The Secret to the Meat's Flavor
The secret to the meat's flavor? Thanks to working alongside my mother, we managed to finish all the fieldwork before noon. Because of that, she ate the sandwich she'd prepared as a mid-morning snack for lunch instead and settled in for a comfortable nap. As for Ilena...
“Really, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, I keep telling you.”
“But I’m still sorry. Truly...”
She had dragged me outside and continued apologizing without end.
“I had no idea Mother would be so distressed by the fact that you had taken up the sword again.”
“It was bound to come up eventually anyway. That aside, I think we need to get our stories straight.”
“Get what straight?”
“Exactly what kind of stories you’ve been telling my mother, and how much she’s heard.”
I had already told Mother about how I joined the Crusaders and fought, based on our earlier conversation. But I stopped short of mentioning that I had been tasked with subjugating the Demon King as part of the Hero’s party. If I had gone that far, she probably would have fainted right there on the spot.
It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either.
“Earlier Mother mentioned that you and I worked together at a guild. Tell me more about that part.”
“I said it was a guild that handled all sorts of miscellaneous jobs. I told her it was an obscure, nameless guild and didn’t give her the actual name.”
“What did you say we did there?”
“I was a receptionist, and you were the leader of a party.”
It was a setup that seemed detailed but was actually quite vague. While I had worked alone as a mercenary, in the Hero’s party I had effectively led it in place of Eris, who served as the spiritual pillar. It should be believable enough for the act.
“One more thing. The part about coming to see Mother to meet me. Why did you say you wanted to meet me?”
“I said that while working at the guild, I thought you were incredibly cool, so I wanted to make you mine. And that after you left the guild, I followed the clues and tracked you down to her.”
“Anything else?”
“No, that’s all. Really.”
Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any particularly sensitive topics. The reason Mother was shocked was purely because of the story about me using a sword. If Ilena had told her something even more serious beforehand, Mother would have interrogated me the moment I returned home.
“By the way, you...”
Ilena called out to me in a very cautious tone.
“Are you really never going to take up weapons again?”
“That’s the plan.”
“But is that okay? Giving up all the power you’ve built up over the years.”
“...Ilena, wait here for a moment.”
I went into the shed and brought out a hoe. Then, tapping the metal part with my finger, I continued.
“You brought us these excellent steel farming tools. Why did you do that?”
“Because I wanted Mother to farm more comfortably.”
“Right. In that sense, steel is an excellent material for making farming tools. But what if we made weapons out of this steel?”
“It would become powerful weapons.”
Nodding at Ilena’s words that followed my lead, I said, “The power I possess is like this steel. Depending on its use, it can till fields or fight enemies. That means if there’s no need to fight, there’s no need to turn the steel into a weapon.”
“Aha...”
Seeming to understand my meaning, Ilena clapped her hands lightly.
“You’re not a human who lives only for battle. With your well-trained, strong body, there are many things you can do besides fighting.”
“Exactly. There are many things I can do besides fighting.”
“Now that I think about it, you said this at dinner last night, didn’t you? That you wouldn’t leave anymore and would stay by Mother’s side. That you’d continue to live peacefully here so there would be no need to fight.”
“That’s right. You understood perfectly.”
Ilena nodded, fully comprehending my thoughts. But then she slightly pouted her lips as if a bit disappointed.
“Why, are you disappointed?”
“Of course I am. Do you know how cool you looked when you swung your sword?”
“Cool? No way. My fighting style isn’t pleasing to watch. I only pursue practicality.”
“That’s exactly why it was cool. Because there were no unnecessary flourishes.”
“If you see it that way, I’m grateful. Though you won’t see it anymore in the future... Hmm?”
What was it? I had a feeling I was forgetting something related to this. Ah, I remembered.
“What about Gebura?”
“Oh my, that’s right! You said you’d help him until he recovered as a warrior. But now that you’ve decided never to take up weapons again...”
“I’ll have to persuade him later. Tell him it’s okay to stop the trouble of gathering herbs.”
After finishing the important conversation, a short silence fell. In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, Ilena asked first.
“Is there anything else to do today?”
