READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 58
The location of Obsidianberry is at the junction of two rivers and the sea, forming a Y-shaped terrain.
On the land side, a castle wall was erected, and on the opposite side, a port was constructed, serving as the outer harbor of Coldon.
Although it was the largest port in Iceland, nothing was as big as Coldon.
However, as soon as Karem arrived at this enormous city, which could easily overshadow any other, he exclaimed.
“Gah! Goodness! Humidity!”
Since his previous life, Karem had been a mess every summer due to the humidity.
Spring in Coldon had already been terrible, but Obsidianberry was humid enough to invoke disgust.
As the winter snow melted, the moisture from both the rivers and the ocean was swept into the city by the wind, making it no surprise.
The temperature wasn’t high, yet breathing felt like inhaling water. Oh, gods, is this what weather is like?
Moreover, as soon as the caravan arrived in the city, Karem had to unpack and immediately participate in the rehearsal to welcome Adobice’s envoy.
The humidity was so extreme that simply standing still made droplets form on the skin, yet most people moved about as if nothing were amiss.
As the sun began to set, Karem was finally liberated from the rehearsal.
“Phew, is the practice finally over?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll be doing it every day until the day Adobice’s envoy arrives.”
“What?”
That was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Karem thought, what on earth could that possibly mean?
However, since Adobice was practically keeping Iceland afloat, it was only natural to put in this much effort to welcome an envoy from such a nation.
If only there were fewer people, it would’ve been much easier, but contrary to Karem’s wishes, the number of people in Obsidianberry only increased as time went on.
It was due to the migratory workers who arrived in spring and left in autumn.
And it was spring now.
With one part of the port seized, pressure from the population density only increased.
Catherine, who looked perfectly fine, was fanning herself repeatedly, perhaps because of the humidity.
“Whew. It feels particularly stifling because winter came early.”
“Is it due to people gathering, or is it? It wasn’t normally this humid, was it?”
“Karem, it’s more severe because we’re on the coast. Plus, look how many people are clustered here.”
“If so—”
“However, Iceland’s spring is inherently humid. At least until summer.”
“Oh my goodness.”
At Mary’s response, Karem smacked his forehead.
To think he would have to endure this horrible humidity every year.
Better to die from heat than from suffocation.
Better to freeze to death than to die from heat.
For Karem, who hated humidity so much, it was a dreadful reality.
Standing alongside Catherine, Mary snickered at the sight of Karem, who was flopping about like a noodle washed ashore.
Until the envoy arrived, the two Grand Wizards had nothing else to do aside from practice.
Catherine and Olivier’s job was simple enough.
They were to check the samples of goods the merchants would bring along with the envoy.
Naturally, the samples they would check were ingredients used in magic and alchemy.
Although they were import items, checking them directly was a bit beneath the two Grand Wizards, let alone the Chief Magic Consultant, but someone had to run around if there were no people.
At least there was some relief in the weather warming up and additional exclusive contractors having come in, Catherine sighed.
“Phew, by the time we return to Winterhome, things will be more relaxed than now.”
“Excuse me, but contractor. Didn’t you grumble when Lord Olivier arrived, only to be pleased because the workload was halved?”
“Even that considered, there’s far too much work!”
Catherine burst out, and Olivier seemed to agree as he slowly nodded in seriousness.
If it were just what was happening in Winterhome, it might not be a problem, but considering the workload pouring in from the Felwinter Family’s direct domain in Coldon, there was hardly any time for personal research either.
The workload had lessened thanks to hiring civilian wizards, adventurers, and other nobles’ mages.
Of course, the most important and busiest tasks within the direct domain and family continued unabated, providing no real help.
Still, feeling a bit more at ease after venting, Catherine rubbed her forehead, trying to comfort herself.
“No, no. Still, it shouldn’t be too much to handle during travel. At least I won’t have to work during meals and snack times.”
“Huh, does that mean you also worked during those times?”
“The absence of the exclusive mages has left us with a backlog, so this is all we have now. When we go back, it will be heavy workload again.”
As they discussed this, people began to crowd into the empty areas of the port, prompting the party to move away for the time being.
They didn’t know where to go, but while following behind Catherine aimlessly, Karem felt like a tourist.
Since it was a port, various merchants were peddling their goods to passersby, and porters were moving cargo from the harbor to the city or vice versa.
And most importantly, Karem was drawn to something.
Fresh seafood.
From familiar fish like cod, pollock, anchovies, and herring to those he couldn’t even recall the names of, they were all plentiful.
Except for clams like clams and mussels, where only the best products were left.
Karem could no longer hold back.
The instincts of a cook were stirring.
“Sir Atanitas, may I move along for a moment?”
Hearing words she had never heard before in Borderster or Coldon, Catherine raised an eyebrow slightly, but she quickly accepted it.
After all, he was a kid who experimented with various things in the kitchen of the tower or during gatherings, so it made sense that he would be captivated by the seafood he seldom saw in Coldon.
“Hmm? Uh, alright. Just return before the sun sets. You have enough money, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just in case, have Mary tag along. If costs exceed, you can charge it.”
Having received permission, nothing was now stopping him.
With a dissatisfied expression, Mary followed Karem, who promptly made his way to the shop he had his eye on.
Curiosity and itching hands at seeing the long-awaited seafood and new varieties pulsed through Karem, but he managed to calm his racing heart and observed the goods on display with a clear mind.
