663 Southern Fruit ③ - Luu Family Supper

It is that night.

Me and I-Fa were supposed to take Tia with our non-human family and interrupt the Luu family dinner.

Dels was in a hurry to reply, and it seemed to me that Donda-Lou would have to know the flavor of this ingredient first, so I was supposed to keep the Leu family's kame for crackling.

The earth had more capacity overrun than the hall, so the Braves had it kept at the Sin-Lu house along with the Lu family hounds, and only Gill and Lulu remain here. What thoughts were they supposed to have after a long time of hissing, circling their big bodies and nagging early.

"Heh, this guy is delicious. Shouldn't you just buy as much as you like?

When supper began and he mouthed one street of dishes, Rudd-Lou first spoke that way. Instead, Rimi-Lou is also innocently laughing "yummy".

What I prepared was three kinds of dishes, just like during the day. However, it was able to take more time than during the day, so it has an even more satisfactory flavour. It was also an important contribution to take time, especially for simmers and juices.

"It's really delicious... I don't know, I can feel it sticking to my body..."

Grandma Ziva had a warm smile, as did Mother Meer Ray and Grandmother Tito Min. All in all, it seemed to be a satisfying taste for the women.

"Hmm. But he's got a lot of troublesome conditions, hasn't he?

Since I rinsed in the giva juice, Donda-Lou has asked me that way, so I made him nod "yes".

"To a large extent, there are two conditions he has offered. The first is for regular purchases, the second is for… aristocratic intervention"

"Aristocratic intervention is a strange word. If you buy ingredients in the first place in Town Guru, isn't it the role of the nobility to partition them?

Ziza-Lou, who also has a different quiet force from his father, overlaps words as such. I nodded yes to you too.

"Even when it comes to the subscriptions he's offered, it wasn't really the only amount we could use for business. He wants to put as much value on this ingredient as he does on tau oil, so I'm sure people all over town would like to be able to buy this ingredient"

"And yet you don't want nobility to intervene, is that the idea?

"I have no complaints if nobles can buy it on the same terms," he said. There was just an example of Cycleus buying up ingredients in a castle town, and other than that, he seems to have had some nobility look him in the eye for pain. That's why you want to talk carefully. "

"That said, we are still not in a position to partition such things. It should be unacceptable to make unsolicited promises without talking to the nobles."

"Yeah. That's already been told to Dells.... I wasn't the one who told you, I was listening to you, Zwei-Rutim."

To the words, Giza-Lou leaned slightly at his nasty neck.

"What story did Zwei-Rutim tell them?

"That's the same content Giza-Lou was saying. The people by the woods are not in a position to partition such things in the first place, nor is it desirable to go ahead and talk confidentially to the nobility. If Dels wants to do business in Genos, he should proceed in the presence of the nobles. It seems to have felt something like…"

"... there was no Asta on the spot, was there?

"Yes. The only person I was with was Yun-Sudra at Sudra's house. After I broke up with Dells, I heard about it from both of you."

Ziza-Lou had an illegible facade of expression like a Buddha statue, and he nodded one. As if to speak for its interior, Rudd-Lou speaks up "heh".

"He's cool, too, you can say the most. If I were you, I'd ask the chief. I'd just have to wait a minute."

"Yeah. Because Zwei-Rutim is also learning this whether it's the business of raw meat or not. I wonder if the consciousness has worked that it's unacceptable to leave nobles behind."

"So, how did someone like Delus respond?

Donda-Lou asks with a heavy voice.

"That's right," I distorted my memory as I was stuck with Ey-Fa and Tia, who silently proceeded with the meal.

"I seemed to disagree with you a lot. For example, does buying and selling goods by the lodging town or by the woods alone require the forgiveness of the aristocracy... he said that he was only taking business to the people by the woods, but had to ask for the complexion of the aristocracy that much... he said something like that."

"What's your response to that?

"The people of the woodland have long and unstable relationships with the nobility and the people of the town, so they now have a definite relationship of trust. I want to get my muscles through properly because I can't imitate it in such a period of conflict with the nobility. Besides, it's difficult to get a big business story like this on your own because the people by the woods are oblivious to what business is all about. Even if this ingredient settles into the result that it will only be handled by the woods or the boarding town, I want the person in charge's seat to be in charge of the town. It feels like…"

Rud-Lew raised his voice "heh" in a more surprising way than he had just done.

"Something's a gazran-rutim word. Are you sure that's Zwei-Rutim's word?

"Yeah. I'm sure these stories are frequented at Rutim's house, too"

Imagine that, it makes me feel something warm.

Donda-Lou snorted "Humph" before stirring Ma Guigo's stewed dish into his mouth.

