Author: Yume Neiji

Shortly after noon, Mary burst into the cottage, looking pale.

“Young Master, it’s bad!”

Mary’s face is very pale, and her body trembles slightly.

What happened?

Even if a robber comes, I think we’ll be fine because Upa is here, but…….

“What’s wrong?”

“We have a guest, Alexei-sama is at the auberge.”

“Alexei-oniisan!?”

“Yes. Sebastian, the head butler, and some knights are with him. What should we do?”

I calmed down Mary, who was so anxious.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure big brother just stopped by for something. Or maybe he is here to make sure I’m doing my job properly.”

I know.

I am well aware that he wasn’t that kind of big brother but I said so for Mary’s sake.

Anyway, we can’t just leave him there and wait. After all, the other party is my elder brother, Earl Dantes.

I quickly get dressed and then we headed to the auberge.

Without even much of a greeting, Alexei-oniisan, whom I met at the auberge, made a shocking proposal.

“…..So basically, you want me to sell this island for 10 million crown coins?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. With that much, it would be enough to get you to school and not worry about the future, right?”

You’re kidding.

The transaction over those jar bottles and the operation of the auberge alone generate a net profit of more than 200,000 crowns a month.

There’s no way I can sell it for only 10 million crown coins.

Above all, Gandalcia is our island. My friends live here.

“No thanks. I’m the Lord of this place.”

“I’ll take care of the islanders. They can continue to work here as they have always done. You can just live in the Capital. Will all those money, shouldn’t you just live there happily? Anyways, enough talking. I’m saying this for your own good.”

Yeah, right.

Then why did you kick me out of the mansion that day?

Isn’t it just because this island is generating money now so you are trying to take it away by offering money?

I didn’t nod my head, so my brother raised the price.

“Alright then, I’ll give you 11 million crown coins, and with that much, you can rent an apartment in a convenient place in the Capital. What about the Crenton area? It’s a stylish place.”

Did he really think I’ll be deceived by such sweet words?

I want him to stop treating me like a child.

“Even if it’s 100 million, I won’t give it away. Please take your leave.”

When I said it clearly, my brother’s temples began to twitch.

“Cedie…… are you going to go against me?”

Even if Alexei-oniisan is the opponent, I can’t give in to this.

“I’m the Lord of Gandalcia, and that’s what is registered the country, right? Paul-oniisan told me. I also have the certificate in my hand.”

“Hmmph, I don’t care about that……”

He raised his hand, and the ten knights behind him took a step forward. However, in response, our manager also stepped forward to protect me.

“Whoa, whoa. What are you going to do? If you are really planning on laying your hands on our Lord, then……”

The knights are frightened by Upa’s pressure as he cracks his knuckles.

“That man is General Upa……”

Sebastian whispers in Alexei-oniisan’s ear.

“Why is the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield on an island like this…? Tch, never mind. Since you’re being stubborn, do as you like then. But from now on, you’re prohibited from doing any business within the Dantes territory. Doing business with the Londo Company is also forbidden!”

Even with Emma!?

“How tyrannical!”

“If you want to make a deal, go ahead and do it. In return, I’ll have Emma Londo go to jail.”

“….…”

It’s like holding Emma hostage.

I have no choice but to give up wholesaling bottled goods to Londo Company then.

“If you change your mind, let me know. See you later.”

Alexei-oniisan went home with his shoulders hunched in anger.

The auberge was full of islanders who had heard the commotion. Everyone has an anxious look on their faces.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you guys. It’s okay, I’m not going to sell this place.”

“That’s right. Young Master Cedie would never do that!”

Dawsill speaks up.

“You’re right. There’s no way Cedie would do that.”

Lulu’s smile returned on her face.

Everyone was satisfied and went back to their respective homes.

The only one who remained standing in front of me was Mio-san. She looked so pale.

“I’m sorry, I’m very sorry. I had no idea this was going to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve always thought that Alexei-sama was worried about you, Cedie-sama.”

Mio-san then told me everything she had done so far.

