Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~

Chapter 2: The Departure

After all that strenuous effort, I somehow managed to finish my preparations late at night. During that time, I also received help from Tina and the others. I didn’t know how it would turn out if I were to do everything by myself.

“Kurt-sama, the pinal compote and honey marinade are done.”

I asked them to prepare the honey marinated pinal and pinal compote. Pinal, just like peach, is quick to rot. Afterwards, when I think about selling the pastry products using pinal fruits, I have to consider the time needed to transport them, sell to the customers, and from being sold until they are eaten. I certainly can’t sell them fresh at all.

That’s why, I prolonged their shelf life using honey marinade and compote (boiled in alcohol) methods. Both of them make it possible for longer storage, about a little over two months.

“Thank you. With this, once we get back home, we can prevent the pinal fruits from being completely unusable.”

Another thing to do is to turn the grape-like paple into jam. The current process is done not only because they will be used in the banquet; rather, it’s to prevent the fruits that have been brought here with much effort from rotting and being unusable.

“You’ve just arrived here with much effort, and yet I made you do all that labor. Sorry, Chloe.”

“Don’t fret over it. Uhm, so when Kurt isn’t here, I can make them follow the instructions from Salt who was just introduced to them, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve told Salt what to do. For the elves with water magic arte, I think they will be a truly great help. Since we don’t know how far the usage will take a toll on them, please let them know to tell us immediately when it becomes painful.”

“Yes, Siiir. I’ll tell that to Narnata and the others.”

Narnata is one of the elves who came here with Chloe.

Er, no, hold on. Isn’t there something strange with the conversation just now? The way Chloe spoke, it was as if she would be going along with us to the Duchess’ domain.

“Chloe, you’re going to stay here, right?”

“Ahaha, what are you saying? Of course I’m going with Kurt.”

Chloe laughs in glee.

“Chloe, I’ve told you the reason why I’m going to the Duchess’ domain, right?”

“Un, I was listening.”

I told Tina and Chloe that tomorrow I would depart in order to take on the responsibility of the banquet that would be hosted by the Duchess. It’s an enormously great honor, but at the same time, if I fail to humor them, it also brings the danger of an instant destruction. For argument’s sake, if I manage to obtain a duke’s signature, I’ll be able to be royally approved to sell to margrave or ducal houses. That kind of value is beyond priceless. However, if I fail, it’s undeniable that I could single-handedly ruin my house. Or even worse damage than that.

“I do understand. But, I think that I’ll be useful, just like when I helped you process the kudzu with my arte, besides, I’m confident in having discerning eyes about fruits, you know. Take me with you. I’ll be useful.”

There’s a logic to her words. If I can utilize water magic arte, I can make soups and the like in short time. Moreover, I can also process the brown sugar……

“There are even more benefits, you know. I’m strong, even compared to others in the spirit village. You can depend on me if there’s any fights. Besides, water in human towns is stale, right? With elven arte, I can make delicious water. I’m sure it’ll be worth it to bring me with you just from this point!”

I’m gradually swayed.

The water made by elven magic is delicious. I already tasted it in the spirit village. The Light Snow Silk Crepe probably won’t become that delicious without elven water. In the spirit village, using that water is a huge part of the reason why the products, the alcohol, and everything else there are delicious. Nice water, I gulp and realize how much I want to produce it on my own.

Besides, I experimented with the honey-soaked and compote fruits that we made just now. Between my village’s water and Chloe’s water magic arte, whether they bring out different flavors from the fruits or not. The results determined that using the water created by Chloe’s magic arte would make it more delicious.

“……All right, then. I’ll borrow your strength, Chloe. But frankly, it’s dangerous to bring an elf to a human territory, so I want to avoid it.”

The elf race is so precious that they are called a walking jewel, so it won’t be weird if they are targeted anytime.

“Thank you for being worried. But, I’m all right. I’m strong. Besides, Kurt, you’ll protect me, right?”

Saying that, Chloe comes close to give me a hug. I think she has a hugging habit.

“I got it, I got it. Move away. We’ll go early tomorrow, so please rest ahead of me.”

I tear Chloe off. As for me, there’s a single thing left to do. It’s about the fief’s management while I am absent, and not only for the banquet. I need to tell Salt about the policy, then I have to make the supporting documents.

