Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 63: November in the Northern Regions (1)

[It's already been 90 days since the Grand Ducal Betrothal ended.

Today I heard the most interesting tale about Elden Raphelion. They say that he saved a child and his mother from a merciless assault by her husband.

When questioned by the guards, Elden said something like this - ‛The Vilest people in the world are those who assault women and children’. Back in the Academy, he had also said something similar.

One time, when I asked him why he never joined the others in torturing me, Elden said he had no interest in the 'weak'. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Elden, the same man that disdained the weak, would put himself in harm's way for them. He had always been, after all, a bystander to their suffering.

I also heard many ladies were making a fuss about how 'cool' and 'dashing' Elden had been as he revealed his identity by removing his hood at the child's query.

I wonder, what does he look like now? Is he still acting like a new man? Didn't he say he would stop living like a 'bystander' after the Betrothal ended?

But, unlike him, I'm becoming endlessly miserable and weak with each passing day.

Oh, how mighty and extraordinary are you now Elden?

Overtaken by my curiosity, I tried to imagine what he would look like, but I couldn't. My mind couldn't imagine such a dazzling figure any longer.

I also heard he was still searching for chefs capable of cooking monster meat. Perhaps my cooking might have sparked a new taste in Elden? That...would have been a good fantasy.

A vain one, but good nonetheless.

Nevertheless, having heard of such tales about his deeds after so long, I decided to write them in this diary.

I hope to see Elden helping the weak or saving those in peril if the chance arises.

Someday.

Somewhere.

I'm curious as to how he would look like while performing such heroic deeds.

Elden helping those struggling with adversities...

Elden assisting those driven to the edge of the abyss...

I'm...Just curious, yes.

Merely curious.]

-Excerpt from Lumia Winterfell, the Third Northern Duchess’s Diary.

**

“...My Lord, why did you help those people?”

Sniffle-.

Snorrrt-.

With a flourish of his handkerchief, Rendler sniveled, sticking close to me as he asked. Since it felt like the old man was about to cry, I answered him in a gruff manner.

“That man was in my way, so I removed him. It was also a good opportunity to test what Rachel had taught me, that is all.”

However, contrary to my intentions, the old man clamped his mouth with a loud ‘click’ interpreting my words in his own way.

“Ahh...My Lord has learned the virtue of humility...! What a marvelous day...!!”

“......”

Sure.

This must be a joyous development for the old man who spent a large part of his life serving a wastrel.

As we walked, Rachel also pitched in with a few words.

“That was an impressive charge, you perfectly balanced your strength and speed. But be careful, favoring one above the other will deplete your stamina very quickly.”

“It’s all thanks to your teachings.”

“I only provided some basic explanations.”

The intense training I had received during the Betrothal seemed to be paying off.

It was a result of Elden’s natural talent, coupled with my stubbornness.

Reading and Training.

My days were filled with those two activities, and there was indeed a sense of fulfillment by training both the mind and body.

The problem was.

There was no fulfilling feeling in roaming around all day seeking a monster chef.

“We’ve all worked hard. Come on in.”

Thus, after another failure, we returned to Ariel’s residence.

Only two days remained.

As time decreased, hope plummeted exponentially, but this failure wouldn’t cause a delay in our departure.

If not here, we would just find one elsewhere.

With that positive thought, we soothed our tired minds and spirits as we faced the evening.

Tonight, Ariel had boldly claimed that she would present a meal she had painstakingly prepared, and everyone was hungry.

“Ta-da!”

Ariel puffed her chest as she presented yet another dish with a satisfied smile.

“Last time was a mistake! I forgot an ingredient, that’s all. This time it’s really good. You can look forward to it.”

Ariel continued to boast,

“Today’s main dish is the drilled rump of the White Twintail Fox, which is currently in season!”

In January, it’s the season of cockles.

In March, it’s Sherpard’s Purse.

In July, Hairtail.

In November, Chinese white shrimp.

Just as each season has its food, there are times when certain types of monster foods become more abundant and tastier, having a better quality than those during other seasons. The monster Ariel introduced as this season’s product, was the White Twintail Fox.

From May to July, the Northern regions became a little warmer.

Outside this period, the meat is too tough and chewy to eat comfortably, which is why it has been a frequent dish during the festival.

“It looks good!”

“Hehe-. I tried a little earlier, and it was delicious?”

It did look truly appetizing.

The problem was that all her previous dishes also looked good.

Still, since she appeared truly confident this time, I took a bite with some expectations.

Clank-!

I...Think that Ariel used the ‘seasons’ like in metallurgy rather than food making... 1

“How is it? It’s better than last time, right?”

Hm.

This is, without a doubt, the toughest meat I have ever eaten in both of my lives.

I could even use this as a club.

Well,

Everyone grows with trial and error.

Considering she worked hard to prepare this meal, I made a thumbs-up gesture for her.

Ariel’s face broke into a beaming smile with my gesture.

“Yesss! Success!”

Perseverance is the foundation of success.

Just like that, we ended up eating what was essentially a piece of iron disguised as meat.

