Episode 192

“Boss, this situation is problematic.”

“Really? Keep going like that.”

“Just a little more!”

“I got it, I got it.”

I quickly got up and hugged the low-energy Rurin from behind, encouraging her to use magic.

Ricent and Horai had left the restaurant and started discussing something in secret, so naturally, I was eavesdropping.

Of course, the “sacrifice” was Rurin. Just having got up and already feeling down. Where did she even learn that word?

“I have to win. Bissera’s restaurant isn’t the problem, we need to beat the headquarters. But why… Why isn’t it working?!”

“Recently, Bissera’s restaurant has been doing better and better. Boss, I’ve told you before, if only Bissera’s wasn’t around, with the unique circumstances of the mines, we could’ve competed with the headquarters. We were almost catching up, actually. So…”

“So? Do you have any good ideas? I said I don’t like that guy. Why is he talking so much?”

“Yeah, it’s a bit long-winded. Anyway, since it’s an important point, go on.”

“Ugh, fine. Just a little more! It’s okay if it breaks.”

“No, it can’t break.”

“Anyway, that guy started talking again. As I mentioned before, we can use the company’s power to either sabotage Bissera’s restaurant or undermine its sales. Winning now is the priority…”

“I told you before, I don’t want that. It’s only natural that the bigger company wins. They have the capital, so it makes sense to use it to its full extent. Hiring a chef away for a higher salary is just a normal competition. It’s underhanded, but I can accept it. But using other forces outside of competition isn’t competition at all. Even if we win, Mother wouldn’t be happy about it.”

“I’m not sure about that, but the important thing is, there’s very little time left. At this rate…”

He said in a tone that felt as flat as reading from a book.

“Really?”

If it all fails, I wonder if Horai could just go to another restaurant in the Le’a-In Trading Company.

“I’m going to that person right away. I’ll make them work, no matter what.”

“Really? Then they’ll be here soon.”

Well, I couldn’t just sit here holding Rurin and rolling around. Maybe I should show some dignity.

“Eek! Why did you fall?!”

Rurin shouted with a displeased look, but I hushed her and went back to my chair, resuming my usual idle state.

Well, whatever.

If you have capital, it’s only natural to use it.

Just like how I was scouted.

The most underhanded thing isn’t the competition seen upfront, but the behind-the-scenes actions like sabotage.

Her way of thinking is something I admire.

In fact, the original goal was to continue idling until I could buy this restaurant at a price much higher than its market value.

Once the competitor disappears, I’d give the place to Bissera and Duran at a low rent and let them run it.

Then the scale of the restaurant would grow, and I could lower the price accordingly.

Hmm.

But if they were a reasonable person, we could find a win-win solution. Let’s observe more for now.

“What’s this?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are you doing! If you’ve been paid, you need to work! Get up and work!”

By lunchtime, Ricent came back and started shouting. Her energy was enough to pierce the sky, but since there were customers, her voice was quiet.

I liked that about her.

At least she had the awareness of being the restaurant manager and knew she shouldn’t disrupt customers’ meals.

“I haven’t received the payment yet.”

“What? What did you say?! Ugh, Horai! Give this person the money right now.”

“Yes?”

“Quickly!”

“But, you said you’d pay from the Boss’s pocket, so I didn’t prepare anything…”

“……”

Ricent’s words trailed off.

“Pocket… That’s right, I said that. Salaries should obviously be paid on payday, right?”

Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. Does she not have the money? Isn’t she supposed to be the daughter of a powerful merchant?

“Well, that’s usually how it works. I didn’t ask for it right away, though.”

“Hmm, I see. That’s how it is. Haha.”

Ricent scratched the back of her head, a look of realization on her face. It was obvious she was in a crisis regarding that separate “pocket” of hers.

But honestly, the salary wasn’t the real issue. It was a trivial problem.

“Anyway, you! If you’ve agreed to work, you should work! It’s already lunchtime!”

“Has it already become that late?”

“Y-, y-you!”

“I’m not your employee though.”

“Aaah! Just work already! Please, work!”

“Hmm, no thanks.”

“What, what did you say?”

Did I say it too firmly? Then I’ll say it even more firmly.

“I said no. And Rurin is still sleeping.”

I said this while gently stroking Rurin’s head, and Ricent looked at her.

“Mmm…”

She’s making all that noise and still sleeping so soundly, our little dragon. I turned back to Ricent, and she looked at me again.

“Then at least give me the recipe for your new menu! I don’t care if it’s exactly the same or something different.”

“Ah, that? You mean the recipe?”

“Yes, that one!”

Ricent took a step closer, exhaling sharply as if to say she would accept it for now.

