Chapter 23

I had half-expected the guards to stop me and tell me to stay out, but of course, nothing of the sort happened. Instead, they gave me a polite and respectful bow.

I knew the place was magnificent from the outside, but inside, this ultra-high-end restaurant was practically divine. Every single piece of furniture was so elaborate it felt as though I had stepped into the Royal Castle itself.

The pillars and walls were covered in intricate carvings, and the vases and paintings on display undoubtedly cost a fortune. After all, this is where the incredibly wealthy come. If the restaurant were caught displaying something mediocre or fake, its reputation would plummet instantly.

“Kelkel-sama, I presume. Your table is this way.”

Guided by a soft-spoken waiter, we were led to a second-floor room overlooking the river. Thanks to the magical streetlights outside, I could just make out the water. It was incredibly stylish.

This would be effective for a date… no, if I took someone to a place that cost seven silver coins per person on a date, it would be so intense it might actually be a turn-off.

“Franz-san, is there anything you can’t eat?”

“No, nothing… When I was little, I was at the level of gnawing on wild nuts in the fields and getting stomachaches, so…”

“I see. In that case, let’s go with the eight-silver-coin course featuring duck and lamb.”

Eight silver coins! If someone asked for that much at a cheap tavern, I’d scream, “This is a total rip-off!”

“If that’s not enough, we can order individual dishes as we go. Does that sound alright?”

“Y-yes… Please, do whatever you like…”

Even though I’m a commoner, being brought to a place like this has made me so nervous I can’t settle down.

“We will place separate orders for Gelgel and the owl, Morti Olquente V.”

“Certainly,” the staff member replied with a bow before leaving the room.

First, the drinks were served. A single glass of this probably cost as much as a whole day’s food budget.

“Well then, let’s have a toast to the happiness of our new employee, Franz-san!”

We gently clinked our glasses. When I took a tiny sip of the alcohol—it was impossibly delicious! What is this crystal-clear flavor…? Honestly, was the stuff I’ve been drinking until now even “alcohol”? Isn’t this something from an entirely different category of existence?

“This isn’t one of those drinks from the legends of heroes that fully restores your health in one go, is it?”

“If it were something like that, we wouldn’t be able to sell it as a commercial product.”

Judging by the President’s demeanor, she’s fairly used to drinking this kind of thing. They really are celebrities. Even Cerulia was saying, “I see this world has such fine establishments as well.” I’m the only one here who feels like I have a “low-class” upbringing, and I hate it. I wonder if it’s really okay for me to be part of this group.

The dishes that followed were artistically beautiful. The flavors were so refined that it’s hard for my uncultured palate to even describe them. To put it simply, they were fundamentally different from anything I usually eat.

Meanwhile, Senior Farphistanya was casually stuffing the food into her mouth. Despite each bite costing a small fortune, she ate as if she were in a public cafeteria…

“Senior, isn’t it a waste if you don’t savor it more?”

“Why? It’s not like I’m leaving any. I’m eating it, aren’t I?”

Well, that is technically a sound argument. Since I found it wasteful, I decided to enjoy the flavors in my mouth for as long as possible. I feel like the memory of this meal alone could get me through any future hardships.

Since this was a welcome party, the President frequently checked in: “Is there anything you’ve found troubling so far?”

“Nothing so far. I haven’t run into anything I couldn’t handle yet.”

That’s simply because the work I’ve been assigned is so easy.

“Well, that’s good to hear. The work we do at this company is unique, so please take your time getting used to it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I was a student just a short while ago; is it really possible for life to change this much? Cerulia seemed satisfied as well, tilting her glass and looking out at the night view with a smile.

“I’d love to come here on a date with you again, Master.”

That would destroy our household budget, so let’s stick to lower-priced restaurants for dates, please…

The melodic strains of string instruments drifted through the room. They must have hired musicians specifically for the atmosphere. The way they spend money is on a completely different level.

“President, thank you so much for today. I thought a ‘welcome party’ would involve making a ruckus at a much cheaper place.”

“Those places have their own charm, but I felt it would be disrespectful to use one this time, so I decided against it.”

The President’s manner is always soft, but her words have a core to them, and her actions almost always have a deeper meaning.

“What do you mean by that?”

It’s a new employee’s privilege to ask anything. If a boss found that annoying, they wouldn’t be much of a person, frankly.

“It’s a bit against etiquette, but let me answer your question with a question. For example, Franz-san, suppose you were to entertain a guest from another company. What kind of place do you think would make them happy?”

“Um… well… a high-end, respectable restaurant.”

I think that’s a pretty standard answer.

“And why is that?” Another question followed.

“Because a cheap place would be rude to the guest. No matter how polite your hospitality is, if the restaurant is cheap, the guest might feel insulted.”

“Exactly. And the same logic applies to how we treat you, Franz-san.”

The President gave a soft chuckle.

“If I chose a cheap place for your welcome party, you would probably think we didn’t expect much of you. It doesn’t matter how much I say I have high expectations; actions reflect the essence of things far more than words ever can.”

Senior Farphistanya nodded along. I guess she agreed.

“Those expectations feel heavy. I wonder if I can live up to them…” I said, half-joking. I was feeling a bit bashful. Could I really become the kind of “big shot” who deserves to be treated at a place like this?

“I know you’ve been studying Dark Magic on your own during your time monitoring the swamp. You’re quite diligent, aren’t you?”

“Eh! President, did you ever come by for an inspection…?”

“I’ve been reporting to her as your supervisor,” Senior Farphistanya said while eating her lamb.

I see—my actions are being properly observed.