Chapter 63: The Noble Children and the Dragon Bowl Deluxe 

Time passed, and before long, the long-awaited day finally arrived.

Today, the lord himself would be bringing the students of the Noble Academy to Papel Village.

“Haaa… Hooo… Haaa… Hooo…”

“Eight… don’t you think you’re a little too nervous?”

“No, I mean… we’re talking about the sons and daughters of noble families. If I accidentally offend them, I feel like my head might literally end up rolling across the floor…”

I stood inside Tsurugi Hachi, waiting alongside Raphiel for the arrival of the lord and his entourage.

My heart was pounding so violently it felt as though it might burst straight through my chest.

Every passing second only made me more aware of the rapid thumping echoing in my ears.

Raphiel watched me for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

“At this point, I think you should start recognizing just how much influence you actually possess.”

“…Huh? My influence?”

“You’re the caretaker of the Saint—that would be me. You’re also held in high regard by two Cardinals of the temple, remembered favorably by His Majesty the King himself, and on friendly terms with the royal court’s head chef despite being someone from another world. Frankly speaking, even if your guests were the sons and daughters of dukes, they couldn’t recklessly lay a hand on you.”

“…Now that you mention it… that’s actually true.”

“And let’s not forget you’re constantly surrounded by people of overwhelming strength. Hinoka. Amate. Eve. Even the village chief. None of them are individuals ordinary nobles could casually provoke.”

When she laid everything out so matter-of-factly…

I realized she had a point.

Maybe trembling in fear over a few noble children really was a little ridiculous.

“That’s right, Boss!”

A booming voice interrupted them.

“Right now, you’ve also got every adventurer in Papel Village on your side. If some snot-nosed noble brat starts acting up, one good punch oughta straighten ’em out!”

“…Violence is still off the table, okay?”

Rorondo, who just so happened to be eating lunch at the restaurant, burst into his trademark hearty laughter as he gave me a thunderous slap on the back.

“Gahahaha!!”

The impact nearly knocked the breath out of me…

But strangely enough…

It also knocked the tension out of me.

My shoulders relaxed.

My heartbeat slowed.

A smile naturally returned to my face.

That’s right.

There’s no point being scared.

All I have to do is serve them delicious food.

“I think… I’m feeling a lot braver now.”

I bowed gratefully.

“Thank you, Rorondo. And thank you too, Raphiel.”

“I don’t recall doing anything worthy of thanks.”

She said it as flatly as ever.

Even so…

Raphiel quietly turned her face away.

Though expressionless as always, there was the faintest hint of embarrassment coloring her actions.

She’s adorable.

She had always been beautiful.

Both she and everyone around her acknowledged that without question.

Yet recently…

Every tiny gesture she made—

The way she looked away.

The slight movement of her lips.

Even the smallest tilt of her head—

Everything about her somehow looked unbearably cute.

…Could it be…?

Have I really fallen for Raphiel…?

The thought had barely crossed my mind—

“Eight!!”

The front door burst open.

“Algama-sama and the young masters and ladies from the Noble Academy have arrived!!”

The village chief rushed inside Tsurugi Hachi, barely able to contain his excitement.

Completely naked.

“You senile old man!! Put some clothes on before coming into my restaurant!!”

“Why?! Surely combining your cooking with my magnificent naked dance would create the ultimate hospitality!!”

“It’ll destroy Papel Village’s reputation, you idiot!! Not to mention the sanitation issues!!”

As Rorondo doubled over in helpless laughter, Sabine swiftly slipped behind her father, wrapped both arms around him, and dragged the struggling village chief bodily out of the restaurant.

Moments like this reminded me just how invaluable hiring Sabine had been.

For all his eccentricity, the village chief was utterly powerless against his own daughter.

Seriously…

Past me deserves an award for hiring her.

Just then—

The lord himself arrived.

He wore the unmistakable expression of a man who had witnessed something he desperately wished he hadn’t.

“…A moment ago… I believe I saw Fuldretch-sama being carried away by his daughter while completely unclothed…”

“P-Please don’t worry about it!! It’s… relatively common!!”

“…It’s common?!“

Oops.

That slipped out.

“W-Well! Please, come inside first!”

“…Very well.”

The lord nodded with visible uncertainty before gesturing behind him.

“Come along, everyone.”

Following him into the restaurant were more than a dozen boys and girls.

They looked only a few years older than Luka and the others.

Curious eyes wandered around the interior of Tsurugi Hachi.

The restaurant’s layout was apparently unlike anything they had seen before, and they gazed around with genuine fascination.

Seeing them like that…

They looked surprisingly endearing.

At least—

That first impression lasted all of five seconds.

“The establishment itself is respectable enough. Still, it’s merely a place frequented by adventurers. A place where common rabble dine can hardly be expected to serve anything worthwhile.”

“Sigh… Honestly, what could Algama-sama possibly have been thinking?”

“It can’t be helped. This is a social studies excursion. Enduring terrible food and learning how the people of the frontier struggle is simply part of a central noble’s education.”

“We should have brought our family’s personal chef instead.”

“Oh my… look.”

One noble girl frowned openly.

“There are adventurers here.”

“They’re dressed so terribly… How filthy.”

My eyes happened to meet the lord’s.

They had only met twice before.

They weren’t particularly close.

And yet—

Without speaking a word—

The lord’s expression practically said everything.

