Holy Woman
Satou here. When I hear the phrase Holy Woman, I tend to picture a mage who’s really good at Holy Magic or a talented healer, not just a female saint. I’ve probably got manga and video games to blame for that.
“Master, we’ve arrived at the holy city.”
It was only after Liza’s observation that I realized the cart had stopped. I was spending the travel time in the carriage thinking about solutions for the poverty in Parion Province and didn’t notice we’d reached our destination.
We got out of the carriage and proceeded on foot, since there was a chaotic crowd gathered outside the cathedral.
“I see a lot of injured folks.”
“Maybe today is the pontiff’s healing day?”
I didn’t know if that took place on a fixed date or not, but the square certainly was crowded with sick and injured people, like it had been on the day we first arrived.
“There he iiiis?”
“It’s Mr. Pontiff, sir.”
Pontiff Zarzaris emerged from the cathedral, concealed by hanging curtains on all sides.
The people in the crowd prostrated themselves immediately, giving me a clear view of the pontiff’s location. The sage was once again accompanying him.
A brilliant blue light arose beyond the curtain and began to spread across the square.
At the same time, the cloth fluttered, and I caught a glimpse of the pontiff and his lengthy white beard. I couldn’t help thinking that he looked very tired. Maybe using his Unique Skill was hard on him, especially at his advanced age.
“Feels nice.”
“I can feel the tiredness from the journey lifting away.”
Mia and Lulu leaned into the soft light.
The pontiff’s Unique Skill Heal All appeared to have reached us.
“Mom, your burns are all better!”
“My son’s fever went down!”
The light seemed to have healed the injuries and illnesses in the crowd. I heard people celebrating the pontiff’s miracle to one another.
“We’re so lucky…so blessed…”
“The pontiff really is Parion’s apostle!”
“Huzzah for the pontiff! Glory to Goddess Parion!”
The faithful began cheering for the pontiff with tears of gratitude.
“I’m gonna be a priest when I grow up so I can be useful to you, Pontiff.”
“Same here! I’m gonna work real hard for you!”
“Me too!”
As the pontiff retreated, my “Keen Hearing” skill picked up on comments from the fresh-faced young boys and girls whose parents had been healed.
He looked exhausted when I caught one last glimpse through the curtain, but the children’s pure declarations put a gentle smile on his face.
He staggered on his way back inside, and the sage had to support his weight. Was he really all right…?
“We haven’t been to the Heavenly Room in a while.”
That evening, we gathered in the Heavenly Room at the top of the great cathedral, to take part in the pontiff’s celebratory banquet.
“It feels strange to have a party in a religious institution, though.”
“It’s not really that different from a reception at a church wedding, is it?”
I guess those usually take place outside the church, though.
“Smells gooood?”
“I’m excited to find out what kind of foods there are, sir.”
“It appears there are many goat-based dishes.”
Once the pontiff gave his celebratory address in the Heavenly Room, the banquet itself would take place in an event hall one floor below. The beastfolk girls were sniffing eagerly for the faint whiffs of cuisine that drifted up from downstairs.
“Instruments.”
Mia spotted a group of musicians setting up in one corner.
“That’s a very impressive instrument.”
“It’s almost like they stuck two harps together to make a heart shape. What a crazy number of strings.”
“I am curious about how it sounds, I declare.”
Mia, Lulu, Arisa, and Nana headed toward the band.
I wanted to go with them, but I had to resist and greet the other invitees instead.
“Sir Satou! A most welcome surprise.”
Mr. Kwandoh, a Saga Empire samurai and Pochi and Tama’s beloved Sin Kaage–style master, approached me.
Behind him was Rudoruu, a fellow samurai and master of the Zi-Gain style.
“Did you two just get back today?”
Like the Saga Empire’s black knight Sir Ryukken, the pair of samurai had returned home for a time on the dimensional submarine Jules Verne with Hayato’s party and the rest of us. However, their scouting party was left behind in a Den of Evil, so they went to collect their men and ensure their safe return.
“No, we returned yesterday.”
Seeing how tired they looked, I asked if they’d run into trouble retrieving their squad.
“Well, the journey home was not a problem, per se…”
They gave an evasive explanation until I managed to read between the lines.
From the sound of things, their superior, Sir Ryukken, tried to leave them with all the work of finding their men and returning home so he could return to the Saga Empire on a high-speed airship, and they had a great deal of difficulty stopping him.
“I am sure he wishes to report the defeat of the demon lord to His Majesty the Emperor and bask in his reward, and yet…”
Yeah, it was definitely a bad look to leave your subordinates stranded on an expedition while you went home first.
“Well, if it isn’t the honorable Temple Knight who got knocked out cold by the demon lord. I pity the poor Holy Sword that has to suffer such an unworthy wielder.”
“How dare you! I won’t hear any mockery of the holy Parion’s knights from a scoundrel in rust-proofed armor!”
Just then, we heard voices arguing loudly.
