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The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

[Let's Go for a Long Ride - Food Report & Assignment Arc]

Translated by: ME

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

A tiny bit change in the format

*****

Opening her mouth wide, she first bit into the meat skewer.

「Mmmm~! Delishious!!」

The salty flavor was simply just salt; the sweet sauce had a strong sweetness like yakitori sauce; and the marinade had a savory, salty taste mixed with spices and herbs, with a moderate kick of spiciness, grilled to a golden brown.

That spiciness lingered, making one fall into an infinite loop of drink and skewers.

...The quail eggs grilled in sweet sauce were nostalgic, just like yakitori quail eggs.

Magnolia smacked her lips at the savory taste and aroma, and the difference in texture and umami from the meat.

「The fries are hot, so be careful.」

While eating a roll sandwich, Claude was his usual attentive self.

And despite being a high-ranking noble, he polished off Magnolia's leftovers one after another.

Although he usually seemed fastidious, perhaps he was unexpectedly unconcerned about such things, as he showed no signs of dislike at all.

(Since he's a knight... maybe it's like a sports club vibe? Like how sharing sports drinks is OK.)

Watching him bite into meat with his handsome face, she was impressed to see that while he usually looked like elegance walking around in clothes, he also had a side of a boy his age.

So that Claude could also eat everything while it was still warm, Magnolia saved the roll sandwich for later and munched on the seafood grill, then the crispy fries, putting them into her mouth one by one.

She enjoyed the rich flavor of the seafood grill and the aroma like fish sauce, as well as the texture and mouthfeel inherent to each ingredient.

The fries had the umami of the ingredients and oil. A faint scent of herbs from the seasoning.

She enjoyed the difference between the acidity and mellowness of the tartar sauce and the refreshing feel of the lemon on the other one.

Claude, washing it down with dry cider with little sweetness, looked happily at Magnolia, whose ibis-colored eyes sparkled and who sometimes closed her eyes to savor the food.

(She's quite a gluttonous girl... I've never seen a young lady bite into a skewer with such a big mouth.)

While he couldn't affirm it in terms of manners, it would certainly be more fun to eat with her than with a young lady who ate like a mouse.

Besides, she knew the time and place, so she wouldn't likely bite into meat or fish so heartily in front of maids or stewards.

「Wow, thish is weally like chili con carne...! It's sho delishious...!!」

The "bean stew," made by simmering red tomatoes, aromatic vegetables, several kinds of beans, minced meat, and sausage, was also one of Claude's favorites. The simple flavor overflowing with nourishment was by no means refined, but sometimes he craved it uncontrollably.

It was delicious as is, and delicious with melted cheese like today.

Seeing Magnolia liking it, he thought he was glad he brought her out.

Magnolia reached for the last roll sandwich.

The roll sandwich was something like a taco or a kebab sandwich, with meat and vegetables wrapped together.

Roughly chopped leafy vegetables. Finely chopped aromatic vegetables like tomatoes, paprika, onions, and celery. Meat seasoned with a rich, spicy flavor. A mellow sauce entangled them all, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

The elasticity of the meat, the crunch of the vegetables, and the chewy texture of the dough matched incredibly well.

When she finished chewing and swallowing, her stomach felt like it was about to burst, but she was reluctant to finish, so she moistened her throat with the sour juice Claude had bought her.

...It refreshed her mouth, and Magnolia groaned inwardly that this was also delicious.

「Can you still eat?」

「Uuu... I want to eat, but my shtomach is full!」

「I see. Then let's move, and if there's something delicious up ahead, let's have it for a snack.」

He picked Magnolia up again, cleared away the cups and wooden plates, and moved to the stable where they had left the horse.

「From here, we will pass near the slums.」

「Shlums...」

While on horseback, they passed through the craftsmen's district and proceeded slowly into the back alleys.

People sitting around in shabby clothes began to be seen, and overall, there were more people with a sooty appearance.

「...Are there many people who awwived here becaush they were injuwed in the war or losht their families, after all?」

「That's right... It seems it started with those who were children at the time and had no relatives, or those who suffered major physical defects in the war and couldn't work, settling in the back alleys.」

「Ish there nothing like a shelter?」

「It's not that there isn't one, but there seem to be issues of fitting in or not, and many seem to return here.」

No matter what policy is taken, there will always be people who fall through the cracks or run away. It is impossible to reach everyone.

