One by one, the weary children and the drunken adults returned to their homes. As the night deepened, the festival finally drew to a close. The Village Chief and I walked down to the shore to see the Count and his entourage off.
"This is far enough. I had a great time today. Thank you," the Count said.
"The pleasure was ours, milord. The villagers were truly delighted," the Village Chief replied.
"I’m glad to hear it."
A smile played across the Count's face, but then he swayed unsteadily for a moment.
"Oops... it seems I overindulged a bit today. Ryoma-kun."
"Yes, milord?"
"I’d like to sober up a little before I board the boat. Would you mind keeping me company for a chat?"
"Of course."
"Thank you. Village Chief?"
"I shall take my leave then. At my age, the bite of the night wind is a bit much for my bones."
"I see. My apologies. Pigu, it shouldn’t take me long to clear my head. Go ahead and start preparing the boat with the others."
"As you wish, milord."
The Village Chief headed back to the village, while Pigu and the other three attendants moved off to get the boat ready.
Only the Count and I remained on the beach.
With nothing but the sound of the wind and the waves for company, the Count took a long, deep breath.
"Whew... the night air feels wonderful. Oh, are you cold, Ryoma-kun? As you can see, I’ve got this extra insulation, so this is just right for me."
"I’m fine, thank you. If it really gets cold, I can always use barrier magic."
"Ah, that’s right."
He chuckled jovially, patting his stomach.
"As I said earlier, I truly enjoyed myself today. Thank you for the marvelous spread."
"You’re very welcome."
"I was so focused on the food that I forgot to bring it up, but we haven't discussed the reward for the catering request yet. Is there anything in particular you want?"
"Now that you mention it... but I thought the request for recipes was a general call put out across the territory? Shouldn't there be a fixed reward?"
"This covers the Ash-dried Fish and the preparation methods for those three toxic species that were considered inedible. It’s all part of the same bundle. Regarding the Gyoza as well—I can’t simply pay you for a single recipe when you’ve provided enough information to potentially build entire new industries. If other nobles caught wind of it, they’d laugh at me for being unable to provide a fair assessment or proper compensation.
To be perfectly frank, starting something new always incurs costs. While I don't mind paying in cash, you don't seem particularly motivated by money. If I can provide something of equal value that’s more convenient for you, it would actually be easier on my end as well."
That made sense. Reinhardt and Pioro had both mentioned that techniques were treasures. Still, the Count was being surprisingly blunt.
"Something I want... Let me think. I suppose the most important thing would be ensuring that the cooking methods and safety precautions for the toxic fish are thoroughly publicized."
I was only able to serve them safely today because I could use my massive mana pool to spam Appraisal Magic and have the Poison Slimes perform double-checks.
"After all, it’s a fact that they’re dangerous."
"The villagers should be well aware of the danger. Even the children have been strictly warned about those fish by their parents since they were small. If anything, it might be harder to get them to accept that they can be eaten."
That was true. The festival atmosphere might have helped today, but even then, only a handful of villagers actually tried them. Among the three toxic types, the Eel-like fish was the most popular. It had the fragrance of Kabayaki going for it, and as Niki-kun said, people would eat it if there was nothing else available during a poor harvest.
The Scorpionfish-like one came in second. As for the Pufferfish, which carried the strongest toxin, most people just watched from a distance. It was the least popular by far.
Just as people outside the Fatma Territory refused to eat Octa or Water Spiders, it was common sense here that you didn't touch Eel, Scorpionfish, or Pufferfish. That sentiment seemed especially strong among the older generation.
"The villagers who learned the taste today will need to be careful, but I already cautioned the Village Chief about that earlier. New knowledge and technology are always shadowed by risks—misunderstanding, recklessness, or misuse. But if we simply reject them out of fear, there can be no growth or progress.
You’ve given us knowledge that could truly enrich the lives of my people. As such, it is the duty of a ruler to provide the necessary guidance and management to ensure that knowledge is used correctly. I will see to it that regulations are drafted and that instructions on preparation are strictly enforced."
Seeing the Count speak with such resolve made me feel like I could truly trust him.
"In that case, please take this."
I reached into my Item Box and handed him a bundle of papers.
"Are these the cooking methods?"
"They’re the records from my experiments. For example, regarding the fish I called the Eel—my observations showed its sharp teeth and bone structure were similar to a fish I know called the Pike Conger. I also noted that a single day wasn't enough for mud-purging; the fish still tasted like dirt. Two days showed a significant improvement, and so on. It’s a summary of everything I found.
I’ve already shown the Head Chef how to fillet and cook them, but this contains everything from the research process. Some of it might not be directly necessary, and there are details in here I haven't mentioned to the chef yet, so I hope it proves useful."
"This is an incredible help! I’ll take it gladly... though, this just means I’ve profited even further. We still haven't settled on your reward."
"Ah."
Well, I suppose that could just be a bonus.
"In that case... I know! Count, would it be alright if I took some of the Bamboo growing near the hot spring hut?"
I remembered the Count talking about bamboo shoots the other day. Bamboo could be used for charcoal making or bamboo crafting. It was a versatile plant if managed well. I could just set aside a dedicated space for it somewhere in the mine.
The Count stared at me for a few seconds before letting out a sigh.
"You really are a modest one. Bamboo is growing everywhere, as you saw the other day. It was just sitting there neglected anyway, so take as much as you like. Is there nothing else?"
Hmm. If I had to pick something else, maybe money? But that felt a bit dull. If there was anything else of value...
"I heard that the Fatma Territory is known for its pottery as well as its fish."
