Chapter 81: Carbonara

Chapter 81:
Carbonara

 

Things weren’t looking too hot.

Edmon had served the Kingdom for some thirty years. In a room of the royal palace, he sighed as he received a report from one of his most trusted spies.

“Hrm,” he said. “So, there’s a strong chance that the imperial princess might marry into the Sand Nation’s royal family, then?”

“Yes, sir. This information’s very likely correct,” the spy explained, nodding at Edmon. “There are already rumors in the imperial capital of large groups from the Sand Nation showing up with the royal prince.”

“Understood. You’ve done well. You may go.” After receiving the report, Edmon dismissed the spy.

None of the Kingdom’s higher-ups, including the king himself, seemed to think much of the Empire without Wilhelm. But Edmon had served as the head of the Kingdom’s intelligence division for many years, and he knew all too well how strong the Empire—in all its oddness—truly was.

“Cursed Empire. What’re they up to?” he whispered, a cautious expression on his face.

The Kingdom’s citizens had been forced to accept Wilhelm’s great Empire. However, the next ruler was nothing more than mediocre. Without the great emperor himself, the Empire was simply a collection of nations full of commoners and savage demons. It stood no chance against the Kingdom’s long history of dominance on the Eastern Continent.

However, Edmon thought that this fairly common attitude was foolish. It was true that the Empire was a shadow of its old self. Compared to the belligerent previous emperor—who’d joined hands with a demon king, claimed supremacy over the land, and found great victory in countless battles—the current emperor had led few armies to speak of.

Small skirmishes with monsters and bandits on the borders didn’t qualify as true battles. The only genuine combat the current Empire and emperor had seen—a battle to the death with another nation—had taken place some ten years prior, just before Wilhelm’s death. After that battle, the Empire had ceased invading other nations. Its leaders directed its massive army to guard its borders instead of participating in actual combat. They farmed cobbler’s tubers rather than fighting.

But that wasn’t because they lost Emperor Wilhelm. It wasn’t even because they lacked leadership.

Edmon felt that it’d be easier, if anything, if the Empire were simply a nation of barbarians. However, they’d changed focus entirely after acquiring cobbler’s tubers, dubbed the “crop of the gods” (which was nothing more than propaganda from the Earth God’s shrine). Instead of stealing others’ fields, the Empire began to claim arid lands where nothing grew and nurture their cobbler’s tubers there.

Likely Emperor Wilhelm’s last plot. What a terrifying man.

In retrospect, the war the Empire had entered in order to acquire a port made total sense. It had seemed surprising at the time, but really, it was the late Emperor Wilhelm’s last gift before his passing. No one doubted the Empire once it stopped waging war on neighboring nations.

The current emperor might have gained all manner of knowledge from Wilhelm, but he didn’t know how to lead a massive army. It made sense that he focused on defending his land.

But that’s not it. The Empire has simply turned to cobbler’s tubers to profit the nation. That’s how they’re gaining power.

An army was necessary in this day and age. Even in the current time of peace, soldiers had to deal with monsters that simply acted instinctively. It was the army and the knights’ job to take care of those creatures. Commoners and merchants had uses for adventurers and mercenaries, but a nation couldn’t rely on them.

Thus, there was nothing odd about the Empire maintaining a massive army. On the other hand, that meant they could engage in war as they once had.

The king and noblemen don’t understand the danger that lurks in the shadows.

Perhaps it was the current Kingdom that was no more than a collection of nations. Edmon sighed again.

It was said that the Kingdom had come to be when the leaders of lands on the Ancient Kingdom’s outskirts formed an alliance. The king had become a lich and used his army of wraiths and demons to wreak destruction throughout the land. The Kingdom had been born through compromise, so although it had power, it lacked unity.

The Duchy’s subjects prioritized their leader’s words over all else. The Empire had been built off the back of a single man and his incredible talents, so nobody dared to doubt his words and rule. Unlike those nations, the Kingdom utilized the same bloodline system as the Ancient Kingdom. The king was basically the country’s most powerful nobleman, which meant that if he wanted to do something, it still had to be negotiated and adjusted. In that sense, there was no way for the Kingdom to keep up with the fast-acting Empire.

Even now, it’s not as though we can do anything.

Due to its youth as a nation, the Empire didn’t have much of a magic division. The fact that it was partnering with the Sand Nation, whose magic supremacy at least matched the Kingdom’s and Duchy’s, wasn’t good at all.

However, many underestimated the Empire without Wilhelm and focused far more on petty squabbles among themselves. If the Empire chose to act, it’d be too late for any other nation to respond in kind.

