I Became a Food Developer in Another World

Chapter 46: Cola Ads (2)

Humans are not the only race in this world.

Though the most numerous, humans were only one of many races.

There are dwarves, elves, beastmen, druids, dragons, and many other races, some of which have yet to be discovered and others of which are lesser known.

Polar bears, or white bears, were one of those lesser-known races.

Although they were called the guardians of the permafrost, they were only considered a legend, and it was difficult to see them unless you were a northerner.

Even I had heard rumors of the White Bear’s existence and dismissed them as a joke.

I was no different, and most of the other similar species with unclear identities turned out to be ogres.

Just as in my previous life, the rumored Yeti or other legendary creatures were actually gorillas, in this world, ogres had taken over that role.

So I thought it would be something like a white ogre…….

‘……No, was it a polar bear?’

It was amazing that polar bears were real, but what was even more amazing was that they were rational enough to communicate.

But a white bear is a bear.

And bears tear people apart.

I couldn’t lose sight of that fact.

I opened my mouth, trying to guess the reason for the white bear’s visit.

“Um, I apologize for taking a video of my impersonation of a white bear.”

It seemed quite possible that this polar bear had come to see me over the issue of portrait rights.

“I apologize if that was weird.”

“……no. It was funny.”

What, did he just laugh?

‘Are you sure you’re laughing?’

Aria, who was sitting next to me, looked at me with the same thought.

‘I guess so?’

Bolitur looked at me with a curious expression.

“Krrr, have you ever seen Sylar?”

“Sylar?”

“……It means the light of the aurora borealis in your video.”

“Oh.”

He means the aurora borealis.

I had never actually seen the aurora borealis.

I’ve only seen images of them on the internet or on TV.

There’s no way I’d ever have the chance to see something that only happens at the poles.

But,

‘If I’ve seen it secondhand, I’ve seen it.’

Otherwise, it was hard to explain how I knew about the aurora borealis.

“Yes, I saw it.”

And I’m like.

“……kr, then you’re a warrior.”

“What?”

“……kr, Sylas is the insignia of Aurora. Seeing it is proof that you are chosen.”

“…….”

An aurora is a celestial phenomenon caused by plasma particles emitted from the sun that rub against the magnetic field of the atmosphere, causing them to glow. As I understand it.

‘I’ll be torn to shreds for saying this.’

Apparently, the aurora borealis is very sacred to the White Bear people.

To a non-scientist, the aurora would seem mysterious and sacred, like a celestial light from the sky.

In the other world, even the White Bear people who live in the Arctic find it very difficult to see them.

They say that seeing the aurora borealis is a sign of being chosen by the aurora.

This led to a huge misunderstanding for Bolitur.

“……cr, you put in a scene where we were chosen by the aurora, I was very, very happy.”

“We’re glad you liked it.”

So he’s not here about the likeness issue.

I was worried about what to do if it was a portrait rights issue, so I was quite relieved to find out that wasn’t the case.

“Mr. Bolitur, how did you come across that video?”

What’s with the Coke in your hand?

How did a bear in the Arctic come to see a Coke commercial that only runs in the Empire?

Bolitur’s answer to my questions was a bitter one.

“The humans……showed it to me.”

“…Humans, you mean?”

“……Crr, yes. They ran away with the Coke at first.”

So, to summarize Bolitur’s words.

When the Imperial Guard first encountered Bolitur, they threw the Coke they were holding and ran away.

It was a prank based on the Coke Bear commercials, but it turned out that Bolitur really liked the Coke they threw at him.

“…It was very, very tasty. I’ve never tasted nectar so tangy in my life.”

Bolitur shook the coke and downed it in one gulp.

‘I wonder if it’s true that bears like Coke.’

I’d heard it before.

Polar bears prefer sweet foods because they need a lot of calories to maintain their enormous size.

The story goes that sweeter means more calories, so they evolved to like sweeter flavors for efficient calorie intake.

That’s why bears like “honey” and…….

“Krrr.”

Of course, they also love Coke.

In my previous life, there was even a myth that if you encountered a bear on the road, you should give it your Coke and run away.

It was true in the otherworld.

And when a member of the Imperial Guard realized Bolitur’s fondness for Coke, he was brave enough to show him a Coke commercial.

‘Some madman……’

It’s a crazy story, but that’s how Bolitur was introduced to Coke.

“……Krr, you have improved the perception of us White Bears in the Empire.”