“So, Mio-san was reporting the things going on this island on Alexei’s orders. Is that right?”

“That’s right. I…… he told me that he was worried about his brother.”

“In that case, don’t worry about it anymore. After all, Mio-san was also deceived by my older brother.”

Mio-san seems to feel responsible for this incident.

But even if Mio-san doesn’t report it, Alexei-oniisan will still manage to find out the secret of Gandalcia sooner or later.

“Hey, don’t cry anymore.”

“But you can’t do business with Emma anymore, right? What are you going to do now?”

“I’ll try to find a merchant in Lebon that will buy the bottled goods. It’s at Simpson’s territory so it won’t be a problem.”

I don’t think I’ll be able to sell a ton of bottled goods all at once, but it’s better than nothing.

Developing the island requires not only points, but also cash.

If I have time to whine, it’s more constructive to show up at Sambabano and ask for advice. Bigma is kind, so she may be able to help.

Oh my gosh, my happiness is frighteningly low!

In any case, the road ahead for me and Gandalcia seemed to be difficult.

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Alexei was rocking in the carriage with a sullen face. But he doesn’t seem to be throwing tantrums as much as Sebastian, the head butler, worries about.

“It’s a pity.”

“What is?”

“Master was not able to buy Gandalcia, right?”

“Well, that’s okay. It’s not going to make much money anyway. And Cedie will probably come to me soon. Anyway, how’s the winery we bought?”

“It’s going well. This month’s sales have exceeded 3 million crown coins.”

At Sebastian’s reply, Alexei smiled contentedly.

“Good. We are going to focus on making wine for a while. Let’s increase the production from this year.”

“I understand.”

Alexei was delighted to have a new source of funding.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Emma had come for a business meeting, so I first treated her to lunch. I wanted to thank her for coming all the way from a faraway place.

“I’ve heard rumors about this place even in Belucca. They all said that you guys served an incredibly delicious dinner. The details are not known, but they say the food is more than just delicious.”

I’m sure Paul-oniisan’s friends promoted it.

“It just so happened that I got some good ingredients, so we used it to entertain my brother and his friends.”

“Oh, so that’s what it was. But it doesn’t seem like you’re planning on making a profit from it.”

Emma looked around. Many of the customers who are eating at this time are merchants going on the highway and sailors who have finished fishing or work. This is because the price is reasonable at lunchtime.

During the day, it’s a fun restaurant that everyone can easily use, but at night, I want to serve a little elaborate food. That’s why I talked to Lynn and tried to divide the time and price ranges.

“It’s nice to have fancy food, but this pasta set is also good, and at this price, it even came with dessert. It’s no surprise that sailors come here by boat.”

At lunchtime, it gets so busy that it’s almost overwhelming. Even though she is a guest, Mio-san, who can’t stand seeing us so busy, helps out with serving the dishes.

I told her I can’t make her do that, but Mio-san is a very friendly person and she is also quick on her feet.

“Can I get hired here when I’m done with my current job?”

She even says things like that.

However, even if Mio-san expresses her desire to move here, my status board does not change. If she is going to live here, I think there should be some kind of change.

Emma, who drank the coffee after the meal, looked a little serious. Finally, the business negotiation is about to start. However, we are not completely strangers. We trusted each other, so it didn’t feel so formal.

“So, Cedie, can you show me the new product that you talked about?”

Today, we had Emma come to see the new preserved food made at the food processing plant.

I signaled to Cawsill, Dawsill, who were waiting in the corner of the room. Both of them are stiff with tension. It took a lot of trial and error to make it, so I wish they had more confidence.

Pushing the cart loaded with several kinds of bottles, two people with nervous faces came in. It’s a business meeting, so I want them to smile more.

“Excuse me, I’m Dawsill, the person in charge of the food processing plant!”

“I’m Cawsill!”

Uh-, don’t introduce yourselves like Char.

It is not very cute when the two of them imitate Char….

“I’m Emma Rondo. Pleasure to meet you guys.”

