After finishing the secret discussion with Reinhart-san and the others, I greeted Hyuzu and his group and told them about my time in the Great Forest. Before long, it was time to hand out the souvenirs.
“To Ryouma’s safety and the successful completion of his goal, cheers!” [Reinhart]
“Cheers!” [Everyone]
Since most of the souvenirs consisted of food, it was only natural for a tasting session – ergo, a feast – to begin.
At Reinhart-san’s behest, everyone raised their glasses and we all took a sip of the “Heat-Emitting Tree Barrel Ale” that I had purchased at one of the bases at the Great Forest. As soon as they got a taste, they started drinking their hearts out.
“Puha! Ryouma! This tastes great!” [Hyuzu]
“The scent that lingers in the nose is stimulating yet refreshing. It’s so easy to drink.” [Camil]
“So this is the aroma of the trees in the Great Forest, huh?” [Jill]
“I never knew such a drink existed there.” [Hyuzu]
“It’s probably only circulated within the adventurers’ base and rarely makes its way outside.” [Jill]
“There are plenty of materials that sell for a higher price than alcohol, so those would naturally take priority.” [Eleonara]
Around me were Hyuzu and his team, who served as guards, as well as Eleonora, who would be assisting me with work from now on. I had just finished a thorough conversation with the duke’s family, so they were a little farther away, but the voices I heard were all filled with goodwill.
“Alright, everyone, let’s start grilling.” [Ryouma]
In front of us was a large iron griddle, specially prepared for the occasion. A little farther away was a table filled with ingredients. The most eye-catching among them was the mountain of thinly sliced Immortal Snake meat. Surrounding it were an array of spices and fruits from the Great Forest, neatly lined up.
The Shurus Great Forest is considered a difficult place for securing food, but that is due to the large number of dangerous monster beasts inhabiting it. Edible plants themselves were actually abundant. And the areas around Cormi Village show traces of the villagers’ efforts to survive.
However… if I had to name the most delicious thing I had in the Great Forest, it would definitely be that meat. Taking the initiative, I placed the Immortal Snake meat onto the iron griddle. Immediately, the fat began to melt, sizzling and releasing a fragrant aroma that spread in an instant.
“Whoa… what is this meat? Just the smell alone is incredible…” [Jill]
“You hear the phrase ‘overwhelming aroma’ from time to time, but it’s my first time experience it myself. So, this is what it’s like.” [Hyuzu]
“This is just the meat by itself, without any seasoning or additional ingredients, right?” [Eleonora]
“Everyone seems surprised. Yes, that’s right—this meat is more than delicious on its own. The taste is mild, yet it releases such a rich umami flavor that it overpowers even seasonings.” [Ryouma]
“That much, huh…? This is really exciting. Even nobles rarely get to taste ingredients from the Great Forest.” [Jill]
Jill, who comes from a count’s family, was alternating his gaze between the sizzling meat and the mountain of ingredients. Indeed, gathering specific ingredients from the depths of the Great Forest was no easy task. If one were to commission adventurers for the job, it would undoubtedly cost a hefty sum.
“There probably aren’t many people who have seen an actual Immortal Snake, right?” [Jill]
“That’s right. Back when the kingdom was actively developing the Great Forest, a unit that had been dispatched came back and presented its findings to the king. I remember it being a hot topic for a while… but when exactly did people stop talking about it?” [Reinbach]
“The trend faded within a few years. The king then praised it as delicious, and the team received words of commendation. Its rarity, combined with the rumors of the Immortal Snake’s regeneration ability, led to speculation that it was an ‘elixir of eternal youth,’ creating demand, but the supply was simply too low.” [Reinhart]
“That’s right. By the end, it seemed that only those obsessed with its rumored effects cared about it as an ingredient anymore.” [Reinbach]
Reinbach, who had just explained that, suddenly raised a question.
“Hmm? But I thought Immortal Snake meat tasted bad? People also used to say that it’s rare but not valuable enough to justify sending adventurers after it.” [Reinbach]
“This delicacy? Surely not.” [Hyuzu]
“I agree with Hyuzu. The aroma alone is enough to draw people in. I can’t understand why there were rumors that it tasted bad.” [Reinbach]
“…It’s probably because the Immortal Snake’s regeneration ability activated while they were hunting it.” [Ryouma]
Most likely, those who found it delicious had eaten parts of the creature that had been cut off during the battle before regeneration, while those who thought it tasted bad had probably eaten the meat after regeneration. Or perhaps some people exploited the Immortal Snake’s regeneration ability, repeatedly harvesting it to get more meat.
