SWNOVELXO Chapter 145 - The Divine Cat Mii-chan and Ral-kun are introduced to the Archduke.
145 The Divine Cat Mii-chan and Ral-kun are introduced to the Archduke.
The Archduke sits down on the sofa in front of me.
“My apologies.”
“No, is everything alright now?”
“Yes, my son handles most of it, but occasionally there are things only I must personally oversee. So, what brings you here?”
“I have a few things to report.”
“Report, you say.”
I call over Ral-kun. He trots over, wagging his tail like he’s saying, “What is it?” But no matter how you look at him, he only appears to be a dog… I pick up both Ral-kun and Mii-chan and show them to the Archduke.
“Introducing new companions, are we? How cute.”
When I hand Ral-kun over to the Archduke, he starts petting him.
“His name is Strahl, and he’s actually the son of King Lieht.”
The atmosphere in the office suddenly becomes tense, and the handmaidens, who had been fawning over the fluffy creatures, freeze. The Archduke also stiffens for a moment but quickly regains his composure and closely examines Ral-kun’s face.
“He doesn’t look much like him.”
“Kyuu?”
I wonder… I haven’t seen King Lieht in his dragon form.
“I see, so that’s why I’ve been hearing reports of restless flying dragons. So, what’s the situation?”
“I received an official request from King Lieht, and Ral-kun is accompanying us as a form of life insurance.”
“A request, you say?”
“He wants me to meet the summoned hero.”
“I see, it’s about that. And what are you supposed to do when you meet?”
“Tell him the truth.”
“Hmm…”
The Archduke closes his eyes, seemingly deep in thought.
“You’ve accepted the task, Nero?”
“I have. In fact, I had no choice but to accept. I was compensated as well.”
“Oh, compensation?”
“I received money and jewels, so I established a branch of the Divine Cat Trading Company in the city of Wilhelm.”
“Do you have a knack for business, Nero?”
“No, not really. However, since you requested it, I was already planning to set up a branch to facilitate trade between here and Beruna. This just sped things up a bit.”
Not to mention, I also have another request from King Lieht. Since I received an Artifact (AF) from him, I can’t break my promise.
“Mii~”
The Archduke sets Ral-kun free and leisurely sips his tea.
“I hear the merchant caravans are now avoiding Brocken Mountain and taking detours. The western highway is unusable thanks to the goblins. Having a route through Brocken Mountain is indeed an advantage.”
“The Queen mentioned she would send an envoy to Brocken Mountain once the nobles’ issues are resolved. If Hildenburg sends an envoy at the same time, negotiations could be completed in one go.”
“Hmm, that’s true. What does the Fang King desire?”
“Mostly peace. Beyond that, just some alcohol, delicacies, and a bit of money.”
“Is that really all? After all, we’ve even borrowed a base for the flying dragon squad.”
“The Fang King said that as long as he has Brocken Mountain, he has enough to survive. The other things are just hard to come by there, and the money is for purchasing everyday items.”
“Understood. We’ll need to consult with Lumière on that.”
“Mii~”
I leave the rest to them. It’s not our place to interfere in those matters.
“To change the subject, setting up a branch in Wilhelm suggests you plan to sell something. What do you intend to sell?”
“Preserved foods.”
“Preserved foods… is it that?”
“No, it’s not what you think.”
I ask the butler to prepare a teacup. I put a quarter of a miso ball into it, mix it, and hand it back to him. The butler takes a small sip with a spoon and looks surprised before passing the cup to the Archduke.
The Archduke doesn’t use a spoon, instead drinking straight from the cup. After taking one sip, he quickly downs the entire thing.
“Delicious. You just add it to hot water… clever.”
“I didn’t come up with it. It’s something that originally existed in this country.”
“It’s from our country?”
“Mii~”
“They say it’s been passed down by the descendants of the hero.”
“And this hero was?”
“I heard he came from the same background as your people.”
“To think such people existed…”
One side became royalty, the other farmers. Who knows where the paths diverged, but the difference in status is vast. Yet, both retain their pride as descendants of the hero.
“Is the target market hunters?”
“No, it’s for everyone. We have a variety of products, and while it’s useful as preserved food, it also shines as a condiment. Even the inn’s head chef agreed to make regular purchases.”
“Oh? That head chef gave his approval?”
I later heard that the chef had once declined an offer to serve as a court chef for the Archduke. Apparently, the Archduke still acknowledges his skill and even goes incognito to the inn just to eat his food.
Given that kind of recognition, it’s no wonder the Archduke took an interest and bought ten bottles of miso and soy sauce. I’m curious to see how the court chef will incorporate it into their dishes. I’m also looking forward to how the Lumière court chef will use it. It’ll be fun to deliver it to them.
“When will the shop open?”
“That’s still a bit in the future. The renovations are ongoing. But we’re starting a food stall in the central square tomorrow.”
“A food stall, you say?”
“We’ll be selling frozen sweets and a different preserved food made into a snack.”
“Hmm. I hope the preserved food catches on.”
With the introduction of Ral-kun to the Archduke complete, and not wanting to overstay my welcome, it’s time to take our leave.
“Mii~”