# Chapter 8
“Problem, there’s a problem!”
It was the day before the festival.
Of course, I was still the only person without a job, so I was just arranging documents.
While everyone was busy to the point of madness, Natasha came running, and her already pale face grew even paler.
“What's wrong?”
“Nikita!”
As soon as she shouted Nikita's name, all eyes turned to her.
She was panting with bated breaths up to her chin as she shouted: “One of the members of Nikita’s delegation does not eat meat!”
“Not just beef, but all kinds?”
“We replaced the beef with pork and duck because Aryan doesn't eat cow! But one of the members of Nikita's delegation doesn't eat meat at all!”
It seems that there are also those in this world who follow a vegetarian diet.
“But we can't change the entire menu just for him.”
“That's right, the ingredients have all been purchased already.”
“True. Then the main dishes cannot be based on fish only.”
Amidst the murmurs, Edmund rested his chin on his fist with a frown.
For him, it was important to win the favor of every member of the delegation, as the success of the trade route depended on this.
But this scene did not appear in the original.
Perhaps because Eclat was not the one supervising, or because I said that Arian does not eat beef, so they reviewed the list carefully and what happened happened.
“What do you think of soy meat?”
I had lived in a modern world, so this was my chance.
“Soy meat?”
“You mean meat made from soybeans?”
This was an opportunity to enter Edmund's eyes.
“I know the way.”
Immediately, I was ushered into the kitchen of the Imperial Palace.
Fortunately, Nikita's delegation member was not a complete vegetarian.
I started by boiling the soy, then while it was cooling, I finely chopped the carrots, zucchini, and onions.
I wasn't good at using a knife in my previous life, but at the temple I would help in the kitchen sometimes, so it became a little easier.
“Please fry these vegetables a little.”
I handed them the chopped vegetables, and the head chef gave me a wary look, but with a look from Edmund he began to move the pan deftly.
While he was sautéing the vegetables, I removed the water from the cooled soy.
“Is this really going to be meat?”
Everyone around me was confused.
But wait, isn't this a moment to benefit from prior knowledge?
I placed the fried vegetables on top of the soy and began mashing the mixture vigorously.
Oh, I should have soaked the soy more, it's tougher than I expected.
“How pure should I mash it?”
While I was sweating and mashing, Edmund spoke in a calm voice: “Um…about half.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Felix and Dante took the tool from my hand and began mashing for me.
This is how quick wits are in society!
I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched them mash the mixture.
“I think that's enough.”
I sprinkled the bread crumbs over the half-mashed soy.
It would be great if there was active gluten, but that's okay, the lack of modern technology is to be expected.
Fortunately, we had bread crumbs.
I adjusted the taste with salt and parsley, then shaped the mixture with my hands until it was shaped like round meatballs.
“Finished.”
As soon as he heard the word, the chef started grilling the soy meat.
The palace chef was truly on another level.
He grilled the vegetarian meat to a beautiful golden colour, added his special sauce and garnished it with mushrooms and grilled vegetables.
When he handed him the plate, Edmund cut off a small piece with an elegant knife.
Even that scene looked like an art film.
"What is your opinion?"
There was tension in the entire kitchen.
He chewed quietly, then wiped his mouth with the napkin and shook his head.
“…Good. We’ll give it a go.”
My shoulders relaxed with relief.
“You… know a lot of strange ideas.”
He said as he was about to leave the kitchen, then he turned to me and added: “But you are useful.”
Oh, pure praise!
I smiled warmly and raised my fist excitedly, and for a moment I thought a slight smile appeared on his lips as he left.
My eyes must be burning just from chopping onions, nothing more.
Finally, the day of the festival arrived.
The festival period was a good opportunity for me to look for the owner of the gunshot wound.
Since the festival is a public holiday, non-workers were not required to attend.
I walked around the streets asking people if they knew a stranger who had been injured in the hand, but to no avail.
Suddenly I saw a familiar face.
“Mr. Dante?”
"Oh, Olivia? You came to see the festival?"
“N, yes... Isn’t Mr. Dante busy today with delegations arriving?”
Dante sighed and rubbed his temples.
“We are in a state of emergency. The mixed-blood translators we recruited suddenly said they couldn't come.”
"What?"
The empire was known for its intolerance and racial superiority.
Most of them think: “Why do we learn the languages of backward peoples?”
In other words: If you come to our empire, you must speak our language!
Therefore, it was rare for anyone to master the languages of other nations.
“The translator, Al-Nikaytawi, was injured in a car accident, and Al-Arian is sick! We are trying to find a replacement quickly.”
Fifteen years ago, outsiders only knew the ancient language, but ever since Kai became Emperor, they had the opportunity to learn the imperial language, so the young outsiders had mastered it well.
Dante glanced at his watch.
Less than an hour remains until the delegations arrive.
“Master Dante, wait a minute!”
I held his hand.
“I can!”
***
"if."
Edmund's cold voice made everyone in the office jump in place.
Even I swallowed nervously.
“You...say you'll do the translation?”
'Don't be confused, consider yourself already dead.'
I tried to smile and said, “I am fluent in Nikita and Ariane’s language. I am confident.”
“If you make a mistake, you won't just be transferred to another department.”
I heard footsteps behind me, and faint whispers.
Then Edmund smiled calmly, and said in a low voice that only me could hear: “Your entry card to the palace will be withdrawn.”
That is, he will fire me.
Did he have to threaten me like that? What a terrifying man.
“Well, what if I succeed?”
Then his red eyes rose to me.
“You're going to give me a reward, right?”
“Prize, huh... Well, I'll think about it.”
Oh, really? I did not expect a positive answer.
Well, I'll take the opportunity to see if he's really the "owner" I'm looking for.
I turned to the strangers who were still giving us wary glances.
I introduced myself in the language of Ariane and Nikita, as I had long practiced.
｛“Welcome to the empire. May the blessing of Governor Nikita be with you.”｝
<“Welcome the governor’s delegation to the empire. May the Aryan ruler guard you.”>
These were greetings I heard repeatedly in the temple from the Nicaean and Aryan priests. The members of the delegation smiled with satisfaction, and I began to guide them into the palace.
Fortunately, I had read about the history of the palace before.
So I began explaining to them when each wing was built and what the meaning of the inscriptions and decorations is.
I felt like a guide in an art museum.
<“We did not know that there was such a tactful person in the empire.”>
｛“Haha! I didn’t expect to find such an amusing person among the Imperials.”｝
｛“As you know, our dishes are famous for their unique taste.”｝
<“We have brought special ingredients for you, so enjoy them.”>
The hall was decorated with flowers representing Nikita and Ariane, and music was playing softly in the background.
Everything was perfect.
I felt proud when I saw the reactions.
The Aryans were affected by the absence of beef, and the Nikitas were amazed that we made “soy meat” especially for one of them.
With dessert, the conversation started to take a smooth turn, as we wanted.
That is, just like in the original novel —
A proposal to trade grains on a regular basis. The two delegations exchanged glances and expressed tentative approval.
｛“Agreed. This suits us.”｝
Even without translation, smiles appeared on faces, and Edmund finally smiled.
<“Ah, ah!”>
Then one of Aryan's actors suddenly collapsed, panting.