Arcadia Kelebel, right in front of Ray's eyes, would be convinced if she were to be identified as Elena's mother.
　She definitely had that beauty.
　However, if Elena is a large rose blooming in the sun, Arcadia gives Ray the impression that even the same rose is blooming in the shade.
　Even if they are the same rose flowers, Elena and Arcadia are very different.
　This would have made the difference seem trivial if they hadn't looked alike at all.
　However, the difference makes a big impression because the features are similar.

"Sit down. My man behaved rudely."

　At Arcadia's words, Ray nods and sits in a chair... until he finally breathes out.
　Just sitting in a chair made me mentally tired.
　But that's only natural. It's the Duke and Duchess of Quevel here.
　That is the most noble and powerful family in the kingdom of Milliana.
　... well, it's strange that there's only an adventurer named Ray here, even though he's notorious.
　At any rate, if you sit in a chair and eat, what floats is the smell of food that stimulates your appetite and visually pleasing food.

(I remember hearing something about top-notch food that entertains the eyes. That's it.)

　In this world of Elgin, the culture of cooking has developed considerably, but it is technically inferior to that of Japan... or the Earth.
　It's only natural that fresh vegetables can be transported to faraway places in the world, and fish can be frozen immediately after they are caught and kept fresh... that's why they can be transported to foreign countries.
　In comparison, the ingredients themselves are hopelessly difficult to obtain in Elgin.
　Of course, using magic and magic items is a problem that can be solved to some extent, but... there are originally very few wizards, and magic items are not general, but those that can be frozen or refrigerated are not easily priced.
　It was natural for Ray to be surprised that such beautiful and appetizing dishes came out in such circumstances.

(Was it a failure to feed on a new dish?)

　I thought so for a moment because I wanted to eat in a more relaxed state, not in this tense state.
　I've heard of being so nervous that I couldn't taste the food.
　That's why it was only natural to want to enjoy the most of the delicious food.
　To be honest, Ray was wrong about the Duke of Kelevel.
　In this case, should we describe it as contemptuous?
　I knew he was Elena's father, and I knew he was leading many nobles.
　But he said, after all, he would be inferior to Dusker.
　But Ray's predecessor is undoubtedly equivalent to Dusker's... no, as a member of Gillum and friendly to Dusker, he probably is better than Dusker's as a nobleman.
　Ray knows, of course, that's only from a certain aspect of being a nobleman.
　For example, Novres Obrige... if the lord of the nobility goes to battle for what is called a noble duty, Duke of Kelebel or Dusker would be more useful, he would be used to fighting as a former knight.
　Ray knew that, but he couldn't help but judge that the person in front of him was a big shot.

"Well, let's start eating. How about... wine?"

　Ray shakes his head when asked by the Duke of Kelebel.
　But it was Elena who spoke out about Ray's attitude.

"Ray doesn't seem to like alcohol, and he always drinks tea, water, fruit water, and so on. It's a pity for my father."
"Well, I see. But... I think good wine goes well with good food. What a shame."
"Ah. It's not that I can't drink, but I don't like alcohol, not just wine. If you're going to use alcohol for cooking, it's okay."

　Ray said that somehow, but he must have been a little bothered by what he said.
　The Duke of Kelebel glances at Ray, enjoying the wine, ham and vegetable salad he serves his maid.

"Oh, do you use alcohol in cooking? Unfortunately, I specialized in cooking, so I can't say anything about it. Do you do that?"

　Surprised that fresh vegetables are available this winter, Ray also nods back, savoring a ham and vegetable salad.

"Yes. I don't know much about it either, but I think it was a cooking method where you sprinkle high-intensity alcohol on the meat you're grilling in the frying pan, light it in the frying pan, and then the alcohol burns, and then flavor the ingredients you're grilling."

　Flanbe is a very well-known cooking method in Japan.
　That's why even Ray, who doesn't know much about cooking, knew how to cook it.
　Although I only knew how to cook it, and I only knew exactly what effect the flambé would have.

"Well... that's an interesting recipe. I don't know, but can I tell my cook later?"
"That's fine, but... Georgima, I think you should know how to cook it."
"Oh, you already know Georgima's name... did you meet her?"

　Arcadia interrupts the conversation between Ray and the Duke of Kelebel as he savors potato-like vegetable potage soup.
　Arcadia doesn't seem to do that, though it was supposed to be a misdemeanor.
　The Duke of Kelebel had nothing particular to say to his wife's attitude.

