The reason Urza was late in coming back was that she had been busy securing an uninhabited island.
But why an island?
Was it because she’d heard Alfred was doing something on one? Was she trying to compete with him? No? Was it because I had tried to visit Alfred’s island, only for everyone to oppose the idea?
Well, it was true that I hadn't been able to go because of their objections.
The main voice of dissent had been Shiso-sama.
He, along with Dose and the others, had persuaded me that while the Demon Kingdom might be one thing, you never knew what might happen in a human kingdom. If the Village Head were seen as someone connected to the Demon Kingdom, there was a high probability of being dragged into some kind of conspiracy or trouble.
The more guards I brought, the more I’d be perceived as an important person. On the other hand, going without guards was apparently terrifying in its own right.
But the destination was the country where Alfred was staying, right? Wasn't it supposed to be safe? And besides, it was an uninhabited island. I’d assumed there wouldn't be anyone there.
However, that uninhabited island sat in a politically delicate position. Was it different if a prince went there versus a king? No, I wasn't a king, but...
Either way, I understood that my presence would be a nuisance. Lu, Tia, and the others were also passively opposed to me going. They told me that if I did go, they would provide protection, but I should be prepared for them to destroy a country or two in the process.
Was the political situation really that unstable? Or did they just not trust me?
In the end, while I could have forced the issue, I decided against it. It wouldn't be much fun to go if it meant causing trouble for everyone else.
Alfred had asked me for advice on making fields on his island, though. For now, after apologizing to him for not being able to make the trip, I sent him some soil from the village. It was soil tilled with the Universal Farming Tool. I figured it would be at least a little helpful for starting a field.
Back to the main topic.
Knowing my situation, Urza had apparently been looking for an uninhabited island in the Demon Kingdom, thinking it wouldn't be a problem there. And she had found one. After checking with the nearby Sea Race and the Demon Kingdom, she obtained the usage rights for it.
However, once she secured the rights, a problem arose. The uninhabited island wasn't actually uninhabited; an Ancient Demon was living there. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say she was sealed there.
Urza encountered this Ancient Demon while performing a final check of the island. Apparently, they had a discussion. That discussion had dragged on, which was why her return and her report were delayed.
I see. That made sense. My eyes softened at the thought of Urza looking for an island just for me.
The Ancient Demon Urza met was a woman named Yame. When I asked Bulga, an Ancient Demon living in the village, it turned out they were acquaintances...
"Ah—you woke her up, did you? Um, please try not to do anything too cruel to her."
Bulga had a very complicated expression.
"Also, if you could please not scold Urza-san."
"Eh?"
"I'm fairly sure she must have punched her at least once before the discussion started."
"Punched her?"
"It's like a ritual before you can speak with her."
Was it like how Lana said you had to challenge her if you wanted to know her name?
"It is something like that."
I-I see. Well then, I wouldn't scold Urza for that.
Incidentally, Stifano, the other Ancient Demon in the village, was taking a nap with Rusty's child, Kukulkan. I asked Stifano about it after she woke up, and she gave me a similar answer.
Urza's return would be a little while longer. She said that once she was back, she would take me to the uninhabited island.
Thank you, Urza.
The autumn fields had already been tilled. I would be happy to go.
To that end, I needed to finish up the tasks at hand.
First, there were the many units of multi-purpose humanoid mobile heavy equipment—the Artie Horses—and their related equipment given to me by Lana. I had been planning to think about this after consulting with Urza, but...
Come to think of it, how would they be transported? Even if dragons carried them, the Artie Horses were huge. One unit per trip would likely be the limit. Would they have to fly back and forth?
When I asked Dose, he said the Ancient Demons serving the Dragon Race would take care of it somehow. I wondered what "somehow" meant, but as long as it worked out, I supposed it was fine.
For the time being, the transport of the Artie Horses and their accessories would have to wait a little. I hoped it wasn't causing trouble for the people over there. Dose said it was fine, but since the ones managing the site were likely Ancient Demons, I should prepare some of the crops harvested in the summer as compensation for the trouble.
Oh, and if possible, I wanted the pilot suits and other related items sent to the village first. Yor was being noisy about it, and if they arrived too late, Zabuton would already be in hibernation.
Next, I visited the production factory in Village Five.
Operations were going smoothly, but I made it a point to go there for regular checks. This wasn't because I didn't trust the Angels I'd entrusted with managing the production factory, but rather to show that I wasn't just leaving them to do everything or neglecting them. Marubit, the Angel Race Leader, had also told me that such an attitude was important.
Of course, I didn't just visit the production factory; I also showed my face at Kuro and Yuki, Cafe Blue, Korin Sweets Shop, Noodle Shop Buritoa, Sake & Meat Niz, Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi, Delzen Papermaking, Delzen Printing, and the Prada Art Museum.