“No. Thanks to the farming tools and magic you brought, the work finished easily and early.”
“I’m glad it helped, but you still worked hard. Wouldn’t you like to take a nap like Mother?”
“It wasn’t that tiring. No matter how lazily I’ve been living lately, I’m not that weak.”
“Really? Then...”
Ilena pointed toward the butcher shop.
“Would you like to visit where I work?”
“If it’s where you work, Ilena, you mean Hesed’s farm?”
“Yes. Didn’t the meat taste quite good when you ate it yesterday? I’ll tell you the secret.”
“The secret, huh...”
Indeed, the meat we ate yesterday was special. Ilena had cooked it to suit our tastes, but the flavor and tenderness were beyond imagination. Not exaggerating at all, the quality was far better than anything I’d eaten at high-end restaurants in Crownland.
“I’m curious. No, I’m very curious.”
“Then let’s go see it right away!”
Ilena took my hand and pulled me toward the butcher shop. She had quickly shaken off the dejected, apologetic attitude from earlier. Really, if nothing else, I could learn a thing or two from Ilena’s energetic personality.
“Hesed, I’m back.”
“Welcome back, Your Majesty... Oh.”
As expected, Hesed frowned the moment he saw my face.
“Your Majesty the Demon King, why are you bringing Roen along?”
“I’m making him study about us. So he can’t hold vague hostility toward us.”
Last time he used the excuse of the Oath of the Soul. Now it was about forcing me to study, so was this the brainwashing angle?
I awkwardly greeted him as well.
“Hello, Hesed.”
“Hmph. I can’t exactly say hello because of you.”
“That’s too bad. Now that I think about it, I didn’t get to thank you for the meat yesterday.”
I bowed my head to Hesed, who was glaring at me with a sullen expression.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, Mother enjoyed it very much. So did I, of course.”
“At least you know how to be grateful. Make sure to stay that way from now on.”
Though Hesed’s face remained scrunched up, he still accepted my thanks. Plus, with that bearded-uncle appearance, he really was the very image of a gruff but kind-hearted butcher. Who would believe this guy was the King of Death...?
“Hesed, I want to show Roen our farm. Is that okay?”
“The farm, you say? Of course, if Your Majesty wishes, I will gladly comply, but hmm...”
It seemed Hesed wasn’t entirely pleased with the idea of showing me the farm.
“Is there something bothering you?”
“Yes. Consider this guy’s alias. He’s the Swordsman Who Cuts Magic, isn’t he? If this guy tampers with the magic formulas I’ve set up on the farm...”
So there were special magic formulas on the farm too. I exclaimed in genuine admiration.
“Wow, you set up magic formulas on the farm too? That’s amazing!”
“A-amazing...?”
Magic was infused throughout the village—in the farming tools, in the fields. And even on the farm? I couldn’t help but marvel at how this remote village of Elver enjoyed benefits that even wealthy big cities couldn’t.
“No wonder the meat tasted extraordinary.”
“The meat tasted extraordinary? Roen, say it properly! In what way was it extraordinary!”
“To be honest, it was the best I’ve eaten in my entire life. Much better than expensive meats. So the secret was the magic formula you set up.”
“The best in your life? Heh heh, I am pretty great, aren’t I!”
At my generous praise, Hesed’s expression relaxed and he laughed heartily.
“Your Majesty, it seems fine to show this guy the farm.”
“Really? You give permission?”
“Yes. It would be good to show him directly how to make the meat taste that good. Then he’ll know how excellent our Demon King’s Army’s magic is and won’t dare to challenge us recklessly!”
This Hesed guy—he’s incredibly weak to compliments, isn’t he? Though it was sincere praise, if he’s this weak to it, it gives me some naughty ideas. Maybe I can use this to get even more meat.
Anyway, these demon race folks are all so full of confidence. Both Ilena and Hesed.
“However, while I’m fine with it...”
Hesed’s expression turned serious.
“I don’t know how Tiphereth, who’s at the farm right now, will react when she sees Roen.”
Ah, now that he mentioned the name, I was a bit worried too. Tiphereth, the King of Souls and Spirits. And... the legion commander who hated and despised me the most.