Ascendance of a Bookworm

“…Introductions and recommendations are normal, aren’t they?”

When I briefly explained the concept of “no strangers allowed,” Benno shrugged lightly. In this strict class-conscious city, it’s not uncommon for people to be refused entry due to their attire or lack of introduction.

“Even if someone is introduced, their payment and behavior can be completely different. Just because they pay well doesn’t mean they’re a good customer. Sometimes, good payers become arrogant and overbearing, which causes problems.”

He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair, apparently troubled by difficult customers. I carefully explained the difference between normal introductions and the “no strangers allowed” policy in this city.

“It’s different from a simple introduction. If an introduced customer, for example, steals jewelry, gets drunk and causes a scene, or skips their payment, the person who introduced them is approached to urge payment or take responsibility for resolving the issue.”

“Make the introducer pay!?”

Benno’s eyes widened as he slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, clearly taken aback. He looked down at me in disbelief.

“Yes. If trouble occurs, it isn’t just between the shop and the customer anymore, so this system has a strong deterrent effect against troublemakers. The introducer can never recommend just anyone because any problem eventually comes back to them. It’s only natural. Only trustworthy people end up being introduced.”

“…But isn’t that too big a burden on the introducer?”

Benno slowly sat back down and pressed his temples. I must have shocked him more than expected. While it’s common to introduce customers to a shop, being held responsible afterward is not.

“The shop values its atmosphere and provides a comfortable time and dishes without trouble, so ultimately it means taking care of regular customers. …Well, whether or not you adopt it is your judgment, Benno-san. Frankly, I’m unfamiliar with this system.”

Deciding whether to adopt my opinion was Benno’s responsibility. I had just raised the issue and offered a potential solution. As a subpar merchant apprentice who never fully became an apprentice, I didn’t even know if the system I knew would fit this city.

“However, since a high-class restaurant serving noble cuisine is a first for this city and unfamiliar, even if the ‘no strangers allowed’ rule is unfamiliar, setting it from the start shouldn’t be a big problem. But introducing it partway through would be impossible, right?”

Benno frowned and glared at the sky.

“If you’re going to adopt it, you have to decide the details thoroughly.”

“Hmm… maybe just set the absolutely non-negotiable parts from the start and then gradually adjust the rest according to the shop and surroundings? Since it’s the first time introducing this, it’s better not to be too rigid and leave some room for flexibility. Probably.”

“Hmm…”

Watching Benno ponder, I lowered my eyes to my writing board.

“Well, let’s leave ‘no strangers allowed’ at that and think about what we need to prepare before opening.”

“Prepare? We already decided on the interior, didn’t we?”

Benno narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me. I glared back at him, looking at the “items of concern” written on my writing board.

“What are you talking about? We only decided on the interior! Each table needs a menu and a call bell, right? We have to prepare elegant items that don’t lose the noble atmosphere.”

“A menu? Isn’t the menu something the serving staff tells the customers?”

In this world, apparently menus are orally explained by the serving staff attached to the table. In typical commoner establishments, where the only difference is usually whether the sausage is grilled or boiled, or in noble houses with fixed menus where they just announce “today’s menu,” verbal explanation might be enough.

But when multiple people want to choose from several unfamiliar dishes, without a menu, the servers would have a hard time.