Chapter 9.2

“With the 50 gold coins I’ve earned, I’ll have enough to secure a stable life in the North.”

For now, the gold coins in my pocket mattered more to me.

Thus, our business concluded as swiftly as roasting beans over a fire—a hallmark of Northern practicality.

“Now then! Since we’re here, shall we have a meal?”

With the situation mostly resolved, the Northern officials and knights began gathering around the table.

“Yes! I will prepare it immediately.”

Thanks to Jack, who had already prepared and heated water and ingredients, I could quickly start making breakfast.

After that, more guests began to visit for Arad Stew, one by one.

Naturally, Jack took care of the regular guests, while I attended to the distinguished ones.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“So, what special dish do you have for us today?”

“I’ve prepared Arad-style tomahawk steak for you. I recommend dipping it in the special Arad sauce in front of you.”

“Ohhh! The steak looks like a giant axe! Hahaha!”

“For dessert, you’ll have a sherbet made from winter apples soaked in honey and blended with ice.”

“Sher… what? Well, I’m looking forward to it!”

“Feels like an omakase experience.”

Thus began another bewildering day.

Even though I wasn’t officially a baronet yet, I could already feel the air around me changing.

“Um… should I call you ‘Baronet’ now?”

“I’m not a baronet yet, so treat me as you always do.”

“Even so…”

The first to show this shift were Jack and Tom.

They hadn’t reacted much when they heard the fabricated story of my noble lineage. But now, with official recognition from the Northern Grand Duke, it seemed impossible for them to ignore it any longer.

“I guess I should leave this inn soon. Ideally, within this month.”

As I observed Jack, the staff, and even the regular customers becoming more cautious around me, I made up my mind.

“Will you be alright?”

Having decided to leave Jack’s inn, I asked him while working.

“What do you mean?”

Jack responded in polite formality, seemingly more comfortable addressing me that way now.

“Arad Salt will soon spread across the North. You won’t see the same sales as before.”

“Ah… well, there’s nothing to be done about that. It’s the Grand Duke’s command, after all.”

To my concerns, Jack showed no sign of worry.

“And to be honest, it’s been quite exhausting.”

“Exhausting?”

“It’s not my body—it’s my mind that’s been tired.”

In fact, he seemed relieved.

“Sales will drop, but at least my mind will be at ease. My body, too.”

Apparently, he’d been under more pressure than I realized, dealing with the constant attention.

“Ah… I didn’t think about that.”

Feeling a twinge of guilt, I decided to share a little secret with Jack as a parting gift.

“Lean in for a moment.”

“What?”

“In the Arad Salt recipe I submitted, there’s one thing missing: wildflower stalks…”

“?!”

The recipe I’d handed over was incomplete, lacking a key ingredient akin to the fish sauce in kimchi.

Its absence wouldn’t ruin the taste, but it would leave a subtle, 1% gap that only those with refined palates would notice. That slight difference would ensure that die-hard gourmands continued to seek out Jack’s inn.

“Th-thank you!”

Jack looked at me with tearful gratitude as I revealed my secret.

Leaving his thanks behind, I returned to my duties as head chef, determined to end my time here on a high note.

Jack seemed to have a knack for cooking.

In just two days, he had absorbed most of the recipes. Not all my skills and knowledge, of course, but enough to handle the inn’s menu and maintain the dishes I’d introduced.

“With Arad Salt spreading, there’s been a noticeable drop in customers.”

“Takeout orders have also decreased. Other inns must be copying the recipes.”

“We’ll need to lower prices soon.”

As the recipe spread rapidly throughout Haven, Jack and Tom could now run the inn without me.

“Starting tomorrow, I think I can manage on my own.”

“That seems likely.”

“I’ll keep offering free stew to the guards and officials.”

“Are you sure? That’ll cut into your profits.”

“It has unseen benefits.”

“True, when you look at the forest rather than the trees.”

Jack had clearly grown as a businessman, learning and evolving during our time together.

“Now I can leave the inn with peace of mind.”

Thanks to him, I was finally free from my role as head chef.

But that didn’t mean I completely stopped cooking.

“Arad, are you there?”

“Yes, what would you like today?”

“The usual course, please.”

The only exception was when knights from the High Castle visited daily for my food.

“Isn’t Arad Salt widely available now? You could probably find similar dishes at Polly’s Inn.”

“Are we bothering you by coming here every day?”

“Not at all! It’s just that compared to Polly’s Inn, this place seems a bit humble for someone of your stature.”

“Hahaha! I was joking. We come here every day because of the food you make, Arad.”

“Me?”

“Some of us knights find your cooking strangely more appealing. Apologies to Polly, but that’s the truth.”

A knight who introduced himself as Dominic (who I suspected was Balzac) lowered his voice and spoke to me during his K-omakase-style meal.

“Is there someone among them who can taste that 1% difference?”

I glanced at the lone female knight in their group.

Wearing her hood deeply over her face, she was intently savoring the medium-rare steak I’d cooked.

The way she shuddered slightly with every bite of meat was unexpectedly endearing.

“If she’s this captivated by my food… maybe she’d let me join their party?”

Watching her, I made a bold decision: I must protect the Northern Grand Duke, Arina Rune Renslet!

I hadn’t forgotten this grand mission.

…Of course, it had become slightly blurry when I received the 50 gold coins for the salt recipe. But it quickly returned to clarity.

“By the way, what brings the knights from the High Tower here to Haven?”

I cautiously asked about their purpose.

“The reason for knights of our rank to be here is obvious: fulfilling the duties of enforcers.”

“Is there a rebel in Haven?”

Feigning surprise, I asked.

“No, don’t worry. Haven borders the Demonic Realm, doesn’t it? We occasionally hunt high-ranking monsters from the Demonic Realm to protect the people.”

“Ah, I see…”

In other words, they were here for leisure.