“I forgot. My memory’s not what it used to be lately, it’s a big problem.”

“……”

Ricent began trembling after I spoke firmly. It was a little pitiful, but my benefactor wasn’t Ricent, it was Duran.

Of course, I planned to look into Ricent’s circumstances as well.

If there was something else going on, I might change my approach.

Just then, the staff lounge door suddenly burst open.

“Boss! Someone from the family has arrived. It seems like the master is calling for you.”

It was Horai who interrupted the conversation.

Ricent, who had been trembling, turned her head sharply, looking extremely surprised.

“He called for me? I just visited a few days ago.”

“Could it be that he knows about the state of the restaurant?”

“……”

Ricent, visibly agitated, bit her lip and turned sharply, rushing out.

It seemed that her father, the merchant, had called for her, but her face was lightyears away from being welcoming.

“Sir, did you call for me?”

Ricent, who had rushed in a carriage, bowed her head to Le’a-In Saint, the representative of the Le’a-In Trading Company.

The merchant who dominated the business market in the northern cities of the Empire. That was Le’a-In.

“Yes, I called for you.”

“You told me a few days ago that you’d give me more time…why…”

Unlike at the restaurant, Ricent couldn’t even speak properly.

Her clenched fist was shaking, not out of anger, but out of fear.

“I’ve heard about the recent state of the restaurant.”

“That…that…”

She had been caught revealing the one thing she didn’t want anyone to know. As a result, Ricent’s face quickly turned to despair.

“Ugh, that…that…”

What could she answer? But she couldn’t, because it was the truth.

“As promised, don’t ever step foot in the Le’a-In Company again. Understand?”

“That…that’s… Father… Please, give me another chance…”

“Who gave you permission to call me father?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just…”

“I gave you a chance, but you failed to seize it. This is an obvious situation.”

At those words, Ricent’s body crumbled.

The man in front of her was undoubtedly her father. But she couldn’t call him that.

Of course, she never thought of him as a father. He was a cold-hearted man.

This man had abandoned her and her mother.

Yet she came crawling back, driven by her mother’s last wish.

Ricent’s mother had wanted Ricent to be acknowledged by this man. That was the painful dying wish she made while holding Ricent’s hand.

So Ricent had no choice but to run straight to him.

To be acknowledged.

But this man never acknowledged her or her mother. He told her that in order to be recognized, she had to become his heir.

He said he would give her a chance, as if doing her a favor.

She resented him, but she had no choice but to seize the opportunity. She had to hear him say that he would acknowledge her, not just as a daughter, but as someone capable, to be considered part of the Le’a-In family.

That was the way to fulfill her mother’s wish, and her own—revenge.

This man who had abandoned her and her mother would be forced to recognize her.

Her mother just wanted to be recognized as a daughter, but it was different for Ricent. She wanted to be recognized as an heir, by showing her abilities.

To achieve that, she studied and studied, gaining experience by doing countless tasks before stepping foot in Le’a-In.

She would become the heir, and when this man needed her, she would cast him away.

That was her revenge on the man who abandoned her and her mother, the revenge Ricent had dreamed of.

The opportunity she had was to manage Merli, and to bring in sales similar to the main branch of Merli in the neighboring city of Rodin, where Le’a-In’s headquarters was located.

The result was the worst.

But she couldn’t give up like this. She couldn’t waste the time she had spent swearing revenge.

She remembered her mother’s last image.

“Be recognized. Be recognized. What do you mean by that? Mother. From a man like this?”

She ignored these thoughts and begged again.

“I’m sorry. But, there’s still time, there’s still time! I’ve hired a good chef… Now all that’s left is to move ahead.”

“There’s definitely time left, but is it really something that can be done?”

“When I succeeded with the branch before, you said I had the talent! I haven’t failed yet.”

As she recalled the previous test before taking over Merli, Saint began to stroke his beard.

The skills she showed back then certainly impressed him.

That’s why he entrusted her with managing the Merli branch.

“You know there’s going to be a festival in Rodin City soon, right?”

“Yes, yes! That…”

“Show your abilities there.”

“Abilities? What do you mean by that?”

“You weren’t planning to enter, but I made a promise, so I’ll give you another chance. This is the biggest competition to decide who becomes the heir. Set up your shop with the chef you chose. I’ll make others do the same. But this isn’t just about making tasty food. It’s about location, timing, customer preferences, and management. Compete, and win it.”

“Is that really true?”

“I don’t want to say it again. Go. And if you fail here, leave for good!”

Ricent couldn’t say anything more. Saint turned his back without looking at her, and Ricent felt her mind go cold.