Angry Curry Rice - Part Three

Alturia, which I govern, is originally a snowy region difficult for people to inhabit.

Our great ancestors opened up the path, and by somehow securing the concessions and excavation of magic crystal stones and mineral resources, this land became able to support human life. As long as we have magic crystal stones, we can build houses and create heating appliances and mining tools with magi-engineering.

In that way, when it became possible to avoid the worst-case scenario of freezing to death so that people could survive for the time being, the procurement of food arose as the next issue.

This land is a region buried in snow all year round. Cultivating crops is extremely difficult. For hunting animals, the number of beasts is small and violent, so securing food was an issue in any case.

There, what we set our sights on was the technology of magi-engineering, which had accumulated research and study since our ancestors.

By putting effort into the cultivation of magi-technicians and the buying and selling of magic crystal stones, it became possible to negotiate on equal terms with the territories of other countries, and the importation of food also became possible.

A daily life without hunger and without freezing that finally arrived.

At that time, what threatened me was a single kitchen knife.

On that day, an audience with the Gungrave Mercenary Band was coming up.

The Gungrave Mercenary Band. The more I hear about them, the more abominable a group they are.

Last year’s war. Those fellows took the enemy’s side and participated in the battle.

At that time, the war situation of the battle where we had the upper hand was overturned by a single woman.

Arius. A user of magic called the “Witch of Grand Flames” and the like in the streets.

That woman used a spell similar to a divine technique that melted all the snow on the mountain with a single spell.

Magic of overwhelming firepower, and a scheme that forced a battle on a grassy plain upon us who were accustomed to snowy plains.

And the instant it became a grassy plain, which those fellows unused to snowy plains were skilled at, they became lively.

We had no choice but to retreat.

Fortunately, though there was no claim for damages, it was a fact that the national treasury suffered damage due to the loss.

This time, those fellows will probably demand the sale of magic crystal stones from me.

I shall make them see what for.

“We have no magic crystal stones to sell to savages like you lot. Go back.”

I announced this to Gungrave as my opening words.

To those fellows who respectfully bowed their heads in the audience chamber.

“Please reconsider. It is necessary for our activities. As compensation…”

“Very well. As compensation, if you make the two women over there into my son’s female slaves, I will sell them to you.”

Naturally, I have no such intention in the slightest.

I have no intention to sell, nor do I have any intention to employ them.

At best, I shall just toy with them and send them back.

“Papa, I don’t want to embrace a rustic woman like that~”

“It is fine, my son. I will properly disinfect her with medicine, after all.”

My son of a plump physique, Fleud.

He is a cute eldest child born after I grew old, and I have given him sufficient knowledge.

Though he also has a troublesome spot of loving to eat sweet snacks.

To me, he is a beloved child.

“Lord, King Fleure. That argument lacks common sense to a degree. If neighboring royalty or lords learn of this, what kind of eyes will they look upon you with?”

Gungrave criticizes me, but that is reasonable.

Even I myself have the possibility of having my fault seized upon from the earlier remark.

However, it is that. I have the confidence that it will not be taken.

“In that case, we need only stop the sale of magic crystal stones to territories that look with such eyes. Because this territory possesses that much resources.”

Magic crystal stones well up infinitely.

The value of this territory allows no pursuit by others in that single point.

In both mining quantity and quality, this territory stands out by a head.

Therefore, territories that buy and sell magic crystal stones cannot ignore my words.

Nor can they sour my mood.

“Papa. I don’t want the small girl with the poor frame next to her.”

“Hmm, then you don’t mind the woman over there?”

At Fleud’s words, I answered with understanding.

To be sure, that small girl with the poor frame is not my objective.

The other woman.

If I steal Arius, it will serve as a bit of payback.

“That is how it is. If you hand over that woman to this side, we will sell about half the quantity at ten times the market price. It is not bad, right?”

I could not suppress a smile from surfacing.

Money, women, and pride as well.

I can steal them from this hateful man.

There is no choice but to call it delightful.

“Well, that is how it is. She is too country-bumpkin to give to my son, but I will settle for that woman.”

“…That is…”

“Gungrave…”

At Gungrave, who made a frustrated face, my self-esteem cleared up somewhat.

I cannot endure suppressing a smile.

Now, how shall I torment him from here?

When I thought so, that fellow came out.

“Hey, hey. Excuse me for a moment.”

With an attitude like a fool, one man stood up.

