Volume 10 - Chapter 11 – Turmoil After All (1/2)

10-11 Turmoil After All

Right then it was about lunchtime.

“Alright, let me take care of the lunch.”

Gloria Ohlstat said and invited Jin’s group for lunch. She also invited Duston, but he refused, saying he had a lunch box his wife had made.

“When I was a child, I often went to play at Duston’s workplace and watch him make cutlery.”

Apparently by that time already she was a pitiable beauty.

They stopped by Gloria’s house to drop off her sword and then headed to the main street. The large sun dial showed that it was about 11.45. The foot traffic had increased compared to the morning.

“I’ve got a preferred restaurant.”

Gloria said as took the lead of Jin’s group.

“Here it is.”

The restaurant was on the main street little ways back towards the gate Jin and the others had come from.

Its sign had ‘Crystal Restaurant’ written on it, and while it appeared cramped the inside atmosphere was good.

Since the time was still a bit before 12 o’clock there weren’t many customers either.

“Welcome, Ohlstat-sama.”

Like to a regular customer, the waitress greeted her in a friendly tone.

“Hey, Feo. I brought company with me today. Whatever you recommend for four, please.”

“As you wish.”

The waitress called Feo gave a bow and went to the kitchen to convey the order.

“The lunch here is famously good. Off-duty soldiers and knights also come here often.”

Gloria explained.

“Up until the other day there were continuous battles around Tetrada west of here, but it seems to have stopped now. Yesterday a post horse arrived. It seems that Egelia Kingdom had fought with Celuroa Kingdom but it also seems to have come to an end. That’s news that came by pigeon the day before yesterday.”

“Is it alright to tell us something like that?”

“Eh, it’s fine. You must be worried about the situation of the countries too? I thought I’d tell you as part of my thanks for making the sword for me.”

“Why, thank you very much.”

It was news he was already familiar with, but since she had kindly told him Jin thanked her.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

The food was brought in quite fast.

“They came up with this idea to reduce the types of foods in exchange for careful selection of flavors and reduced cooking time.”

Gloria explained. To put it simply, it was a set meal that changed every day, but reaching that idea in this world could be valued highly. And just as she explained, the taste was rather good too.

The food was freshly baked bread, vegetable soup, dried fish stew, and grilled deer meat. In addition they had Appleles.

It wasn’t high cuisine, but being familiar and cheap it was a menu both commoners and lesser nobles could enjoy.

Incidentally, Jin was interested in the bread. It wasn’t pure white, but it wasn’t whole grain bread either. To be frank, it was exactly the same bread that was eaten in Kaina Village.

“This bread…”

Jin started to say, then Gloria began explaining with an understanding look on her face.

“Ah, it’s delicious, right? It’s become popular lately. It’s made out of wheat flour a rapidly growing company called Raglan Firm is selling.”

I thought so, Jin thought. He felt real happiness being of use to society like this.

Hannah wanted to say something, but seemed to be engrossed in the dried fish stew.

“You’re very knowledgeable, aren’t you.”

Jin said, thinking that she was surprisingly well-informed about things despite being a knight.

“What, it’s just that the owner’s wife is my childhood friend.”

Gloria replied. I see, Jin thought after hearing that.

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Tea was brought in after lunch.

“So, about the compensation for the sword.”

Before drinking the tea Gloria spoke.

“How much would you like me to pay? Name your price, is what I’d like to say but what I can pay has limits…”

Jin turned to Gloria and replied,

“Since the materials didn’t cost anything, it’s fine if you just pay whatever you think the sword is worth.”

Jin honestly didn’t know the market prices of swords and such.

But Gloria muttered that that’s what troubles her the most, and she began pondering. Before long she raised her head as if having come to a decision and took a tiny leather bag from the leather purse on her waist and placed it in front of Jin.

“That’s all I’ve got on hand.”

“Eh?”

Slightly confused, Jin checked the contents of the bag, and inside it there were seven gold coins and 15 silver coins. That was 71,500 Torr. That was about 715,000 yen.

“This is too much.”

Jin said, but Gloria replied without hesitation that even 100,000 Torr wouldn’t be enough for the sword and that haggling would be blasphemous.

Jin felt a little uncomfortable, but then thought of a good line for persuasion.

“For craftsmen as long as what they’ve made is appreciated and taken good care of, it would be fine to even give the product away for free. So I’ll take just this and let’s settle it with that.”