See?

Annoying, aren’t they?

I understood instantly.

Yeah.

They really are.

“Heh…”

“…Eight?”

Raphiel blinked.

“You suddenly started laughing.”

“They’ve got some nerve.”

My smile widened.

“We haven’t even served a single dish yet, and they’ve already decided it’s going to be terrible.”

My voice remained calm.

Too calm.

“And then…”

I slowly turned toward the noble students.

“They call the adventurers who risk their lives every single day exploring dangerous forests ‘lowly’… and ‘filthy.'”

“…U-Um…”

Rorondo awkwardly waved a hand.

“Boss…?”

“…No good.”

“He can’t hear us anymore.”

Indeed…

I had already entered my own world.

Fine.

Challenge accepted.

Originally…

I had planned on serving nothing more than Dragon Bowl.

But that plan had officially changed.

Today…

I’ll show them the strongest Dragon Bowl imaginable.

“First…”

I picked up a mountain of green onions.

“…we chop an absurd amount of scallions.”

With practiced precision, my knife flashed across the cutting board.

One millimeter.

Every slice perfectly even.

There were more than a dozen noble children.

One bunch wouldn’t even come close to being enough.

So I chopped another.

And another.

Until an enormous pile of emerald-green scallions had formed.

Next…

I tossed countless cloves of garlic into shimmering hot oil.

The kitchen filled with a mouthwatering aroma as they slowly turned golden brown.

Crunchy on the outside.

Fluffy and creamy on the inside.

Perfect fried garlic.

Dozens…

Then hundreds…

Until a mountain of fragrant garlic chips stood ready.

“Hehehe…”

A dangerous grin spread across my face.

“Allow me to introduce the ultimate meal.”

“The very same dish I became hopelessly addicted to back in middle school…”

“…and gained ten kilograms in just three months because of it.”

I ladled the Dragon Bowl into serving bowls.

Then…

Without the slightest hesitation…

I buried every last one beneath an outrageous mountain of melting cheese.

From beneath the counter…

I produced something I’d bought ages ago on the off chance it might someday prove useful.

A culinary torch.

FWOOOSH!!

Blue flames burst from the nozzle.

The noble children nearly jumped out of their seats.

“?!”

I calmly moved the torch back and forth.

The cheese bubbled.

Melted.

Then browned beautifully, forming irresistible patches of golden caramelization.

I wasn’t finished.

Not even close.

Next came the mountain of chopped scallions.

I piled them high until they resembled a tiny green volcano.

At the very summit…

I created a small crater.

Into it…

Dropped a brilliant golden egg yolk.

Still not finished.

Kimchi.

A generous helping.

Fried garlic.

Even more.

Then—

An extravagant drizzle of spicy cod roe mayonnaise.

Finally…

The finishing touch.

A heap of bright red pickled ginger.

I turned toward Raphiel.

“Raphiel.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Did you know?”

“What?”

“The more toppings you put on a beef bowl…the better it becomes.”

I looked proudly upon my masterpiece.

“The same holds true for Dragon Bowl. Once someone takes a bite…it’s so delicious they’ll lose their sanity. Behold. Dragon Bowl Deluxe.”

Raphiel stared at the towering monstrosity before her.

“…The name is impressively uncool.”

Then…

I served the culinary abomination before every noble student.

“W-What… is this?”

One boy recoiled.

“This dish possesses not even a shred of elegance…”

“Q-Quite right.”

“It’s completely unsuitable for nobles such as ourselves…”

“…B-But… It smells…really good…”

“…”

“Gulp.“

The intoxicating aroma of fried garlic had already seized them.

Their eyes refused to leave the bowls.

One young noblewoman finally surrendered.

“…Just one bite…”

She timidly lifted a spoon.

Placed it into her mouth.

Then—

“W-What’s this?!”

Her eyes flew open.

“My hands…! They won’t stop moving!!”

Another student hurriedly dug in.

“The rich meat soaked in sweet-savory sauce…!”

“The creamy melted cheese…!”

“The aroma that rushes through your nose…!”

“The fiery spice dancing across your tongue…!”

“And—and—”

“Ahhh!!”

“I don’t want to talk anymore!!”

“I just want to keep eating!!”

Another noble nearly slammed his bowl onto the table in excitement.

“Every possible flavor attacks one after another!!”

“It’s an endless barrage of deliciousness!!”

“A violent assault upon the taste buds!!”

Someone else looked horrified.

“T-This is bad!!”

“If this continues… We’ll never forget this flavor for the rest of our lives!! We’ll spend the rest of our existence imprisoned by its taste!!”

Then…

The entire restaurant echoed with a unified cry.

“SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!”

When the last grain of rice disappeared…

The noble children sat motionless.

Their expressions utterly blissful.

Eyes unfocused.

Souls practically ascending toward heaven.

It was almost as if I could actually hear their blood sugar levels skyrocketing.

I folded my arms.

“Justice…has been served.”

Raphiel looked at me with exasperation.

“…Eight. You went too far.”

“I have neither regrets…nor remorse.”

Many years later…

Those very same children, now grown into influential adults, would become hopelessly obsessed with recreating that sinful, unforgettable flavor.

Their collective efforts would spark a dramatic revolution in the culinary culture of the Kingdom of Elde.

But…

That’s a story for another time.