Feasting Lord in Another World

#Monster Hunt and Field Kitchen (3)

A small flame ignited within Dominic's heart.

'This is a matter of pride!'

Do people recognize when a nutritionist is most upset?

Is it when they have to meticulously plan a diet, considering all factors?

Is it when their clients, particularly women, don't follow their instructions and remain stubborn?

Is it when they must use even a single drop of sesame oil sparingly due to budget constraints?

No.

It's when they hear innocent students say, "The school next door serves lobster, why do we only get weeds?" after putting in all the hard work to prepare a meal.

[How is that possible when their school meal budget is probably similar to ours?]

When he was a novice nutritionist, he believed it was because he was lacking.

He thought he hadn't worked hard enough, hadn't put in enough effort to create an enticing menu that children would love. But he soon realized...

'That principal is to blame!'

Ultimately, it turned out that the school's principal had been accepting bribes from food suppliers. A sadly common scenario.

During his time at that school, Dominic lost count of how many times he was compared to the neighboring school with transparent budgeting.

"We go all out! Soft wheat bread, meat stew, fresh fruits, and salad!"

"Do you even know the budget allocated for soldiers' meals when you say that?"

Ian's words extinguished Dominic's burning passion.

"Ah... the budget..."

Whether it's 21st-century South Korea or the Verona Empire in the year 532 of the God's Calendar, the budget always remains a contentious issue.

In a world where magic, spirits, and gods exist, it's absurd that the budget still hampers progress.

"Is there any place where military operations aren't affected by budget constraints?"

"Even so, should they be so frugal when it comes to providing for the soldiers?"

"They're different from those few lords who skimp even on the soldiers' meal expenses. However, they're also not so generous that you can do everything you'd like. It'll be decided within reasonable limits."

"What are those reasonable limits?"

Dominic swallowed hard.

The term 'reasonable limits' can be daunting when you're a part of society.

[Is this reasonable to you? Huh? Is it?]

Dominic couldn't count how many times he'd uttered those words in his past life.

Depending on the person and the situation, that elusive 'reasonable limit' could vary significantly.

"I'm not entirely sure myself, but I don't think it will differ much from the soldiers' regular meals."

"That won't suffice. Let me go and inquire."

Dominic quickly turned and rushed toward the finance manager's office.

**

"So, this is really it...?"

"Our territory's budget is relatively high, so don't be too disheartened."

The manager's subordinate patted Dominic's sulking shoulders.

"It's increased twofold compared to the last hunting operation."

"Really?"

"Of course. We were instructed to roughly match it to the budget of the Delte Estate."

When the Delte Estate was mentioned, Dominic's interest was piqued.

"The Delte Estate? Why is the name of a neighboring lord suddenly cropping up?"

"Huh? Oh, right! Evergreen is a new town and hasn't sent soldiers to the lord's castle yet, have they? Then you wouldn't have heard the rumors."

The manager stroked his mustache as he spoke.

"Do you know that the Delte Estate is one of the top territories in the empire, let alone in the south?"

"Yes, I've heard that even during a famine, the residents don't have to worry about food."

"Correct. But Lord Delte has one problem. Do you know what it is?"

"It's well-known, isn't it? Because people are well-fed, they don't take up arms..."

"You've got it! The knights are weak, and there aren't many soldiers. But they have enough money to hire mercenaries if they want to, so that's the vibe there. It's unique. However, for Lord Delte, this seems to hurt his pride."

"It must especially sting his pride when he participates in joint military operations with neighboring territories. After all, the soldiers' capabilities are directly compared."

"That's exactly it! Maybe that's why. During the last monster extermination operation, they gained an edge with something peculiar. In the end, it was successful."

"It was related to food?"

"You got it right. Hehe."

Now the scattered puzzle pieces fell into place.

The Count who claimed he would adjust rewards based on the soldiers' satisfaction.

Soldiers who rated their meals in comparison to those from other territories.

A neighboring lord trying to compensate for weak military strength with something else.

'So, is he upset because he was outshone by someone I didn't even consider a rival? Is that what's happening now?'

The Sinclair Count's family had a long history as warriors, but the current lord was not a knight who wielded a sword.

Although recognized as a capable civil servant, he meticulously managed matters related to soldiers to ensure they didn't fall below the standards set by previous counts.

The monster extermination operations carried out collectively by multiple territories were an ideal platform to showcase well-managed military power.

'But if some fool aroused envy over something as trivial as food... It's irritating, hmm. It makes sense.'

It was evident that the budget had been adjusted to match that of the soldiers in the Delte territory.

'We invested the same amount of money, but we provide better meals to our soldiers. Tsk. If that was your intention, you should have mentioned it from the beginning. Were you too embarrassed to state it directly?'

His cluttered thoughts finally fell into place.

Indeed, understanding the client's exact intentions was a priority before undertaking the task.

