Dream Life

January 11th.

The sky is clear and the cold is slightly loose until yesterday.

The Lockhart family was engulfed in bitter air last night by finding a merchant squad that was wiped out. But in the morning, I always regained the brightness of the street by being able to cross the dangerous funnel.

As expected by the innkeeper, the weather has recovered since morning, with clear blue skies. The wind remains cold, but our hearts are lighter until yesterday, when we reach the top of the funnel around noon.

Looking down at the Imperial side from the corner, deep woods were spreading beneath his eyes. And beyond that you can see the characteristic hilly areas of the eastern realm of the Empire.

"You don't have much snow on the imperial side," Mel spoke.

"Right. The next town is a few hundred meters (melt) low if it's this steep. It's all the way down from there, so I guess it's warmer than Cowm."

She's right, although it's snow-covered near the top of the canopy, the forest under her eyes is dark green with coniferous trees, and although the hilly area ahead is not clearly visible, it feels dotted with earth and light green.

The altitude of the funnel, but precise figures are not known because surveying techniques have not been developed. I climb about five hundred meters from the side of the Kaum kingdom, but the imperial side that spreads under my eyes feels like there's three times that, so I don't think it's weird to have at least a thousand five hundred meters, maybe two thousand meters.

"The gradient is tight from here on out. Although there is little snow, it doesn't necessarily mean there is nowhere that is frozen. We'll be more careful than ever."

As my father said, from here on out, the streets snake like the ninety-nine Tsunara breaks, but by the way, I can see a place of steep gradients.

Still, by crossing the toughest funnels, I could afford the look on everyone's face, starting with my father.

After a safe passage through the dangerous Tabernacle, he stayed overnight in an accomodation in the middle of Tabernacle and arrived in Farfree, the central city of Viscount Farfree territory, around 3 p.m. the following January 12.

The city of Furfree is the standard castle city of the Empire, with a population of about 3,000. The land looked up to the harsh funnel, but the snow was no other than the top of the mountain, and I felt little cold as I had crossed the mountain.

There were many carriages lined up at the castle gate, but the Emperor's line of angels meant that he would pass through the castle gate as a matter of priority.

When they entered the city, the citizens noticed the flag of a golden eagle with its wings spread, the flag of the Empire, saying, "Long live the Emperor! He says," Welcome me. I guess I have loyalty to the Imperial Family because I don't feel bad about it.

Exactly. I even looked at the Lockhart family crest and said, "Sieg Scotch!" I didn't hang up, "but I heard" Is that the Lockhart family, "which seems to be somewhat known.

Despite being close to evening time, the city was full of vibrancy and many wagons had gone down the boulevard.

Farfrey flourishes not only as an accommodation town on Oriental Street, but also as a commercial city.

Because this is the last city on the imperial side of Fannell, which is a difficulty, there are many people here who do business with merchants in the Kingdom of Kaum.

Speaking to Viscount Radford, they have more merchants than usual because at a time when Aurelia Street is unavailable, it is an important relay point for transport routes not only to the Kingdom of Kaum, but also to Periclitle and Doctus.

By the way, Oriental Street is the name of the street that connects Ars from Ezarrington on the imperial side, but the people of the Kaum kingdom also call it South Ars Street, from Ars to Farfree.

Ride through the castle gate and go for the mansion of Viscount Farfree, the lord.

This time he will accompany the emperor's angel, which means that in imperial territory it is fundamental to stay in the Lords' Hall. Of course, in small lodging towns, you will be staying in an inn, but in that case, you can use the finest accommodation as a priority.

Viscount Furfley's mansion was slightly north of the city centre and arrived about twenty minutes from the gate.

With a castle city-like quality rigid construction, you can hear the horses nagging and soldiers in training whether there is a Knights building behind them.

Upon entering the mansion, a man is greeted by a man dressed in noble brilliant clothing with a beard of clean and tidy Kaisel.

"It must have been hard to get past this period, Lord Radford."

At my age, I'm my father's age, and the way I've come back with my slender body shape and golden hair looks like a pitiful civilian, but the tone of speaking to Viscount Radford is different from its appearance and makes me feel cheerful.

At the end of his greeting to the Viscount, he stands before his father and mother, pulling his left leg and giving a gentle thank you.