Emma shook hands with both of them with grace, but the tension between Dawsill and Cawsill increased even more.

In the future, I will have them get used to this kind of meeting.

“Let’s have Emma take a look at the products. Dawsill, open the sardines in oil first.”

I asked for a smaller amount of pasta for her so that she could try tasting them all. I put a lot of effort into making a lot of things this time, so I’ll make sure she eats a lot.

“This is sardines.”

“They’re marinated in sunflower oil from Gandalcia. They taste good too.”

“Mm, yes, it’s delicious.”

Emma took a bite then her face flushed.

“The advantage of this is that I can keep the price low, and it’s a lot cheaper than the duck confit I gave you before.”

“You can eat it as it is, or you can use it for cooking.”

The gluttonous Cawsill steps forward.

“It’s delicious even if you just soak the bread in the oil.”

“Sounds delicious, I think I’ll give it a try.”

Impressed by Emma’s response, Cawsill suggests ways to eat one after another.

“You can also put a clove of garlic and a piece of umeboshi into a jar and heat it in hot water. The meat will become soft when it’s warm, and the garlic and umeboshi will add flavor. However, you must remove the lid from the jar before heating it in hot water, otherwise it will explode.”

“This guy has made the kitchen greasy.”

Emma was laughing at the exchange between Cawsill and Dawsill.

She praised what they had made, and the tension between the two seemed to be completely relieved.

Next, I had her eat pickled vegetables.

Cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, and celery are all vegetables that Char and I have painstakingly grown in our vegetable garden. It tastes good and is rich in vitamins, so it will help prevent scurvy among sailors.

Emma seemed satisfied.

Pineapple pickled in syrup and peaches pickled in syrup were also well received.

“They’re all great. How much do you have in stock?”

“There are 300 oil sardines and fruit in syrup, and about 200 large bottles of pickles.”

“I’ll buy them all. But there’s more than I thought huh.”

“It’s all thanks to the food processing plant. It is also because of the hard work of Dawsill and Cawsill.”

Emma then called out to Dawsill, who was puffing his chest out.

“Factory manager, would you like to give me a tour of the food processing plant?”

“…..Factory manager?”

“She’s talking about you, big brother!”

“Oh! O-Of course! I’ll show you around at any time.”

Dawsill and Cawsillstraightened their backs and walked forward.

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After reading the report from Mio, Earl Dantès nodded slightly.

“I see, although it was small, Gandalcia Island seemed to have commercial value.”

He also found out why he couldn’t sell his preserved food to the Navy.

Cedie was making preserved food, and it was what they chose. There is also an excellent fishing ground in the area and it seems that rare plants grow on the island.

Sebastian, the housekeeper who knew the contents of the report, bowed his head, fearing that Alexei would explode in anger.

Alexei, however, ordered Sebastian in a calm voice.

“Tomorrow we are going to Gandalcia, get ready.”

“Yes. But, why though?”

“An elder brother is just going to see his younger brother, isn’t that strange?”

“T-that’s true, but….…”

Sebastian is unsure of Alexei’s intentions.

“It looks like a good island, and I’m going to buy it.”

“Ah? The Gandalcia Island?”

“What else is there? I can give him 10 million crown coins.”

“What will happen to Cedie-sama then?”

Alexei’s reply is perfunctory.

“If he has 10 million, he can get into a decent school, and after graduation, he can become a notary public or a lawyer. He can also talk to me if he wants to.”

Alexei was more concerned with the profits from Gandalcia than with the future of Cedie.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Finally, the day of Paul-oniisan’s banquet arrived.

Today’s menu looks like this.

Terrine with scallops, crabs and dungeon mushrooms Miracle soup with swift’s nest Lobster Poiret with Americane Sauce Rock oysters from Gandalcia with lemon Truff pie wrap Trifle Ice Cream and Sorbet

There is plenty of variety and volume, so even the most voracious gourmets are sure to be satisfied.

Shortly before nightfall, three carriages arrived in front of the auberge.

