North of the mountain range (3)

“Where’s all the money coming from in this neighborhood? There aren’t many people living here, and he’d have to buy all the estates.”

“This guy only knows one and not two. There are few people, but there are resources scattered in the mountain, though the wild beasts are fierce, and the terrain is rugged.”

“In the end, all the roads coming in are through the deep mountains.”

“You can swear to the king here in front of your friends, but if you swear at Duke Tristein, you will be buried at night. Unlike other estates, most here are still privately owned by the duke.”

After Leonid the First, all lands belonged to the king and his vassals. Later, as time passed, costs were cut, or the lords bought and sold the land to businessmen or farmers, and private property was created.

‘But here is still the same as a thousand years ago. Nevertheless, the duke has a generous policy.’

Kleio looked at the food on his plate with fresh eyes. The lamb meatballs, made with minced brown onions, had cumin and caraway seeds. The beef even had smoked paprika and allspice. The cooking methods were simple, but expensive spices weren’t spared.

“Though it is a simple pub in a small town, I assumed it was normal that the food was served with spices from Meridis.”

“Hey, you’re a little heady, friend. Right, now only ice breakers can enter the port of Zekabre, but trading ships line up in the spring. All thanks to Baronet Asel launching a direct commercial ship from Zekabre to Kolpos and the Notos port in Meridis.”

‘It’s Asel? Ha, that’s great.’

Gideon Asel’s hand wasn’t missing here either. Cel laughed.

“Wow, my god. Your father’s a great person.”

Mietsu was so astonished it looked like he would fall out of his seat.

“What, are you the son of Baronet Asel? I heard you were older.”

“I’m the second one.”

Suddenly, the focus of the conversation was on him, filling him with embarrassment. In this situation, he was forced to put his fork down.

“There was a second in the Asel family. Then, did you skip like these twins?”

“No, I’m the same age as Arthur.”

“Haha. Well, aren’t you going to eat while we talk? Does the food not fit your mouth?”

Mietsu clicked his tongue as he watched the food growing cold on Kleio’s plate. This Mietsu was too interested in the welfare of children. Well, Kleio wasn’t in that category, but he couldn’t say that.

“No, it’s delicious.”

It was, of course. However, given the cold weather and the long train ride, the fatty meat didn’t agree with him. He was generally satisfied with his arrival at this new world, but only at such moments did he feel a small bit of sorrow.

‘Oh, I want to eat something spicy or some hot soup…’

In the blizzards of these northern mountains, he wanted a red hot broth. He wasn’t expecting to find kimchi on his plate, but some sundae-guk wouldn’t be too much, would it? There must be something like that.

“Then, let’s eat some more, leaving everything behind. Eat well to grow big!”

“It’s a bit cold, so it’s a little disappointing; there’s no soup.”

Hearing Kleio’s small voice, Mietsu jumped up and screamed loudly.

“This- Owner! Why is the stew so late? Can’t you catch a cow or a pig and make it?”

While guarding the firepit, a chunky face looked over the bar and shouted back at Mietsu.

“How’d you know? I just caught the cow last evening, so I don’t know how good the blood sausage will be. But, I think when you taste it, you’ll want to come here again.”

“I understand, now bring it out quickly for us to judge it!”

“Hey, you. Guys, bring out the pot. Both.”

The stew with bright red oil and broth with black blood sausage was brought out still boiling in two cast-iron pots. Kleio breathed in the aroma deeply.

‘This!’

The scent filled the pub, and the twins were the first to take the ladle and go to the pot.

“It smells great.”

“A whole new taste.”

“Wow, it’s so spicy. But it’s delicious.”

Cel, who quickly took a spoonful, served only the stew with blood sausage to Isiel.

“Don’t try the red stew, Isiel. You’re not good with spicy things.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

It felt like a lightbulb had gone off in Jungjin’s head, who always went for the red stew first.

‘Ah!’

The taste was about 85% similar to kimchi stew. The chef in the crumbled apron watched Kleio eat the stew with enough speed that it seemed he would bury his head in the bowl.

“Is it delicious? It’s salted pork fried in sour cabbage and lard, then stew boiled with plenty of chilies. It’s the representative item of the place. Eating one bowl will warm your whole body.”

“Yes, it’s really delicious.”

“If the pork stew agrees with you, the blood sausage here will also feel like a delicacy.”

Kleio, who couldn’t believe he had already had a full meal, emptied his bowl in no time. There was even barley under the stew so that he could enjoy a taste similar to rice in it.

“As you said, the stew with blood sausage was also excellent.”

“That has bone broth with garlic and chili oil. Isn’t it tasty?”

Kleio nodded energetically with a spoon in hand.

“It’s an impressive flavor.”

“Hya. This one knows good food. Do you have some alcohol?”

When Mietsu showed interest in Kleio, Arthur stepped in.

“Master, Lei drinks. He’s probably better than me; I’ve never seen him drunk.”

“Really?”

Mietsu seemed to be in disbelief as he looked over Kleio’s slight figure.

“It’s not much, but he knows the taste of alcohol.”

“That isn’t the reaction of an ordinary person.”