He did not have the physique of a soldier, but was a man of slender build. A man with a face of a weak impression, possessing rare black hair and black eyes.

I do not know who he is, but there is a limit to impudence!

“What are you, brat?”

Be that as it may, disturbing this venue any further touches upon the dignity of the king.

I ask in a voice striving to be calm, but containing anger.

“I am the cook of the Gungrave Mercenary Band, named Shuri. Forgive my rudeness, but one thing. The alluring sweet snack eaten by the prince, where did you obtain that?”

What talk is this suddenly?

I cannot understand. There is something that gets on my nerves, but I reply calmly here as well.

“…It is Niewbist. What about it?”

“No, no, just in case.”

Just in case, you say?

What did he want to confirm? Hearing Niewbist, what does he want to do?

At the words continued by the man who introduced himself as Shuri, I doubted my ears.

“Here, would you let me prepare a dish?”

Cooking.

He says to let him prepare a dish here.

This man certainly introduced himself as a cook.

However, what is he thinking by cooking here?

Besides, even though Alturia’s food self-sufficiency is low, this is the royal castle.

It is natural for court chefs to be present.

“Why must we have a dish prepared by a country cook like you?”

Is this man saying he can make something even more delicious than those court chefs?

Impossible. Besides, if poison is laced into it, it will be out of the question.

Or is it merely buying time?

While talking with me, is Gungrave devising a tactic to break through this situation?

However, Gungrave remains surprised and has not been able to act.

Thinking of it that way, is this man acting on his own judgment?

I do not know. I cannot read this man’s thoughts.

I cannot grasp the true motive of this aloof man.

“No, no, the prince’s sweet snack. I shall show you that I can transform it into an alluring dish that surpasses it.”

An alluring dish.

Words that smoothly entered inside my head.

In this land, supreme cooking possesses value that cannot be replaced by anything.

A dish prepared with ingenuity in this land where ingredients are limited would not be inferior even to dishes of other countries.

That man said he would make it using my son’s sweet snack.

“An alluring dish, you say?”

Did he come by means of culinary diplomacy?

Moreover, attaching the wording of an alluring dish.

I do not understand the man’s psychology.

However, I have an interest in that dish or whatever it is.

“Yes, potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat. That alone is sufficient. With just that, I shall prepare and present a dish many times more delicious than that sweet snack.”

Those ingredients are ingredients of our territory that can be obtained through trade.

All of them are popular, and the common people can purchase them as well.

With such ingredients of commoners, making a dish by combining sweet snacks, you say?

…He is looking down on us.

Despising us as monkeys of a snowy country, does he intend to win us over with a slightly eccentric dish?

Very well. I shall steal you from Gungrave as well.

“…Interesting. A meal with chocolate and those ingredients? Just try and show me. If it tastes bad, I will chop off both of those arms of yours.”

“Go right ahead. Then, I shall commence cooking.”

However, even with his arms at stake, this man does not show a shred of fear.

What is the meaning of this? Does he have that much confidence?

Looking at him, he took out a strange piece of paper and began cooking.

Chopping ingredients to handy sizes, he took out a strange powder from his chest and seared it.

Poison? I thought so, but it was different. The scent was different.

Poison basically loses its effect if seared. Even if it retained the effect of poison when seared, that poison would at best cause dizziness. In short, it is meaningless.

And the scent. What a fragrant scent. Unintentionally, saliva overflowed.

To that powder, whether he carried it around, he added butter, flour, and the like to add thickness.

And searing ingredients in a different pot, he added them to the earlier pot.

Throwing chocolate in there, stirring with a ladle, and closing the lid.

…I glanced at it, but the color…

“…What is that disgusting-colored dish?”

How should I put it, it was brown.

Even after adding that much powder, it was brown.

There was a limit to how eerie it was.

However, the man named Shuri remained unbothered with a calm face.

“Come, come, please have some here.”

“…Well, fine.”

Even without eating this, it seems both arms can be chopped off.

Gungrave. Since you brought this man to this venue, he must be a considerably important person.

I shall steal both of that man’s arms right here.

However, the instant Shuri opened the lid, that thought blew away somewhere.

“This is…!”

Neither I nor my son, or rather even Gungrave and the others behind could move.

Splendid. The scent was splendid.

Multiple kinds of seasonings combined, wrapping the audience chamber as an alluring scent.