“Paul-oniisan, welcome to Gandalcia.”

“You look great. I’ll be in your care tonight.”

My brother seems to have gotten a little sunburned. I’m sure he’s busy with his ranch work.

A large man came down after my brother. He was large both in height and size and looked very cheerful.

“Hoh~! It’s surprising that there is such a fancy shop in such a place.”

“Welcome”

“You must be Cedie, the lord of this island. I’m Giorto Masciolini, and I’ve been friends with Paul for ten years.”

Masciolini-san grabbed my hand with his large hand filled with gold rings and shook it enthusiastically. He is wearing a dinner jacket made of fine fabric.

I thought he looked quite wealthy, and it turned out he was the owner of a casino. He was the third son of a nobleman, but he opened a casino and made a lot of money.

“Hahaha, when you grow up, please come to Casino Wyall, you are very much welcome.”

I’ve never been interested in gambling before, but I guess I can go there at least once for my later studies, right? Well, if I do go, it’ll probably be when I’m a bit more grown up.

The course started with a terrine with scallops, crabs and dungeon mushrooms. My brother and his friends are enjoying the food while drinking white wine.

Masciolini-san seemed to be a gourmet, and he told the group about his culinary knowledge.

“Oh speaking of which, it’s very important that dungeon mushrooms should be fresh. If you don’t eat them within two days of harvesting, they will start to taste bitter.”

Paul-oniisan, who had taken a bite of the terrine, tilted his head.

“But these mushrooms aren’t bitter at all, and I don’t think there’s a dungeon around here.”

“I’m sure they rushed it here from around Sable. Either way, it’s a rarity.”

Everyone seemed satisfied, realizing that they were served with something both delicious and valuable.

But for now, I’ll keep it a secret that there is a dungeon in Gandalcia. Because of Alexei-oniisan, this secret should be kept as possible.

Next, we served the highlight dish of the day, the miracle soup made with swift’s nest.

Again, Masciolini-san explained.

“The swift’s nest is also rare, and it is served in the court cuisine of Fanxiao, a great country in the east.”

“You are quite knowledgeable.”

“I’m greedy for the pleasures of life.”

“Please enjoy it while its warm, you’ll be surprised.”

“Hohoh~…… Cedie seems to have a lot of confidence.”

Masciolini grinned as he lifted his spoon and took the soup into his mouth.

“Mm, it’s delicious. This soup is full of flavor. It’s based on seafood and…..hmm, duck?”

“As expected from you. You’re correct.”

“The texture of the swift’s nest is wonderful. The way it melts softly in your mouth is just amazing.….”

The gentlemen at the table are busily carrying the soup to their mouths. But the surprise is yet to come. It’s only from now on that the miracle soup will come into its own.

I asked Paul-oniisan.

“How are you feeling? Any changes in your physical condition?”

“Physical condition? Hn…? Come to think of it, I feel like my body is lighter……”

“Me too, the pain in my shoulder is gone.”

“The swelling in my feet has gone down. My boots used to be tight, but now they’re more comfortable!”

Great, the miracle soup is working!

I explained the immune system and skin-beautifying effects of swift’s nest.

Paul-oniisan nodded admiringly, and the other gentlemen put their mouths directly to the bowl and drank up the soup until the last drop, so as not to leave a single drop behind.

“I didn’t know it was such a precious ingredient, thank you, Cedie.”

“This time is special because I am always indebted to you. Alright, I will bring you the next dish.”

Next is everyone’s favorite rock oyster. The gentlemen were delighted to be served with out-of-season lemon. They devoured the oysters like they were drinking them down. They also ordered a lot of additional white wine, which was impressive.

“Brother, don’t eat too much, it’s time for the main dish.”

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, sorry.”

Paul-oniisan doesn’t usually show his expression, but tonight he has a gentle smile on his face. It was a fun banquet, I think it was also because he has lived up to his reputation as the organizer by introducing a great restaurant.

“Was the main course a meat pie wrap?”

“That’s right, it’s about time it is baked.”

