Chapter 43 : Ember Banquet

A banquet held at the mansion of Lord Otolc.

A gathering so important that all the young nobles from the nearby territories attended—one could even call it the eve of the Unending Night Festival.

And both Jaeho and Crewa Sang were scheduled to attend as well.

Though a newly-founded nation, Jaeho had the official qualifications of a King, and thus his invitation was justified.

Crewa Sang, too, was the Owner of the Crew Merchant Group, a vast merchant guild that spanned the continent and a sponsor of the festival, so her invitation was equally fitting.

But as of yet, neither of them had arrived at the banquet hall.

Inside, young men and women chatted with each other in a lively, pleasant atmosphere.

“Ha ha, Sebyoo-nim, how do you manage to become more handsome with each passing year?”

“Rumia-nim, I heard the Royal Family has summoned you? Congratulations!”

“Lisa-nim, your beauty is as stunning as ever! I’d believe it if someone said you were the protagonist of tonight’s banquet.”

They traded these empty compliments back and forth for quite some time.

Just then—

“Crewa Sang of the Crew Merchant Group and the Owner of Elysia Garden, Alicia, have arrived!”

At last, the introduction of the two guests echoed through the banquet hall.

“Alicia? Ah, the King of that new place on the Terra Continent, right?”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I remember Crewa Sang mentioning them before.”

“I heard they crowned themselves King. How outrageously arrogant.”

“The King of the Elves, wasn’t it?”

“Rumors always get blown out of proportion, you know.”

“But I heard he’s an exceptional Field Chef.”

“Ah! The unusual foods Crewa Sang gifted last time!”

“Oh, I’ve tasted them too. But is it right for a King to be cooking?”

“Maybe he’s the King of Cooking. Hoho!”

“Haha, in that case, shall we put him to the test…?”

Kiiii—

As soon as the doors to the banquet hall opened, a thick floral scent wafted through, tickling everyone’s noses.

But the moment they saw Jaeho standing at the entrance, the fragrance vanished from their minds, replaced by bristling goosebumps and caught breaths.

“What the heck is that? Scary…”

Their true feelings were plain on their faces.

“A-ah… You’re all here, I see. I am Crewa Sang.”

Crewa Sang hurriedly offered her greeting.

“Ah! Crewa Sang-nim!”

“O-oh, you’ve arrived?”

The nobles, feigning nonchalance, offered their greetings to her.

“This is Alicia, whom I’ve mentioned to you several times before.”

Everyone already knew, even if there was no need for her to say it.

They simply hadn’t expected such an appearance.

But nobles had their pride—surely, they wouldn’t let themselves be intimidated by someone’s looks.

Especially Rumia, Lord of Otolc and the eldest noble present—practically a grand-uncle to many of the young nobles gathered here.

What was the reason he went to such trouble to host this extravagant festival?

It was to become the object of the young lady nobles’ admiration!

He couldn’t allow himself to lose face so easily.

“I am the true star of this event!”

But contrary to his intentions…

“I-I heard you’re a Field Chef…”

His words, which should have carried twice as much bravado and sarcasm, sounded rather pitiful, the confidence having drained away.

But he certainly succeeded in getting on Jaeho’s nerves.

“?”

Jaeho glanced over at Crewa Sang with a questioning look.

— Uh, when I was circulating the dishes you’d made before, I told them something along those lines. I didn’t expect you’d become a King at that time…

Crewa Sang quickly tried to explain in a hushed voice.

But the clueless nobles wouldn’t let up.

Thanks to Rumia taking the lead, one after another, they began to gain courage.

“J-judging by the atmosphere, you must be quite the chef.”

“Haha, the King of Cooking, indeed…”

“Those unique seeds we ate last time come to mind.”

“L-looking forward to it!”

They had already written Jaeho off as nothing more than a Field Chef.

Which left Crewa Sang mentally drenched in cold sweat.

No matter how immature young nobles might be, how could they be so ignorant of continental news?

