The Frugal Mage

Many agents of rival merchants had probably been instructed to purchase every model available so their masters could dismantle the pens and study the design…

It was not that surprising…

'Well… I'll have to ask Uncle Albert for help if they really made a move on us.' Rayven mused as he wasn't afraid of pulling some strings for his benefit.

Soon, Rayven focused on moving stock quickly. He gave Gene full authority to handle these eager buyers. To him, coin was coin, and the faster their capital grew, the better.

Behind the scenes, Gene's role deepened.

He became the shop's financial anchor. He was managing ledgers, balancing income against expenses, and keeping detailed inventory records of every pen and ink jar sold.

His handwriting filled entire account books, and Rayven knew that the share he had given to Gene was definitely worth it…

Still, with more customers streaming in daily, they needed someone at the front who could handle people directly.

That's when they brought in Hannah.

Hannah had once worked as a clerk in a textile store.

She had quick wit, a pleasant smile, and a sharp tongue when needed.

After Gene and Rayven trained her on how to explain the pens' features and demonstrate the filling method, she adapted quite easily.

She greeted every customer with grace, guiding them through the process with patience…

Even Rayven was amazed at how good she was with her work.

Whether they were nervous students afraid of the price or wealthy nobles demanding custom designs, she was able to manage all of them.

Furthermore, some customers certainly wanted to be greeted by a good-looking shopkeeper… Once she was taught the importance of the Fountain Pen and opened a "brand new" pen for them to try, they couldn't just leave the shop without buying one of them.

This may be very expensive for people who were living ordinary lives, but for scribes, merchants, scholars, and others who wanted to brag about their status, they would certainly want to obtain such a thing…

"You're doing really well, Hannah." Rayven muttered after seeing the hardworking woman.

Her presence gave the shop some gracefulness, turning curious onlookers into buyers with nothing more than charm and confidence.

Gene now stayed mostly behind the counter as a cashier since Hannah handled the faces of the shop… On the other hand, Rayven just oversaw production with the craftsmen in the workshop as they continued to work.

They even requested to hire another craftsman, but Rayven knew that this burst of customers wouldn't last that long. He believed that with their current production speed, stocks would last for a while…

Nonetheless, within just a week, Eterna Script had transformed from an uncertain venture into one of the most talked-about shops in the district.

It was to the point that Albert regretted not investing in this business!

***

That evening, after the rush of customers and earning some money, Rayven finally retreated to his room.

He asked the kitchen for something light, not wanting to trouble the cooks with a full meal.

Soon, a simple snack was brought up… Since it was already late, he only got a half-stale roll with a thin slice of cheese tucked inside.

Rayven took a bite.

Chewy. Dry. The cheese had the texture of candle wax, and the bread stuck to the roof of his mouth like glue.

It was just like before… He didn't really mind this since they were also cooking some good meals like stew and chicken soup from time to time.

However, when it comes to snacks, he just had to endure or get used to it.

'But… Can I not change this?' He mused.

He sat there, staring at the sad excuse for food, and felt something inside him snap.

"I've been enduring this for some time." He muttered while chewing stubbornly…

"But this is just… lifeless. Flavorless. There's nothing in here… No decent fillings, no savory taste, no joy. Just… beige sadness."

Rayven sighed.

He flopped onto his bed with the roll in hand, glaring at it as though it had personally insulted him.

And then, like lightning, an idea struck him.

"…Mayonnaise."

His eyes widened.

His heart raced. He sat upright as crumbs started flying everywhere.

Mayonnaise… It was one of the greatest inventions of mankind.

"Of course… Mayonnaise! The savior of all bland food! Smooth, creamy, glorious… Just an emulsion of eggs and oil! Why didn't I think of this sooner?"

He jumped up, pacing the room like a mad alchemist who had just discovered the Philosopher's Stone.

"Bread and cheese? Miserable. Bread, cheese, and mayonnaise? Divine!"

Now, he felt like something huge was about to change…

He clasped his hands together as he couldn't help but praise himself for thinking about that.

"Right… I should also consider going into the food business. There might be something else where I can earn a lot of money… If I can give them pens that never need dipping, why not give them sandwiches that never taste like cardboard?"

He began listing ingredients and processes based on his memories. Well, he had done this during his Home Economics Class…

"Eggs. Oil. A pinch of salt. And is it vinegar or lemon juice? Whichever works... I can just try… Then just whisk it together and it will be a creamy perfection."

He couldn't help but feel excited about this. He knew that mayonnaise would be big…

There was no doubt about this at all since the shelf life of mayonnaise could last for several months!

"If I introduce this… I won't just be the man who revolutionized writing. I'll be the culinary messiah…"

Rayven couldn't help but laugh as he thought of this.

The taste of creamy mayonnaise on bread haunted his imagination.

"I must… no, I will be the first to make mayonnaise in this world."

He was so sure that the invention of mayonnaise would mark a turning point in food science and everyday cooking…

"Tomorrow, the age of mayonnaise begins."