The black knight and the Holy Sword wielder Sir Mezzalt were going at it again. Those two really don’t get along.
“…This again, eh?”
“I do wish they would simply endeavor to avoid each other for the sake of a celebration, at least.”
The two samurai exchanged weary glances.
Still, after heaving a sigh, they quickly strode toward the source of the shouting to drag their superior out of yet another argument.
The two samurai held back the black knight, while a group of priests formed a human barrier to physically separate the Temple Knight, driving them into opposite corners of the room.
That should keep the peace for a while.
Soon, the band began to play music with traditional Parion Province folk instruments, clearing away the awkward atmosphere. Though I’d heard the instruments played on the city streets before, these musicians had far more polish, lending the music enough emotional power to touch my heart.
The player on the heart-shaped double harp that Mia and the others had been looking at was especially talented.
She was a priestess of Parion Province, with the title Student of Musical Saint Solulunia. Her master’s name sounded elf-like to me.
“The holy instrument of the Flue Empire era certainly lives up to its name.”
“Yes, you can really feel the weight of history in its tones.”
My “Keen Hearing” skill caught this conversation from a couple of slender priests.
Since it was such an interesting instrument, I was hoping to acquire one, but that might not be possible if it was a relic of a civilization that perished hundreds of years ago. Maybe later I could ask some of the musicians if it was possible to get a replica.
While I was listening to the lovely music, the pontiff and Cardinal Dobbunaf arrived. The Saga Empire black knight and the samurai duo, along with the captains of the scouting parties, were summoned to the front to begin the ceremony.
We joined the Temple Knights in the front row to bear witness.
The black knight and the two samurai had already been heavily rewarded by the pontiff, along with the hero’s party, the Holy Sword user, and my own party, but now they were participating in this ceremony as the commanding officers of the returned scouting parties.
The priest squadrons, the sage’s information specialists, and others who also provided support and intel for the defeat of the demon lord were going to be rewarded on a future date, once all of them had safely returned.
The ceremony finally ended just as I was starting to hear a rhythmic backing beat from Pochi’s and Tama’s stomachs, and the priests led all of us to the banquet hall.
“Mr. Plates are very pretty, sir.”
“Tablecloth, toooo?”
On top of a white tablecloth embroidered with blue thread was an array of porcelain plates and perfectly polished tableware, all sparkling in the light of the enchanted candlesticks.
“It’s like we’re dining in the heavens.” Lulu smiled.
“Nameplates.”
“Master, there are names designated at each seat, I report.”
“That means we don’t have to worry about where to sit.”
After Liza’s observation, a priest guided us to our respective seats.
We were seated close to the pontiff and the cardinal—though not directly next to them, since the Holy Sword wielder and black knight were in the seats of honor. Luckily, the bickering duo were on opposite sides of the table with the pontiff in the middle, so hopefully we’d get to eat our meal in peace.
“We give thanks to Goddess Parion for our daily blessings…”
As befitting a religious nation, the meal began with a prayer to Parion.
A series of increasingly elaborate Parion Province dishes were served one after another. The cuisine made good use of seafood delivered from the West Gate Area just for the occasion, and even the bishops and pastors who were accustomed to fine cuisine still gave sighs of satisfaction and smacked their lips.
“Eggplant, yummy.”
“The grilled eggplant and flame-broiled vegetables are delicious.”
“These seashell sauce dishes are very cute, I praise.”
Fresh vegetables were evidently a fine delicacy in a desert nation like this. They really were delicious, especially with the expert preparation that brought out their natural flavors. The subtly sour tang of the yogurt-like sauce made for a unique and enjoyable taste.
“The fried chicken is yummyyyy?”
“This long, skinny Mr. Hamburg is yummy, too, sir.”
Pochi was referring to a meatloaf-like dish of ground goat meat, grilled in a sweet-and-spicy sauce.
“I wouldn’t mind a bit more crunch, but it would be a sin to make any additional requests in the face of such a sumptuous meal.”
Since we were at a fancy banquet, Liza couldn’t crunch on the shrimp and small crabs with their shells and all, lest she draw strange looks from the other attendees.
“Do you not like the food, Arisa?”
Arisa had been quiet for a while, so I prodded her gently.
“Mm, I wouldn’t say that. It’s just…knowing there’s a serious food shortage in the next town over, it’s hard to enjoy this without feeling guilty, you know?”
Aah, so that’s what’s on her mind?
“No, Arisa. Eating and enjoying delicious food is respectful to the living things that were sacrificed for the meal, I declare.”
“She’s right, Arisa. Instead of feeling guilty, it’s much more your style to think about what you can do to help those people, don’t you think?”
“…I suppose so. Yes, you’re right! I can appreciate tasty food and think of solutions!”
“Yes, Arisa. That is logical, I report.”
Nana and Lulu finally convinced Arisa to cheer up and start eating her food.
After the banquet, Arisa and I would discuss some solutions for the hungry and impoverished citizens.
After the dinner, we went back to the Heavenly Room to chat and listen to music.
