kscans

CHAPTER 8 PATARAPOZA – Episode 5 Godon’s Love (Part 1)

1

“Oh, I’m truly delighted you came. Please enjoy yourself thoroughly tonight.”

Seeing the genuinely happy former Count of Linz, Simon Epivares, Bard felt at ease. On his way here, he’d heard news of several dear old friends passing. Count Huddle, Godon, Kainen, and Eureka. So he’d feared the elderly Count of Linz might also have departed this world. His worry, however, was completely unfounded. Aside from being slightly thinner and having a hoarse voice, Simon was much the same. His face glowed with health, and his build remained robust. He must be around 80 by now, Bard mused, yet still remarkably energetic for someone who had borne such responsibility for many years.

“Lord Bard, you saved my life yet again when we last parted. I must express my gratitude anew. I am deeply indebted to you.”

Simon was referring to an incident seven years ago. Bard had received a personal letter from King Julelan here and was heading to the capital of Parzam shortly after. As he prepared to depart by ship, he used the mysterious power of his ancient sword to strike down an assassin who had targeted Simon, who had come to see him off. Seven years had passed since then, but drinking together now, it hardly felt like any time had gone by at all.

“That assassin was sent by relatives dissatisfied with my decision to hand over all business operations to Werner. I had let them run things for so long that they began thinking of the business as their own. I left the aftermath to Werner, and he handled it… quite harshly. He spared the assassin in exchange for publicly revealing the client at a family meeting. It turned out to be my cousin, whom Werner had executed. However, he didn’t confiscate his property, allowing it to pass to the eldest son. After that, he reorganized our entire business structure. It was about time for some adjustments anyway. Our business has expanded greatly since the old days—we’ve set up our own transport to bring in silver from Pakula, demonic beast furs, and lumber from Dorba. We’ve even built factories and lined warehouses along the far side of the river. We now have a permanent negotiator in the capital, and our carriages constantly travel between Parzam and Padelia. To tell you the truth, one of the reason I passed on my title and family headship to Werner was to avoid Parzam’s attempt to appoint me as a formal count. I used to long for that title, but now, I’d rather not be under Parzam’s thumb. Those sly statesmen would fleece me to the bone! It’s hard enough dealing with the merchants in the capital! Wa ha ha ha!”

The conversation was pleasant, and the alcohol was delicious. Above all, though, the food was extraordinary. Bard took a small bite of the colorful dishes spread across the table and was overjoyed. Delicious!

The food on his journey had been utterly tasteless at every establishment. Even Krausk, while better, wasn’t up to par. Bard had once found roadside inns’ fare quite enjoyable, but after becoming accustomed to Kamler’s cooking, he’d grown to appreciate the subtlest nuances of seasoning and preparation. Now, everything else seemed inferior.

But here? The food was a revelation. Creative, varied, and visually appealing. It was delightful on the palate, rich in flavor, and each bite settled pleasantly in his stomach. The aromas alone were enough to whet the appetite.

Still, what exactly was this dish he was eating now? It didn’t look particularly appealing. Just a dark chunk of meat covered in a dark sauce. That was the entirety of the dish. And yet, the depth of flavor was remarkable! At first, he thought it might be meat from some beast, but that didn’t seem quite right. Fish perhaps? No, not that either. It had a certain firmness, yet yielded easily to the teeth. At that moment, an intense, sharp umami flavor struck his tongue. It was as if the umami from the ingredient’s juices had been condensed to the extreme, yet without being burnt. Receiving signals from the tongue, his entire body went on high alert. His whole being recognized this as an opponent to be reckoned with. Surprisingly, the bitten-off pieces could be crushed on the tongue. There were no fibers or variations in texture. In other words, the same taste and texture continued uniformly throughout. As he chewed, the flavor seeped out, flooding his mouth and even stimulating his nostrils. No matter how much he chewed, there was no flavorless meat residue left behind. While maintaining its refined taste, it gradually dissolved, preserving its sharp flavor until the very last morsel disappeared. He could tell some kind of alcohol had been used. What could it be? The taste was somehow nostalgic.

“Ha ha ha ha! Lord Bard, can you guess what that is?”

Bard admitted he couldn’t.

“Ha ha ha ha ha! That’s the liver of an Occudor.”

Liver! Of course, now that he mentioned it, the texture was unmistakable. The livers of Colcordur and beef had similar textures, though usually with a distinct smell, which this dish lacked. But an Occudor? While large, could it really produce such a substantial liver?

“You need a well-fattened, healthy Occudor to make this dish. A thin or injured one won’t suffice. Most importantly, you must extract the liver while the fish is still alive, then wash it with clear Pran liquor.”

Pran liquor! And clear liquor at that! Where on earth did they get such a thing?

