Chapter 26

It was the day of the long-awaited birthday party. The weather was a bit gloomy, as if the sky was about to burst into tears.

However, not a single person in the Duke Adams household had the luxury to worry about such things; everyone was frantically working to make the birthday party a success.

And I was one of them. To explain why I was so frantic, we need to go back to this morning.

Hmm, I must have been nervous, as I woke up even earlier than usual... I probably wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, so I might as well get up.

After finishing my usual morning routine of training, I started walking towards the dining room casually, but it seemed unusually noisy.

"Ah, good morning, Chef. You're even earlier than usual today! Everyone seems to be in a hurry, did something happen?"

"Ah! Master! Well, the party dishes we all prepared yesterday! They're in bad shape!"

?? That's strange, I remember tasting them yesterday and they were quite delicious. Did they go bad because they were made yesterday?

"Are they that bad?"

"Very, very bad! This won't do for a party! We don't have the time or ingredients to make them again!"

Hearing that, I felt a bit sad... I guess it's my fault for trying to take it easy today.

"Let me handle the ingredients, just tell me what's going on?"

"I'll explain it to you."

A voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Albus standing there. How does this guy sneak up on me like that?

"Actually, it seems that thieves broke into the mansion last night. We had ten skilled guards, but they were all put to sleep. And for some reason, all the prepared dishes were completely ruined."

Ah, not bad, but bad. I felt relieved that it wasn't my cooking that was bad. ...But, this isn't the time to feel relieved!!

"Is there any other damage?!"

"There's a sign that one door was broken, but the most noticeable damage is to the food. Also, the plates, glasses, and other tableware were destroyed. There are hardly any left..."

This is critical! The food is ruined, the tableware is ruined. The only thing left is the drinks, but are they okay?

"Are the alcohol and other drinks safe?"

"!! I'll go check right away."

Albus returned after about five minutes, but from the look on his face, it was hopeless.

"All the alcohol was ruined as well..."

The Duke Adams family is a great noble family, and today is the milestone 10th birthday of their daughter. A grand birthday party with guests from far and wide was planned.

But without food or alcohol, it's not just a matter of embarrassment; even I, a commoner, can see that.

...I have a bad feeling about this.

The birthday party starts at noon. It's around 6:30 in the morning now, and there are supposed to be over 350 guests.

It's cutting it close... We can't do anything about the culprit right now. The priority is to make sure Alice's birthday party is a success.

"Albus! Go buy the things I'm about to tell you right away!"

"Understood."

I can make up for the missing ingredients from my storage. I have plenty of meat and vegetables. I only have a personal supply of milk and eggs, so I'll have to buy those. The rest is tableware and alcohol.

"Albus, I'll leave the milk, eggs, tableware, and alcohol to you! I'll handle the ingredients! Try to gather everything within three hours!"

If everything goes well, that would be great, but if my intuition is correct, it probably won't...

There's no point in worrying. I need to focus on the cooking.

"Chef! Do you have the recipes memorized!?"

"Of course! Are you guys ready!?"

Chefs: "Yes!!"

"Let's do it!!"

The comeback was incredible. The chefs prepared the ingredients at an incredible speed. Their skills were so amazing that I couldn't even compare. They are truly the chefs of a duke's household.

The chef and I added more to the preparations, making complicated dishes like hamburgers and gnocchi.

...But, it's not enough. Even though we're making good progress, it won't be enough.

There are many chefs, and we were planning to serve warm dishes by placing plates on containers of hot water. However, we probably won't be able to finish a few dishes.

Is there a better way? Something to turn this situation around...

Then, I noticed a large iron plate covered in dust in the corner of the kitchen.

This is it!! Live cooking!

By the way, live cooking is a style where you cook in front of the guests. It's not only fresh but also entertaining to watch.

"Chef! We won't be able to finish a few dishes like this! I'll cook the hamburgers, roast beef, and some additional steaks on the spot at the venue, so please take care of the rest!"

"Right at the venue?!"

"I'll show them a new form of cooking!"

There's a lot to do. The venue preparations are progressing, but I'll have to ask for a part of the space.

The iron plate I found earlier should work. For the heat source, I'll use a makeshift base made with earth magic from the garden.

We have a lot of different meats. It's a waste, but I'll use some of the Oak Knight meat. For the steak sauce, I asked the chef to lightly cook the sauce I made for grilled chicken, adding finely chopped onions.

We have three hours left. Albus should be back soon, but he's taking his time.

As I was thinking this, Albus and the other butlers returned. However, the supplies they were carrying seemed insufficient. Do they have item pouches?

