But the truth is, I’m hungry. I’m in my growing phase, and I haven’t eaten since yesterday evening. What kind of noble household doesn’t feed their guests at mealtime?
The old man rose to his feet. Piecing together scraps of information I’d heard in the back alleys, he must be over seventy now, but his build and height are no less impressive than the brown-haired knight standing by. As expected of the Bliss of the Spear. No wonder they’re known as a family of warriors.
“Well then, let’s go to the dining hall.”
At his crisp voice, I walked beside the old man without hesitation. The butler Noah and the brown-haired woman followed behind us.
Walking side by side with the old man instead of a step behind like the others had been the right choice. It seemed this old man preferred my impertinent attitude. Looking at him as he failed to hide the twitching muscles on his face while watching me, I asked what I’d been curious about.
“Did you deliberately send a carriage bearing the Bliss family crest? So I could make an inference?”
“That was part of the intention. And it also had the effect of intimidating anyone who might interfere with the knights’ mission in that area.”
That certainly was true—if it was enough to make Crazy Ox back down, the effect was remarkable.
“Have you received any education?”
“I’ve taught myself to read and write the Imperial language, and as you can hear, I can speak it, but I’ve learned nothing else.”
“You’ll have much to learn going forward.”
“Going forward, I’ll have many requests for things to learn.”
Of course I’d be familiar with reading and writing the Imperial language. Since “Roll On, Hero” was a Korean novel, the Imperial language is Hangul. I don’t know if languages used in other countries outside the Empire are also Hangul, but that’s not something I need to worry about right now.
The old man nodded solemnly at my statement that I could at least write. Hoping for a positive reaction, I maintained a composed expression.
Upon arriving at the dining hall, Margrave Daniel Bliss took the seat at the head of the table. The butler and knight followed us to the entrance of the dining hall but didn’t enter. Along the long table were more than twelve chairs. I sat in the chair closest to the old man and examined the empty plate and set of fork and knife.
Soon, servants brought soup and soft white bread, setting them before us. After confirming that the old man picked up his spoon first, I picked up mine as well. I can’t remember the last time I had a proper meal.
Sitting at a table after so long, old habits emerged, and I said out loud, “Thank you for the meal.” The old man paused mid-scoop, chuckled and replied, “Yes, eat well.” Couldn’t he have just ignored it? Did he have to respond? My face turned red from embarrassment.
The soup was sweet and savory, as if corn had been ground into it. Damn. It’s too delicious. I wanted to savor it, but before I could even hold it in my mouth, it slid down my throat effortlessly as if there were an express lane.
When I picked up the bread and tore it in half, the inside stretched like cheese. The freshly baked warm white bread emitted a rich buttery aroma that could kill.
I tried one bite without adding anything. The fluffy white bread disappeared silently like the soup. No, damn it. Let me taste it properly. I wanted to chew as slowly as possible, feeling regretful as the bread disappeared into my churning stomach… but in the end, I only chewed three times before swallowing.
Next is jam. I scooped up soft yellow jam with fruit pieces using a small spoon and placed it on the bread. Wow, insane. It’s tangy and sweet with a vibrant fruit flavor. The cold jam melting on the warm bread is a stroke of genius.
I ignored the balsamic sauce next to the bread. That’s delicious too, but my preference is butter plus jam.
And this is something I really wanted to try: dipping bread in soup. Richness plus richness equals supreme richness, and the bread soaked with corn soup along its texture was almost too precious to swallow. I emptied the bread basket and reluctantly put down my spoon with a sense of regret.
What arrived next was a steak the size of my face. Mashed potatoes and string beans. Asparagus. And thick cheese with brown sauce. Oh oh. And Mr. Lobster. Mr. Lobster the size of my wrist.
This looked like a menu I’d seen in a French restaurant before falling into this place. So I could imagine the taste. Imagining it made me even more excited.
I cut the meat with a knife that had small serrations. The meat cut smoothly with just the slightest pressure of the knife. Insane. I was worried I might drop the knife with only three fingers, but the meat was so tender there was no need to worry.
Steam rose from the cut surface. The smell of meat. Oh, blessed meat smell. I calmly cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, topped it with mashed potatoes and sauce, and pushed it into my mouth.
“Clumsy and crude, but you have some semblance of form. Where did you learn table manners?”
Don’t talk to me. This body is having a decent meal for the first time in its life, I wanted to say, but instead, I savored the meat in my mouth before swallowing. The meat, which crumbled like soft cream at the touch of my teeth, overflowed with juices that mixed with the fluffy cream potatoes, making it breathtakingly delicious. Ah… it’s the best.
“I stayed at the temple, doing volunteer work during the rainy and dry seasons for modest compensation. I learned basic table manners by observing the priests, and now I’m just following the utensils Grandfather is using.”
“That’s quite decent for what it is.”
“If I receive proper education, I’ll become even more perfect.”
Speaking nonchalantly as if it were someone else’s business, I pushed another piece of cut meat into my mouth. This time I added cheese and grilled asparagus, causing an explosion of flavors. Cheese is the best. Asparagus is the best. Perhaps I’ve been enduring in this cursed world just to eat this meat.
