While we were having that conversation, it had grown quite late, but my brother and the Sensei decided to have lunch together.
Henrik, caught up in the lingering discussion, stayed by my brother’s side, keeping him company.
Bettina, told by my brother to “let Rudolf play nearby,” also remained in the corner of the dining hall—meaning I continued to overhear the rest of their conversation.
First, the naturally leavened Black Wheat bread served there astonished the Sensei as expected.
“This really might surpass the White Bread from the Kingdom’s Capital. I’ve never experienced this level of softness.”
“Is that so? I was hoping for that. I’d like Black Wheat to be reevaluated because of this.”
“Still, the common folk have their fixed notions. Even if you line this up in a shop, people might avoid it just because it’s made from Black Wheat. Even if you aim to sell it in the Kingdom’s Capital, it’s best to take the long view and not rush things.”
At that moment, Lansel came out from the kitchen carrying plates and spoke up, “Excuse me, may I?”
“I was thinking—how about selling Korokke as a light meal, sandwiched between thin slices of this Black Wheat bread?”
“Oh, that sounds delicious!” Bettina immediately chimed in.
Sensei exchanged glances with Henrik and nodded.
“I see, that could work. It would be a good way to promote both the Korokke and the bread as local specialties of this domain. However, there are plenty of stories where aiming for both and being greedy ends in failure, and as I mentioned, just the fact that it’s Black Wheat bread might put people off. It might be better to push the Korokke to the front, offering them both on their own and together with the bread, displayed separately in the shop.”
“People in the Kingdom’s Capital inevitably associate Black Wheat with poverty. I think there’ll be strong resistance until they try their first bite. Besides, even if we keep the ingredients of the Korokke coating secret, we can’t exactly hide what’s in the bread.”
“Right. You can’t disguise the fact that it’s a dark-looking bread.”
My brother nodded at their opinions.
Afterward, when we saw Sensei off, white flakes began to fall from the overcast sky.
Henrik, pressed for time, announced that if the weather held tomorrow, he’d gather the villagers and head out to investigate the Salt Lake.
While they were at it, he wanted to check on the wolves’ situation as much as possible, and based on today’s results, he also added investigating the growth of Sesame on the way back.
Since all the objectives were important, Henrik would take direct command.
“Wolf, you are forbidden from going to the forest. And absolutely do not take Lord Rudolf with you.”
He preempted any attempt and firmly warned them.
The investigation targets were clear, so it was fine to leave it to their numbers.
My brother agreed with Henrik that he would draw up and hand over a detailed map to the cave.
Also, tomorrow was the day the Doctor came for his monthly visit from the southern Marquisate of Lortzing.
My mother and I would have our regular checkups, and any villager feeling unwell should come to the Village Chief’s Mansion.
Since Henrik would be out, my brother was told to organize things with Isberga and showed plenty of motivation.
As for me—I remembered I was still a baby who needed regular checkups, and felt strangely dumbfounded.
While we were talking at the entrance, Zam came in from outside, with Westa right behind.
We hadn’t seen the pair for a while; it seemed they had been outside.
“You went out?”
“Zam looked like he wanted to go, so I took him for a walk in the garden. I taught him that he can wander in the garden, but not to head toward the village. Even outside, he was quiet and very obedient.”
Westa answered my brother’s question briskly.
“I see,” he nodded, and patted Zam on the head.
“If you behaved yourself, you did well, Zam.”
“Zam’s leg seems to be much better now.”
I reached out my hand as well, and Bettina bent down so I could reach, then turned to Westa.
“Yes, even walking in the garden, he hardly lifts it anymore.”
“Given how the wound looked yesterday, that’s surprisingly fast healing.”
“Yeah. Last night, it was just that the bleeding had finally stopped.”
“Maybe this is the strength of wild beasts?”
Henrik and my brother tilted their heads in wonder.
But it was true—Zam’s right leg, though scarred, was completely closed up, and he no longer dragged it at all.
Zam, as if he could hear the conversation, looked very pleased with himself and pressed his whole body—more like his back—against Bettina’s feet.
“Eh? Eh? Do you want me to do something?”
“That’s rare. Zam usually only lets Wolf and Lord Rudolf touch him.”
“Then, maybe he wants Rudolf to touch him?”
“Or rather, he wants Lord Rudolf to ride on his back?”
At Bettina’s question, Zam gave a short “Woof,” as if to say yes.
Curious, I reached out toward his back.
“But, is it safe?”
“If we stay beside him, it should be fine.”
“In that case… Zam, don’t move around roughly, okay?”
My brother helped Bettina lower me down, and I was set astride Zam’s back.
Standing on his hind legs, Zam’s head came up to my brother’s stomach—a perfect size for my “horsey.”
He fit me surprisingly well.
Zam, delighted, started walking grandly; holding onto his neck, I kicked my legs happily.
We went around the entrance hall once, drawing cheers from everyone.
But then, my brother picked me up.
“Now we know it’s safe for Rudolf to ride, but Zam, that’s enough for today. Don’t overdo it. Wait until your leg is fully healed next time.”
Zam answered with another “Woof,” as if he understood.
After that, Westa gave Zam lunch, and my brother carried me upstairs.
He sat me on my bed, let out a deep breath, and dropped into a chair.
“Well, we managed to clear another hurdle. The success with Goroimo was big. And figuring out Tsubukusa was even better.”
“Sesame.”
“Ah, you called it Sesame. What about it?”
“Might get oil.”
“Really?”
“Crush and squeeze.”
“I see. That could even be used for frying the Korokke.”
“Mm.”
“In that case, we definitely want to make that happen.”
“Mm.”
Lately, it felt almost too lucky—everything we tried was working out.
At the very least, we would prevent any of the villagers from starving to death.
If we could sell salt, sesame, bread, and Korokke, maybe we could even pay off our debts.
“Among everything, discovering the Salt Lake seems to be the biggest. If we can start selling salt, that’ll become a stable source of income for years to come.”
“…Mm.”
“What, is something bothering you?”
“Enko…”
“Yeah?”
“Why… not found before?”
“Hm? Ah, you mean, why no one found it before now? It is strange. It’s not far from the cave entrance, either.”
“Mm.”
“Like we discussed yesterday, maybe people just never went near because there were so many wolves?”
“But, from long ago…”
“I guess that lake’s been there since ancient times. Even after people settled here, it’s been hundreds of years, right? You’d think someone would have found it by now. Maybe, even if someone did, they figured a salty lake was useless and just left it alone.”
“…Mm.”
Even if they didn’t spread the word because they thought it was useless, you’d think there’d be some record of it.
Maybe there’s a record we just haven’t found yet.
“What’s bothering you?”
“Neighbor…Baron.”
“Ah, Baron Dimitarl. What about him?”
“If we don’t repay the loan, that forest gets handed over as interest, right? What if Baron Dimitarl knew about the Salt Lake when he set those conditions?”
“…Maybe.”
“If he realized the Salt Lake could be profitable, he might have thought of those terms. But…I don’t know. Would he really go to all that trouble? If he just wanted the cave, there are other ways.”
“…Unclear.”
“Well, either way, we don’t really know.”
Indeed, just sitting here pondering it wouldn’t get us anywhere.
After that, we shifted to lighter topics—ways to use Goroimo, how to sell it in the Kingdom’s Capital, and so on.
Tomorrow was the Doctor’s visiting day, so we’d both have to act differently than usual.
We agreed to go to bed early so we wouldn’t carry today’s fatigue into tomorrow.