"Indeed. We have excellent clay here. Do you want ceramics?"
When I was cooking in the village, I’d noticed some earthenware pots that looked very practical. I wanted to buy a few to take back. Since wooden and metal containers were the norm in Gimul, they might be appreciated as novelties. I figured I’d buy some extras and bring them to Serge-san’s shop.
If I found a particularly nice piece, it might even look good in my shop's reception room. Unfortunately, I had no eye for the arts, so I wouldn't really know a masterpiece from a common pot.
"If that’s the case, I’ll present you with a vase from my mansion. It’s quite valuable, so it should look fine in your shop. I’ll also introduce you to a potter I trust. You should buy your souvenirs and merchandise there. It’s an honest shop, and the owner will be happy to give you advice."
As soon as I explained my thoughts, he offered to handle everything!
"Thank you very much."
"Don't mention it. This is a fair reward for someone who fulfilled my request. Besides, Reinhardt asked me to look after you."
"That may be so, but I’m still grateful."
"Hehe... That reminds me. Do you remember what I told you about my relationship with Reinhardt?"
"Yes. You were his senior at the academy. You said he lived a restricted life because people viewed him through the lens of being Reinbach-sama’s son."
"Exactly. My father achieved great things with the roads in this land, but Reinbach-sama’s accomplishments are in another league entirely. The pressure of being his successor must have been staggering. And more than anything, the Ducal House has many enemies."
"I can imagine."
"Noble society is a mess of backstabbing and factional strife; that’s just the way of the world. The jealousy and resentment are beyond count."
It was a classic story.
"Of course, the Jamil name carries immense history and power. Between that and Reinbach-sama’s personal prestige and his contract with a Divine Beast, no one would be foolish enough to pick a fight with them openly—at least not while the old man is still around. However... recently, I’ve been hearing frequent rumors that Reinhardt’s territory is in a state of turmoil."
"What?!"
"The man is brilliant. In our student days, he was always a top-five student in every subject. But those grades were built on effort that was several times greater than anyone else’s. He isn't... what you’d call a natural genius. I don't mean he's incompetent or lacks talent, of course. No, that’s not quite what I’m trying to say."
The Count hesitated, looking up at the night sky for a few seconds before continuing.
"This isn't as a noble, nor is it a request. This is a personal wish from me, Polko. Could you please support Reinhardt as much as you can? He is capable, but no one can manage a territory alone. Above all, he’s the sort of man who tends to brood and try to carry every burden on his own shoulders."
"Is that so?"
"Oh? You look surprised."
A little. Being told not to bottle things up and to rely on others was actually advice Reinhardt had been giving me.
When I told him that, the Count burst into laughter.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Snort!"
He went into another one of his fits.
"S-sorry. But, hee-hee. I see... so he’s the one telling you to 'rely on others' now? Things change after graduation, I suppose, but has he really fixed that habit of his? He nearly broke under the pressure back in the day. Perhaps he’s speaking from his own painful experience. Haha."
The Count’s mood seemed to lighten, and he nodded with a smile.
"Well, I can rest easy if he has people around him he can trust. Even more so if you’re one of them. After working with you, I’ve realized that you see the world a bit differently than we do. You have a vast range of knowledge. It’s no wonder Reinhardt wants to keep you close. If he hadn't warned me off in his letter, I’d be tempted to hire you myself."
I was about to say I was honored, but then his expression shifted.
"However, that is exactly why you need to be careful."
The jovial atmosphere vanished, replaced by a serious look as he peered directly at me.
"I told you before that I intended to request your help because I’d 'heard rumors of the Sage of Barley Tea.' That alone means that even if people don't know you’re 'Ryoma-kun the adventurer from Gimul,' word about you is starting to spread. If someone gets curious and starts digging, they can find out who you are, just as I did by questioning the Semroid Troupe or sending men to investigate.
Reinhardt has warned me off, so I have no intention of prying into your past or your secrets... but there are plenty of people in this world who will turn to villainy the moment they see a profit. Not every noble is like me or Reinhardt."
He’d said it so casually—"what you have done until now." I got the feeling the Count knew more than he let on. And despite that, he was giving me this warning.
"Thank you for the advice. I’ll be careful."
"Good. Since you’re close to Reinhardt, don't be afraid to make use of his authority."
With that, he gave a massive stretch.
"Well, I think I’ve sobered up enough. Staying out too long isn't good for the health."
As if he’d said everything he came to say, the Count began preparing to head out. It occurred to me that he might have made this time specifically to give me that warning. I was truly grateful for the consideration.
"Oh, that’s right, Ryoma-kun. When are you heading back to Gimul?"
I needed to prepare for the journey and buy souvenirs for everyone back home. Also, I’d been putting it off because of the festival, but I still had to catch a Mad Slime. I’d originally planned to stay for a few more days.
However, the talk about turmoil in Reinhardt’s territory was worrying. I’d left the shop in Calm-san’s capable hands, and Fei-san and the others were there for security, so it should be fine, but... I decided to move up my schedule as much as I reasonably could.
"I’ll finish my preparations tomorrow. If all goes well, I should be able to leave the day after."
"I see. In that case, I’ll put in a word with the potter first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll leave the vase from my house there as well, so you can pick it up at the shop. The year-end is the social season, and we have a lot of work ahead of us."
"I understand. Thank you for making time for me despite your schedule. I appreciate everything you’ve done."
"The pleasure was mine. Until next time."
The Count gave me the name of the pottery shop and stepped onto the pier. He boarded the boat and began his journey back across the lake.