No, I still have Mr. Lobster left. The hot flesh was cooked white, and salty butter sprinkled with herbs sizzled on top. My stomach was rumbling like an earthquake from the first rich food I’d eaten, but who cares? Even if I die, I’ll eat Mr. Lobster before I go.
Calmly, I cut the white flesh with my knife. How can lobster have such a firm, bouncy texture like a perfectly ripened grape? The crisp flesh, seemingly already separated from the shell, was easily lifted with my fork.
Once in my mouth, the herb butter enveloped the rich, distinctive seafood flavor in a dance. I could almost cry. The salty taste was almost a festival of flavors.
Unlike the melt-in-your-mouth tender steak, Mr. Lobster remained firm throughout the chewing process. The sound in my mouth was like walking on snow. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Did I prefer seafood to meat? I’m not sure anymore. I just like everything that tastes good.
I left more than half of the delicious food uneaten. If I ate more, I felt I might vomit. Damn stomach. With regret, I cleansed my palate with the refreshing drink the servant brought.
For me, it was the happiest moment since falling into “Roll On, Hero,” but the old man seemed disappointed. Looking at the remaining food, he asked in a slightly crestfallen tone:
“Didn’t it suit your taste?”
“If I eat more, I’ll vomit. I’m already anticipating stomach pain. You must know what happens when grease enters a stomach used to only water and barley bread. It was so delicious that I overate. This too…”
“It will become more perfect as you eat more.”
The old man cut off my words and chuckled. I followed with a faint smile at his more relaxed response. Was he disappointed that his grandson couldn’t eat well? If I guess like that, it really is like a real grandfather’s reaction.
“Now it’s your turn to speak. I’d like to hear your reason and purpose for summoning me.”
“Purpose…”
The old man, momentarily lost in thought, stopped eating and had his bowl removed. Soon servants came in and cleared the table, leaving only two glasses of drinks on the empty table. After silently looking at me as if in thought for a moment, the old man spoke.
“The House of Bliss has been consistently loyal to the Emperor for the past 200 years. For 200 years, it has never bent or been corrupted. But in my generation, a problem arose.”
I didn’t interject, silently listening to the old man’s words. My upper abdomen rumbled and churned, but the pain was still at a bearable level.
“I had two children. My son caused me grief. He was trash. His actions went too far, so I stripped him of the family name and cast him out. He ran away from home, lived as he pleased, and died as he pleased.”
“…”
“My daughter was diligent. She was flawless as an heir. Her only problem was that she had no children after marriage. I believed time would solve that issue, but… she passed away during the major epidemic two years ago. Even the most devout priests couldn’t cure that disease.”
Two years ago was truly a shitty year. An epidemic swept through the Empire, making wages tight, and many in the back alleys fell seriously ill and departed. That was also the year I had my finger cut off.
From the context, it seems the trashy son the old man is talking about is my father.
“I also heard that someone who married my son fled while pregnant, trying to escape his persistent trashy behavior. I inquired about her whereabouts to help her if she wanted, but I couldn’t find her. That was the end of it.”
“Then how did you find me?”
“One of the priests at the temple where you were helping reported to our side. Said they knew a child of the age and characteristics we were looking for.”
In other words, after his daughter, who had been chosen as the heir, died without producing an heir, he sought me out as I was at least of his bloodline. There must not have been anyone of the right age among his relatives to continue the lineage. Were these coincidences interconnected?
No. It must be the setup the author designed for the villainous Zaher Bliss.
“I’ll have to learn thoroughly, then. If I want to make a name for myself as Zaher Bliss.”
“Is your enthusiasm for education high? Or are you just saying things to please me? I don’t like sweet talk.”
“If I wanted to say pleasing things, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth in front of Grandfather at all. If my assumptions had been wrong, my actions would have warranted a beating for disrespect towards nobility.”
“Then?”
“In other words, I’m quick-witted, ambitious, and possess the arrogance to not hide my desire to achieve.”
“Hmm…”
“I don’t think Grandfather sought me out simply because you missed your lost kin and looked for me as soon as you heard news. The Zaher you want would be someone with the worth and qualities to carry on the Bliss name.”
“So you’ll follow what I want?”
“In return, you’ll have to give me what I demand.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to possess it. All the knowledge I should have rightfully learned. The Bliss spear technique. I’ve been starved for too long. Let me devour it.”
“You’re arrogant. You would devour Bliss?”
No, the spear technique, I mean the spear technique. Who would want to devour Bliss that’s going to fall in 10 years? I won’t overeat to the point where I can’t eat and vomit. Just give me the spear technique. I’m not crazy enough to say “let me protect myself” in front of the old man. Let him misunderstand.
“Isn’t that why you called for me?”
“…Fine. If you prove your worth, I’ll give you what you want. Since you’re past the age to enter the local academy, I’ll teach you directly. So let’s start by getting you into the Royal Academy in five years. Let’s see if there’s any difference between you and the other heirs from the branch families.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
I raised my chin and stared into the old man’s eyes. I don’t know how the original Zaher came under this old man’s wing, but I’m going to attach myself in my own way.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
