Volume 6 Chapter 7 (2/2)
And with that, we began eating the feast.
◇
”Procell, this wine made of apples is really good. I would like to enjoy some of it in my own dungeon. Can that be arranged?”
”I'm sorry but no. Today's wine needs special apples to make but I'm afraid we can't produce them in large enough quantities so giving away this kind of wine for free is something that can't be done. If you're fine with wine one grade lower, I'll have it ready. But for this one, again, sorry.”
As to be expected, I could not just carelessly hand over wine made out of the golden apples.
If it was wine made out of ordinary Avalon apples, then sure, he could have as much he would have wanted but the golden apples were primarily used for the creation of strong recovery potions and were thus too much of a valuable resource to be used all on wine.
”I see. That's a shame. Then, how about I offer an A rank medal in return for some bottles?”
”Dan, stop it with that. If you give out an A rank medal for some wine, you're going to be punished by the Creator again. If you really have to have it, I suggest waiting until after Procell has graduated from being a newly born Demon Lord. On that note, Procell, send me some of the next finest wine. In exchange, I'll give some dragon meat. Those are rare, you know. There are some dragons that would periodically cut their tails to make it grow bigger and those cut-off tails could then serve as food. And if you haven't known already, dragon steaks are delicious.”
Old Demon Lords were currently at the risk of being penalized for giving monsters and DP to new Demon Lords like me. The exception to this rule was when new Demon Lords offered something of equal value in return.
Based on their exchange, however, it seemed like [Time] was going to be punished for lending Fel to me.
”Ast, you're just stealing a march on me. You've always been so sly.”
The two bantered and created an atmosphere unique to old friends. In truth, I was a little envious of them.
”Rest assured, I'll send bottles of wine made out of apples—although not of golden apples—to the both of you.”
For the favor they did me, this much was the least I could do.
The two nodded and continued on with their meal.
”Oto-san, look at these giant prawns! They're so delicious but it's a bit troublesome to peel their shells off.”
What Kuina held in her hand was a prawn so superb, it was like a lobster.
These prawns caught somewhere in the northern sea was now presented to us deep-fried—without any breading—and ready to be dipped into a spicy, bitter-sweet sauce.
”You don't have to peel the shells off; you can eat them as they are.”
I said so and demonstrated it to her. I chewed on one and felt the meat dance around my mouth. The combination of its juices that were overflowing in my mouth and the sauce was just sublimely delicious. I would go so far to say that it was more delicious than anything I had eaten so far.
With sparkling eyes, Kuina mimicked me.
”Oto-san! This is amazing! It's crunchy and the taste is so deep! Kuina loves this!”
The fact that it was alive until this morning certainly boosted its deliciousness.
As for why the shell was soft, the prawns used were ones which had just finished molting. Molting was when prawns shed their shells so that they could grow. In place of their old shells, however, were the still-thin-and-soft ones. When deep-fried, the shell provides a crunchy, pleasant texture as well as good flavor. And so, biting and chewing these lobster-like, large prawns—shells and all—was considered very luxurious.
”Master, check these beef sashimi out. I very much like them. It's strange though; it looks raw but its warm juices are simply amazing. Its sauce is splendid as well.”
”Oh, those aren't sashimi; those are cut-out center portions of grilled meat.”
What Rorono ate was a kind of steak.
In this world, there were also such things as premium cows. These cows, simply because they were very delicious to eat, were bred, fed, made to exercise, and managed. Raising such creatures was mostly a hobby for nobles, considering the high price it would take, but the taste of their meat certainly matched the cost.
For every large cut of 2kg of meat cooked whole, only about 100g of it—the central part—was served to us. Truly, a very luxurious item.
”For me, I love this oyster paella. The delicious taste of the shellfish permeates all over the rice. Such bliss.”
What Aura ate was a special kind of oyster paella; rather than the oyster being added to the rest of the paella was in the oyster.
The paella was made by putting rice grains into these large, clam-like oyster shells; adding in dashi, which was a stock made from kelp; adding in a small quantity of alcohol; and then steam-cooking it.
By doing so, the flavor of the oysters was contained within the rice, making the dish delicious.
In addition to those dishes, every single one of the many cuisine that were served to us was very exotic and luxurious.
”That Conanna really went all out, huh.”
As per my instructions of disregarding cost, Conanna had arranged for numerous outrageous cuisines.
Everyone was amazed.
More than the ingredients, what made these dishes amazing was the sheer variety of them. The most marvelous recipes from all over the world were arranged for this feast and we had the pleasant opportunity to experience them ourselves.
It went without saying that the delicious food and the great alcohol made everyone happy, filling the place with the sight of our smiles and the sound of our laughter.