"Lord Owl, we were able to gather the milk and eggs without any issues. However..."

"The tableware and alcohol were bought out by someone, right?"

"!! That's exactly it!"

Damn! I knew it! In that case, it's probably impossible to get any more alcohol or tableware in this town...

"By the way, do you know who bought them out?"

"Yes, it was the Sagis Chamber of Commerce, which is close to the Viscount Fillere family. Also, from what I heard around the market, it seems they've been buying a lot of food supplies over the past two days."

The Viscount Fillere family...? Ah, the family of the second son who came to Oren Village. But why?

...Come to think of it, Albus mentioned that Mrs. Mule and others had reported various things. And the Viscount Fillere family tried to take my cookies.

My guess is that the Viscount Fillere family thinks the Duke Adams family stole their cookies...

If they believe the second son and the butler were killed, and the cookies were also stolen, it makes sense.

If my guess is correct, they should be contacting us soon.

"Butler, a merchant from the Sagis Chamber of Commerce is here and says he has an urgent matter to discuss! What should we do?"

Speak of the devil. Well, in my mind.

"Albus, we don't have time, but let's hear them out."

"Understood."

In the parlor, a merchant with a scheming look on his face was grinning.

"Forgive me for interrupting your busy day, Butler. I heard that there's no food, tableware, or alcohol for Lady Alice's birthday party today. Since we've been buying a lot of ingredients, tableware, and alcohol over the past two days, I thought you might need them."

This seals it. The culprits are these guys and the Viscount Fillere family behind them.

I glanced at Albus, and his lip was bleeding slightly from biting it.

...Sigh, there's no choice. I'll have to use my secret stash.

I whispered to Albus to refuse, and though he was surprised, he soon looked determined.

"Well, what are you talking about? Everything is going smoothly. If you have no other business, we're busy, so please leave."

"...You'll regret it. Is that okay?"

"Please leave."

Albus coldly dismissed the merchant, who left with a sneer.

The merchant from the Sagis Chamber of Commerce, who was sent away by Butler Albus, went to the Viscount Fillere family's mansion.

"Lord Viscount! This is not what we agreed on! I bought a lot of food, tableware, and alcohol because I heard that everything at the Duke Adams family's party was ruined! What are you going to do about it?!"

"What? That's strange. Our secret agents definitely ruined everything yesterday. They must be bluffing. Wait a bit longer near the duke's mansion."

"Really? I'll do that, Lord Viscount..."

"Lord Owl, do you have any plans after sending them away?"

"Yes, I'll sell the tableware I make on my own. I also have wine and apple juice. I'll settle everything with you later."

"Of course, but Lord Owl, you're making alcohol even though you're underage?"

Ah... That's true.

"Ahaha, let's just prepare, Albus!"

"Ho ho ho, Lord Owl is quite amusing."

When I showed the alcohol and tableware to Albus, he was genuinely surprised. The metal utensils like spoons and knives were fine, so I took out the ceramic plates I made as a hobby.

I had nothing to do in winter and decided to try making ceramics with earth magic. I even made my own glaze. I spent a lot of time on it and thought I might sell them for money someday, so it's not a problem.

I also made the wine from grapes I grew. I infused the water with magic, hoping they would be delicious, and the grapes turned out to be incredibly tasty. The wine made from such grapes couldn't be bad. Thanks to magic, it's as good as a long-aged wine, and I believe even gourmet nobles will be satisfied.

...Well, I haven't tasted it yet, but at least Albus said it was delicious.

The preparations continued, and we managed to make it in time for the birthday party. However, I realized one problem.

If I do live cooking, won't my identity be exposed? I can't let them see my face. What should I do? Should I have the chef do it? No, that won't work. The chef needs to prepare additional dishes and manage the kitchen.

...Ah! I bought a mask yesterday.

I took out a fox mask from my storage and put it on. I explained the situation to Albus and asked him to say I hired a temporary chef who wouldn't show his face.

There were about 20 minutes left before the party started. Many noble guests had already arrived and were chatting in the hall. It seems the lower nobles arrive first, which is a bit troublesome.

I used my detection and spatial awareness to check, and I could see the people from the Sagis Chamber of Commerce nearby.

...!! This might be a good opportunity to make some profit.

Wearing the mask, I approached the Sagis Chamber of Commerce and observed. As expected, they were worried. They probably have a lot of inventory and are wondering what to do with it.

"Would you like to sell it to me? This excess inventory."

"Who are you!!"

"Who cares. If you don't, the food will go bad. And even if you can sell the alcohol, you won't be able to sell this much food and tableware. I'll buy it all for 100 gold coins."

