Author: Yume Neiji

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.

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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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For some reason, there were no customers since yesterday.

“It’s a customer business, so there are days like this. Don’t worry about it.”

Lynn comforts me by saying that.

“Instead of that, let’s focus on making the banquet menu for now.”

“Alright. I want to give Paul-oniisan something he will surely remember.”

“Father, I’m back!”

Char returned, carrying a large pail over her head. Oysters are piled up inside like a pile in a tub.

“Welcome back, Char. What’s going on with that many oyster?”

“I’ve caught it with Lulu. Char is a master oyster catcher!”

Once she used her dragon claw, she can pull oysters without tools.

“This is a gift to Father.”

“Thank you, Char. Lynn has made some lemon cake for us, please help yourself on that.”

“Oouuuh! I love lemon cake!”

She quickly sat down in the chair beside me and then she started to chew on the lemon cake.

I examined the oysters with Lynn.

“These are the best rock oyster I’ve seen. You don’t get to catch something of this quality very often.”

“Then let’s serve these oysters at Paul-oniisan’s banquet as well.”

I decided so because the gentlemen of this world love raw oysters.

Oysters are especially popular in winter. Freshly picked oysters poured into the stomach with a glass of dry white wine is considered the best treat of the season. We even have lemons that are out of season so it should be perfect.

The only people who can use lemons in the cold winter are the rich who can afford to import them from another region. There is no doubt that raw oysters with lemon will be much appreciated.

What’s more, what we will be serving aren’t just oysters and lemons. They are fresh oysters and ripe lemons from the mysterious island of Gandalcia. No matter how it is done, it’s bound to be delicious.

“Still, these are really fine oysters.”

Lynn, who opened the rock oyster with a knife, is impressed. The content is large and it actually looked plump and juicy.

“Shall we try a taste?”

“Fufu, what a great side benefit.”

Lynn and I put a rock oyster meat in our mouths at the same time.

“Uh!”

There is no peculiar smell of oysters at all!

The first thing I feel is the creamy umami taste. What follows is the mineral of the sea and the refreshing lemon scent that colors it.

“This is also delicious.”

“Excuse me for a moment….…”

Lynn poured a glass of well-chilled wine.

Then, she shouts to the front desk.

“Upa, come here for a minute!”

She must have felt a bit hesitant about enjoying wine in the middle of the day. She is going to make Upa an accomplice to reduce her guilt.

I just giggled and refrained from making any comments.

“What’s wrong? Oh, it’s oyster!”

Upa probably likes raw oysters too. He hopped into the kitchen with a smile on his face.

“It will be one of the menus at the upcoming banquet. I thought I’d let you taste it as well.”

“I’m grateful for that. I’ll have one then.”

With his accustomed hands, Upa opens the oyster shell. Then, he puts his mouth on the shell and slurped its content up.

“Oh~, delicious! I’ve eaten quite a few oysters, but I’ve never tasted them this good.”

“Look at how it goes with wine.”

“Hoho, you don’t have to tell me.”

Upa lifts the glass and empties its contents.

“Un, it feels great. This wine is good……”

They both look very happy. Adults love oysters and dry white wine. I’m more like Char and I prefer lemon cake.

“Eat more oysters if you like, but don’t drink too much.”

Right after I reminded them, Mary came in to inform me.

“Cedie-sama, Eugenie-sama is here.”

“I’ll be right there in a moment. Mary, can you get us some tea? And the lemon cake there as well.”

“Understood. I’ll bring it to you right away.”

I left the rest to Mary and then I went to the restaurant. At the restaurant, Eugenie and Nowald-sensei, who had just met, were chatting.

“Hello, Sensei, Eugenie. Are you having lunch?”

“I missed lunch time because I was so focused on reading, is it okay?”

“Yes. We don’t have any other customer at the moment so it’s fine. We also have delicious oysters today. It seems to go well with white wine.”

“Oh! I’d like to have some. And some white wine of course. A glass….no, I’ll have half a decanter.”

