Today’s breakfast was simple: bacon and eggs made with King Piggle bacon and Koukei Kokko eggs, served with white bread.
King Piggle is quite expensive even among porks, but it is so delicious that recently, when one says pork, this is what comes to mind.
Koukei Kokko eggs are slightly larger than chicken eggs, with large yolks, little white, and a rich umami flavor. I recently started buying them.
Although simple, both King Piggle and Koukei Kokko eggs are high-quality ingredients worth their price, making this a luxurious breakfast.
The price is unlike typical breakfast fare, but once you know the top-tier deliciousness of this world’s ingredients, prioritizing taste over cost is inevitable.
Since it is delicious despite the high price, I do not feel it is a waste.
It was the same breakfast at the same dining table as always… but…
「…Thank you for the meal.」
「Shiro? Are you finished already?」
「Hmm. I had four helpings.」
「That is true… but only four helpings?」
「Hmm. It was delicious today too. I am going outside.」
Shiro carried her plate to the sink and then went straight outside.
Since hearing that she might not be able to eat beef skewers anymore, she seemed so depressed that her number of helpings had decreased.
「…Hey, my lord. Is Shiro okay?」
Sorte, who had been eating quietly, was worried about Shiro’s condition.
Usually, Shiro causes a commotion in the morning, stealing Sorte’s side dishes, but seeing Shiro so quiet lately had clearly worried her, so I had explained the probable cause to everyone.
「Hmm… I wonder… Whether time will heal this… If there is something I can do, I would like to do it…」
「Master is good at cookingssu, so cannot you make it?」
「That is impossible… I know the taste, but even the old man, who is used to making it, cannot reproduce it with other ingredients.」
Although I am good at cooking, I am merely an amateur with some knowledge from my previous world.
Reproducing foods created through ingenuity in this world would be difficult for me.
Besides, Shiro would detect even slight differences…
「Hmm… Beef skewers. Those skewers were indeed delicious.」
「…When we go out with Shiro, we always eat beef skewers. She eats happily, with her hands and cheeks sticky with sauce.」
「Also, that shop has many memories of eating with master. That must make the shock even greaterssu…」
「In that case, other things will not serve as a substitute…」
To be honest, there are plenty of things even more delicious, but it is not just about the taste.
For me as well, those beef skewers are a taste of memories, and it is sad to lose them.
However, it is a problem concerning another country…
「I have an idea! How about m’lord hugs Shiro-san here? Shiro-san desires it greatly, so overwhelm her with your love and stamina so she cannot think of anything else!」
「Shion? We are having a serious conversation right now.」
「Ah, yes. I am sorry… Uuu… I just wanted to change this gloomy atmosphere…」
Naturally, with everyone giving her sharp looks, she had no choice but to apologize.
But indeed, it is not good for everyone to exude such a gloomy atmosphere, so I acknowledged Shion’s effort and patted her head.
Ding-dong
「A guest? It is rare at this early hour.」
Indeed, the doorbell ringing this early was unusual.
The Shinobi girls from Iris’s place were guarding the gate… Who could it be?
「Hmm.」
「Shiro? Were you not outside?」
「Hmm. They said they were coming to the house, so I guided them.」
「My, my, my. Apologies for interrupting your breakfast.」
「Origol?」
And… Meira, Dama, Iris, and Ayame-san?
What is going on?
The top leaders of this country were all here in the morning, and they looked serious, so it did not seem like a casual visit… Could it be that talk about taking over the North District we mentioned before?
I absolutely refuse.
「Onii-chan, sorry for being so sudden, but we did not come for nothing. We have a favor to ask.」
「A favor?」
As expected?
Is it really about the district head position?
Since you did not tease me upon arrival, it must be a serious matter, right?
「You are aware that the Republic recently unilaterally withdrew from the alliance, correct?」
「Ah, yes… I do not know the details, but roughly…」
「This matter has caused some trouble.」
「Ah… I suppose so.」
It would not be surprising if similar things were happening in various places, not just at the beef skewer shop.
Shiro seemed to recall the beef skewer shop upon hearing this, folding her ears, so I gently pulled her close so we faced the same direction.
「If you have guessed, then we can speak quickly. However, we suddenly received the notification, and currently, we grasp nothing of the situation.」
「There are conditions for sending an envoy, which are quite problematic… It is difficult for us to even hear their side of the story…」
「Apparently, the self-proclaimed King who appeared in that country seeks strong individuals. He will not meet anyone, even envoys, unless they are strong.」
「Come to think of it, the old man said something similar.」
He prefers delicious food, beautiful ornaments, and strong individuals… At least he does not seem to be gathering women, but that is dangerous enough.
And since they came to my house…
「Ah… So that is it…」
「Yes… To be honest, in terms of individual combat power, there is no one else in this country besides you, onii-chan.」
「Well… There is Shiro, and the Red Line (Aina and the others), who are the top adventurers in this country.」
I did not intentionally gather them, but it is an excessive amount of military power for ordinary people.
It is understandable that they would come to ask me, an ordinary person… I suppose.
「M’lord, m’lord.」
「Adding the all-purpose beautiful girl Shion to the mix makes it so.」
「Yay! M’lord called me a beautiful girl too! 」
Do not jump for joy, Shion.
She seemed to want praise, so I added ‘beautiful girl’, but we are having a serious conversation, just like before.
There is no need to change the atmosphere now.
Anyway, I understood why the five of them came.
Honestly, I think there are other ways to handle it… For instance, Iris has Ayame-san and the Shinobi.
However, in terms of individual martial prowess, Shiro and Aina’s group are indeed superior… or so it seems.
