Save the Starving Frontier! The “Buyer” of the Reversed Chastity World - 13

Chapter 13: Let’s Feed the Nobles Cooked Meals!

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“Everyone! The onee-sans of the knight order are treating you to high-grade meat! It’s a flavor even nobles approve of! Give thanks to the knights and eat to your heart’s content!”

When I deliberately shouted that, the farmers all cried out.

“Horray for the knight order!”

Besides the thirty kilos set aside for take-home, I was able to distribute the wagyū meat to the villagers as well thanks to the members of the order digging out the soil. When I said gas stoves were expensive, the knights, moving with practiced ease, built several campfires with stands.

Apparently, they were used to it from field training. All I had to do was bring out a pile of frying pans, and everyone started freely seasoning with salt and pepper and grilling on their own.

People were overjoyed by the melt-in-your-mouth wagyū beef, though it seemed the fat was a bit much for the elderly folks. The young women and kids were eating it up heartily.

I understand it though. With expensive meat, a few bites are enough to satisfy you if your stomach’s delicate.

“I’m sorry, we’ve been completely in your care. We were supposed to be the ones distributing stockpiled rations…”

“Don’t worry about it, Commander. You were short on food, right? Seeing even you folks starving made it pretty clear you had no other choice.”

When I said that, the female knight commander scratched her cheek in embarrassment. Even with stockpiles, there was no way they’d be enough with the whole city like this. Without some kind of cheat, anyone would starve.

“Are you some kind of envoy from the heavens? …No, even if you aren’t, I’ll report it that way to the Margrave. After all you’ve done, all the people here will suffer if you get dragged around by the whims of greedy nobles.”

“That’s good to hear. That would really help me out. I don’t want any troublesome business.”

Being caught up in someone’s greed was the last thing I wanted. I could produce so much that there was no need to monopolize anything, but I knew plenty of dumb nobles would hoard regardless.

If this Margrave would recognize me, that would be great. But just getting the understanding of the knight commander was already lucky for now.

“You haven’t taken any of the supplies meant for the other districts, have you? I don’t mind you carrying them off, but they’ll need to be replenished.”

“I truly apologize. In fact, we confiscated the food near the main street. If you can provide replacements, I’ll have my knights carry them.”

Good thing I asked. What did I put out on the eastern main street again? Well, I could just pile up cooked food, bread, and drinks and they’d deliver it.

“And also, the knights who returned reported seeing unfamiliar but delicious-looking dishes being served… Besides the meat and bread earlier, can you really produce other fine dishes?”

“I can. They’re commoner dishes though, so I didn’t serve them thinking they wouldn’t suit noble tastes. If you don’t mind, I will get them for you as well. Feel free to eat as much as you like.”

Saying that, I brought out some food court dishes. Not every knight was noble, but the officer who had returned was apparently of noble rank. If someone of that class said it was delicious, then it should be fine.

Like I said before, the Internet Mall had not only a food court but also restaurant items. So I could order more than just junk food.

“If you’re okay with rice and raw fish, I can bring out more dishes. How about a set meal?”

And so, I pulled out restaurant set meals. From the chicken specialty shop “Torizen,” I ordered ten servings each of chicken nanban set meals and karaage set meals. From the tempura shop “Maruo,” the teppanyaki place “Sakaiya Horumon,” and the Chinese restaurant “Manjirō,” I ordered ten servings each at random.

The hassle with restaurant meals was always the leftover containers. They were bulky.

If necessary, I guess I could fill them with this world’s water before returning them, and the system would “Purchase” them. Well, I doubted containers themselves had any value though. Structurally speaking, that idea seemed feasible. 

“These are all dishes I’ve never seen before… What in the world…”

“I might’ve ordered a bit too much, but just sample them however you like. If there’s something you enjoy, I can order more anytime.”

Since I doubted they could use chopsticks, I handed out plastic forks and spoons as well. The Commander and the knights divided up the food and tasted it.

“Commander! Every dish is unbelievably delicious!”

“I know, I’m eating them too!”

Everyone was munching away happily. They were just Japanese commoner dishes, but they were all prepared by actual chefs putting in their best effort. If they even suited noble palates, then all the better.

“Thank you. Everything was delicious. I never imagined I could eat such complex and flavorful dishes in this frontier.”

True enough, with seasonings limited to just salt or butter, the range of flavors would be small. But that limited seasoning itself must have been “the local taste,” something that they used to eat since childhood. Still, if I could let them enjoy the flavors of “different regions,” then it was worth bringing them out.

“…I’ll have to report this matter as well. But I must also ask the Margrave to keep it from reaching the royal capital. Otherwise, you’ll be kidnapped.”

“Seriously? If a commoner did that, it’d be a crime. Nobles really can do anything, huh.”

The privileged class system is such a pain.

But it seemed likely the Margrave would protect me. I decided not to leave this frontier domain.

“For now, I’d like another seafood tempura set. I like river shrimp, but to think such big shrimp live in the sea…. The white grain is quite tasty too.”

It seemed rice was fine for them.  If they thought those prawns were big, maybe I should bring them Japanese spiny lobster next time? I could get lobsters. I saw it on the list.  Sinking your teeth into that springy shrimp flesh… Yeah, that sounded good.

I went around taking orders from the knights one by one. They had just stuffed themselves with meat earlier, but as expected of soldiers, their stomachs were well trained as well. They ate like crazy.

“I don’t mind you reporting this, but there’s no way I can meet the Margrave directly. I don’t know noble etiquette.”

“Well, of course. …Even if there’s an audience, you’d just bow your head, kneel on one knee, and lift your face when called. That’s about all. Nobles don’t expect commoners to know courtly manners. Don’t worry about it.”

That sounded easy enough. So nobles handled the ceremonial details themselves, while a mere guest commoner only had to follow a few actions. Well, of course. If they invited you to praise you but punished you for bad manners, people would start questioning what nobles even were. The commoners would suspect the nobles were lacking intelligence instead. 

“Hahaha. True, there are some airheaded nobles like that. Usually it’s the young ones. Nobles with years of experience have the education to think things through properly.”

“I see. So they’re knowledgeable enough.”

Good, good. At least there weren’t brainless intellectual workers among the nobles…Well, maybe a few brainless nobles existed.

“I’d like you to distribute food in the noble district too, but being seen there wouldn’t be good. So, I’d like to invite you to the knight order’s station. What do you say?”

“Sure, that’s fine. If there are hungry people, I’ll go anywhere. Just make sure you’re distributing food to the other areas too, okay?”

“Of course.”

The knight commander promised.

The knight station, huh. Probably all women there. So basically a gathering hall for kukkoro-types. I just hope Etna won’t get sulky again.

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