There was now a stage set up in the room, where women in priestess robes were performing a slow, rhythmic dance. Despite the modest outfits, their movements were still rather sensual.
“Did you find the food to your liking?”
As I watched the dance with a glass in one hand, Pontiff Zarzaris and the sage approached us.
“Oh, yes, quite so. There’s nothing quite like the taste of vegetables tended by citizens who don’t even have enough to eat.”
Still seething over the unfortunate scenes we witnessed in the region, Arisa made an uncharacteristically cutting jab at the pontiff.
The target himself only looked sad, but of course the people around him reacted more strongly.
“What a horribly rude girl!”
“How dare you speak to the pontiff that way!”
The pastors who’d been following the pontiff around and flattering him wheeled on Arisa with rage.
“Now, just a moment. You mustn’t blame this young lady… Dear girl, it is just as you say.”
Rather than getting angry at her, the pontiff stopped the pastors from accusing her, and stooped down to Arisa’s eye level to speak to her sincerely.
“It truly is shameful for we who speak the holy teachings to enjoy such luxury while our people cannot eat their fill. I think of it myself quite often. If only we could share the wasteful extravagance served at such gatherings with the populace…”
Judging by his tone and expression, the pontiff really did feel this way.
“Your Grace, haste will not serve you. The only way to achieve your noble ideal of bringing prosperity to all the people is by steadily taking one measure at a time.”
The sage soothed the self-deprecating pontiff.
“I know, Sorijeyro. Thanks to the nilbok you acquired on your travels to other nations, the number of deaths by starvation has decreased considerably. Now, if we could only get the difficult matter of fish farming sorted out…”
So nilbok, the gross-tasting vegetable that looked like a black carrot, was one of the sage’s acquisitions.
It sounded like he was putting in the work to make the pontiff’s ideal a reality.
Arisa, evidently reaching the same conclusion, bowed her head meekly to the pontiff. “I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn without knowing the whole story.”
“It’s quite all right. Without brave souls like yourself who speak their mind, we might simply get accustomed to the current state of things, lament it without taking steps to solve anything, and decline into idleness.”
The pontiff magnanimously accepted her apology.
“Well said as always, Your Grace!”
“Our pontiff has such a generous soul.”
“I, Jihusoos, am deeply moved by Your Grace’s words!”
The surrounding pastors promptly heaped hollow praise on the pontiff. Clearly, they had already forgotten about Arisa and her comment.
I’m glad they all settled things peacefully…or so I thought, until I noticed the cardinal standing off to one side, staring at the pontiff with a cool impression.
I guess he didn’t think much of the pontiff’s intentions and ideals.
“If only they would let His Grace rest…”
The sage seemed to be fed up with the pontiff’s hangers-on.
“I apologize for my vassal’s outburst, Sir Sage.”
“Not at all. His Grace has already granted forgiveness. Besides, a hero who aided in the defeat of the demon lord is surely allowed a minor misstep or two.”
The sage didn’t seem particularly bothered, dismissing the incident easily.
“The pontiff mentioned something about ‘fish farming’ earlier. Are they having technical difficulties with it?”
“Are you interested in aquaculture?”
“I just thought I might be able to help in some way.”
“Unfortunately, the problem is with the allocation of magic on a citywide scale. No one person would be able to make a difference alone.”
Maybe the City Core doesn’t have enough magic?
Even if they wanted to support it with a Magic Furnace, Parion Province doesn’t seem to have enough cores to go around.
“Alas, if we had enough water stones three times a man’s height to place one in each city, there wouldn’t be a problem. Although then again, if that were the case, we could grow far more vegetables and grains without need for cultivation.”
Sadly, even I didn’t have that many large water stones in stock.
I had a huge amount of fire stones from labyrinths, and some giant wind and ice stones from the Black Dragon Mountains, but I didn’t have that many of the other elements.
“Use thiiiis?”
Tama produced a small water stone from her Fairy Pack.
She’d probably picked it up from a submerged labyrinth section or on the sugar route.
“…Hrm.”
The sage stared closely at the stone Tama handed him for a moment, then flipped his palm over and turned it into a flower.
“Mew!”
“The stone turned into a flower, sir!”
Tama and Pochi widened their eyes at the sage’s parlor trick.
“This, too, is ninjutsu. Would you like to try?”
“Aye!”
“Pochi too, sir!”
With that, the sage handed Tama and Pochi a flower and a water stone.
Despite the girls’ excitement, they couldn’t copy him that easily without any knowledge of magic tricks and sleight of hand, and their initial attempts all ended in failure.
Still, they kept at it with determination, putting smiles on the faces of the adults around them.
Thanks to Pochi and Tama, the heavy mood in the room lightened a great deal.
“Sir Satou, what are Pochi and Tama doing, hrm?”
“Magic tricks.”
“I see. Now that you mention it…”
Mr. Kwandoh and Mr. Rudoruu ambled over while enjoying some fruity Parion Province wine.