"May I speak with Sir Lockhart and his wife? My name is Simon Furfley. You'll be tired from a long journey. Tonight, I want you to think of me as your mansion and forgive me."

Lower back than I thought. Sure, if you go to the Imperial Capital, you'll be a similarly qualified Viscount, but as it stands, you're only a Knight Viscount, and even if you did even more to the Viscount, the Furfree Viscount family is better off in the family. I was uncomfortable with that Viscount Furfree treating my father with more respect than his peers.

My father and mother had finished greeting me without difficulty, and even more with my brother and his wife.

"You're Sir Rodrick. The Giant Slayer alias is in my ear."

When my brother returns his greeting, he takes the right hand of his sister-in-law Rosalie and pokes her in the knee to thank her.

"That's the most beautiful woman in the north and the famous Lord Rosalind. More beauty than rumors, I truly envy Sir Rodrick"

Is Rosalie accustomed to these things at the Raswell Borderline Uncle House, with a very natural grin and gracefully thanking her back?

"It's a pleasure to meet Viscount Furfley..."

I wear armor these days and have a strong image of sword-wielding, but I find it impressive that when I look at him like this, he was just called a “princess” in Welburn.

And he stood in front of us and offered me his right hand with a grin.

"I take it with Sir Zacharias. I've heard rumors."

"I'm Zacharias Lockhart. I hope it's a good rumor."

I laugh bitterly as I take his right hand.

"No, no, it's just a good story. Master of swords as the chief of the School of Magic. The Dwarves call him" the son of the god of alcohol, "roaring Lord Radford, one of the best gastronomers in the empire. Moreover, four beautiful women will be married. It's all good talk. Hahaha!"

I had to laugh bitterly, but I was more impressed with the fact that this person was more informative than I thought.

(From the Imperial Capital's point of view, this place is just a periphery, too. Yet so much has gone through the information. Is it just information about us or are you familiar with the information in general... you should check with Master Ignacious later...)

When I was thinking about that, the story was moving in a different direction.

"... Our chef wants to talk to you about dinner tonight. I'm sorry I'm tired, but I was wondering if you could do it later."

"I don't mind, but what kind of consultation is it?

Somehow I can imagine, but I asked. Then the Viscount laughs bitterly.

"No, in addition to Lord Radford, who is famous as a gastronomer, the head chef is troubled by the fact that he serves food and booze to Lord Zacharias, the son of the liquor god. Earlier, you came to me to talk to me, and I advised you to ask Lord Zacharias directly."

Apparently, the chef freaked out.

"If you don't mind if I do," I admit.

Greetings with Viscount Furfley are over and put through to the room.

The finest room was hit by Viscount Radford, but I'm only the second son. I'm also passed into a more luxurious room than I imagined, and I can't hide my surprise.

"Nice room. But I think it's too good for us."

Liddy and Beatrice, my wives, are in the same room as me, but Liddy was squeaking the same sentiment as me about the luxury of having a covered bed, a dedicated maid, in a room like the suite.

"Well, that's okay. I'd rather have a big bed."

Beatrice has also become accustomed to these things lately and doesn't care as much as she used to.

I take my gear off from being consulted by the head chef, but Beatrice and Liddy don't take their gear off and head to training as soon as they put their bags down. To ensure that morning and evening training is indispensable even while travelling.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to take part in the training, but I didn't think the discussion would be over in enough or twenty minutes, and I probably got out of gear to go to the kitchen.

After about five minutes, the sound of a knock sounds.

Immediately the maid said, "The chef is here. Would you have liked it here," he confirmed.

I nodded at it, and about forty years old, who looked like a chef, came in with a man's head bowed many times.

"My name is Shepherd, and I'm the chef. Thank you for your time."

I say that and lower my head deeply again.

"I'm Zacharias Lockhart. My lord the Viscount asked me to talk to you."

Chef Shepherd nods loudly immediately.

"It's supper tonight, but I've been ordered by your palace to satisfy Viscount Radford and the Rockharts at any cost... what a dish to satisfy Viscount Radford, etc.... so it's up to me to come and borrow your wisdom from Zacharias knowing I can't do it"

There was indescribable sorrow in the way the head chef, who had a good width, kept his back round and bowed his head many times.

(Viscount Furfley says he can't either. I don't know how much arm you have, but I didn't expect you to satisfy the chef of this country town with that Ignacious...)