I’ve told him the course of the meal, but I’m still keeping it a secret that it’s Truff meat.

I’ll show it to him right before they eat so he’ll be surprised. Surprises like this seem to be very welcome here.

The Truff pie wrap was brought by Lynn herself.

It takes a lot of skill to separate them. It’s a trick that only Lynn can do.

When I say meat pie wrapping, it’s not just meat wrapped in pie and baked. Foie gras, dungeon mushrooms, onions, etc., are sautéed in butter until they form a paste, covers them to the fillet of the truff, then wrapping it in puff pastry and baking it. The meat is sprinkled with various spices with Lynn’s original formula, which is a nice accent. The meat is surrounded by grilled vegetables from my garden. Potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, asparagus, every ingredient are delicious.

If they eat this, brother and the others will surely be impressed.

Lynn inserted the knife and made a cut, revealing a rosé-colored cross-section.

“It looks really good. Cedie, add me a bottle of full-bodied red wine.”

An order came in from Masciolini-san, who was in a good mood.

“Then go ahead, please enjoy your truff pie wrap.”

For a moment, the place fell silent.

“Truff! You just said truff, right?”

“That’s correct, brother. Actually, it’s Upa, the manager here, who killed it.”

The gaze of the gentlemen was on Upa, but he continues serving as if he did not care.

Hmm? Somehow, everyone seemed a bit restless….

“Upa? Don’t tell me….. that General Douglas Upa?”

“T-the Grim Reaper of the battlefield?”

Come to think of it, Upa himself said that he was a Grim Reaper or something. But this is the first time I’ve heard of him being a general.

“Could it be…. are you really General Upa? I heard that the general has been missing since he resigned from his post ……”

Paul-oniisan’s voice trembles slightly.

“No, no. That must be a complete mistake. I’m just a stranger with the same name.”

“No, but the scar on your face….…”

“This is something from a fall.”

Is that excuse reasonable?

That’s what I thought, but Upa continued to pretend not to know what they are talking about.

“There’s no way that General Upa is a manager in a place like this.”

Maybe he is trying to hide his true identity?

I don’t think it’s right to press him on the matter when he doesn’t want to talk about.

“Come on, everyone, enough with that. Enjoy the truff pie wrap instead. It is also a dish with a magical effect.”

“What do you mean?”

Masciolini-san, who was tasting red wine, leaned forward. He seems to like meat dishes and orders Lynn to “cut it into large pieces.”

“The meat of the truff seems to have a magical effect, and when you eat it, you will feel a surge of power in you.”

“Hoh~, I’m looking forward to it!”

The gentlemen who brought the food to their mouths were mesmerized by its deliciousness.

The dessert trifle was also popular, and all the gentlemen promised that they would definitely eat here again soon.

Paul-oniisan seemed to be very satisfied too.

“Cedie, sorry, I’ve made me worry about a lot of things.”

“It’s alright. Brother has always taken care of me after all. But, please keep the swift’s nest a secret for me.”

I don’t want to have too many customers asking for it.

“Got it. I’ll make sure to make it up to you.”

Thanks to the food, everyone left feeling more energetic than when they came.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Today, I worked with Char and Mio-san to further investigate the eastern side of the island. In the depths of the forest, we discovered a place where bananas and kiwi fruits are growing side by side! The kiwi fruit are hanging in clusters, and the bananas are growing in tiers. They all look so appetizing to eat.

“That’s so amazing! There are so many delicious looking fruits.”

“It’s a new ingredient. I think Lynn will be happy about it.”

Bananas are very rare around here. I’ve never even seen a kiwi fruit at Dantès’ mansion either. This is the first time I’ve seen it since I came to this world.

I took one kiwi and cut it in half with a knife.

“Oh, this is a gold kiwi.”

From my memory of my past life, I seem to have eaten two kinds, emerald green and golden.…

Oh, and come to think of it, I think they also sold pink kiwis.

The color is familiar, but the Gandalcian kiwi is about a size larger than what I am familiar with. Perhaps it’s a different kind. It must have evolved in a unique way.

