Chapter 53: Leo undergoes a delicious trial (1)

On the first night of the Contract Festival, Leo was in high spirits as he made his way to the dining hall.

His steps were graceful yet light, buoyed by the streak of luck he’d been enjoying since yesterday.

(Man, oh man, Elrand is treating me well! Free food, free clothes, free lodging! It’s way too comfortable.)

He felt like skipping if he could let his guard down. Leo was quite full of himself.

(First off, it’s fantastic not having the prince breathing down my neck, right? I’ve even managed to butter up that watchdog, Yukiuttori, with some free grub, and with that cool room, even in this hot weather, it’s totally fine. And being able to talk without being shackled by the spell of restraint against foul language is also amazing!)

Due to being bombarded with Elrand’s noble language and ancient Elrandic during this visit, Leo’s slang mixed with formal expressions in a peculiar way, but he believed unwaveringly that he was fluent in Elrandic.

In fact, he even thought he could do business with Elrand nobles with this level of proficiency.

Thinking about business, Leo grinned and traced the worn-out wrap he wore.

(This is also pretty nice, huh? Let’s unravel it tonight again and master the weaving of spirit cloth.)

That’s right. Since last night, Leo had been unraveling this old wrap and analyzing its structure.

While embroidery culture was developed in Weitz, knitting techniques were not. Especially, intricate patterns of spirit cloth produced in Elrand lacked clear instructions on how to make them.

Hence, in Weitz, Elrand-made spirit cloth fetched high prices.

(To me, this wrap is amazing! But those guys like Calle just call it “rag.” It’s clear that Elrand’s level of technology is vastly superior to Weitz’. There’s nothing but room for research.)

Leo once again expressed heartfelt gratitude to Calle and the others who provided him with the worn-out wrap.

If it were new, he wouldn’t have been able to unravel it so easily, and he would have felt reluctant to alter its shape.

But since it was so worn out, his heart didn’t ache as much.

By the way, since Leo only saw the wrap as a teaching material, he had no reason to be hurt by receiving ragged clothing.

Moreover, with this easy-to-move and inconspicuous fabric, it was perfect for escape.

(When it comes to business, I only thought about selling Weitz’ products, but with such a refined culture here, it would be more profitable to introduce Elrand’s products to Weitz. I wonder if there’s something new, a fresh approach to business…)

While walking, he pondered such things. Everything that caught his eye seemed fresh, and Leo’s business brain had been stimulated continuously since earlier.

And as he walked with a smile, the destination came into view.

Catching the faint scent of free food in the twilight, Leo became even more cheerful.

(Doing something as unusual as going outside for a meal like this is also fresh!)

For this meal, as a gesture of hospitality, they were to be served by the great priests of Elrand, not in the usual cathedral, but in a pavilion located on its outskirts.

Each great priest was assigned to one priestess, and the thirty or so priestesses gathered this time would each have their meal in separate places.

According to Natalia, it was one of the rules of the Contract Festival to avoid bringing any political elements such as disputes or alliances between princesses of other countries into the mix.

The pavilions were scattered throughout the vast garden surrounding the cathedral.

The place Calle led Leo to was the smallest among them.

It had geometric-patterned tiled floors typical of Elrand, with a rounded, bulging roof. There were no windows or walls; instead, spirit cloth hung between the columns, serving as windbreakers. Presumably to ward off the heat.

Despite the unfamiliar style of the building, there were familiar faces inside, so Leo widened his eyes in surprise.

“Kai! You’re here!”

“Yes. While I’m not allowed into the cathedral, I can accompany you up to the outskirts. Though I must say, the permission wasn’t granted by the knight-commander, but I managed to obtain entry as a mere attendant.”

The capable Kai answered with a smile.

However, seeing Leo’s attire, he furrowed his brows slightly.

“Lord Leonora, about your appearance… Your shoulder wrap and the hem of your robe seem a bit frayed.”

“Oh… I thought about fixing it but couldn’t manage it in time. I’m embarrassed.”