"If that's all we've talked about, it doesn't look like the Trinity Chiefs need to get together anyway. Or is something like Delus missing in the complaint?

"Dels only wants us to move on at the initiative of the people by the woods. Even if the ultimate contractor settles for nobility and the people of the town, he wants the people of the woods to see it through to the end."

"... why is he so obsessed with the people by the woods?

"He originally said he was looking for something called a commercial opponent who wouldn't give in to a noble cross spear. So as I looked into the people of the woods, I knew that the people of the woods were being kind to the nobles... and if the people of the woods were in their place, they would not be betrayed by the nobles."

"That guy's been a lot bought up. No way, you don't know the noise between us and the Cycleuses, do you?

"Yes. At the outset of the story, they say it's Balan's opponent. Perhaps that has deepened trust in the people by the woods."

I let him answer me like that, remembering your bumpy face.

And I remember another important story.

"Oh, and it has nothing to do with the business story... there seemed to be widespread rumors that in a land called Cornelia, where Dels originally lived, the people by the woods defeated the spicy aristocracy and won their place. It seems that the people of Wang Capital are endangering the people by the woods because of their reputation."

Ziza-Lou, who has been silent for a while, turns his eyes to me as thin as thread.

"That's an interesting story. Is Cornelia the town of Jagal?

"Yes. He's been in Totos for half a month from Genos. Which place, he said. That's where the tau beans come from, so it looks like there are a lot of pedestrians coming and going from Genos."

Remember what Yun-Sudra told me, and I'll try to answer that.

"Nobility weighs prestige, so it's very dangerous for that kind of reputation to flow, he said. So in Cornelia, they spread the exact story that the people of the woods had exposed the sins of the spiteful aristocracy by holding out their hands with the right aristocrats."

"Did that delusive do that on purpose?

"Yeah. My personal impression, but I don't think he's a bad person.... I'm your brother."

After I answered like that, I looked back at Grandma Ziva.

"When Dels visited you, he said there were Maytons and Aldas with him. They were all concerned about whether the people by the woods were doing well."

"Well... I wonder if the Jagals are doing well..."

It was two months ago that the men were invited to dinner at the Lou family. So Mayton revealed to us a secret story about the Black Forest.

With the most emotionally breathing elder sidelined, Donda-Lou has been embarking on himself for a long time.

"So, what do you want from me, Asta?

"Yes. In the meantime, I'm wondering if I should engage Delus with someone named Tapas, the innkeeper. If it was Tapas, there would be a connection between the Saturas and Dalaim families, so you could talk to the nobles… Tapas played a part in the distribution of ingredients in the lodging town, so you think it would be appropriate to talk about this."

"Hmm. But does that require the presence of the people by the woods"

"Yes, and Dells wants me to be present, not just with the sheikhs."

Zwei-Rutim, if I'm not present, I don't want to talk about it. An honor or something, Dels first heard the reputation of 'Asta of the Fa Family' among the people by the woods, and apparently devised this story every time.

"If that's about it, you don't even have to bother calling Dari-Sauti and the others. Tomorrow, I'll tell you what's going on."

Donda-Lou retreated and dramatized the earthen bottle of fruit liquor.

"... but if it involves nobility, you can't leave it alone. Bring him here tomorrow night."

"Huh? Put Delus in Luu's settlement, is it?

"Oh. As a guest, I'll invite you to dinner. I'll take you home in the Luu family's luggage and drive you to the lodging town."

I didn't imagine that kind of story would hold up, but it was nevertheless quite a speedy vote.

Ai-Fa, who has been silent so far, sees Donda-Lou better.

"... does that mean we have to get to Luu's house again, too?

"Hmm. What he wants is Asta's presence, right? If you're complaining, you're making fun of Fa's house."

I'm sure if it wasn't in front of the public, Ai-Fa would have let his lips hang too. Ai-Fa was flirting back at Donda-Lou's face as he revealed it.

"I can't just let my family take on that kind of hardship. They're from the south, so why don't you let Tia be present?

"Oh. I suppose you should include a report, too, to the nobles. Damn, it's a hassle."

While stating so, Donda-Lou did not look so grumpy. Did you have an interest in a person named Delus, or did you like the ingredients similar to this miso again - only you know the truth.

And while I was thinking about it, Donda-Lou sharpened his eyes.

"Well, here's the next story. … let me ask you something about the bandits of the East."

"Ah, yes. I don't have much to add, but that kind of thing seems to be making a scene in the west."

I'm going to repeat what I heard from Zashma and Kamua-Josh.

Ai-Fa was tightening his expression, but Ziza-Lou can't read the inside, and Rudd-Lou is beating his tongue drums, regardless. However, the first person to speak up after I finished speaking was Rudd-Lou.

