Duke Akilai Yubarden Afrasia tasted the prepared meal and his eyes widened.
“D-delicious…”
It wasn’t as if he had been eating anything particularly bad before. He employed a first-rate chef, and had decent ingredients prepared into decent meals.
Well, given the recent situation, the quality of the ingredients had been declining somewhat.
Even so.
Today’s meal was completely different.
“I’m glad it suits your palate, Duke. We were surprised as well…”
“Yes… I heard that the kitchen staff had been changed today to those people. What is this…?”
Duke Yubarden wasn’t particularly a gourmet. Therefore, he couldn’t explain what was so amazing about this dish.
It was simply, utterly delicious.
“According to the people from ＜Paraiso＞, they are careful not to create any off-flavors by properly preparing the appropriate ingredients. They say that the compatibility of the ingredients eliminates any harshness and creates a complex flavor.”
“Hmm… …No, this is delicious. Is this being served to everyone else as well?”
“Yes. That automatic cooking device, that Magic Tool, can make servings for any number of people, given the time and ingredients. Due to ingredient limitations, it’s not the exact same recipe, but meals are being distributed to the knights and servants as well.”
It had been three days since those people from ＜Paraiso＞ occupied this Royal Capital.
Until this morning, they had been serving preserved food cooked in the kitchen of the mansion, which had escaped damage.
Apparently, preparations were complete, and ＜Paraiso＞ began providing meals starting with today’s lunch.
“I see… I was wondering what would happen until yesterday, but it seems my worries were unfounded…”
Three days ago, the Afrasia Royal Capital was militarily occupied by ＜Paraiso＞’s Magitech Machine (Golem) army.
Without allowing any resistance, they meticulously neutralized all of the Royal Capital’s forces, without letting a single one escape. At that time, no unnecessary sacrifices were made, not with the buildings, the supplies, or even the citizens of the Royal Capital.
With overwhelming force, the Afrasia Royal Capital was easily subdued, as if twisting the arm of a baby.
In fact, the Yubarden Estate suffered the most damage in the Royal Capital.
Under the pretext of ＜Paraiso＞’s invasion, another Duke launched an attack on Duke Yubarden. The attack itself did not involve destruction, but the Golem that ＜Paraiso＞ deployed to secure Duke Yubarden’s safety half-destroyed the mansion.
What the Duke saw when he was led outside the mansion by ＜Paraiso＞’s soldiers was a giant, six-legged Monster rampaging while half-destroying the mansion.
At the time, he had no idea what was happening.
After that, ＜Paraiso＞ peacefully occupied the Royal Capital and detained all three Dukes, including Duke Yubarden.
They announced a general curfew within the Royal Capital and apparently began military rule.
Duke Yubarden was under house arrest on the grounds of his own mansion, and his contact with the outside world was restricted, so he was unable to obtain any information.
“Even under occupation, in enemy territory, they can prepare such meals…”
They operate with such military strength, and can still devote resources to meals. And it’s only been three days since the occupation. It can’t be said that the situation has settled down.
In that case, it would be safe to assume that the quality of this meal is standard for their army.
“This so-called temporary housing is also quite surprising…”
By the way, Duke Yubarden was currently lodging not in his half-destroyed mansion, but in housing prepared by ＜Paraiso＞.
It was explained that it was until the reconstruction of the mansion, which had been destroyed by military action, was completed, and this temporary housing fell from the sky.
The Duke couldn’t believe his eyes.
At the same time, he was convinced.
He understood part of the reason why the Royal Capital had fallen so easily.
Indeed, if they could transport this temporary housing from the sky, they could deploy that group of Golems to key points in the Royal Capital with pinpoint accuracy.
Their soldiers must have been annihilated without being able to put up much resistance.
The Duke, his attendants, and the remaining knights were cut off from contact with the outside world. Therefore, they did not have an accurate grasp of what had happened or what was happening.
However, ＜Paraiso＞ had informed them that they would soon allow minimal contact.
“But, can my chefs reproduce this…?”
