Episode 8
#8. Northern Rewards (2)
The largest inn in Haven, the Polly Inn, mostly accommodated wealthy merchants, high-level adventurers, and high-class mercenaries..
On the other hand, officials and knights visiting from the High Castle were usually taken care of at the mansion of the Mayor of Haven or the homes of the city's wealthy people..
“Balzac, if His Highness the Archduke comes, please tell him in advance.…….”
“If word is given in advance, how can it become secret patrol??”
“No matter how secret it may be, isn't it a bit strange for His Highness the Grand Duke to stay at an inn like this? Please allow us to take you even now..”
“An inn like this? Polly will be upset when she hears..”
There was a small conversation between Balzac, the second highest ranking knight among the five knights after Arina, and Mayor Haven..
“Of course, I admit that the Polly Inn has large rooms and good facilities. However, this is a place where adventurers, mercenaries, and merchants stay. There are many eyes to see. And above all…….”
The mayor who was speaking lowered his voice and continued..
“There are many imperial adventurers here..”
“Instead, we can keep the Archduke from knowing that he has come to Haven..”
“……!”
“It's okay. I'll be staying in Haven for at most four days before leaving. Maybe I'll stay a little longer because of the Arad salt, but no more than five days..”
“but…….”
“Don't be too difficult, Mayor. Because I stopped by like this before..”
“This has happened before.?!”
“of course. Secret practice is something that must be done regularly and consistently..”
“……!”
“Well, I’m a bit sad anyway..”
“radish… … . what do you mean?”
“If I had known about Arad salt, I should have reported it immediately. Don't you know that the Empire is arguing over spices these days??”
“That's... … . So…….”
The mayor's face became more thoughtful at Balzac's words..
“No, I was planning on doing it soon..”
“Oh, is that so??”
“Please believe me!”
“If I tell you the truth, I'll believe you.”
“that is… … . Once Polly and other chefs in Haven discovered the recipe for Arad salt, they were going to report it. If it reaches the ears of His Majesty the Archduke, he will no longer be able to taste Arad stew in Haven..”
“I understand if that was your intention. Let me move on..”
“thank you!”
The mayor, who barely escaped the crisis, changed the topic of conversation by wiping his cold sweat with a handkerchief..
“So what brought you here secretly this time??”
“I have business to attend to..”
It was originally because of Polly's letter, but Balzac told a white lie because it seemed like if he told it like it was, it would cause a rift between the mayor and Polly..
“Your Majesty the Archduke, would you like to hunt monsters? Or is there a new golden age dungeon discovered in the Demonic World??”
“Neither. And I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the exact reason yet..”
Since there really was no detailed reason for going to the Demonic Scenery, and it was not even planned to go to the Magical Scenery in the first place, Balzac could not really tell you..
“It wouldn't be normal if His Majesty the Archduke and Master Balzac made the move themselves... … . Shouldn’t Haven also prepare in advance??”
“Don't worry. There will be no damage to Haven. And didn't you say it? We went back and forth like this a few times before for fun..”
“Umm…….”
“You really don't have to worry. Because I and Your Highness know very well that you are managing Haven well..”
“Is that so??”
“I confirmed that no toll tax was collected and the estate tax did not exceed 20%. What else… … . They'll take care of themselves..”
“Phew…….”
“For this reason, the fact that Your Majesty and I, Balzac, are here now is a secret..”
‘I guess it would be okay to have a little fun at the magic area before I leave..’
As Balzac said that, he thought to himself that it wouldn't be a bad idea to go have some fun in the magic world to help digest the food..
‘I'll have to make a suggestion to your Majesty later..’
He thought to himself and once again cautioned the people present..
“What if word spreads before we leave Haven? I understand it is because of the cubic nature of those of you here..”
“Of course. We will keep your secret strictly.!”
“From now on, don't even use the title "His Highness." I also call myself Dominic, not Balzac..”
“yes…….”
Even though they nodded, the mayor and Haven's officials did not understand at all..
Why on earth does someone as high as a grand duke sneak around like this?.
“By the way, do you know anything about this guy named Arad Jin? Let's talk. I heard you suddenly appeared in Haven.?”
“I already had a few conversations with Arad while eating at Jack's Inn. I heard that his ancestors migrated from the East Continent to escape the Orcs during the Age of Savagery..”
“I know that much. What I want to ask is before Arad appears in Haven..”
“I heard that he lived as an adventurer, wandering around the continent before coming to Haven..”
“adventurer? I've never heard of an adventurer named Arad Jin.?”
“It is said that he was a D-class adventurer..”
“Class D? At least he's not an imperial adventurer. But what if he’s a good therapist? Even his cooking skills are that good.?”
“Instead, it was said that because his fighting skills were poor, he always did odd jobs in a group of adventurers. Then I heard that you ended up here in the north by chance..”
“Mmm…….”
Balzac narrowed his eyes at the mayor's words..
‘My fighting skills are poor?’
I watched Arad cooking at Jack's Inn earlier..
If you had mastered the sword with that dexterity, I guarantee you that it would be worth aiming for at least a mid-level knight..
“It's a bit suspicious..”
“Is it suspicious? But in Haven, past events like Arad are not even considered unique..”
“That's normal?”
“yes. It just looks weird because of the Arad salt..”
“but… … . There are many adventurers from the empire in Haven. If you think about that, well.”
That was when the conversation between the two took place..
“Your Majesty is coming.”
At the entrance, the low voice of the innkeeper Polly, who had already declared himself to be Arina's man on duty, could be heard..
At the same time, the knights, mayor, and officials in the room suddenly stood up..