◇
After a while, black tea and desserts were brought out. Our final dessert was an apple pie. I initially thought it was a little disappointing to have something so common be the last item of our feast but when I tasted it, it was outrageously delicious.
The apple pie used golden apples so it was a given that it was delicious but even then, the patissier's amazing skills made it even more so. Each technique used and each ingredient chosen—other than the apples—were perfect, making it the ultimate apple pie.
Its crust was crisp; its syrup had a subtle taste; and the flavor of the apples was vivid. With all of these, the pie delighted me greatly.
I see, so this is why Conanna said to look forward most of all to the desserts.
Apparently, these desserts were made by a noble who hailed from a certain remote, pioneering village. This man, despite being praised as the pride of the nation, was an eccentric who chooses to remain in his village. And even when asked to, he would decline requests of making pastries.
I heard, however, that after seeing the apples and being told of a superior variety, he considered wanting to create desserts using the best ingredients and then accepted our request. Since it was the golden apples, he probably decided it was better to make a simple pastry to fully draw out its flavor.
I'd like to meet him once.
It didn't seem like I was the only one that enjoyed his creation. In fact, I would argue that anyone who tasted it would be at a loss for words.
After a while, we all were finally finished with desserts.
”Procell, the feast today was magnificent. Even for me, this was the first time I've experienced such good food.”
”As a top-ranking Demon Lord, it vexes me to say it but I agree. You've outclassed my dungeon in terms of culture, Procell. It seems your decision of building a city does have some pretty good merits.”
The [Dragon] Demon Lord and the [Time] Demon Lord each expressed their words of praise.
”The ones that are truly amazing are the humans that made all of these. I've merely gathered them.”
Technically, even that was done by the human merchants. To have a network that reached all corners of the world, not even a Demon Lord could have that.
”I too am satisfied. Procell, there aren't many Demon Lords who could skillfully use humans like this, you know. There's no harm in patting yourself in the back for this. Besides that, hey, let me eat these delicious things again someday, okay?”
Marcho jokingly asked. In reaction, I just smiled wryly.
With our bellies full and with the mood cheery, it was great.
Right then, however, the expression on Marcho's face turned serious and she then decided to continue the interrupted talk from earlier.
”Now, onto why accepted Procell's use of [Rebirth]. Procell said to me, when I was on the brink of vanishing, that he loves me, that he wants me to be his and that he'll make me forget about the man I loved before. He said all this as he wept and embraced my tattered body. It was then that I thought I couldn't leave this boy behind, not after being touched by dedication. So yeah, I had fallen in love with him. And I wanted to be with him longer.”
Marcho explained so and then put a happy smile on her face.
Seeing that, the [Dragon] Demon Lord laughed a little whereas Stolas puffed her cheeks.
As for the [Time] Demon Lord…
”I see. It vexes me that I was not the one to say I'll make you forget about him. I was so preoccupied with trying to catch up with him that the thought didn't even occur to me. Really vexing.”
”Hmm, Dan, are you angry? It might not be my business but snatching away the woman you love from the one she loves is foolish to me. My advice is to just give up.”
”Ast, you're misunderstanding something. I can't not love Marcho. Sure, at the moment, she loves Procell, but that's all; it doesn't affect my feelings for her. Pity me if you must but I've grown accustomed to loving somebody who doesn't love me back and who loves somebody else. My centuries-long love for her isn't some trivial thing. …If this much could make me give up on loving her, I would have gone for some other woman long ago.”
The [Time] Demon Lord paused and then took a deep breath so that he could deliver his next words with all his heart.
”So to answer your question, Ast, I'm not angry and I don't plan to be. Rather, the words I want to say to Procell is thank you for fulfilling our agreement. After that, I'm declaring it here and now that I am going to make Marcho fall in love with me and take her away from him.”
His words were filled with conviction and were definitely not a bluff. They were his true and honest feelings.
That being said, I had no intention of making it easy for him.
”I won't let you.”
I strongly declared so. Marcho's love was mine.
”Very well. Now that that is taken care of, there is something else I'd like you tell me.”
The [Time] Demon Lord said so and then smiled coldly.
”For some time now, every time you say you love Marcho, my precious Fel has a sad expression on her face. It's as if she's fallen completely in love for you as well. So, tell me, why is this the case? Just what did you do to Fel?”
He then shot me a look that by itself could kill.
There's no escape, I realized. And so, I readied myself and spoke.
The fourth volume of the LN is available now! Here is an
The first chapter of the manga has also been released.
I did not translate the manga so please express your thanks to them.
If you want to see untranslated version, go