Episode 154: Sandworm meat and negotiations
Me, Palvera, Familis, and Ambitose's mounted soldiers were welcomed in a gel-like tent.
Inside the tent, everyone was seated on small wooden box-like chairs, but we ended up sitting near the customer seats, the so-called upper seats.
The giant sand worm that I killed earlier was dissected, and a dish using its meat arrived.
A juicy platter of grilled red meat and translucent light green jelly-like plants. The meat itself looks like it could be mistaken for beef if you didn't know in advance that it was earthworm meat. Considering that the plant grows in the desert, it's probably a cactus-like plant. And perhaps because plants are precious in the desert, the amount of meat is high. Also, it has a spicy smell, probably because spices are easily available through desert trade routes.
Although I thought it looked pretty tasty, I don't think sand worm meat is a big deal, and the princess-like Parvera is okay.
I got worried and looked over, and surprisingly, I saw that his eyes were looking at the food with interest.
When I was surprised by that, Palvera seemed to realize the meaning of my gaze and smiled back at me.
"There is no nobility in food. There is only whether it is delicious or not."
“Let’s also worry about the poison.”
"If you use divine magic, a small amount of poison will become ineffective. And certain poisons can be used as seasonings to make dishes delicious, right?"
I heard on the news in my previous life that some poisonous mushrooms are so delicious that they cause poisoning.
In any case, it seems that the dietary situation in the Knights' Kingdom is quite dramatic.
While we were having this conversation, a plate of food and some stone-hard bread arrived in front of us.
"Come on, guest. Eat."
Following the lead of the eldest desert warrior, we decided to start eating.
I immediately decided to try eating a large piece of sand worm meat.
"Mmmm! Sand worms are delicious!"
The taste of sand worm meat is unique, like beef thigh meat with the flavor of shrimp or crab meat. However, the flavors are perfectly balanced and there is nothing unpleasant about it.
The flavor of the meat is complemented by the spices added to the dish. I don't know what kind of spice it is, but it feels like it's in the ingredients of curry powder.
With my tongue tingling from the spices, I eat a plant that looks like a cactus. The unique grassy smell and moisture washed away the taste left on my tongue, allowing me to enjoy my next sip with freshness.
The eldest desert warrior burst into laughter as I continued to munch on the deliciousness.
"Hahahaha! As expected, Prince Milimos is a bold man. His wife and the members of the knightly kingdom also seem to know what is called courtesy as a guest. They are both Water People. It’s a waste!”
I wondered if this was a strange way to be praised, so I looked up from my food and looked around.
Me, Parvera, and Family are enjoying the deliciousness of the food. Meanwhile, Ambitose's horsemen did not touch the food.
"What's the matter? It's delicious, so try it."
"...Prince Milimos. He knows the original form of this meat, and he can eat it well."
"Does that mean you can't eat it because it's a sand worm? Personally, no matter what it's from, once it's turned into meat, it just looks like food, right?"
The horseback soldier who expressed his doubts took a bite of the food with determination after hearing my words and seeing the pretty-looking Parvera eating the food. The other mounted soldiers also begin to eat their food with reluctant expressions.
Contrary to my prediction that once they tried it, they would fall in love with the deliciousness, but the faces of the mounted soldiers remained unenthusiastic.
As I was feeling sorry for that, the oldest desert warrior began to make a voice that changed the direction of the conversation.
"It's an analogue of the country of Sposato. It would be best if you take care of your husband as well."
"Yes, yes. I would appreciate it."
My brother-in-law, Duerefa, is sitting on the opposite side of where we are, near the entrance to the tent. In other words, it was Geza.
And the food that was served was misshapen meat that looked like scraps of meat, a cactus that had fallen apart, and bread that was too dry and cracked.
It is clear that they are not welcomed by the people of the desert.
Although I felt a little pitiful, my interest shifted to why Duerefa was in this village before us.
"Now then, Lord Duelepha. It seems like you arrived here too early considering you rushed to celebrate my victory."
When I casually asked her what kind of business she had come for, Duerefa replied with a smile on her face.
"When I learned that Prince Milimos was going to fight the desert people, I was convinced that Prince Milimos would win, so I came to this village."
“Are you alone?”
"No, no. My companion is waiting in a place a little far from this village."
“Rather than waiting, you were chased out by the desert people, right?”
"Yes, well, yes. Most of the gifts were said to be good in quantity but poor in quality, so most of them were turned away."
"Huh. But we didn't have any souvenirs, did we?"
When I turned to the oldest desert warrior in question, he shook his head and said it wasn't necessary.
"Prince Milimos is a strong man who has defeated us. The people of the desert respect the strong. Even if he comes suddenly, we will always treat him as a guest."
“The country of Sposato is a weak group that lost the battle, so when visiting a village, it is essential to bring a souvenir.”
Although I understood that this was probably a custom, I also thought that it might be difficult to give gifts to desert people.
After all, the people of the desert are so particular about their nature that they place numerous orders when custom-making a single weapon.