Leo, who had prioritized dismantling the wrap, left the hem frayed, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. No, rather than being in the same condition as when he received it, it had deteriorated further. Since it was already frayed, he decided to unravel the entire hem to make pockets or folds for small change. However, unaware of this, Kai raised an eyebrow at the frayed hem, seemingly troubled.

“I’ll make sure to report everything to the Duke and the Prince.”

“Huh?! Please don’t!”

Leo looked puzzled. He’d be troubled even if his habit of collecting small change—or rather, where he kept it—was reported. Pulling Kai’s shirt slightly,

“Uh, could you… especially, please don’t tell the prince…”

He whispered, and for some reason, the attendant’s expression turned into one of resignation, then eventually, he replied with a pained expression, “…Understood.”

At that moment.

A breeze swept in, and a man arrived at the pavilion.

“――Welcome to Elrand.”

His voice was cool and low.

A slender figure draped in black robes and a hood. A young man with sharp blue-gray eyes set in brown skin――Safita.

Upon seeing Leo, he opened his eyes slightly in surprise but quickly returned to his expressionless demeanor.

With his brown skin, he resembled Bruno.

After casually introducing himself, Safita gracefully seated himself on a chair woven from rattan and gestured for Leo to sit as well.

His slight movements carried an aura of authority.

(Safita… Safita… Um, …Ah! He’s the president of the Council of Ten!)

Leo had brushed up on Elrand’s royal lineage throughout the week and managed to extract some information. Safiter.

His full name is Manasirius al-Elrand.

The son of the ruler when Elrand was a kingdom. In other words, he’s a prince of a defunct nation.

(If I remember correctly… after disposing of the nobles and the king, who were the triggers for the war in Weitz, they dismantled the royal family. However, to fully conquer Elrand as a sacred place was deemed unfavorable, so they treated it as an autonomous region and appointed cooperative Elrand nobles as governors.)

Combining the lineage of the prince whose royal status was revoked and the nine cooperative Elrand nobles resulted in the Council of Ten.

They were also referred to as the Ten Sages, as Elrand nobles effectively also served as great priests.

That was almost all of the information Leo knew.

“――The first day of the Contract Festival is already coming to an end. How are you finding your stay in Elrand?”

“Yes. I’m very… comfortable… um, I’m enjoying my time here, thank you!”

Leo answered with a bit of hesitation to the quietly posed question. Damn, he wasn’t too good with humble expressions.

Suddenly, for some reason, his interlocutor raised the corner of his mouth in what seemed like a smirk.

He scrutinized Leo as if examining him, so Leo tilted his head in confusion.

“Comfortable? In that filthy room, with those shabby clothes? You seem to have quite a broad mind.”

“Um…”

Leo furrowed his brows at Safita’s words.

Did he also describe such comfortable rooms and clothes as pigsties and rags?

Just how much cleanliness and refinement did the people of Elrand demand?

Leo couldn’t help but think about their position; they didn’t have the luxury to be having conversations like

“Alright, this week the floor didn’t collapse,”

“Good job, Leo,” like they did at the orphanage.

“Are you really comfortable, while being arranged in such a filthy, shabby way?”

He asked, intending to gauge the baseline living standard. Safita gave a somewhat sarcastic smile.

“…What if I am?”

“I apologize!”

“Why would that be?”

Leo expressed heartfelt respect to the highly civilized people of Elrand, yet for some reason, he was being teased in what seemed like a normal tone.

Safita  wore a puzzled expression for a moment, but eventually, he seemed to switch gears and clapped his hands.

Then, Khaje and the others began to serve the dishes quietly.

It was finally dinner time.

Safita poured fruit wine into silver cups and leaned on his hand, urging Leo and the others to eat.

He seemed kind enough to offer some to Kai as well.

But contrary to Leo, who was eager to eat the free meal, Kai’s voice stiffened.

“This is…!”

It was no wonder his voice sounded strained.

The delicate, intricate dishes typical of Elrand were nowhere to be seen on the ceramic plates; instead, there were grotesque, blob-like masses that Leo had never seen before.

“That is a local dish eaten in some parts of Elrand. Isn’t that right, Khaje?”

“Yes. It’s grilled pig intestines seasoned with salt.”

