Cooking Showdown (20)

Ricent walked solemnly.

Yesterday was the best day of her life. The combination of skewers and beer was so perfect that sales soared, and she took first place without any problems.

It was a given. Even if other stores made money yesterday, they completely messed up business today, so overtaking them was instantaneous.

And in the final tally, Ricent’s Merli branch proudly took first place.

People cheered, and Ricent was ecstatic, marking the true start of the festival.

She had been drinking beer carelessly, and now, even the next day, her head still felt dizzy.

However, first place was just a secondary goal.

The true goal was revenge, and by coincidence, the person she wanted revenge on contacted her.

So Ricent went to Le’a-In Trading Company with a calm expression, though her heart was burning with the desire for revenge.

“Please come this way.”

The manager of the Company guided Ricent. Strangely, his attitude was more polite than before.

But Ricent hadn’t changed at all.

Ricent thought to herself that it was somewhat ridiculous.

Soon, the manager guided Ricent to the large door of the representative office on the third floor of the Company.

“Please enter. They’re waiting for you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The manager opened the door, and Ricent smiled brightly. She couldn’t afford to fall in this situation. Although she refused to acknowledge her clumsiness, she walked carefully, taking extra care.

“So, you’ve come?”

Le’a-In Saint greeted Ricent with a low voice. Next to him were Ruin Deron and Ruin Seren.

“Yes, sir.”

Ricent bowed as usual. Saint gestured for her to stand up, with a satisfied look on his face.

At the same time, Ricent stood up. Seeing this, Le’a-In Saint offered a compliment.

“In reality, the sales at Merli’s branch were quite good. And I saw your abilities at the festival.”

“Thank you!”

That compliment, in fact, made Ricent feel nauseous.

But if she changed her words to test him further, it would be the worst. So, she acted obediently, trying to please him as much as possible.

Just like she had always done until now.

She would endure until she heard the words she wanted. She had to complete her revenge today.

Ricent silently reaffirmed her determination and calmly replied to Saint.

“Although oppa and unnie interfered in various ways, it was within the range of what I could predict. Their moves were too obvious. Thanks to that, I think I was able to win easily. Since I also carry your blood, I think it’s only natural that I should do this much.”

“What’s the big deal?”
“Where are you talking that filthy nonsense from!”

Deron and Seren frowned at the same time. Of course, Ricent completely ignored them.

“You two, shut up!”

It was Saint who quieted the two. After giving a stern look to the siblings, Saint turned back to Ricent.

This was the first time Saint had ever shown a smile like that to Ricent.

“Well, that’s fine. You’re my daughter, so it’s only natural you should do this much. Anyway, since you handled the conditions I mentioned well, you should be rewarded. But, even though those guys sent people to interfere, the bribing of the judges… How did you manage to handle that? Did you, by any chance, move the Lord’s heart?”

“I believe that, too, is a skill.”

Ricent didn’t even know why the lord changed his mind. But she didn’t plan to stay in the city anyway. So, she thought she should take advantage of that small change of heart as much as he could, leaving an impression as if she had something up her sleeve.

“Ha, that guy. Hahahahaha! Good. That kind of scheming is exactly what this Company needs!”

Saint was guessing that there might be a romantic relationship between Ricent and the lord.

Well, that, too, was ultimately a scheme.

If she could use such tricks to grow the company, she had the qualification for it.

But the more Saint accepted it, the more Ricent’s anger boiled over.

‘I have been your daughter from the beginning. Even now. But does the way you address me change just because I have or don’t have that ability?’

Ricent thought this to herself, but outwardly she remained calm and looked at Saint.

Not yet.

Since she hadn’t heard the words she wanted yet, she smiled with a false expression, pretending the praise was too much.

“I think so too, sir.”

“Still calling me sir? You are definitely my daughter. You beat those guys, so you’re truly my daughter. I may have never acknowledged the seed outside, but that’s a different matter depending on ability.”

“Are you acknowledging me…?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of giving you an important position in the Company, replacing that useless guy. How do you feel about that? Are you confident?”

“Father!”
“Father! This can’t be…! Just because of a little festival…”

“What do you mean ‘just a festival’? Even within that festival, there were countless schemes. Seeing how you failed despite trying all those tricks, it’s clear to me how you would handle competition with other companies. You’re lacking!”

“Th-that’s…”

Deron and Seren shut their mouths. They realized that the more they spoke, the worse the situation would get.

“Useless fools! On the other hand, you seemed to have read all their obvious tricks and handled them well. Truly commendable.”

“Are you saying oppa and unnie are useless?”