"Hah, you're trying to take advantage. I won't sell to a suspicious masked guy. Besides, this is worth at least 1000 gold coins. No way!"

"Hmm. Or would you rather cry to the viscount about the excess inventory? He'll probably say you bought it on your own and run away."

"Damn... 800 gold coins."

Hmm, I subtly tested them, and it seems the Viscount Fillere family is behind this.

"200 gold coins."

"700 coins."

"250 coins."

"500 coins..."

"..."

"Damn, 300 coins. That's all I can do..."

"Alright, that's fine. Here are 300 gold coins."

The Sagis Chamber of Commerce took the money and scattered like spiders. The food was still fresh, and about half of it was already prepared. I tasted it, and it was all high-quality and delicious, suitable for a duke's party.

I stored everything and returned to the venue since time was running out.

When I got back, it was just in time for the party to start.

The party went smoothly, and the live cooking was very popular. It might have been the novelty. Alice even came to watch, and I secretly took off the mask to greet her. She was beaming, so it was a big success.

...By the way, Alice's dress was really cute. I was a bit flustered for a moment, but that's a secret.

The wine was so delicious that many nobles were asking the maids where they got it. But only Albus knows the source, so it won't be traced back to me. Right?

As the party progressed, desserts started to be served. I released all the desserts I had stored and managed to get through it. The pre-made desserts were all ruined, but thanks to the stored ones, we made it.

The reaction was huge, and they disappeared quickly, so I kept bringing them out. The stored ones ran out, but it was a close call...

I used a leftover cake from a test batch for Alice's birthday cake. Its beauty, size, and taste made Alice cry with joy.

Even a crying beauty is not bad...

During the party, some nobles were causing a commotion, but it turned out to be the Viscount Fillere. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but it seemed like he was making false accusations and left early because he felt uncomfortable.

The rest of the party went smoothly, and as we were cleaning up, Albus approached me.

"Lord Owl, thank you for your hard work today. We'll take care of the cleanup, so please wait in your room. I'll come to discuss your reward later. The master has entrusted me with the reward, so I'll handle it."

"Understood. See you later."

While dozing off and practicing my magic, there was a knock on the door.

"Excuse me."

"Albus, come in."

"Then, let's get straight to the reward. But first, may I confirm something?"

"What is it?"

"Ho ho ho, the Sagis Chamber of Commerce, which was supposed to have a lot of inventory, apparently sold everything to a man in a strange mask. Do you know anything about that?"

"No, I don't know anything about a fox mask."

"Ho ho ho, that's good. We both didn't lose anything."

"Yes, of course. I enjoyed it very much."

The gist of the conversation was:

"Did you buy the inventory from the Sagis Chamber of Commerce?"

"Yes, I did."

"You got a good deal. Thanks to you, the birthday party was a success."

"I'm happy to have made a good profit."

The reward Albus offered was 500 platinum coins, about 500 million yen.

Eh...? I'm getting this much? Isn't it too much?

"Am I really getting this much?"

"The tableware is all top-quality, and the recipes are all delicious. The future meals of the duke's household will be amazing. And that wine. I have about ten small barrels left, and they are truly excellent. The master loved them, so each barrel is worth 5 platinum coins. This price includes everything, including the inconvenience you caused."

I see, he wants me to sell him a little wine regularly. That's why he made it a bit more expensive. ...This old man is sharp.

"I'll sell you wine occasionally."

"Ho ho ho, you're very wise, Lord Owl. I'll buy whenever I can."

Thus, despite the various issues, Owl not only became a millionaire instantly but also found a way to earn money regularly.

By the way, today is the last day I'll be staying at the duke's mansion. I'll enjoy the fluffy bed as much as I can.

The next morning, I went to the dining room, and Alice's parents were waiting for me, showering me with praise and gratitude.

"Owl, you really saved us. Alice was so happy. I'm truly grateful. If anything happens, don't hesitate to rely on the Duke Adams family. We'll always be there to help. And the wine, it was truly excellent. Truly excellent."

"Hehe, the desserts yesterday were really delicious. I'd be happy if you could come and make them again. Alice is tired and sleeping, so come play with us again."

"I'm the one who should be grateful. I'm glad the party food was well-received. If there's another opportunity, please let me know. Please tell Alice as well."

They are really nice people. If all nobles were like them, it would be great.

The short but long stay at the duke's mansion has come to an end, so I started walking to my home in the capital. The sky, which was gloomy yesterday, had cleared up, and it was a beautiful day.

I'll update this bit by bit.

I'd be happy if you could rate and bookmark it.