Kai, who had barely picked up some Elrandic due to his recent intense studying, quickly turned pale.

“Pig’s… intestines!?”

While sausages stuffed in sheep’s intestines were a favorite among Weitzians, it was because they were conscious of eating minced meat, not intestines.

No one wanted to eat intestines, especially not raw ones.

Furthermore, pigs were considered a lower-class animal among livestock, so even commoners wouldn’t eat their intestines raw, let alone cooked just with salt.

Leo thought it was rude, and when he glared at Safiter, he shrugged it off with a cool expression.

In place of his master, who was at a loss for words, Kai summoned his courage and spoke in the unfamiliar language of Elrand.

“Excuse me… Do you not eat, sir?”

To Kai’s awkward inquiry, Safiita responded with a wry smile.

“I do not eat. This is a meal offered to the shrine maiden… Although, in our Elrand, only slaves or the most destitute peasants would eat such fare.”

“…!”

The silent attendants, who had been holding back, momentarily displayed a disgruntled expression, but Kai’s anger was even more intense.

“To call it ‘slaves’ and ‘peasants’!? How dare you! Do you intend to feed Lady Leonora such lowly food?”

“Attendant? This is the Elrand of the Covenant Festival. Could you speak in the language of the spirits? And please, do not misunderstand. This is merely a trial. By partaking in the same meal as the least fortunate in Elrand, you are meant to refine your soul.”

“…!”

Kai clenched his fists so hard it seemed his veins would pop out. Though he vaguely understood the meaning of the words and was infuriated to the point where his gut churned, he didn’t know how to respond in Elrand.

Since being stimulated at the Hannah Orphanage, it had been just over a month.

Despite secretly studying hard and improving his language skills somewhat, Kai felt ashamed of his uselessness at this crucial moment.

But…

“Wait, Kai. Relax. Let’s partake of this.”

A girl sitting beside him gently pressed his arm and spoke.

Her voice was serene and calm, like pouring cool water into boiling water.

“I apologize for my attendant’s outburst. We graciously accept.”

She said this to Safiita, then turned her attention back to the plate in front of her.

Her gaze, like that of a mentor listening to the voice of the spirits before a stern trial, focused intently.

(What is this… This offal dish is not just a free meal; it’s stirring something… It’s like… a scent of money…)

No, that’s not it. As usual, Leo was simply searching for something profitable with his money sense.

(What… What is this? The situation is reminiscent of Oscar-senpai’s leftover blend, but it’s not particularly luxurious. Why does it excite me so much…)

Let’s observe closely.

This shiny, whitish appearance isn’t particularly beautiful, and the seasoning seems simple with just salt and pepper.

Yet, the faintly burnt fat and the slightly sweet smell are intensely stirring something deep within Leo’s soul.

Leo was now completely captivated.

He forgot about the trial and any negative feelings toward Safiita, picking up the lump as if possessed and bringing it to his mouth.

And then…

“…Guh!”

In the next moment, he transformed into a miser who had forgotten how to speak.

“…”

Delicious.

Incredibly delicious.

Very delicious.

The contrast between the crispy outer layer and the chewy inner texture that chased after his teeth was irresistible.

The simple saltiness mixed with the sweetness of the fat created a lingering taste that, though not sophisticated, left a lasting impression.

I want wine, no, ale. I want ale.

(Yes, more like ale to accompany this… Not for a party venue, but for a tavern snack… Not luxurious at all, it’s the taste of commoners… No, that’s why it’s delicious. It’s not A-rank, but certainly gourmet. Yes, this is… ‘B-grade gourmet’…!)

At that moment, Leo was struck by a shock akin to being struck by lightning.

His life had always been about yearning for luxurious things.

Even though his physical senses sought the taste of commoners, his money sense always sought exquisite flavors, sometimes conflicting within himself.

But now it was different.

Leo’s innate commoner senses and his love for money were perfectly aligned, playing a beautiful harmony.

His entire soul was screaming to profit from this B-grade gourmet.

(This will sell…! Even those who shunned Elrand cuisine for being too pretentious would reach out for this. No, with the concept of ‘intentional B-grade’, even the upper class and nobility could be captured. There’s no mistake. This will become a broad business…!)

