I'm Kojiro. I've brought a dish of eels.

　After waiting for a while, Kojiro came in. He seemed to have brought a dish of eels.

'Come in.'

Excuse me.

　When I allowed them to enter the room, three maidservants came in with Kojiro.

　The maidservants had trays in their hands, each with a bowl of rice on top.

　They smelled a faintly aromatic smell.

　What is this aroma that stimulates your stomach inexplicably? Is it seasoned with soy sauce?　I think I can sense a hint of sweetness in the aroma.

　The source of the aroma is definitely that bowl of rice.

　I hadn't even opened the lid yet, but I was afraid of what would happen if I opened it.

　To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to be a dish made with that eel, but this might be surprisingly good.

'Hmm, I guess they seasoned it thickly to disguise the raw smell of the eel.

You'll know it when you try it.

　At Kinugasa's words, which sounded like sarcasm, Kojiro flushed them out with a spare expression.

　Seeing Kojiro's unchanged attitude, Kinugasa sniffed somewhat unamused.

　He was talking about the deliciousness of the unagi, but is he that confident?

　The scent and Kojiro's demeanor and good expectations are high.

　The maid put an oriental table in front of us and placed the bowl of rice in front of us.

　When the maid looked at him, Kojiro opened his mouth and said, "This is what I learned from my friend.

This is the unagi (eel) dish that my friend has taught me.

　With Kojiro's confident voice, the lid of the bowl was opened.

　Warm steam rises and an explosive aroma spreads through the room.

''Huh!　What's that fragrant smell........!

　The scent was incomparable to the one I had just smelled.

　Just smelling it sent a gust of stimulation through my brain, and my stomach howled as I let out a howl.

　The rice in the bowl was the staple food of the Kagra people, the rice they were used to. On top of it was what looked like a flat fish fillet and was drenched in what looked like soy sauce-based sauce.

"Is this flat fish fillet an eel?

　Ouka asks the question I've been thinking about, in a tantalizing way.

　This fish with its brownish-brown color ... is it really an eel?

Yes, I have cut the eels.

How did you manage to cut such a slimy fish so flat?

　Just as Sakuraba says, the eel is slimy and long and very difficult to cut.

　The fact that you can cut it so easily shows how difficult it is, even if you're not a cook.

Putting the eel in the water just before boiling removes its slime and odor. Of course, I've practiced...

　Kojiro, looking calm and speaking in words.

"Is that what your friends teach you?

Yes, although I'm not quite at his level yet.

　Hmm, I'm curious about the friend who taught Kojirou how to cook unagi. Is he a famous cook, because he knows how to cook eels in a reasonable manner?

Now, it's not too cold.

Mm-hmm.

　At Kojiro's urging, I break off my thoughts and focus on the food in front of me.

　I pick up my chopsticks and bowl and lift the eel first.

　It's a stinky, bone-filled eel that smells just like it, even if it's grilled. The sauce looks really tasty, but what about this one, which is crucial........

　Yes, Kojiro showed the man what he was doing and cooked it. It would be rude to hesitate at this point.

　I took the plunge and brought the eel to my mouth.

"Ya, it's soft.

　When you bite into it, it's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

And I can't detect any fishy smell.

　Even Ouka, who took a bite of it as well, was surprised and her eyes widened.

　Yes, this eel dish was a far cry from the fishy, tough eel dishes we'd had in the past. There was no fishy smell or hardness, and there were hardly any small bones.

　The more you bite into it, the more the fat of the eel is released and you can feel the true flavor of the eel.

　And the best part is that it goes great with the sauce. I've eaten many kinds of grilled fish, but I've never seen it as powerful and delicious as this.

It's certainly not bad for an eel dish, but not at this level. But at this level--

　Kinugasa puts down his bowl and says, and Kojiro slowly puts his hand in front of him.

''No, that's not how unadon is supposed to taste. This is only complete when you eat the meat and the rice at the same time.

At the same time?

Yes, you'll have to scrape it up with the rice.

　When Kojiro said that, Kinugasa seemed reluctant to eat the eel and rice.

