The returning mercenary has a plan – Episode 116 (116/269)
Episode 116 Shall We Walk Through Life Again? (4)
As the days passed by busily, the day of the banquet approached swiftly.
Jisel also decided to take a break and relax for just one day.

“Sometimes, I wish I could play without a care in the world.”

Jisel also enjoys having fun.
During his mercenary king days, he delegated all the tedious tasks to his subordinates and only chose to do things that seemed fun.
But now, with so much work to do, even though he wanted to have a blast, he couldn’t afford to.

“Sigh, I need to finish everything quickly to relax my mind.”

Grumbling to himself, Jisel put on a smile and leisurely made his way to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall of Fenris Castle was not very spacious, but there were fewer guests and servants, so there was no problem hosting the banquet.
Some nobles opposed bringing in the servants, saying that if some nobles lacked dignity, they should not be allowed in, but Jisel ignored their objections and pushed forward.
His principle was that when having fun, everyone should have fun together and make noise.

“It would be fun to create a large square and gather all the residents of the territory.”

In his heart, he wanted to invite the residents of the territory this time as well.
However, no matter how few people there were in the territory, he couldn’t bring all the residents into the castle.
With a heavy heart, Jisel distributed alcohol and meat to each household.
The residents of the territory who received alcohol and meat for free, as well as the servants who experienced the banquet that was usually enjoyed by nobles, praised the lord with joy.
In a poor territory with nothing to do, people of all ages eagerly awaited the day of the banquet.
Except for one group.
Claude and the magicians gathered in a corner of the banquet hall, whispering among themselves.
Their faces were grim and serious.

“Please, let there be at least one…”

“Surely someone must have experienced side effects.”

“We must not miss a single one. We must find them all and bring them to a draw.”

With determination to catch even a straw, they were searching for people with side effects.
It was not a behavior that people who pursued reason and logic would normally exhibit, but it showed how anxious they were.

“Although the goddess did not send a demon, she might have sent at least a pimple.”

Claude widened his eyes and stared intently at the entrance of the banquet hall.
It was a scheme to carefully scrutinize the faces of the incoming people.
* * *
As the basic food preparations were completed and the hastily assembled band took their places, Jisel entered the banquet hall.

“Hasn’t it started yet? Just start casually. Why is it so difficult to have fun?”

Normally, the highest-ranking person should appear last, but Jisel didn’t care about such formalities.
When the lord sat down and started tearing into the meat, the nobles were taken aback and shouted.

“Start already!”

The band hurriedly played a tune.
Pling! Pling! Squeak!
Since the people gathered were hastily assembled, their skills were not very good.
They could barely match the pitch, and starting the performance suddenly without preparation made it even more off-key.
Clunk!
As soon as the door opened, people who had been waiting for the banquet to start rushed in.
Although they were not as extravagantly dressed as nobles, they all wore clean clothes and showed signs of making an effort.
One more common point to note was that everyone’s faces were glowing.

“Oh, ah….”

Claude turned his head away.
It was undoubtedly due to the lighting that their eyes were sparkling.
It wasn’t because he was about to cry!

“Oh… darn.”

Claude cursed under his breath as he scrutinized the faces of the people entering the banquet hall.
Clean here, clean there, smooth and neat.
Although there were differences in skin color and wrinkles, there was not a single person who looked like they had bad skin.
The only ones who seemed to be in a bad state were the magicians standing next to Claude, looking around anxiously.
As people eagerly awaited the start of the banquet, Jisel raised his hand to stop the music.
Honestly, it was hard to listen because it was giving him a headache.

“I appreciate everyone for working hard on the affairs of the territory that have been running busily. I am grateful to all of you. Since I will continue to be busy, please rest well until tomorrow.”

It was a truly modest banquet, but everyone nodded in agreement.
It was already a well-known fact that the lord of the territory did not have any pretentiousness.
Jisel looked at Claude and the magicians with a strange smile.

