LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 15
When an unexpected moment strikes, they say your mind can temporarily freeze.
Karem was in precisely such a situation right now.
Eating Castella that perfectly matched his appearance, and then suddenly…?
First off, Karem thought it wasn’t a bad suggestion.
After all, trying to build everything from scratch on bare ground is a headache.
On the other hand, being employed by someone else means he wouldn’t have to worry about starting from the very bottom.
Especially if that someone happened to be a wizard—then it’s a done deal.
“Can you at least tell me the reason? This is all so out of the blue; it’s surprising…”
“Hmm, it might’ve been abrupt without any notice. Well then, just one more piece of that meringue-topped Castella.”
“I’m not talking about Castella—anyway, please hold on for a moment.”
Karem gave up on correcting her and quickly brought the fork to Catherine’s lips.
After tasting the Castella, Catherine rhythmically tapped the table with her fingers.
It was without a doubt the most satisfying expression Karem had ever seen while preparing a meal.
“The first reason is solely for your benefit.”
“Eh? For my benefit?”
“Imagine if an exceptionally talented orphan with no connections suddenly stepped into the kitchen. Would the existing staff truly welcome them?”
No firmly established stone would welcome a rolling rock. It’s well-known that the kitchen is heavily influenced by skills, and few would look kindly on an orphan without ties.
To put it bluntly, it would be an ideal setting for bullying.
“They probably wouldn’t like it.”
“Right. Outside of a few kind-hearted souls or priests, the likes of orphans would only be welcomed in the backwoods.”
“Eh? The village likes orphans?”
“With no backing, they can be treated like labor until they drop dead, isn’t that just dandy?”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant.”
I understood what she was saying.
Those rural villages always suffered from labor shortages.
They would absolutely welcome orphans, who could be worked to the bone like livestock.
There were even orphans being treated like cows in Moston Village, where Karem was born.
Of course, strictly speaking, Karem was not an orphan as he remained safe and sound in the village.
However, considering he had severed all ties and fled the village, he was much like an orphan.
“People would say, ‘What a piece of bread!’ treating him like a grazing cow that rolled into the farm.”
“Now, for the second reason. If someone were to be kicked out after being sabotaged, would they really expect anyone to enjoy a shabby stall outside?”
“Well, I guess not anyone except scary uncles in the alley.”
“Exactly. If you work in the kitchen, you’re staff, but if you go independent, you’re an enemy. Do you think you could even join a guild?”
Traditionally, guilds exist in every city.
Naturally, there were various guilds in Borderster, including a cook’s guild that operated out of inns and taverns.
Being affiliated with such a guild would at least alleviate some of the previously mentioned issues, but…
“Not that it would happen, but is there even a way I could join the cook’s guild?”
“You already know the answer in your head. What benefits does a guild get from accepting an orphan? Even if you manage to work in a tavern or restaurant kitchen, the problems I mentioned earlier would still arise. A nail that sticks out is bound to get hammered down.”
Of course, unless someone was keen to swallow their pride and act like a rabid dog to fend off bullies, Karem had neither the talent nor desire for such emotional struggles. That had not changed since his previous life.
“So, the third reason. I like new things. And I really enjoy sweets.”
“Yeah, I know that too.”
Karem glanced down at the now empty cutting board, having only left one piece on the plate.
The board, which had been piled high with Castella, was now just dust.
It was quite obvious who had devoured it all.
With every time she opened her mouth—this time just right, this time with meringue—she had single-handedly polished off a whole chunk of Castella.
“Aren’t you consuming several times more than what Sir Atanitas usually eats?”
“Ha, just this much. Generally speaking, women have a separate stomach just for desserts.”
“No, it feels like there’s a difference in capacity… I don’t know.”
Catherine seemed determined to keep eating.
There were still plenty of Castella that had been baked, so it wasn’t a bother.
Karem flipped the mold to prepare the Castella in the same size as before.
“Hmm, not satisfying—hey, kid. Listen seriously.”
“Uh, just let me cut this first, okay?”
Well, that was definitely important. After all, food’s taste isn’t just about flavor; appearance matters too.
Catherine preferred something that looked good over something that was crushed.
“Yes, all cut.”
“Hmm, here lies the problem. Do you know what’s important for long-lived intellects, whether by birth or circumstance?”
“Something that probably gets boring quickly?”
“Oh, you hit the nail on the head. Surprisingly insightful.”
