3 bar menu

Chapter 361: Neutral Island

I sourced the ingredients I lacked from the 『Pantry』. The spirits like hanging around when I prepare the food in the tower so the Changelings should be able to taste them…

「Here, help yourself. 」
Hmm, it’s hot on the island, maybe I should’ve prepared udon salad?

「Eeek!! What are you gonna do if you scratch the table! 」
Soleil shrieked in dismay when I served the donburi.

「Nah, you don’t really have to worry about that, these furniture are so durable that I doubt even a sword can scratch it, you know? 」
I raised the bowl to show her.

「Stop it, even if that’s really true, my heart can’t take it…!! 」
Soleil was on the verge of tears.

It couldn’t be helped so I covered the table with a brand new sheet. Hmm, do I have no choice but to make placemats?

「MiLord, are you going to eat in that fashion? 」
「Yeah, it’s easier for me. Just eat it however you like. 」
Although it seems terribly difficult to fork noodles as thick as udon.

「Is soba something you eat with a fork? 」— someone told me so I stopped eating spaghetti with chopsticks at home. Besides, it takes practice to get used to chopsticks, so I don’t want to force anyone to use them. In fact, I also still switch my forks and knives after cutting up my food.

Auro and Soleil gave it a try because of what I said.

「Is this seafood broth? It goes well with the noodles.」
Soleil seemed to give it a high rating so I’m relieved.

「It’s magnificent. 」
「I can taste everything…! 」
「…It’s delectable. 」

My priority for the Changelings is to make something they can taste, so I can’t believe that they’re raving about the dishes.

Although all four of us can slurp the noodles, we can’t do it in one go, so we have to slurp then chew bit by bit. We can’t twirl udon and eat it like we do with spaghetti, after all.

They’re not good at inhaling air while slurping the noodles, so this group of people can’t eat hot food. It’s kinda like they’re drinking hot water with a straw, so I made their broth warm instead of piping hot like mine. It’s a pity, since I think aerating the broth makes it more flavorful.

Crunchy tempura are placed over the noodles. I usually batter the shrimps so that they’ll absorb the juices until they’re fluffy and soggy, but folks here apparently prefer them a little crispier.

However, Soleil and Auro were inhaling the noodles, tempura and broth all together.

「Uh, how about using a fork until you get used to it? 」
I know there are people who like slurping their broths straight from the bowl, but aren’t these two different?

「The tomato tastes divine…! 」
Her voice was quiet, but it seemed she was totally electrified! Look at that, she seemed to have lightning effects behind her because of the shock!*

I got the salt from the spirit in the salt mines and the olive oil was prepared from the olives harvested from my 『House』’s orchard and stored in the basement of the barn, where spirits freely come and go as they please. Hm, makes me wanna prepare pepper too.

Faramir seemed to have discovered her taste preference. I guess that’s good, but then, would that mean there’ll be another person added to the garden thieves?

「This dish is cold and it really tastes good. Maybe tomatoes will spread faster if they taste like this? 」
Oh, Soleil is sitting upright now.

I did consider whether cold udon might be the better choice, but it seems I didn’t go wrong with serving it warm instead since this room is already cold. Well, I didn’t mean to make it that chilly, it’s actually refreshing for me, but I guess they aren’t used to this temperature.

Everyone relished the warm noodles paired with chilled caprese salad and cold tofu.

Auro and Kiel started fighting by dessert time, and everything only calmed down after Soleil fainted. We were now enjoying a cup of tea.

「There’s too many inquiries about the spirit lamps, particularly from Nalluahdid, which has their own Spirit Bough, and Marina, although the others are anxious whether their own homes would light up. 」
「That’s because it is so expensive, after all. 」
Soleil explained, followed by Kiel’s remark.

「There are only ten pieces available, so they must’ve come to pry and check how we are going to react to their deals.」
Auro commented.

It was decided that the students would focus on drawing magic circles for spirit lamps at the first ever magic circle class of Sir Paulor. We’re planning to recruit the residents who seemed to have the knack for drawing magic circles to become craftsmen specializing in the spirit lamps in the future.

The spirit lamps installed in my tower and several places in the town seemed to attract many people, so there’s a ton of inquiries about them, apparently. I made 10 pieces and handed it over to Soleil and exaggerated the price. Most of them took the bait.

Soleil managed to recruit a glass artisan who can make flawless spheres.

Actually, I can provide the magic circles myself, but since we decided to circulate the lamps in the market, it’s better to increase the number of folks who can make it. Spirit lamps are tools where materials and spirits coexist, and it’s also my duty to spread more of those things — I just forgot since it’s been too fun designing my own home.

Whether the situation be biased towards more materials, or more spirits, there’s no difference. This world is still in danger. If I’m not mistaken, I was assigned a vague goal of achieving stability and development of both the Spirit Realm and the Physical Realm, either through the creation of magic tools, or should I say spirit tools to achieve that goal.

「Nalluahdid seemed pretty sure of herself. Won’t they force us to hand them over if push comes to shove? 」
Nalluahdid seemed to use their names when transacting with the Commerce Guild and Maritime Guild.

「They have the largest armed forces, after all. Shouldn’t we prepare ourselves well in case they decide to mess with us? 」
「Hm? I thought Nalluahdid is neutral and that it doesn’t have an army? 」
Didn’t you mention that in the story about the lighthouse?

「It just means Nalluahdid won’t participate in war in her own territory. Well, the competition in the land trades is already fierce enough as it comes, so it’s also scary, mind you. Ships of both guilds are already well-equipped and manned enough so that they could fend off attacks if they’re raided when they’re out at sea.
Soleil bitterly smiled.

「They would also often deliberately feign weakness, luring their enemies to attack them. They would then turn the tables against their foes. 」
Auro continued.
That’s basically piracy, isn’t it? But Nalluahdid is safe, since it doesn’t start the war itself? Eh, is it really safe? Ah, maybe it’s like ‘it’s fair game’ since it’s open sea? So, both guilds are maintaining neutrality with the surrounding countries and islets for the sake of the trades?

「What a scary island Nalluahdid is. 」
「Is that something the fief lord of this island is qualified to say? 」
I unwittingly sighed, effectively earning myself a sarcastic remark from Kiel?

「Eh? 」
「Eh? 」

Kiel seemed taken aback when I seemed surprised — Just what the heck is going on with this island, huh?