“If that’s the case, then it makes sense that people’s opinions were inconsistent. No matter the era, there are always people who will do anything for money.” [Reinbach]
“The mass-produced meat was still technically Immortal Snake meat. It wasn’t fake. The taste could have deteriorated somewhat during transport, and if very few people knew its true flavor, anyone could have simply claimed, ‘This is what it’s supposed to taste like,’ and others would have believed them. —Ah, it’s just about ready now, everyone.” [Ryouma]
I can only speculate about the quality of the meat that was circulated in the past, but I can guarantee that the meat today was freshly hunted just a few days ago. Not only that, but I had used the slimes’ abilities to properly drain the bloodtoo, then I cleaned it thoroughly and stored it with plenty of care. In other words, this immortal snake meat is top quality ingredient.
I transferred the grilled meat to a small plate and took a bite. In the next moment, the umami flooded my mouth everywhere.
『!!』 [Everyone]
When everyone else managed to take a bite of the grilled meat, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise at its deliciousness. Without saying a word, they continued chewing, savoring the flavor as they swallowed repeatedly, their faces slackening in delight.
“…Who would’ve thought that wild meat could taste so good?” [Camil]
Camil murmured those words but everyone else echoed his sentiment. The members of the duke’s family, their guards, and even their attendants – all of whom were accustomed to high-quality meat – were all deeply satisfied by the taste of the Immortal Snake meat. And as the one providing the meal, I couldn’t be prouder.
“Well, don’t hesitate to dig in! The meat is delicious as is, but I’ve also prepared seasonings – pepper from Cormi Village and aromatic herbs gathered from the Great Forest. Additionally, we have soy sauce, miso, and sesame sauce, so feel free to use them as you like!” [Ryouma]
Even as I spoke, everyone was already grilling their next pieces of meat. Having just a taste of a true delicacy, they evidently weren’t about to be shy for seconds. It seemed as though they would just focus on eating for a while, so I decided to take the opportunity to portion out the condiments—
“Takebayashi-sama.” [Eleonora]
“Eleonora-san, what’s the matter?”
“I saw you were headed for the ingredients, so I thought to offer you some assistance.” [Eleonora]
Eleonora, who had been dispatched from the duke’s house to serve as my secretary, came over. She could have continued enjoying the meal with everyone else, but perhaps she felt uneasy just watching her boss (me) work while she just ate.
“In that case, I’ll happily oblige. I’ll be setting up the area, so can you bring those wooden plates with compartments over there? We need one for each person.” [Ryouma]
“Understood.” [Eleonora]
As I used earth magic to create a table, Eleonora brought over the plates. We then divided the task of arranging the various condiments onto the dishes. I’d accumulate quite a variety of seasonings from the Great Forest, so I appreciated the extra set of hands.
I handed her a bag of pepper and had her start working, but… this was only our second time meeting. Understandably, her tone and demeanor were still stiff. Well, I was too. We were both still struggling to find topics to talk about. As we worked, we kept the conversation centered around the task at hand, cautiously observing each other’s reactions.
We would be working together from now on, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to formally introduce myself again.
“Eleonora-san.” [Ryouma]
“Yes?” [Eleonora]
“Since I returned safely from the Great Forest, I expect the Duke will issue your transfer orders soon. So, I just wanted to say that I look forward to working with you.” [Ryouma]
“The pleasure is mine… I will serve you with unwavering dedication and utmost effort.” [Eleonora]
When I bowed my head, she seemed momentarily taken aback. But then in the next second, she returned the gesture at least twice as intense, to the point that it seemed I could feel her determination.
She wasn’t just saying that, she was really prepared to give it her all. Actually, it felt like she had no other option left. If this continued, things would only get more awkward, so I changed the subject.
“Thank you. This might not be the best setting for it, but let’s talk about how we’ll be working together moving forward.”
“Yes. Actually, I also have some questions regarding my duties, so I welcome it.” [Eleonora]
Alright, she took the bait. Given that I was about to become her superior, she probably couldn’t outright refuse the conversation. Still, she seemed to find this topic easier to engage with, which was a relief. I could feel the tension between us easing already.
We weren’t close enough for me to ask about her hobbies or personal life. And considering the circumstances that led to her being assigned to me, her private life was probably a landmine of issues best left untouched. Honestly, I didn’t have any other conversation topics that seemed safe to bring up. If this one hadn’t worked, I would have been stuck.
“The first thing I want to confirm is your living arrangements once you arrive in the town of Gimuru, where I’m based. I already have a space set up for both living and working that meets the minimum requirements for daily life, but is there anything else you need?