“Kwandoooh?”
“And Rudoruu, sir!”
As soon as they spotted the Saga Empire samurai pair, Tama and Pochi abandoned their magic trick and ran over.
They’d gotten close while training together, hence the delight on the girls’ faces when the samurai patted their heads.
“Sir Satou, may I ask of your plans henceforth?”
“If you wish to visit Saga Empire, I do recommend coming along on our airship, I daresay.”
“I appreciate the offer, but we have to travel around the western regions for work first…”
It is technically my job as Vice-Minister of Tourism, even if we’ll mostly just be relaxing and sightseeing.
“Is that right? Then perhaps you might like to meet the samurai general of Blacksmoke Island or the master swordsmith of Titan Mountain?”
“Oh? What are they like?”
The names seemed pretty self-explanatory, but I figured it didn’t hurt to ask.
“We ourselves have never met them in person, I daresay. The samurai general is said to be the most skilled samurai in all the west, so strong that even the hero offered a place in his party.”
“Blacksmoke Island is where samurai who have broken off from the Saga Empire gather. As such, many sword styles mingle there and develop in unique ways. I am sure it would be valuable training for one who aspires to be a samurai, such as Pochi.”
“That’s amazingly amazing, sir! Pochi wants to train, sir!”
Pochi jumped up and down with excitement.
“And ninjaaas?”
“I believe there are some who ended up there as well, though I hear little about them in rumors.”
“Too baaad?”
Tama’s ears went flat with disappointment, and Rudoruu patted her on the head.
“What sort of person is the master swordsman? I inquire.”
“We have not met, either. They served the previous hero—Sir Hayato’s predecessor—and were also teacher to Sir Juleburg of the Shiga Eight Swordsmen.”
“Rusus and Fifi once said, ‘Master swordsman is too polite a way to put it. More like a sword monster, or a sword beast.’”
If this swordsman taught Sir Juleburg and drew such a reaction out of warriors like the tiger-eared Rusus and the wolf-eared Fifi, they must be seriously impressive.
“In that case, I would love to request a sparring match.”
“Yes, Liza. I want to defend against a master swordsman’s blade, I declare.”
Liza clenched her fist with fire in her eyes, and Nana took the same pose, albeit without any expression.
Despite the contrast in their faces, they both clearly wanted to train with this master swordsman.
“Sounds like our itinerary’s filling up fast.”
“Fine by me.”
There was no rush on this journey. We could take things one stop at a time.
“Mrrr.”
“Don’t make that face, Mia. There’s apparently a place called the ‘Sage’s Tower’ in the western regions—you might be able to learn some new magic there.”
“Interested.”
Mia puffed up her cheeks sulkily until Arisa piqued her interest.
I wondered if the tower had any connection with this sage, Sorijeyro. Either way, I was very interested myself, if only to investigate whether they had some way of turning the chimeras from Yowork Kingdom back into their human forms.
“So this is the cardinal’s home…”
The day after the banquet, I visited the mansion of Cardinal Dobbunaf, the number two of Parion Province.
I was there on a lunch invitation that I’d received after the banquet, though I wasn’t sure why.
The carriage that came to pick me up passed through the gates without stopping and headed toward the parking area at the entrance.
…A black shadow.
On the way in, I saw someone dressed all in black, which was unusual in Parion Province, where white or beige clothes were common.
At first I thought it was the sage visiting, but according to my AR display, it was actually his apprentice.
He was probably at the cardinal’s place on an errand for the sage.
“Welcome, Sir Pendragon.”
“It’s an honor to be invited to your magnificent home.”
The cardinal came to the entrance to greet me personally and led me to the dining room.
I noticed at once that the long dining table in the center of the large room was only set for the cardinal and myself.
Feeling uneasy about the situation, I decided to find out what he wanted before lunch.
“So, if I might ask what you wished to discuss with me today…?”
“That can wait until after we eat. I gathered some western delicacies for your gourmet palate today. I would very much like to hear your thoughts on them.”
Oh-ho, now that sounds interesting.
I decided to focus on the food for now and let his business wait until later. Delicious dishes are much more important than such matters, after all.
“For an aperitif, we’ve acquired ‘God’s Mercy’ from the ‘judicial state’ Sherifardo. It has the rare distinction of an alcohol that neither causes hangovers nor drunken stupors.”
A small amount of an amber liquid was poured into a transparent glass, and the sweet scent of honey wafted subtly to my nose, suggesting that it was some kind of mead.
“…Aah, that’s good. Such fine drink is wasted on the people of Sherifardo.”
Even though this was supposed to be a tasting, the cardinal drained his glass in one go. I guess it must be a favorite of his.
“I understand why that ascetic lot at the Urion Central Temple are so reluctant to part with it.”
Evidently the main Urion Temple was in this Sherifardo place.
After our sampling, the cardinal nodded, and the waiter filled both our glasses with the fine golden liquor.
“Let us toast.”
