Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 20

Well-Ride Viscount looked at his daughter sitting across from him, his expression filled with pity.

“Frelia, it’s your favorite festival. Shall we go get something delicious? Or how about the circus? Just watching it will be fun, won’t it? They say there will be fireworks tonight, too. The sorcerer [a magic user] in charge of the production is very skilled, so you can look forward to it.”

However, Frelia, the girl sitting in front of Well-Ride Viscount, didn’t answer.

“Keuheuk… Say something, Frelia… I brought you to the festival you liked so much…”

Well-Ride Viscount stroked his daughter’s face with a pained expression.

“…”

Frelia was just staring at the empty air with vacant eyes.

Her eyes, devoid of any emotion, looked like those of a meticulously crafted doll.

Eudeuk-!

“Belphegor…!”

The name of the King of Sloth, Belphegor, burst from Well-Ride Viscount’s mouth.

Belphegor’s curse was the reason why the Viscount’s only daughter, Frelia, was in this state, unable to feel any emotion.

“I’ve been traveling the continent for over 10 years to break this curse… Ah, I’m sorry, Rose…”

The war with the Seven Deadly Sins had ended in victory for the humans, thanks to the efforts of the Holy King Aslan and the Seven Virtues. However, not all the wounds left by the Seven Deadly Sins had disappeared.

Frelia, a girl who was once brighter and more cheerful than anyone else, now suffered under the curse of sloth, which had persisted for over 10 years.

“What good are titles and money if I can’t even break the curse on my daughter!”

Well-Ride Viscount was the owner of the Edelweiss Trading Company, one of the three largest trading companies on the continent.

The incredibly wealthy Viscount had supported the Imperial Army, which had been suffering from a shortage of supplies due to the long war, with a huge amount of money.

But all that mattered to him was his daughter, who had been rendered emotionally unresponsive due to Belphegor’s curse.

After writhing in agony for a while, the Viscount opened the carriage door and looked outside.

“…Frelia, how is it? Look out the window. It seems like there’s a fun event going on. There are a lot of people gathered. Hmm? I smell something really good from somewhere.”

A delicious smell of something baking wafted into the carriage through the open window.

The Viscount swallowed saliva without realizing it.

“Haha. It seems like they’re baking bread nearby. But why are there so many people in this back alley…”

Well-Ride Viscount stopped talking for a moment and looked at his daughter.

Frelia, who hadn’t even flinched at any stimulus before, was now looking out the window.

“No way. Do you want to eat it?”

“…”

He didn’t hear any answer, but this was the first time in 10 years that Frelia had expressed any interest at all.

‘Maybe there’s a clue to breaking the curse?’

Even if it was a small clue, he couldn’t miss it.

The Viscount called a guard knight.

“Sir Taimu! Find out what’s going on nearby right now! There seems to be a street vendor selling food; find out what they’re selling!”

Then, a loyal voice was heard from outside the carriage.

“Yes, I will obey your command.”

Taimu completed the given mission and returned in less than 5 minutes.

The reason why so many people were gathered in the back alley was to buy sandwiches sold by a clown called Hool.

“Honey Butter Sandwich?”

“Yes, that’s definitely what it was called. According to the testimony of someone who ate it, it’s the most fantastic taste they’ve ever had in their life.”

“Hmm.”

Frelia had reacted after the smell of baking sandwiches filled the carriage.

That means, could it be…

“I’m sorry to ask you this favor. It seems like Frelia wants to eat that sandwich. Would you buy it for me?”

Taimu had served the Viscount for nearly 20 years and was his right-hand man.

So he knew exactly how the Viscount felt when he gave such an order.

Taimu pounded his chest with a trustworthy expression.

“I understand.”

“Don’t be violent. That’s why I’m sending you.”

“I understand.”

There was a branch of the Edelweiss Trading Company in Cityzen.

It would be difficult to do business in the future if rumors spread that the knights belonging to the company were acting violently.

Taimu headed to the back alley to buy a sandwich.

A lot of people were gathered and lined up.

Waiting in line, it was hard to see when he could buy one.

But there was no need to use violent means. This is a commercial city where the trading company has a lot of influence.

“I am Sword Knight Taimu, belonging to the Edelweiss Trading Company. Well-Ride Viscount has ordered me to buy a sandwich.”

“Ah, uhhh. P, please buy it first.”

“…I’ll step aside.”

“We are always indebted to the Edelweiss Trading Company. Please tell the Viscount.”

It was a somewhat cowardly method, but no violent means were used at all.

But there was a tremendous regret in the eyes of the people who were making way.

‘It’s just a sandwich, why do they have that expression?’

Taimu crossed the divided crowd and approached the clown who was baking sandwiches.

“Give me one, no, two. Well-Ride Viscount and his young lady will eat it, so you’ll have to make it with special care.”

Then the clown looked at Taimu with an indifferent expression and said.

“I’m sorry, but could you please stand in line?”

“What?”

How dare he ignore the name of Well-Ride Viscount, the owner of the Edelweiss Trading Company?

Taimu’s eyes were burning with anger.

But he remembered the Viscount’s words that he should not act violently.

“Could you please stand in line?”

“…What are you, clown?”

“I’m Hool.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Taimu had no choice but to stand in line at the very end.

And just when it was his turn, all the sandwiches were sold out.

@

“…I’m sorry, Viscount.”

“Get up, Sir Taimu. He only sells 200 sandwiches a day?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Well-Ride Viscount stroked his beard and admired inwardly.

‘He was just a clown, but he knew the basics of business.’

“To take a limited sales strategy while selling sandwiches. If he did all the calculations, he’s a man with a talent for business.”

Even if it’s not a big deal, if you only sell a limited quantity, people will want to buy it.

It was a method usually used when selling expensive jewelry or clothes made by artisans.