"Ugh, it's delicious--

　Kinugasa hurriedly covered his mouth, but it was too late.

　Seeing Kinugasa's astonished expression, Kojiro finally smiled with a look of astonishment.

　What kind of taste is it that makes Kinugasa, who does not have good feelings for Kojiro and has a reputation for being dry, unintentionally groan?

　Just as Kojirou said, he took a bite of the unagi with the rice.

　At that moment, it was as if an electric shock went through my body.

　-- not enough rice.

　I put the rice in my mouth as I scraped it in.

　The sweet and spicy sauce is also soaked into the rice, which is great.

　The fragrant, fatty unagi and the sweet and spicy sauce. They were a perfect match for the rice.

　Definitely. This dish is elevated by stirring it up with the rice.

　This is the essence of eel bowl.

　As I ate my way through the bowl of rice, I suddenly noticed that it was empty.

　I put the bowl on the Orishiki table, feeling a little disappointed about it.

　I looked at the two others, who had finished theirs before me.

I didn't realize how delicious eel could be when prepared the right way.

　What a shame that I hadn't noticed this and hadn't eaten the unagi.

Instead of using the taste of the sauce to cover up the flavor of the eel, you did the proper processing to bring out the flavor of the eel.

The eels I baked are not as good as the ones my friends baked. And this sauce was also given to me by my friend for research purposes...

　Even though Sakuraba praises it so, Kojiro humbles himself by producing a small jar from his pocket.

　This alone is enough to be considered delicious, yet there is still more to come?

''But with experience and research, I will surpass the taste of my friends!　And then it's time to open up shop and spread the word about how good the eel bowl is!　That's my dream now!

　Kojirou declares with his powerful eyes.

　Kojiro, who was always being swept along by his surroundings, speaks so passionately about his dreams.

　I've been watching Kojiro for a long time, and I can feel my eyes burning.

It's not until I resign that I can make my dream come true. If you don't get over this, it won't happen.

　Kinugasa's words caused everyone's gaze to turn towards them at once.

''Kojiro tried to suggest a tasty enough possibility. Elevating the eel that everyone had dismissed as bad, to this level of deliciousness. With eels, you can get them in large quantities in any river out there. Even the poorest of the poor could produce such an excellent
The fact that the food is edible is a big deal and advances the food culture. This is the kind of achievement we can expect. Let's admit it.

''I agree with you, Tsuyoshi-sama.

What?　Are you both insane!

　I wonder if the decision between me and Ouka was too surprising, Kinugasa panicked.

''I won't approve of it!　I don't think there's that much goodness in this eel bowl!　Therefore, Kojiro will not quit being a swordsman--

You don't look very pretty, Kinugasa.

　I was annoyed at Kinugasa for refusing to acknowledge it with personal feelings after being served a dish with so much potential.

'What do you mean by that if you don't acknowledge the food and what you've said about your resolve as a man to this point?　If this is not accepted, then I will have to cut off all the new winds that are about to come up. That's Cag.
It would be a great stagnation for La?

　While sounding more dignified than usual, he glares at her and keeps her in check. Implicitly, he threatens to kick all the policies and policies that Kinugasa has brought in.

　I don't like this kind of behavior, but there are things I must do as a general.

　If Sakuraba helped me as a mother, then I will help her as the lord who served her for many years.

''Gu, but if I can quit on that guy now...''

Hm?　Kojiro is a swordsman, isn't he?　We'll have to coordinate the reorganization of the troops, but there shouldn't be any major problems if we're out of there, right?　It's not like I'm managing a unit or doing paperwork like bookkeeping...

　After saying that much, Kinugasa's expression turned blue.

　When I noticed that, I questioned Kinugasa.

　Then I found out that Kinugasa and the others around him had forced Kojiro to do the work that should have been done by Kinugasa and the others. Managing the troops, records, account books, food for the troops...it's not a job that should be done by a man who stands at the top of the swordsman's game.

　And when Kojiro heard the truth........

'Hohoho?　So I've been forced to do Lord Kinugasa's work for years, haven't I?

