CHAPTER 33
Harpa led the way and opened the door to the tavern, Kuna.
A wave of warmth surged out, completely different from the chilly outside air.
“Whoa, it’s toasty in here.”
At the sight of the lively crowd, the corners of Harpa’s mouth lifted into a smile.
The fairly large interior was packed with people, and the laughter and chatter never ceased.
“So… noisy.”
Alfred, who had grown used to the eerily quiet nights in the north over the past year, let out a short sigh.
“Noisy? Sir Kiyor, this is life! Isn’t it such a vibrant scene?”
“That’s because you’re young.”
Alfred and Harpa looked around the tavern, trying to find a place to sit.
“Just the two of you?”
“No, one more will be joining us, so three in total.”
A staff member guided them to a table tucked away in the corner.
“This is the only available spot right now. If another table opens up, we’ll move you.”
The table was situated next to the entrance of a yet-to-be-cleared tarot shop.
“Tarot Card Master, Naz,”
Harpa read the name carved into the door.
“Ah, so this is the famous fortune teller’s shop.”
“What? There’s another shop inside the tavern?”
Seeing Alfred’s surprise, Harpa chuckled quietly.
“You’re usually quite observant, Sir Kiyor, but sometimes you can be a bit clueless.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t Lord Kyle mention that the fortune teller here is quite famous?”
“Did he? I must’ve forgotten.”
Alfred scratched the side of his head sheepishly.
“Yes, that’s how I know.”
While they were talking, the server returned to take their order.
“I heard you have to try something called Ice Kuna here…”
“That’s what everyone comes for. Would you like to try one of the combo sets?”
The server pointed to several Ice Kuna and appetizer set options hanging on the wall.
Harpa’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
“That’s a great idea. No need to spend time thinking about what to order. Just the essentials, well-organized.”
“Uh, yes…”
The server responded rather flatly.
“Then we’ll go with Set No. 1, please.”
“Understood. One Set No. 1 — that’s two Ice Kunas and thin-sliced roasted potatoes.”
Harpa watched the servers busily delivering Ice Kunas.
“Sir Kiyor, I wonder how much money flows through this place in a day.”
“It must be massive. Just look at how crowded it is even at this hour. And the prices don’t seem cheap either.”
Customers were continuously ordering Ice Kuna, and the kitchen was churning out food non-stop.
Harpa sighed faintly at the sight.
“There’s no place like this in the north.”
“Well… the northern nights come fast, and it’s freezing cold.”
“That’s true, but the real issue is there’s no business that generates a steady cash flow.”
“Don’t taverns exist in the north, too?”
“They do. But the men die fighting monsters, and the women struggle day by day just to survive. The weather is harsh, the land is barren, and not many crops grow properly. Of course, business doesn’t thrive. Places like this need not just money, but a certain ease of heart to visit.”
Alfred knew exactly what Harpa meant by this long lament.
The northern mountains, known as the land abandoned by the Empire.
The Olbreno domain was located in one of the most barren areas of that region.
“If it weren’t for the lord’s competence, many in Olbreno would’ve starved.”
During the winter, Kyle had often spoken with Harpa Olbreno.
One of the few native noble families still based in the north.
A noble who enjoyed the unwavering support of his people.
When the capital stopped caring about the northern monsters, he alone dispatched his private troops to fight them.
The man who helped Kyle adapt to the north had far more talent than what was needed for a mere local lord.
Namely, a knack for making money.
The north only enjoyed warm sunlight for a couple of months a year.
So expecting profit from farming was unrealistic.
There were a few crops that could grow in the harsh north, but Harpa didn’t pin his hopes on those.
Instead, he focused on manufactured goods.
As expected from a cold region, the north excelled in traditional weaving.
Adding the north’s unique patterns to the fabrics made them highly sought after.
People from all over the continent wanted northern textiles—but few merchants dared to trade with such a dangerous region.
So Harpa built sturdy stone towers at every entrance to his domain.
They functioned like outposts and stores that sold northern specialties.
As more merchants visited, the variety of manufactured goods increased.