**

“Hmm. So it ends.”

The week-long Festival of Monster Cuisine came to an end.

It was a tumultuous and busy week, but it ended in failure.

Because I couldn’t find a single chef.

We even offered higher pay to promising candidates, but despite this, no one accepted.

Now, as the city calmed and chefs departed one by one, the flame of hope dimed in the Northern territories.

Thus, the effort to recruit monster chefs in this region quietly concluded.

“Sigh-. Well, it can’t be helped, I suppose. We might as well find someone in Lundgren, so let’s not lose all hope just yet.”

Rendler patted my shoulder with a sympathetic look as he heard my words.

“Do not be too disheartened, m’Lord. Once we reach the Duchy of Lundgren, I will redouble my efforts.”

Ariel also clenched her fists and declared,

“Yeah! Don’t give up now, Elden! I’ll also work hard!”

Finally, Rachel smiled warmly at me and said,

“Everything will work out. Do not worry.”

Isn’t everyone also suffering?

Why are they trying to console me alone?

I’m fine, you know?

If I were to be disheartened by this much, I wouldn’t have begun in the first place.

“......”

Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this hard to find anyone.

I must have asked about two hundred chefs, yet how could every single one of them decline?

Why are the Northern Lands such a desolate place?

This is such a bleak place in the Culinary world....

Has everyone forgotten the wonders of an adventure?

How come there’s not even a single chef who dreams of cooking masterpieces with the freshest ingredients?

Although I wanted to cry my heart out due to the wasted week struggling with recruitment, I shrugged nonchalantly for the sake of maintaining the dignity of the leader of this Culinary Journey.

“Don’t worry. After all, we can only catch beginner-level monsters right now, anyway.”

Of course, even low-ranking monsters could be used to create delicious dishes, but since those monsters were usually found near cities or villages and are easily hunted, the freshness of the meat would be the same if eaten in a restaurant.

Especially in the perennially cool and chilly lands of the Northern Territories, ingredients from beginner monsters were as good as if delivered directly from the source.

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Thus, these ingredients, as common as they were, didn’t necessarily require hunting for culinary purposes.

While my ultimate goal was still the [ Slime Pudding ], being capable of hunting intermediary monsters would be my primary objective right now.

These monsters usually resided deep within the forests or secluded areas far from human presence, they were truly the embodiment of eating a fresh ingredient.

Becoming skilled enough to hunt intermediate monsters is when a Culinary Journey for freshness truly shines.

Given that reaching the intermediate level is still a distant goal for my current skill, it’s too early to be disheartened or disappointed.

But of course, even if it’s a weak monster, it would be nice to have a chef capable of turning a common ingredient into an impressive dish.

However, this wasn’t a reason to delay our departure.

Before becoming an intermediate hunter, I should focus on honing my skills, believing that we will find a monster chef by then.

“Let’s depart then.”

“Yes, my lord.”

That afternoon, as the festival wrapped up, we gathered our belongings and arrived at the western gate of Winterfell.

Glancing northward, I could see the towering grandeur of the great ducal castle. The fluttering flag of the great ducal family was visible at the top of the main keep.

Why did my gaze shift in that direction? I couldn’t tell.

Perhaps it was like a hatchling deeming the first thing it sees upon opening its eyes as its mother, as the first thing I saw after the possession was the bedroom of a separate house in the estate.

I had this strange feeling, almost as if I was leaving my ‘birthplace’.

That last smile that Lumia shot my way during the parade also lingered in my mind, but it was too late to return now.

Our paths had deviated long ago.

“Please state your identity.”

“Elden Raphelion.”

“Destination?”

“The Duchy of Lundgren.”

“Purpose of departure?”

To the last question of the guard, I responded without hesitation.

“Traveling.”

“You can go then. I hope you have a peaceful journey.”

“Thank you.”

And so, we exited through the western city gate, taking our first steps toward the Duchy of Lundgren.

These were my first steps toward a man’s romance, my first journey into a brand new world.

And then,

Time swiftly flew by,

And suddenly, we were greeted by the harsh midwinter of November,

The melted snow laid thickly over the plains, and the icy winds crafted sheets of ice, marking the arrival of November in a land renowned for its bitter cold. We, bundled in thick winter clothes, were walking together just as we had departed from the northern castle in May.

“Brrrrr, it’s too cold! Ariel! How are you okay with this?! I might freeze to death at any time now!”

“......Stop whining.”

“Rachel! You’ve been through this before, haven’t you? But this is my first time!”

“Elden? Cold is cold you know? No matter how often you experience it, it’s the same? Look at me, I’m cold too, but I’m walking just fine~”

“Hahaha-. Even this old man is marching bravely! So, My Lord, with all due respect, stop fussing. As our grand leader, you must lead by example, no?”

......Mommy.

Come pick me up, it’s freaking cold here.

1. So, let me explain this, the word 'season' in metallurgy is similar/ has similar sound to 'Seasons' of the year that is the process of iron forging or prime time of iron forging... something like that.