World of Sandbox – Chapter 164

Chapter 164: A Brief Interlude (The Duke of a Fallen Nation)

Duke Akirai Yubaden Afurashia opened his eyes wide as he took a bite of the meal prepared for him.

“Delicious…”

Until now, he hadn’t been eating anything particularly bad. He had hired top-tier chefs and ensured that decent ingredients were used to prepare proper meals. However, given the recent circumstances, the quality of the ingredients had been declining.

Yet, today’s meal was entirely different.

“I’m glad to hear that it suits your palate, Your Grace. We are surprised ourselves, but…”

“Ah… I had heard that the kitchen would be changing to that of the Paraiso starting today. But what is this…?”

Duke Yubaden was not particularly a gourmet. Thus, he couldn’t quite grasp what made this dish so extraordinary. All he could say was that it was simply delicious.

“The people from Paraiso say that by using the right ingredients and proper preparation, they avoid any off-flavors. They’ve managed to create a complex taste by harmonizing the ingredients.”

“Hmmm… Yes, it is indeed delicious. Are others being served this as well?”

“Yes. That automatic cooking device, a magic tool, can prepare meals for any number of people as long as there are enough ingredients and time. While the recipes may differ due to the availability of ingredients, the knights and servants are also receiving their meals.”

It had been three days since the Paraiso forces had occupied the royal capital. Until this morning, the kitchens of the estate that had escaped damage had been serving preserved food. However, starting from today’s lunch, Paraiso began providing meals.

“I see… I was worried about what would happen until yesterday, but for now, it seems my concerns have eased…”

Three days prior, the royal capital of Aflarasia had been militarily occupied by the forces of Paraiso, led by their magic machines, the Golems. They allowed no resistance, meticulously neutralizing all military power within the capital without sparing a single soul. During this process, the buildings, supplies, and even the citizens within the capital suffered no unnecessary casualties.

With overwhelming force, the royal capital of Aflarasia was easily subdued, as if twisting a child’s hand.

In fact, the estate of Duke Yubaden had suffered the most significant damage within the capital. Under the pretext of the Paraiso invasion, other dukes had launched an attack against Duke Yubaden. While this attack did not cause outright destruction, the Golems deployed by Paraiso to secure Duke Yubaden’s person had left the estate in ruins.

What the duke saw when he was taken outside by the soldiers of Paraiso was a massive six-legged monstrosity, moving about while half-destroying his estate.

At the time, he had no understanding of what was happening.

Afterward, Paraiso successfully occupied the royal capital, detaining all three dukes, including Duke Yubaden. They issued a decree of general curfew within the capital and began military governance.

Duke Yubaden was under house arrest within the grounds of his estate, with his contact with the outside world severely restricted, leaving him without any means of gathering information.

“Even under occupation, they can prepare such exquisite meals in enemy territory…”

To deploy such military might while also dedicating resources to meals, and only three days after the occupation—one could hardly say the situation had stabilized. Therefore, it was safe to assume that the quality of this meal reflected the standard of their military.

“This temporary residence is also quite astonishing…”

Currently, Duke Yubaden was not staying in his half-destroyed estate but in a residence prepared by Paraiso. He had been told it was a temporary arrangement until the reconstruction of his estate was completed, and this makeshift dwelling had seemingly descended from the sky.

The duke could hardly believe his eyes. At the same time, he understood. He grasped part of the reason why the royal capital had fallen so easily.

Indeed, if they could transport this temporary residence from the sky, they could surely deploy that group of Golems precisely to the capital’s vital points. His own forces must have been utterly crushed without any effective resistance.

Duke Yubaden, his attendants, and the remaining knights were all cut off from external contact. Thus, they had no accurate grasp of what had transpired or what was currently happening. However, they had received word from Paraiso that minimal contact would soon be permitted.

“However, can my chefs replicate this…?”

Once he had tasted this flavor, there would be no going back. He asked his butler, who nodded slowly in response.