That scent must have already spread to the corners of the room. With such intense momentum, the scent attacked.

However, there was no unpleasantness at all.

Even though I have not eaten it, my sense of taste is making a fuss.

Even though I am only smelling it, saliva is overflowing with great momentum.

“Here you go.”

“N-Ngh.”

I want to eat it. That alluring dish.

Transferred onto a plate, it was brown, but adorned with the red of carrots and the yellow of potatoes.

Looking closely, it was not merely brown.

It was a form where various seasonings were mixed together through a perfect blend and appropriate temperature control.

Forgetting even the taste testing, I carried that soup to my mouth.

“THIS IS…!!!”

What kind of taste is this?

Sweet. It is sweet.

However, it is not mere sweetness. It is spicy and sweet.

These two senses of taste that seem contradictory at first glance. This is a sweetness where the sweetness of honey and the spiciness of spices are exquisitely harmonized.

Tasting it carefully, spiciness is the main subject.

However, it is not an unpleasant spiciness where the tongue hurts.

A moderate stimulation. And a unique texture that smoothly wraps the whole mouth.

Carrying it to the mouth together with the ingredients, it transforms into supreme ingredients due to the soup clinging to those ingredients.

The meat, the carrots, and the potatoes.

All of them transform into splendid ingredients to the extent that I have never eaten before.

The spoon does not stop.

Such an exquisite flavor. I have never tasted it!

“Indeed. My skill with a kitchen knife is not to be thrown away either, is it?”

Saying so, looking at the kitchen knife Shuri presented, the blood drained from me.

That was the crest of the Niewbist Royal Family.

Possessing an item where this crest is used is limited to state guest-level figures, or those who are intimate with the royal family.

In short, it indicates that Shuri has his ability recognized by the Niewbist Royal Family, and is close to that royal family.

What that makes clear is a certain fact that in our Alturia’s territory.

That we insulted a mercenary band intimate with the Niewbist Royal Family.

In our Alturia territory, there are many countries that can be looked down upon in relation to magic crystal stones. In this era, if one does not possess many magic crystal stones, there are times when one cannot win a war.

An essential item in both magi-engineering and magic. Because there are territories that utilize them in the production of infantry weapons and armor, demand never ends. Because there are so many business partners that they rot.

However, Niewbist is different.

That country possesses a sacred forest.

Massive amounts of resources sleep in that forest, and magic crystal stones have also been discovered.

A peculiar territory where mana accumulates easily. And like our territory, they can be gathered infinitely.

And in food production, they jump out by two heads even compared to other territories.

In addition, they are also our country’s main food importing country.

A partner where the advantage of magic crystal stones does not work, and trade barely stands due to quality.

In terms of standing, we are lower.

Niewbist is the one place we cannot pick a fight with.

“U-Ugh…!!”

Could it be that confirming the chocolate at that time was to make us re-recognize that?

Did he also know that we hold connections with Niewbist and our standing is weak?

Does this dish perchance have some relation to the Niewbist Royal Family?

The spoon does not stop. It is too delicious to stop.

However, unless I stop it, it will end up showing a weakness to Niewbist.

If that happens, at worst, some kind of action might be launched by Niewbist.

“Here is some for the prince as well.”

“Mm!”

However, my son did not hold such thoughts, and received the presented plate with joy.

Even though you have to refuse stubbornly right here!

“It is delicious! For chocolate to become this delicious!”

“Thank you very much.”

“Papa! Rather than that woman, I want this cook!”

“T-That is…”

This foolish son! Taking the worst action!

When our country, which depends on food supply through trade with Niewbist, ended up recruiting the man Niewbist marked, there is no telling what will happen!

Before some kind of action is launched from that side, a move must be made.

“This can be made if you combine this powder with chocolate. I do not mind giving it to you.”

“Is that true?!”

“In exchange, we would like magic crystal stones, however.”

“Papa!”

“S-Silence! …What is your motive?”

Motive, in the end, I do not understand it.

Taking advantage of the relationship between Alturia and Niewbist, I must know what this man is trying to do.

I can hardly think it is a simple aim for magic crystal stones.

Curse it, no good. Because this soup is too delicious, my brain does not work.

What a devilish soup.

To weaken me to this extent…!

“That is why it is the magic crystal stones. Please part with them at the market price.”

Magic crystal stones at market price value.

For this man to use words like “the fair market price of magic crystal stones traded in the market.”

