My name was Ridley.
Ridley Baker-Maka.
I was one of the Seventeen Candidates for the leadership of the Dalfon Company.
Whenever the Representative of the Dalfon Company was away, I was the one responsible for taking command if anything occurred within the Royal Capital.
That being said, in essence, I was little more than a housesitter. I rarely interfered in the quarrels or rivalries between the other candidates, and it was even rarer for anything noteworthy to happen in the Royal Capital at all.
Until that rare something actually happened.
Apparently, several candidates had been concealing a Lich within the Royal Capital. Furthermore, they had ignored official notices from the Royal Castle and laid hands on a high-ranking VIP. When an invitation was sent to reconcile with that VIP, they launched a night attack instead.
One of the candidates, Lulusa, attempted to fight a defensive battle but was defeated in the blink of an eye. The reinforcements that arrived late defected to the other side without even drawing their swords.
Lulusa was currently in custody.
The Dalfon Company was finished.
That was what I had thought, but somehow, things had been managed. Perhaps it was a reward for my daily conduct. I made a mental note to offer a generous donation to the Church in the near future.
The following day.
I found myself within the grounds of the Galgard Noble Academy. I had been invited to a Dinner Party hosted by the older brother of the VIP I had been in conflict with—Lady Tiselle.
Personally, I would have preferred to decline, but the agenda included a discussion with Lord Randan regarding the food production and pricing in the Demon Kingdom—matters the Dalfon Company had traditionally overseen. I simply could not afford to be absent.
As it turned out, I was the first to arrive. That was only natural, as I had shown up two hours before the scheduled time. While arriving so early was generally a breach of etiquette, I had contacted Lady Tiselle beforehand and received her permission. I felt it was absolutely necessary to apologize to Lady Tiselle’s brother for the Dalfon Company’s blunders before the festivities officially began.
Lady Tiselle’s brother was Lord Alfred. Her older sister was Lady Urza.
Unlike Lady Tiselle, both of them seemed remarkably composed and level-headed, which was a great relief. Not only did they accept my apology, but they also showed genuine concern for my well-being.
Had Lady Tiselle caused me trouble?
No, no, not at all. Yes, I was perfectly fine. Truly. Why were they so suspicious? Please, do stop trying to hand me money. Nuisance money? No, I hadn't been inconvenienced in the slightest. It was—it was entirely unnecessary.
After a bit of back-and-forth, I finally felt at ease. Now, all that remained was the daunting prospect of speaking with Lord Randan.
To be honest, I had never had an audience with Lord Randan before. I was incredibly nervous. He was a master domestic administrator who had single-handedly rebuilt the politics and economy of the Demon Kingdom from the brink of chaos. I had heard he was a cold, ruthless man—someone who would cast aside even the Four Heavenly Kings if he deemed them unnecessary. I had to do everything in my power to ensure the Dalfon Company was not seen as redundant.
The other participants for the Dinner Party began to arrive one after another.
First, the Demon King.
Why? I mean, I knew he was a gregarious man who interacted with commoners through baseball, but was he the sort of person who would show up just because he was invited to a student residence? No, surely he was someone who wasn't supposed to be here at all.
And then, the Demon King’s wife. The mysterious consort who never appeared at important diplomatic functions—why was she here?
Next was Count Chrome. A heavyweight among heavyweights, said to handle the entire diplomacy of the Demon Kingdom on his own.
Then came General Gratz, the man who supported the front lines with his legendary resourcefulness.
And Minister Leg, the financial official who managed the kingdom's entire economy.
Finally, Lord Randan arrived.
The Demon King, his wife, and all of the Four Heavenly Kings gathered in one place? Wait. I had been told this was a Dinner Party, but was this actually a high-level summit that would decide the fate of the Demon Kingdom?
As I sat there in a state of utter bewilderment, General Gratz spoke up.
"It really is a bit cramped in here. I'll head outside."
Eh? Wait, excuse me. That was a line I should have been the one to say.
"I—I'll be the one to go outside, so..."
"No need. As you can see, I'm of the Minotaur Race. My body is simply too large for this room."
With that, General Gratz stepped out. I felt terrible. Truly, deeply sorry. Even now, I felt I should follow him out...
But just as I was about to ask Lady Tiselle for permission, I was led directly before the Demon King.
"This is Ridley. She's one of the Seventeen Candidates for the Dalfon Company. She's my friend."
"I see. Tiselle’s friend, is she? In that case, she is my friend as well. I look forward to your acquaintance."
I... I... I... I actually received words from the Demon King himself! Moreover, a friend? I was now a friend of the Demon King?
"Uncle Demon King, Ridley is my friend, so you aren't allowed to take her."
"Hahaha. One can never have too many friends. Isn't that right, Ridley?"
I could only let out a silent, internal scream.
By the time I regained my senses, the Dinner Party had already begun. I wondered if I had managed to give a proper greeting. Let's see...
Placed before me was a Pork Katsu Set Meal. It was the same dish served at Big Roof Shashato in Shashato City. I had never eaten it before, but the rumors were legendary. It was said to be incredibly delicious. The secret to the flavor was the thick, dark Pork Katsu Sauce. Dozens of merchants had supposedly tried to steal the recipe, yet not a single one had managed to replicate it. I never dreamed I would be able to taste it here.
And apparently, one could even specify the cut, such as Fillet or Loin. I hadn't heard that such options were available at Big Roof Shashato. Cheese-wrapped Pork Katsu? Asparagus-wrapped Pork Katsu? I asked for one of each. As for the one they called Menchi Katsu... well, I decided to have one of those as well. It paired perfectly with the rice.
We were using chopsticks for the meal. Chopsticks had recently begun to trend in various circles as an alternative to the knife and fork. I was glad I had practiced them so as not to fall behind the times. The Demon King and the others were using them quite naturally as well, which was a bit of a surprise.
Once one grew accustomed to chopsticks, their convenience was remarkable. Of course, that only applied to dishes suited for them. There were certainly foods that were difficult to handle with sticks, just as there were foods that were difficult to eat with a knife and fork. It would have been boorish to argue which was superior.
Midway through the meal, General Gratz, who had stayed outside, sent in an offering of meat and vegetable skewers. They looked hearty and rustic, and they were glazed in Soy Sauce. So, even here, they used the Soy Sauce handled by the Goroun Company. The Dalfon Company could not afford to lose this competition. I knew I had to search for some kind of new seasoning to counter them.
While sipping my post-meal tea, I reflected on the food. It had been magnificent. Until that moment, I had considered myself someone who sought out gourmet experiences, but I realized I had been conceited. I resolved that I had to visit Big Roof Shashato at least once. No, it would simply be an incidental stop while I happened to be traveling to Village Five. Purely incidental.
Now that the meal was finished, the gathering seemed ready to disperse—
Wait! That was close! Lady Tiselle was about to speak to Lord Randan. I quickly moved to stop her.
"Do you have some business with me?"
Lord Randan was staring at me, since I was the one holding Lady Tiselle back. He was terrifying. My grip on Lady Tiselle’s arm involuntarily loosened under his gaze.
"Uncle Randan. Regarding the food production and price adjustments in the Demon Kingdom that the Dalfon Company is in charge of... I heard there's a problem."
Nooooooooo! You mustn't say the word "problem"!
"I cannot let that pass unheard. Pray, tell me the details."
Lord Randan had taken the bait.
"I shall listen as well," Minister Leg added.
It was over. It was completely and utterly over. Goodbye, Dalfon Company, to which I had dedicated my entire youth!