“I’m sure everyone knows that the lord of the territory and the magicians made a bet.”

When the topic of cosmetics came up, the room fell silent as if a mouse had died.
It was finally time to confirm the results of the bet that was clearly in favor of one side.

“I suppose the evaluation of cosmetics can only be subjective. I know that most of you here have used it.”

Leaning back in his chair, Jisel spoke in a relaxed voice.

“Those who experienced side effects, step forward. I will provide ample compensation.”

No one stepped forward.
In fact, even if there were side effects, who would dare to step forward in front of the lord?
Fortunately, there were indeed no side effects.

“It seems like there are none at all. I will leave the judgment of the bet to those present here. Please speak honestly about the cosmetics.”

Initially hesitant, people began to step forward one by one.

“It really works well. I’ve never seen a product like this before.”

“My skin has improved significantly. It definitely seems effective.”

“There were no side effects! This is a perfect cosmetic!”

“Could you give me one more? Please!”

As one or two people started sharing their opinions, everyone else joined in praising the cosmetics enthusiastically.
Many expressed regret that such an effective product might not be available in the future.
In the end, the praise for the cosmetics turned into praise for the lord.

“This is truly amazing! When you showed us the new farming methods, it was amazing, and now you’ve created such a product!”

“This is going to be a huge hit! It will become a specialty of our territory!”

“Please make more things! We will believe in anything you make now!”

The compliments kept pouring in.
Jisel sat back arrogantly, with a satisfied expression as if asking for more praise.
As people grew tired and the compliments began to fade, Jisel turned to Claude and the magicians.

“How was it? It seems like the results are out, right?”

“Uh, um….”

Claude and the magicians’ faces turned pale in an instant.
No one had developed a pimple despite their prayers!
They had indeed created a truly effective cosmetic product.
There was no room for denial now.
Claude looked around nervously. Everyone in the banquet hall was staring at him as if waiting for him to admit defeat.

“Ha….”

Claude sighed as he looked up at the ceiling and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. The lord has succeeded again. Where did he learn such things?”

Even if the goddess didn’t send a demon, she might have sent at least a pimple.
Claude widened his eyes and stared intently at the entrance of the banquet hall.
It was a scheme to carefully scrutinize the faces of the incoming people.
* * *

“We have a problem.”

Claude, who had now become a 20-year slave, opened his mouth with a serious expression.
He looked like a mess, as if he had been beaten up somewhere.

“What’s wrong with you? You always have some problem, don’t you? So, what’s the problem this time?”

“Congratulations on the success of the cosmetics. Anyone who tries it once will surely be amazed. Please give me a few. I’ll send them to Anna.”

“Isn’t it a problem that the cosmetics were successful?”

“The cost of the ingredients is too high to mass-produce. But if we produce in small quantities, it will be slow. That’s the problem.”

This cosmetic product contained numerous medicinal ingredients.
Among them, the most expensive was a flower known as the ‘Fairy’s Blessing.’
It was a flower that was more expensive than gold, the same weight as the one used to treat Gillian’s daughter.
Although only a small amount was used in the product, the production cost was still significant.

“It’s okay. Just sell it at a higher price to the nobles. After all, the nobles are the main target consumers of that product.”

“It’s a good strategy to upscale. But if the nobles don’t buy it, how will you make money? The servants of the castle refused to use it. Gillian used it out of loyalty. But the nobles might not do the same.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Let’s go and see.”

“The nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won’t buy it just because Gillian did. The nobles are different.”

“Now we need to promote it.”

“How? There are no nobles here in the rural territory.”

Jisel nodded as if he had already thought of a solution.

“We’re going to the capital.”

“What?”

“The nobles who enjoy socializing are all gathered in the capital, right? We’ll build connections there and try to sell the cosmetics.”

“Ah… the nobles in the capital are known for being picky. Why would those people trust and buy the lord’s products? They won