Free Distribution
The first day of free rice ball distribution.
From early morning, all the cooks and servants gathered to prepare. The places and times of distribution had already been posted on the city square’s notice board as well as each guild’s board, so it seemed most of the townsfolk already knew. After all, people had begun gathering at the gates of the lord’s manor—where the distribution would take place—about an hour before the scheduled start.
So many people standing at the gate and staring this way… honestly, it’s scary.
Feels just like a famous zombie game. Well, at least they aren’t rotting or groaning, so I should think of it that way.
“Everyone, keep working but listen up. Since people have already started gathering, we’ll begin distribution about twenty minutes earlier than planned. Athos, can you handle it?”
“Yes, I think we’ll just manage.”
“Good. Everyone besides the cooks, act as we discussed yesterday.”
““““““““Understood.””””””””
At Belle's father’s orders, everyone began moving exactly as arranged in yesterday’s meeting.
“Okay then, Joan, I’m off.”
“Yeah, good luck.”
The Belle family all went out to help with distribution. My team, Team Lampail with Brother Gene, kept on making rice balls.
Finally, when we had shaped all the cooked rice into rice balls, both the cook team and Team Lampail broke into laughter at the same time.
“““““Ahahaha!”””””
“At last, we’re done!”
“I’m exhausted!”
“My hands are all wrinkled.”
“Not just my hands, my whole body feels heavy…”
“And we’ve got to do this again tomorrow, right?”
“Aaah, I’d forgotten about that.”
“Why’d you have to remind us now?”
After making so many rice balls together, the cooks and Team Lampail had grown close enough to joke around. They were tired, but everyone wore smiles filled with relief and a sense of accomplishment.
“Everyone, thanks for your hard work. Today’s lunch is on me.”
“What? Young Lady Joan, we couldn’t possibly…”
“But you all worked so hard cooking the rice since dawn, didn’t you? Besides, I’m the one who suggested all this.”
“That’s right, Athos. Just leave it to Jo. You should rest a little.”
“Is it really okay to ask a guest to cook?”
“It’s fine! I’ll say it was my selfish request. So… what should I make? Let’s see… since we’ve got this and this… how about fried rice?”
““““““““Fried rice?””””””””
“Uh… maybe you’d call it grilled rice? Basically, you fry rice with other ingredients.”
“But all the rice got turned into salted rice balls, right?”
“Oh, I’ve still got some stored away. It’s from the Eastern Country.”
“Ah, I see. So then, rice for fried rice… and what about the side dishes?”
“Hm? I was just thinking of serving fried rice and soup since it already has ingredients in it… but okay, how about adding karaage?”
“““““Karaage?”””””
“Anyway, just watch me cook.”
“Jo, you’re just tired of explaining, huh?”
“Sh-shut up, Brother Gene! Come on, help me!”
“Hey, don’t push. Fine, I get it.”
And so, by the time the free distribution was finished, fried rice with karaage was ready. The Belle family and servants were overly grateful, thanking me again and again, which actually made me feel embarrassed instead.
On the second day, people began gathering even earlier than yesterday, apparently finding the salted rice balls so delicious. We made loads of corn rice balls as well, just like the day before.
That day’s lunch, at everyone’s request for another rice dish, was Gyudon (Jet Bull version), Negi miso soup, and fried eggplant with broth. Naturally, everyone ate it all up.
And then came the third day—the day to reveal what the salted and corn rice balls really were.
“Thank you all for gathering here. For the past two days, what you have been tasting is a grain we wish to cultivate more widely in Burst territory. Six years ago, we had a poor wheat harvest and had no choice but to buy wheat from other lands. But with this grain, even if wheat fails, we will not go hungry.
This is the staple food of the Eastern Country, and once its production here is on track, we plan to sell it to other territories as well.”
““““““““““Ohhhhh!””””””””””
The townsfolk cheered at Belle's father’s words.
“If we can eat that delicious stuff, I’ll help!”
“Me too!”
“Lord! So what is that food?”
“Tell us already!”
“Don’t we get some today too?”
“I’m hungry!”
“Any other flavors?”
Everyone shouted at once, some even assuming there’d be another free distribution.
“Very well. What you’ve all been eating these two days is… this.”
Saying so, Belle's father held up a sheaf of rice high.
“This is rice, which you all know well.”
““““““““““Ehhh!?””””””””””
““““““““““Riiice!?””””””””””
“““““You tricked us!!”””””
“““““That’s cruel, Lord!!”””””
“““““““Tyranny!!”””””””
“I understand how you feel. It seems like a trick, and I apologize. But until now, rice has only been livestock feed in Burst territory. In truth, however, it is the staple food of the East. None of us—myself included—knew how to eat it properly.
It was Young Lady Joan of Marquis Lampail’s Household who taught us. Thanks to her, our territory need never go hungry again. If rice takes root throughout the country, Burst will also prosper.”
““““““““““Uwoooohh!””””””””””
“““““Long live Burst Territory!!”””””
““““Thank you, Young Lady Joan of House Lampail!””””
And so, the rice once dismissed as animal feed was finally accepted by the townsfolk, thanks to the free distribution and Belle's father’s explanation. Hans told me that rice is already being stocked in the town shops, and when sold, Athos and the others’ written instructions for cooking rice will be included. Still, since many people are unfamiliar with it, cooking classes will also be held starting tomorrow for several days.
As for me, I’m satisfied just to have received last year’s leftover rice. How production develops from here will depend on Belle's father’s skill, but I did mention that House Lampail intends to purchase rice regularly from next year onward. The formal contract, of course, will be handed over to Father.
Tomorrow, Belle and Young Master Eric will join me on a trip to Phantasmo.
It’s been a while since I last went there—I can’t wait.
What do you think about this chapter?
