Feasting Lord in Another World

#Monster Extermination and Field Mess Hall (4)

Beneath the southern mountain range, troops had assembled after a lengthy hiatus.

Each territory had dispatched soldiers, ranging from as few as fifty to as many as two hundred. Every camp displayed its own flag and erected its own fortifications, perspiring profusely in the process. From a distance, the scene appeared quite impressive.

"Wow, it's like watching a movie."

Dominic had found a place among the bustling soldiers, laid out his own spot, and was relishing the sights all around him.

The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze was blowing; it was a perfect day to take it easy.

"Chief, ah, no, Chef! Should this go here?"

"Yes, handle it with care. If the cooking equipment breaks, we won't be able to replace it immediately, and that would pose a problem."

"Alright. Once the makeshift kitchen is ready, I'll be back."

"Sure, sure. You don't even need to come back."

Before arriving at the assembly point, the kitchen staff and soldiers, who had practiced working together multiple times, operated smoothly even without Dominic's intervention. Thanks to that, Dominic only needed to confirm the menu, the quantity of food, and cooking methods, after which he practically had free time.

"This is all thanks to my excellent training. Ah! I have every right to relax. I hope this monster extermination operation lasts a month or so."

With that thought, Dominic was now thoroughly enjoying himself, lying down and chuckling.

He had no intention of interfering where things were already going well. There was hardly anything more enjoyable than relaxing while everyone else was busy.

Simultaneously, while Dominic was reclining among the soldiers, leisurely munching on peanuts, a tense atmosphere was unfolding in the commanders' tent.

"I didn't expect you, Count Sinclair, to personally partake in this campaign. After all, you have plenty of skilled knights under your command."

Lord Delte, portly and flushed, made the first move.

In other words, he was sarcastically saying, "Why are you here when you haven't even properly learned swordsmanship? Just leave it to your knights."

Veins began to pop on the Count's forehead.

"Haha, I came to personally witness the abilities of the soldiers from the various territories. And also, I was eagerly anticipating seeing your renowned swordsmanship, my Lord."

"…Is that so."

"That's correct."

Having been counterattacked, Lord Delte's face also reddened. He had caught on that the Count intended to taunt him about his own swordsmanship failing grade back in his academy days.

'That man, really!'

'Shall we go all the way with this?'

Though they usually got along, these two always felt an unnecessary sense of rivalry whenever military operations were discussed.

'How childish!'

'Why are they like this?'

Onlookers shook their heads or inwardly clicked their tongues at these two Lords.

After all, neither would actually wield a sword.

Their swordsmanship was terrible anyway.

Yet their pride kept getting in the way, making it seem like both were just ordinary men who had romantic notions about being a knight.

Both Lord Sinclair and Lord Delte were unparalleled talents when it came to their area of expertise, administrative work. Yet none of that acumen was visible now.

Thud-.

"Enough with the pleasantries, let's eat. You all must be tired from the journey."

Another Lord interjected, attempting to change the subject.

But his words only served to make Lord Delte even more pompous.

"I recently read a book on military strategy."

"Really? Anything interesting?"

Some knights perked up their ears.

"It talked about how to win the hearts of soldiers."

"Oh, that's interesting. Applying that knowledge could certainly enhance loyalty."

"Exactly. That's why I closely studied that section. According to the book, the first step in winning the hearts of the soldiers is to ensure they are well-fed."

"Hmm!"

Upon hearing this, the other Lords discreetly coughed.

"I wondered why he suddenly started discussing military strategy, and then I realized he just wanted to boast about himself again."

"Is there any lord who dislikes providing good meals for his soldiers? The problem always comes down to money, doesn't it?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I always strive to pay attention to the soldiers' food, but there are still many areas that need improvement, so I have numerous concerns about how to handle it."

Lord Delte's intentions were clear. Everyone knew that the quality of his soldiers' meals was excellent, so some lords couldn't help but roll their eyes when he made such remarks.

"The military strength of Count Sinclair is hard to match in our southern region. Surely, you also pay attention to the soldiers' meals, right?"

"Of course. For the soldiers to perform at their best, they must first have proper nourishment. How could I not care?"

"So, would you be willing to offer us some guidance?"

A triumphant smile spread across Lord Delte's face.

***

"Oh, this is embarrassing. This is what the soldiers in our territory are eating... I don't know what to do, showing you something so inadequate."

Whether he had vowed to humble the Count this time, Lord Delte was making a big fuss with exaggerated gestures.

"This is far from inadequate. It appears that the Delte estate is quite luxurious. I've heard the budget doesn't differ much, but having such a setup is impressive!"

Jealousy flickered in the eyes of the lords and knights who saw the dishes brought by the servants.

Lord Delte's soldiers were enjoying food that was clearly special, filled with dishes that would typically be reserved for special occasions.

Thinly sliced cured pork, a bean dish slow-cooked with tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms, a hearty soup brimming with root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, and even two loaves of bread per person.

"This seems more than sufficient to boost the soldiers' morale."

"The abundance of food and high-quality ingredients is astonishing, but what's even more surprising is that they manage to cook this well in the field."

Lord Kenbain, who had been silent until now, spoke up, offering a compliment.

