Episode 5
#5. MSG of the North (4)
“I heard that Arad stew is so delicious.?”
“They give our guards a free bowl of that delicious stew every day.?”
“Let's go and eat right now!”
“From now on, I will definitely put Jack's Inn first on my patrol route.!”
“We are providing free stew for our hard-working officials! Poor low-level bureaucrats will love it. If any complaints come in at Jack Inn, please handle them with the highest priority..”
At first, Haven's guards and low-ranking officials visited Jack's Inn..
“hey! Kuro family! Why do you keep wandering around here??”
“No, that's it…….”
“Have you forgotten that I told you that if you caught my eye one more time, I would let you rot in the mines for the rest of your life??”
“Sorry, sorry. Guys, let's go!”
As the public authorities visited Jack's Inn from time to time, the flies disappeared in an instant..
But the effect did not end there..
“Captains, what kind of company dinner are you holding in such a shabby place? Aren't you thinking too much of this centurion's pocket??”
“Since when do we start thinking about the captain's pocket money? That stew costs 2 cooper per bowl..”
“2cooper? Are they crazy??”
Free arad stew was provided to guards and low-ranking officials, which was a great sales and publicity stunt..
“Captain, you still don't know the arad stew at Jack's Inn.?”
“Arad stew? Ah, that's there?”
“But then again, security guards like us get a bowl for free..”
“okay?”
“So let’s go and eat quickly..”
“Are you coming? Even if it's unique, it should increase sales..”
The subordinates who tasted Arad stew naturally began to spread Arad stew to their superiors..
“Arad stew is so delicious?”
“yes!”
“Anyway, Jack's Inn is a place where only poor kids gather... … . Wouldn’t it be a bit out of place to eat there? Why don't you eat at the Polly Inn where you always eat casually??”
“These days, everything from imperial adventurers to high-ranking mercenaries and wealthy merchants flock to Jack's Inn to eat! Everyone sleeps at high-end inns like the Polly Inn and eats at the Jack Inn..”
“That's about it?”
“yes It's that delicious. Best of all, we get a free bowl of stew.!”
“Umm… … . Okay. We'll have a dinner party at Jack's Inn later..”
The high-ranking people of Haven eventually began to become curious about the Arad stew that their subordinates had praised so much..
“this… … . I can't believe we had food like this in our haven.!”
After having a dinner party at Jack's Inn, I became a more passionate evangelist than anyone else..
“It's so delicious?”
“Yes, Mr. Mayor. I swear it's better than anything I've ever eaten. Even if you add a lot of expensive and precious spices, you won't get that taste..”
“Anyway, I am the mayor... … . Isn’t it a bit odd to eat at such an old inn? Let's eat at Pauline's Inn.?”
“We thought so too at first. But, just once! please listen to us.”
“If you guys say that... … . Just close your eyes and go.”
This eventually led to a trip to Haven Market, the highest point in Haven..
The entire city was caught off guard by the meteoric rise of food and promotions..
“The mayor is coming! Set up all the premium seats! A full course!”
“The guard captain visited Jack's Inn with his centurions.!”
This all happened in less than a month..
* * *
Naturally, those who suffered the most from this storm of Arad stew were Haven's other restaurants and inns..
The largest and most luxurious inn in Haven.
At the Polly Inn, all the restaurant and inn owners who are said to be sniveling in Haven gathered together..
“Have you tried it??”
“you?”
“It was incredibly delicious. No matter what spices you add, it won't taste like that..”
“that's right. It's so delicious that I don't feel jealous, competitive, or angry..”
“They say the key to Arad stew is the Arad salt that goes into it.?”
“Can't I buy that recipe from the chef at Jack's Inn??”
“If it were you, would you sell it??”
“Of course I won't sell it. You can’t even tell your children..”
“My ancestors, please give me the courage and strength to overcome this ordeal.!”
Naturally, the main topic of the people gathered here was the Arad stew sold at Jack's Inn..
To be exact, the magic salt that goes into the food sold at the inn. Arad salt.
Northern spice, salt and seasoning.
“Has anyone offered to recruit him??”
“I tried my luck a few times. However, he is not a person who simply moves with money..”
“At first glance, it sounds like he promised to stay with Jack until his arm heals or something.?”
“So, when will that arm heal??”
“Even if it gets better, it will heal very slowly and for a very long time.……?”
