Chapter 21

Jean-François Mont de La Vigne, who had come from the Eastern Kingdom, slipped under the noren of the izakaya Nobu purely by chance.

For Jean, any izakaya frequented by the average residents of the town would do, and in that sense, Nobu met the criteria.

Jean, dressed in travel attire, was not a monk.

To be more precise, he was a monk, but he also carried a secret mission from the Eastern Kingdom.

A collector of strange tales.

Also known as the Otogishu, this group was tasked with gathering and compiling peculiar and rare stories from all over the continent to entertain the nobility of the Eastern Kingdom.

However, their job had another aspect.

They were also spies. While receiving generous support from the Eastern Kingdom, they collected information on the political situation and rumors from various regions to aid the king's policy-making and plots.

Jean-François Mont de La Vigne, who was turning thirty-five this year, was a skilled collector, primarily investigating the United Kingdom as the right-hand man of the Otogishu chief.

He was dispatched to the ancient capital this time because this region held significant potential for the Eastern Kingdom.

"Welcome!"

"…Welcome."

When he opened the rare glass sliding door, Jean was greeted by a pleasant welcome and a clean, fresh atmosphere.

For a backstreet izakaya, it deserved a passing grade.

Given his line of work, which often involved gathering rumors in izakayas, Jean felt this was a place where he could truly relax for the first time in a while.

There were few customers in the shop, perhaps because it was still early.

Jean decided to sit at the counter, as he wanted to talk to the owner.

The counter, meticulously cleaned, had a beautiful wood grain, indicating the high standards of the establishment.

"This is a complimentary dish."

In the Eastern Kingdom, there was also a small dish called amuse-gueule served before the appetizer. This must be something similar. The dish contained three large beans, glowing emerald green.

"What is this?"

"These are salted broad beans. Please enjoy them as they are. And what would you like to drink?"

"I am a traveling monk. I would appreciate a glass of water to cool down."

"Understood."

A man dressed as a monk, who was drinking at the corner of the counter, seemed a bit uncomfortable and hid his cup, but Jean paid no attention.

As a traveler, he didn't care about the impression he made on local monks.

"Ah, and I'll have a salad too."

Ordering a salad in an izakaya was Jean's method of investigation.

Fresh vegetables don't keep well and are not suitable for long-distance transport. Therefore, eating a salad could reveal the strength of the town.

"What kind of salad do you prefer?"

"Does this place have several types of salads?"

Jean couldn't help but ask, surprised by the server's unexpected response.

Usually, izakayas only have one type of salad.

Unless the town has an abundance of vegetables, it's impossible to offer multiple types. Even for nobles, the variety of available vegetables is limited.

From Jean's perspective, the ancient capital, though historically significant, was just a town in the northern part of the empire. He was genuinely curious about what kind of salad this izakaya would serve.

"Yes, our chef is currently obsessed with making salads."

"I see. Then I'd like to try various salads. I don't need any other dishes, just bring me the salads."

"Shall I serve each dish with a smaller portion so you can try a variety?"

"That would be very much appreciated."

Although the variety of salads might be limited, the fact that the server took the time to mention this suggested that it might be a matter of pride or show.

In any case, Jean was now craving vegetables.

During his travels, he mostly ate preserved foods. His body was craving fresh vegetables, something he, an experienced traveler, was well aware of.

While drinking the cooling water, Jean looked around the shop.

It seemed to have a foreign-style design. The atmosphere was different from any izakaya he had visited in the empire during his journey from the Eastern Kingdom.

Ironically, such a place was better for gauging the strength of the town. This was Jean's conclusion based on his past experiences.

"Here you are. Warm egg Caesar salad!"

The first dish was a lettuce-based salad with a runny, half-cooked egg on top. It was a type of salad he had never seen in the Eastern Kingdom, known for its advanced cuisine.

"Caesar salad. I've never seen this before."

"Please mix the egg well with the salad before eating it."

Using the fork and spoon handed to him, Jean thoroughly mixed the small salad bowl and served himself a portion.

He hadn't noticed before, but the salad was quite lively, containing finely chopped and fried bacon, grated cheese, and crispy bread crumbs.

"Shinobu, has this salad been around for a while?"

The old monk at the counter asked the server.

"Remember the schnitzel incident? Since then, the chef has been practicing dishes outside his specialty."

"Hmm, that's good, isn't it?"

"No, it's not. He's been practicing recipes in order, so the variety of salads has increased."

"I see. It's a good opportunity. This customer seems to really enjoy salads."

The monk nodded at Jean, his expression suggesting he had something to say.

Jean tried to recall if he had met him before but couldn't place him. Returning the nod, Jean turned back to his salad bowl.

*Crunch.*

*Crunch, crunch.*

The fresh lettuce, mixed with the runny egg, created a rich and deep flavor.

The crispy bacon, seasoned with just the right amount of salt, and the crunchy bread crumbs added a delightful texture.

"This is excellent."

The combination of ingredients was not unusual. While it might seem a bit ambitious for an izakaya, these ingredients could be obtained in a large city if one tried.

However, the thoughtful combination of flavors and textures was truly remarkable. It was a skillfully crafted salad that brought out the best in the ingredients.

To be honest, Jean hadn't expected such a salad in an izakaya. This Caesar salad could easily be served at a banquet in the Eastern Kingdom's palace.

However, it was just that—a skillfully crafted salad. In terms of analyzing the ancient capital through its salads, this dish didn't have much significance.

Was it the result of the ancient capital's long history, or the wisdom of this foreign-style izakaya? Either way, it wasn't a salad that could threaten the Eastern Kingdom.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"It's a wonderful salad. I'm impressed."

"That's great. It's very popular in my hometown."

"I see. What's the next salad?"

"Next is the daikon radish salad!"

The next dish was a salad with thinly sliced white vegetables topped with a pink, runny sauce.

This was another dish Jean had never seen before. When he cautiously tasted it, he was surprised by the unexpected texture of the white vegetable.

On its own, it was just a watery salad with a good texture, but the sauce, with its moderate saltiness and smoothness, made the flavor much deeper.

"What is this vegetable?"

"It's shredded daikon radish."

The server brought out a root vegetable that looked like a ghostly radish. The closest thing in the United Kingdom would be a white carrot, but this was much thicker.

Jean knew that even the largest white carrots wouldn't grow as big as a child's leg like daikon radishes.

"This is an interesting vegetable. And one more question. What is the sauce on top? I've never seen such a vivid pink sauce."

"That's called tarako. It's made from cod roe. When you squeeze it and mix it with the sauce, it turns this color."

"Cod roe?"

While the daikon radish piqued his interest, the cod roe was more concerning.

Cod was a common fish in coastal countries, including the United Kingdom, and Jean had eaten its roe before.

The issue was that the ancient capital was inland.

While this town, a key location in the northern part of the empire, was connected to the sea via rivers and canals, it was hard for Jean to believe that seafood from there could easily reach the common people.

Jean had reviewed all the documents on the ancient capital's water transport before his visit.

The radish salad with tarako completely contradicted the expected situation.

It suggested that the empire or the ancient capital's council was intentionally concealing the volume of water transport.

"This salad is also excellent."

"Are you enjoying it? Here is the next salad."

Jean, now more cautious, looked at the next dish, which was far from what he had expected.