< Diaro and Dranza >
Outside the southern walls of Ves-Dinas, in the new quarters. This street, one of many branching off the wide road leading to the city gate, is commonly known as Peddlers' Row.
A merchant displays and sells flexible, sturdy baskets woven from willow branches in front of his shop.
Spoons and forks made from birch, cutting boards and bowls from beech, and wooden ladles—various kitchen utensils crafted from different woods—are displayed on small stalls for easy access by passing customers. In front of the shop, women are examining items, looking to buy new cutting boards.
A hat vendor sells decorative headbands, bonnets, straw hats, and hoods that cover down to the shoulders, in various colors for women. He places them on a trestle (a portable temporary stand) and attracts passersby by switching different hats on his own head.
In the crowded, bustling street filled with many people, a group walks along, chatting with each other.
"Hey Diaro, have you prepared an excuse for your father?"
A man with bronze-colored hair, clad in darkly painted plate armor and wielding a spear with ornate metal engravings, spoke in a voice that carried clearly even through the crowd on Miscellaneous Goods Street, addressing the blond-haired man named Diaro walking beside him.
"Hmm? What excuse?"
"The excuse for returning to Darabai without winning the jousting tournament in this Grand Tournament."
"Well... My father probably didn't even expect me to win, you know? On the other hand, your father, the head of House Steren, who's praised with sayings like 'Steren on horseback can take on a thousand soldiers'... He might get angry."
"That's... that's different. Even with horsemanship that deflects arrows and dodges magic while charging, there are plenty of ways to lose in a match."
"Oh? So? Who exactly beat the continent's greatest rider?"
Diaro tilted his head curiously as he asked the knight from House Steren.
"It was just bad luck with the opponent. As a knight from House Steren, a border house under House Diat, I couldn't touch him."
"What do you mean?"
"The opponent was out of my league. I'm not stupid enough to point a lance at royalty who's hiding their identity to participate in the tournament. Even if it was just a jousting match."
"...So that's what happened. Smart thinking. Royalty doesn't believe in accidents or mistakes. Anyway, that's a good excuse, right? Better than saying 'I lost because the opponent was overwhelmingly skilled.' Isn't it, Yeegon?"
Diaro turned to Yeegon, who was following behind them, carrying several books in his arms and a bundle of paper scrolls tied with string.
"Yes! Lord Diaro. Well done, Master Dranza. I'll explain it in detail to Baron Steren, so don't worry too much!"
"But where's your usual servant? Why are you making my loyal squire carry all this stuff?"
"Huh? Just a moment... Could I get 50 sheets of paper, please?"
Diaro gestured for Dranza to wait a second, then opened the door to a shop displaying paper scrolls, ink, and quill pens, as he spoke.
A short while later, after purchasing the paper and handing it to Yeegon, Diaro started walking again.
"He's taking the horse to the farrier. That's where he is. So today, I asked Yeegon for some help. That's okay, right?"
"Why are you asking me? Ask Yeegon."
As Dranza finished speaking, both turned toward Yeegon following behind.
"Huh? Oh... I'm fine. It's just books and paper, so it's not that heavy."
"See?"
"Yeah... sure, if Yeegon's okay with it. But why send the horse to the farrier? Did it get hurt during the match?"
"No. Apparently, the hind hooves were overgrown even before the match. So, he said to trim the hooves and fit new shoes. I even got a recommendation for a good farrier."
"Huh? From who?"
"From my opponent in the match, the knight with the iris emblem... He helped me up after I fell from the horse and told me that for a knight, nothing is more precious than the horse you entrust your body to while charging, so I should visit the farrier more often."
"So the horse wasn't in top condition... Your opponent got lucky. Even though you live buried in books, you grew up training in jousting with me, so you're not someone who'd lose that easily."
Dranza patted Diaro's shoulder twice, trying to console him.
"Jousting is... it's about testing split-second judgment and the ability to adapt strategies on the fly, so it piques my interest. And since Father said if I didn't do at least that, I'd have to train with the soldiers, practicing jousting with you is way better."
"Hahaha! To be favored by the future Count of Diat—I'm honored!"
Dranza laughed loudly, dodging a passing cart by twisting his body, as he spoke to Diaro.
"And anyway, even if I'd used all my skill, I would've lost. That knight subtly twisted his body to feign an opening, luring my lance in. Then at the last moment, he twisted back the other way to extend his lance further... The iris knight's skill was far superior to mine."
Diaro recalled the opponent's eyes gleaming darkly from within the helmet—completely different from the soft gaze during the pre-match greeting.
"That's why! I know the perfect restaurant to wash away the bitter taste of defeat today! Right, Yeegon?"
"Uh... Yes~yes. It's a tavern called Raurel by the harbor. Sir Dranza said that since we're in Ves-Dinas, we have to try the fresh fish."
Yeegon hesitated, unable to say it was a place he'd scouted out to celebrate their victories.
"Yeah! It's a place that serves fried hake generously sprinkled with silphium. A flavor hard to come by in Darabai!"
Dranza's voice rose with joy and anticipation, imagining the dish they'd soon taste.
"I'll go ahead. Follow me."
