Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Dragon Carriage

After finishing my conversation with Count Fernande, I returned to the assigned room to find Tina, the silver-haired fox-eared beauty, and Chloe, the golden-haired elf, arguing.

“Tina, that’s not fair. I want to be with Kurt too.”

“Even if you say that, it’s no good. Please go back to your assigned room.”

Their playful banter had become more frequent lately.

For Tina, who didn’t have an equal footing to engage in casual arguments with, I was somewhat pleased.

In moments like this, I could see Tina’s cute side, appropriate for her age.

“What’s going on, you two?”

When I spoke up, both of them turned towards me.

“Kurt-sama, Chloe’s being selfish.”

“But being left out alone is lonely.”

I patiently listened to their conversation, and it seemed they were arguing about room arrangements.

Tina and I were assigned the spacious room for couples, which we had used during our previous visit, while Chloe seemed to have a single room.

Ah, so that’s why those lines came up at the beginning.

“In that case, Chloe, why don’t you come over here? There are only two beds, but Tina and I always sleep together, so there’s a spare one.”

“…Kurt, wait a moment.”

Chloe suddenly became expressionless and looked straight at me.

“Kurt and Tina, you always sleep together?”

Somewhat flustered and blushing, Chloe asked.

“We always sleep together.”
The reason Chloe didn’t notice when she stayed over at our house was because I had given her the guest room. That day, just like any other, I slept with Tina.

When I hugged Tina, I could sleep comfortably.

“Come on, you two are already in a romantic relationship.”

Chloe said, looking at Tina and me alternately, her face turning red.

It seemed she had misunderstood.

“That’s not it. We’re just sleeping together. Literally. Tina used to be very lonely and scared at night, so we started doing this, and it’s been continuing ever since.”

I explained, recalling Tina’s demeanor at that time, feeling amused.

Tina shyly lowered her face.

“Phew, I was surprised. I thought you two had long crossed that line.”

Chloe said.

“Don’t say weird things out of the blue! I was surprised too!”

Tina retorted loudly, her fox ears perked up.

Although, I admit I’m starting to feel that way and all, but well, let’s wait patiently for the right moment. Forcing such things and ruining my relationship with Tina would be unbearable.

“Anyway, if you don’t like being alone, you can use the bed next to us. No need to fight over it.”

I said.

“Thanks! Then I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Chloe said happily, while Tina seemed a bit disappointed.

Now, let’s get to the main topic.

“Listen, both of you. I was talking to Count Fernande earlier, and it seems I’ll be responsible not only for the sweets but also for the entire dinner party.”

I said, and both of them swallowed hard.

They seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation.

“I’ll do my best too, but I want to rely on both of you. Can I count on you?”

I asked.

“Of course, Kurt!”

“You don’t even need to ask, Master Kurt!”

Both of them were eager to help.

I’ll definitely rely on Chloe’s water magic and Tina’s fire magic.

Having both of them will be a big advantage.

“Then, let’s start by having you help with the preparation of the dishes tomorrow. Some things require aging for a week. We’ll start preparing tomorrow, and they’ll be ready by then.”

I said.

I’ll be making the sauce for the main dish. I want to do the preparation here.

And also making chocolate.

Normally, chocolate requires a maturation period of three to four weeks after it’s made. However, with the healing power of [Heal], it’s possible to accelerate the maturation process. It enhances metabolism and heals. That application can be used.

As we discussed the procedures for tomorrow, the night wore on.

Just before going to bed, there was a fierce battle between Chloe trying to get into our futon and Tina trying to stop her, but overall it was a peaceful night.

◇

Two days had passed since we arrived at Count Fernande’s estate.

With the help of Tina, Chloe, and the cooks from Count Fernande’s estate, we had prepared everything we could.

We were set to depart for the Duke of Lenaril in the afternoon. We had already packed everything. We double-checked the clay jars containing the specially made sauce for the main dish and the chocolate made from cocoa, which was the most important.

All the ingredients I had hoped for were in my hands.

However, there was one more thing I wanted. I intended to search through the markets of the Duke of Lenaril to find it.

And finally, the arrival came.

It came from the sky.

“It’s magnificent.”

“Yes, it’s something I’d like to incorporate into my domain someday.”

Count Fernande and I looked up at the sky together.

There was a dragon.

Not the slender Eastern dragon, but the Western dragon.

The most luxurious means of transportation in the world, known as a dragon carriage.

By harnessing a dragon to a balloon, it gained both speed and stability.

With it, the journey to the Duke of Lenaril, which would take over half a month by carriage, would take less than half a day.

In the Duke of Lenaril, there was a village that had succeeded in breeding and training dragons, unique in the world. They used these dragons for transportation and logistics.

“Count Fernande, could you purchase one?”

“Financially, well, it’s manageable.”

Coming from one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, the amount he considered manageable would undoubtedly be astronomical.

“Kurt, the issue is the waiting list. Skilled breeders take twenty years to raise one from infancy to usability. It’s impossible to tame them unless it’s from infancy, and obtaining a dragon’s egg in the first place is extremely difficult. Dragons only lay eggs about once every fifty years.”

It was a long-term endeavor.

There was a massive demand for dragon carriages. It would be impossible to meet all of it.

“I see. But more than that, I’m curious about the balloon the dragon is pulling. It’s quite impressive.”

Though I referred to it as a balloon, it was far from anything cheap. It could even be called an airship.

“It seems the method of making that is also a secret. I suspect it involves some form of magic.”

Fernande remarked.

Typically, balloons are lifted by lighter-than-air gases, but it’s quite challenging with the technology of this world. Primitive methods involve heating the air to lift the balloon, but this seemed different. Its operation was too stable.

Chloe, who had been looking up at the sky as well, spoke up.

“That’s wind magic, no doubt. Elves are sensitive to magic, so I can tell.”

“To lift something of that scale is quite something. And to sustain it continuously, can humans really do that?”

“…There are seeds and mechanisms involved. But I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a bit unsettling.”

Chloe said with a grimace, seemingly having some thoughts about it.

As the balloon and dragon descended, men who appeared to be under the command of Duke Lenaril approached us. There was a tall, slender man and a shorter, muscular one.

Judging by their attire, they didn’t seem to be commoners.

“We’ve come to fetch you, Count Fernande. And you, are you Arnoldt, the next Baron Arnoldt Duke Lenaril invited?”

One of them asked.

Fernande and I nodded in acknowledgment.

“If you have any luggage, we’ll handle the loading. We’d appreciate your assistance.”

He continued.

“There’s no need for that. There are delicate items among the luggage, so I’d prefer my own men to handle it. I’d like you to oversee that.”

Fernande replied.

“Understood, Count Fernande. We’ll proceed as you wish.”

With that, the luggage was loaded one by one, and we boarded the balloon.

As the dragon flapped its wings and the balloon ascended, our journey through the sky began.