Chapter 247: A Banquet and the Discovery of the Golden Egg
In the end, that day turned into a session of treating the injured throughout the village. For an ordinary magician, it would have been understandable to suffer from magical power depletion given the number of people needing care. However, for Rest, who possessed Infinite Magic Power, it was a trivial task. By sunset, he had managed to heal everyone and returned to the inn.
“Count Clover! Please, enjoy your meal!”
“This is the village’s secret liquor! I hope it suits your taste…!”
And thus, that day became a grand banquet. Before Rest and Celestine, seated in the inn’s large hall, lay an abundance of fish dishes. Men and women from the village had gathered in the hall, bowing as they offered food and drink.
“The Count is a benefactor of our village! Please, stay as long as you like!”
“Today’s catch is fresh… We lost much due to the monsters, but somehow we managed to secure this. Please, enjoy…!”
“Ah, I see… I’ll partake… Everyone, feel free to eat as well.”
“““““Haha!”””””
The villagers appeared deeply humbled, bowing their heads as if worshipping a deity.
“What can I say… In a way, this village feels incredibly uncomfortable…”
“Well, I do think everyone here is kind…”
“Yeah… I suppose that’s true…”
Rest exchanged a wry smile with Celestine, who sat beside him.
“Here’s some sashimi! Please, enjoy!”
“Come now! Have a drink…!”
“Madam, please, do partake as well!”
“No, we’re not actually a couple… but yes, I’ll take the sashimi.”
The food was delicious. Yesterday’s dinner had been delightful, but today’s feast surpassed it. The villagers had brought together ingredients and liquor to serve Rest and the others.
“It seems like the monsters have caused quite a bit of trouble… but is it really okay for them to treat us to such a feast?”
“I doubt it’s truly okay,” Celestine replied softly, sensing Rest’s concern.
“They probably gathered what little food they could. They must be very grateful to you, Rest.”
“…”
While Rest appreciated their gratitude, he felt a pang of guilt for being treated to such hospitality. If their generosity led to their own starvation, it would weigh heavily on his conscience.
“Celestine… I’m sorry, but could we provide some food aid to this village? I’ll cover the costs, of course.”
“Of course, that’s possible. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Celestine readily accepted Rest’s request. Honestly, it felt overly kind to go this far for a village he had just met. However, Rest couldn’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of those he had interacted with.
(I know it’s self-satisfaction, but… well, I suppose I can do this much.)
Rest had more money than he could possibly spend. Part of it was the inheritance from the Queen Dowager that Rodel had transferred to him.
(After all, this money originally came from Shoko. So, it wouldn’t be a problem to give back to a village she loved.)
“If I’m going to get this involved, it might be better to just buy the whole village…”
“Buy the whole village? Wait, is that even possible?”
“It depends on the lord who owns the land. Some are stubborn and refuse to part with their territory, while others are quick to relinquish both land and noble title. If you like this inn and the food, it might be worth considering it as a summer retreat for the Clover Count House. My father owns territories beyond his main estate, you know?”
“Is that so…”
For a great noble, it was natural to possess multiple territories and titles. Rest felt a renewed appreciation for the vastness of the Crocus Duke House.
“Well, we can think about that later…”
“Come now, please drink up!”
“Ah, I will…”
Rest brought the liquor poured by the villagers to his lips.
“Mmm… What is this…?”
As he tasted the amber liquid, Rest’s eyes widened slightly. In this country, there were no age restrictions on alcohol. He had drunk several times before, but this liquor felt unusually strong compared to what he had experienced.
“This is a rare drink. It doesn’t seem to be wine or ale…”
Celestine also took a sip, her expression reflecting curiosity. This was unlike the grape or barley alcohol widely consumed in the country. How was it made?
“Oh, this liquor is made from sweet potatoes harvested from the fields. It’s stronger than regular liquor because it’s been heated.”
“Heated… Could it be distilled liquor?”
Rest’s eyes widened in surprise. The alcohol in this country primarily consisted of what was known as “brewed liquor,” such as wine. Distilled liquor, which had a higher alcohol content due to heating, was not commonly available.
“Distilled liquor… I’ve heard of it. It’s the high-proof alcohol produced in the Empire, right? I can’t believe something similar is made in this country…”
“Do you know about distilled liquor, Lady Celestine?”
“Yes. It’s an expensive drink imported from the Empire. Only the royal family and some nobles can afford it, and I’ve been wanting to learn how it’s made… but the Empire’s guards are quite strict, making it difficult to investigate.”
It seemed that distilled liquor did exist in this world. Considering that there were reincarnators here, it wasn’t surprising.
“The method for making this liquor was taught to us by Madam Sanada. Unfortunately, we can’t produce it in large quantities, so we only serve it on special occasions.”
“…”
A distilled liquor made from sweet potatoes… The reason such a drink hadn’t been available until now was likely due to the villagers not having enough to sell outside. If they could produce it on a larger scale, it could generate significant profit.
“…Rest, may I take charge of this matter?”
Celestine whispered, as if she had been thinking the same thing.
“I won’t let you down. If there’s a profit, I’ll ensure you receive your share.”
“…I’m counting on you.”
A golden egg hidden in a rural fishing village. The village, with traces of the Queen Dowager, seemed to hold more value than Rest had initially imagined.