The teacher is fidgeting with his hands rubbed together. As expected, Sensei also loves oysters with white wine.

Mary brought us tea and lemon cake. I also asked her to serve Sensei his lunch before I turned to face Eugenie.

“Recently, I found a lemon tree in the depths of the island. Try it, it’s a lemon-flavored pound cake that Lynn made for me. There’s lemon juice in the dough and sugar coating.”

“It looks very good. I’ll have some.”

Eugenie lifted the cup with a graceful hand.

“By the way, have you heard about the Truff?”

Eugenie asked with a serious face.

“Truff? It is a monster like a wild boar, right?”

“That’s right. Apparently, there’s a big truff haunting the road and attacks travelers coming by. There have been a number of casualties.”

Was that why there were no customers since yesterday?

It seems that truff does not prey on humans but just goes around killing them. Compared to wild animals, it is more vicious in that area. Ordinary animals do not continue hunting any longer once their stomachs are satisfied. However, Truff  kills humans at will.

Eugenie came to let me know about it.

“Father is in the process of forming a subjugation party. I’m sure Earl Dantes is one of them.”

It is the Lord’s job to keep the roads safe after all. Earl Simpson and Alexei-oniisan must be scrambling to get it killed.

“Is it such a troublesome monster that a subjugation party needs to be formed?”

“According to the eyewitnesses, it is over five meters long.”

Nowald-sensei, who is listening to our conversation at the next table, nodded while crossing his arms.

“Well, Truff is a hateful monster that is both agile and powerful. What’s more, it can even use earth magic.”

“Sensei, where do Truff come from? This is the first time I’ve heard of one appearing around here.”

“Truff is a monster that lives on a high mountain and doesn’t come down to the village easily. Do you know why?”

“Hmm…. the top of the mountain is the same as a cave, so the concentration of magic there is high. Powerful monsters use the magic energy in the air to function, so they don’t like to leave such places.”

The teacher nodded in satisfaction at my answer.

“That’s exactly right. But the concentration of magic in the air is not always constant. It may suddenly disappear one day. The cause has not been identified though.”

“Then, could it be that the concentration of magic in the territory became low, so the Truff has come down to the village?”

“That’s a strong possibility.”

Hmmm…. maybe it is looking for a new place to live.

But the trouble is, my brothers’ appointment is already three days away. If such a monster is roaming the main road, the banquet will have no choice but to be postponed.

It’s a waste of our preparation then…….

As I was looking blank, Upa came out of the kitchen and tapped me on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll kill it when the time comes.”

“That’s dangerous!”

“Not really. I’ve done it before.”

“Eh!?”

“When I was in the army, a truff appeared in the wilderness. It was coming towards me, so I got rid of it. It was delicious.”

“It can be eaten?”

“The whole unit grilled and ate it. I have never eaten such delicious meat before or since then.”

Sensei vouched for Upa’s words.

“Since ancient times, gourmets have sought out the meat of Truff. Perhaps the reason why Lords organize subjugation teams is because they want to taste it.”

Hearing this, Upa was stunned. Then as if he suddenly got an inspiration, he shouted,

“Then we can’t afford to lose!”

“What do you mean we can’t lose?”

“Earl Dantès and Earl Simpson are moving, so will the Lord of Gandalcia, right?”

“No, no, that’s not going to happen. In the first place, just look at the population in the island. There’s no way we could organize an extermination force.”

“It’s enough if I’m there.”

“Char is going to help you too!”

After finishing the lemon cake, Char raised her hand cheerfully.

However, the overprotective Upa would not let her.

“It’s dangerous, so no. Children should stay at home and play.”

“Buu-, I want to join the subjugation team as well.”

I’m sure it will be okay if it’s Char, but it’s not really a good idea to let a child do it.

“Well, there aren’t any customers here anyway, so I guess I’ll just go and check out the highway.”

Right after I said that, the door of the restaurant was suddenly swung open in a hurry.

“Young master, it’s bad!”

“T-there is a monster!”

It was the brothers Dawsill and Cawsill who came.

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

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