“If it were me, I would wear a bandage all the time even if I hurt myself..”
“Jack, what on earth did that bastard offer to his ancestors with ashes that brought him so much luck??!”
ha… … . Phew…….
The room was filled with deep, frustrated sighs..
“You won't be able to sabotage?”
“I can't even try.”
“All the hoodlums in Haven won't even look at the Jack Inn.?”
“He's a clever guy. How did they get the idea to provide free food to the guards and officials??”
“What about that damn takeout? I've never even heard of such a method..”
“It all came from the head of a man named Arad.?”
“Not just a therapist and chef. If you go back to your roots, the blood of a giant will surely be flowing..”
Their worries deepened..
If things continued like this, everyone would be ruined before spring came..
“Why don't we all pool our money and bribe the mayor and security chief??”
“What do you do with bribes??”
“That's right... … . Catching a pod and making it close the door?”
“pod?”
“Pods said to contain drugs or poison in Arad salt.”
“Oh my gosh, does that work? The vast majority of Haven has already eaten Arad stew, but it's okay, right? In fact, all I hear is that my body has become healthier..”
“that's right. Haven is already addicted to Arad salt. It is clear that the mayor will either not accept our bribes or will pretend not to notice..”
“If the public anger over not being able to eat Arad stew turns towards us, it will be the end..”
But there's no way, there's no way.
I couldn't think of a way to beat that Arad salt..
“Hey, Polly. Is there any better way??”
“okay! Polly, didn't you serve in the High Castle in the past??”
“Didn't you say that you are acquainted with not only the previous Archduke, but also the current Archduke and high-ranking knights??”
Then, naturally, attention was drawn to Polly, who was the most influential person in the group..
“Umm…….”
Polly, an attractive middle-aged man, was lost in thought with his brow furrowed..
“Do you have any connections in the high castle? Wouldn’t the market be swayed by Lancelet’s article??”
Various earnest opinions were expressed to Polly, who was lost in thought..
“Don't do anything dishonorable!”
To this, Polly shook her head firmly..
Polly once served as a soldier in the High Castle..
Because he knew how to read and write, which was rare among the soldiers, he was on duty as a soldier in charge of the knights' meals..
Thanks to this, I have a relationship not only with high-ranking knights, but also with His Highness the Archduke..
In other words, he was a reserve soldier who had to protect his honor more than anyone else..
‘Above all, His Highness the Archduke often travels secretly around the Archduke's territory with his knights..’
The disgraceful plans the inn and restaurant owners just shared..
If you do something like that and get caught, it's over..
How could he, a former soldier, run such a large and good inn in Haven??
It's all thanks to the blessings of His Highness the Archduke and the high-ranking knights he had a relationship with during his military service..
“Look, Polly, you're going to starve to death trying to protect his reputation.!”
“Does fame feed you? First of all, you have to make a living to get fame or anything else.!”
Of course, the merchants and business owners around him were frustrated by Polly's reaction..
“Mmm…….”
Of course, Polly is also frustrated..
He folded his arms and thought for a while about how to find a way out while protecting his honor..
“no! Who the hell is this guy called Arad? If you have such cooking skills and secrets, why are you in this rural town??”
“It's so unfair that I'm going crazy! There are many cities in the north that are much larger than Haven and only the rich live in, so why are they creating mud here?!”
“He would be a great person to go to the empire or even be a chef in a high castle! Why are you doing this here?…….”
While Polly is worried, some people gathered in the room are complaining..
“for a moment……!”
When Polly heard that statement, she felt her mind brighten..
“okay! High castle! I'm sending them to Lancelet Castle.!”
Polly started writing a letter right then and there..
Nowadays, the Grand Duke enjoys going out in secret and also enjoying food..
If you write a letter like this and send it to them, they will definitely show interest..
* * *
A huge and majestic fortress located especially in the north of the Northern Grand Dukedom..
Lancelet Castle, where the Northern Grand Duke resides.
The true meaning of the Grand Dukedom of the North.
The banquet was held at a place commonly called 'High Castle' rather than the main castle of Lancelet..
“Hahahaha! Everyone drink and eat!”
“A toast to His Majesty the Grand Duke who hosted the banquet.!”
“Celebrating the birthday of His Majesty the Grand Duke.!”
“Lancelet! Rune Lancelet!”
“Lancelet! Rune Lancelet!”
