CH 5

Recruitment Part 5

Recruitment of employees Episode 5

AN:

Hi, guys.

It's been a while.

Then. here we go

Time went on and two days had passed since the start of the Interview.

I can't write about all the interviews with 3,000 people, so I'll pick up a few and introduce them to you.

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-- A case of the soul cook, Raphael --

「It's been a while, I remember the name but it's an exam. So can you tell me your examination number, introduce yourself and tell me why you wish to work at our inn? 」

「yes! Examination number 105, 『 Gauthea Raphael』 Cook. The reason I applied for the job was because I was so impressed with the food I had for lunch once here that I wanted to cook it myself. I once applied to become your apprentice but since I wasn't able to at the time, I thought this would be a good opportunity. 」

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I am Raphael, the wandering cook. I used to be the executive chef at the Imperial Grand Hotel Duerclan, the largest ryokan (TN: traditional Japanese hotel) in the Empire.

I am actually embarrassed to say that the reason I came across this inn because of an act of espionage.

As I mentioned earlier, I used to be the executive chef of the largest Ryokan in the Empire. As I was confident in my cooking skills, to the point where I’m so proud and clear to look down on other people's cooking.

I couldn't wait to get there when I heard that an inn in the royal city of Oaklan was offering 『Heavenly Cuisine』. I think I also said something like, “It's disgusting that you call your cooking 『Heavenly Cuisine』 when you're not even trying to cook mine! “

However, customers gradually began to tell me that my cooking was not good enough. He said my cooking was tasteless. I've even had people asking me, 「Don't you have any rice? 」 I found out that all the customers who said that to me were customers who had eaten 『Heavenly Cuisine』.

Because of this, I dispatched a subordinate to investigate the inn. Then my man who went to investigate came back fuming. The Mistress is very beautiful and the food is delicious. At that time, I fired such a useless subordinate immediately and sent a new subordinate. After that, every time I sent my men out they came back useless so I finally decided to go undercover.

The other party made handful of my men turned who have gutted my food, so I was pretty fired up to face them. I was determined to find their mistakes or rather as the executive chef I should be able to find them.

……It was complete defeat. That's the only word for it. It was supposed to be a simple meal, but the impact it had on me was immeasurable: a simple but richly flavoured soup (miso soup), a bowl of rice made of shining white grain, raw fish cut into strips (sashimi), a silky sauce (soy sauce) to dip the fish in, a tangy green spice (wasabi) to accompany the sauce, and a cooked and shaped egg (dashimaki tamago). It is a dish that is unlike any other in the system of any tribe, nation or species on this continent and it shattered my pride as a chef.

I went back many times and tried to steal the taste, but I finally gave up as the taste deepened with each visit.

I resigned being the executive chef and decided to be an apprentice under her.

The results are as I told you earlier. I was never taken advantage of. I felt like I understood the feelings of all the chefs I'd dealt with before when the Mistress dismissed me, probably as a warning to me for being arrogant. I thanked the Mistress even though she had refused me and I set off on a journey around the world, using all my accumulated wealth.

I made up my mind that I will surely find the roots of the Mistress's taste. ......

Well, I was no match for finding it in the end. ......

While traveling around the world in this way, I heard a rumour in the guild in a city I visited.

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「 They’re hiring at the Goddess Inn!!! Yahoo ~ I'm finally getting lucky ~ !!! 」

「 Why is luck coming your way? I don't get it. 」

「Hey, hey, Maru, you don't know anything about that inn, do you? 」

「I don't know. It's the same as everywhere you stay, like an inn. 」

「Don't be ridiculous~! You know that Goddess Inn is run by a beautiful Mistress by herself, has great service, serves great food, and the price is cheap... and have a very beautiful Mistress!」

「 The low rates are tempting. I mean, Kaku, you just said 『beautiful mistress』 twice.」

I was astonished by the exchange. I'm not sure if that inn is looking for employees! Needless to say, I was thinking “That's ridiculous!” But I thought it might be about a different inn, so I listened carefully to the party's conversation with my ears wide open so that I wouldn't be recognized from the guild's corner.

「I said it twice because it's important!! Anyway, it's a great place to stay but it's very impregnable. There's even a rumour that if anyone sees the smiling face of a mistress who doesn't even react to their advances, they'll die of happiness! 」

「'Oh, well, I could tell the greatness of the inn somehow. But there's no reason for you to get lucky, is there, Tri? You think so too, right? 」

「I think Kaku's an idiot and thought he was getting lucky in some weird way. What about Cross? 」

「That inn was ...... sure awesome. 」

「Huh? Cross knows too? 」

"...... oh."