Anyone even remotely interested would know of the incidents between the Bear Kingdom and the Rasel Kingdom!

“Haha, thank you all.”

Just then, Jaeho responded to the nobles.

“Receiving such praise, I’m truly at a loss. But since it’s come to this… I suppose I should reciprocate in kind!”

“Alicia-nim…!”

Crewa Sang was moved by Jaeho’s calm handling of the situation, but…

Anyone capable of reading Jaeho’s true feelings was in for a shock.

[ <Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘You seemed to get along with demons, but have you become a demon yourself?’]

“I didn’t intend for things to go this far.”

Jaeho replied to the Spirit of Vitality’s horrified remark.

“These bastards are playing dumb while trying to trip me up.”

Through the Eye Patch’s active concealment ability, Jaeho confirmed—the nobles were lying.

In other words, even though Crewa Sang had scolded them as ignorant of continental rumors, the truth was, they knew all about Jaeho’s fame.

It was impossible for them not to.

Not only had they been notified in advance of Jaeho’s participation, but just moments ago, he’d been introduced as the ‘Owner of Elysia Garden.’

But—noble pride!

They simply couldn’t stomach a King with no noble lineage, and thus put on airs before Alicia.

Jaeho decided to play along.

“So, where might I be able to do some cooking?”

Jaeho politely asked.

“Ahem, you can ask one of the guards over there. As it happens, a famous chef from the Sitra Continent is here as well. Why not challenge him to a cook-off?”

“R-Rumia-nim!”

Crewa Sang cried out in panic.

No matter what, a noble—no, a ‘King’—formally attending a banquet, being sent to the kitchen like some commoner?

“Ah… So they’re doing this on purpose.”

Only then did Crewa Sang realize.

These nobles were even more shameless than she had imagined.

— I-I’m sorry!

Crewa Sang hurriedly apologized to Jaeho.

It was, after all, entirely her fault that things had come to this.

Jaeho was only here because she had invited him.

— It’s fine.

Jaeho grinned and left the banquet hall.

***

In the kitchen, everyone was frantically busy sending food out to the banquet hall.

“Dammit! Are they crazy, letting an outsider into this sacred space? Nobles or not…”

“G-Grand Chef!”

Other chefs quailed at the imposing Grand Chef’s irritation.

But he was renowned beyond Otolc, even on the Sitra Continent.

He, too, had been specially invited for the festival.

“What do they think they’re doing? Worried I’ll lose my head?”

He glared resentfully at Jaeho as he shouted.

For just three seconds.

“Go over there, to that corner, and do as you like! But if you get in the way…”

He swallowed the rest of his words and turned to the other chefs with a fierce stare.

“What are you doing?! Move faster!”

Thus, Jaeho was permitted a small oven in the corner.

“Well, this is more than enough.”

After all, Jaeho wasn’t a proper chef, nor did he know many cooking techniques.

The only thing he could do was throw in all the ingredients and stir-fry them.

With a thoroughly heated iron pan, Jaeho began cooking the dish he’d—honestly, with no plan at all—already decided on.

“Young nobles must have refined palates… Well, let’s start with fresh crocus stomach acid.”

Freshly gathered ingredients from the demon realm!

[ <Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘It’s ruined from the start.’]

Chiii—

As the bright red liquid poured into the pan, it sizzled noisily and bubbled up.

At a glance, it looked like boiling blood.

Crumble in some Cerberus Grass… and now, Fire Fungus…’

Fwooooosh!!

The moment the Fire Fungus hit the pan, a fierce blaze erupted.

“?!!”

“I’ve never seen flames that intense before!”

Even the other chefs were impressed by the ferocity of the fire.

“Hmph! At least he can handle fire.”

The Grand Chef’s grumbling.

But in truth, as Otolc’s top talent and a harsh critic, his sharp eyes were focused.

Let’s see what more this guy can show us!

Unaware of the growing attention, Jaeho, in Immersion, dumped every ingredient he’d collected from the Embay Forest into the pan.

