Chapter 210
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Strategy for the Harvest Festival
Translator : PolterGlast
It was less than 40
days since we departed Teigoon when we were able to return. In this world with
limited means of transportation, this number of days for a round trip to a
neighboring country could be considered exceptionally fast.
"Takuhir-sama,
welcome home!"
Being welcomed by the
smiles of Anne, Miseri, the Commander, and all my other comrades, I felt
incredibly happy and truly realized that I had come home.
"Everyone, I'm
home! We all came back safe, and we had many achievements. I think it was a
very meaningful journey."
"We heard about
your success in the neighboring country from the advance messenger. But above
all, your safe return is the best news for us."
Anne was a little
teary-eyed. Having been together with me all this time, her worry as one left
behind must have been particularly strong.
"Thank you for
your hard work. We had scheduled the harvest festival for 10 days later to be
safe, but it seemed there was no need to go that far."
Miseri also welcomed
me with a smile. I've been pushing the responsibility of holding the fort onto
her for a while, so next time I really have to do something for her...
Without caring about
the public eye, I embraced the two of them and thanked them again for
protecting our home.
"First off, Miseri,
could you and Yoltia organize the purchased goods and receive reports on items
that could be used for future trade and the financial balance of this trip? We
had some unexpected income, so I think we can ease the budget a little this
year. Also, there are trade merchants I brought from the Principality, so
please handle their registration, receipt of goods, and payment."
"Yes,
immediately. It truly helps that you always contribute to the budget yourself,
my lord."
"After reporting
to Miseri-san, I will take charge of the trade merchants. For now, I have asked
them to wait at the inn."
"Claire, I'd like
you to install the bestowed items and the purchased carpets in the residence
and the guesthouse, and then handle the kitchen for tonight."
"Yes, I will
surprise everyone. I'm sure dinner will be the best souvenir for
everyone!"
"Anne, I'm going
to consult with Workshop Master Karl with the monster materials, will you come
with me?"
"Of course,
please let me accompany you. Going to the workshop means... you obtained what
you desired?"
"Yeah, perfectly!
Also, please contact all the mages, the administration and other key members,
the Commander and the Mercenary Corps, the key members of the Frontier Knights
branch, and three representatives each from the Empire Immigrant Liaison
Council and the Imperial Kingdom Immigrant Liaison Council... make sure there's
at least one woman among them. I want to invite them all to the guesthouse for
dinner tonight."
"Yes, I will arrange
it immediately. Carleen-san, could I ask you to help?"
"Of course. In Miseri-san's
place, I will contact each person in charge."
"Bart, it must be
tough unloading luggage here and there, so I'll take what I have on hand now,
but the rest of the delivery to the workshop can be done last. Alright
everyone! I'm counting on you for one more push."
"Yes, sir!"
Cheerful replies came
from the women and Bart.
The trade merchants were
interesting men that Yoltia had found in the city of Salaam. Halim, the
representative in particular, strangely idolizes Yoltia, but did something
happen between them in the process of procuring Klimt's scales? I had heard
that she played a major role, though...
After arranging for
them to become our exclusive trade merchants in the city of Salaam, we brought
them back with us to the Kingdom. The reason we stayed an extra night there
was, besides resting the soldiers, to wait for their departure preparations to
be complete.
With the spice matter,
I considered direct trade with the Principality of Fearalt to be an absolutely
necessary priority for the future, and the Tia Trading Company matter was a
timely stroke of luck for us.
However, the map of
this world is important strategic information, and there were reasons why I
couldn't easily hand it over to them. But if they accompanied us on our return
trip, we could teach Halim and his men the route in practice.
If they followed us on
their outward journey, they could pass freely anywhere, and for the return
trip, we could issue a formal trade pass in Teigoon.
If that happened, it
would save trouble for both sides and be beneficial.
It depends on the
situation for now, but I'm thinking of entrusting the spice imports for the Demon
Territory Count's domain to them in the future.
※
Accompanied by Anne, I
went straight to the workshop commanded by Workshop Master Karl upon arrival.
The first thing that
surprised me was that the athletic-club-style angry shouts that were its trademark
were gone, and the workshop, which had been sweltering and work-obsessed, had
its interior tidied up and the atmosphere completely changed.
"My apologies! If
you had called, I would have come to you... Everyone, the Lord is here!"
"Welcome!"
Yeah, this too has
changed from "Chiwaasu!" (Hello/Good day). And the number of female craftsmen,
which was previously zero, has increased tremendously.
"Hahaha, sorry to
surprise you. For women to play an active role, we have to change ourselves.
There are many who are dexterous and good at detailed work, and since their
fingertips are thin, they are indispensable for precision work."
"I see, yeah,
that's a good thing. Thank you for taking the lead in promoting employment. The
lanterns you hurriedly prepared before departure were well-received by the King
over there, and we sold all of them in the Principality. Also, we got some
materials perfect for people with dexterous hands."
Saying this, I piled
the Klimt scales I had brought by hand in front of him. The palm-sized,
iridescent, transparent scales were surprisingly thin and somewhat flexible,
but their strength was extraordinary, completely impervious to swords, spears,
and arrows.
"Th-th-this is...
The rumored... those Klimt scales? My, my, to be able to process this is a
craftsman's dream. I'll gather the skilled craftsmen right away!"
"There are about
350 scales in total, I think? And there's one whole Klimt carcass we
subjugated, so I think the total will easily exceed 1,000 scales."
"Wh...
Whaaat???"
Workshop Master Karl
seemed so surprised that his mouth hung open. Well, since even one is valuable
and the number itself is scarce, it's an item you normally can't get no matter
how much gold you pile up.