To the newfound business opportunity, Leo shuddered with excitement.

“Lord Leonora, please stop! You shouldn’t consume something to the point of trembling!”

Meanwhile, Kai, unaware that the miser was merely excited, screamed in horror as he watched his cherished master tremble and consume the dreadful dish.

“You must not be deceived by such words as ‘trial’! In the history of shrine maidens, no one has suffered such insults under the guise of a trial. Shall we report to their Excellencies? Please, stop this!”

Ignoring the request to speak in Elrand and desperately speaking, he also glared fiercely at Safiita.

Just as he was about to open his mouth wide to denounce him, the unexpected happened.

“Here, Kai. Say ‘ahhh’.”

“…!?”

He was startled as the whitish lump was shoved into his mouth.

“Relax. Chew it well. Isn’t it delicious?”

With a calm and gentle smile, his master asked.

After urging him to chew well, she tilted her head while looking into his eyes.

“How is it? Please be honest. The crispy skin, flavorful insides. Doesn’t it taste good to you, Kai?”

“Uh…? Uh, yes…”

Having chewed it reflexively, Kai nodded in confusion.

Yes, if one were to discard the preconception of pig innards, this whitish lump was quite tasty.

“Well… It lacks refinement, but… with its strong saltiness, and… it’s quite… I think it’s delicious…”

“Good.”

Leo, who even received a passing grade from the well-bred Kai, nodded confidently, convinced of his business success.

If even someone unfamiliar with commoner tastes found it delicious, there was no doubt it would succeed.

“Hmm… This is surprising. To willingly eat the innards only consumed by peasants…”

Noticing Safiita muttering mockingly with a furrowed brow, Leo inwardly pondered.

Yes.

The taste was splendid, but to remove the resistance of the nobility towards ‘peasant food’ and ‘innardsl,’ he would need to prepare some convincing arguments.

They were creatures who chose what to eat based on appearance rather than taste.

“…innards only consumed by peasants. Is that unacceptable?”

So Leo turned to Safiita, intending to use him as a practice target for his sales pitch, and began to devise persuasive arguments.

“If you’re showing sympathy for peasants, that’s admirable.”

“I didn’t eat this as a trial, but as a delicious dish. In fact, it’s delicious. After all, rather than the food of aristocrats who have passed through dozens of hands and gone cold, the food of those who have provided food for us is more delicious. Isn’t that natural?”

For example, bringing up the aspect of freshness.

“…Even if it’s innards?”

“If it were duck liver, it would be a luxury item, but who decided that pig innards is disgusting? The spirits of light bless all life equally.”

For example, flashing the authority of the spirits.

Engrossed in his talk, Leo inadvertently skipped the excessive politeness he had recently acquired, speaking plainly.

Unaware that this actually made things less awkward, he met the ashen-colored eyes of Safiita and the earnest purple eyes.

The one who averted his gaze first was Safiita.

“…I see. I understand your thoughts.”

Alright, his presentation got through, Leo thought.

He mentally cheered with a triumphant pose, but Safiita wouldn’t have noticed.

He casually adjusted his black robe and quietly stood up, giving a cool glance to the attendants before leaving the pavilion.

Watching his retreating figure, Kai frowned tightly.

“To not even share a meal to the end… How insolent this Covenant Festival has become. What does Lord Leonora think…?!”

“Well, well…”

But Leo, munching on the innards, comforted Kai cheerfully.

“You must be busy. Time is money. It’s not good to stop busy people. Isn’t it nice to eat without worries?”

“But…”

“This is the first time Kai and I have eaten together. I’m happy.”

Since he often dined with Bianca and others at the academy and with the couple at the mansion, Leo had never actually eaten alone with Kai.

When he cheerfully announced this with a tone reminiscent of “Hey Emilio, it’s my turn to eat with you today” from the orphanage, his younger brother inexplicably widened his eyes and stumbled over his words.

“Y-Yes… I-I’m… very happy too…!”

“Is that so?”

Well, that’s good.

With a simple nod, Leo reached for the next morsel with his fork.