Haaaaa… Delicious.
The black tea I usually drink at home is delicious, but this tea, which tastes like Oolong, is easy to drink and has a comforting flavor… This is a good item.
As expected of Yasis.
He knows his delicious things.
I should ask him where he buys this brand of tea leaves when I leave.
Since I am drinking it hot now, not iced, I want to try how it tastes iced.
Come to think of it, is this also from the Republic?
It tastes like Oolong… Hmm.
Does the Republic have many delicious things?
If so… I really must do my best.
「…So, Yasis? You look like you have something to say.」
「No, no. Kukuku, no, not really… Fufufufufu.」
Your mouth is loosening.
Turning your face away completely to hide it is meaningless.
「I will not get angry, so say it.」
「Is it really okay? I heard you are going as an envoy to the Republic… Kufu. My, you truly love trouble. As expected.」
「『Einzheil’s Trouble Maker』, is it?」
「Bwahahaha! You understand well!」
Damn, he is laughing heartily, holding his stomach.
I know, I know. I have been called that many times!
Hey, your wife behind you is also turning her face away. Is she laughing?
I thought she had a cool impression?
「My. And it is for the beef skewer shop? That is the shop where Shiro and you met you in this town, right? I heard the sauce taste changed, but I never thought it was due to Republic spices… So, you are going to the Republic for spices…」
「For Shiro. It is for Shiro.」
Well, it is to secure the spices again, but if I do not say it is for Shiro, I might be treated as a crazy guy who risks danger just for spices.
And then rumors with added embellishments would spread again, wouldn’t they?
「Yes, yes, of course I understand. When customer-sama heads toward trouble, it is always for a woman. Fufufu.」
「You look like you want to say 『Trouble Maker again』.」
He is having so much fun…
Although I had business with him, I was called here, and when I wondered what it was about, it was just to laugh at me…
At the very least, I will take the tea I am drinking now as a souvenir!
「Oh, rather than Trouble Maker, should I call you Trouble Diver? Since you seem to dive into trouble yourself, pufufu.」
「Hey, wait. Do not add another strange nickname. I can deny being a ‘Maker’ since I do not ‘make’ them, but ‘Diver’ is hard to deny subtly.」
「Is it not the truth? My, you are truly never boring.」
「…By the way, were not Yasis’ guards skilled? You could go instead, you know.」
Was not Yasis’ wife a 『Shinobi』?
She moved silently, and was she not so capable that she had various names, like Shion?
Besides, you are better at negotiations. It is not as if I must be the one to solve it.
As long as the alliance is re-established and the spices used by the beef skewer shop reach Einzheil, it does not matter who does it.
「Hahaha, you must be joking? Indeed, my wife is strong, but I have absolutely no stamina, so I cannot go to a distant place like the Republic.」
「Gnununu…」
「Well, however, the Republic’s withdrawal from the alliance affects us merchants. If you resolve it, many will be helped. Please, do your best without getting injured.」
「Without getting injured… So, how much do you know?」
This was my purpose for today.
Yasis is an unfathomable and mysterious man.
He likely possesses a wide range of information.
Therefore, I hoped to hear even a little about the Republic.
「Hmm? How much?」
「About the King of the Republic. Do you know anything? I came thinking you might tell me if you did.」
「Let me see. I do know things, but… what is the price for telling you?」
「You just said it yourself, didn’t you? It affects you, and you would be helped if it were resolved.」
「I see. Well, I will let it pass this time. First, the King’s name is Saracrim, and she is a woman. That is good news.」
「Good news? What is good about that…」
It is not just about knowing the name, is it?
What is good about her being a woman…?
「Apparently, this Saracrim suddenly appeared casually before the representatives of the three nations and declared herself the King standing above them. Naturally, the representatives did not recognize such a person and called guards and soldiers to eliminate her by force… But they were all overwhelmingly defeated by Saracrim alone.」
「Eh, alone?」
No, but she was facing a country, right?
There must be an army, and surely there were many individuals boasting of their martial prowess?
No matter how strong one is individually, numbers are power, aren’t they?
To say she overwhelmed them… Is there some kind of trick?
「Yes, alone. Furthermore, it seems the representatives of the three nations are each restrained. Their retainers are forced to obey due to this, but they are trying various methods to save the representatives. However, it seems they are first plotting various ways to meet the King.」
Among those “various methods”, the spices used by the old man at the beef skewer shop were likely included…
Since the King desires delicious food, perhaps she will release the representatives if satisfied with the offerings?
「Also, regarding the search for strong individuals, it seems she wants to prove that she is the strongest in the country. She welcomes challengers. There may be various ways to meet the King, but if they realize you are strong, they might let you meet her smoothly. After that… well, it will likely lead to combat.」
「Ah… I figured as much.」
「She is also collecting jewelry. It seems she simply likes shiny, beautiful things. She reportedly picks them up and gazes at them whenever she has free time. As for meals, she has famous chefs prepare them, but nothing seems to satisfy her. If it were you, Customer-sama, you might be able to meet her through jewelry or cuisine.」
「Hmm… I see. If I can approach her that way, it might be better…」
For jewelry, I could use my Alchemy skill to create accessories.
I should focus on appearance rather than performance.
As for cuisine… something with a strong sense of specialness rather than general dishes… or perhaps something with impact would be good?
「Well, that is about all I know. There are many mysteries surrounding Saracrim. She seems to be a strong individual, but I have never heard her name before… How was it? Was I of any help?」
「Ah, it helped. Just knowing that I might be able to approach her with jewelry or cuisine is grateful. I will tell everyone about the King’s strength so they can be more cautious.」
It was good to know roughly how strong she was.
However, since she can fight against a country, I want to avoid combat as much as possible… I wonder what will happen.
「But, having asked myself, you really hold such detailed information.」
「Information is life for merchants. I have many friends in each country.」
Friends… huh.
Probably, surely, those are not just ‘friends’… Ah, yes. It is nothing. Yes.
I am not thinking that there are some scary connections… Yes.
「Fufu. I wonder what will happen this time.」
「Why do you look so happy…」
「I am looking forward to the souvenir stories. Every time you go out, something interesting happens. By the way, you went to the Elf Forest. Did something interesting happen there too?」
「…………The Spirit Tree took a liking to me.」
「Ahahahaha! What does that mean!? I heard you brought back a Spirit Tree, but it took a liking to you!? Hahaha! Did you charm even a tree!? Ahaha! It did not even catch my information network!? My, you really have something special!」
Damn… I want to say that something does not happen every time, but I cannot deny it…
I wish I could sometimes end with nothing happening…
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