I sincerely sympathize with the chef who makes me feel sad.

"I'll talk to you if you like, but by the way, what do you think of today's dishes"

"Today we are thinking about dedicating around the ingredients we have taken from Imperial Capital. Let's start with Kendriw's raw ham..."

The chef explained the ingredients he had picked up from Ezarrington, a trading city in Teito and the south, with a fast horse.

"... I got the main one in Ezarrington, the finest whole roasted little pig. The process has already been completed"

Listening to the chef's explanation, he thought this was no good.

It's about four hundred kilometers from Furfree here to Ezarrington. The Empire is five hundred and fifty kilometers further away. They carried the piglets alive, but the other ingredients were obtained about six to ten days ago.

(Better yet because this is the season, but vegetables and raw fish would be impossible. They say the fish is strangled with salt...... I can't tell if I don't take a look, but is it about raw ham and piglet that I can use...)

My expression seemed to be getting rough, and the chef said, "Something's wrong."

"For once, could you show me the ingredients? And the liquor we're going to serve today."

That's what I stood up for.

The chef gets up in a hurry, too, but you saw my expression and thought it was unsavory, and you have ball-like sweat on your forehead and your face is blue.

When I arrived in the kitchen, there were about ten staff members there, who were carrying out the descent.

When I go in with the chef, I look at him with the face of who he is. The chef doesn't notice about his men, or he immediately points to the ingredients.

"This is Suzuki caught on the Plymouth River. This cauliflower belongs to Ezarrington…"

Though the condition isn't worse than I thought it would be when I looked at it, it's not even enough to use it on purpose.

"Do you have vegetables on the ground? I hope some fish were caught on the Fannell River."

When I say that, the chef shakes his head small and sideways.

"Vegetables only have a little bit of turnips and other root vegetables, like leeks and cressons. What kind of things can a fish serve to Viscount Radford, too? Only about a little Ivana like this one here..."

I stroke my chest down when I see it and figure it out.

"Let's go with earth stuff except raw ham and piglets. Use piglet sauce if you have any fruit picked around here."

The chef didn't know my intentions and said reluctantly, "I'm not hurting any other ingredients either," he said. They send it every day because of the breadth of our arrival schedule, but it's hard to say the quality is the best.

"It's certainly not unusable. I think it would be too much for the Lockhart family alone."

"Then why is it," he asks with a crying look.

"Viscount Radford should be eating better quality food in Seawell and the Imperial City. If so, you will be satisfied to cook around something you cannot eat unless it is in this land…"

The chef's expression was difficult to convince at first, but he became "shitty” in pointing out that there was something of better quality in Teito. They were completely oblivious to that.

I've always thought of something. The dishes should use local and seasonal items whenever possible.

If transport technology develops as in Japan and is not inferior to what is eaten locally, it depends on the cook's arm.

Still, I also don't really trust cooks who don't use local ingredients. If you don't use local products, you can compete in Tokyo, and not using local ingredients while opening a store in a region means you don't have an attachment to the land.

I don't think such cook's dishes are delicious. Of course, this is my own idea, and there may be a lot of circumstances, but I've never met a cook who overrides my thoughts before.

Turning back, in this world where only horses have the means of land transport, it is absolutely better to use fresh local ingredients than to force them to use rare ingredients. If you're dealing with a gastronomer like Viscount Radford, it's all the more so.

Even if it's the same ingredient, it always has regional characteristics. So that would give you the impression that you should compete.

"But I don't have the ingredients for Viscount Radford to taste. I don't care what you have here. It's just cheap ingredients..."

"Master Ignacious is not concerned with the price of ingredients. Whether it is a fine dish or a cheap dish like that eaten by workers, it is judged by its flavour. So make something that you think is delicious with fresh local ingredients."

I dared to say "Master Ignacious” and impressed him as his spokesperson. Because I thought it would be easy to convince you.

The dedication will then be reassembled and the liquor chosen to go with it.

"The first liquor to serve is a white wine from a new neighborhood liquor. Cool well with this ice as it feels a little rough. And the next drink I serve… I'll bring the last one later"

That's what I said and left the kitchen behind.

"I knew it took a while."

That's what Liddy tells me and makes me laugh. They had finished their evening training and had even finished sweating. Looks like he was in the kitchen for almost two hours after all.

I rushed to the bathroom.