Chapter 65

The sounds of lively children can be heard from the street.

In recent days, preparations for the Great Market have been ongoing without a break on every street in the ancient capital. It seems that the parade of large straw dolls, carried by men praying for a bountiful harvest next year, originally came from a rural festival.

Isaac had mentioned that the festival was brought to the ancient capital as people gathered here.

Today, Arn is sprawled out on the counter of Nobu Izakaya, swinging his legs all day long.

When he gets tired of swinging his legs, he tries to imagine that the swinging legs are his own body. Then, it feels as if his body is the one swinging, which is quite amusing.

"No, it's not amusing."

When Arn suddenly sat up, Taisho was a bit surprised but then returned his gaze to the pot.

Lately, Taisho has been working on some new dishes, conducting research.

Arn doesn't know what he's making, but from the reactions of Shino and Efa, who are tasting it, it seems likely to become a new specialty of Nobu Izakaya.

"Mr. Arn, are you done with the festival preparations?"

Taisho asked, as if muttering to himself. With Shino out on business, only Arn and Taisho were in the shop. The question was almost lost in the sound of the pot boiling.

There was no hint of reproach. If he were in the way, he would have been asked to leave long ago. This izakaya has a mysterious, welcoming atmosphere.

"To be precise, I'm not a resident of the ancient capital. So, I'm not part of the festival."

"Oh, I see."

After a moment of thought, Taisho seemed to understand the reason for Arn's hesitation.

"This shop is now a proper part of the ancient capital. I heard it's almost its first anniversary, right?"

"Yes, that's right, actually."

Seeing Taisho's embarrassed smile, Arn felt he understood why the shop was so well-liked. Everyone here is so sincere. If the staff is sincere, the regulars will be too. It's as if they are drawn in.

"There's an old law. If you live in a city for a year, the city recognizes you as a resident. So, Nobu Izakaya is a part of the ancient capital."

"What about you, Mr. Arn?"

"Well, my situation is a bit different."

With a wry smile, Arn sipped his roasted tea, his recent favorite at Nobu. As he warmed up from the inside, his frustration seemed to disappear.

The sound of the pot bubbling filled the shop again.

"...My brother."

"Yes?"

The words slipped out almost as a soliloquy, but Taisho seemed to have heard them.

It was a moment of weakness. Arn didn't really want to talk about himself, but once asked, it felt unnatural to brush it off.

"I have a brother."

"How much younger is he?"

"Three years, I think."

For some reason, the words flowed easily when talking to Taisho, despite usually being rather quiet. Perhaps deep down, he wanted to talk about himself.

"My brother is much more capable than me and listens well to our father. Many people think he would be better suited to take over the family business."

"Oh, that's why you became a bard."

"I really do want to be a poet. But, there was also a bit of defiance, I admit."

Taisho said nothing, encouraging him to continue.

The calm part of Arn's mind whispered that he was talking too much. The shop was too warm, and his heated head made him speak more freely, as if slightly drunk.

"I apprenticed under my father for about two years, but it wasn't interesting at all. Just the basics, over and over. I think I can do more than that, but I'm always told I can't do anything new. My brother is better suited for that."

It was clear that he had run away from home.

Taisho nodded without a word.

"When Professor Crowvinkel read my poems, he said I was running away from something. I knew he meant the family business. But, if I take over something I'm not suited for, it will make everyone unhappy, not just me. I can't keep doing the same thing year after year until I die."

As he spoke, Arn realized what he was thinking for the first time.

He was tired of doing the same thing over and over. That's why he was drawn to travel and wanted to become a bard.

Reflecting on it, it was indeed an escape, as Crowvinkel had said. Was he so shallow that he could be seen through after reading just a few dozen poems? Or was it Crowvinkel's keen eye?

Either way, he couldn't even laugh at himself.

Taisho quietly offered a small dish. It contained a warm, slightly colored broth.

"It's the broth for the next dish. Please taste it."

Arn nodded and took a sip.

It was a gentle flavor, yet rich and full-bodied.

"It took me fourteen years to perfect this broth."

"Fourteen years?"

Taisho looks young, but he must be in his thirties. Fourteen years is half a lifetime.

It took that long to perfect the flavor of the soup.

Arn almost said it was just soup, but stopped himself. It was impossible to deny something built over fourteen years.

"You said you tried for two years, but I don't think that's enough to determine if you're suited for it."

"I think I know, though."

"If you really want to be a bard, there shouldn't be any hesitation in your poetry."

A deep, almost growling sigh escaped his throat.

If someone had said something, he would have retorted that two years isn't enough to determine if you're suited for being a bard. But that was neatly avoided.

Regret.

That's what Taisho meant. He was pointing out that Arn was making excuses for not fitting in with the family business, when deep down, he wanted to take it over.

