I couldn't hide my excitement.
It was the first time I would see the world beyond the city walls. Yes, Matthew was born in Astar and had never set foot outside.
Everything he knew about the world, and by extension, everything I now know, he had learned from conversations with the brothel's clients.
It was all as terrifying as it was exciting. I didn't know how much of a threat the monsters truly were.
The Pretty Lions were there to protect me, so I figured I wouldn't have any serious trouble.
The robes I had custom-made were all inscribed with magical protection circles. The carriage had its own protection system. And I was carrying a few scrolls and a magic ring.
I should be safe, right? Well, let's hope so.
I was planning to use the travel time to experiment in the kitchen.
The cuisine in this world wasn't as simple as in the fantasy stories I used to read. A lot of stuff from my old world already existed here.
Still, my experience working in professional kitchens back in my former life was my best shot at creating unique products to make my company stand out.
Besides, is there a more efficient way to win over girls than with delicious food and sweet desserts?
The Pretty Lions would be my official taste-testers, so I hoped my cooking skills would help me expand the harem soon.
I had worked at a family-owned Italian restaurant in my previous life. The owner, that old tyrant, never let us use modern machines to make the pasta. Something about preserving authenticity.
That job was hell. I ended each day sore all over. But that experience would be my greatest weapon here.
I'd already prepared some natural yeast in advance, and that morning before we set off, I was experimenting with a nice artisan bread.
I planned to make sandwiches for lunch.
The caravan would stop only once a day, in the late afternoon, for us to spend the night. The next morning, we'd leave as early as possible and only stop again at the end of the day.
So I couldn't make anything too elaborate for lunch. It had to be something the girls could eat while still riding.
Of course, if they came into the carriage, they could eat comfortably at the dining table.
The carriage had a magical stabilization system. If it weren't for the scenery passing by the windows,
it would feel like we were in a house fixed on a solid foundation.
But they took their job as escorts seriously, so they rode all day, forming a protective line around the carriage.
Tomas sat in the driver's seat, so Lilian and I were alone in the carriage all day. Which was dangerously delightful.
Whenever she got bored during the ride, my body became her personal playground to cure that boredom.
Not that I was going to complain.
Still, I definitely would've finished those loaves faster if she hadn't stopped me… for a bit of "milk time," if you know what I mean.
Even with Lilian's (pleasant) interruption, I managed to finish the sandwiches in time for lunch. I also made a good amount of iced tea.
Lilian and I went to sit next to Tomas on the coach seat so we could eat together with everyone.
"Lunch is served," I said, calling the girls over to eat.
"Mmm, this is way too good, Boss. So you are good for something after all," Tomas said with his mouth full.
When the hell did that little bastard grab a sandwich?
Of course, they were good; I made them, after all.
Okay, the bread recipe was from that miserable old hag from my previous life, and since it was just a simple mortadella sandwich, the butcher deserved most of the credit.
"Don't be shy, help yourself," I said sarcastically.
The bastard took that as permission to grab a second sandwich.
Well, no big deal, I had made plenty.
By the time I finished serving the girls, Tomas was already halfway through his second sandwich.
I rushed to grab mine before that termite got to it.
"You really can cook. It wasn't just talk," Lilian commented.
I couldn't argue with that. Based on Matthew's memories, he hadn't even been near a kitchen before.
"You really are full of 'talents', Mr. Matthew," Leona added.
"And what other talents have you witnessed, Commander?" Felicia teased her.
Leona turned red and lowered her head in embarrassment. Seeing that strong woman act like a shy girl was absolutely adorable.
"You have no idea," Tomas said.
Everyone turned to the coachmen at the same time.
I was more and more convinced that bastard had witnessed our adventure in the barn.
"Have you been showing off your talents to Tomas, Matthy?" Lilian asked, teasing me.
"God forbid. You know I'm not that kind of guy," I said, trying to defend myself.
"You were all praising the Boss's talents that day…" Tomas mumbled.
Only Lilian and I heard it; we were the only ones sitting up front with him, but that was more than enough to earn him a well-deserved smack from Lilian.
"Are you sure it's okay we have this expensive meat for lunch, Mr. Matthew?" Luna, the group's treasurer, asked.
"Don't worry. I'm just testing recipes."
Yes, mortadella and any other type of product made of livestock meat were considered sophisticated products in this world. Beef was especially expensive.
It was most common for people to eat monster meat daily.
Horned Habits were the most common, but the variety was enormous. It was rare for people to eat the same type of meat every day.
That made their cuisine rather uncreative when it came to preparing meats.
Because there was such a wide range of flavors available, they relied much more on the natural taste differences between the various monster meats than on different ways of cooking the same cut.
That might actually work in my favor.
"Thank you, Mr. Matthew," Rose said as she handed me back the empty bottle of tea.
It was the first time I had clearly heard her voice.
Could it be that my plan to win the girls over through their stomachs was already starting to work?
If just a sandwich was already bearing fruit, wait until I start serving desserts.
I was excited to get back in the kitchen.
The caravan's daily stops would be the perfect opportunity to test my skills as a merchant.
Caravans were made up of several companies, but not just merchants. Some people had bought tickets to travel with the group, as well as adventurers who served as personal escorts for each company.
More than 200 people were traveling together.
Each campsite stop turned into a small fair, the perfect chance to test out the culinary products I had in mind.
Tonight, I'd make pizza.