Chapter 81

【Side Story】 has also been updated.

It was my first time riding in a carriage pulled by a Rapid Horse, but the ride was quite comfortable.

From the window, I could tell it was moving at about twice the usual speed.

What surprised me the most was how little it shook. Despite the speed, it was almost vibration-free, though not entirely.

Since only the royal family and a few high-ranking nobles in the empire own such carriages, they are undoubtedly rare. Moreover, taming a Rapid Horse is supposed to be quite difficult.

The fact that they can prepare such things as a matter of course is truly befitting of the royal family.

Still, when Lune set a flag at the start, nothing has happened so far. Since we are on a main road, the monsters that attack aren't that strong, and the knights seem to be handling it.

"It's about noon, so shall we take a break here?"

The princess seems tired from riding in the carriage and wants to rest. Honestly, I have no objections.

At first, the conversation in the carriage was lively, but now it has thinned out. Rather, the three girls have gathered and started a girls' chat.

Despite being such enemies at first, they ended up becoming friends. Women are really hard to understand.

"Let's have lunch in that open field over there."

The place the princess pointed to is open and doesn't seem like a place where monsters could suddenly attack.

Plus, there are no people around.

While constantly using spatial awareness and presence detection is reliable, I don't want to use too much magic just in case.

Spatial awareness already uses a lot of magic, so I occasionally check a 500-meter radius.

"Then, we will keep watch around here!"

"Thank you, please do."

More than half of the princess's guards have gone out to keep watch. I confirmed, but it's not absolute.

While it's better to be cautious, it also feels like there are too few guards... Am I overthinking it?

"Hey, you! Can you prepare... the princess's lunch for us!"

"O-Okay. That's no problem. Just wait a moment."

This young knight, who keeps picking fights with me, has become a bit softer after I beat him twice.

But why does he keep picking fights with me?

At first, I thought it was on the princess's orders, but if that were the case, he wouldn't have bothered the second time.

Hmm, and despite being a low-ranking knight, he didn't go out to keep watch and is waiting near the princess.

Was he originally a good family's son?

"Master!"

"Huh?"

"Auwl, isn't this lunch a bit too elaborate? Hehe, I'm happy though."

"Me too!"

Oops, I must have made too much while thinking.

"Also, you're using storage, so the princess and the guards are surprised."

When I looked at the princess and the others as Lune said, they were all gaping in surprise.

"...... Lunch is seafood pasta, so please wait a moment."

Hmm, in situations like this, it's best to ignore it. My handling of awkward situations is almost at the expert level.

But, starting to make seafood pasta unconsciously, do I really want to eat shrimp?

With too many ingredients, the main dish is hard to tell if it's pasta or the toppings. It's a completed seafood pasta with large shrimp, including the shells, to bring out the flavor in a tomato cream sauce.

The soup is made by Lune and Yomi, a vegetable and bacon soup. To be honest, the smell is incredibly tempting.

The pasta and soup look delicious just by looking at them.

"Yeah! I think it turned out well. There's enough for the guards too, so please help yourselves."

"Wow!"

As I was serving, the knights who went out to keep watch came back, either lured by the smell or because their watch was over.

There are 10 guards in total, so 14 servings should be enough.

We should switch with the watch group as soon as we finish eating. Some of them are drooling, so they must be hungry.

"Princess, I'll taste-test for poison first..."

The young knight volunteered to taste-test for the princess, but his lack of hiding his drool makes him less convincing.

"I don't need that! This is mine! You eat your own portion."

"Y-Yes, understood..."

The young knight is brave for volunteering to taste-test, but he looks a bit pitiful.

"Mmm! This is really delicious! The shrimp flavor is elegantly brought out by the cream, and the lingering aroma after swallowing further stimulates the appetite!"

"Then, I'll... Mmm! This is really delicious!!"

I can hear "delicious" and "tasty" from all around, so it's rewarding for me.

Then, I'll have a bite too.

"Yeah! It's delicious!"

By crushing the shrimp shells and blending them into the cream, the flavor is there without the shells.

The taste of the shellfish is incredible too! They were small like clams, but they still have a lot of flavor!

"Master's cooking is always delicious!"

"Hehe, it's really delicious. We can't let you down, Lune!"

"Thank you both. But the soup you made is also delicious!"

The potatoes are fluffy, and the bacon is grilled to a perfect crisp, adding a lot of flavor to the soup.

After everyone finished eating, including the watch group, there was still food left.

Might as well finish it. I also need to wash the dishes.

"There's still a little left for seconds, so let me know if you want more!"

"Wow!"

"Seconds!"

I thought it might go badly, but everyone, led by the princess, took a little bit each, resulting in a peaceful outcome.

Is this what chivalry is? ...No, probably not.

"Well, let's get going... Hmm?"

I detected about 20 people with spatial awareness and presence detection, and they are fully armed.

"They don't seem like local farmers. We're still a day away from the border..."

...No, on the contrary, if the princess dies within the kingdom, it could be a two-for-one deal for the empire?

They could demand compensation from the kingdom and get rid of the troublesome princess. Maybe the royal siblings are even more ruthless than I thought.

"Princess, there are about 20 people who look like bandits in the forest ahead. What should we do?"

"Is that true? ...They are still quite far away."

"Auwl, is that true? If it's a lie, you won't get off easy."

The guard captain, a muscular middle-aged man wielding a huge sword, spoke to me.

"It's definitely true. It's hard to believe that bandits would be waiting here by coincidence."