“It’s yellow, the same as Char!”

“Yes, it’s the same as a Yellow Dragon. Would you like to taste it?”

“I want to eat!”

When I peeled it with a knife and handed it to her, she was overjoyed.

Mio-san also said that it was the first time she had eaten a kiwi. Ripe kiwi has little acidity, and a refreshing sweetness spreads throughout the mouth.

This taste…… I can eat as many of them as I want.

“It’s amazing that it’s brown on the outside but golden on the inside. This thing called banana is strange too.”

“This is how you can peel it easily.”

I demonstrated how to peel of the skin to them. The bananas ripened on the tree are also very delicious.

Oh right, I think I’ve eaten cake rolls with strawberries, bananas, and kiwi in it in my previous life.

I think it’s called…… Trifle!

Wrapped in plenty of cream, the three kinds of fruits blend together to create a harmony. Strawberries can be grown in the field, so I’ll sow the seeds right away.

If I ask Lynn to make a trifle for me, she will surely be able to make the same thing.

“Alright, let’s harvest a lot of bananas and kiwis for the new dessert.”

With the help of Char and Mio-san, we picked the fruits. Needless to say, Char was more determined than anyone else. The basket we brought was quickly filled.

“Okay, that’s enough. Let’s go back by the sea.”

We headed south of the island along a newly found path. The road is narrow and unreliable, but it’s not impassable.

After a while, Char sniffed the air.

“Hmm…… the wind is cold……”

The wind blowing from the sea caressed our faces. The season is from the end of winter to the beginning of spring. It is natural that the wind is still cold.

“The sea breeze is cold.”

“No, it’s different. This wind smells of earth, not the sea. It’s over there!”

Char rushed out with a large bunch of bananas on her shoulders.

“Char, wait!”

Mio-san and I hurriedly chased after Char’s little back.

“Father, there’s a hole in here!”

After passing through the bushes, there was a small square, and there was a big hole in front of me.

The diameter of the hole is about 10 meters. The interior is gently sloping and continues to the back. Just as she had said, a cold wind was blowing from the depths of the hole.

Why is the wind blowing from inside the hole?

Does this hole lead anywhere?

Or is it the abode of the wind dragon?

There is a yellow dragon in front of me, so it’s not strange that a wind dragon lived there.

“No way, is this is a dungeon too?”

“There is no sign of monsters or beasts in there though……”

Char, who had been staring into the darkness and listening to the sound inside, said so. The performance of her Dragon Ear and Dragon Nose is better than that of a police dog. If Char said so, then there’s nothing to worry.

“Shall we take a quick look inside?”

Conveniently, I had brought a magic lantern with me. There is also a spare magic crystal, so it should last for more than two hours even if we use it at maximum light. Holding the lantern high, we stepped inside the hole.

After descending a gentle slope for about a hundred meters, the road became flat.

It’s quite large inside, but there are just rocks all around.

“I wonder if the ceiling is going to collapse. I’ll check it out, so wait a bit.”

Mio-san carefully examines the rock wall. She used to be an adventurer, so she must be familiar with this kind of thing.

“It’s a solid bedrock. I don’t think it’s going to crumble here.”

After another 50 meters on the flat road, the road came to a dead end. Large and small rocks block the passage and it is unlikely that we can proceed further.

“It this it? There’s nothing in particular huh.”

I was careful, but unlike in the dungeon, there were no minerals or useful plants growing inside.

“Uu. It’s boring!”

Char puffs out her cheeks.

“It can’t be helped. But it’s cool here, so it might be a good idea to use it as a storage room.”

We can use it to store the finished jar bottles. If we pack this place with sawdust and ice, it can be used as a natural refrigerator.

“If this is useful, then our adventure wasn’t entirely in vain.”

“You’re right, Mio-san. It was fun too.”

“I feel like an adventurer for the first time in a long time. Sigh, I don’t want to go back to those days though.”