In the end, was he still running away? He asked himself, closing his eyes gently.

He knew the basics were important. But he kept trying new things, hoping to be recognized for his talent, even though his subordinates had to clean up after him.

A plate was placed in front of him with a clink.

It was a dish of potatoes, meat, and colorful carrots and mushrooms.

A dish he had never seen at Nobu before. Was it the new dish they were testing?

"It's Nikujaga. You're the first customer to try it, Mr. Arn."

He didn't mind being the first to try it.

Using the chopsticks he had recently gotten used to, he gently split a potato. The potato, which had absorbed plenty of broth, was soft and well-cooked.

He was surprised when he put it in his mouth.

The texture was smooth and strong, similar to the taro served at Nobu.

But this was a potato from the area.

A comfort food, perhaps. He scooped up the potato and meat, steaming hot, and put it in his mouth.

The well-seasoned flavor surpassed all the other simmered dishes at Nobu. The deep, rich broth brought out the best in the potato.

Before he knew it, the plate was empty.

"How was it?"

"The potato is great. This will be a new specialty of Nobu, no, of the ancient capital."

Taisho smiled, and Arn smiled back.

How ironic.

He had intended to leave the family business to his brother, but now he was thinking about this potato.

He would use his connections to get more people to try the Nikujaga and promote the local potatoes. He had heard from Isaac that the potatoes grown around the ancient capital were a different variety from other regions.

If he could sell them well, potatoes, which were often seen as a poor man's crop, could become a new source of income.

If that happened, the people who had been poor would be better off.

"Mr. Arn, you look good."

"Really...?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he looked away from Taisho.

Perhaps he liked the family business after all.

He had too many things he wanted to do, and felt frustrated that he couldn't do them.

What a twist. A single dish of simmered food had taken away all his worries of the past few months. He had thought he was a complicated person, but perhaps he was simpler than he imagined.

Taisho had spent fourteen years perfecting the soup. Arn felt like he should try for fourteen years too. If it didn't work out, he would leave the business to his brother and spend fourteen years training as a bard.

It was a rather enjoyable life plan.

"Mr. Arn, you're here."

"Ah, Isaac, you came at a good time. Taisho, can you let Isaac try the Nikujaga you just made?"

Isaac, who had arrived without notice, was momentarily taken aback by Arn's unusually good mood but seemed to suppress his surprise.

Isaac was indeed a capable subordinate for Arn. But from now on, he would have to work even harder. A resolve was forming in Arn's mind.

"Nikujaga, huh. This is..."

Isaac, more skilled with chopsticks than Arn, began to eat the Nikujaga.

It was amusing to watch his expression change as he ate the potato and the meat.

"Taisho, this is an incredible dish... There's a similar dish in the north, but it's served with sour cream. This Nikujaga is complete on its own, without relying on such gimmicks."

"Shu-ha-ri."

"Shu-ha-ri?"

Arn repeated the unfamiliar word.

"It's a term my master taught me. First, you learn what your master has done, which is 'shu.' Then, you break away from what you've learned, which is 'ha.' Finally, you create something new, which is 'ri.'"

"Shu, ha, ri..."

The bundle of parchment hanging from his waist, where he kept his poetry ideas, now had the word "shu-ha-ri" written on it. From now on, he would likely write more than just poetry.

"Good word, Mr. Arn."

Isaac's tone sounded a bit sarcastic, probably because Arn had given up on his father's methods after just two years.

It was frustrating not to be able to retort, but from now on, things would be different.

"Isaac, I'm going to take over the family business."

"Wh-what?"

Isaac, surprised by the sudden declaration, dropped his chopsticks.

It was understandable. Until this morning, Arn had been saying he had no intention of taking over. There should be some preparation for such a decision. It was no wonder he was taken for a joke.

However, Isaac's reaction was more than expected.

"Congratulations!"

He stood up and bowed so deeply it seemed his back might break. Tears streamed down his face when he looked up.

It was a joyous reaction that was hard to imagine from his usually serious demeanor.

"This Isaac, who has served you as a foster brother, has never been happier than today!"

Shino, who had just returned, was bewildered by the scene and just stood there, flustered.

"Mr. Arn, we should have a celebration. A celebration today!"

"Ah, well, that's fine, but..."

"Don't worry about money! I have enough from the lord!"

When Arn looked to Taisho for help, he received a smile that only reached his lips.

Seeing Taisho start preparing the dishes, it was clear he was on board.

That night, a grand feast was held, with Arn paying for all the guests.

The next morning, a proclamation was issued throughout the marquisate surrounding the ancient capital, announcing that the 15th Marquis of Sacknussentburg, Arn, had ascended to the throne.