Chapter 195: The Three-Star Hotel
“We possess the means to traverse the skies, but in truth, are there threats from monsters even in the air?”
“…Hmm.”
As they tidied up the set table, Alborea Heath and Tiariada Eremes stood side by side, continuing their conversation.
“Indeed… There are several types of flying monsters. Some are said to be unbelievable, like those from tales. For instance, there are gigantic birds resembling eagles, moths larger than carriages, and the silver dragon, which has only been recorded as sighted once in our nation’s history.”
“The first two types are known even in our country. But a dragon? Could it have been a mere misidentification?”
At Alborea’s question, Tiariada smiled wryly.
“There are many who share the same opinion in our land. After all, these are records from long ago. There are claims of fabrication, hallucinations, and misidentifications. However, among our Council of Elders, there are witnesses from that time. It is said to have been about 250 years ago, but indeed, a silver dragon was sighted soaring through the skies.”
“I see. This reaffirms that we cannot let our guard down regarding the Demon Forest.”
While casually engaging in the conversation, Alborea Heath sought to extract further information.
“But you live within the forest, correct? I’ve heard tales of such things.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Today’s lodging is on the border of the forest. You will experience it to some extent. From tomorrow onward, we will be walking through the forest. However, the roads are well-maintained, so it shouldn’t be a cause for concern.”
“I appreciate your consideration. Now, it seems the tidying up is nearly complete. I look forward to your guidance once again.”
“Of course. Until then.”
With that, they each boarded their respective vehicles.
The group resumed their journey.
“Welcome! We are delighted to have you here. This is our specialty, the tea pot!”
“Oh, I’ve been waiting for this. Ah, you there, please serve it.”
“Understood.”
Gathered around a round table, Tiariada Eremes, Alborea Heath, and Alistarta Heath began their early dinner.
It was already the third day of their journey. They were expected to arrive at Aalan Port, a bustling town on the banks of the Lanta River, the lifeblood of the Forest Country, by tomorrow night.
However, due to the distance, they needed to rest early today and set off in the morning.
“This isn’t the time for serious discussions, so please, relax.”
Since the accommodations on the first and second nights had been rather modest, they had dined in separate rooms. Today, they were in a lodging with a guest room, allowing them to enjoy their meal in a fitting setting.
The decor was distinctly reflective of the Forest Country, adorned with decorations made from plants.
Large wreaths woven with dried flowers, wooden carvings, and tapestries filled the space. The furniture was intricately carved, exuding a subtle yet luxurious ambiance.
And the meal was placed in the center of the table.
“Would you like fruit water to drink?”
“Yes, please.”
Alborea and Alistarta nodded silently in agreement. Before them, dish after dish was prepared.
“This dish features locally sourced whole pork from the Lanta region, simmered with various vegetables, tea leaves, homemade Mizuki, and herbs. Excuse me while I light the fire.”
Beneath the pot piled high with ingredients was what appeared to be a Konro, a magical stove. As the waiter pulled a lever, flames ignited between the supports.
The Konro was a magical tool confirmed to be used within the Afrasia United Kingdom. It was a rather enigmatic device that produced fire by bringing a certain type of magic stone, known as the Fire Magic Stone, close to the central stone.
From previous investigations, it was predicted that the Fire Magic Stone ignites when the concentration of Magic Essence increases.
By the way, all Konro in the Afrasia United Kingdom are reportedly imported from the Forest Country. It seemed that they were used in quite a few affluent households, as a significant number had been imported. Thus, it was evident that the Konro was a commonly used magical tool within Reburesta.
“Excuse me.”
The appetizer, a dish of ingredients set in gelatin, was served alongside the fruit water.
“Then, let us toast to our future good relations. Uranta!”
“Agreed! Uranta!”
Alborea and Alistarta echoed the words synonymous with a toast.
The food was exceptionally delicious, as recorded by Heath. Anticipating that Commander Eve would desire to taste it, they gathered information about the seasonings used.
In particular, fermented foods are crucial due to the specific bacteria involved. It would be necessary to obtain the actual items and isolate the fermentation cultures.
However, since they were perishable, they couldn’t take them along on their journey. It was decided that they would import them to the East Gate city along with regular trade goods.
As they engaged in a conversation that blurred the lines between casual chatter and trade negotiations, Heath continued to probe for information. Although the other party was a seasoned diplomat, Heath was a super-intelligent entity capable of recording and analyzing all surrounding information. From the slightest words and gestures, it could combine all information to unveil the truth.
“Ah, that was delicious. Thank you. It has been a while since I enjoyed a meal like that.”
“It has indeed been quite some time, Lady Tiariada. And it is a pleasure to meet you, young ladies. I am Lacraddin, the head chef of this establishment.”
“Delicious. Thank you.”
They called upon the head chef for a light conversation. During this exchange, some information leaked about certain ingredients becoming scarce. It was likely that the production areas or distribution hubs were suffering from monster attacks.
Since this road traveled quite far south, the butterfly monsters had not yet reached here. However, their influence was undoubtedly gnawing at the Forest Country.
Returning to their assigned room, the servant lit the installed Light Magic Tool and prepared the water pitcher before bowing and exiting.
Once Alborea Heath and Alistarta Heath confirmed that the servants had left, they began inspecting the room.
The Light Magic Tool utilized some kind of glowing magic stone. It appeared to emit light in accordance with the concentration of Magic Essence. By moving a lever attached to the magical tool, they could adjust the brightness.
The type of light resembled that produced by a fluorescent reaction. The specific wavelength would require a high-sensitivity sensor to determine, but it wasn’t particularly important, so that could wait. They could likely obtain the actual item upon request.
The bed’s construction, along with the sheets and blankets, was of decent quality. The weave was fine, and the texture felt pleasant. The thread quality was likely high. However, the weave itself was somewhat uneven, suggesting it was produced either by hand or by a less precise weaving machine. Nevertheless, a significant amount of fabric had been observed along the journey, indicating that some means of mass production was undoubtedly in place.
At the very least, there were no signs of slave-class laborers in the observable range. If that were the case, it could be inferred that the weaving was somewhat mechanized rather than entirely handwoven.
The quality of the furnishings was also high, leading to the conclusion that Reburesta had a comfortable level of national strength. Furthermore, it appeared they were utilizing some form of mass production, albeit limited. If they continued to develop smoothly, they could become a formidable nation.
As Heath pondered these insights, they put the Communicator Android to sleep.
For breakfast, they were served soft white bread with butter, a fresh leafy vegetable salad, grilled sausages, and a soup resembling corn chowder.
The presence of white bread indicated that the wheat milling technology was advanced. The softness suggested that fermentation techniques, such as those involving yeast, were widespread. The salad indicated a habit of growing and consuming vegetables raw. The dressing added a touch of culinary sophistication.
The sausages were well-seasoned and appeared to have been smoked. It could be inferred that they were distributed as preserved food through some means. The soup likely contained corn or a similar grain as its base. This implied that they had the tools to grind and mix the ingredients until smooth. The cooking tools were evidently well-developed.
Indeed, the fact that there was no need to allocate resources to warfare greatly contributed to the nation’s strength.
As a neighboring country, it was a stroke of luck that they could implement countermeasures early on.