Cooking Showdown (17)

It’s fine if you go and come back.

“Everything’s fine, but please don’t fall!”

As long as you don’t fall.

“I won’t!”

Then, with a loud voice, I retort.

“Hmph, will you really not fall?”

If I were to bet, I’d wager that you’ll fall.

Having gotten tired of grilling the skewers, I turned off the fire and was resting when, shortly after, Ricent rushed over with a pale face and shouted.

“Cr-crisis! Something bad has happened!”

“What happened? What kind of big problem is it?”

What kind of big problem could it be? Unless the world is ending, it’s not really a big deal. So I answered nonchalantly.

Ricent then shouts in a voice that seems on the verge of collapse.

“L-Lord, the Lord has arrived!”

The lord?

Isn’t it stranger if the lord doesn’t come to the city’s biggest festival?

“Why? If the lord doesn’t show up at the festival, wouldn’t that be the real problem? That would be neglecting their duties.”

Exactly.

In fact, that’s exactly what I’m aiming for—the lord’s presence.

Since it’s the greatest festival held once a year, it was certain that the lord would show their face in some way.

I don’t even need to seek them out; they will come on their own.

The lord is the key point.

Of course, I don’t plan on asking the lord to destroy the Le’a-In Trading Company just because they don’t like it.

I’m just aiming to make the cooking competition fair. They’ve cheated over there, so it’s just a matter of correcting that.

In fact, the lord’s presence had been part of my calculations from the start.

The lord of this city is someone I know.

If you go further up from this region, you come to the northern lands where monsters abound. This city was once a battleground against monsters, and its lord was also part of the allied forces during the war.

And I was the supreme commander of that allied force.

Even a 6th-class individual becomes a count, and a 7th-class or higher mage guarantees the rank of marquis or higher. Naturally, I am in a position to have a count as a subordinate.

Well, that’s the story.

“Since the lord has arrived, I should go watch as well.”

“You said something to me earlier! Ah, but I guess I’ll be able to see it anyway?”

“Why?”

“I heard they said they were going to watch the cooking competition too.”

“Oh, really? That’s definitely some insider information.”

Upon hearing that, I immediately sat back down in my chair. If the lord is going to show their face at the cooking competition, there’s no need for me to move at all.

If I just focus on cooking, the right actions will naturally follow.

“I feel like the hurdles are getting higher, and I’m getting anxious.”

Ricent answered with an anxious look, but I smiled warmly at them.

“Ah, you’ve arrived, Your Excellency!”

Le’a-In Saint quickly stood up and bowed. Since the lord had arrived, the representative of a trading company couldn’t act arrogantly.

In a strict class-based society, no matter how much power the representative of a trading company wielded, they could not assert it in front of nobility. Especially not when the noble was a lord.

Moreover, the Lord of the city, Count Belhel, was celebrated as a war hero for his participation in the last Monster War, so it was only natural for Le’a-In Saint to show deference.

It was normal for Le’a-In Deron and Le’a-In Seren to be unable to speak while bowing in respect.

“Thank you for visiting our store, Your Excellency!”

“It’s a city festival, so of course I should take a look. And of all, it’s only natural to visit your esteemed trading company first. Hahaha!”

“It is an honor, Your Excellency. Such high praise.”

“Too much praise, you say? By the way, I heard there’s a cooking competition soon?”

“Yes.”

“I couldn’t participate last year, but today I’ve even skipped a meal to attend. Please feed me something delicious!”

“Oh, I wonder if it will suit your taste…”

“Hahaha, it’s a festival, so whether it suits my taste or not, I must enjoy it!”

Count Belhel laughed heartily again.

“I-I see, Your Excellency.”

Le’a-In Saint scratched the back of his head before placing a large box in front of the knights guarding the count.

“What’s this?”

“It’s nothing much. Just a token of my goodwill.”

“Oh? I should accept your goodwill, of course. But I don’t like judging competitions, so don’t think to ask me to do so.”

“Oh, of course not. This is merely a way for us common folk to repay your kindness.”

“I see. Well, if that’s the case…”

While saying this outwardly, Count Belhel’s face was joyfully smiling, and the knights quickly began collecting the boxes.

“What’s this? Acting like they’re here just to receive something. Hahaha.”

“That’s not the case at all! It seems the market association put a lot of effort into organizing this. I think the cooking competition will be quite fun, Your Excellency.”

“Is that so? It should be then. I’ll be watching, after all.”

“Do you mean that, Your Excellency?”

As Count Belhel laughed, Le’a-In Saint followed with a smile. Le’a-In Deron and Le’a-In Seren could only break into cold sweat beside them.

It wasn’t something anyone could do, to deliver funds to the lord.

Le’a-In Deron didn’t have that kind of influence yet.

Of course, he planned to inherit it someday.

“Then, please follow me this way.”

Le’a-In Saint invited Count Belhel to the seat of honor at the cooking competition being set up in the central plaza.

Le’a-In Deron and Le’a-In Seren’s respective stores were participating, but the actual competitors were the chefs.

Thus, they also headed toward the seats of honor.

There were judges at the seats of honor, and from that point onward, fairness was virtually non-existent.

Le’a-In Saint guided Count Belhel to the center of the seating of honor, and soon after, the head of the market association and others with similar titles rushed over to bow their heads.