It looks like it's a sure thing now. The inn they are talking about seems like it must be 『Dragon emperor's inn』 That inn is finally recruiting employees! I have to get that information somehow.

「You know Cross and I. we have only been there once before we joined a party with you guys. Moreover, that's when I made a good impression on Mistress. 」

「Oh, are you stupid? I'm sure you've forgotten all about that long ago, even the mistress」

「Yes, it is. That was a little over a year ago, wasn't it? I think I've forgotten about it? 」

「that MISTRESS would remember 」

「eh! 」

「I told you that Mistress is amazing and one of the things she's got going for her is her memory... she can remember the names and faces of every guest ever stayed in her inn. 」

「No, no, no, that's not a quirk. ......」

「There it is! About three months after that, I happened to see a MISTRESS in town, so I called out to her. Well, it's not much of a compliment because I had an ulterior motive. And then the MISTRESS called. 」

「 Oh? Kaku-san, it's been a long time. --How are you? Mr. Cross can't stay today, can he? I look forward to the day you come back to our inn. 」

「What a voice. I could only say "ah ...... yes" at that time 」

「...... I'm kind of the same way. 」

「then cross? 」

「Nah! That's pretty credible. 」

「ara! Hey, don't you trust me? cross 」

「...... that's not true. ...... you're the leader, right? 」

「Oh, yeah, that's right!」

「 So, how does that lead to luck for you, Kaku? 」

「so Tell me quickly. Kaku.」

Could you please give us some information sooner? Leader-kun.

「I feel like I'm being told something outrageous but ....... Well, I'm the leader so I don't care. 」

「...... simple. 」

「Listen, boys! they're looking for employees at such an impregnable inn and it was run by a MISTRESS all by herself. The answer that can be derived from this is ....... Yes! Tri-kun! 」

「...... Eh~ Do I have to answer that? (That's a pain in the ass!) Oh well, Maybe it's the "looking for a mate" part? 」

“yes it is , correct ratatata”

（Ugh!)

「I'm sure that's the only way, because the inn has never recruited any employees before and they're going to do it suddenly! That's the only way! ...... So what's the reason I'm getting so lucky? Yes, Maru-kun! 」

「 Ah~ I'm kind of thinking ......, [I'm making a good impression] → that means [I'm easily chosen as an employee] → that means [I'll be the mistress's spouse!」

「That's why I'm getting so lucky... it's that simple! 」

「...... super-difficult-questions 」

「The next destination is the royal city of “oaklan”. It's a bit of a long trip, but there's still time. Make sure each of you get your gear ready, then ...... dismissed! 」

The leader of the party leaves the guild in high spirits. I couldn't get any detailed information from them. Well, if we hire them as guards, the road to King's Landing will be safe. I should probably gather some more details from the guild and go ask them for an escort.

「Hey, Cross, are you sure? That idiot's going to have a relationship with another woman!」

「...... It doesn't matter ... he'll come back to me eventually 」

「 Well, there's no way that idiot could get along with anyone other than you and he probably won't even pass the test, so it's okay. ...... If you don't mind, I won't say anything. 」

「......mmm」

「Oops, Mr. Cross was a woman, wasn't she? 」 I never thought I'd gather information in a place like this.

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After all this back and forth, I've finally made it this far! I have to get in!

After several exchanges with the mistress, the last question she asked me was「 What is a customer to you? 」I'm a little confused about the answer to this question. I guess from the words of Mistress, and from the words displayed so prominently in the inn, this is the place to answer, "The customer is God," but there may be some meaning in the phrase "customer to me."

「For me, the customer is the one to whom I should always deliver the best food. No matter who the person is, as long as they have paid money to come to eat my food I should treat them with the best food I have to offer. That's what a『customer 』is to me. 」

If there's one thing that has changed since I've been traveling around the world, it's my attitude towards customers. I used to think that I was 『feeding the customers』 you know? I'm not sure what this question means but if it's the right one, it means my world tour wasn't a waste of time.

「Yes, thank you. We'll have the results in two days so, until then rest easy.」

「 Thank you very much. Excuse me! 」

I said that and left the room. I can't wait to hear the results.

Huh? Why so long...?

Those adventurers, you guys probably used so much text in your conversation!

You did a pretty good job. ...... I'll make those guys semi-regulars.

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AN:

And I was really supposed to connect short little stories and finish the introduction with one, but I was surprised myself that I ended up choosing the chef ....... But I'm not sorry.

The next session will be a series of small stories from other candidates.

See you next time.

6/16 不抜け→腑抜け に修正いたしました。