In response to the praise from Lord Kenbain, known for his strategic acumen and knightly prowess, Lord Delte's shoulders naturally straightened.

"Lord Kenbain, your keen eye is not easily fooled. This is precisely what we've focused on. No matter how good the ingredients are, if a poor chef prepares the food, what reaches the soldiers will be subpar, won't it?"

"The lord's attention, bountiful ingredients from fertile land, and an excellent chef; everything aligns perfectly to boost the soldiers' morale. Excellent."

"Thank you."

It seemed that the ego-driven competition between the two lords over the quality of their soldiers' meals was going to conclude with Lord Delte's victory.

"But no matter how well our territory does, it's still challenging to keep up with Count Sinclair's soldiers, isn't it? Please offer us some guidance. We're eager to learn."

"It appears you're already beyond the stage of needing guidance, but since you've asked, I can't refuse."

Lord Delte inwardly smirked at Count Sinclair's response.

'So he wants to maintain his pride until the end? Ha! We're already ahead in terms of cost.'

However, something unexpected occurred. Count Sinclair stood up and headed outside the tent.

"Where are you going without finishing what you were saying?"

"Ah, you'll grasp it faster if you see our soldiers' meals for yourself. Though it may be inconvenient, would you accompany me?"

Everyone in the command post looked puzzled. Some were openly irritated, but none dared to openly defy Count Sinclair's request.

However, most were curious.

'What has he prepared that makes him so confident?'

The news that the lords themselves were heading out quickly reached Dominic as well.

"Ah, please, no!"

He had been prepared for something troublesome to happen someday, but he didn't expect it to be today.

"Why do they do this from the first day? Sigh. The lower-ranking soldiers always suffer when the stars are busy, but why don't they understand that? Tsk tsk."

"A star? Ha. Are you describing the lord in such a way? That's poetically inappropriate. You usually only make disrespectful comments, but it seems you have some loyalty after all?"

"...Ah, yes. But what brings you here? Did you rush over after hearing the lord is coming?"

"I came because it's mealtime."

He encountered Ian after a long time while he was busy overseeing the soldiers, but it was not particularly pleasant.

Given the situation, there was no helping it.

"Most importantly, ensure everything is safe! High-ranking individuals are coming, and it won't end with just a scolding if there's an accident in front of them."

"Yes!"

"Move that trash can over there. Let's not create any unnecessary issues."

"Yes, chef. Should I tell the soldiers to pause eating for a moment?"

"No, not that. Rather, encourage them."

"Encourage them?"

"Yes. Why do you think those high-ranking individuals are coming all the way here, especially during mealtime?"

"...?"

"We are demonstrating that we eat well. Look, the soldiers are eating well. Isn't it nice to see? They don't have this, do they? That's what they are trying to show. So, we have to demonstrate that our soldiers eat well, right?"

"Aha!"

"Position the soldiers who eat well towards the front. Demonstrating this sort of thing is important."

"I understand what you're saying; I'll take care of it immediately!"

Dominic gave instructions to the kitchen staff and soldiers without letting down his guard.

Would it be a misconception to think he looked comfortable giving the necessary directions at the appropriate times?

'Dominic seems accustomed to handling soldiers. Why?'

Another question arose in Ian.

'Sigh, why am I stuck doing the cook's work here again?' Dominic was grumbling inside, thinking, 'I had vowed never to go near a military area in this life!'

"Change the lamp under the meat stir-fry chafing dish."

"Ah, yes! I almost forgot. Thank you, chef."

"Refill the salad as well. It doesn't look good if there are empty spots. Oh, and the bread! If you have spare hands, let's change the trash can. It would be a disgrace if it overflows in front of the higher-ups."

"Yes!"

At Dominic's words, the workers quickly moved and began replenishing the food.

"Everyone, look your best!"

The stars appeared at the perfect moment.

From Counts to Barons, even knights were present.

"No need for formality, let the soldiers continue their meal. I apologize for interrupting this joyful mealtime."

Despite his internal grumbling at the Count's words, Dominic maintained a polite demeanor.

"What exactly is this...?"

"Heh, I've never seen meal distribution like this before..."

Other lords standing behind Count Sinclair started to examine the food distribution area with curious eyes.

The food distribution area set up in the middle of the Sinclair Count's soldier camp looked somewhat different from other places.

A long table was arranged, and on top of it, unfamiliar metal dishes were neatly lined up.

The broad rectangular metal dishes were filled with food for dozens of people, and a lamp was placed in a small compartment beneath each dish, designed to evenly distribute the heat from an alcohol lamp across the bottom.

'Food must always stay hot. Satisfaction drops as soon as it cools down.'

Feeding up to two hundred soldiers in the field and keeping the food warm until the end was no easy task.

After careful consideration, Dominic had come up with the initial concept of a chafing dish—a buffet warming dish.

'After all, what's most popular among those who do physical labor is an all-you-can-eat buffet.'

Following the Count's directive, Dominic focused on three key factors to enhance the soldiers' satisfaction:

First, maintaining the food's temperature until the end.

Second, increasing visual appeal.

Third, allowing them to select only what they wanted to eat.

And Dominic's judgment proved to be on point.