"Oh, yes. You must have been interested when you heard that I've spread some dishes, including udon."
"I see. ... Come to think of it, I have heard such a story from a merchant who came to the city where I was staying."

　For a moment, Ray wondered if he was staying, but he decided that perhaps he should stop listening to it, so he wouldn't say it.
　Knowing what the Duke of Quevel's wife, who leads the aristocracy, was doing, doesn't mean to be a hundred harms and no gain... but it seems to me that there are more disadvantages.

"Georgima's food is delicious, but... today's food seems to be even more intense."

　Elena looks at the food mysteriously, enjoying the soup.
　In fact, today's food wasn't supposed to be this far.
　...and Ray has to say something like, if he really makes himself feel good, he'

"Huh, you have a face that says you know something? I heard you met Georgima, but something happened at that time? Yeah, if you cook something that makes Ray growl, you'll teach him something that he's never thought of course.

　As Arcadia asks with an elegant smile, Ray pauses for a moment, wondering if he could see through his thoughts.
　But soon he quenched the surprise and opened his mouth, stretching a spoon into the soup.

"Well, I have a lot of knowledge of cooking in my mind when I lived with my master, but I can hardly cook myself, so I teach them that this is the kind of cooking that the chef completes."
"Oh, really? What I heard was that they explained it after they understood exactly what the taste was like, regardless of how they said.

　Ray's movement pauses for another moment at a casual remark from Arcadia.
　Ray tries reflexively to look at Elena, but he succeeds in forcing her to stop with his will.
　I understood that if I did so now, it would be evidence to support Arcadia's words.

(He's kind, but he's scary. That's exactly what it looks like.)

　Ray is still very much convinced by the image of Arcadia from the maid.
　It's definitely good when it comes to being friendly.
　It was certain that her daughter... ...the Duchess of Kelebel, and also known as General Princess, had brought in an adventurer, but she did not flatly deny it, and that she was dealing with him in this way.
　Again, Ray turns to Arcadia.
　It was neither admiration for beauty, nor desire for a woman more mature than Elena, nor pleasure for tenderness... but vigilance against the half-natural.
　That's what Ray usually looks at.
　Of course, Ray has never looked at anyone like that before.
　The Lank S adventurers of the Empire of Bestia and the Kingdom of Milliana, and the Grimm worthy of being called Rich Road, the Silver Lion of the Boss Monster who protected the Dungeon's core at the altar of succession.It's not that I've ever seen anyone else say they don't understand.
　But... it was completely unexpected that Arcadia would feel that way when it comes to direct combat power, which would clearly be lower than the soldiers around her.

"Oh, what's the matter? The delicious food will cool down."
"... well. Every dish is really good, and it's a waste if it gets cold."

　Say so, Ray carries a spoon of soup to his mouth.
　Ray's soup called pottage is basically from his time in Japan.
　It's a potage that comes out in elementary and junior high school lunches, a simple potage like soup stock, and a potage that I bought from a vending machine in winter that prevents corn from coming out of my mouth.
　What were those potages?
　The pottage in Ray's mouth was so delicious that I wanted to say so.

"This is delicious."

　Until a few seconds ago, I felt almost in awe of Arcadia, but it's gone clean and clean from the inside of the ray.
　What spreads in your mouth is the rich taste and sweetness of vegetables.
　However, the smoothness of it slipping down my throat makes me think I can drink as much as I want.
　Of course, this dish is just like pottage, not pottage.
　However, it was engraved in my mind that this is the pottage that Ray is currently drinking.

"I'm glad that you liked it. This soup is called Georgima Soup. It's made by Georgima, as the name suggests. It takes a lot of time to make, and I don't think I can eat it that much... to pay tribute to Ray's knowledge of cooking."
"Oh, honey. That's a little too glorifying Georgima. I think it's about him, so he's definitely trying to make Ray growl with taste and learn new dishes."

　Arcadia is on the table, freshly baked bread...again, of course, Georgima selects the ingredients carefully and cuts them into bite-size pieces to bring to her mouth.
　Arcadia's cutting of bread gives off a savory smell of bread.
　Arcadia was happily eating the bread, which she could understand was soft.
　There are several other light appetizers on the table, including soup and salad.
　That's the kind of food that normally makes you want to eat until you're full.
　But... all that's spreading here is appetizers.
　They haven't served any real main dishes with meat or fish yet.
　If these dishes were served, would Ray be able to taste them thoroughly... and most importantly, he wanted to eat them with his acquaintances without feeling nervous.