“Yes.”

“…Am I useful?”

“Of course. Your abilities will be important to our Company!”

Ricent smiled at that response.

“Thank you for acknowledging me. My mother also wanted me to be recognized, right up to the last moment.”

“Did she?”

She did?

The tone was rather indifferent. It was no different from asking if she had been doing well, as if it was just a casual remark. No, it was even worse than that.

‘Now, allowing me to call him ‘Father’ was absurd.

‘Of course, when managing the Merli eastern branch, I had intentionally shown the employees that I called Le’a-In Saint, the head of the company, ’father’.

‘But that was merely to ensure the employees followed me properly.

‘Now that he is asking me to call him ‘father,’ I have no intention of doing so even a little.

‘He was only my father biologically.’

She had no worth. That’s why Ricent reached the peak of her revenge here.

“But I have no intention of working under you, sir.”

“What? What did you just say?”

“I said I will never call you ‘father’, even a little. This worthless company should just collapse. Oh, and to my so-called ‘useless’ brother and sister, I hope you manage well. It’s your choice to acknowledge me, but I don’t need it.”

Ricent quickly turned around.

After briefly glancing at the three stunned people, she walked out confidently.

Yes. This is it.

This was it.

This was the revenge she had dreamed of.

Revenge that could only be achieved when they finally acknowledged and needed her.

The thrill of giving them a taste of their own medicine when he tried to treat the siblings, whom he had raised, as useless and accept her.

Refusing when they needed her. Ricent thought this was the ultimate revenge she could get against her biological father.

And having completed it, she left the Company without any regrets. She heard some shouting from behind but ignored it.

They say there’s always emptiness after revenge, but Ricent felt none of that.

She felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

It was the moment she was filled with the desire to live freely, having fulfilled her mother’s last wish.

Boom—!

As she was going down the stairs, she fell again. Had she been careless?

Was it because she had achieved his dream?

Of course, Ricent was smiling even while lying on the ground.

“What, did you get hit? By those guys?”

Ricent’s condition was not good. Her clothes were disheveled, and she looked like she had bruises in places, laughing like she had lost her mind.

“No!”

Ricent kept grinning. It didn’t seem like she had been hit. It was obvious.

“Ah, so you fell again?”

“That’s not it either!”

Ricent started rampaging. She would never admit her clumsiness.

“Anyway, I’ll be buying this Merli branch now.”

“I’m just managing it, the building itself isn’t mine…”

“That doesn’t matter. I can buy it anytime.”

I could buy it from Le’a-In Trading Company by using the lord. Bissera and Duran might be reluctant, but I planned to explain that I wouldn’t just give it away.

By spreading shabu-shabu here freely, I would be able to gradually get them to buy the restaurant from me.

Even now, Bissera’s restaurant is full of customers, so it would thrive here too, so they would be able to pay me back soon, right?

“By the way, are you really satisfied with your revenge? You didn’t need to destroy the Company, did you?”

“Yes. I’m satisfied with this. I got to make a big statement.”

“Then, staying in this city won’t be good for long.”

“That’s right. I’m going to the Capital… I want to live freely.”

“Good idea.”

“But, are you really not going to reveal your secret?”

“Let’s keep it a secret. A secret. Since we both got what we wanted, wouldn’t it be better to part cleanly?”

“Well, that’s true…but then, instead of a secret, how about something else? Where do you live? If you’re free, I could visit. To see…the sorceress!”

“Miss Ricent.”

“Yes.”

“If fate brings us together again, we may meet again, naturally… I also visit the Capital often. If we meet again, I’ll let you know.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. For now, I think it’s best to focus on settling in the Capital and not think about anything else.”

Ricent slowly nodded her head. She seemed to understand.

“That does seem right. If by some miracle we meet again, make sure to feed me properly.”

“Of course.”

“Then, let us leave as soon as possible. This city is truly unbearable.”

“I’ll leave soon as well, after giving what I intended to give to Bissera and Duran.”

“Understood. Then…finally.”

“Yes?”

Ricent grabbed my arm and then kissed my palm.

“Do you know? In our village, kissing the palm is a sign of respect! There’s a greeting where a man kisses a woman’s hand, right? It’s similar to that.”

Ricent said this and turned her head. Well, it’s true that a kiss on the hand carries that meaning. Kissing the palm is a little too unique, though.

As I thought,

‘That’s a greeting I’ve never seen or heard of,’

I suddenly heard a very cold voice from behind.

It was good that I had dressed and teleported here from the morning, but Rurin had woken up even though it was still early.

“…What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”