Once you know this taste, there’s no going back.
Thinking so, he asked the butler standing beside him, and he nodded slowly.
“Certainly. The people of ＜Paraiso＞ say that they will answer any questions as long as they are not military secrets. The chefs are already bombarding them with questions. They also said that they would open this ‘container house’ for a while. Enough for all the servants have already been prepared.”
“I see… I didn’t intend to cut off outside information, but foreign countries have changed a lot…”
“Yes. They said that they will announce the situation all at once at a later date. I heard that they will gather the other Dukes as well.”
He knew that he was called a remote, rural backwater.
Even so, Duke Yubarden was always struggling to do something.
In the past, he had visited the neighboring Wheat Country (Weizenland) and Forest Country (Lebresta).
Even then, he was stunned by the vast difference in civilization.
The shock brought by ＜Paraiso＞ was incomparable to those.
“Considering what has happened so far, it doesn’t seem like anything too terrible will happen… What do they intend to do from now on?”
“…At least, we have been instructed to continue the current system for the time being. However, contact with the outside world remains prohibited.”
From the third floor of the Duke’s residence, which had barely escaped collapse, there were no signs of looting or anything like that in the city.
Rather, he could see the familiar smoke from cooking fires.
At the very least, the people of the Royal Capital were maintaining their livelihoods.
“Wasn’t the meeting with the people from ＜Paraiso＞ scheduled for the afternoon?”
“Yes. We have received a message that they will share information and communicate the schedule. Zehn Ringo-sama will be visiting. Her military rank is equivalent to our Major General. Her noble rank in her home country is Duke. She is a member of the royal family, so we were specifically told not to stand on ceremony, as her status is roughly equivalent to that of the Duke.”
“Hmm… Well, I have nothing to offer even if I wanted to entertain them. Everything we have is what they provided. I can’t complain even if they were more overbearing… How considerate.”
To tell the ruler of an occupied city not to stand on ceremony because they are of the same status.
Judging from their practiced actions, they must be carrying out military invasions in various places.
Something troublesome may have happened elsewhere.
No, perhaps another Duke has already done something.
Honestly, he didn’t trust Duke Calberk at all.
Since there was no sign that he had become more aggressive towards them, he wanted to believe that nothing had happened.
“Some small items and clothing have been recovered from the mansion, so they have been prepared in the conference room. Of course, no decorations have been prepared.”
“It’s a room prepared by ＜Paraiso＞, after all. If not, it would be a garden party. Although, ＜Paraiso＞ was the one who destroyed the mansion in the first place…”
There’s no point in complaining about that.
The preparation of the meeting place was being carried out together with the personnel from ＜Paraiso＞, so there would be almost no problems with diplomatic etiquette.
When dealing with a country with which you have no interaction, you have to be careful because you don’t know the customs. If the other party is willing to cooperate, there is nothing better.
“…Hmm. The tea is delicious too…”
“Yes. It is of surprising quality. It seems to be tea leaves from the Forest Country (Lebresta). The quality has not deteriorated, and something like this can only be obtained in the East Gate city. Considering the deterioration during transportation, it is a delicacy that can only be drunk locally.”
“I see… Is it because of superior preservation technology, or fast transportation speed? No, both. If they travel through the sky, the transportation speed will also be…”
As he was enjoying his tea after the meal.
“D-Duke! Please hurry outside, please look outside!!”
“Hmm. Is that the Captain of the Knights? What is it?”
“I-I can’t explain it in words! I think it’s best if you see it for yourself!!”
The Duke and the butler frowned at the Knight Captain’s intrusion. However, for the Captain of the Knights to be so flustered, it must be a serious situation.
However, since he was not armed, it did not seem that a problem had occurred.
Somewhat impolitely, he left his tea unfinished and exited the dining room.
Then, he turned his gaze in the direction the Knight Captain was pointing.
There.
Something huge.
Yes, a corpse of something huge that could only be described as a Dragon from fairy tales.
That was suspended from a mysterious Magic-Powered Machine (Golem), slowly moving through the sky.