Beyond simple weaving, they started producing shawls, clothing, and more.
Thanks to this, the Olbreno family grew wealthy, and Harpa used that money to buy seeds and grains from the east.
But that didn’t mean he relied entirely on eastern imports.
He also worked on cultivating crops that could survive in the north.
The problem was the results were meager, despite great effort.
Most seeds couldn’t withstand the frozen soil and died.
And clothing couldn’t be sold year-round, since it wasn’t winter all the time.
It was a tough time.
If Kyle hadn’t shared the money he earned from hunting monsters, things would’ve gotten difficult.
A few days after receiving the Emperor’s summons to return—
Kyle made a proposal to Harpa.
“This time, come with me to the capital.”
“Huh? Me? I’ve never left the north before.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking you to come. If I go alone, I might get ripped off like a clueless country bumpkin. But with you around, I’ll be in good hands.”
“Why are you asking me to come?”
Kyle gave a short, amused snort.
“To put you to work a bit.”
“…Excuse me?”
Harpa’s naturally drooping eyes always made him look sleepy.
Even when he was clearly surprised, his face didn’t show it.
Kyle chuckled again.
“I want to put your talents to use.”
“I don’t know what kind of talents you’re talking about…”
“When it comes to everyday stuff, you’re slow to the point of being frustrating, but when it’s about money—your eyes change.”
“Do they…?”
“Yeah. A lot.”
Harpa scratched his head sheepishly at Kyle’s teasing.
“I’m just a bumpkin from the north. What could I possibly do in the capital?”
“There’s this drink called Ice Kuna. Only sold in the capital for now.”
“A drink?”
“It doesn’t quite get you drunk like a typical alcohol, but it’s not exactly a soft drink either. In any case, it’s something.”
Kyle’s first thought after drinking Ice Kuna was that he wanted to share it across the continent.
“It’s delicious. I bet anyone who tries it thinks the same.”
“Ice Kuna… It sounds cold. Would it sell well in the north?”
“I wasn’t thinking about selling it in the north.”
“What? Then…”
“We’re not gonna freeze. We’re gonna make Ice Kuna—in the north.”
Harpa’s eyes widened.
“Huh? Make it? Do you even know the recipe?”
“Nope. That’s what you’re going to find out when we go to the capital.”
What was Kyle even talking about?
Harpa was thoroughly confused.
Just going to the capital was shocking enough—especially with no promise of return. Now Kyle wanted him to dig up the recipe for Ice Kuna?
‘Even if I have a knack for making money, that only works in the north…’
Harpa stared blankly down at the table, head lowered.
Kyle snapped his fingers right in front of him.
“I’m not asking you to decide right now, so stop looking like the world’s ending.”
“That’s not it…”
“I’m leaving in the spring. Just let me know your answer before then.”
Kyle stood up.
“Lord Harpa, if you can’t trust yourself—trust me. My eyes are sharp.”
While they talked, the Ice Kuna and potato set arrived.
Seeing the frost-covered glass made Harpa subconsciously swallow.
“Lord Kyle praised this so much… I am curious what it tastes like.”
Alfred took a sip first.
Harpa followed with a gulp.
They both widened their eyes and looked at each other.
And then, simultaneously, small smiles formed on their faces.
“If Lord Kyle were here, he’d be smirking with pride.”
“Yes, without a doubt… I understand now why he wanted us to find out how to make it.”
There was no more conversation after that.
They simply drank. One glass. Then another.
“I actually drank Kuna a long time ago.”
“This?”
Alfred nodded.
“As I remember, it was lukewarm and mediocre. That’s probably why I forgot about it completely. It sounded familiar, and tasting it here jogged my memory.”
“I see. I wonder who first thought to serve such a drink cold. The knights said they only started selling Ice Kuna about a year ago.”
Alfred was on his third glass.
“Lord Kyle said it probably wouldn’t sell well in the cold north, but I’m starting to think it might do just fine. With this kind of taste.”
Harpa’s eyes gleamed as he examined his half-empty tin mug.
“Well, I may be an ignorant knight who doesn’t know a thing about business, but…”
