Translator: Raizu
Editor: Shirayuki
Chapter 108 – Meat and Booze
One day during dinner time .
Ares was unusually late for dinner at his residence .
Of course, Hadora had prepared his best dishes for dinner as usual .
And it happened when Ares started to eat the main meat dish .
The menu was steak, grilled to medium rare . It was one of Ares’ favorites .
Ares quietly cut the meat with his knife… then look at the cut piece suspiciously . When he finally put the piece inside his mouth… he inadvertently dropped both his knife and fork .
[! He-Helmut!]
[Yes . What is the matter?]
[Get Hadora here immediately! I have something to ask him!]
To Ares’ order, Helmut bowed reverently, left the dining room, then returned with Hadora a moment later .
[I have brought Hadora here . ]
Seeing Ares’ expression, Hadora grinned .
[Hadora… since you have that kind of face, I believe you already know why I called you here?
[Partially . ]
The grin did not leave Hadora’s face yet .
[Then please explain this .
Ares stood up and pointed at the meat dish before him .
[Just what kind of meat is this to have such an extraordinary taste?]
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[This is the meat of the buffalo magic beast found around the foot of the mountain . ]
[……magic beast’s meat…?]
[Indeed . I’ve experimented with several kinds of magic beasts’ meat back at Romaria, but couldn’t find a suitable pick up until recently . I was also surprised myself that such a delicious meat actually exists . ]
The buffalo magic beast lives around the foot of the mountain east of Grants .
It’s bigger than a regular cow and an even worse temper . It’s said that if you encounter one, it will most likely attempt to skewer you to death .
From the traveller’s point of view, it’s pretty much known as the 『cow from hell』 .
[The other day I was visiting the adventurers guild and happened to come across some of these meat which was in good condition and has been properly cleaned . So I just thought this might work . And it was exactly what I aim for . ]
Usually, the adventurers guild only buy the vanquished buffalo magic beast’s horns and pelts . The rest will just be discarded .
[But now that we know how delicious it is, we must not discard it… No . Rather, can we domesticate them to become livestock?]
[Unlike a regular cow, a buffalo magic beast can give birth to many calves at once . If it can be done, then it’ll be great… however it has low intelligence and a rough temper… the effort will be tough]
Ares frowned upon hearing Hadora’s explanation .
[But still… it might be worth a try . I believe it’s even good enough to become Grants’ specialty . Let’s bring this up on tomorrow’s conference . I’m going to need Hadora’s help though . ]
[Certainly . ]
After Hadora bowed reverently, Ares returned to his seat and enjoyed his dinner .
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[Oooooooooooooo! Bring more booze!]
[Calm yourself down… Darius…]
Sigurd frowned at Darius who was sitting next to him . Before Darius were plates piled into a towering height .
[Speak for yourself, just many plates have you finished!]
To that scolding, Darius replied in kind
Right… there was also a high stack of plates in front of Sigurd .
[This is surprising . I never thought there would be a meat dish this delicious]
It was Shion who muttered that out .
[This… will definitely sell well . Such an unforgettable taste, if we sell these to the aristocrats, they will be more than willing to spare no money to eat it . Let’s try to secure a stable supply of it . ]
George added calmly while elegantly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief .
[But… how do you exactly tame… a buffalo magic beast??]
It was the consultant Gail who muttered that question . Despite his already advanced age, there were many plates before him which amount comparable to the younger attendees .
[Does Your Excellency already have a method to do it?]
To Ramires, who was sitting next to him, Ares replied with a grin on his face .
[Have a look at this . ]
What Ares showed to them was a blueprint for a certain contraption .
[Lord… this is…?]
[The blueprint for magic barrier dispenser . ]
Ares then began to explain .
[I’ve given it quite a lot of thought last night . I also wondered if there is a good way to do this . Magic beasts, especially those with low intelligence such as the buffalo magic beasts, are really hard for domestication . That’s why I plan to simply confine a large area where they live on . ]
That said, Ares tapped on the blueprint .
[Borrowing Gilbert’s wisdom, I’ve come up with this device that could produce a magic barrier . It runs on magic stones… which we fortunately can produce . ]
Ares’ plan was as follows .
The southern part of Grants is a vast land . It’s mostly neglected because the soil was not suitable for farmland .
