Chapter 67

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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"Although this is my first time at the market, it's quite lively, isn't it?"

Shizuka peered through the gap in the glass door, watching the waves of people flowing past the shop. The street, which was usually bustling with only stable boys, was now lively due to the market. Even though the sun was setting, the number of people was increasing. The harvest festival would begin in earnest at night and continue through the night.

"Miss, would you like to buy something?"

A merchant with tanned skin pushed his way through the gap in the glass door, trying to make a deal. He held a bundle of parchment. Shizuka, who had recently learned to read the local script, could tell that it seemed to be a poem.

"This is a love poem written by the young Clovinckel. It's quite a bargain. It's perfect for a young lady like you."

"Um... but..."

Before Shizuka could refuse, a hand reached out from behind her and snatched the bundle of parchment.

"Hey, old man! What are you doing!"

"Well, I've never written love poems in my life. I was just curious about what was circulating."

The one reading the parchment was Clovinckel himself. The merchant, who seemed to recognize him, was flustered and couldn't say a word. He probably never expected a famous bard to be in such a remote tavern.

"Hmm. This is not a very good forgery. If you want to deceive, you should study the form of poetry more. However, the quality of the parchment is very similar to what I used. I'll give you that much."

With that, he pushed the parchment back, and the merchant disappeared into the crowd without a word.

"Not even a thank you... Should I have scolded him?"

Outside, where Clovinckel was chuckling, the restaurant was filled with people who rarely visited Nob.

"Shizuka, stop looking outside and help me!"

"Yes!"

Nobuyuki had been preparing meat and potatoes in a large pot and was now plating other dishes one after another. At the counter, the former emperor, Johann-Gustav, and Hildegarde with her husband, Prince Maximilian, were enjoying a small pot of tofu with a savory sauce. Maximilian, who had just turned eleven and was a year younger than Hildegarde, was initially nervous about dining with his grandfather, the former emperor, but was now enjoying the tofu with Hildegarde's guidance.

"Look, Maximilian, you've got something on your mouth."

"Ah, thank you. Hilda."

The scene of the young wife wiping the mouth of her younger husband was all the more endearing because of their youth.

"You have a strong niece, Johann-Gustav."

"It's in the blood."

Johann-Gustav, who was drinking hot sake instead of lager today, responded with a slight drunkenness.

"... Watching those two, don't you think it's time for you to settle down?"

"Before me, it should be the emperor. He needs to marry someone soon."

"I've been saying that all along."

The conversation, though ordinary for a bar, was between the empire's dignitaries. Shizuka, trying to avoid overhearing, carried the dishes with a smile.

The restaurant, set up for standing guests, was still cramped. Worried that the food wouldn't fit, but with so many people, the plates were quickly emptied, and Nobuyuki had no time to rest. The drinks and dishes were served generously.

"Then, we will ban all witch hunts from now on, correct?"

"That seems appropriate. After this witch hunt, we found that there are almost no witches left in the empire and the neighboring three countries."

In a corner of the room, Cardinal Hylhitegott and Archbishop Rodrigo were discussing while enjoying pudding. If it were known that the leaders of the reform and classical revival factions were meeting here, the Holy Inquisition would be in an uproar, but it seemed they were forming a smooth agreement.

Both factions had radicals, so the talks would proceed slowly. Ingrid and Ettvin were also present. Enrico, who had come with the archbishop, was eating several bowls of steamed egg. Ettvin had gone to the Holy Kingdom to fetch Hylhitegott, and unexpectedly, the former scholars who had studied together decades ago were reunited. The atmosphere was more like a reunion than a serious meeting.

"So, Ingrid, about the tab at the 'Dancing Foal' tavern, I'd like you to pay the part you covered."

"Ah, Ettvin-senpai, didn't you pay it yourself? It's a bit late to bring it up now, isn't it?"

Her master, Ingrid, was trying to evade the question, and her disciple, Kamilla, was shaking her head. Kamilla, holding a takoyaki, had become close to Eifa, who was about the same age, and they were exchanging takoyaki with different flavors. Ingrid's wish for Kamilla to make friends seemed to have come true.

The takoyaki machine that Shizuka had secretly prepared for the market was being handled by the mercenary, Leontine. Despite it being her first time, she was surprisingly skilled.

"The takoyaki is delicious."