“Godon brought me clear Pran liquor imported from Krausk several times as a gift, and I became quite fond of it. I now have it imported regularly, though the transport costs are outrageous. I can’t sell it commercially, so it’s a personal indulgence. However, my chef keeps coming up with new dishes using it. The food is marvelous, but my drinking budget is shrinking! It’s quite troublesome.”

Indeed, that is troublesome. But in any case, it seems they have clear Pran liquor here. Bard mumbled that he’d like to drink some.

“Wa ha ha! So Lord Bard is also a Pran liquor enthusiast. To think I’d meet a fellow aficionado in a place like this. I’ll have some brought right away, so please wait a moment.”

Soon, Pran liquor was brought out, but there was only one small jug.

“What? Is this all that’s left? That Ishudari must have used it for cooking again. How outrageous. Tell him sternly not to use more than what I’ve permitted. Though it’s probably futile. Ah, Lord Bard. This is all we have. However, we still have a barrel of cloudy Pran liquor left. How about we continue with that?”

Of course, Bard had no objections.

“Now then, we were talking about the food, weren’t we? After quickly washing it with clear Pran liquor, it’s marinated in a sauce. That sauce is made by mashing the innards of a Kushidorutan (armored fish) and mixing it with an equal amount of clear Pran liquor. Oh, that’s right. In this case, the Pran liquor used is first heated and then cooled. Then it’s gently warmed over low heat. After it’s sufficiently warmed, it’s cooled to let the flavors infuse. The next day, it’s warmed and cooled again. And again on the third day. However, fresh sauce is used each time. After three days, the dish reaches its peak condition. Three days ago, we caught a truly splendid Occudor. I thought today would be the perfect day to eat it, and then Lord Bard arrived. As Jurchaga once said, Lord Bard truly has the luck of good food! Wa ha ha ha ha!”

It was a hearty laugh. Come to think of it, Godon used to laugh like that too. He must have inherited it from his uncle.

This Ishudari must be the head chef of the household. He might even be Simon Epivares’ personal chef. Simon claims that importing Pran liquor is a personal hobby, but thanks to that, such extraordinary dishes can be created. Being able to entertain important guests with exceptional cuisine is a significant advantage. While appearing to indulge in a hobby, he’s actually fulfilling his role as the head of the Linz family. Without aspects like this, even a great family wouldn’t command much respect.

As he pondered this, Bard suddenly realized something. When he had been worrying about Kamler’s future in the capital, he should have introduced him to the Count of Linz. Simon Epivares would have properly appreciated and utilized Kamler’s unique talents. Yet, because that idea hadn’t crossed his mind, the flower of culinary culture had instead bloomed in Fyuzarion. How strange the fate could be, Bard thought.

2

The banquet continued in a convivial atmosphere. Simon no longer displayed the hearty appetite of his younger days, instead taking small bites and savoring his cup of alcohol slowly. Bard mirrored this behavior. They were no longer at an age to compete over how much they could eat. Meanwhile, the young Seto was consuming an astonishing amount of food. Karz, too, while appearing to eat quietly, showed no signs of slowing down. When Simon expressed interest in hearing about their journey, Bard had Seto recount their travels from Fyuzarion to their current location. Simon roared with laughter at the story of encountering Bard’s impersonator in the town of Kokochi and uncovering the deputy lord’s conspiracy.

“Oh my! What remarkable exploits! Truly, something always happens wherever Lord Bard goes. How amusing, how amusing indeed! And this time, you acted behind the scenes without even revealing your identity. Wa ha ha ha ha! It’s been a while since I’ve heard such an entertaining story.”

However, when the conversation turned to events after reaching Mageia territory, Simon’s expression changed drastically.

“What? You say you were surprised to learn of Godon’s death upon arriving in Mageia territory? Then… that Middle fellow hadn’t informed Lord Bard of Godon’s death? He must have known about the special relationship between Lord Bard and Godon. It was his duty as the successor to convey this news by any means necessary. How many years has it been since then? What an ungrateful wretch! What a disloyal person! It’s outrageous!”

He seemed on the verge of rushing out to strangle Middle. From that moment on, Simon’s anger wouldn’t subside. His words of rage poured forth relentlessly. While his anger stemmed from knowing the deep friendship between Bard and Godon, the way he raged with bloodshot eyes seemed somewhat excessive. Even Bard was at a loss. It couldn’t be good for Simon’s health, either. Perhaps this inability to calm down was another sign of aging. It was good that he was still energetic, but maybe he was too energetic. Then again, Bard thought, what about myself? I must be careful too.

Perhaps trying to shift the conversation, Seto asked, “Why did Lord Godon remain unmarried all his life? Wasn’t there someone he loved when he was young?”

This question had an immediate effect. Simon, who had been red-faced and furious, quickly composed himself, adopting a wistful expression.

“Ah. The story of his love. How many years has it been since then…”

And so, he began to tell the tale of Godon’s younger days.