Even if it's a gift, if you don't carefully select something that the recipient will like, they won't even accept it.
"I understand why Lord Duelepha is alone. So?"
“So what do you mean?”
"If you came here expecting me to win, that means you have something to say to me. Especially about the desert trade route."
“Oh no, do you have any insight?”
I don't know what you think, but when you think about each other's situations, it's obvious that you think that way.
“The country of Sposato wants to have a piece of the trade route, so please give me a favor, right?”
"Yes, yes. If it's Prince Milimos's words, neither the people of the desert nor Prince Vishka will say no."
“I can’t say anything about the people of the desert because I’ve only known them for a short time, but I don’t think Vishka-nii-sama will agree easily, right?”
"No, no. I received a direct response from Prince Vishika---'I wish Milimos all the best.'"
While wondering when she received it, she also thought it wouldn't be strange for Vishka to say so.
“I don’t mind meddling, but could you please tell me first what the country of Sposato intends to do for you? I don’t think you’re going to ask me to just give you profits without offering anything, right?”
“Of course, since I am in a position to make a request, I am willing to take on the troublesome part.”
According to Duerefa, he can take on most of the actual work, such as organizing and operating commercial caravans and negotiating with countries connected by trade routes.
Apparently, the Ambitose region side is doing nothing, and yet they will receive most of the profits from the trade route.
On the other hand, my nose turned white because it sounded too good to be true.
“Considering the amount of work, I feel like we are getting too much of the share.”
"No, no. Without the valor of Prince Milimos and the soldiers of the Ambitos region, the trade route would not have come to fruition. Please consider this as compensation for borrowing their valor."
That's why I think it would be a shame if I handed over half of the profits from the trade route as a rental fee for my valor.
At first glance, it seems like a legitimate claim, but I can't help but doubt it.
Being in charge of the actual work is equivalent to having all the know-how of desert trade routes.
If that happens, there is a possibility that in the future, the Sposato country will use its accumulated know-how and real control over trade routes as a shield to try to reduce the profits handed over to the Ambitose region.
This is probably the time to squash the seeds of future trouble without being blinded by immediate profits.
And I had words that would be useful in order to urge Duerefa, and by extension Sposato country, to change their mind.
"This story. I wonder if Sister Solerina knows about it? Considering her temperament, I don't think she would approve of this proposal."
Even though Solerina married an official from the country of Sposato, she is active as a capable ruler with sympathizers in his country.
That's why we have no hesitation in taking various measures to develop our country. But at the same time, she was also a woman who had the pride of being a champion.
Considering Solerina's code of conduct, she would choose to coexist and co-prosper with other countries, while still putting the development of her own country first.
That's why Solerina wouldn't have taken the approach of unilaterally inflicting a loss on the Sposato country at first, and then causing the Ambitose region to suffer a loss in the end, as in the case of the current trade route.
When asked such a question, Duerefa has a wry smile on her face.
"This plan was created by the king. As Solerina expected after hearing this plan, Prince Milimos wasn't interested in the idea, even though it was such a delicious story."
"I'm not so ignorant as to jump to the idea that the labor provided and the compensation received are not balanced. Even if King Sposato, who created the plan, had no malicious intent."
"There's nothing scarier than free money," is a motto I often heard in my previous life.
"I will propose an amendment regarding the trade routes. From the Ambitose region, we will have people who are brave enough to defeat the desert people, as well as people who will be involved in the practical work of the trade routes."
"So, you're asking for a bigger share."
I nod in response to Duelefa's words.
"Well, this is a problem. I can't go back to my country and consult with my superiors..."
“I don’t mind that, but if I miss this opportunity, the person in charge will change from me to Brother Vishika.Currently, I am the commander of the Ambitose region army, but when my role as commander is over, I will return to the lord of the Roccia region. ”
"It's difficult to negotiate with Prince Vishika, so I created this opportunity."
“I don’t think Vishika-nii is as difficult as you say?”
``He doesn't talk much and his facial expressions don't change much, so I can't tell what he's thinking, which makes the negotiators cry.''
I see. When it comes to negotiations, Vishika seems to be the type of person who believes silence is golden.
That's why it's easier for someone like me who negotiates verbally to negotiate, so that's why you ambushed them in a desert village.
“Then, can we conclude the negotiations here?”
"...No. I will return to the country once again and choose to consult with Prince Vishka."
"I'll tell Vishika-nii what we discussed here, okay?"
"It doesn't matter. In fact, I'm hoping that the negotiations will go better than usual because Prince Milimos' thoughts are involved."
Duerefa let out a sigh with a sour face, finished eating as if stuffing herself with the food served to the desert people, bowed and left the tent. Most likely, he will meet up with his companion outside the village and return to Sposato country.
Well, now that the troublesome negotiations are over, I feel relieved.
"I was halfway through cooking. I thought I'd taste it before I eat it."
I ate the meat of a sand worm and relished its unique taste.
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