Konbini Ossan Volume 5 Chapter 11 — The Long-Established Tofu Factory
After asking around the streets and checking the city’s information boards, it took us about an hour to find the place — a tofu shop, or Tōfu-gura, as the locals called it.
Apparently, this was the oldest of its kind in all of Waynesvale, a place that had been producing tofu for generations.
The factory also sold directly to customers, so we entered as ordinary visitors.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, yes, welcome.”
An elderly woman appeared, wearing a kimono-like garment that suited the rustic atmosphere of the shop.
“I heard this is the oldest tofu shop in Waynesvale. Is that true?”
“Oh yes, indeed. They say we’ve been around for more than a thousand years. Of course, the building’s been rebuilt countless times, so who can say for sure anymore.”
“I see, fascinating.”
A thousand years — tofu, it seemed, had a long history in this world.
“I only learned about tofu after coming to Waynesvale. Could you tell me more about what kind of food it is?”
“Why, of course. Tofu, you see, is said to have been invented by a hero summoned from another world long, long ago. It’s full of nutrients and is known for its benefits to health and beauty.”
That description matched natto from my own world almost perfectly.
“And this name, tofu, it actually comes from the hero’s language — it means rotten beans.”
“Rotten beans, you say?”
So that explained the name — written as bean-curd, yet referring to something fermented like natto. A confusing legacy of translation across worlds.
“As the name suggests,” the old woman went on, “Tofu is made by fermenting beans with a special yeast we call tofu mold.
…
The beans become sticky, and the smell changes quite a bit. That scent comes from the fermentation.”
“I see. So that’s how it’s made.”
I already knew most of this, but I nodded politely to keep the conversation flowing.
“Still,” I said, “for such a delicious food, why is it only sold here in Waynesvale? I would think it’d be popular everywhere.”
The old woman’s smile faded slightly.
“Well, you see, the smell attracts monsters. Taking it outside the city would be far too dangerous.”
That much I already knew. But her next words were new — and important.
“With the war against the Demon Lord’s army going on, wheat for bread sells better now, so fewer farmers grow tofu beans.
…
Times are hard, and fancy foods like tofu just don’t sell. If this keeps up, all the old-fashioned breweries making good tofu the traditional way will go out of business.”
“That’s troubling.”
“It is. Some merchants have tried to sell tofu in other cities, hoping to revive the trade, but they’ve had no luck.
…
At this rate, tofu will only survive as a mass-produced product from some factory somewhere.”
So the tofu industry was another victim of wartime economics — the opposite side of the coin from merchants like me, who profited from magical tools in demand during conflict.
It was one thing to know this sort of thing in theory, but hearing it directly from someone living it made the reality sink in.
In wartime, some trades flourish while others wither.
Just then, another voice broke in from across the shop.
“What! Is that truly the case? How dreadful!”
A young man with striking blond hair spoke up.
His fine clothes and confident bearing looked out of place among the rustic barrels and straw wrapping of the tofu shop — like a nobleman lost in a farmer’s market.
Yet he wasn’t sneering. His eyes shone with genuine concern.
“If it were within my power,” he said, “I would gladly support this establishment myself. But this is not the sort of problem money alone can fix… hmm, most vexing indeed.”
He began muttering to himself, visibly troubled.
Who on earth was this man?
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E/N:
Maybe like the Telephone game, Natto, over a long period of time got confused as Tofu? Reason why the name difference?
And of course, sustainable food is more important in war times… really hate wars!
Ossan-emon, please help us! Stay tuned! (3/3 chapters)
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