'd*mn, I didn't expect to lose to not only the kids, but the maids as well...'

Humph, we're country girls. I know how to drain the water out of them.

　As we left the kids and walked on the bridge, Eric grunted in frustration and Meena said, as if she was good at it.

　After that, we all joined the kids to drain the water, but it was still Eric who was the worst at it, and he was completely defeated by Meena and the kids.

　However, Meena is a village girl who grew up in the village of Coriat. Naturally, she would have played with draining water from a river or something, and it's no surprise that her skills were different from Eric's, who had never done it before.

It's not surprising that Eric, who has never done this before, is not as skilled.　They told me to give Trunell's a little time before I came in.

　Yes, when I said I was going to Quina and Tornell's shop, Quina was in a big hurry to drag Tornell home.

　She said she wanted to clean and organize the shop without being rude to us, the nobility. Well, he'd be surprised if we barged in unexpectedly, and I'd like to give him an hour or so to spare.

'There's a small square just across this bridge where the villagers exchange food and other things. Do you want to look in there? In some cases, you might even be able to get some seafood.

Huh, so that's how the villagers do business here too.

　The village of Koliat is also crowded with people exchanging foodstuffs in the village square.

　Well, even though fishing is thriving, vegetables, wheat, clothes and shoes are necessary. There is a limit to how much one person can get everything, so everyone plays their part and enriches their lives
Ugh.

"Master Alfried!　Let's go to that square!

　As I'm thinking about this again, Meena says, drooling from the corner of my mouth.

　It's no longer obvious that she's after the food.

　Nevertheless, I'm also interested in the unique dishes and specialties of the villagers.

''Well, let's go there then,''

Okay.

　We walked to the other side of the river, enjoying the view from the big bridge.



　◆


　After crossing the bridge and going on the land for a while, shortly afterwards, the dense houses came into view and the number of villagers gradually increased.

　It seems that the villagers are concentrated in this direction.

　In front of the white houses, the villagers were dropping fish scales, and exposed to the sun as a preservative food, and hanging seaweed, and so on, the life of the sea village.

　In some places, children with seaweed were running around and bumping each other and getting mad at their mothers.

　What a peaceful scene, no less than ours.

'It's here,'

　I followed Eric as he walked along, watching the lives of the villagers, and shortly afterwards we reached the square.

　There, all sorts of people were laying out their prized possessions and trading in barter or money.

　Some laid out grains and vegetables such as wheat and other grains and vegetables on top of hemp cloth, while others placed mushrooms and wildflowers on top. Ornaments with pieces of magic stones tied together with strings, clothing, shoes, and various other items.

''Huh?　We haven't sold as much fish as I thought we would.

'Fish is all about freshness. It's hard to sell it out like vegetables.

　In this world that doesn't have good refrigeration facilities, that would be the case. Unless there's someone who can use ice magic, but it's rare, apparently.

''Eh!　So you're saying you can't eat seafood here!

'No, anything brought in as soon as the fishing is over is traded here. That's mostly early in the morning, and after that, it depends on the timing.

Oh, I don't...

'That doesn't mean we don't have seafood dishes. You can eat seafood soups and stir-fries that have been processed to last long enough, like the ones at the food stalls over there.

　When I looked at the direction Eric was pointing at, I saw that a large pot was on fire over there, and something that looked like soup was being mixed in.

　Next to it, a large frying pan was being used to fry something.

　Perhaps it was because of the large crowd, I couldn't see anything concrete until I got closer, but the aroma of seafood flavor was wafting through the air and irritating my stomach.

'Haha, what a delicious smell!

Seafood soup made by the villagers. Nice.

　I had eaten a hearty snack a few hours ago, but the aroma of the delicious seafood soup made me hungry.

'But it's awfully crowded today by the way, isn't it?

　Eric nods his head as he's pleased with the scent we're wafting around.

'Yeah?　It's a little past noon, and isn't it just about time you got hungry?

'I don't come here often, but I don't think I remember the stalls here being that crowded, but... but oh well. Let's go for it.

　Eric agreed with me, so Meena and I followed without complaint.

　As we head to the seafood soup stall, we join the tail end of the line.

'Ah, Eric-sama. Go ahead if you'd like.

　Then the villagers in line in front of us noticed Eric and tried to give us away.

'No, don't worry about it. We'll wait here too.

No, no, I'm sure there's a nobleman from outside today, so after you.