It doesn’t have to be something strictly necessary – if there’s anything that would be helpful, just let me know. I want to make sure that everything is as convenient as possible.” [Ryouma]
“For daily life, as long as I have a bed and a place to cook, that would be more than enough. The laundry could be handled at your shop, I suppose. That would significantly reduce my workload. As for the workplace… that depends on the scope of my duties. My primary tasks involve gathering and managing information, as well as communication, so as long as I have basic writing materials, documents, and a space to store them, there shouldn’t be any issues.” [Eleonora]
“I understand. Once you officially start, please check everything, and if there’s anything missing, don’t hesitate to let me know.” [Ryouma]
After talk for a bit more, she finally started to open up a bit, and for the first time, she asked a question of her own.
“Upon reviewing your work so far, I came across something concerning regarding a contract related to the waste processing facility. Specifically, the conditions under which discarded food from grocery stores is purchased. The current terms are quite disadvantageous to the facility, resulting in losses without any profit.” [Eleonora]
With a grave expression, she pointed out the issue regarding the food waste buyback service offered to the grocery stores.
That contract explicitly prohibited the resale, distribution, or transfer of the purchased food waste, meaning that no profit could be made from it. While the food was bought at a significantly lower price than market value, the sheer volume collected could only lead to substantial financial losses overall.
She was right, but it seemed she didn’t just bring it up from a purely financial standpoint, as she next broached a topic related to one of my mistakes – something I’d honestly rather not revisit.
“This particular contract stood out to me. Given the wide range of operations under your management, it wouldn’t be unusual for different people to handle different contracts, but the wording of this one… It felt intentionally malicious.” [Eleonora]
I hadn’t hidden any information from the duke’s family, nor had I asked Hyuzu and his team to keep anything secret, and it seems, the information was indeed properly being shared
“Yes, half of those contracts were indeed harassment.” [Ryouma]
It happened when I decided to start buying discarded food and began negotiating with potential suppliers. Among them were shop owners I had clashed with before, so I figured I’d get the unpleasant encounters out of the way first and prioritized those visits.
And, well… as expected, they were outright hostile from the start, showering me with passive-aggressive comments. They nitpicked at the contract terms, and what they eventually proposed—the contract in question—was essentially an ultimatum: “If you accept these terms, we’ll agree to the deal.”
“Honestly, I could have just walked away at that point, but I had a plan, so I decided to just play along for the mean time. Of course, I made sure to include a clause for reviewing and revising the terms when the contract was up for renewal.” [Ryouma]
They probably expected me to either get angry or give up and leave. But when I accepted the deal, they looked genuinely surprised – before quickly smirking like they had outsmarted me.
However, that contract was actually a key part of my research on slime-based farming and retort food production. My main goal was securing food for Scavenger Slimes and obtaining materials for experimentation, so the unfavorable terms didn’t bother me in the slightest. So, while I might’ve called it harassment earlier, it wasn’t really even an inconvenience.
I did tell them that the food I was buying was for research purposes. But they probably never imagined that a kid like me was working on improving food production efficiency using wood magic, developing new preservation methods, and actually getting results. I could understand their skepticism – well, at least to some extent.
“But you know, while they might not have anticipated this outcome, and while they might’ve intended for me to refuse their counter offer, the fact remains that they proposed an unfair contract. And if they did that just to vent their personal grudges, then that should speak volumes about their trustworthiness, don’t you think?
When I presented the same conditions to other merchants afterward, it became surprisingly easy to identify which ones were untrustworthy.” [Ryouma]
“So you used the contract they proposed as a litmus test to evaluate potential business partners?” [Eleonora]
“Since I had large-scale employment at the security company, waste processing facility, and hospital, I also needed to decide where to source ingredients for the employee cafeteria. And when it comes to food, you want to rely on trustworthy suppliers. So, I simply eliminated any merchants deemed untrustworthy from the list of potential suppliers. Not to brag, but they lost out on a rather lucrative contract, you know.” [Ryouma]
Even among the hostile merchants from that meeting, there were those who pointed out the unfair contract terms and refused to sign. Even if they didn’t like me personally, some of them still conducted business with integrity. In fact, I ended up forming long-term supply contracts with quite a few of them.
“Moreover,, there’s a big difference between rejecting the contract before experiencing its benefits and rejecting it after getting a taste. They’re much less likely to walk away after the first taste.” [Ryouma]
“It also puts you in a stronger position during negotiations. Depending on how you approach the discussion, even the more malicious merchants might be persuaded to agree to revisions.
And if they fail to recognize their position and continue to act arrogantly, I suppose terminating their contracts entirely and removing them from your list of partners would be a rather satisfying form of retaliation.” [Eleonora]
Eleonora spoke in a calm, composed manner, but for a brief moment, a shadowed smirk flickered across her face. I had no idea what – or who – she was thinking about, but she definitely seemed to have a dark side to her.