They were all judges as well.

“Yes, yes, don’t mind me. Go ahead and attend to your duties.”

“It is an honor, Your Excellency!”

Everyone spoke the same words and bowed before retreating. Count Belhel watched their departure, stroking his chin.

“By the way, the winner is already decided, isn’t it?”

Count Belhel, sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, casually asked Le’a-In Saint.

“Wh-what do you mean, Your Excellency?”

“Oh, never mind. I’ve received such a splendid gift. Actually, when it comes to matters of commerce, no matter how much I am Belhel, I could never interfere with your Company. Hehe.”

“I-I wouldn’t dare, Your Excellency. If you have a store you’ve marked for success, please let me know…”

“No, no, nothing like that. I’m here to enjoy myself. And, after all, one tends to favor their own. Your Company should win, for my satisfaction.”

Listening to the conversation between Le’a-In Saint and the lord, Le’a-In Deron was first surprised, then let out a sigh of relief.

It would have been a big problem if the lord had said he had already picked a store, but fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

He must have meant to lavish praise and ask for an increase in donations.

“Haha, we don’t know either. I truly haven’t done anything. I don’t know what my subordinates are doing, but there are many talented people, so who knows.”

It wasn’t a lie. Le’a-In Saint had only been involved with the lord, while everything related to the market association and other matters was Le’a-In Deron’s work.

“I see. Well, if that’s the case, it will be even more enjoyable.”

Of course, Count Belhel didn’t push any further. One had to show respect for what they received in order to keep receiving great profits.

We participate in the cooking competition and win.

The time to achieve our initial goal has arrived. On the second day, the results will be announced in large letters.

Even without that, I heard the cooking competition is the highlight of the festival and draws the largest crowd.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most of the city’s citizens come to watch.

So, in essence, the story is already over.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes!”

“Where are you going?”

I, preparing the ingredients and about to move, and Ricent, who’s helping, while Rurin, rubbing her eyes, grabs my arm.

The three of us began to move.

When we arrived, the center of the plaza had been brightly decorated. Tables for cooking stretched endlessly.

Cooking tools were all set up as well.

That means we just have to cook and submit our dishes here. Perhaps because the judges had been bribed, there was no differentiation in the equipment.

However, the seating arrangement was the same. The farthest table was ours.

“We are deeply grateful for your participation in this year’s festival. Our city’s representative dish, Ma’a! Let’s see who will win the honor of the best restaurant by showcasing their Ma’a dishes! Please enjoy and look forward to the competition!”

The festival is organized by the Market Association.

On the surface, Le’a-In Trading Company is just a participant. The representative seems to be acting pompously from the seat of honor.

Next to him, Count Belhel was also visible. He was the same as ever. The speech from the head of the Market Association continued, but it went on so long, like a principal’s lecture, that I turned my attention elsewhere.

“So, what is this? It’s covered in white!”

I was dressed in a full chef’s outfit, which I never wore even at the restaurant, and Rurin was wearing the same thing. It seemed like Rurin liked it.

“Well, it’s traditional chef’s attire.”

White traditional chef hats and uniforms. Rurin wore the same, and Ricent had the same outfit as well.

Our store’s participant name was “Merli Eastern Branch”.

“Why are there so many humans? It’s annoying. I don’t like crowds.”

“Really?”

She nodded, giving me a look as if asking if she could just sweep them all away. Of course, the answer was no.

Especially since Rurin had been used to doing things on her own here, she didn’t understand at all what we were doing.

She didn’t even try to understand, it seemed like she just wanted to be next to me because I was here, and I didn’t feel the need to explain.

But right now, I needed her to quietly make the dish.

“Hmm, just watch me here.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“I understand. That’s my specialty.”

“Really? That’s a relief. Oh, and chew on this and stand quietly. Got it?”

I pulled out some jerky from my pocket and placed it in Rurin’s hand.

“It’s a new flavor.”

“Oh, a new taste? Then give me some beer!”

“That’s not possible.”

She immediately began chewing, making absurd requests. Of course, that was never going to happen.

“Alcohol later! Right now, think of my face as your drink.”

“Eh?”

“What do you mean, ‘eh’? What’s wrong with my face?”

“I can’t get drunk just by looking at your face!”

“Who said anything about getting drunk?”

“I like you! So when I look at your face, I feel drunk! Ugh!”

Rurin grumbled as she tore into the jerky.

What is she even saying? My face is burning up.

“Alright, just stand there.”

She nodded vigorously.

Thankfully, she nodded quietly.

Ricent, who had gone to register, came back, and we finally began cooking.

We just had to make skewers, brush on the sauce, and grill them.

I would prepare and season the ingredients, and Ricent would do the initial grilling. Together, we started preparing enough food for all the judges.

A little while later, as the dish was nearly finished, I heard an exclamation from the side.

“Oh, this looks amazing! You’re incredible!”

At the neighboring restaurant, they were carving dragons out of radishes and placing Ma’a meat in the center. Was that the chef Ricent had mentioned earlier?

The one who exclaimed was a familiar face.

It was Count Belhel. Perhaps bored of standing still, he seemed to be walking around, inspecting the cooking tables. I was about to make eye contact with him, but it looked like he came over on his own accord—fine by me.