Chapter 677

After the spices incident…
Several months had passed since the Samonar Kingdom hospitality uproar.

The uniforms had switched to summer attire… though all that really meant was swapping the jacket for a vest under the robe, and hot is still hot.

My robe has a temperature-regulating magic circle sewn into the lining, so I can keep it cool by channeling mana into the brooch part.

Mariel-chan had also said, “Can I copy that too!?” and had worked hard to embroider her own lining, so she’s now enjoying the same comfort.

So, things had been flowing along relatively peacefully… or so it seemed…

Since then, the trade of spices and cacao has gone smoothly, and it's safe to say the Doristan Kingdom’s cuisine has improved dramatically.

Why, you ask? Because the Duke Ellisfeed’s domain began selling original spice blends.

The recipes we traded with the Samonar Kingdom were exclusively reserved for them out of courtesy, but herb salts and spice salts—just sprinkle it on meat, rub it in, and grill it for a pro-level taste!—were *not* included in those recipes sold to Samonar!
Fuhaha!

At first, I had planned to sell them through the Mayor Company… but Mariel-chan turned me down with a pale face saying, “If we take on any more, my father will collapse from overwork,” so I reluctantly gave up and instead marketed them as a new product under the Ellisfeed Duchy brand, following our bacon line.

Well… it *really* sold.

We started with a test sale—small bottles aimed at adventurers—and they sold like wildfire.

Soon, taverns and inns near the Adventurers’ Guild started using them too, and that created word-of-mouth buzz that drove sales even more.

One adventurer who had bought a spicier blend full of chili peppers ended up in a bad matchup with a higher-ranked monster. In desperation, he threw the spice at it, and the overwhelming heat made the monster recoil in agony—giving the adventurer a chance to land the finishing blow. That incident led to a sudden belief that the spice was “also good for subjugating monsters,” causing a temporary shortage.

… That wasn’t the intention when we formulated it, though?

Naturally, the merchants that adventurers were escorting took notice of this boom. They bulk-bought the product and brought it to other domains, where it caught on, and of course, it became all the rage in the royal capital too.

Rumor has it the Samonar Kingdom is laughing all the way to the bank thanks to this.

“Still, though…”
“Yeah…”
“We’re sick of it now…”
“Same here…”

Mariel-chan and I both sighed with heavy expressions.

No matter where we went, everything was spice-heavy cuisine.

Compared to the greasy, oily dishes of the past, the herbs and spices are admittedly easier to digest, and their medicinal properties help with magic power recovery, so meals are objectively better… but having the same flavor over and over again gets tiring.

It’s fine for us since we can control our own meals, but even just a casual food crawl on our day off left us feeling that way.

Maybe it's just worse for us since we were already living a spice-heavy life before the boom.

“Don’t other people get tired of it too?”
“Hmm, well, in more remote regions the trend is just starting, so… I think it’ll keep going for a while.”
“Huh…?”
“Apparently even the general dormitory cafeteria has started using it. Students are happy because it makes them feel satisfied even with smaller portions.”

According to Mariel-chan, who’s always in the know, the girls especially welcome it since they can recover magic power even while eating less. A surprising twist.

The boys are still eating plenty, but knight course students in particular say they’re gaining more magic power from meals, and they love it.

“Still, if people don’t get a bit creative, the strong flavors and aromas will be tough for those who don’t like them.”
“Exactly…”

I know I’m the one who put these products out there, but still.
I had Ash, who works in our domain’s bacon workshop, try making samples with various herb and spice blends… and the moment he carelessly sniffed one of the spice jars, he burst into a coughing fit.

“S-Sorry. Cough! I-I think it’s… a bit strong for me, but I’ll give it a try… cough!”

… He accepted the spices with teary eyes. Sorry, Ash.

“The beef bowl on the menu at that café is still as popular as ever, but now some students are bringing in their own spices and making it spicier.”

What!?
That actually sounds kinda delicious—no, wait.
The cursed spice hands have reached even there!?
Not that I didn’t plant those seeds myself…

“… Shall we try pitching a new item to the café?”
“Eh? You’re trying to start another uproar!?”

Mariel-chan gave me a “Wait, for real!?” kind of reaction to my suggestion. Rude.

“Why do you assume an uproar is inevitable? We’ve done rich flavors, we’ve done spicy flavors—shouldn’t we add a light option too?”
“Well, you’re not wrong, but…”

Mariel-chan muttered, “When it’s you, Cristea-san, the drama just kind of… comes with the territory…” What a misunderstanding.

That makes it sound like I’m dragging trouble with me everywhere!
I’m just! Getting dragged in! That’s all!

“Well, putting that aside, it’s gotten really hot lately, hasn’t it? Spicy food is good for beating the heat, but some people lose their appetite or want something refreshing, right? Wouldn’t you want something light, Mariel?”
“Ugh… yeah, maybe I do…”
“Fufufu, right? Then let’s go to the cafeteria and brainstorm a new menu!”
“Aah… Cristea-san, please go easy on me. But I’m looking forward to it…!”

And so, Mariel-chan and I headed eagerly to the cafeteria.

What do you think about this chapter?