“Everyone sit down. And Polly, it's official, I'm in the High Castle now. So, don't ever mention the title "Your Majesty." The same goes for you too. From now on, I will call you High Castle Rank Knight Iria..”
After saying that, the Archduke sat down at the prepared table. Her blue-silver hair was damp, as if she had just washed it..
The mayors and officials who saw the Archduke's face held their breath for a few seconds, amazed by its beauty, even though it was not their first time seeing it..
“I think I discovered an unexpected talent during my secret search..”
Naturally, the topic that came out of Arina's mouth as she sat down was about a chef named Arad..
“Yes. Food with Arad salt tasted better than food with a lot of spices..”
“These days, there is a serious trade deficit with the empire due to spices, but you can make up for it right away with Arad salt..”
The mayor, officials, and even the drivers nodded at Arina's words..
‘you're right! Take him to the High Castle right now.!’
Polly, standing behind the door, also shouted loudly in her heart..
“You must take the cook named Arad to the High Castle..”
“Arad salt is the key, so you need to find out the secret recipe for it..”
“Everything in the North belongs to His Majesty the Archduke. You can take anything you command..”
Afterwards, Haven's mayor, officials, and drivers began to express their opinions..
The knights standing here are highly qualified people who have studied not only swordsmanship but also a variety of subjects, even if only briefly..
You couldn't become a moving executive body just by using your sword well..
Therefore, they were clearly aware of the economic and diplomatic effects of Arad salt..
‘yes! yes!’
And the opinions they gave were all what Polly had longed for..
“No, it shouldn't be like that. The North is mine and it also belongs to my people..”
However, Arina shook her head at the opinions of her subjects..
‘Ahhh……!’
When Polly heard this, she felt like the sky was falling..
“or not… … . Your Majesty, I will try a little harder and implement the recipe in a similar way..”
In the end, he couldn't stand it anymore and joined the conversation of high-ranking people..
“We have already figured out all the ingredients that go into Arad salt. If you study the proportions, order, and processing method a little more, you can make something similar..”
Although Polly is just an innkeeper, he was a soldier in the past who was in charge of meals and supplies for high-ranking knights, including Arina, in the field..
Because of that, he had a stronger influence than most ordinary knights or officials..
“When the secret recipe is similarly completed, the person named Arad will be taken to the high castle and put to good use. I will spread the word about Arad salt for the people together with the merchants of Haven..”
In fact, even though he joined the conversation, no one here looked offended..
“That too is dishonorable..”
But Arina dismissed this too..
“The North will benefit greatly from Arad salt. In other words, I received a favor. And it is a northern principle to repay a favor..”
“That, like that……!”
Arina's reaction made Polly fidget like a puppy that wants to poop..
“Umm…….”
Arina dismissed all the opinions of her subjects like that..
“Do it like this.”
I thought about it for a while and eventually came to a conclusion..
* * *
How can I join the knight party of that high castle?.
What kind of help will the joined party provide to the archduke and knights?.
In this way, will we be able to prevent the tragedy of original history?.
I woke up this morning after staying up all night thinking about these things..
“I finally got the bandage off..”
“It's all thanks to you, Arad. If it had been another quack healer, it would have been such a serious injury that it would have been surprising if the arm had been cut off..”
That morning was a meaningful morning in many ways..
“By the way, Lennon also said that his wounds are fully healed..”
“He already came to say thank you the other day. It also greatly increased sales..”
“Did you do that??”
Jack's face brightened as he removed the bandages and moved his arms and hands freely..
“From today, I will also help out at the restaurant..”
As soon as the bandages were removed, he said he would help out at the restaurant as if he had been waiting..
“do that.”
I immediately nodded at those words..
Even though he didn't say it directly, I sensed the intent of what Jack said..
He was sure I wouldn't stay at this inn for long..
And Jack's intuition was correct..
“If you don't know something, ask right away..”
I blurted out to Jack.
“Arad… … . thanks!”
Jack thanked me with a brighter expression than he had when his wounds were completely healed..
Apart from Arad salt, my cooking skill level is MAX. As a result, I became a chef whom Jack wanted to have as a teacher..
I can't help but be happy that you allow me to teach you..
“Then let’s start with preparing the ingredients..”
“Of course. Tom! You should clean first..”
“yes~!”
That's how I start my day at Jack's Inn today.,
“Do you do business??”
The first guests arrived early in the morning. earlier than those staying at our inn..
And these are not ordinary guests, but the highest people in this city..
“It's the mayor and yesterday's driver. I was just about to do it..”
“But it will take a while for the stew to come out..”
Jack and I bowed our heads and said hello to the precious people who had been visiting since the early hours of the morning..
“Hmmm!”
At this, the mayor of Haven cleared his throat with an unusually solemn look and shouted..
“Arad Jin, healer and chef at Jack's Inn, receives a letter from His Highness the Archduke.!”
The mayor said something important, yet so unexpected, that I didn't understand for the first few seconds..
“You mean the letter from His Highness the Archduke??”
In the end, as I was preparing breakfast, I asked back with bewildered eyes..
A person is a person, but what does a letter mean??
Naturally, my gaze turned to one of the five knights..
A female knight, presumed to be the Grand Duke of the North, stood quietly in the corner with her face covered..
“We uphold the high will.”
Referring to my etiquette skills, I knelt down and accepted the letter in the mayor's hand as politely as possible..
“Read it here and give me the answer right away..”
The mayor said as soon as I received the letter.
I opened the letter, conscious of the female knight who still firmly believed that her true identity had not been discovered..
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