Chapter 69

We set the transfer destination to "Silver Water Jug Inn," and we returned to our guild.

Perhaps Sherry and Lotte might realize the difference in our destination when they notice that we didn't teleport to "White Goat Inn." But if that happens, we can reveal the secret then.

We could tell Leonoide as well, but since we've kept the transfer network a secret for a long time, we don't want it to become widely known. I don't want to stand out, and since I've broken my principle of not wanting to stand out by leading the vanguard in this dungeon exploration, I hope they can forgive me for this.

"Phew, it feels like we're back. Even though we only dove for a day."

"The time was so intense... *yawn*... Sorry, using the formation one after another really tires me out."

Miralca yawned, covering her mouth. She was rubbing her eyes sleepily, a rare and innocent gesture. Yuma was also yawning, probably because she was tired from using the purification power frequently.

"Thanks to you, Miralca, we didn't have to fight the corpse eaters properly. I thought only clerics could turn undead to ash with a single strike."

"My method isn't as effective as Yuma's. I can't purify tainted souls."

"Indeed, even I can weaken the power of such ancient undead with the light of purification, but I can't send them to heaven immediately."

"Yuma can send A-rank and below spirits to heaven without question, but for S-rank and above, preparation is needed for purification. It seems that only the fifth floor had unusually strong monsters."

I told Leonoide to be careful, but the monsters were strong because they had existed for a thousand years. If spirits were to spawn after we cleared them, they would be at a strength level appropriate for a shallower floor.

"Dee, the shop is already closed. We need to eat quickly and rest."

"Ugh, it's that time already. Then, I'll put in extra effort..."

"No, everyone should go take a bath or wait for us downstairs. I'll make something."

Since women take a long time to bathe, it's better for those who go in first to do so. I thought this, but everyone was looking at me intently.

"Mr. Dick, I'll help. I didn't fight much because I was with my brother."

"Guild Master, I've never seen you in the kitchen before. Can you do more than just make alcohol? As a man, there's a lot to learn from you."

"Well, it's said that men who can cook are better, but it's not that big of a deal, right?"

"No, I lived with my sister and couldn't provide her with good meals. Being able to cook is a great thing. It earns respect from your family."

"I don't disrespect my brother, you know? I'm just better at cooking because I used to cook at home."

Among us, only Aileen, who lives alone, can cook. Miralca and Yuma are not good at it and don't usually cook. Verlene, as the bar owner, used to wash rice with soap, but now she can handle the kitchen well enough to run the bar.

And then, looking at the master, she smiled.

"Dee, can I see how good you are at cooking? As a senior in life, I have some cooking experience."

"...Dick, can I ask you? If you're tired, we can share the work."

"Yeah, don't worry. It's bad for your health to go to bed right after eating. A dark doctor who frequents the shop said that women should have a regular bedtime and sleep schedule."

"Ahaha... a dark doctor, huh? But if he's skilled, it's not something to be picky about."

Cody laughed happily and went upstairs as I suggested. She said she can cook, but in her mansion, she has maids, so she rarely gets to cook.

"I'll go home first. The dorm is close."

"Yeah, come back later, and the food will be ready."

"Ugh! We'll go back to the dorm too!"

"Wow, to have the Guild Master cook for us, what a cozy guild."

"McKinley, we can't just join in. Only the high-contributing guild members can."

Rigel, Lya, and McKinley had been clearing the first floor of the dungeon with Sekt. All three were quite tired, and the difference in exhaustion due to their rank was evident. Sekt and Mizuha were fine, but Lya had improved in strength. Rigel and McKinley were almost at her level and close to becoming A-rank. They had been diligently completing requests and improving their skills, so they would grow even more through this dungeon exploration. Reaching S-rank would be a bit difficult, though.

"Since you joined my guild, I want everyone to eat well. It's more efficient to provide balanced meals than to let you neglect your health and pay for medical bills."

"...Master... I didn't expect such kindness from you. It's overwhelming."

I thought I was being straightforward, but everyone was deeply moved. Rigel and the others were almost in tears, and I felt a bit embarrassed. It's a bit awkward to realize that I'm respected as the Guild Master.

