༺ Master ༻
‘It’s quieter than I thought.’
May in the northern command is a brief time when the snow melts.
When the snow melts, it becomes water.
Unpaved dirt roads become muddy when water accumulates.
It was only natural for shoes to be covered in mud just 30 minutes after leaving the grand duchy.
It must have been difficult to pave roads throughout the vast Winterfell Grand Duchy.
The roads that are only laid inside the grand duchy and at certain distances must be due to resource or technical limitations.
Regardless, even though my steps sunk deeply into the muddy road, they felt light.
‘Indeed, it’s full of romance.’
Being possessed in the medieval era was something I always wanted to experience.
It wasn’t anything special, really.
I wanted to walk the streets, try the food there, and smell the scents of the streets.
For me, who longed for the life of a romantic mercenary rather than the rigid life of a noble, a rustic meal laid out on a humble wooden table was more appealing than a fancy meal on an elegant dining cloth.
Rather than walking on the marble floors of a palace-like mansion surrounded by servants, I wanted to walk the dense forest paths with like-minded companions.
Of course, if this were a historically accurate medieval era filled with slaughter and barbarity rather than adventure and romance, it would be a different story, but this world is a medieval ‘fantasy’ novel.
A fantasy world infused with modern conveniences and tastes is bound to contain the romance modern people desire.
‘Well, there will still be some wildness left.’
A genre filled with only romance wouldn’t be romantic anymore.
Like light needs darkness, romance requires a fair compromise with the realities of the wild.
The underside of the medieval era.
War and hunting.
There were remnants of wars with the goblin tribes and monsters in the Northern Command, and signs of the barbaric witch hunts were also seen.
Yet, I felt more romance than disgust, because it didn’t seem all that different from the 21st century I lived in.
In the medieval times, these aspects were simply more visible, while in the modern era, they were hidden but present nonetheless.
Wars driven by ideological conflicts and the pursuit of military profits never ended, and with the rise of community platforms, false information led to manipulation, fabrication, and witch hunts continued as before.
Hatred and conflict merely changed form to suit the environment.
That’s why I didn’t feel repulsion or revulsion.
‘People live the same everywhere.’
Children splashing and laughing in puddles formed from the melted snow.
Adults watching those children and laughing heartily.
Delinquents plotting in the corners of the alleys.
Merchants struggling with their carts stuck in mudholes, people helping to push those carts, and others stealing fallen goods and running away.
The street was lively and vibrant as I had hoped, making even the mere act of walking feel like healing, filled with freedom and adventure.
Maybe that’s why.
“This place is truly wonderful.”
I blurted out my admiration, momentarily forgetting Rachel’s presence behind me.
And then, I heard a response to my muttering.
“Is this your first time in the Northern Command?”
Unlike others who maintained silence, Rachel, undaunted by Elden, the berserker, easily started a conversation.
A question she could ask because she wasn’t afraid of Elden.
I gladly responded.
“Yeah. You?”
“I have been here before for training.”
“How was it then?”
“It was quite bad. It was during the war with the goblin tribes. There were corpses everywhere, and screams filled the air.”
Glancing back, I saw Rachel scanning the cityscape with a look of unique nostalgia.
Although her feelings were different from mine, sharing a similarly nuanced sentiment felt good.
“How is it now?”
“It looks much better. My training was partly for this reason, but jumping into the battlefield was also for the sake of the Northern Command.”
“I see. You must be proud.”
“That’s an overstatement. I only played the role of a mere soldier; I did not contribute to the current peace.”
“Every little bit of help adds up to a great amount. You should be proud.”
“…Thank you.”
I was fully enjoying the long-awaited romance.
However, just walking the streets made the peak of romance feel somewhat low.
It would be a shame to end it here.
If one dreams of the romance of a medieval fantasy, one must dive into their world.
It was a bit early for lunch, but a light snack would suffice.
“Rachel, could I ask you to guide me then?”
Her experience staying in the Northern Command was perfect for this task.
“Guide, you say?”
“Yes. It seems like you’ve stayed here long enough, and it would be a shame to return just like that, don’t you think?”
“Understood. Please follow me.”
Huh?
I hadn’t mentioned a destination, but Rachel quickly stepped forward, leading the way confidently.
“Why are you going? I didn’t mention a destination.”
Rachel stopped abruptly and looked at me as if asking why I would question the obvious.
And when she mentioned the destination, I had to press my forehead beneath my hood.
“To go to the brothel, we must head to West 18th Street.”
………Hmm.