To hide “since we will stay quiet about your mistake, you will accommodate us by that amount, right.”

Curse it. No good.

At least, I have no choice but to make a final desperate struggle.

“…Understood. In exchange, drop the matter of my son trying to recruit you.”

I must erase even just the fact of having recruited him.

If that is absent, we can make excuses that this venue merely became entangled over magic crystal stone negotiations.

Having committed rudeness toward persons related to Niewbist can also be managed somehow.

Therefore, I must concentrate on erasing even just this fact.

If I do not, ruin awaits.

“Yes, I do not mind.”

However, Shuri agreed unexpectedly easily.

As if he did not understand the intention of this request.

Here, I realized that the one who did not understand was me.

This man is ultimately a member belonging to the Gungrave Mercenary Band.

His motive was not striking a blow to our country or anything of the sort.

He simply wanted magic crystal stones.

Showing the kitchen knife and drawing out the slip of the tongue as well.

All of it was a pose merely to make negotiations up to this point advantageous.

My standing, the country’s standing, and Shuri’s standing.

Manipulating, or concealing, or deceiving these three different relationships.

Did he lay down foreshadowing to deceive me?!

After Gungrave and the others left, I was frustrated to the point of wanting to hold my head.

When it ended, I was merely tricked in a favorable way and sold magic crystal stones.

Even though this side was on the offensive.

Where was it overturned?

It is decided. That man, who was like a fool.

The existence named Shuri.

Presumably, the reason the Gungrave Mercenary Band grew this large was not simply because their captain-class members became strong.

It was probably because a strategist and cook named Shuri was there.

With that much negotiation power, quick wits, culinary knowledge, and technique.

It can be easily predicted that he must have navigated through difficult situations with these.

Indeed, if he is a cook of that caliber, Niewbist would want to secure him as well.

Because Niewbist is rich in food, their culinary technology is also high.

The Niewbist Royal Family, who seemed to have eaten through those delicious delicacies, went out of their way to hand him a kitchen knife with an engraving and put him in a marked state.

I see, a man who does not betray that evaluation.

However, what is inexplicable is the man named Shuri who turned down recruitment despite receiving such favorable treatment.

What on earth is he thinking, disguising himself in a mercenary band and the like?

“…Is there a need for investigation?”

There is no telling when he will bare his fangs at Alturia again.

I must investigate that man.

“Lord Fleure! It is an emergency!”

“What is so noisy? I am in the middle of thinking.”

“That is! A pigeon arrived from the Niewbist side regarding trade revisions!”

“!? What is the meaning of this!”

“Apparently, it says only, ‘Regarding the improper contact and recruitment toward Shuri Azuma, who is intimate with our country. We shall take the form of trade sanctions on this side’!”

The information is too fast!

Why? Where did they learn that!?

“Could it be, a spy?!”

“Y-Yes. It seems the figure of one person among the guard unit has vanished suddenly!”

We were done in!

As long as it is our fault, an explanation must be made.

And many magic crystal stones will probably become necessary for the explanation.

That too will become proof that the future fate is decided to be held by that side.

Afterward, in the venue of negotiation, Lady Tebis, renowned as the “Gourmet Princess,” directly came over to this place.

In that venue of negotiation, that princess pulled out.

“Sanctions regarding improper recruitment” and “Insult toward a person intimate with royalty.”

If we reject it here, the food trade will not stand.

In the end, our side was forced to pay many magic crystal stones and reparation money.

---

This spectacle would come to be depicted as many books and plays in later generations.

A play overflowing with turmoil of the young Emperor Gungrave and Empress Arius.

Receiving improper treatment and having Empress Arius stolen, it becomes an action play of taking back the beloved woman with quick wits, wisdom, and courage.

This story was told holding many forms and interpretations, becoming popular among women of later generations.

However, regarding the quick wits of the “King of Food” Shuri Azuma, which was the correct historical understanding in this story, it was not told at all.

That was because Shuri Azuma appeared from a different perspective.

Emperor Gungrave, who had Empress Arius stolen and was submerged in grief.

Where Gungrave Emperor was depressed, Shuri Azuma made an appearance and punched his cheek once.

It had changed into a scene of reprimand,

“Can you not stake your life for the woman you love?”

By the way, after seeing this play, Emperor Gungrave and Shuri Azuma were spotted in a drinking venue.

They were said to be writhing in agony from embarrassment.