We raised our glasses to each other’s good health and happiness, and I brought my drink to my lips.
The silky-sweet honey taste and the light spirits tickled my taste buds, followed by the scent of nectar-rich flowers filling my nose. It was undoubtedly one of the most delicious meads I’d ever tasted. The only one that might top it was the elves’ top-shelf mead that I drank in Bolenan Forest.
We enjoyed our drinks in silence until the first course was brought out to the table.
“The appetizer is from Aubehr Republic, the ‘land of love and flowers.’ It’s a ‘flower of love’ salad, made in the ‘goddess’s sigh’ style. This one is extra special because we brought in a chef directly from Aubehr Republic to create the top-secret dressing.”
Ooh, hiring a chef from abroad just for an appetizer? How luxurious.
There was a flower on top made from thin-sliced ham and gelatin—no, wait. According to my AR display, they were real flowers. They were edible, not just a garnish. Maybe that wasn’t too unusual, since there were edible flowers like chrysanthemums and dandelions in Japan.
As much as it was already a feast for the eyes, the chef was watching from the shadows in obvious suspense, so I decided to dig in.
Now that’s an interesting sensation.
The pink flowers that looked like thin ham broke into pieces once I put them in my mouth, leaving behind a sweet and slightly sour taste as they dissolved. The flowers I mistook for gelatin melted on the tongue with a slow, savory spread, followed by the popping of carbonation.
After the sharp carbonated flower, the secret honey-based dressing enveloped my tongue in soft sweetness, cleansing my palate without leaving any aftertaste. That made it easy to enjoy the varied tastes of the salad free of the influence of other tastes and with no need for periodic sips of water.
“Mm-hmm, what an entertaining mouthfeel. And the flavor is excellent. I can see why the envoy from Tenion Central Temple is always bragging about it.”
Whoops, I got too focused on savoring the flavor. When the cardinal voiced his thoughts in my place, the chef hiding behind a pillar breathed a sigh of relief.
They requested my opinion as well, so I tried to convey how delicious it was without prattling on too much.
“The soup is from Pialork Kingdom, the ‘land of transformation.’ Allow me to present ‘rainbow soup in praise of the hero god,’ flavored to your fancy. You may use the seasonings from the other dishes however you please.”
Next to the bowl of amber soup was an assortment of small dishes in the shape of seashells. In addition to rock salt and pepper, they were also full of things like powdered pepper and even cinnamon. When the seasonings were mixed in with the ear pick–like spoon, the color of the soup would change. It was a very fantasy-world dish.
As for the all-important tasting, the initial soup base without anything added had a fairly standard creamy taste. However, when I added the flavorings in the recommended order, it changed for the worse every time.
“…This is a very unusual soup. Since the flavor changes every time you add seasoning, it’s exciting to the very last drop.”
“No need to mince words. The Zaicuon Central Temple has always been much too boastful.”
Clearly, the cardinal didn’t think much of the soup, either.
As soon as we both put our spoons down, the next dish was brought to the table.
In the background, the waiters and kitchen staff were doing a great job of making sure the meal proceeded smoothly.
“This seafood dish is from the Garleon Alliance, known as the ‘maritime nation.’ It is called ‘swordtip tuna and kraken with vinegar-flower sauce, fit for a legend.’ We’ve had Parion Temple priestesses thoroughly cleanse the miasma away, so please enjoy it without fear.”
I guess it’s sort of like tuna and octopus carpaccio? The thinly sliced sashimi was amply arranged, like flowers.
The generously filled serving plate was made to look like the blade of the “swordtip tuna” fish. Maybe the swordlike shape was what made it “fit for a legend”?
“…Delicious.”
As soon as I tasted it, I blurted out without thinking.
The swordtip tuna had a rich flavor that melted in the mouth. As it faded, it was followed by the gentle fragrance of the vinegar-based sauce. The kraken was crisp, firm, and just as tasty. The only way to get it like this was to expertly kill it as soon as it was caught and serve it soon after. A lot of good work went into this dish.
On top of that, the cool carpaccio was very refreshing in such a hot region.
“I’m glad it’s to your liking, Sir Pendragon. You seem to be well-acquainted with kraken. Are they common in the Shiga Kingdom seas?”
“They aren’t found directly off the coast very often, but we saw them often by the peninsula and on the sugar route.”
Since I caught them whenever I saw them, there was more octopus kraken and squid kraken meat in my Storage than I could ever possibly go through, especially given the enormous size of each one.
While we were discussing the monsters in the Shigan seas, the carpaccio vanished in the blink of an eye. Luckily, I had a good idea of what kind of vinegar to use to make the sauce so that I could reproduce the dish for my friends once I had all the ingredients.
The next dish was carried out on a serving dish covered by a silver cloche.
“Today’s meat dish is ‘rebirth of the Orange King Sheep, bathed in sunlight,’ from Sania Kingdom, the ‘land of the sun.’ The beast was dismantled on the spot once hunted, and its meat placed into an Item Box with an ice stone, transported from Sania Kingdom by air via transfer from three wyverns in total. The highly skilled chef who prepared it trained in Sania Kingdom for ten years and even worked as a royal chef there. Please be sure to savor every bite.”