Living as Elden Rapellion.
‘It’s not easy.’
**
[Gavinna Restaurant]
After correcting the destination, I arrived at a restaurant with Rachel.
It was my first visit to a restaurant after being possessed into another world, and it was exactly the kind of romantic place I had hoped for.
The bustling atmosphere, the faint smell of meat cooking, the clinking of glasses, the hearty, combat-like laughter, and the dart games and arm-wrestling matches happening in the corner.
It was a place that encapsulated romance, and we sat on the edge of it.
“…This doesn’t seem quite right.”
“If there’s no other seat, if it’s difficult to face each other while eating, then move to the side seat.”
“I will stay here.”
The debate over seating arrangements ended quickly.
I had dragged Rachel inside, not wanting to eat alone at the place she recommended.
She had to be well-fed to perform her escort duties well, after all.
The problem was there was only one seat, and to solve it, Rachel sat opposite me.
Soon, the ordered dishes arrived.
It was the ‘Red Longer Tail Stew’ recommended by Rachel.
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but marvel.
Saliva involuntarily filled my mouth.
The Red Longer Tail Stew was a dish that could only be experienced in a medieval fantasy, using monsters as ingredients.
It was a pig-like monster called the Red Longer.
Moreover, monster meat was considered a lowly ingredient, only accessible in the commoner areas due to the repulsion its grotesque appearance caused.
Thus, it was an ingredient that naturally filled me with romantic fervor.
Indeed, a luxurious dish prepared by a noble family’s chef was great, but in a medieval fantasy, one must enjoy such rustic dishes.
I was about to scoop up some of the stew with a spoon when Rachel’s gaze made me look up.
“…?”
“Please retract your order. If someone sees, it will severely damage your reputation.”
…A blot like that wouldn’t even show on Elden Rapellion’s reputation.
I tapped the hood I was wearing with the spoon.
“Dining with a count’s son and his escort will go unnoticed if you just keep quiet.”
“But still….”
“Eat.”
“Yes.”
Romance was about to enter my mouth.
After sharply rebuking her, I hurriedly began to devour the romantic dish.
“Ah, this is really good.”
“The flavor improves when dipped in the sauce.”
“Really?”
I quickly grabbed a piece of the tail meat with my hand and dipped it into the sauce.
The chewy texture of the meat and the slightly salty yet sweet flavor met with the slightly sour and refreshingly lemony sauce, creating a heavenly match.
It was delicious.
Truly delicious.
The flavor that filled my mouth stimulated the salivary glands, causing amylase to be secreted indiscriminately.
My eyebrows twisted into a W shape, and my head nodded like a bobblehead doll in approval.
It was a flavor that made me feel like I should embark on a culinary journey immediately.
Especially since the dish consisted only of meat scooped from the tail and the thick broth, without any vegetables, yet such a taste was achieved with this plain-looking sauce. It seemed a chef worthy of a noble house was hidden here.
After sending praises toward the kitchen, I gulped down the meal to finish it.
The first meal was a perfect score, making me look forward to the second.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t visit again in the evening because leaving the grand duchy was prohibited, and there was a meeting to kick off the final evaluation tomorrow at lunch.
It would be difficult to visit this place again for a while.
I placed the bowl, cleaned of even its broth, down.
“This is truly a delicacy. I could eat it every day without getting tired of it.”
“I was worried since you usually avoid monster cuisine, but I’m glad.”
“To think I’ve been missing out on such excellent flavor, it’s lamentable.”
I lightly washed my hands in the prepared water bowl.
The meal was perfect, deserving full marks.
I even wanted to visit again in the evening to try other monster cuisines.
The absolute expectation of what dishes made from monsters inhabiting different regions would taste like.
Especially since medieval fantasy works have very distinct regional characteristics.
It was natural for a plan for a culinary journey to form in my mind.
‘I can’t let this pass.’
Indeed.
Being possessed into a romance-filled medieval fantasy and confining myself to a tedious mansion is almost criminal, and spending time in fierce competition with noble sons and daughters is utterly wrong.
The plan for a culinary journey formed in my mind.
I looked at Rachel with a smile, making her a bit confused.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You have a task starting tomorrow.”
“What task is that?”
To embark on a romantic culinary journey across the country, one must become a versatile fighter, not just a mindless combat fanatic.
Especially since escort knight Rachel has the potential of a romantic magic swordsman, capable of infusing magic into her sword.
“Become my teacher.”
“…Pardon?”
Rachel was certainly qualified.