Yeegon quickened his pace, passing the two and leading the way. They walked through the crowded streets toward the central square of the city, then past the square, hearing linnet birds singing on trees lining the road, heading toward the sea.
With light steps as if descending a small hill, accompanied by the sound of waves, the three arrived at the restaurant named Raurel.
Guided by the waiter, the three took their seats. Dranza, having ordered a somewhat excessive variety of dishes for three people, hummed cheerfully with a happy heart.
"Isn't that too much?"
Diaro, who had spread a book on the table before the food arrived and was scribbling something on the paper bought from Miscellaneous Goods Street with a quill pen, spoke up.
"No problem! I've got to etch the taste of that hake dish into every corner of my body before we head back! Right, Yeegon?"
"He'll eat several times more than you imagine, Lord Diaro. But I get it— he needs to eat that much to wield that spear he always carries."
Yeegon pointed to Dranza's spear leaning against the wall.
"How heavy did you make it this time? It has to be a weight you can swing when the situation calls for it."
Diaro, eyes still fixed on the tiny letters in the book, pointed with the tip of his pen-holding hand at Dranza's spear, its tip wrapped in a leather cover.
"Oh! Of course. I'd love to show you in person if we run into a troll on the way back."
"But it's way too heavy, Master Dranza. No human could lift it. That's why even Loro, much bigger than a normal horse, gets finicky when only you ride him."
"Yeah, Dranza. Think of poor Loro and use a lighter spear when riding."
Seeing Dranza's embarrassed expression at their friendly advice, Diaro smiled lightly and turned his gaze back to the open book on the table.
"Hmm... Actually, I was thinking it could be a bit heavier."
"No way!"
"That's impossible."
As soon as Dranza spoke, Yeegon and Diaro fired back with good-natured advice again.
"Al... alright, I'll take your opinions and not increase the weight anym—"
Dranza stood up from his seat, picking up the spear as if unsatisfied with its weight.
"Before bringing out your ordered dishes, here's an appetizer to whet your appetite, along with some wine."
A man with a deep, low voice approached their table. In his left hand, he held two bottles of wine, and in his right, a wide plate with bite-sized food.
It was a dish of small bread pieces topped with various combinations of ingredients, secured with toothpick-like wooden skewers.
Small cheese chunks, olives, bits of fried octopus tentacle, and more—boiled shrimp, mushrooms, grilled shellfish on a griddle. The man placed the plate with its diverse flavors down, skillfully uncorked the wine with a smile, and headed back to the kitchen.
"Anyway, Diaro, what have you been writing since earlier? Mmm! They used silphium here too. This shrimp tastes amazing—try it."
"I'm summarizing the ore vein exploration method using mana stone resonance devices, as written by Scholar Ackshoht."
"Oh~ There's a book like that? Well, unlike Darabai, this is the Grand Duke's city with a massive library."
Dranza handed Diaro a wooden skewer with a cheese piece and oil-marinated olive, while Diaro focused on the book's text.
"Mmm! It's tasty. And easy to eat. You can hold it in hand while reading."
"Oh, come to think of it, Father mentioned he's been working hard testing the Count's new mana stone equipment. Are you studying to make something yourself, Diaro?"
"Not necessarily to make something. There are so many things you can do with mana stones, so I'm just learning the basics and related knowledge."
"The future Count of Diat is thorough as ever. Fill your stomach a bit too. When the main hake steamed and grilled dishes come out, your tongue and gut will be in for a shock."
Dranza chuckled, amused by Diaro's startled reaction as he wedged three skewers with various ingredients between the fingers holding the book.
"Hoo... I can't win against you."
Contrary to his words, Diaro smiled and popped a piece of fried octopus leg from one skewer into his mouth, then closed the book on the table.
"Heh heh heh. Excited, Diaro? The silphium aroma already filling the air—what flavor will it create when it meets the hake?"
Dranza's eyes widened more than ever, his mind filled with an amplified imagination of the hake dish's taste.
"You've waited long!"
The muscular man from before approached with thick arms holding large plates wafting a subtle, sweet hake aroma.
"Here's the hake seasoned with silphium in a spiced steam, and the plain grilled hake over maple charcoal. Since you ordered so many dishes, the others will take a bit longer, so please enjoy these two while waiting."
The man with the deep voice set down the two large plates and said. No sooner had he finished than the three, entranced by the aroma, dove into the dishes with fierce intensity.
The moderate oiliness provided a soft, moist texture. Tender and smooth, it melted in the mouth.
The hake's flavor wasn't overpowering, harmonizing without overwhelming other ingredients, blending with silphium's enchanting aroma to evoke a natural sweetness.
"How is it? How is it? Beyond imagination, right?"
Dranza gulped down a mouthful of food and asked, gauging their reactions.
"It's the best! If I could take this flavor straight back to Darabai and sell it, I'd quit being your squire, Master Dranza!"
"Hahaha! That'd be a problem, Yeegon."
Unlike Yeegon's playful exaggeration praising the fantastic hake flavor, Diaro silently but swiftly moved his hands in response to Dranza's question. They poured the clear wine into each other's glasses, and the banquet to forget that day's defeats continued late into the night.