The Frugal Mage

The following morning, Rayven rose with an unusual determination as he really wanted to do something today.

Perhaps he was thinking too much about the taste of the mayonnaise, as he even dreamed about it. That creamy flavor haunted him as he knew that he needed to taste it again…

When breakfast was served to him in the dining hall, it was the same kind of fare he had grown used to…

It was simple yet filling enough for a working man.

It was a bowl of porridge sweetened faintly with honey, a piece of bread that was still warm, and a boiled egg split neatly in half. Nothing extravagant, but it kept his stomach steady.

Although they could have had better meals, Albert didn't want to waste that much on it. Whatever the workers eat, Albert and Rayven would just take it.

Of course, if they have special guests, they wouldn't dare to serve them commoners' food.

"Mhmm…"

Rayven ate it slowly since his mind was elsewhere. The bread crumbled into dry chunks, the egg yolk nearly chalky on his tongue, and all he could think was 'this could be better with mayonnaise.'

Once he finished, he wiped his hands clean and set about preparing for his secret project.

The pen business could already function without him. After all, they could even accept personalized fountain pens with a bit of a premium fee for nobles…

Furthermore, Albert already sent a couple of First-Rate Swordsmen guards to the shop to ensure that they would be safe.

"I can focus on making this mayo today…" He muttered to himself.

For now, he just wanted to make a small batch. It was a test run to see if his memory of the recipe still held true.

From the storeroom, he gathered a few clean jars…

Still, he wanted to clean them again.

After a good wash and drying, they would serve as containers.

Then, he collected what he could from the kitchen. Eggs, a small flask of oil, a pinch of salt, and a wedge of lemon he had spotted the cook using the day before.

There was also a vinegar he found in a dusty bottle on the pantry shelf, reserved mostly for pickling.

He set his little laboratory on the table.

A few kitchen helpers noticed his presence, but after telling them off, he continued on his task…

'I can't let others know about this yet.' Rayven mused as he planned to make a lot of money on this.

With a jar in front of him, he cracked the egg, and its yolk slid into a small bowl.

He separated it with surprising care. After all, he had only a few tries before the cooks started asking questions.

The eggs were precious ingredients here after all.

He then sprinkled in salt, squeezed a drop of lemon, and poured a thin trickle of oil.

'Is this enough oil?' Rayven mused as he added a few more.

Then came the whisking.

At first, the mixture looked pathetic, a sloppy puddle that swirled without purpose.

'Right… We used a better tool in school… But it should work.'

Rayven whisked harder as his arm moved with the same intensity he might use to hammer a nail.

Slowly, just very slowly, the mixture began to change. It thickened. It brightened. It gained that luscious creaminess he had remembered from Earth.

His eyes widened as the emulsion formed…

"It's working…" He whispered…

"Ohhh… I'm getting there!"

Minute by minute, the mayo took form.

It looked smooth, glossy, pale with a faint yellow tint...

He dipped a fingertip into it and tasted.

His eyes lit up… It wasn't as good as the store-bought mayonnaise he was aware of but it was definitely the taste of mayo!

Rich. Tangy. Creamy. Everything he had remembered, reborn in this strange world.

He nearly laughed, but he restrained himself because he didn't want the others to hear him and start asking questions.

"Now…" Rayven muttered as he licked the last of it off his finger. "…the bread."

He couldn't disgrace this invention by pairing it with the dried, lifeless rolls the kitchen served. He needed something fresh.

So, slipping on his coat, he went out to the nearest bakery at the end of the street.

He had perfect timing…

The baker had just displayed a freshly baked bread.

The scent of yeast and butter surrounded the shop. There were also rows of loaves still steaming in baskets.

He saw that the crusts were golden and crisp.

'This is it…'

Rayven bought a still-warm baguette for 5 copper, wrapped hastily in cloth, and carried it back.

In his room once more, he sliced the loaf open… The steam rose as the knife cut through the fluffy interior.

'Perfect…'

Without any more hesitation, he spread the mayonnaise generously, and the creamy layer then started sinking into the bread's open pores. He pressed the halves together, cut a piece, and took a bite.

It was divine.

The flavor of the bread balanced the richness of the mayo… Rayven nearly teared up.

"This is it… This is the revolution of taste…"

For a long while, he simply ate in silence, savoring every bite as though it were the feast of kings.

He could already imagine merchants fighting over jars, nobles bragging about their new delicacy, and cooks using it as the base for salads, sauces, and spreads.

'Wait… Should I sell sandwiches with mayo first?' Rayven mused that he wasn't sure how to promote this other than by having them taste a different type of sandwich.

He was sure that once they got a taste of it, they would also be interested in the mayo and buy it.

'Right… It's not like I can just make a stand and sell jars… There should be an attraction.' Rayven mused as he already considered how he would sell this product…

He knew the potential of this product, and there was no way this would fail. He just needed to find a good method to promote this product…

'I should consider being aggressive on this…' Rayven mused as he took another bite…

Then, it was at this time that Miki and Nara arrived.