　He was angry like he had never been before.

　It's the opposite of when Ouka was angry, quietly, but wearing a dense killing atmosphere.

　Even I, who wasn't directly hit by the deadly air, was unintentionally spooked and almost put my hand on the sword at my waist.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm going to be able to do that.

..........

　When I remonstrate, Kojiro gives me a glaring look like a dead fish.

　I can't say I know how you feel, and I'm sure you're tempted to cut me down, but I want you to hold on here.

　After waiting for a while, Kojiro finally took the swiftness off of him.

The first thing that comes to mind is that it's not a good idea for Kojiro to get out of the way of such a succession of circumstances?

Yes.

　Training as a swordsman, training subordinates, guarding and training Shuichi, and even doing paperwork... No wonder Kojiro would want to quit his job. How could he not want to quit after being entrusted with such an unreasonable task?

　Maybe it's because Kojiro said he wanted to quit as if it were an everyday term, but he neglected to grasp such a work environment.

　But what's the point in having such regrets now?

Kojiro, I admit that you are quitting your job as a swordsman. But before you do that, could you do a little handover work for me? If we don't, there could be a great deal of confusion in our future work.

'Wow, here's the line Al was really talking about...'

　When I asked him to do so, Kojiro neither disliked nor balked, but looked somewhat surprised.

''Hm?　Al?

'No, no. But I don't think it's a good idea for you to ask me to do that, Tsuyoshi-sama.

　It is the role of the lord to intercede for the mistakes of his subjects, but in this case, I don't think it's me you should be asking.

''Inaba-dono, please, please let bygones be bygones and finally help me clean up the mess this helpless boss has made.......!

Hmmm, I don't know what to do.

　Kinugasa gets down and asks for a favor, Kojiro mutters, looking fawning.

　Kojiro also has a good character. Nevertheless, considering the way he's been treated up to now, Kinugasa's hand-wringing is also terrible. It's no wonder he can't nod his head right away.

''I can't afford to have my Lord quit here!

　The moment Kinugasa said that, for some reason, Kojiro gave him a look that said he was waiting for it.

''You've been rubbing up against such an important personnel like a rag!

　Kinugasa wasn't the only one who was surprised by Kojiro's dialogue. Me and Ouka also couldn't say a word without thinking.

''Does Kinugasa-dono have a proclivity to torment and destroy the more important things?''

What, uh, no...

'Why have you treated him that way when he's the kind of person you don't want to see quit? I don't understand why they have been treating you like that, even though you are a difficult person to quit. And it's a strange thing to think of asking someone who has treated you in such a manner.
Right?

　What is it? Kojiro's eyes are very dark.

　

　What in the world had happened to Kojiro?

　To be honest, I'm terribly afraid to call out to Kojirou right now, but if I don't move here, it's going to be even more difficult.

''........Oh, hey, Kojiro.

'I know. I'll leave it at that.

　When I called out to him fearfully, Kojiro let out a deep breath and his eyes returned to their original color.

　Then he slowly walked over to me.

"Tsuyoshi, my lord, I will return this sword to you.

　He held out the sword that was hanging on his waist to me.

　The subordinate who had looked at me for a long time and loved me like a child returned the sword to me. That made me irresistibly sad.

　But if I didn't accept this, Kojiro would not be able to move forward. It's enough to return the sword to me, the general. It's not a half-hearted resolution.

　I take the offered sword in my hand with a firm grip.

Ah, Kojiro Inaba. I'm very proud of you for serving me so long.

　Kojiro bowed deeply and stood up.

'Mother, thank you for having my back. And take care of Kaede for me.

...Yes, of course.

　Sakuraba's reply seemed curt. However, a closer look at his expression showed that he was very happy.

''Kinugasa-dono, if it's a document to take over, it's in my private room in the castle. The warp didn't match, but I'm grateful for the help I've received.

　And so Kojiro left my castle.

　Oh, what's going on? The hole Kojiro had left was large and there would be confusion. My head hurts when I think about it.

　But strangely enough, I didn't feel bad.