Volume 7 Chapter 5 The Chubby Noble And The Mad Girl
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Aldo Dracul? Who’s that?”
I asked Milly as we jostled in the carriage.
”The Dracul family has held land along the South District Road, connecting the South District to the Capital City, for ages. They’re known as the ‘Vampire Clan’.” Milly replied, looking over the report her subordinates had given her. “Aldo Dracul is the third son of the current head of the family.”
It seemed she’d been gathering information beforehand, knowing we were invited to the banquet.
”Vampire Clan? Do they suck blood?”
”They don’t actually suck blood. The family rule states that only an Incubus can become head. ‘Vampire’ is a derogatory term other nobles use to mock them for their shrewdness in maneuvering the noble society and expanding their territory over the generations.”
”Huh, so the previous heads were all pretty good then.”
”It’s said that a member of the Dracul family is always by the side of any ruler, no matter the era. They’re rumored to keep their position even when a new ruler comes to power. So, in the Capital City, making an acquaintance with the Draculs is considered a surefire way to become a candidate for the next ruler.”
Milly narrowed her eyes as she continued reading the report.
Her expression was sour.
She was worried that, because of my invitation from the Dracul family, I would be exposed to the nobles as a potential ruler.
She’s been on edge about my safety ever since we had that incident with those mysterious spies.
”Huh, so I’m a candidate too? Gwain and Fabulanova are already in the running, right?”
”The Draculs send a member of their family to each potential candidate. In this generation, the eldest son went to Gwain, the second son to Fabulanova, and they sent the third son to Kent.”
…I see, so they can stay on top no matter who ends up ruling.
”So, the Kingdom’s just a parasite for the nobles, huh? And ‘Vampire’ is their nickname. Well, can you give me some info on Aldo, the third son, too?”
Milly flipped through the report listlessly.
Her brows furrowed suddenly.
”He… is a typical idiotic Noble’s son… The head of the house is probably trying to use Kent as insurance, I suppose… Still… what a useless son…”
”He sounds interesting. What kind of guy is he?”
”Aldo Dracul. Seventeen years old. Of course, he’s an Incubus. He’s short and chubby, apparently due to overindulging in food. His behavior is also crass and he makes many rude remarks. There are all sorts of riffraff and diners who hang around his house. That’s why the Capital City Nobility gossips about ‘Don’t associate with the Dracul’s third son because he’s an idiot.’However, his fiancée is also the daughter of a prominent house, the Lute family, so in that sense, he’s a candidate for a great Noble.”
A useless man like that inviting me?
”Thanks. I guess I have to meet him to judge. He’s the son of a Noble who owns land bordering Nolans territory, so it’s best to maintain good relations.”
”Yes… even though I’m not really looking forward to it…”
Although Milly says she’s not looking forward to it, she spent hours choosing her dress, so maybe she’s secretly excited.
As they travel, the carriage reaches the inner part of Capital City, where the mansions of the Nobility stand in a row.
And then, a particularly large mansion comes into view.
”Is this the Dracul family mansion?”
”Yes, to be precise, it’s the mansion of the third son, Aldo. The head of the house’s mansion is in a location closer to the Royal Palace.”
The son’s mansion is this big…
Aldo’s mansion was about the same size and expanse as the mansion Milly had lived in during her time in Abyss Vena.
As the carriage passed through the gates and into the grounds, it stopped in front of the entrance, and Orga’s female guards, who served as my bodyguards, opened the carriage door.
”Sir Kent, you have arrived at the mansion of Aldo Dracul.”
”Thank you. Well, let’s go in.”
”Kent, be careful. Even with the increase in shadow guards, this is Capital City. Don’t let your guard down.”
”I know.”
I understood Milly’s concerns, but it wouldn’t do to visit someone’s home with an excessive guard detail when invited.
So, I came to Ald’s mansion with only the female guards of Orga, Milly, and a few shadow guards. As we stepped down from the carriage, the front door opened, and a short, slightly chubby young man appeared, leading an elderly man with white hair.
He greeted us with a lewd grin and a sly smile. Just as Milly had said, he seemed like the epitome of the corrupt nobility of Capital City.
”Thanks for accepting my family’s invitation. Being summoned to the Dracul house means you’re a candidate for power. How do you feel? It’s unprecedented for a fresh Lord from the South District backwater to be invited to the Draculs’. Hehe, but I’d say your chances of becoming a power player are slim, considering I was chosen.”
Aldo kept that lewd smile plastered on his face as he threw out words that made it hard to tell if he was praising or mocking me.
Frankly… I’d rather not get involved with this guy…
Aldo’s attitude made me uncomfortable, but since he was a Noble of the Kingdom and the son of a neighboring Lord, I couldn’t just turn around and leave. I had no choice but to endure it.
”Pleased to meet you for the first time. I am Kent Blackdagger. Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Lord Dracul.”
”Come on, it is too formal, just call me Aldo. And don’t get your hopes up about this invitation; my old man was just being pushy. Unlike my brothers, I’m not interested in power. I just want to keep living a life with delicious food and beautiful girls by my side. So, don’t expect too much from me, Kent.”
Aldo lazily revealed the true nature of this dinner party.
His thoughtless act of spilling the beans to a guest like me only confirmed that this chubby Noble was just as rumored.