The archduke, ministers, and high-ranking knights gathered to drink..
As the North lacks everything, and as the North pursues extreme practicality, the banquet was simple even though it was a banquet commemorating the birthday of the Grand Duke of the North..
Rather than a multi-course meal that lasts for hours like a noble dinner in an empire or other kingdom,.
A banquet, similar to a buffet, where food was prepared and scooped up all at once, was held in a high castle..
“The taste of the stew is a bit bland. Even the meat smells. I put too little spice on it..”
While I was eating, an old driver suddenly complained while eating..
It is extremely rude to give a negative taste review at a birthday dinner hosted by the Archduke himself..
However, if the speaker is one of only five on the continent and the only sword master in the North, it is a different story..
Even more so if this old knight is Balzac, the Frost Blade who is respected by all the knights of the empire and continent beyond the North..
“The Empire has raised the price of spices again.”
A tattoo next to him immediately answered the old knight's questionable mutterings..
“The reason is?”
When the empire was mentioned in the answer, the old knight frowned..
“This means that there is not enough food for use in the empire..”
“It's getting more and more explicit. There must be that afterword too.?”
“yes… … . He said that if you respond to the marriage proposal proposed by the Empire last time, trade restrictions, including spices, will be lifted..”
“Bastards… … ! Then you did something like that behind my back and asked me to marry you?! You have to have a certain level of shamelessness.!”
The iron spoon in the old knight Balzac's hand was crumpled like a piece of paper..
“Can’t we respond too? Shouldn’t we limit the high-level magic stones found in the north??”
“Magic stones can be obtained to some extent not only in the North but also within the Empire. However, daily necessities, including spices,…….”
The official trailed off..
Balzac clicked his tongue when he heard those words..
It's always like this. The empire has always been holding the leash of the North and shaking it like this..
“…….”
Then suddenly he turned his gaze and looked towards where his young lord was..
A woman with snow-white skin, blue-silver hair, and, above all, beautiful blue eyes..
A blue blood from the north who had a coming-of-age ceremony last year and ascended to the Grand Duke following his father who died in action the year before last..
Arina Rune Renslet sat silently at the head of the banquet hall..
She was absentmindedly cutting the meat in front of her..
But there was no strength in her hands as she cut the meat and put it in her mouth. The expression was also weak..
For her, who not long ago was riding a horse through snowy fields and swinging a sword freely, the sudden position of archduke must be frustrating..
Even the imperial family's behavior, which became more blatantly obscene day by day, must have felt even more pressured..
Balzac was heartbroken to see the helplessness of his master, whom he regarded as his granddaughter..
‘I guess I'll have to go hunting with you soon. You should feel free to roam around the magic world to relieve your mood. If you stay like that, even if you are the youngest sword master, you will suffer from an internal illness..’
The old knight Balzac made a firm decision in his mind and chewed the meat that had a slightly spicy taste..
The very slight sprinkle of spice made the meat I was chewing at least edible..
It was surprising how people ate food in their youth when they didn't even have spices like this..
Meanwhile, Northern Grand Duchess Arina Rune Lancelet was concentrating on the food in front of her, completely unaware of Balzac's pitiful gaze at her..
‘It's not tasty…….’
However, the more she cut up the food in front of her and put it in her mouth, the more depressed she became..
Arina's taste buds were already accustomed to spices, so the more she ate foods with only a light amount of spices, the more difficult it was for her..
‘It's all my fault.’
Spice prices have risen too much recently. Since Lancelet spent 70% of his finances on war expenses, no matter how much he was a grand duke, he could not eat spices to his heart's content..
Dinner in this situation was definitely a burden..
But I couldn't postpone it.
This is because this is the first dinner held since my father died in battle two years ago..
It was even a banquet held in honor of Arina's birthday..
I can't leave out the spices on a day like this..
In the end, the chefs of the high castle had to save face by sprinkling less spices on their food..
‘It's a long-awaited dinner... … . I feel sorry for everyone..’
In addition, the Grand Duke felt ashamed and sorry for the knights and vassals who came expecting food full of spices..
‘If I could make spice by swinging a sword, I could do it all day.…….’
Arina has never felt so helpless as she did at this moment..
Even if she was an unofficial sword master not yet known to the world, she could not use any power in this area..
It was four days after her birthday that a letter from Haven's former comrade and subordinate arrived..
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