This seemed to be the main course, judging by the head waiter’s enthusiastic explanation.
There were several different preparations of meat on the plate: roasted ribs with an orange sauce in front, liver pâté with a thin naan-like bread on the right, giblet stew on the left, and in the deep-dish center…miso-stewed Orange King Sheep brains.
“Sir Pendragon, if this is your first time trying this dish, I recommend starting with the deep dish in the middle and proceeding clockwise to avoid any mingling of flavors. You can also rinse your mouth out with lemon water.”
The cardinal was being very kind. As a fellow gourmet, maybe he considered helping other people to enjoy food just as important as enjoying it himself.
I thanked him for the advice and spooned out a bite in his suggested order.
Despite its elastic-looking appearance, the miso-stewed brains gave way under my spoon like tofu. I brought it to my lips with some of the broth and let it slide into my mouth. The first flavor I tasted was the mellow soup.
Made with bouillon and coconut milk, it cleansed my taste buds as it washed over my tongue, bringing out the delicate flavor and viscous texture of the brains. It was delicious. I’d been a little reluctant to try sheep brains, but now I had to fight the urge to gobble it all up.
The liver I tried next was rich and tasty, with none of the unpleasant bloodiness or coppery taste you might expect. Even someone who didn’t like liver could probably enjoy this.
Next, I tasted the roasted ribs. The fat was strongly savory. Instead of using a knife and fork, I tried eating it with my hands, at the cardinal’s suggestion, which filled me with satisfaction during a wait that awakened my wild appetite. I’d have to find a way to have the beastfolk girls try this dish.
Finally, I enjoyed a variety of textures in the giblet stew, then cleansed my mouth with the lemon water and went back to the beginning.
Although the dish was quite substantial, I repeated the cycle of deliciousness until I found my plate completely empty.
“…The Heraluon Central Temple priests are right to pride themselves on this dish. Were it not for those pesky scorpions in the sand sea, we could trade far more freely with them…”
Finishing his dish before me, the cardinal muttered to himself as he sipped his wine.
“For dessert, we present ‘holy font of knowledge, lava style, flower garden flavor,’ from the ‘Tower of Wisdom,’ in the City-State of Kalisork.”
A transparent jelly and globular fruits were presented to us in cocktail glasses on a large plate.
The waiter reached over my shoulder and tapped on the fruit jelly with what looked like a glass muddler.
Immediately, the fruit jelly turned a bright vermilion, and produced petals that flowed over the sides of the glass onto the plate like lava overflowing from a volcano. There was already sauce on the plate in the design of flowers, creating a faint gradation as the fruit spilled into it.
“What a delightful performance,” I said to the cardinal, who looked just as surprised as I was.
“It would seem even those research-obsessed boors at the Parion Central Temple are capable of entertaining people.”
The cardinal cleared his throat, then picked up his spoon.
I took a bite of the dessert after appreciating it with my eyes a little longer, curious if it was as delicious as it looked.
Although the jelly was just normal jelly, the fruit that produced the vermilion color had a delicious flavor. The sweetness of the round fruit softened the slight sourness. In addition to being cut into perfect spheres, some of the fruits were coated in sugar or a layer of different jelly.
It was so tasty that I ended up leaving the cocktail glass spotless.
In the end, I enjoyed my dreaded lunch with the cardinal much more than I expected. He might get along with the Ougoch Duchy gourmet noble pair or the prime minister of the Shiga Kingdom.
“Trade, you say…?”
After a deeply satisfying meal, we moved to the salon for the main order of business.
“That’s right. I want to increase trade with the Shiga Kingdom.”
Go ahead and increase it, then?
“Achieving the pontiff’s ideal will require more money than taxes and charity alone can provide. That is why I want to augment our trading.”
“That does sound like a good plan, but I’m a tourism minister, not a diplomat. I don’t have any authority over foreign trading, although I can certainly inform the appropriate department.”
I’ve seen Parion Province trade ships in Shiga Kingdom before. Surely there was no point in asking me for an introduction now.
“Yes, I know. We already conduct trade with Duke Ougoch of Sutoandell and Tartumina’s viceroy Count Hoinen. But that is not nearly enough. Jade silk and other local specialties will not catch the discerning eyes of the merchants of the inland sea.”
Aah, so he wants some new product?
Incidentally, the “inland sea” he mentioned is an inlet in the center of the western regions, connected to the ocean at the westernmost tip and extending far to the east. It sounds similar to the Mediterranean Sea in Europe back on Earth.
“Trade with the western regions has flourished by way of the inland sea. The food we just dined upon was also brought here by ship. But because of this thriving ship transport, there is always a demand for new products.” The cardinal looked me square in the eyes. “As Vice-Minister of Tourism, you must be familiar with the local specialties of your kingdom, correct? And I am told you even operate a fleet of trading ships on the famously dangerous sugar route.”