After our exploration, we returned to the auberge.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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I calmed down Dawsill and Cawsill, who came in out of breath. I asked the two of them to take a deep breath as they are panting so much. Then I faced Dawsill, who has regained his composure first.

“What happened?”

“A monster has entered the island!”

“What!? Don’t tell me.… is it a wild boar monster?”

“Yes! That’s exactly it!”

The brothers had gone out to pick fruit, as they usually did, and while they were harvesting pears for bottling, they suddenly ran into the truff.

“It walked towards the mountain while grunting its nose. It went straight on the way to the cave. Thankfully, it didn’t pay attention to us.”

What could that mean? I’d heard that the Truff would attack people right away, but…….

“Could it be that it came all the way here because it was attracted by the magic leaking out of the cave?”

“That’s a great possibility. The magic of Gandalcia should be stronger than anywhere else.”

Nowald-sensei agreed.

Upa, who was listening to our conversation, took off his jacket and threw it on the back of his chair.

“If that’s the case, then it’s easy. I’ll go and have a look. Everyone should evacuate to safety.”

“I’ll go too.”

Upa turns around and glares at me.

“Absolutely not. Listen, Cedie should wait here till I come back.”

The anxious manager doesn’t seem to want me to be in danger.

“Then, how about looking at it from the sky?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m going to ride Gian and support you from the air. It’s fine that way, right?”

“Hmmm…… no, you can’t! Truff might throw stones at you!”

Ah? With its hooves?

There is no way that is possible…..

He is certainly a worrywart…….

Eugenie, who couldn’t bare to see us in such a stalemate any longer, interceded.

“Gian can fly very high. And if the need arises, he can go toe-to-toe with the truff.”

“But….…”

“Cedie is worried about you. It’s fine if he just observes from afar, right?”

“Alright. I guess there’s no other way……”

Upa, who had been stubborn, finally agreed.

Gian, carrying me, Char, and Upa, soared high in the sky. I thought it was over capacity, but Gian is moving his wings easily as if there is no problem at all.

As expected of a griffon.

“Gian, fly towards the cave and look for the truff.”

“Quee!”

Gian set his head in the direction of the cave and moved his wings widely. With just one flapping of its big wings, we were already close to the mountain.

“There it is!”

The sharp eyed Char quickly spotted the Truff.

It’s big!

I had heard that it was five meters long, but when I saw the real thing in front of me, its power was overwhelming. I can be compared to an African elephant that I saw in my previous life. Green magic crystals glow between its eyebrows, and huge fangs protrude from its mouth.

It is understandable that there have already been several casualties.

We really can’t let it roam free like this. If the island’s inhabitants and guests are attacked, I won’t be able to lift my head.

“It’s quite a big one, isn’t it?”

Upa is smiling fearlessly.

But will he really be okay?

I can’t let him face such a difficult enemy alone after all.

“I’ll help out after all.”

“I told you that wasn’t a good idea, right? Cedie should stay calm and act like a Lord at this time.”

“That’s no good, I can’t put Upa in danger alone.”

“This is where Char comes in!”

“Queeeeeee!”

Both Char and Gian are motivated.

But is there a better way?

If I want something effective while minimizing the risks…

I got it!

“I’m going to take away its sense of sight and smell!”

“Ah? What are you going to do?”

“Use pepper bombs from the air.”

It’s a magic item that even the witches of Sambabano have recognized. I’m sure it will work against the truff as well.

“I see….. That might be a good idea indeed.”

“Right? I’m sure it’ll work.”

I had Upa get off Gian on the windward side, and we approached the truff from the air. It seems to have a good nose as it quickly looks up at us and bared its fangs on us.

That should be an act of intimidation.

In response, Char and Gian’s hair also stands on end.

“Calm down, we’re going to start attacking now. Gian, approach from downwind, I’ll drop the pepper bombs and then you quickly withdraw upwind.”

“Queee!”

As instructed, Gian approached the truff and descended.

I grabbed two pepper bombs and lit the fuse with flame magic.

“Fire!”