Fundamentally, there’s no problem in leaving things to Salt when I’m not around, but if these kind of events keeps happening, it’s better to have some basic procedures. I shall think about that carefully.

“Pardon me, Kurt-sama.”

Tina hesitates for a bit before calling out to me with her upturned eyes. Is it because of the anxiety? Her fluffy silver colored tail looks a bit wrinkled.

“What’s wrong, Tina?”

“Please take me with you too! I probably won’t be as useful as Chloe, but I will definitely do my best!” She raises her voice.

I look at her antic, before bitterly laugh.

“Tina, that’s already a given. I was planning to take you with me from the start, you know?”

“Kurt-sama!”

With twinkles in her eyes, Tina hugs me. Usually she won’t do something like this, but it seems Chloe is rubbing off on her.

I pat Tina’s head. The softness of her fox ears feel really good.

“Tina is my important partner, right? I’ll be troubled if you’re not with me.”

Her fire magic arte is convenient, she can make flames and ice only by thinking about it. Because she always lends a hand to me, my cooking skill is high. However, more than that, her presence brings forth courage in me. In front of Tina, I don’t want to show her my uncool side.

“I’m really no match, huh?”

Looking at Tina’s and my figures, Chloe murmurs in a small whisper. I’m sure that voice didn’t reach Tina.

☘

The next morning, after finishing up a series of preparations, we finally depart. Chloe also tags along. She stayed at my house yesterday.

I left early in the morning, passed the materials to Salt, and held a briefing session. Without a single complaint on his face, he listened to my instructions and sent us off. He was always a huge help.

After cramming all the ingredients, the luggage becomes tolerable. When we went out of the house, I can hear the sound of a horse carriage’s gallop.

“Kurt-sama, I came to send you off.” Faruno came with her prized coach. It seems that Volg became the coachman. This time, we’re going simultaneously with Faruno and the butler-cum-guard, Volg. Since Fernande’s fate also depends on this, naturally they have reason to come.

“Thank you. From Arnold, me, Tina, and the one who had spent some time in this village from yesterday, Chloe, will depart.”

“I understand about Kurt-sama and Tina-san, but the girl over there will come too?”

Faruno looks in Chloe’s direction suspiciously. Chloe also looks in Faruno’s direction before speaking up.

“Uhm, you were that person who bullied me when I just arrived at this village last time, right?”

“That way of remembering is quite vexing.”

Well, Faruno did oppose my decision to go and save the spirit village when Chloe came here for the first time. However, she provided an incredibly sound argument, so it was wrong to say that it was bullying.

“Un, I phrased it badly. You weren’t wrong. Let me introduce myself again. I’m Chloe. As thanks for saving the spirit village, I became Kurt’s possession. Nice to meet you!”

“”Wha!?””

Faruno and Tina cried in shock at the same time and turned to me.

“Chloe, please stop making those kinds of jokes. ……Faruno, because of the incident, I made a long-term transaction trade with the spirit village. She is our contact person. She also has water magic arte and can help us with one thing or the other, so I’m taking her along.”

Faruno listens to my explanation and returns to her calm expression. Tina’s mouth also turns round in understanding.

“Cough. So that’s how it is. Chloe-san, please let me introduce myself once again. I’m Faruno Fernande. I’m the third daughter of Margrave Fernande, and Kurt-sama’s fiancee. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Un, likewise.”

There are delicate sparks between the two of them. I’m not worried at all, though. They seem to march to the same beat. I have that kind of feeling.

“From Fernande’s side, are there only Faruno and Volg?”

“Yes, from Fernande’s side, the ones who will be visiting the ducal house are me and Volg as my butler-cum-guard. Those who will be joining us from the other side are my father and several other cooks. My father arranged some of the best cooks in the Margraviate of Fernande as Kurt-sama’s assistants.”

There are only a few people here, for a noble excursion. But this is good. A great number of people will only make things more complicated.

While carrying our luggage, we departed towards Margrave Fernande’s manor. “There’s the most high-priced, high-speed means of transportation in the world as an escort.” from the ducal house. I’m actually looking forward to it, a bit. This is probably my only chance to be able to experience that kind of travelling.

Credits:

• Raws

Isecai’s Notes:

It feels so nice being able to go back to UPC after the whole sci-fi shebang. More and more useful people coming towards Kurt and helping out. It’s okay to build your pastry empire, just make sure it’s not harem, Kurt, lmao.