Chapter 6.2

“That’s right. The food at Jack’s Inn isn’t very expensive. A bowl of stew costs about two copper coins.”

“Two copper coins for stew? That’s not expensive?”

“Once you taste it, you’ll agree that two copper coins is a bargain. It’s nothing like the stews you’d find elsewhere!”

“…?”

As the employee continued, an idea crossed the knights’ minds.

“Could it be… they’re using spices?”

“Of course! That smell earlier wasn’t from an ordinary stew.”

The Secret of Spices

Spices—an ingredient from the Eastern Continent, brought to the North through the Empire, regarded as magical.

A heavenly powder traded at the same price as gold.

Recently, it has become an obsession for nobles across the Empire and the continent.

“If they added spices to the stew, that kind of reaction makes sense.”

One of the knights nodded, recalling the spice-laden stew they had eaten on their birthday last year.

“Be reasonable. Even we only use spices sparingly on special occasions. How could a stew costing just 2 copper coins contain spices?”

Another knight chimed in skeptically.

“Not to mention, spices are harder to find in the North than stars in the sky.”

Spices had always been rare, but their scarcity had worsened recently due to the Empire’s unilateral decision to inflate prices. Even nobles—and Duke Arina herself—could only indulge in spiced dishes with great hesitation.

The idea of adding spices to a stew costing 2 copper coins? It defied common sense.

“Oh, and if you bring your own bowl for takeout, they even discount it to 1 copper.”

“Takeout?”

“Furthermore, soldiers and officials in Haven can each get one bowl for free if they’re on duty.”

“…?”

The knights were further taken aback by the employee’s added explanations.

The employee continued, addressing the stunned knights.

“And about the spices from the Eastern Continent—you were just talking about them—it doesn’t seem to be those. According to our innkeeper, who’s practically living at Jack’s Inn these days to study their methods, they mostly use common weeds and roots.”

“Weeds and roots? Can they even produce such a flavor?”

“But it’s true that the items Arad, the chef at Jack’s Inn, commissions from adventurers and local kids are all wild herbs.”

“Arad?”

“Yes, someone who suddenly showed up in Haven one day. Originally a healer, but their cooking skills are extraordinary.”

“A healer who’s making money as a chef?”

“His cooking is excellent, but the real secret lies in something called ‘Arad’s Salt.’”

“Arad’s Salt?”

“Yes, one of Chef Arad’s signature creations, producing flavors equal to—or better than—spices. Our innkeeper has been staying at Jack’s Inn for days trying to uncover its recipe.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hmm…”

The more they heard, the more suspicious Arad seemed.

“This Arad fellow… something’s off about him.”

“Could he be a black magician?”

“Maybe Arad’s Salt is some sort of opiate that ensnares people?”

“Perhaps Polly’s letter was a cry for help.”

Their curiosity and questions began to morph into suspicion and caution.

The female knight, the highest-ranking among them, remained silent as she listened to the knights and the employee’s exchange.

—

By the time the knights from Renslet arrived at Jack’s Inn, lunch hour had long passed, but the line outside the inn persisted, though shorter than before.

“Make way!”

“Don’t obstruct public service!”

Of course, they had no reason to wait in line. As they’d heard, soldiers and officials could skip the line and receive a free bowl of stew.

“Knights! They’re knights from Renslet!”

“Make way for the High Tower!”

This was precisely the time when the privilege of being knights came into play. While they had been discreet in traveling around the North, there were times when revealing their identity was necessary.

“Oh my, knights from the High Tower! What brings you here?”

The innkeeper, Jack, greeted them enthusiastically as they entered the inn.

“Hmm?! Knights from the High Tower?”

“I wasn’t informed about knights coming from the main city.”

The mayor of Haven and several officials, already dining in the inn, furrowed their brows at the sight of the five knights entering.

“They don’t seem to be impostors…”

“Who could they be? With their faces covered, it’s hard to tell…”

“Mayor! Those knights…”

Polly, seated beside the mayor and dining with him, quickly whispered something into his ear.

“Huh? …What?!”

Upon hearing Polly’s explanation, the mayor’s face turned pale.

“Shh.”

One of the knights silenced them with a cold gesture. Polly, the mayor, and the officials frantically nodded in understanding.

“Where is this Arad, the chef?”

The five knights, having preemptively calmed any potential commotion, asked the innkeeper and the staff.

“Is there some issue?”

Jack, the innkeeper, responded with a nervous expression.

“What’s going on? Are they here because of a problem?”

Jack couldn’t help but tense up, especially after seeing how even the mayor and officials, who rarely moved for anyone, seemed frozen in place.

“No. First, we’ll try the food. Take our order.”

“Ah, yes! What would you like?”

“Five bowls of stew to start.”

“Understood.”

There were no seats available inside the inn. However, as soon as the knights entered, some patrons quietly vacated their spots—people who hadn’t budged even when the mayor and officials were present.

The knights simply took note of the faces of those who left without a word, refraining from pursuing them.

Instead, they sat in the vacated seats.

“Here… Here’s the stew…”

Almost immediately, a young boy, likely the innkeeper’s son, nervously brought over the stew.

“Wow…!”

“What is this smell…!”

“I’ve never encountered such a fragrant, savory aroma before.”

The knights, who had caught faint whiffs outside, were now fully enveloped in the stew’s enticing aroma. Their hunger sharpened by the wait, the tantalizing scent clouded their minds.

“The chunks of ingredients in this stew look… amazing.”

“It’s more visually appealing than any stew we’ve had at the High Tower.”

“Focus! Just in case, channel mana into your bodies before you eat!”

The knights took deep breaths, steeling themselves as they lifted their spoons.

Even the female knight, silent until now, activated her mana and took her first bite.

“…?!”

“!!”

The five of them trembled slightly, stunned into silence.

Their tense gazes, sharp moments ago, softened into a dreamy daze.

“Gulp.”

The mayor, officials, innkeeper, and patrons all watched the scene nervously.