this, the burden related to the shop should be significantly reduced.

From next week on, I won’t have to show up here every day.

“Um, may I ask for one thing in return for taking on this responsibility?”

“If it’s within my power.”

“Could you call me Big Sister Dolwart? As childish as possible.”

My smile twitches.

Ah, I see. So that’s how it is with her…

“Thank you for helping me out, Big Sister.”

“Kyaaa, Kurt-kun! I’ll do my best, Big Sis is on the job!”

Dolwart hugs me tightly, squealing with delight.

Maybe she agreed this time because I begged from below like a child.

So she’s just a regular shotacon.

Well, she’s capable, so no problem there.

“Kurt-sama, I brought dinner from the food stalls!”

“Hehehe, we’ve got a delicious assortment of grilled skewers and some barley sake too!”

Just as Tina comes back, she drops a paper bag filled with grilled skewers, and for some reason, Chloe bursts into laughter.

Then, Tina, unusually worked up, starts grilling Dolwart with questions, and Chloe teases and plays with Tina like that.

After about an hour, all misunderstandings were cleared up, but I’m quite exhausted.

Tina has been bowing her head continuously since earlier.

At any rate, I was able to entrust this shop to Dolwart.

From now on, I’ll probably have even more things I can do.