“Hey, kid. Are you running an errand? Looking for something?”
“I’ll take a look first.”
From a distance, he hadn’t noticed, but upon closer inspection, it became clear.
Fresh creatures and things that had been on land for quite some time were mixed in.
As evidence, dead fish among the lively ones had an unusually strong fishy smell.
Fortunately, it seemed the internal organs of the fish had already been removed; they all had their belly, gills, and fins taken out. Should he aim for the familiar ones first?
“The mussels and clams that came in today are quite high quality. How about these?”
“Definitely so. Give me that one next to the one you touched. And also a basket of clams. Plus, the cod and the pollock, please.”
“Of course.”
At first, the store owner attempted to push other products on him, but upon seeing Karem observing with a serious gaze that suggested he knew what he was talking about, he quickly gave up on the hard sell.
Combined with the unusual seeming lady-in-waiting standing behind Karem, the shopkeeper picked up on the young boy’s confident spending habits.
“There happens to be something rare inside.”
“Hmm? A rare item?”
“I can’t show it here. Come inside.”
“Sure. Is it okay if I bring along my companion?”
Pointing to Mary, who stood silently at the back, Karem asked.
Seeing it was no problem, the owner entrusted the shop to his staff and led the boy inside.
Inside the building he entered with the owner, it seemed they dealt specifically in dried goods; everything was smoked or dried fish.
It was filled primarily with items that resembled herring.
Reaching under the counter, the owner brought out a box and promptly opened it for Karem to inspect.
What lay inside was more impressive than a regular adult head.
With large claws fit to burst someone’s belly all on their own and a thick, stout shape that resembled a rotting tree, it was a remarkable crab covered in barnacles.
With short antennae and oval eyes lying horizontally, the remarkable crab was enveloped in thick, dark kelp.
Karem couldn’t help but squint.
Despite its size, it didn’t look all that appetizing.
However, Mary widened her eyes in wonder.
“This is a treasure crab.”
“Karem, do you know this?”
“It’s a creature sometimes caught in the nets of fishermen who go out to sea, appearing on rare occasions after adventurers find treasure chests. It’s a precious catch that those with some money are desperate to get.”
This time, beaming with excitement, Mary glanced skeptically at the owner.
“But it can’t possibly have a foul smell, right?”
“Oh no, not at all! Look at their attire, there’s no way I’d sell something suspicious to such distinguished guests!”
The shopkeeper had no clue who Karem and Mary served, but he could vaguely guess from the unusual quality of their clothing.
Though Karem was fine with it, the odd aura emanating from Mary pressured the owner until he divulged everything.
“Originally, there was a noble who had first reserved this, but they unexpectedly canceled their order on the day it was supposed to be picked up! While I can find another buyer, it would be a loss if something happened to the treasure crab, so I beg you to consider!”
The key aspect of seafood is freshness.
No matter how well it’s cooked, unlike other dishes, seafood is particularly reliant on freshness.
Karem bent forward, practically burying his face in the treasure crab to smell it.
Fortunately, the treasure crab the owner had shown appeared fresh, with its moving antennae and eyes exhibiting no fishy odor.
Karem began to read the shopkeeper’s worry.
Iceland at present was not dry and cold winter.
It was a spring so humid it felt as if it would drown you.
At least it was fortunate that the weather was still a bit cool, but if decay began, it would immediately become a loss, and according to Mary, the costs would be considerable, so it was natural for the owner to be anxious.
“What is the price?”
“Exactly 40 silvers! Please, I beg you to avoid losses!”
“Hmmm.”
Karem paused to consider, folding his arms.
In truth, he was troubled because he couldn’t gauge if this was expensive or not.
Since he didn’t usually buy ingredients with his own money, he couldn’t tell what was a fair price. Just then, he felt penetrating eyes from the side, rolling his eyes in response.
Mary was silently sending a piercing urge.
“Karem, can you hear me? Karem. If you can hear me, don’t hesitate.”
“Yes, Mary. I hear you.”
“Don’t think twice, just buy it. Karem, hears me? If you miss out, it’ll end up in a museum, worse than a slime!”
And slimes didn’t have brains.
Karem dropped his worries.
“Alright, I’ll buy it right away.”
“Thank you so much!”
“And since I’ve bought this much, can I ask for just one thing?”
“Of course! We’ll discount, or better yet, just give you the items you bought outside for free!”
The owner couldn’t hide his joy and earnestly made the offer.
Since he could now clear out the expensive item that was merely taking up space in his shop, of course, a few fish and clams could be given as a complimentary treat.
However, Karem shook his head firmly and pointed to a box.
“No need for freebies; do you have dried anchovies?”
“Eh? Oh, certainly. But for distinguished guests like you, I’d recommend smoked ones—”
“Just some dried anchovies and this, please.”
“No, the one wrapped in this.”
Karem pointed at the black kelp that had wrapped around his previously purchased item.
It was definitely kelp.
“Uh, seaweed? Why would you…?”
“If it’s dried, it’s even better.”
“Are you in need of cheap firewood?”
The owner was genuinely taken aback, and so was Mary.
Why on earth would they buy such a quality kelp for firewood when there was plenty of firewood already?
But Karem was serious.
‘Are these people insane? Using this quality kelp as firewood?’