◆◇◆

Exiting the basement with the transfer magic circle, passing through the wine cellar, and ascending to the hall, my party members, except for the master and Mizuha, went upstairs to bathe, and Sekt, Rigel, and the others returned to the dorm.

Entering the kitchen, the two chefs I left in charge were waiting. They usually leave before closing time, but both were still in their uniforms and put on their chef's hats when they saw me.

"Ramsus, Hare-san, did you wait for me?"

"Master, I feel like I'm part of the guild. I can't just leave on the dot when it's a big job for the entire guild in the capital."

Ramsus is a man with a dark complexion and sharp features, originally from the Southern Continent. He has a slight accent in his speech. He is 35 years old this year and has been in Albein for two years after wandering the continent to train in cooking.

He likes hidden, run-down places and stumbled into my shop, where he was so impressed by the taste that he became my disciple and joined the guild. He is skilled with knives and is a B-rank adventurer. He has a first-class chef's license, the minimum qualification to work in the royal kitchen, which he obtained in the capital.

Hare-san is a woman in her mid-twenties with reddish-brown hair in a braid. She has been a chef at this shop since the previous guild master's time and came back a month after I took over the guild house, asking to be rehired. She is the one who created the foundation of the menu at the Silver Water Jug Inn, and her cooking skills surpass even Ramsus, who has trained in various places.

"You can cook well on your own, but let us help too. This is the only time we can assert our presence."

She calls me 'Danna' (husband) out of respect, even though I'm younger. I call her 'Hare-san' because she is a decade older and has a straightforward personality.

"Have you two already eaten the staff meal?"

"Well, we were busy and only had water. Actually, I wanted to see you cook again."

"I want to see that too. I work here just to see that."

"Dee, are you that good at cooking to be respected so much?"

"I don't have a license, but cooking isn't about licenses... Let's start."

I took out my apron from the locker, tied the belt, and looked at the prepared ingredients. First, I asked Hare-san to make a salad with the remaining vegetables.

The main dish should be rib roast. It's past the optimal aging period for serving to customers, so I want to cook and eat it tonight. The meat is already seasoned with spices for the customers, but it doesn't consider health benefits, so I want to add recovery effects with the sauce. First, I'll grill it in a pot oven, adjusting the temperature with magic. The heat source is charcoal, but it's weak after closing, so I'll increase the heat by mimicking the work of a fire spirit to reach the necessary temperature. Ramsus is familiar with the oven, so I'll let him handle it after a while.

While the rib roast is grilling, I'll make the sauce. Using a green herb called 'Heal Grass' as the base, I'll add olive oil and lemon juice. I'll heat them in a frying pan, add finely chopped onions from Albein, and mix them into a paste with a spatula. Mizuha and the master watched me while peeling fruit.

"Cutting them so finely... that's amazing. Where did you learn that, Dick?"

"You get better with practice. Each ingredient has an easy way to cut it."

"Mizuha, be careful with your hands. Is this syrup for the fruit?"

"Yeah, it's not too sweet, so it's fine for the evening. It's not made with sugar."

I explained the syrup-making process to the master, and she followed with interest. We use rare fruit juices from Calthira, and we need to secure a supply route before the stock runs out. With the help of the Weltem Trading Company, we can get them every six months. Not accumulating extra sugar as fat is important for women who are always conscious of their figure.

"Danna, I always wonder, does eating without gaining weight mean your chest gets smaller? I don't want to get smaller than Mizuha."

"That's not true, I'm not that small... I mean, I'm not that small."

"Master, you look slim but you're amazing. Did Danna make you bigger?"

"Dee, I wouldn't do that. Maybe I would for someone else. Aileen, for example, might be getting bigger."

I almost choked but hoped they would understand it was a joke and focused on cooking. The master knows how to shake my confidence, but I want to get back at her someday.

"Master is a capable man, so even if you hide your claws, you still attract attention."

"You saw that... Is it almost done?"

"Oh, I forgot. I'll open it right away. The smell of this meat on an empty stomach is irresistible."

Ramsus took out the rib roast and removed the skewers. He left the plating to Hare-san, and I moved on to the next dish.