“Oh, I was considering to get back at them, but, unfortunately, they ended up destroying themselves before I even had a chance to.” [Ryouma]
“They destroyed themselves?” [Eleonora]
“Remember why I ended up clashing with them in the first place? While it was just a matter of whether or not one got scammed or not, the consequences were a lot more damning than a normal scammer, and they were the ones who walked straight into the scammers’ ploy.” [Ryouma]
“I did read the reports. Some shop owners have been supposedly deceived into thinking they were installing security magic tools, only to end up setting explosive traps in their own stores and warehouses. Could it be that…” [Eleonora]
“Yep. Every single store owned by those guys got blown to pieces.” [Ryouma]
Some of the stores were connected to the owners’ homes. Whether it was a miracle that no one died or if the scammers just preferred it that way, no one knows for sure, but either way, the hostile merchants ended up completely destroying their own businesses, so not only is it impossible to renew my contract with them, they can’t continue operations anymore.
“Though even without that mess, their poor treatment of me had already grown wings within the Merchant Guild. So, either way, they’d already lost the trust of their peers and were finished anyway.
Anyway, like that, my enemies managed to deal with themselves without me having to lift a finger. As for the contract, which wasn’t a major issue to begin with, it has since been reviewed and renewed under the supervision of a former legal officer dispatched by the duke’s house.” [Ryouma]
“A legal officer… I see, then there was no need for me to interfere. Thank you for explaining. I appreciate your time.” [Eleonora]
“Not at all. We haven’t even done a proper handover yet. The fact that you’ve already grasped so much is reassuring.” [Ryouma]
During our conversation, she glanced over at Hyuzu-san and his group a few times, so she must have heard about the contracts from them.
That said, I’d already made it clear that the food waste buyback initiative was primarily for my research – and, to some extent, my personal hobby. It was mostly under my direct control, and I had handled it as I pleased. The others had been busy during that time, and the contract review was completed only after they had returned to the duke’s estate. That likely meant they hadn’t been fully updated on how everything had been resolved.
Even in my previous life, where computers and emails existed, delays and errors in information sharing were common, so it can’t be helped if such issues were more common here. Anyhow, it should be fine as long as we manage to align ourselves without any issues.
“If you ever have any concerns, please feel free to ask me at any time. I’ll likely be away from town for extended periods in the future, and even when I’m here, I tend to get absorbed in my research, so please just reach out to me when you need me.” [Ryouma]
“I understand.” [Eleonora]
Her expression and demeanor were still stiff, but the fact that we were able to talk this long was already a good sign. Any longer than this might have the opposite effect, so we should probably wrap up.
“Ooh, such luxury!” [Reinbach]
But just as I was about to bring the conversation to a close, Reinbach-sama and Sebasu-san arrived.
“Are you enjoying yourselves, Reinbach-sama, Sebasu-san?” [Ryouma]
“But of course, the food was so delicious that I actually neglected the day’s guest of honor.” [Sebasu]
Was that a butler’s joke? Sebasu-san usually kept his emotions under control, but this time, I could tell that he was in a good mood.
“As long as I can share the results of my adventure and spread my joy with everyone, I’m happy. Let’s just say that today’s guests of honor are the ingredients I brought today.” [Ryouma]
“Oh? In that case, I shall have to fully indulge in both the food and the drinks.” [Reinbach]
Come to think of it, does Sebasu-san enjoy drinking? Back when Elia formed a contract with the Rimel Bird, he was the only one in the duke’s house who didn’t get a hangover. Maybe he just enjoys food in general?
“Sebasu has been accompanying me as an attendant for a long time now. During our busy schedule back then, food exploration was a small but cherished hobby of his.
At a certain level of dimension magic, it was often faster to rest and teleport across large distances than rely on horses, you see.” [Reinbach]
“When traveling, there are only so many tasks that can be done, and restrictions on schedules and movements are common. So I sought ways to make good use of my free time.” [Sebasu]
As Sebasu-san smiled nostalgically, I recommended him some spices. His face lit up right away.
“Would you like anything else to eat?” [Ryouma]
“Fruit would be nice, but if I’m savoring the meat with these spices, I’d better have another drink as well.” [Sebasu]
“Just don’t overindulge too much, Sebasu. Neither of us are young anymore, after all.” [Reinbach]
Reinbach, half exasperated and half concerned, took a plate of spices and returned to the grill. The others were still enjoying the simple grilled meat, but at this rate, the first batch we prepared would soon be devoured.
“Eleonora-san, let’s bring them some more meat to go with the spices.” [Ryouma]
“Understood. I’ll prepare it right away.” [Eleonora]
Her response was a bit mechanical, but she worked efficiently. Well, we’ll probably manage just fine.
With that thought, I continued serving food while going around and spending time with everyone.
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