I didn’t expect him to know about Dragonpen Trading Company. That’s especially impressive intelligence gathering in a world where information moves so slowly.
“I am only an investor in that trading company. Their actual management is up to the people who run it.”
“That’s fine. If there is profit to be made, the merchants will take interest.”
With that, the cardinal spread out a scroll on the table.
It was a list of high-cost products from the Shiga Kingdom, including some I had never heard of and others I’d seen there before.
I pretended to inspect the list closely as I used the Space Magic spell Telephone to contact the manager of the Echigoya Company. She confirmed that they were all likely to be very profitable. Even if their market prices varied here, the payoff was probably worth the risk of losing trade ships to storms or monsters.
“That’s a very tempting list.”
…If it didn’t mean putting people’s lives on the line.
“You don’t seem very enthusiastic, hmm?”
“Well, I’m concerned about the safety of the crew on such a long-distance journey.”
“Such risk is natural. Any sailor worth his salt is a gambler willing to stake his life for the chance of a high profit.”
Maybe so, but the seas in this world are way too dangerous.
Even if I was willing to fund people who were already sailors looking for a fresh start, like with the Dragonpen Trading Company, I was reluctant to put lives in danger for my own benefit.
“And I’d be willing to provide a Lamplight and a priest to maintain it for each ship in the fleet. Then there would be no problem, yes?”
He was referring to Parion’s Lamplight, which was apparently a monster repellent used on the high seas; most monsters feared the light and would avoid the ships. That being said, it wasn’t a perfect solution because monsters from the deep seas or the skies might still attack anyway.
When used normally, it would only last for the round trip to the Garleon Alliance at the far end of the inland sea at best, not nearly long enough to reach the Shiga Kingdom. However, if a priest who’d received special training to maintain a Lamplight was on board, the ship could make the round trip to the Shiga Kingdom and back.
“There are a few dangerous areas like Blacksmoke Island, but it would still be far safer than journeying without a Lamplight. I have been told that the sailors of this land fear storms and rough seas far more than any monsters.”
The cardinal seemed quite confident.
I connected to the manager of the Echigoya Company with Telephone again and used my Kuro voice to explain that a cardinal from Parion Province had approached me about trading the items on the aforementioned list. She approved the proposal before I could even talk about preparing ships for the journey.
She said she had leads on an experienced captain and crew, so I left the rest in the manager’s capable hands.
“Very well. If you have such confidence in the matter, I will seriously consider it. I just need some time to discuss things with the trading company I frequently work with.”
“Excellent! I’d be happy to provide a wyvern messenger to deliver your letter.”
The cardinal shook my hand in high spirits and told me about all the best cuisine of the lands surrounding the inland sea.
I learned that many nobles and artisans evacuated to the western regions when the Flue Empire fell, making for an especially rich culture of food and art there. I was looking forward to making some fun stops and exploring, in addition to my group’s training.
“Incidentally, Sir Pendragon, are you familiar with either of these substances?”
The cardinal gave a signal to a servant, who placed two ampoule-shaped vials on the table, one red and one purple.
According to my AR display, the red vial contained a concentrated version of demonic potion called “archdemonic potion,” while the purple vial contained a magic recovery potion called “high-concentration magic stimulator.” Both were marked as lethal illegal drugs in the notes column.
“No, I’ve never seen these before.”
“I see. They were found at a Light of Freedom base in the West Gate Area territory. If they’ve never been found in Shiga Kingdom, perhaps they are newly developed drugs.”
It was no surprise that the lethal illegal drugs were connected to the demon lord–worshipping cult Light of Freedom.
“What sort of effects do they have?”
“A level-three death row convict who drank the red archdemonic potion transformed into a grotesque creature of ogre-like stature and went on a rampage. Three level-thirty Temple Knights were finally able to restrain him, but not before six prison guards were killed. I am told that the prisoner had a cowardly personality until he drank the potion, after which he was as violent as a raging camel.”
It would be a real problem if they mass-produced and distributed a drug like this, then.
“Did he turn back to normal after he was restrained?”
“No, it seems he died not long after. The drug is probably just meant to make sacrificial soldiers. Those demon lord cultists do truly horrible things.”
As an official in charge of justice, the cardinal must see such a terrorist weapon of a drug as a serious threat.
“And what does the purple drug do?”
“We don’t know. They tried it on three death row prisoners and were only able to confirm that it restored their magic, as the name suggests. Within seconds of drinking it, all of them gushed blood from every orifice and died.”
Oogh, I didn’t want to picture that.
What a nasty drug.
“That’s a frightening notion. How are such substances handled in Parion Province?”
“We dispose of them all, obviously. I only preserved these two samples to report to the pontiff. The rest were poured into sand and burned to ashes under my direct supervision. They had to be destroyed before any warmongers saw them, or Parion Province would set off the powder keg of the western regions.”