“Get back at them, and advance my research at the same time… Two birds with one stone.”

[<Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘More like two, three, four birds.’]

“What do you mean? They won’t die from this.”

Though his research progress wasn’t yet at one hundred percent, he could check the vital information.

Using that, he selected only the ingredients with ‘non-lethal toxicity.’

“Huhu… These are ingredients you can’t get anywhere else. I’m treating them to a truly rare dish.”

[Due to the <Field Chef> title, debuffs from indiscriminate ingredient mixing are reduced.]

“What? Damn it! Why?!”

An entirely unwelcome effect.

Thinking he had to do something, Jaeho also activated .

Hoping its misfortune skill would trigger.

But there was another problem.

The skill has a low chance of random effects when certain skills are used.

In short, simply cooking wouldn’t be enough for a major result.

“I have to use skills!”

Immersion

Rapid Mutation Growth

Elf’s Flute Play

A parade of skills with little to do with cooking!

[The attached skill from <Bear Hunter’s Declaration of War> activates.]

“It triggered!”

Finally, the long-awaited skill activated…

BOOM—!!

“Gah?!”

It really exploded!

Thick black smoke billowed from the iron pan, and even at a glance, suspicious red liquid oozed from within.

[You have successfully summoned the Wak Macho Spirit!]

[Your Notoriety increases explosively!!]

“??????”

No, he had hoped for misfortune, but wasn’t this a bit much?

[ <Spirit of Vitality> shouts, ‘You’ve brought this curse on yourself!’]

[ <Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘@#@%@$.…!’]

Setting aside the furious nagging of the Spirit of Vitality for now.

Jaeho focused intently on the smoke-filled pan, face tense.

— Astounding. For the heir of the Spirit Altar to summon me… No, perhaps only a Spirit Altar master could manage this?

A deep male voice.

As the black smoke slowly cleared, at last, the Demonic Spirit revealed its form.

A look of disbelief crossed Jaeho’s face.

Inside the pot, a red creature sat languidly, soaking as if in a sauna.

It had two arms and two legs like a human, but was smaller than Jaeho’s forearm, with petals like red flowers constantly burning into ash from its body.

A demon at a glance!

“How did this happen?!”

But with so many spectators, there was no time to analyze the cause.

“Chef! T-that’s—!”

“No way!”

In the Embay Forest, maybe, but here—summoning a demon would get him buried for good…

“The Fire Oven Spirit!”

“Hm?”

At that wholly unexpected shout, Jaeho paused and the other chefs tilted their heads.

“Isn’t that the Fire Oven Spirit?”

“A legendary being among chefs!”

“Oh.”

Looking again, no matter how he considered it, this wasn’t a spirit.

For one thing, there were those tiny horns jutting from its forehead, and the obviously wicked eyes.

“…Sure, the petals burning like flames look convincing, but…”

— Nonsense. I am a de… Kgh!

— !!

Just as the Demonic Spirit tried to protest its identity.

Jaeho grabbed a nearby sack of flour and smacked the Demonic Spirit’s head, covering its mouth.

“You have sharp eyes! Yes, this is the Fire Oven Spirit!”

“Incredible indeed!!”

“Grand Chef! Is it really true?!”

Every chef’s gaze fixed on the Grand Chef, who stood with arms crossed, observing the scene.

[Due to the <Deceiver of the Devil> title, the target believes your lie.]

“…It’s true.”

“WAAAAAA!!!”

A cheer erupted at his confirmation.

— Dammit! I’m…! Ugh—!!

Jaeho pressed the Demonic Spirit’s head with his bare hand and shoved it back into the boiling pot.

“Please, just shut up!!”

[You have immersed your bare hand in boiling water for a long time.]

[Heat resistance increases.]

[Due to the <Torturer of Demons> title…]

[Because of your notoriety…]

[Your…]

Fortunately, thanks to a combination of effects, he was at least able to keep the Demonic Spirit’s mouth shut for now.