Of course, Karem wouldn’t be clueless.
It was a narrative cliché that dragons of immortality and immortal vampires turn their noses up at boredom, extending back to ancient times.
“Right, unlike others, for us long-lived beings, even if given a mountain of gold, what’s more crucial is filling the interest and excitement right now.”
“Hmmm, that sounds like it could be polarizing.”
“This isn’t a matter of preference. It’s about stimulation.”
“Stimulation.”
“Can you even guess how many loaves of bread I’ve eaten since I was born?”
Karem quickly shook his head at the weighty remark that popped out casually.
After all, he couldn’t even count the number of bowls of grain porridge he’d eaten in this life; if he could, he wouldn’t have lived like a serf.
“Sure, no matter how interesting something is, if you’re repeatedly exposed to it, you’ll become desensitized and feel nothing at all. Thus, for someone like me, new stimulation is more important than anything else.”
“So, the direction that interest is currently heading is towards my cooking?”
“I love delicious food. Especially sweet desserts. But you, on top of that, are showing me a dessert I’ve never seen before.”
As Catherine pointed with her chin to the plate, Karem quickly sliced more Castella and served it.
“Yum. You’re quick on the uptake. Nevertheless, throughout all this time, kid, the foods you’ve shown me have certainly never been presented before, right?”
“Uh… that couldn’t be true.”
It was impossible for there not to be such things.
Karem’s case was the commonplace route of being interested in food that led him to make it himself.
Sitting there for hours on end, he would loop cooking documentaries or shows repeatedly, and he could remember quite a lot. It may have leaned more towards international cuisine due to his tastes, but still.
“Just from that reaction, it’s obvious you know quite a few dessert recipes.”
“Ugh… I’ve been found out.”
“Exactly, so that’s why I envy your cooking skills.”
Some might sneer at him instead of accepting it on the spot, and Karem’s heart thumped wanting to seize the moment.
However, on the flip side, he felt suspicion, pressure, and something—just an emotion he couldn’t quite describe.
It wasn’t that he was averse to the journey toward the chillingly cold Iceland.
It was just—wasn’t this way too straightforward in trying to charm and scout him?
For a moment, Karem pondered while looking at the fork, then simply closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
“Can’t you just command me directly?”
“Eh?”
“No, it’s just that while I’ve been told I have excellent cooking skills, the fact that you go through this much effort to hire a runaway serf is kind of overwhelming. Is it unbelievable? Something feels off.”
Then Karem lifted his gaze cautiously, only to see Catherine looking at him with a face that screamed, “What in the world are you talking about?”
“…Kid, I can see perfectly what you think of me and how you’ve viewed me all this time.”
“Uh, yes!? No, that’s not it!?”
With a stiff expression, Catherine was glaring at Karem, but soon, the mood lightened as if she was just joking.
“Well, I don’t feel like explaining any further, so let’s just go this way.”
“Eh?”
Catherine rummaged through the inside of her cloak, which she hadn’t taken off even indoors, then pulled out something and lightly set it on the table like a gambler placing chips.
It was the size of something that couldn’t be hidden by her thumb.
Roughly round golden coins with jagged edges.
The largest sum of money Karem had ever encountered in his current life.
A small stack of crowns was forming a tiny tower.
“First off, kid. Considering your age, 6 crowns for your salary.”
“!”
“Additionally, a personal room and furniture will be provided for you.”
“!!”
“There will also be adjustments to your salary twice a year, factoring in the cost of living increase.”
“!!!”
“Salary increases based on years of service and performance.”
“!!!!”
“Your position will be as a dedicated cook and personal servant.”
“I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland. Sir Atanitas, is there anything lacking in your offer?”
“Hm, perhaps I should have started from here in the first place. This time, add another piece with that meringue on top.”
Karem thought how fortunate he was to have died and been reborn for the first time in his life.
Despite the grim medieval setting, he was receiving an income and treatment far better than any in his past life.
Just as the tightly shut guard of his heart seemed to lower completely, Karem realized he should not lose the slightest vigilance.
He couldn’t afford to let his guard down before signing an official contract.
Even if a contract was offered, it could contain poison clauses, so he had to check thoroughly.
But what he needed to do right now was obvious.
“Why don’t we spread this honey generously and top it with meringue for you to try?”
“Ooooh—right, honey exists.”
Though no formal contract had started, the battle had already begun.
He had to earn brownie points with his future boss to secure the best possible conditions…!