IBWMD 55

~Chapter 55~

Anyway, now…

“Let’s go distribute the meat again.”

Clark’s eyes widened at my words.

“You mean… monster meat?”

“Yes. They can’t eat that temple food anymore anyway.”

Now it was our chance to distribute the monster meat.

But Jeremy looked sceptical.

“…But will it be that easy?”

His concern wasn’t baseless.

“Ah… where will we find food now…”

“Hey, they’re giving out meat skewers over there for free.”

“But they said it was cursed.”

We heard the beggars murmuring as they walked past us.

Even if temple food was gone, they were still afraid to eat what was rumoured to be cursed.

Jeremy’s expression was the darkest I’d seen, and Clark only rolled his eyes grimly.

“…Uncle will be disappointed.”

“Yeah.”

“He worked day and night detoxifying it.”

“Right.”

Though I was the one who suffered most of that labour.

If this failed, all that effort would be wasted.

‘More importantly…’

Those who had already received temple food now had to survive on mouldy, rotten food.

Even though we had perfectly edible, nutritious meat.

“What should we do…”

I patted Jeremy’s slumped shoulder.

“Then we’ll find another way.”

“Another way?”

“Don’t worry. There’s always a solution…”

“Ahem.”

Clark cleared his throat dramatically.

“Duchess.”

“Yes?”

“…I must admit something.”

“What is it?”

“You carried the barrels yourself, came here to check on the people…”

“And?”

“You even spoke up to that priest earlier.”

“I did.”

“I didn’t expect much from someone from the capital…”

What was he building up to?

“…but I see now. You’re not just here for show. You truly care as the Duchess.”

Ah.

‘He’s acknowledging me as Duchess.’

Clark seemed moved by my confrontation with the priest.

‘That’s… good, I guess.’

He would probably report positively to the Duke.

While I was lost in thought, Clark’s expression darkened again.

“So it’s okay to stop now.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no solution here. Let’s withdraw.”

His words were cold. Jeremy nodded solemnly.

“Uncle will be disappointed, but with these rumours from the temple, it’s hopeless.”

“If we push now, we’ll only make the beggars resent us more.”

Not entirely wrong.

After all, the priest’s words earlier had turned suspicion onto the Duke’s estate too.

‘At least it didn’t look like we blocked the temple’s relief.’

If I hadn’t intervened, it would’ve looked like we sabotaged them.

Clark sighed heavily.

“Let’s withdraw and find some other way to help…”

“You said there’s no other way.”

“…That’s…”

“But actually, I just thought of one.”

“What?”

They looked shocked. I shrugged lightly.

“Zeon wasn’t the only one who got inspiration today.”

I had an idea thanks to seeing Zeon.

“We should at least try, right?”

“Hng…”

Sizzle, sizzle.

The grill was piled with perfectly cooked skewers.
At least some beggars were eyeing the stall now, driven by hunger after the failed temple relief.

‘They’re too wary to approach though.’

If only someone would push them forward.

“Uncle.”

Jeremy glanced nervously at the shopkeeper. Clark looked at me with resigned eyes.

“…”

I marched straight to the stall and began packing up.

“Huh?”

“Ah, what a pity.”

“Miss?”

“Such a shame, truly.”

As I started closing the stall with exaggerated disappointment, everyone looked panicked.

“Wait, miss, why are you…?”

“They said it was cursed… such a pity…”

My forced flat tone made Jeremy and Clark grimace, wanting to correct my acting.

‘It’s fine.’

This needed shamelessness, not acting.

I nudged Jeremy’s side and declared loudly,

“It’s such a shame. This meat is so good for your… night stamina.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell like cold water, but I kept my poker face.

“It’s infused with the monster’s mystical powers, amazing for hair loss and beauty.”

Twitch.

“Even makes kids smarter. Truly genius nourishment.”

Twitch, twitch.

“It’s so potent that only nobles can eat it in the capital.”

As I spoke, the beggars’ ears visibly twitched with curiosity.

Jeremy finally caught on and added,

“Well, priests are supposed to be pure. Such powerful effects must feel sinful to them.”

“They don’t need hair regrowth or beauty. They don’t even have kids to worry about.”

“They enjoy all their privileges anyway.”

Of course, there was no such effect.

‘But compared to what those fraud peddlers said, this is harmless.’

Back in the day, street peddlers would cry:

‘Good for your stamina, hair, kids’ intelligence—2 silver for this holy water!’

“That doesn’t even do anything.”

‘Add a cross for a bonus effect—3 silver!’

“Hey!”

‘Demon bone powder! Grow back lost hair—5 silver!’

“Why sell that for more than holy water?!”

Even with morning patrols clearing them out daily, they kept returning.

‘Because it sold well.’

People always wanted miracle cures.

I sprinkled the final seasoning:

“Well, business is over for today. Let’s store these in the warehouse, Jeremy.”

“Warehouse…? Oh, yes, we have one.”

“They’re too precious to leave out. Let’s hire a mercenary to guard them tonight.”

“A mercenary?”

I leaned in and whispered,

“Just dress a Duke’s soldier as a mercenary. Tell him to act lazy and unguarded.”

Then I dragged the skewers into an abandoned house.

“Alright, let’s leave it to the guards now!”

We left swiftly. Jeremy looked confused.

“Elaine, what is this…?”

“Shh. Just look back subtly.”

He turned, and his eyes widened with realisation.

Jeremy nudged the shopkeeper gently.

“Uncle.”

“Hng.”

“Look back.”

When he did, his eyes grew round.

People were gathering, sneaking looks at the abandoned house with the skewers.

“No one can resist when something is hyped as effective and precious.”

“…”

“Add a sloppy guard, and they’ll go crazy trying to get it.”

Watching them gather, I let a small, sly smile curve my lips.