”But don’t worry, my personal chef is amazing. You’ll enjoy the meal, at least.”
With that, Aldo entered the mansion alone.
We were led by the white-haired elder to the dining room of his mansion.
* * *
As I arrived in the dining hall, I was greeted by a familiar spread of food laid out on the banquet table.
Sushi, sukiyaki, tempura, donburi, pasta, pizza, and even ramen──an array of dishes I had come to love in that other world.
Since coming to this world, I had only been eating Annabella’s meals, which mostly revolved around simple, humble fare, so I had no idea such cooking existed here.
”What is this…”
”It’s our house’s pride, prepared by our dedicated cook, Keith. Don’t hold back, you can enjoy it without worry. There’s no poison in there, so relax.”
With that, Aldo took a piece of tempura from the platter and popped it into his mouth as if to show me it was safe.
His action was probably meant to indicate that he bore no ill will towards me.
”Well then, I suppose I’ll dig in. Honestly, the smell has been driving me wild…”
I settled into my seat and started with the sushi in front of me.
Seafood is scarce in the inland Capital City, so the sushi was made with white fish, but the vinegared rice, with just the right amount of wasabi, delivered a refreshing taste that danced on my tongue.
It’s genuine… they’ve really prepared it properly… This cook must be quite skilled.
”Kent… that’s rather uncouth. It’s bad manners for a guest to start eating before the host,”
Milly whispered, and I tossed a piece of vegetable tempura, drizzled with what seemed to be a dipping sauce, into her mouth.
”!? This is delicious…! The crispiness and sweetness of the vegetables… Ah! No, Kent! You have to follow the manners!”
”Ms. Miriallia, you don’t need to worry about that. I don’t bother with manners when it comes to good food. Besides, it seems Kent is enjoying it,”
Aldo was already smearing pizza sauce across his face.
I, too, was lost in the deliciousness and nostalgia, rapidly devouring the various dishes laid out on the table.
Everything tasted even better than the food I had in Japan.
If a cook could make Japanese food this good, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility that they were a Lost One.
”Sir Aldo, I’d like to meet the chef who made this.”
”Ah, that’s fine. Butler, go call old Keith.”
”Understood. Please wait a moment.”
An elderly man, the butler, left the room and soon returned with a Rakshasa Clan scalar species elder, whose short, golden hair contrasted with his deeply lined eyes.
The golden-haired elder gave me a slight bow before beginning his introduction.
”I am Keith Brad, the one who provided today’s cooking. It is an honor to meet the renowned Lord Blackdagger.”
Keith, despite appearing quite elderly, moved with a grace that suggested he was no ordinary man.
Intrigued, I braced myself for rudeness and hurled a plate at him.
The plate split in 2 just before it hit Keith’s face, falling to the ground.
Keith had sliced it in half with a kitchen knife.
”I’ve cut a worthless object… Please refrain from such pranks, Lord Blackdagger.”
What the──!?
A hidden move!
The Capital City must be interesting to have someone like him among the nobles like Aldo… And his cooking skills are amazing… Annabella and Meg might even want to become his apprentices.
”Kent, that was a bit too unrefined for dinner entertainment. Keith managed to cut it, but I think other cooks might not appreciate such a thing.”
Aldo puffed up his cheeks slightly as he lodged a complaint.
”My apologies. I thought he might not be a mere amateur and decided to test him a bit. Sir Aldo, I apologize for my rudeness, but would you consider letting it go? Of course, I will pay all necessary fees, including a transfer fee. I would even be willing to offer him a hundred large gold coins.”
”Hey, Kent! That’s too impolite! Asking a noble you’ve just met to give up his cook.”
Milly looked at me in a panic.
However, I had already been charmed by his cooking.
The exquisite Japanese cuisine I hadn’t tasted in so long had brainwashed my stomach.
”Ahaha! Kent, you really do say the funniest things. Are you trying to take Keith away from me? Haven’t you heard the rumors? No amount of money will convince me to give up old Keith. If I did, I’d have to go on a hunger strike! But you know, Keith is looking for a disciple to teach all his skills. How about letting your cooks train under him?”
Aldo laughed, cheerfully refusing to part with Keith.
It seemed he too had been brainwashed by Keith’s cooking.
”Sending our cooks for training… understood. I will send my 2 cooks to Mr. Keith later, so please teach them your cooking.”
”This is going to be exciting. I hope the cooks from Lord Blackdagger can learn everything I have to offer.”
Keith seemed pleased with Aldo’s proposal, wearing a bright smile.
I’ll send Annabella and Meg to become cooks and master that Japanese cuisine.
With that, we should be able to enjoy amazing Japanese food in the South District…
”Still, Lord Blackdagger is quite the character. I may be a noble myself, but you’re the kind of noble that breaks the mold. Hehe, it’s honestly quite amusing.”
Aldo looked at me, laughing heartily.
The initial crudeness I sensed hadn’t completely faded, but he seemed to share a taste for good food.
”I hope you’ll overlook my rudeness.”
”Eh, but you know… ah, that’s right. Enough apologies! Come on, let’s hit the town and grab a drink. I was thinking of going to my favorite place. It should be fun with you around, Kent!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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