"I want you to
use these scales to make armor and other protective gear. Priority goes to Anne
and the other four wives. For Yuka-san, we'll adjust the size when she comes
here. Next, for the Holy Mages, prioritizing ease of movement. Next, the Wind
Mages, and then all the remaining mages. Beyond that, I have some ideas for who
I want you to make them for, so I'll let you know later."
"Karl-san, I
apologize. In this discussion, the most important person was left out. I would
like you to prioritize the production for Takuhir-sama above all else, and
immediately. Of course, please make the best possible one, focused on
defense!"
Anne hastily added
this, and then turned to me with a serious look in her eyes.
"Takuhir-sama is
more important to us than ourselves, so please do not forget that."
Saying this, she
smiled at me again. Until now, we had been together so constantly that I hadn't
noticed at all, but just being apart for a little while, I felt her attitude
had become more womanly.
After discussing a few
points with Workshop Master Karl, I headed to the guesthouse with Anne.
In the banquet hall,
the largest room, several huge and exquisite carpets bestowed by the King of Fearalt
were laid out beautifully.
"Oh my! It's
amazing. It's like a hall in the Royal Palace. It's truly amazing!"
Seeing Anne so excited
made me happy too.
Claire seems to be
struggling in the kitchen right now, commanding everyone. The appetizing and
delicious smell unique to curry is wafting all the way here.
It goes without saying
that at this point, I was already eagerly awaiting dinner time.
※
Dinner that day was a
very lively affair, with a total of over 60 people gathering. First, everyone
was wide-eyed with surprise at the crimson carpets laid out in the banquet
hall.
"Everyone, thank
you so much for gathering at such sudden notice today. I want to thank each of
you again, those who accompanied me to the Principality and those who protected
our home.
Today, I found some
unusual dishes in the Principality, and I wanted everyone to taste them, so I
asked you to gather. If you have any improvements or requests regarding today's
meal, please don't hesitate to tell Claire.
After making
improvements, I want to sell this dish as a specialty of our domain. So, I want
everyone's opinion for that purpose. We have also devised ways to make dishes
using rice, which you are not familiar with, taste good, so please try them.
I want to make rice,
potatoes, and the spices used in cooking into future specialty products, one of
the products that drive this domain. So first, I want everyone to enjoy the
food today."
As I said this, as if
on cue, dishes were brought out one after another. First were the vegetable
paella, soup curry, and croquettes.
"Ooh! Such
appetizing vibrancy."
The Commander and the
other men, unable to wait, each brought the food to their mouths.
"Delicious!"
"It's yummy." "Dipping rice in soup and eating it... it's
good!" "To think rice could be eaten so deliciously..."
Overall, the
evaluation was excellent. And then, the curry rice was brought out.
"Everyone, I want
you to eat this with rice, like this."
I put rice and curry
sauce together in front of everyone and brought the spoonful to my mouth to
show them how to eat it.
Yes, just as I
expected. Tears are coming out. Curry rice is only curry rice when eaten with
rice.
"I also want you
to try eating this croquette with the curry rice."
"What!"
"I could eat bowl after bowl of this!" "This spiciness is
addictive." "A croquette? But this way of eating it is also
good."
Yeah, I was a little
anxious at first, but seeing everyone eating engrossed, I was greatly relieved.
"I plan to sell
the ingredients for making this curry, spices ground in a mortar and mixed, in
jars. And if dishes using rice take root, rice itself will become a unique
specialty product and a major pillar of industry. Furthermore, I'm thinking of selling
Teigoon-grown potatoes that go well with these croquettes and curry under the
name 'Baron Potato'. What do you think, Miseri, of this strategy?"
"It's delicious
and the best!"
Saying only that, Miseri
didn't seem to stop eating.
"Commander, how
about serving this in the Knights' cafeteria on set days? It's easy to cook and
easy to store and serve. That way, I think we can instill an awareness of the
date in the Knights as well."
"That is a very
good idea! This way, it's filling and stimulates the appetite. It's the perfect
dish for us!"
"Members of the
liaison council. If any of your associates who run restaurants wish to handle
this, we will prioritize sending spices to them. If there is such a wish,
please contact the administration."
"Yes! Thank you
very much. We are indebted to you for everything, and we are grateful that this
too is the guidance of the Divine Messengers."
"Even in the
Empire, I've heard that rice is eaten in the southern region, but this is the
first time I've eaten it this way. It's incredibly delicious. It almost feels
wrong to the others."
"Ah, that's fine.
During the harvest festival, we plan to serve it to everyone for free as a
tasting, though the amount will be small. Well, the promise is one plate per
person, though."
"Hahaha, Takuhir-sama,
in that case, security at the venue will be tough. Let's provide personnel for
guidance and information from the Frontier Knights. If we say that if they
manage it well, we'll incorporate it into the members' meals, everyone will
gladly take on the task."
"Commander,
please do. And Claire, once things settle down here, please give everyone who
helped behind the scenes a chance to eat too."
And so, rumors of
paella, soup curry, croquettes, and curry rice spread, and the tasting served
at the harvest festival attracted a line of hundreds of people, including those
who had come from as far as Ishtar, leaving Takuhir and the others dumbfounded.
Confident in this
popularity, Miseri began selling paella spice sets, soup curry specialty
spices, and curry spice sets as new sources of revenue, and alongside them,
Demon Territory White Rice and Baron Potatoes began to be sold.
This would later
generate a great reputation. In this world, I revived one of the nostalgic
tastes and spread them widely throughout this world.
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