「You want me to become the envoy, correct?」
「…I would like you to. I know you dislike it, onii-chan.」
「That is true.」
So it is not exactly an order.
They understand I dislike it, but the situation is so troubling that they must ask…
「My lord」「Master」
Yes. I understand.
It is a convenient offer.
If I can handle the Republic situation well, the old man’s spices at the beef skewer shop might be secured… perhaps.
But… As I thought about this, Shiro tugged at my clothes, so I turned to her.
「…Lord. I think it is dangerous.」
「Yes. I think so too.」
I do not believe someone like me can manage negotiations between nations, and going to see someone who seeks strong individuals carries high risk.
If the reason for seeking strong individuals was simply that he enjoyed watching them fight, it would be fine, but there is a high probability of combat.
「We acknowledge that this is an abrupt request. However, we are in a situation where we have no choice but to ask.」
「Apologies. You may refuse. But it would help us if you accepted.」
「Hmm…」
I am a man who seeks peace more than anyone else and will not do foolish things like approaching danger voluntarily.
If there were no benefits, I would definitely refuse Origol and the others, but…
「What does Shiro want to do?」
「Hm? Shiro?」
「If it goes well, you might be able to eat the old man’s beef skewers again.」
「Hmm… I want to eat beef skewers. But I cannot let lord face danger.」
Shiro’s ears, worried for me, remained folded flat.
Her upward glance held not only kindness for me but also a slight loneliness, so I strengthened my embrace slightly to feel her warmth.
「I see… Understood. I will accept, Origol.」
「Eh!? Is it really okay!?」
Yes.
Sorte and Aina nodded, saying, “I suppose so”, and “Mm”. Wendy looked worried, while Mizera and Renge seemed resigned, as if saying, “It cannot be helped”.
As for Shion… why did she have such a withdrawn expression…?
「I did not expect this… Young Master. Although we are the ones asking, I honestly think there is danger.」
「Hmm. Lord. As Dama says, it is dangerous.」
That is true.
I also have a bad feeling…
But I cannot bear Shiro’s lonely face.
I love seeing Shiro eat delicious food happily, stuffing her cheeks until they bulge, and smiling blissfully, saying, “Master, it’s delicious…”
「Is Shiro anxious?」
「Hmm. You should not go somewhere you know is dangerous. Shiro is becoming stronger to protect Master. But unforeseen circumstances can happen in any situation.」
「…Then how about leaving the decision to retreat to Shiro?」
「Hm? Shiro?」
「Yes. If Shiro judges that it is too dangerous, we will retreat immediately. Shiro is better at making such judgments than I am, right?」
Her crisis detection ability is far superior to mine. If Shiro, who is worried, judges it dangerous, I will use Point Gate to return to Einzheil immediately without worrying about checkpoints.
Since I might hesitate until the last moment, I believe this ensures a safety margin. What do you think?
「Hmm…」
「It is fine. I will absolutely follow Shiro’s judgment.」
「…Understood.」
「Okay.」
「I understand that lord will not back down no matter what I say… Mm. Shiro will protect lord. If I think I cannot protect him, I will retreat immediately.」
Ahahaha.
She understands well.
Well, I think going toward danger voluntarily is foolish, but this is not a situation where I must not flee, like with Roukaku.
「So, that is the arrangement. Is that acceptable?」
「Hmm. We are only grateful. Of course, prioritize your lives above all else.」
I do not know what will happen, but I certainly do not intend to risk my life.
But if there is something I can do, I will try.
In the worst case, could I not just throw money at the problem and buy a large quantity of spices?
「Woooooah! Onii-chaaaan! Thank yooooouuuu! Mgyu!」
Overwhelmed with emotion, Origol tried to hug me, but Shiro and I stopped her by pressing our hands against her face.
「Then, let us formally accept the role of envoy. Ah, of course, I will request compensation. Please cover the expenses as well.」
It would be wonderful if we could secure the spices used by the beef skewer shop, but since this is work, I will take what is due.
I will also bill the expenses properly.
Since those in my house eat a lot, be prepared.
「Of course. We will prepare something that will please you.」
「Oh, you said it, Meira. I expect it.」
「Fufu. It is enough that you are going, but upon the re-establishment of the alliance, I will definitely prepare something that will satisfy you even more.」
Wh-Why did she become so seductive?
The association with ‘satisfy’… Faa!
O-Origol, do not lick my extended finger!
Do not suck on it!
「Young Master. I can also satisfy you.」
「You are fine.」
「Such…」
Please do not look so genuinely disappointed.
Geez… But thanks to Dama, I have completely cooled down.
「Hmmm…」
「What is wrong, Shiro?」
「Hmm. I am happy because I know it is for my sake, but I am worried.」
「Fufufu. Once my lord decides like this, he cannot be stopped. We just need to protect him.」
「That is rightssu. Well, this side of master is as usual, so we are just clearing the wayssu.」
「Indeed. My liege’s good qualities are simply being displayed.」
「Although you call them good qualities, I wish you would avoid dangerous things.」
「It cannot be helped, Wendy-sama. Including such aspects, we are all weak to milord.」
「While saying he seeks peace, he also moves toward danger himself. Everyone has it tough… I suppose I will get used to this trouble as well…」
「Hmm.」
「Ah… Sorry for the trouble. But thank you. Please take care of it.」
Yes, yes. Everyone seemed to accept it… Is that okay?
Anyway, I will become the envoy to the Republic… But what kind of person is this King who appeared in the Republic?
I hope he is someone reasonable, but since he suddenly withdrew from the alliance, expectations are low.
I can only pray that he is not a battle maniac.
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