"Even if they say Genos is safe, it's in the stone walls, isn't it? Even if the guards rush after the stalls are attacked, nothing will happen."

"Yeah. So far, we talked about not needing to be that careful... but Camua seemed pretty concerned about those guys. I wonder if I find it difficult to read the behavior because I don't know what the purpose is."

"Hmm. Asta and the others are earning lumpy copper coins in the lodging town, so why not be careful?

That wasn't me, that was the word directed at Donda-Lou.

Donda-Lou has his chin beard wandering with a compelling face.

"... In the meantime, I'll have Lyada-Lu and Barsha accompany me tomorrow. Come back to the woods as soon as you see any signs of danger."

"Yes, I understand. I'll talk to Dells like that."

In the unlikely event that that happens, we'll have to postpone talking about bringing Delus into Tapas. This was quite a troublesome story.

(As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any imminent danger to Genos...)

But I was concerned about how Camua-Josh was doing.

If Camua-Josh has a sense of crisis, I don't think it should be taken lightly.

Ai-Fa came to me with a mouthful of rugged eyebrows.

"It's never a distraction, it's Asta. Business and interaction are important, but first we need to make sure we're safe."

"Yeah. I'll keep that in mind."

That's how the story ended that night.

I finally got to mouth a dish that was almost untouched.

◇

And the next day.

Accommodation towns were filled with more frivolous signs than expected. Guards were being increased not only during the night, but also around the day.

Just walking down the street was obvious, and when I turned to the outdoor area, it was more pronounced. The northernmost part of the town of Inn was lined up with guards.

"What is it? Well, it doesn't look like we're here either."

Balsha, who was an escort to the crackles, was also raising her voice to Ulona.

"If all these guards were out there, there's no way the Bandits would ever come close. … but does that mean Genos is dangerous too"

It was Camua-Josh, like no other, who brought the answer to that question.

Camuer-Josh, who appeared in as many inscriptions as he did yesterday, explained to me with a bitter smile.

"Lord Genos seems to have weighed my advice a lot. But if we get this far, it's going to unnecessarily inflame the anxiety of the people."

"Was this a Camua-Josh proposal?

"Yeah. I've never been over cautious, I just advised. Anyway, the outlaws of the mountain people are troublesome."

Then I'm sure Malstein was in the same mood as me.

There is no such thing as an imminent crisis, but if Camua-Josh is endangering something, we should trust that intuition - a sentiment.

When I told him that, Camua-Josh was smiling more and more sorry.

"Really, I don't have any basis. But after all, it's not normal for mountain people to appear in the southernmost part of Selva. The mountains of Sim, their home town, are more than a month away."

"So, is it farther than Alglad, the king's capital?"

"Yeah. I guess the Wang capital is a month to the west and the Sim mountains are a month and a half to the northeast. If you think about it, it's closer than Sim's meadow, but the people of the mountains are a clan with stronger ties to Mahydra than Selva."

Mahydra is a hostile nation of Selva, not to mention. It seems that the mountain people with strong ties to it are doing as much as they can for the atrocities on the land north of Selva. It seems to be a different clan from the people of the meadows I know who make it.

"Whatever it was, Hurricane Party and I were too noisy. Even Genos is such a prick that it would be a lot of noise in a more westerly neighborhood. If merchants are prevented from coming and going, it's a matter of life and death for everyone, so a crusade force will be formed not far from here."

While stating so, Camua-Josh turned to Barsha, who stood behind the stall.

"Not only did Hurricane Party and the others attack the merchants, but they burned down many of the villages that lived in detail. It's not like the Red Beard Party at all."

"Don't steam back such an old story. The bandits are the bandits."

Barsha is shrugging her thick shoulders without feeling it.

Either way, we were able to do our business as usual.

It is a fortunate story to have been able to straighten out the business, as we have been preparing dishes somewhat more in view of yesterday's buzz. The Levis were also preparing 120 meals of food and selling it out brilliantly.

"If you suck, you're going to have the momentum to sell out even for 150 meals.... but if I do, I won't be able to get the job done in time."

"Don't be too greedy. It's only the second day I started doing business. First, I squeezed my strength into satisfying the customer in front of me."

Levi, who turns this around, and Lars, who relaxes, seem to be quite balanced.

While I remember how sentimental it was to see such a parent and child again, I was to be relative to Delus again. He came first thing in the morning, so now he promised to meet me at Tanto's Grace Pavilion.

Visiting a little earlier than the two moments, Dels was already waiting. Of course my partner Wads is alive and well, and instead of Tapas, Jan also refrains. As far as Jan's presence was concerned, Dells had also been given his consent in advance.

"I hear it's a novel ingredient, processed with tau beans. Very intriguing."

When Jan said so, Dels looked back at it with a worthy eye.