A drinker was able to recognize another drinker, and now Kleio had unintentionally found out how Arthur had gotten started.

‘He didn’t only learn the sword from this teacher.’

“Master! There’s also a drink made only in this town!”

“The vice-captain of the knight corps told me not to sell strong liquor for a while because of the demons.”

“Oh, just for one day. They’ll be staying here tonight anyway, and we don’t get drunk.”

Mietsu flashed an Aurum gold coin worth 100 dinars from his robe pocket, stashing it in the pocket of the pub’s owner and chef. The power of an aurum gold coin was strong, as soon afterward, a large glass bottle of clear spirits appeared at their table, alongside several small glasses.

.

.

.

“Okay, fine. Drink all the way! Hey~, you’re also Arthur’s friend so that you can drink a bit!”

“The taste of the spirit is clear and clean, and it’s smooth going down.”

Kleio emptied his small glass and continued to eat the warm pork stew broth.

‘Ah, this taste.’

Kleio was completely happy; all the hardships of the day washed away. Not only did he get something pretty close to sundae-guk, but he was also enjoying a drink similar to vodka.

‘It’s almost like soju. I hadn’t looked for such a combination, but…this taste really resonates with my soul.’

For Koreans, red stew and clear liquor was soul food.

“Right. Tristein Manor’s Three Springs is the best among spirits. The only thing that comes from this estate is potatoes, so that’s the raw material, but it’s made with water as clear as ice!”

“Thank you for giving me a good drink.”

“Hey, you like the pork stew and this alcohol! I really like this, Asel.”

“The same goes for you, Master Mietsu.”

While the two drinkers acted like friends who had known each other for ten years, the twins went up to their room with Isiel. Cel and Arthur, who were running around together drunk, fell asleep in their chairs. Ether [Strengthening] wasn’t universal, so it seemed that it couldn’t speed up metabolism or dramatically improve liver functioning. Not even knights could get rid of drunkenness or hangovers, so drinking was a purely innate ability. Surprisingly, Kleio was the strongest among them, which Jungjin found funny considering that while his name and body had changed, they remained the same.

‘I was too busy sleeping or sharing drinks with Behemoth to properly train my body.’

“You looked weak, Asel, but there was a twist like this. You drink so well!”

“You can’t get drunk with good alcohol.”

The clear liquor named Three Springs was a 40% distilled spirit made from potatoes. It was customary to put the bottle in a bucket full of snow, and when the snow melted, you could scoop up more from outside. The colder it was, the softer it became, and when their cups were emptied, it warmed the body nicely.

‘The name is different, but it’s vodka.’

The cold and fiery northern liquor perfectly harmonized with spicy food. Mietsu, obviously more of a drinker than Arthur, had emptied an entire liter and a half bottle in his toasts with Kleio.

‘Guys like this who can drink it like water aren’t common.’

As the two recognized each other’s skill, Arthur suddenly pulled his head up from the table.

“Uh, huh!”

“Arthur, what’s up?”

“Ah, ah… master. Oh, it seems like I had a nightmare from sleeping uncomfortable… It’s warm.”

Arthur pushed at Cel, who still couldn’t look up, and moved to the wall, unbuttoning his shirt. His ears and cheeks were red like the alcohol had given him a fever.

“Hey, don’t strip in a place like this. Go outside and bury your head.”

“No, it’s cold…”

“Then why take off your clothes?! Use ether [Strengthening] to resist it!”

“Ah, ether, that’s right. Pierce Klagen’s ether was a grayish-brown…like snow melted in the mud from a wagon’s wheel.”

Arthur, still tugging at his shirt, muttered odd sounds as his eyes flitted back and forth.

“Hey, don’t pass out here; go up and sleep.”

Mietsu, concerned about Arthur though his manners were rough, approached the boy with a sigh. Mietsu, who had lifted the tall boy, stopped moving as he noticed something.

“…Where did you get this injury?! Assassin? No, what sort of assassin uses this?!”

As Mietsu yelled, causing his head to ring, Arthur only leaned from side to side. As a result, the boy’s upper body was completely exposed as his shirt was moved out of the way. His back and chest, which had been hit by a terrifying attack, hadn’t fully recovered even with healing magic, leaving a grimy red scar. The sword marks of an 8th level swordmaster didn’t fit the young boy. Kleio himself was surprised as well.

‘Did those come from Pierce? That…’

Arthur had been laid up in bed for three days after that fight, so it was hard to imagine the wound would still be so deep. Kleio regretted he hadn’t forced his hand after suggesting he would use more healing magic.

‘Was… Was I negligent? No, this kid should speak up if he’s in pain.’

Mietsu and Kleio both stared at Arthur’s wounds in shock. Arthur, who was yawning despite the heavy silence, opened his eyes as if his drunkenness had worn off a bit.

“Oh, why am I doing this?”

He began to button his shirt back up, but Mietsu grabbed his wrist with a voice that barely suppressed anger.

“I didn’t teach you to show your back. Who dared do that? Answer me, Arthur Reignan.”

“Ah, as expected, mud…”

As if making fun of Mietsu’s sincerity, Arthur gave an answer that didn’t make sense and turned around.

“Hey!”