“Certainly. The people from Paraiso have stated that they will answer any inquiries unless it pertains to military secrets. I’m sure the chefs are already bombarding them with questions. They also mentioned that this ‘container house’ would be open for a while. They have already prepared enough for all the servants.”

“I see… But I had no intention of cutting off information from the outside. The foreign lands have changed quite a bit…”

“Yes. They have indicated that they will summarize the situation and communicate it later. They are also gathering the other dukes.”

He was aware that this was referred to as a backwater of the Borderlands. Still, Duke Yubaden had always struggled to find a way to improve his situation. In the past, he had visited the neighboring Wheat Country (Weitzenland) and the Forest Country (Lebresta). Even then, he had been astonished by the stark differences in civilization.

However, the shock brought by Paraiso was incomparable to any of those experiences.

“Considering everything that has happened, it doesn’t seem like it will turn out too badly… But what do they plan to do from here?”

“…At least for the time being, we have been instructed to maintain the current regime. However, contact with the outside remains prohibited.”

From the third floor of the estate, which had barely escaped collapse, he could see the streets below. There were no signs of looting or any such disturbances. In fact, he could even see the familiar smoke from cooking fires. This indicated that, at the very least, the citizens of the royal capital were managing to sustain their lives.

“This afternoon, I believe you have a meeting with the people from Paraiso?”

“Yes. We have received word that it will be for information sharing and to convey their plans. The visitor will be Zehn Ringo. In terms of military rank, she is equivalent to a brigadier general in our system. In terms of noble rank in her homeland, she is a duke and a member of the royal family. They have specifically informed us that we need not be overly formal, as her status is nearly equivalent to yours, Your Grace.”

“Hmmm… Well, even if I wanted to host her, I have nothing to offer. Everything we have is what they have provided. I wouldn’t be able to complain even if they were more imposing… It’s quite considerate of them.”

To say that one need not be overly formal with someone of equal rank, especially when occupying a city, was quite unusual. Observing their adeptness, it was clear that they had conducted military invasions elsewhere as well. Perhaps something troublesome had occurred in another location.

Or perhaps another duke had already caused some trouble.

He had no trust in Duke Kalburk, but since there had been no signs of increased hostility towards him, he hoped that nothing had happened.

“We have managed to recover some small items and clothing from the estate, which we have prepared in the conference room. However, we haven’t been able to gather any decorations.”

“Since it’s a room prepared by Paraiso, it would have been a garden party otherwise. Still, it was Paraiso that destroyed the estate in the first place…”

There was no point in complaining about that. The preparations for the meeting were being carried out alongside the personnel from Paraiso, so there should be no significant issues regarding diplomatic etiquette. When dealing with a country with which one had no prior contact, it was always nerve-wracking due to unfamiliar customs. If the other party was cooperative, it would make things much easier.

“…Hmmm. The tea is also quite good…”

“Yes. The quality is astonishing. It appears to be tea leaves from the Forest Country (Lebresta). The quality has not deteriorated, and such a product could only be obtained in the city near the East Gate. Considering the potential degradation during transport, it is something that can only be enjoyed locally.”

“I see… Whether it’s superior preservation techniques or rapid transportation… No, perhaps it’s both. If they can fly, then the speed of transport…”

As he enjoyed his post-meal tea, suddenly—

“Y-Your Grace!! Quickly, look outside!!”

“Hmm? Is that you, Knight Commander? What’s the matter?”

“Y-You must see it for yourself! It’s the quickest way to understand!!”

The Knight Commander burst in, causing both the duke and the butler to furrow their brows. However, the fact that the Knight Commander was in such a state of panic indicated that something significant must have occurred. Yet, he was not armed, suggesting that it was not necessarily a crisis.

Though it was somewhat impolite, Duke Yubaden left the dining room, tea still in hand, and turned his gaze in the direction the Knight Commander was pointing.

There, he saw something enormous.

Indeed, it was the corpse of a colossal creature that could only be described as a dragon from fairy tales, suspended in the air by a mysterious magic machine, the Golem, slowly moving through the sky.