What’s going to happen to us? Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

Feeling a bit impatient, Edmon decided to gather information. He headed for a research room containing all kinds of historical documents collected since the Kingdom itself was founded.

Hidden within the room was a secret door that only Edmon knew of. Once every seven days, on the Day of Satur, an oak door illustrated with a cat materialized. A sign on its front read, “Nekoya, the Restaurant to Another World.”

Edmon quietly walked through the door. The sound of bells echoed deep within the dim research room.

Looking around his new brightly lit surroundings, he met the great sage Altorius’s gaze. After greeting him, Edmon sat off to the side, away from prying eyes. That was his usual spot.

Instead of the demon girl—Aletta—Nekoya’s black-haired, wraith-like waitress greeted Edmon.

Welcome.

He made his usual order. “A plate of carbonara, please.”

Eating a plate of carbonara was Edmon’s first move whenever he visited Nekoya. Not even the Alfade Company could make that particular pasta dish.

A plate of carbonara. Just a moment.

The girl returned to the kitchen in the back to relay his order.

After ordering, Edmon slowly surveyed the room. Now then, let’s see who’s here today.

The usual lizardman was present, expressionlessly munching a plate of what was called “omelet rice.” Elsewhere was a group of faeries enjoying some sort of pastry. In another area of the restaurant, what looked to be an ogre couple sat on the floor, eating meat and drinking merrily. Edmon also noticed a bronze-skinned lamia with an elegant manner; she chatted away happily with a boy.

As usual, the Gold Firm’s young heiress sat eating across from a Duchy knight. An Alfade Company chef sat in the one seat that looked into the kitchen.

A pair of elf sisters sat at another table. The elder was clearly enjoying her meal, although she wore a somewhat frustrated expression.

And then, of course, the great sage was enjoying his golden ale. Everyone in the restaurant seemed to be having a great time.

The situation contradicted Edmon’s common sense, but eventually he got used to it and even noticed something: Just by gazing around Nekoya, he could gather all kinds of information. That was something Edmon was tremendously fond of. Information gathering had enabled him to climb the ranks from a noble civil service agent to a minister.

Edmon’s ability to observe was sharp, so there was much for him to gain from Nekoya.

Still, things were different when Edmon visited Nekoya to have a plate of carbonara on his own. He had very little time to himself, so he treasured the chance to enjoy a meal in peace. That let him forget his work.

Thank you for waiting. Here’s your carbonara.

“Oh, it’s here? Thanks a lot.”

The warm aroma of cheese rose to Edmon’s nose. Pink meat peeked out from beneath a mixture of eggs and cheese atop the golden noodles. Black pepper decorated the sauce’s surface.

Mmm. This is the only way to eat carbonara.

As a man born and raised in the Kingdom, Edmon had a certain attachment to noodles. When he’d only just come of age, the Alfade Company had begun to release all manner of noodle dishes into the world. Edmon remembered how all his coworkers at the time had discussed what was next among themselves.

It’s rather ironic that all those noodles basically came from here.

Reflecting on his nostalgic memories, Edmon plunged his fork into the noodles and wrapped a mouthful of the golden deliciousness around the silver utensil. Bringing the fork to his mouth, he found himself enraptured by the cheese’s rich scent before taking a bite.

The flavor of the freshly boiled noodles and melted cheese spread through his mouth, making his lips curl into a smile.

The meat’s perfect saltiness and grease complemented two different great tastes—the rich flavor of the cheese and that of the eggs. The black pepper’s edge lovingly brought all the ingredients together.

The noodles enwrapped and melded into the flavors of the eggs and cheese, creating an incredible combination.

I’ll never get enough of this.

Edmon remembered the first time he’d ever indulged in carbonara. He’d never imagined that eggs and cheese could come together so beautifully. However, since the chef used thicker noodles than usual, the cheese flavor didn’t overpower the dish. The noodles’ wheat taste remained strong.

Now then, next is…

Edmon plunged his knife into the meat and took a bite. Although it was cut into short, thin strips drained of grease and fat, it still somehow managed to be flavorful. The deliciousness was different from the rich cheese flavor his tongue was used to, allowing him to further enjoy his carbonara.

A bite of noodles, a bite of meat, and then another bite of noodles. Just like that, Edmon’s plate was empty.

“Whew…excuse me. Could I get a cup of coffee, please?”

After finishing his meal, Edmon always made a point of ordering the other world’s bitter tea known as “coffee” so that he could give his tongue a rest.

It’s about time that I get back to work.

Satisfied with his carbonara, Edmon turned his thoughts to the task at hand.