Oh, right. Parion Province mediates conflicts between the western regions, much to the annoyance of nations that want to go to war.
As I talked about this with the cardinal, a priestess-in-training in a maid-like outfit brought a letter to him.
“Sir Pendragon, this one is for you.”
The cardinal brought out a second envelope contained in the first one and handed it to me.
Though I didn’t recognize the wax seal, my AR display told me it was that of the Holy Woman’s shrine.
“It’s from the Holy Woman?”
I removed the seal and found that the letter inside was an invitation from the Holy Woman.
Why was it delivered to the cardinal’s mansion?
My confusion must have shown on my face, because the cardinal caught my eye and told me about his letter. “It said to pass that on to you.”
Using the number two most powerful person in the province as a gofer? Now that’s bold.
“Why him, and not me…?”
My “Keen Hearing” skill caught a quiet grumble from the cardinal.
Evidently, his slightly disgruntled mood was because I was the one being summoned instead of him, not because he was being used as a delivery boy.
I couldn’t blame him for being disappointed, since I heard in the Village of Adepts that the Holy Woman was a beautiful black-haired woman.
“Listen, Sir Pendragon. The Holy Woman is a medium to the great Parion herself. She has dedicated her entire life to Goddess Parion, a true Holy Woman among Holy Women. Be exceedingly careful not to insult her in any way.”
As I left the mansion, the cardinal gave me this last warning.
He seemed to be sincerely devoted to the Holy Woman.
“Looks like this is the Holy Woman’s shrine.”
The day after my visit to the cardinal’s mansion, I went to the Holy Woman’s home.
Although I was the only one invited, the rest of my group came with me as far as the gate, wanting to see what kind of place it was.
“…It’s very beautiful.”
Lulu’s cheeks flushed with awe as she looked up at the Holy Woman’s shrine. Lotus flowers floated in the waterways that lined the white building, which was also decorated with blooming flowers and lush plant life.
“Pretty.”
Mia produced a lute from her Fairy Pack and began plucking out a tune.
“Shooooom?”
Meanwhile, Tama took out her sketchbook and sat down next to Mia to start sketching.
The Holy Woman’s shrine appeared to have struck a chord with them.
I was curious to see what kind of songs and pictures they would produce, but it was almost time for my appointed meeting. I left Liza and Arisa in charge of the group and headed into the shrine alone.
When I was stopped on my way in, all I had to do was show them my letter to confirm that it was me. They seemed to already know that I was expected.
“The Holy Woman’s sanctuary is right this way.”
A priestess-in-training with a soft, clear voice guided me.
There were at least five priestesses and shrine maidens at the Holy Woman’s shrine with the “Oracle” skill. That was much more than the average in other nations, though not surprising, since this nation was named after a goddess.
“Madam, Sir Pendragon has arrived.”
The priestess-in-training gestured for me to enter the sanctuary.
Blue light glittered in the clear, cool air. Each breath I inhaled felt consecrated, filling my body with a sacred euphoria. It was a strange but pleasant feeling.
The elderly lady sitting on the sofa inside appeared to be the Holy Woman. According to my AR display, her name was Yu Parion. The head priestess in the old capital had a similar name, Yu Tenion.
She had pure white hair and wore an innocent, childlike smile.
This was very different from the Holy Woman I’d heard about in the Village of Adepts. Were there two Holy Women, maybe?
“So you’re the boy the goddess was talking about, mister?”
The elderly Holy Woman spoke in a childish manner.
“By ‘the goddess,’ do you mean Goddess Parion?”
“Uh-huh.” The old Holy Woman nodded. “The goddess said to tell you…‘Stay in this land for a while.’”
“How long is ‘a while,’ exactly?”
Hopefully it wasn’t on a god’s scale of time.
“Mmm, I dunno.”
Well, that’s helpful.
“But I don’t think it’ll be that long,” she added. “So don’t worry.”
With that, the goddess swayed and collapsed onto the sofa cushion, as if from anemia.
“Madam…!”
The priestess standing by in the chamber rushed to support the Holy Woman and checked her pulse.
“The Oracle prophecy is over. I apologize, but as the Holy Woman is in poor condition…”
At the prompting of a different but equally beautiful shrine maiden from the one who’d escorted me inside, I turned to leave the room.
“Please…save them.”
A faint voice reached my ears.
It sounded like the Holy Woman, although I couldn’t see for sure, since she was surrounded by priestesses and shrine maidens.
But who did she want me to save?
“Each time the Holy Woman communes with the goddess, it affects her mind and causes her to speak and behave like a young girl. However, she is full of wisdom and clemency that the likes of us could never begin to understand.”
I wondered if that effect was from the influence of Parion being a childlike goddess.
That wasn’t the case with the head priestess of Tenion Temple…unless she was influenced by Tenion somehow and I just didn’t notice? She certainly was very sweet and lovely for an elderly lady.
I promised the shrine maiden I wouldn’t tell a soul, and left the Holy Woman’s shrine behind.
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