"The trick is in the wrist. It's like swordsmanship. By the way, can I put squid in this?"

Leontine, who had returned to her family in the Eastern Kingdom, couldn't stay still. She had decided to return to the mercenary business and was hired by Cardinal Hylhitegott and Ettvin to escort them to the ancient capital. She planned to stay for a while and was negotiating with Nobuyuki to be hired at Nob. Hermine, who had gained a bit of weight around her belly, was to be replaced by Leontine.

Everyone was enjoying the bar Nob. The delicious dishes and drinks, and the faces of the customers enjoying them, gave Shizuka a sense of fulfillment.

"Shizuka, it's your turn."

"Everyone, here's today's new dish."

Nobuyuki was serving meat and potatoes from a large pot. After repeated trials, they had created a dish they were both satisfied with. With the help of Eifa's potatoes, they were confident it would be well-received.

Hearing about the new dish, Clovinckel was the first to take a plate. After one bite, his eyes sparkled, and he continued to eat.

"It's delicious. I felt a magical power in the tamagoyaki, and I feel a strong force in this meat and potatoes."

Branterno was also enjoying the meat and potatoes with a glass of wine. He asked nearby Reinhold if he could make something similar with potatoes from his own land, but only received an ambiguous smile in response.

Watching the plates of meat and potatoes empty one after another, the new chairman, Marcel, was drinking beer in a corner of the restaurant.

"I don't understand. What's going on? Surely, the nobles and aristocrats didn't come all this way just for the new dish at this bar..."

"The food here is good, but I don't think that's the reason, Mr. Marcel."

Holger, who was having a second helping of meat and potatoes, was accompanying the bewildered Marcel. This was his third plate.

"Then, what's all this commotion about, Holger?"

"Well, it's about to start, I think."

A loud applause filled the room, and everyone's attention turned to the back. The noisy restaurant fell silent as Isaac, dressed in formal attire, bowed respectfully to the congregation.

"Thank you for attending the pre-coronation ceremony of our lord, Count Sacknussem, Arnu Snæffels."

As soon as the announcement was over, Arnu, dressed in a stunning blue suit, appeared from the back. He looked nothing like the playboy he used to be, appearing every bit the noble prince. Arnu scanned the faces of the attendees with a dignified expression and performed a flawless, yet charming, bow.

"Thank you for gathering here today. I am Count Sacknussem, Arnu Snæffels. I am the fifteenth Arnu to bear this name, by the grace of God, the goddess, and the sun."

His confident delivery, without a single hesitation, was likely due to his training as a bard. Hylhitegott, as the cardinal, delivered a congratulatory speech to the count. Ettvin had specifically called him for this purpose.

As everyone, including the former emperor, applauded, Shizuka nudged Nobuyuki and asked,

"Hey, boss, how important is a count?"

"I'm not sure if it's the same in this world, but it's above baron, viscount, and earl."

"Wow, Arnu is quite important. He might not come here anymore after becoming a count."

"Well, that's hard to say. He'll probably be squeezed by his father for a while."

Arnu's father, the previous count, had been furious when Arnu quit his job. However, due to severe back pain, he planned to abdicate at the market, regardless of Arnu's agreement. He thought that inviting a cardinal to the coronation would make Arnu reconsider. Despite this, Arnu seemed happy to have decided to take over on his own. Calling Hylhitegott through Ettvin was not in vain.

"I hope he becomes a good count."

"I'm sure he will."

Someone ordered another beer, and Shizuka responded, "Sure thing."

After the ceremony, she planned to serve the meat and potatoes from the large pot for free. She had invited the guards, regular customers, and Eifa's siblings to the tasting. Arnu would cover the cost of the ingredients and the labor. It was a strategy to promote the delicious potatoes of the Sacknussem region to merchants from neighboring countries.

Isaac informed her that Arnu's first task as a count would be to sign a document acknowledging the payment to the bar Nob. Connections bring new connections and new encounters. Shizuka hoped that running the bar would make the people of the ancient capital happier. It had only been a year since she opened the bar in the ancient capital, thanks to a mysterious force. The fact that they could welcome so many customers was a pleasant surprise for both Shizuka and Nobuyuki.

"I hope we can welcome the market again next year."

"Next year, I want to make it even more lively."

From outside, the old festival prayers for a bountiful harvest could be heard. The festive night was far from over.