[It’s that kind of land, but fortunately, it’s the kind of place that the buffalo magic beasts would likely to inhabit . ]
So Ares went to inspect the land . There were plants growing there, but not the kind that can be sold for money . But they’re still something the buffalo demon beasts would eat for sustenance .
[What I’m planning to do… is to use this device to confine a large amount of buffalo magic beasts in that land and treat it as some sort of a ranch . ]
Buffalo magic beasts are capable to adapt to various environments and have high reproduction rate . They should have no problem increasing their number even without any aid . Also, with the barrier device in action, their natural enemies, such as the tiger magic beasts, wouldn’t be able to endanger them, which in turn should bolster their reproduction rate .
[Then, we could hire professional adventurers or hunters to ‘harvest’ the buffalo magic beasts, including cleaning its meat . Then what’s left is to process it and ship it . ]
The horns and the pelts will belong to the guilds while the meat will be processed and sold to various places .
[Well, they cannot be bred normally like cows or pigs and processing the meat can be quite troublesome… It’ll take some time to get used to . But the profit should be great, if we can maintain its scarcity on the market . That way, we can also guarantee a stable supply . ]
George showed his support to Ares’ plan .
[This can certainly become a local specialty . We should ask Fran to complete the device immediately . As for capturing the beasts… . Should we ask the guild to do it?]
After this, the meat of the buffalo magic beast would earn the title of [Platinum Meat] and become the brand meat that makes gastronomes from other places to groan for one reason or another . It immediately became one of Grants’ specialty products…
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Ares said there was another thing he would like to show on today’s meeting, before promptly taking out a bootle .
[Milord… and this is?]
[Un, booze of course]
[What? Booze? Should’ve gotten it out sooner . ]
Ares ignored Darius’ complaints and continued on .
[Anyways, try drinking it now . I want to see everyone’s reaction to it . ]
While saying so, Ares poured the booze to the empty glasses .
[Hoo… it certainly looks pretty . ]
The amber colored liquid was visible from outside the glass . It reflected and glistened prettily under the light .
[It uses wheat as the raw material . Try it out for the time being . However… don’t try to drink it all at once like you usually do with ale . ]
Everyone was alarmed at Ares’ warning, except for Darius… who already guzzled down the entire content of his glass .
[Wha…what is this? This… is terribly strong… not even the 『Dwarven Fire Breath 』is this strong…]
Coughing after sipping it, Ramires commented on the new booze .
『Dwarven Fire Breath』is currently the strongest liquor in the Arcadia Continent . Originally, it was liquor the dwarves made for themselves . It IS the dwarves’ favorite liquor, but heavy drinkers also favor it for the strong alcoholic content and the mellow aroma .
And Ares actually introduced to them a liquor that is stronger than that .
[However… it’s more fragrant than dwarven liquor… and the taste is more palatable as well . ]
George muttered after sipping the booze one more time .
[It can be diluted with water, perhaps?]
Tobias, the recently appointed commerce secretary, suggested .
[This liquor is…]
[It’s distilled spirit . ]
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There were two types of liquor most commonly seen in the continent .
Ale made from wheat .
And wine made from fermenting grapes .
There was also a kind of liquor made from rice in the east… but it’s hard to get .
And then, there is the liquor created by the high alcohol enthusiast dwarves, the『Fire Breath』 .
But this time, Ares introduced something different .
[We can increase the alcohol content further by『distilling』it . If we put it inside a keg and deposit it for quite a while, the scent will also become stronger . ]
Hearing this, George then made a suggestion .
[Milord… if we can have both the McDohl company and the Shawd company, founded by Elan, to sell this, it might cause a great ripple . ]
Now, McDohl company and Shawd company are working together in a business alliance . Both can help spread the booze to many places, including the capital .
[Let them help fund the production and promotion . I’ll also ask Fran to prepare for mass production . ]
Tobias also added .
[I might be able to circulate it among the aristocrats in advance . If they like it, we can also find customers via reservation . ]
After that, Ares’ 『Distilled Spirit』would then be circulated mainly among the aristocrats and merchants by only the Mcdohl or Shawd companies . When the rumour spread, the reservation for Grant’s [Phantom Liquor] came flooding in .