"Ramsus, next, I need you to make the soup. With the remaining ingredients, the recipe is like this."

"Yes, understood. What should I do with the leftover rice?"

"I'll make the staff meal. Since there are quite a few people, Hare-san, can you make it in another pot?"

"Sure thing. Let's see who can stir it better, Danna."

The hemispherical steel pot—cooks start training and only touch this pot after at least a year. I only saw Hare-san handle it once, and I was impressed by her boldness.

I tossed the rice grains in the air and grilled them directly with the rising flames to remove excess fat. Then, I added eggs and finely chopped ingredients and stir-fried them. It was a demanding task.

"Dee, you look so happy..."

"You don't just drink all the time... I want to see you cook more."

"I'm actually quite focused... *phew*"

"It's annoying that you don't forget how to handle the pot even if you drink a lot. Here you go!"

We made about eight servings of fried rice with Hare-san and prepared some whole grain bread. With five of us working, it didn't take long to prepare meals for 14 people.

◆◇◆

Aileen, who just got out of the bath, always eats with great satisfaction, but today she was even more hungry.

"Phew, I'm full... I just want to lie down."

Aileen was in a good mood, rubbing her stomach. The slime's mucus was completely cleaned, but her hair was still damp. Miralca and Yuma were the same.

The other party members hadn't taken a bath yet, but Verlene was starting to clean up. Ramsus and Hare-san offered to do it.

"Is it okay? Washing all these dishes is a lot of work, and I can help."

"What are you saying? Unlike you, the shop owner went into the dungeon. Leave it to us."

"That's right. We'll work hard in the shop from tomorrow, so you all work hard too."

Ramsus's virtue is that he can say such things without any pretense or show, as if it's the most natural thing to do.

"Snore... snore..."

"Master, I'm sorry, but can you take care of my sister? She seems tired and fell asleep."

"Yeah, if Sekt is okay with it, I'll let her rest upstairs. Everyone, see you tomorrow."

"Sure! Brother, I'll work even harder tomorrow!"

"Having the entire guild tackle the dungeon every day is a good thing. It's the essence of being an adventurer."

Rigel and McKinley seemed to have recovered their energy. Sekt was the most moved by the meal, opening his eyes wide each time he ate, which made his sister laugh.

"Master, thank you for your hard work. Preparing the meal for us... it's really..."

"Lya, you have sauce on your mouth. Let me clean it for you."

"Th... thank you. Then, I'll leave now."

Lya seemed quite hungry and was shining with excitement in front of the rib roast. Preparing both fried rice and bread was a good choice, as everyone could eat what they liked without any leftovers.

Tomorrow, we'll have a different menu, so I'll prepare a different staff meal. I want to consider not making the same thing every day to avoid boredom.

Everyone got up, and Sekt, Rigel, and the others went back to the dorm. Ramsus and Hare-san would leave after finishing the cleanup. I was grateful for their kindness.

"...Huh? What's wrong, Cody? You haven't even taken a bath yet."

"I thought I should go home first. I don't want to keep Dick waiting for his turn."

"What are you saying? You can go in with me and the master. Do you feel like you shouldn't see us naked because you're dressed as a man?"

"Actually, it's the opposite... except for Dee..."

"That's not it. It's just that it's getting late. Besides, I can go without a bath for a day."

"That's not good after coming back from the dungeon. I can fully recover with two hours of sleep, so it doesn't matter how late it gets."

Cody should know that I can supplement my sleep with magic, but he looked troubled.

"Mm... Is that a look of determination, saying that you can share a naked bond with your master out of friendship?"

"Wait, hold on. That's not it..."

I naturally tried to deny it, but Cody said nothing.

—Could it be that he really thinks it's okay to share a bath based on friendship?

"I... I feel bad because... when we were traveling in the past, Dee asked me to share a bath, and I refused... I still feel guilty about it..."

"Wait, hold on. I didn't know you then, and things are different now..."

"If that's the case, it should be fine for the two of you to share a bath. Dee and Cody are 'friends,' after all."

The master smiled, but I couldn't help but feel there was something more to her smile.