Until now, the Empire had been unilaterally hostile to the White Bears.

Northerners were said to trade with them, but to everyone else, white bears were “monsters” who lived in the permafrost.

However, this one commercial for Coke washed away that image.

White bears are no longer recognized as monsters, but as intelligent beings.

“……Thank you, my friend.”

“No, I’m glad you found it helpful.”

Bolitur was a gentle and communicative bear, despite his enormous size.

He spoke human language, albeit awkwardly.

“Are all the other white bears like you, Bolitur?”

“No. The others of my kind……are different. I’m just more interested in humans.”

Bolitur seemed very disappointed that humans were afraid of him.

Meanwhile, he never took the coke out of his mouth as he spoke.

As if it would help him maintain his sanity.

“Here you go.”

“……Thank you.”

Bolitur happily accepted the Coke Aria brought him.

Surprised at how rational he was, I offered.

“Mr. Bolitur, don’t you want to get closer to humans?”

“……?”

Bolitur’s eyes lit up with doubt.

*

The Empire was currently in the midst of a crystal ball advertising blitz.

Other Towers had begun to copy the crystal ball advertising that the White Tower had started.

The latest and most popular was the Coke commercial.

“Kiya, a polar bear drinking Coke, what the heck is he thinking?”

“The permafrost is such a beautiful land.”

Polar bears, the northern lights, and the unknown land of permafrost made people feel like they were traveling to a mysterious world.

Most of all, the fact that it was a “magical” landscape was a novelty to my people, as it had never been done before.

“Ugh, it’s cold, but I’ll have a Coke.”

“Haha, I should have a Coke with a polar bear.”

The sight of polar bears drinking Coke has inspired people to seek out Coke on cold winter days.

Coke was moving away from being a summer beverage and becoming a winter beverage.

One day in winter, the snow was slowly accumulating.

“Whoa, it’s a Coke bear!”

“Krrr……”

A “Coke Bear” appeared on the snowy streets, wearing a red scarf and holding a Coke in one hand.

Children’s eyes lit up, but adults were stunned.

“Bear!”

“Huh!”

Unlike the unsuspecting children, the adults realized that the Coke Bear was a figment of the White Tower’s imagination.

“Don’t go near it!”

“Come back! Elin!”

The alarmed adults stopped the children as they ran toward the Cola Bear, but it was too late.

“Aah!”

“No……”

A blonde girl was running toward Cola Bear. The bear picks her up as if he’s been waiting for her. The adults turned their heads away, as if they couldn’t see.

But the scream they were waiting for didn’t come.

“Kahaha!”

“?”

The adults’ eyes widened at the sound of the girl’s joyful voice.

“Huh?”

“What, what?”

Cola Bear had lifted the girl onto his shoulders.

“Give me a ride!”

“Wow…your fur is so fluffy!”

Children ran through the snow and cuddled into Cola Bear’s white, fluffy fur.

Cola Bear patted them on the back with his furry flesh.

“Zee, a real Cola bear?”

“Oh my God, is it really a thing?”

“Yay!”

“Me too! Count me in!”

The adults, realizing that the bear was a real Cola bear, rushed over to him despite their shame.

Everyone, adults and children alike, reverted to their childhood selves and played with Cola Bear.

“Krrr……”

In no time, Cola Bear, or “Bolitur,” became a national favorite.

In the middle of winter, snow was falling hard.

Bolitur rolled in the snow with the people.

“Wow! It’s so big!”

A snowman in the shape of a bear, the size of a small building, stood in the center of the square.

“Hey, boss, here’s a Coke!”

“Coke for me too!”

People poured Cokes into the giant snow bear.

Dozens and hundreds of Cokes went into the snow bear.

The polar bear became a symbol of Coke and winter.

Coke’s sales, which had been sluggish, began to grow exponentially.

A month after the Coke Bear ad traveled across the Empire in a crystal ball.

It had been two weeks since Bolitur’s snow bear had been erected in the capital’s square.

Buying a Coke and stuffing it into the “snow bear” had become a meme in the capital, and Coke was selling like it was summer.

“These are the sales of Coke in the capital this month.”

Zion walked in with a sales sheet.

Aria and Ranya swallowed hard when they saw it.

My eyes widened as well.

“Five million cups sold.”

With a population of 200,000 people in the capital, that’s an average of 25 Cokes per person per month.

In other words.

“We sold twice as much as we did during the peak summer season.”

It was huge.