Magnolia thought about the many eyes watching the two of them from a distance.

(Just because it's impossible doesn't mean doing nothing is right. What is the method that suits the people here...?)

「Since it is an area directly controlled by the knight order, there are no major crimes, but it is one of the challenges.」

Claude nodded thoughtfully as he spoke.

There must be a certain number of people who were children then and have since escaped from here and are living their lives. It must be harder for those who suffered physical defects to start a new life.

「...What is the cuwwent watio... If they were childwen or people who went to war twenty years ago, are there many middle-aged and eldewly people now?」

「No, not necessarily. There are also women and children.」

「Do you talk with the person who acts as a boss of the shlums?」

「It seems there were talks in the past, but they were rebellious or the talks ran parallel without meeting.」

The perspectives and lines of sight must be different.

It seemed like they were compromising, but because the things they truly needed and their standards of thinking were different, they were incompatible.

「Now, we regularly provide soup kitchens and mediate jobs through each guild.」

「I shee...」

Indeed, measures against urgent needs like hunger are necessary.

However, what is needed is for them to become independent on their own. Easier said than done; reality is harsh.

That is precisely why they live huddled together in the back alleys.

As they rode in silence for a while, the scenery became rich with nature again.

「In Azenda, for each regional district, the original local lord is appointed as a deputy to govern the land.」

Azenda is roughly divided into six regions.

The territorial capital is under the direct control of the lord. It is in the center, slightly to the northwest.

The territory bordering the Monteorona Theocracy to the north, the territory bordering the Ascald Kingdom to the east, the territory bordering a small country to the southeast, and the territory bordering the Marinase Empire to the south. And the western territory, which has a port.

「The west, where the port is, is relatively close to the territorial capital. The fortresses in each district serve as dormitories and affiliations for the knight order, and except for those whose families are in that district, they are supposed to change districts periodically.」

「Heeh... How are things like salawies and maintenanshe coshts handled?」

Since it's a private knight order, how does that work?

After all, it must be a huge number of people.

「Since we are protecting the borders with various countries, we receive corresponding subsidies from the state.」

「Shubsidies?」

Claude nodded.

「Even if the Azenda Margrave family stopped protecting the border, they would have to gather knights and an army themselves to guard it. The border faces multiple countries... In that case, it's simpler to pay money and have those who are accustomed to it do it.」

I see. Moreover, it's a frontier land; it probably wouldn't be popular as a transfer destination.

Magnolia nodded too.

「We combine that with the income of the Margrave family to pay salaries. For the dormitories, we collect two small silver coins monthly from each person as 'dormitory fees' for the room, and one small silver coin monthly for food. From that, we pay for repairs, ingredients, and miscellaneous expenses.」

They are big eaters with large bodies. Being able to eat all you want (?) for one small silver coin a month must be attractive. The dormitory fee is also very reasonable.

「Even sho, can ingredient coshts be covered by that amount?」

「It seems they procure directly from nearby farmers, or people bring food asking them to eat it, so somehow they manage.」

It seems the knight order is accepted by the locals, which somehow made her feel relieved.

Furthermore, it seems they also hunt for meat themselves while training.

Is it the era or the worldview... I'm impressed.

「...Ah...」

Mixed with the green scent of the forest, the nostalgic smell of the sea grazed her nose.

Magnolia took a deep breath.

(The sea... Do I feel nostalgic because I lived near it in my previous life?)

Or perhaps there was some precious memory she couldn't recall right now.

Or maybe it was from the sense of security of seeing something she knew or something the same directly with her own eyes.

「Now, let's gallop a bit!」

No sooner had he said that than Claude lightly spurred the horse to signal.

As if acknowledging, the horse broke into a gallop and ran up the gentle slope.

(It feels like melting into the wind.)

As if to shake off Magnolia's nostalgic feelings, the speed increased steadily, and the green of the trees and the blue of the sky seemed to flow.

And then, as they rushed up the slope all at once.

Filling her field of vision, the blue sea spread out, sparkling and reflecting the sunlight in the distance.

*****

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