"... you are a nobleman's cook."

"Yes, we are holding the head chef at Count Dalaim's house. And now, with the aim of spreading novel ingredients, we are also devising a contribution to this dining room."

That's why I asked Jan to sit with me.

Dels has been testing Jan to lose weight for a while before turning his gaze towards me.

"In the meantime, you should probably get a taste of the ingredients. Asta, you didn't run out of the ingredients I gave you yesterday, did you?

"Yeah, sure. The Lew family is a large family, but not enough people to use that."

"Then cook me some food. Talk about it, then."

So I decided to cook the same dish three times.

Of course, there were other variations of dedication that came to mind, but it was decided that the dedication should be unified with regard to the first taste. With the help of Sheila-Lou and Vina-Lou, I let them cook three dishes.

Today's tastings are Levi and Lars, who invited them as monitors for Tapas and Jan, as well as the people of the Inn Town. All four of them were "oh" and exclaimed.

"This is, indeed, delicious. And it seems to have never tasted like this before."

"Yeah. That's a different flavor than tau oil. If this is the case, people in the castle will want it."

Tapas and Jan are exchanging words enthusiastically. Trying to soak up that gap, Lars called me in.

"Hey, Asta. Isn't this the kind of ingredient that's going to fit Ramen?

"Oh, right. In my hometown, ramen with ingredients similar to this was very popular."

Then Levi said, "Yeah?" He shouted out loud.

"Just give me a minute. Even in Asta's hometown, you said Ramen uses ingredients similar to tau oil."

"Yeah. Tell you what, it was a dedication that exchanged bi-perfections with that, wasn't it?... No, technically, I wonder if it's four species. If you replace it with this ingredient, it's four kinds: tau oil, miso, giva bone, salt. And then there was the ramen that took stock with fish."

Levites finally completed the taste of tau oil ramen, but with this tau bean miso, a new path would open up again. Miso is a difficult ingredient.

"Anyway, let's just say this is an ingredient that can be a great product. How much are you going to sell this for?

"Hmm," Dels snorted as Tapas smiled at her.

"If you can buy me a quantity that meets my conditions regularly, I'm thinking of putting it at the same value as tau oil. Same weight as tau oil, same value."

"Really? Then there's nothing wrong with it, even in the lodging town."

"Just give me a minute. It's too early to sign a contract. Even you can't imitate without nobility, can you?

Dels did not hesitate to whisper the words of Tapas.

"As soon as the aristocrats squeak out, they will buy and beat you to lower your value more, etc., because I'm sorry. Genos doesn't have such a mean nobleman anymore, but I can't swallow a whole lot of stories I've heard in such a way."

"If you try it, it's a natural story. Then again, shouldn't you be exchanging words with the nobles of Genos yourself?

Jan said something easy.

"My master, Lord Polearth of the Earl of Dalaim, is involved in the distribution of ingredients as an assistant diplomat. If you want, I'll set the day for the interview."

"... that's a story you don't even wish for. If this Asta could be present, there would be no difference with me."

When Dells responded with caution, Jan said, "Really?"

"Then I'll take care of it. How about inviting some of the Castle Town cooks on the spot to have a taste of this ingredient?

"... is that a big premise story to sell in Castle Town, after all?

"Right. In Genos today, the same ingredients are sold for the same value in both Castle Town and Accommodation Town. Isn't there any reason why this ingredient alone should be removed from that norm?

With firm strength in the calm, Jan said so. I'm sure you read the distrust of the nobility from Dells' words and deeds.

"Of course, if the Castle Town cooks don't acknowledge the value in this ingredient, they will only be put up for sale in Accommodation Town... if you are a cook with a decent tongue, it seems you won't miss this ingredient"

"Yeah, that's what you, the nobleman's cook, say."

"Yes, I think this is a great ingredient, even if I subtract the skill of Lord Asta"

So the conversation appeared to have come together.

I was just listening on the side. After quitting Tanto's Grace Pavilion, I asked if this still required my presence in the future, and Dels laughed a lot, "Of course."

"I told you I don't trust nobles. If you pull the trigger, I'll let you pull the trigger."

"I won't imitate that. Even I wish I could buy this ingredient."

"Then why don't you stick with me till the end? For me, it's a big battle for a generation."

Derus smiled invincibly again as he stared at me to soften up amidst a conspicuous mess of guards.

"Come on, then, next time, you're going to have an interview with the chief. Nice to meet you, Asta from Fa's house?

"Yeah, I think everyone's waiting to meet you face to face, as I once invited Balan's boys to the Lew family."

"Huh. I wonder if this is really Balan's brother."

With a chuckling voice, I discard. I knew that he didn't look like Balan's old man, but as far as I'm concerned, he didn't even find it a little appealing.