　Meena and I agree with Eric, but the villagers seemed to be bothered by it and forced us to make room.

Ah, come in.

We'll see you later.

　When one villager gives up, other villagers give up their turn in a chain of events, and the place opens up as the crowd breaks up. The visibility is so good that the stall owner and I find ourselves eye to eye.

　As soon as the aristocrats line up, the villagers readily give up their place in line. I was a little impressed by such a typical aristocratic event.

　I can't say that I don't admire this kind of aristocratic situation, although I do get tired of it every time they do this, but I can't say that I don't admire this kind of aristocratic situation.

'Meena, I'm kind of impressed. To this no matter how aristocratic the situation is.

'Well, well, Master Alfried has settled into the village of Coriat, for better or worse.

　I exclaim in admiration, and Meena replies with a wry smile.

　This kind of thing doesn't happen in Colliat Village. Rather, if I were to casually pull out of line, the villagers would immediately get mad at me.

"Eric-sama, come in. We don't want to keep our guest, a nobleman, waiting.

I'm sorry.

　The owner of the store called out to us, so Eric and I read the air and let him go to the front.

　It would be rude to refrain from doing so. We'll take this as a treat from the villagers.

　The seafood soup at the stall was filled with ingredients such as shrimp, fish whites, carrots, Chinese cabbage, shellfish and seaweed. The seasoning may be based on the fish stock. I could see what looked like the bones of a large fish submerged in it.

　This looks very tasty. If I brought the fish and shellfish back to the lodge and stewed them in miso, I could make miso soup with it.

Three kinds of seafood soup.

Yes.

　As Eric ordered that, the owner of the stall called out next to him.

'Eric-sama, would you like some of these too?　It's small crabs fried with sweet and spicy sauce.

　The owner held out a round wooden plate with a small red crab the size of a finger to pick up. Sesame and sweet and spicy.
It seems to have been fried in the sauce.

　The bright red color and the sweet and spicy sauce are very appetizing.

Thank you. I'll take this one too.

　Eric took the three wooden plates and handed them to me and Meena.

　Then he handed the shopkeeper three copper coins.

'Oh, I'll take the money,'

No, I'll pay you well.

　Perhaps sensing the firmness of Eric's words, the owner smiled and said, "Thank you for your purchase.

''That's great of you to pay me properly.

'The nobles and the villagers support each other, you know. We need to get these things right.

　Eric talks with a bit of a smug look on his face as if he's happy to be praised by Meena.

　Well, the villagers don't want to be teased for free every time just because they're nobles. I also pay when I buy something in the village.

Yes, it's seafood soup!

　While we were finishing up paying for the small crabs, the seafood soup seemed to be ready as well.

'It's hot, are you okay?

Yeah. Once the soup is down--

　As expected, it seems difficult to settle the bill while holding the hot soup, so I lifted the plate up for him with my non-magical psychic.
I don't know.

'Whoa!　The plate floats!

It's true. Why?

　The shopkeeper shouted loudly, perhaps surprised that the plate suddenly floated, and the villagers around him buzzed.

'I'm just using magic to make it float, so don't worry about it.

'Oh, oh, the nobleman is levitating with magic. Amazing.

　The shopkeepers and villagers are relieved when I explain that it's magic, and they let out exclamations.

''........Is it time to give them the money?''

Oh, hey!　Thank you!

　The shopkeeper came to himself at the sound of Eric's voice and hurriedly took the copper coins and bowed his head.

"By the way, shopkeeper. Isn't it awfully crowded today?

'It seems that everyone has gathered to see the noblewoman that Lady Luna is bringing with her. See, that's the one sitting over there.

　A noblewoman with Miss Luna?　No one in our house is called that........

　When I looked at the one pointing my finger at them quizzically, I saw Luna-san and her sister Elinora sitting on the bench.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this topic.

'Eric, let's find somewhere free,'

Oh, oh.

　How could I eat a meal in such a prominent place?

　I'm about to take Meena and Eric to another place, but a ton and someone's hand is placed on my shoulder.

　I try to ignore it and move, but I can't move at all because of the force applied from the hand on my shoulder.

　This gentle but powerful force.....

　I turn around fearfully and see Sister Elinora with a beautiful smile on her face.

Al, let's eat over here.

　I was taken in for a cheat by sister Elinora, as if I was a psychic and floating a plate.