“Besides, it goes very well with the festival’s unique atmosphere and the way he changes the sales location every day. It’s like you can go looking for it with the feeling of a treasure hunt. Besides, if the taste is good and it’s a menu that didn’t exist before, it’s natural for customers to flock to it like that.”

Taimu knelt before Well-Ride Viscount.

“I’m sorry, Viscount. To not be able to get the food that the young lady wanted to eat for the first time… Even if it’s a dragon’s egg, it’s the knight’s mission to bring it. If you give me the order now, I’ll grab the clown by the neck and drag him here.”

“Hmm…”

Well-Ride Viscount fell into 고민 [a state of contemplation or worry]. He wanted to resolve the situation in the most peaceful way possible, but the situation was not favorable.

This was the first time Frelia had wanted to eat something.

He could bring her even a dragon’s heart for that child. But why does he have to be like this because he can’t handle just one clown?

In the end, Well-Ride Viscount made a decision.

“I understand your opinion well. Right now, the clown…”

“There’s no need to do that.”

Someone’s voice was heard from outside the carriage. Surprised, Taimu jumped up and reached for the window.

Then, the figure of a clown taking the knight’s salute came into view.

“Clown bastard…”

Taimu’s mouth twitched.

How dare a clown take the knight’s salute?

The Viscount leaned out of the carriage and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Hello, Well-Ride Viscount. I’m sorry for the late greeting. I’m Hool. I’m a humble clown and I sell sandwiches.”

“Hmm.”

“It seems like you like my performance, so I came to visit you in person.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m doing a performance of making sandwiches. Although today’s performance has just ended, usually clowns offer a little special service to nobles who want to see the performance, don’t they?”

Clowns, who are street performers, are sometimes hired by nobles who want to see the performance and often go on business trips.

“And the content of the performance I provide is cooking for you. How about it? How about hiring me, Hool, for a while?”

Well-Ride Viscount stroked the beard on his chin. It meant he was 고민 [thinking hard].

“What did you say your name was?”

“It’s Hool.”

“Come into the carriage for a moment. Let’s talk.”

Hool…

No, Keinchel, who was dressed as a clown, smiled with satisfaction.

He never imagined that he would meet Well-Ride Viscount in a place like this.

Many trainee knights become guard knights who serve nobles. That’s why they sometimes know the tastes and personalities of nobles.

Well-Ride Viscount was famous for being closer to a merchant than a noble.

‘I thought I would never be able to use the information I learned while staying in the Rookie Class for 3 years, but it will help in this way.’

It was as if he was saying that what he had heard and learned while staying in the Rookie Class for 3 years was meaningful.

At first, he was going to rip off the nobles who came to buy sandwiches.

But he couldn’t.

His cooking level rose as he understood the mindset of a chef.

That means that, conversely, if you do something that doesn’t suit a chef, there will be some kind of penalty.

Selling cheaply to commoners and expensively to nobles is the most ideal form as a merchant.

But from the chef’s point of view, it’s natural to provide food to everyone at the same price.

So, the moment he dressed up as a clown, he decided that what he was doing was not cooking but performing.

Then, even if you provide services to nobles at a high price, the pride of the chef is safe.

Because the clown Hool is just performing.”

The Viscount laughed out loud at the words that he was going to rip him off.

“But before you get into the carriage, wouldn’t you ask your guard knight to withdraw his hostility?”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s stroking his sword as if he’s going to cut me down.”

Then Well-Ride Viscount was surprised and looked at his guard knight.

“Is that true, Sir Taimu?”

“No. Would I ever do that without the Viscount’s order?”

“Hehe. It seems like the clown Hool is a little sensitive. Don’t worry, Hool. I’ll tell my Sir Taimu to step back for a while.”

“Thank you.”

Taimu felt goosebumps all over his body.

He wasn’t caught by the Viscount, but he was actually stroking his sword.

Because he wanted to cut off that annoying guy’s head right away.

But he read that hostility from a position where he couldn’t even see his face.

‘What the hell is he?’

That’s how the negotiation table between Keinchel and Well-Ride Viscount was established.

“I’ll be direct. My daughter wants to eat the sandwich you made. Can you come to my house and make it?”

“If you give this humble clown a business trip fee, I will be happy to visit you anytime.”

“Usually, the business trip fee for a circus troupe of about 10 people is about 5 gold per day. How about 1 gold?”

Keinchel answered without hesitation.

“I’ll make it 4 gold.”

Then Taimu, who was listening from behind, got angry.

“What? A clown asking for 4 gold for a day’s business trip? Are you kidding me?”

“I haven’t met a great sucker in a long time, so I have to rip him off this much, right? If you don’t like it, I’ll get up.”

Keinchel pretended to be calm on the outside, but he was swallowing dry saliva to hide his tension on the inside.

If the Viscount in front of him got angry, he was going to get up and run away.

Anyway, he’s dressed as a clown, so who would know who he is if he ran away?

Then Well-Ride Viscount laughed out loud.

“Haha! You’re a really bold man. You have a lot of guts. If you have a chance, would you like to work at our trading company?”

“I’ll think about it if you give me 4 gold per day.”

The living expenses for a commoner family for a month were 1 gold.

4 gold was more than enough to give as a salary.

The other person was saying to give it to him every day.

“That’s too expensive. Then I’ll hire you for just one day.”

“Thank you. Well-Ride Viscount.”

Well-Ride Viscount smiled mischievously. It seemed like he liked the clown in front of him.

“I’m a merchant before I’m a noble. If I don’t like the service I received for the money, you’ll be responsible for the aftermath.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be a great performance.”

That’s how Keinchel decided to sell two sandwiches for a whopping 4 gold.

No, should I say he decided to give a business trip performance?

Who the hell is Hool #2