A pepper bomb is ejected from the tube and flies towards the truff. Its speed is as fast as an arrow.

However, sensing the danger, the truff dodged both bombs. It has such a huge body, but it’s surprisingly very agile. But that’s to be expected.

The pepper bomb exploded with a loud noise and scattered spicy powder all around. The essence of pepper bombs is that they are highly effective even if they do not hit the target directly.

“Bumooooooo”

There must have been chemicals in its eyes, and the truff is rubbing its face with its hoof.

If it does that, the pain will spread more and more.

“Let’s keep going. Gian, once more!”

We repeated such wave attack on the truff. The truff is completely blind after being hit by a pepper bomb. Its sense of sight and smell must have been paralyzed.

“Gian, blow the pepper away with wind magic!”

“Queeeee!”

The wind prevented the effect of the pepper bomb from reaching Upa.

“Char, contact Upa!”

Next, I asked Char to make a dragon voice that echoed several kilometers away.

“Upaaaaaaa! It’s your turrrrrn!”

Char’s dragon voice echoed through the air, and Upa came running from the windward area with his sword drawn.

He’s fast!

I’m sure he’s using physical enhancement magic, his speed is not that of an ordinary person.

Upa closed in on truff in the blink of an eye and swiftly slashed out his sword. The attack was so smooth, and there was not a shred of hesitation in sight.

The sword must have slashed through truff’s vital point because it sank to the ground with a thud.

“Upa, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. The hot springs of Gandalcia is really amazing. The pain in my knee was almost gone. At this rate, I’m almost fully recovered.”

That’s not 100 percent, but he is already that strong?

Upa is really impressive after all.

The islanders mobilized and dismantled the truff. It was difficult because it was big, but Lynn, Lulu, and Nowald-sensei took the lead in the work. Lynn is used to cooking, and Lulu is also good at handling fish. As for Nowald-sensei, he has a deep knowledge on anatomy.

Upa also played an active role here as well. It was a masterpiece to see how skillfully he cut the meat with a large kitchen knife.

This way, all the dismantling was done before dark.

There were a lot of edible parts, and the refrigerator and freezer at the auberge were full. It wasn’t enough, so I spent 3 new points to replace my commercial refrigerator.

Lynn cooked the meat for us right away, and it was so delicious!

A simple pepper steak was so delicious. It’s condensed with umami. Moreover, just by eating, I feel as if power is welling up from the bottom of my stomach.

No, it’s actually powering up!

“I can proudly serve this to Paul-oniisan’s banquet.”

“The main dish will definitely be truff meat. I’ll think about how to cook it and then decide.”

Great! The menu is pretty much decided.

I’m sure my brother would be delighted.

I shared a lot of meat with Gian, who had done a great job, and he was very happy.

　　　✲✲✲

Mio was somewhat excited as she wrapped up her report.

She thought she had seen the face of the Auberge manager somewhere, but it wasn’t until today that she remembered.

That’s Upa, the Grim Reaper!

He is a legendary mercenary captain who has risen from a commoner to a general by achieving great results in major battles such as the Norgrid Landing Operation, the Dotław Defense Line, the Surprise Battle of Kudława Plateau, and the Henin Decisive Battle.

Even after becoming a general, he was famous for fighting on the front lines, but I heard that he resigned from his post due to an injury.

When Mio was an adventurer, she had seen Upa’s face at a victory parade in the capital.

Cedie has such a strong person. Count Dantès would be relieved.

She thought.

Report This island is full of wonders. Flowers blooms out of season, and although the quantity is small, the fruit trees in the island bears fruit quickly. They were used as ingredients for bottling at the food processing plant. Today, I had hot honey lemon made from lemons picked from the island. It was very tasty. The people of the island get along well, and it is a very comfortable place to live. There are also people like General Upa, so I don’t think anyone will come to harm Cedie-sama.

Mio put down her pen and sighed. Her investigation period is coming to an end after all.

“I wonder if they can hire me here……”

Mio had gotten used to life on the island and she didn’t want to go back.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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