"I understand. Tell me what I need to do."

"It won't be easy. The ingredients in the Delte territory are generally inexpensive."

"Yes, thank you for the advice."

"Don't mention it, it's nothing. By the way, do you have any available rooms at your resort around winter? My wife seems like she'll need a break around then..."

**

Dominic unfurled a piece of paper to plan meals after a long hiatus.

However, he had been lost in thought for several hours, unable to put anything on paper.

'The budget is the same, but they have the upper hand in sourcing ingredients.'

He wanted to add a unique twist with a cooking method but found it challenging.

'Spices and ingredients that are not commonly used here are costly. And employing a distinctive cooking method is time-consuming, which won't work in the field.'

He had contemplated using seafood, but transportation presented an issue, so that idea was also discarded.

He contemplated bringing long-lasting food supplies like dried noodles or smoked meat, but preparing them before deployment posed a challenge.

"There are two hundred people, you said?"

"Yes."

"......"

"I don't think I can be of help this time. I received a mobilization order."

"Mobilization?"

"I was assigned to lead this operation."

"Who? You, Sir knight?"

Dominic's eyes widened.

Seeing this, Ian let out a chuckle.

"What's that expression for? Is it unusual for me to lead?"

"I thought you were a knight who our lord easily forgets, just loitering around."

"...You didn't need to say that."

"As you can tell, I'm pretty straightforward. But are you really okay with it?"

"With what?"

"Leading, I mean. Doesn't that mean you have to go to the front lines and fight?"

"Are you concerned?"

"No, I just wouldn't want your lack of skill to be exposed in front of the soldiers."

"...You don't know this, but my swordsmanship is..."

"Anyway, let's give it our best in our respective roles. Try to stay away from the front lines. It's better to avoid embarrassment. Shame might be fleeting, but injuries can last a lifetime."

"Listen—"

"I'll go finish planning the meals now. See you at the departure ceremony!"

Ian let out a soft sigh, thinking that the first impression had been off from the start. Then, he exited the guest room.

"Hmm... What to do..."

Even after Ian departed, the light in the guest room remained on for a long time. It was a night filled with ongoing concerns.

***

"We've placed the order. Are you sure this will be enough?"

The following day, Dominic went directly to Anton's store, his eyes red and bloodshot.

"Why? Isn't the quantity sufficient to feed 200 people during training? I've calculated it generously."

"It's adequate in terms of quantity," Anton replied, lowering his voice with a concerned expression.

"My grandfather has extensive connections, you know. I've heard that we must ensure our soldiers are better dressed and fed than those from the Delte estate."

"Is that so? You're well-informed."

"Will this suffice, though? If you're short on money for spices or something, I can assist..."

"It's enough. If we prepare meals like that, will our lord be proud to stand before Lord Delte? It would be a relief if it's not embarrassing or humiliating."

"Even if we compete honestly like this, we'll never outdo them."

"Don't worry, I have it all planned out. Oh, do you know any skilled blacksmiths? And carpenters."

"Blacksmiths and carpenters? Of course. Oh, do you also need to place an order for tableware?"

"Yes. Recommend someone skilled. It doesn't need to be overly complex, just meticulous work. Can you arrange that?"

"Of course. Pots? Knives? Or tableware? What do you require?"

"A large cooking vessel."

"...Pardon me?"

"We'll also need sizable cauldrons. Preferably ones that can rotate. Waste disposal stations and large carts are necessary too."

"What are those?"

"They are essential for mass feeding. It's unfortunate that we don't have stainless steel, but defense magic should hold for a few hours."

This is why it's good to know a wizard, Dominic thought.

There's no electricity or gas, but magical tools can partially compensate for the inconvenience.

'I need to make a lot of strawberry shortcakes and get what I need.'

Fortunately, the only wizard Dominic was acquainted with, Perot, was willing to trade intriguing magical items for a few whole cakes.

'I won't give full ownership, but this should be sufficient. Are the preparations for the tools more or less complete?'

Feeding as many as 200 people three meals a day for over ten days was a monumental task.

Even if they provided kitchen staff and a few soldiers, coping without proper tools was impossible.

"Ah, I nearly forgot the most important thing."

Dominic retrieved a piece of paper.

On it was a dish shape that Anton had never seen before.

"What is this?"

"That? A chafing dish. Do you also have alcohol lamps?"

"You're the head chef, aren't you?"

"That's correct."

"Then why do you need an alcohol lamp? Those are quite small, you know?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"The heat output will be quite weak, you know? Definitely not a substitute for a stove."

"Well, can you acquire it?"

"Obtaining it isn't the issue, but..."

"Then it's settled. I'm busy with preparations, so I have to go. Ensure the transportation goes smoothly."

"...Certainly, take care!"

Now it was time to train the workers.

Meeting the tight schedule required proper training.