Kinesta, the Acting Shop Manager of Kuro and Yuki and a former Imperial Princess of the Elf Empire, remarked that it was rare for me to visit. Even Niz said the same thing. I really should try to show my face more often.
After finishing my rounds, I received a request for advice—or rather, a report of a problem—in Village Five.
It was from the noodle-draining golem. Actually, I might as well call it the Ramen Golem now. Since it could now do more than just drain noodles—it could make the soup, the sauce, and the noodles—it had become capable of making a bowl of ramen by itself from start to finish.
As expected, there were limits to its self-training, so it had accepted improvements from Lu, Tia, and the Mountain Elves to enhance its performance. New functions had been added. The only things it couldn't do were buying ingredients, serving, washing dishes, cleaning the shop, and handling the payment. In the future, it might even become integrated with a shop to provide ramen.
Since the consultation was from such a Ramen Golem, I thought it wanted even more functions, but I was wrong.
Um...
In Village Five, whenever the topic of ramen came up, there was one person who always appeared: the Ramen Queen. She was one of Yuri's friends; "Queen" was just a nickname and not an official title. However, because of her love and obsession with ramen, everyone recognized her as the Queen.
A few days ago, the Ramen Golem had served ramen to the Ramen Queen, but she apparently hadn't been satisfied. The golem was now worried about why that was.
Hmm.
Still, I’d tasted its work too, and I thought it wasn't bad at all. I wondered what the Ramen Queen had found lacking? If she said it lacked originality because it had the same composition as the shop manager's ramen, that would be a problem.
Anyway, I thought about going to ask the Ramen Queen, and she happened to be nearby.
"It was very delicious," she said.
Oh, was it?
"It was even more delicious than the ramen made by the shop manager."
I wished she wouldn't say things like that. Look, the manager was depressed now. I’d have to console him later.
"Um, so, why weren't you satisfied then?"
"Because it had no soul."
"...Soul?"
"Yes."
"Soul?"
"Soul."
I looked at the golem. It was the one who had made the dish.
"I know the golem made it. I was watching. But it doesn't matter to me who made it or how. I ate the ramen that was served, and I didn't feel a soul. That is all."
Ah, I see. I thought I got the gist of what she was saying, but I asked if she could be a little more specific about the part where she didn't feel a soul.
"There is no need for that. It seems the golem has understood."
The Ramen Queen said that and walked away.
The Ramen Golem was left behind, utterly devastated. It felt that it had focused too much on polishing its ramen-making techniques and hadn't been looking at the customers. It had started working at the ramen shop because it wanted to be recognized by the craftsmen it had competed against. But after being praised by those around it, before it knew it, it had become a golem that was simply showing off its skills.
Ah, how foolish.
Now, now, I knew it was shocked, but I had to tell it not to swing its noodle basket around and splash hot water everywhere.
"Mr. Manager, run away! The hot water's going to hit you!"
For the time being, the Ramen Golem reflected on its actions. Then, it decided to start over from scratch and focused on draining noodles. However, it did ask for one new function: vocalization.
"Welcome!"
"Please take a seat over here."
"What would you like to order?"
"Understood."
"Sorry to keep you waiting. It's hot. Please take your time and enjoy."
"Thank you very much! We look forward to seeing you again."
It could only say set phrases, but the Ramen Golem began to interact with the customers. I didn't know if this would put a soul into the ramen, but if the Ramen Golem wanted to do it, I wouldn't stand in its way. Besides, it was nice and lively to have some voices in the shop.
And beside the Ramen Golem, the manager was seriously honing his own ramen-making skills, determined not to be beaten.
The reputation of the ramen shop where the Ramen Golem worked seemed to have gone up a bit.
Dose: "The Village Head isn't the type to cause trouble on purpose. No need to worry so much."
Shiso-sama: "As long as no one finds out he's Alfred's father, we might manage."
Dose: "Ah... that’ll be difficult. He was invited there, after all."
Shiso-sama: "And if his words or actions make people think he’s on the side of the Demon Kingdom..."
Dose: "Your country might be able to handle it, but..."
Shiso-sama: "Being treated as a VIP of the Korin Religion brings its own problems..."
Dose: "Mmm."
Shiso-sama: "And the Village Head would have guards, right?"
Dose: "Hm? Well, going without them is out of the question."
Shiso-sama: "If it’s the usual group, the guards would be Gulf, Daga, and Reginleiv."
Dose: "That’s right."
Shiso-sama: "Guards consisting of a beastman, a lizardman, and an angel in a human kingdom..."
Dose: "Ah."
Shiso-sama: "If the locals just ignore them, fine, but they'll either come to mock them or try to suck up to them..."
Dose: "I see nothing but a future full of conflict."
Shiso-sama: "...I need your cooperation."
Dose: "Understood."
Youko: "I wonder when the Village Head is coming to the Village Council?"
Village Head: "It lacks soul." (I just wanted to say it).
Mountain Elf: "I think we’d just be in trouble if the ramen started moving on its own?"