"If that's the case, it suggests that information has leaked."

"Yes."

This is one of the places we have to pass to get to the empire, and it's a perfect spot for an ambush.

There's not much traffic, so it's even more convenient.

"If they are just bandits, that's fine, but if not, it could be troublesome..."

I understand what the guard captain is saying. Protecting the target while fighting twice the number of enemies would be a tough battle.

...Under normal circumstances, though.

"I'll take care of the protection. It will be good practice. Lune and Yomi, please help the knights capture the bandits. Make sure one is alive."

"Understood!"

"Hehe, we'll use them as practice for gauging the limits."

...Huh, for what?! I'm too scared to ask, Yomi!

We approached the entrance of the forest while preparing for battle without arousing suspicion.

...They moved. This is definitely a trap.

I immediately sent instructions to the two via the communication ring.

"Both of you, the enemies are fully prepared. Take care of them!"

I wonder if this is how Mito Kōmon felt. It's kind of exciting.

Taking Mirei and the two of them on a journey to right wrongs might not be bad.

Alf could be 'Yasubei Kita', and Mirei could be... 'Ogin'? Yomi seems more like 'Ogin'.

'Ushitora Yajirōbei' could be... Gra.

"What?! Why are Suiren and Ginrai here?! They don't usually take guard duty, do they?!"

I can hear the bandits' voices from outside.

I rarely see the two of them on guard duty. Why is that?

"Auwl seems relaxed. Aren't you worried about the two of them?"

"I am worried, but not about them."

"What do you mean?"

"AAAAAAH!!!"

Suddenly, a scream came from outside. When I went out, the knights weren't fighting, only Lune and Yomi were fighting the bandits.

They must have wanted to show off their skills...

"Isn't this a bit overkill?"

No one is dead, but everyone's limbs are in unnatural positions.

It almost looks like avant-garde art. ...Or a bit grotesque.

"Juson, Kaku, that's enough."

"Okay."

"Hehe, I'm Kaku?"

Oops, I just went with the flow.

"This one seems to be the leader."

"Hehe, give me 30 minutes, and I'll get all the information out of him."

"Let's not go overboard. I have some questions too."

So, we waited 30 minutes.

The leader, unable to walk, crawled out of the grass.

His face, which was aggressive earlier, is now sharp and serious.

What happened...?

"Master, it seems they don't know anything."

"Really?!"

"Yes, apparently one of their companions got the information from a beautiful woman in the capital's tavern."

"...A beautiful woman? What kind of woman?"

I'm curious. Why am I so curious? No, I don't have any ulterior motives. I'm just at a sensitive age.

"Apparently, she had sexy teardrop moles under both eyes."

Teardrop moles! And both eyes? If she also had long hair and big breasts, she would be perfect.

"Apparently, she had long hair and a great body."

Great! Really great! Even as an enemy, she's impressive!

"...Master?"

"Hehe, we'll take care of that woman. Okay?"

"Yes!"

Ah, Dad, I think the dragon is about to show its fangs...

For some reason, the princess looks serious. Is something wrong?

"...Princess, are you okay?"

"I have a suspicion about that woman."

"What?! Who is she?!"

"Most likely, she is my father's third wife. Ever since she came, things have gradually become strange."

Wow... This sounds like it's going to be a complicated situation.

Not only the royal siblings, but even the stepmother might be an enemy.

I regret taking the job for just the chocolate. I need to get various rewards to make it worth it.

To maintain my comfortable and elegant farmer's life, I still need a lot of things.

Thinking of it as an investment for that makes it worth it.

"Anyway, I will definitely protect the princess. I can't afford to lose you."

Otherwise, I won't be able to get my way.

"Wha?!"

"Master?! What do you mean?!"

"Hehe... I only became friends because I didn't think you would be an enemy... Auwl, you're a bad person. ...Do you need a little punishment?"

"Auwl, you bastard!! Fight me!!"

Why are the young knight, Lune, and Yomi angry?!

"Auwl... I mean, Auwl. Will you definitely protect me?"

"Of course. I will definitely protect you."

"Mmm..."

What is the princess saying? If I don't, I won't get paid, and it will be a waste of work.

I have to get the chocolate and make a delicious chocolate cake with everyone.

Mirei, Lune, Yomi, and my parents will surely like it. Most of all, I want to let Shia eat it when she grows up.

And of course, Lebrant, Mrs. Mule, Alice, and Elly.

The king... well, maybe. The Duke of Listania doesn't seem to be silent either.

Thinking about it, I've met a lot of people since coming to the capital. It's been troublesome, but there have been good things too.

The princess is fidgeting. Does she need to use the bathroom?

Hmm...?

"Um, Lune? Yomi? What's wrong with both of you? ...And you, sir knight?"

"Master, that was a guilty pleasure."

"Hehe, Auwl is a bad person?"

"Auwl, you bastard!!"

What?! I don't understand, but is it my fault?!

"Indeed, a handsome man has a tough time. ...But let's talk about tonight's dinner. How about a dish with venison?"

No, let's talk about dinner later, Captain. How much did you like my cooking?!

I'm not happy being popular with men!

The main story's [Chapter 4: The Imperial Family Feud] has started. I will continue to update quietly. I would be happy if you could rate, bookmark, etc.

Lately, I've been thinking that if my novel can make people, even a few, think "I want to eat this meal!" or "Let's have this for dinner today!", that would be great.

Thanks to everyone, I won the [Web Novel Grand Prize] and will be published by Futabasha.