It turns out that the second princess is coming to the upcoming restaurant opening.
I was surprised.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason for royalty to visit a restaurant opening.
“It seems she’s curious after hearing about Sentimental’s reputation.”
“My reputation?”
“Yes.”
I’m just a rogue in the hero party, but I seem to have some reputation…
Well, come to think of it, there have been quite a lot of events recently.
Rescuing the kidnapped high elf, resolving the diplomatic conflict with the Great Forest, creating emergency escape devices for adventurers in the Great Labyrinth, and investing in alchemy research to help a talented alchemist earn the title of Grand Alchemist.
Come to think of it, they all have something like “Grand” in them.
Great Forest, Great Labyrinth, Grand Alchemist.
Then what’s next this time? A Grand Gourmet?
…This joke might not end here.
“In any case, it’s just food…”
“Perhaps the restaurant is just an excuse to build rapport with Sentimental?”
“Ah, that could be.”
If it’s about “life extension,” it’s certainly a technology worth tempting any noble or royal.
As I hold the key stake in that technology, there’s a high likelihood of attempting negotiations behind the scenes.
It could involve prioritized supply to certain factions or requesting restrictions on supply to rival factions.
“They say royalty learns about imperial studies and politics before they even take their first steps. It might be wise to be cautious so as not to get involved.”
“Ah, yes.”
“There’s even a possibility that Sentimental’s rights could be taken away by the royal family if you’re not careful.”
“I see. I’ll definitely be careful.”
Hm. Isn’t this actually good?
They should rather they take it all.
After all, the funds invested in the alchemy guild were all from the hero party’s funds.
While excess funds from the party’s funds are distributed to each member, individual funds have accumulated to the point where they’ll never be fully used in a lifetime.
It might be better to just blow through the funds and decrease favourability.
‘I completely abandoned the idea of blowing through the funds when the alchemy investment succeeded.’
I never thought such a method would still be available.
Indeed, there’s always a way out even if the sky falls.
If money can be duplicated, why not just pass the duplicator itself to someone else?
The goose that laid the golden eggs eventually became just another roast goose due to the farmer’s greed.
There’s no law saying I can’t do the same.
“Please prepare the ingredients as much as possible.”
“Yes?”
“Before the princess arrives, we need to practice cooking as much as we can. We can’t serve inadequate dishes to such a noble person.”
“Oh, yes!”
The plan was simple.
Serve the princess an incredibly spicy dish, and when she starts crying because she can’t handle the heat, apologize profusely.
Then, in the ensuing ‘negotiation,’ position myself at disadvantage.
I’d have no choice but to hand over my rights to the royal family at a bargain price to repay the debt of making a royal cry.
After all, tears shed by an honourable person surely have their own value.
***
“I’ve specially prepared a hot pot for the princess.”
A specially made level 5 spicy hot pot.
Even if she were reincarnated as a Korean from her past life, she wouldn’t be able to handle the taste without shedding tears and snot.
There’s no way the princess, raised on balanced meals made from fresh ingredients in the palace, could endure it.
“It’s delicious…. Oh my”
“…Yes?”
“This taste is completely new to me…. I’ve never experienced anything like it before…….”
“Oh?”
“It’s not like I haven’t eaten spicy food before, but this one has a special sensation, both tingling and numbing at the same time… What was the name of this dish again?”
“It’s called Ma La Xiang Guo.”
“Ma La Xiang Guo… Ah…”
The princess shed tears.
She shed tears indeed.
“Thank you…. I never thought I would taste such a flavor again….”
It was tears of emotion.
“In truth, I intended to request the Alchemy Guild through you, Sentimental, to create a remedy for the regeneration of taste buds.”
“Oh, I see.”
“The decision to visit the restaurant was symbolic. I didn’t really come here to enjoy the food.”
“I understand….”
“But Sentimental, you’ve been tirelessly preparing dishes for me for the past few days, without even getting proper rest, right? When I heard that… I felt so ashamed of myself.”
I did prepare diligently.
I had to create spicy dishes that were delicious enough to not be criticized intentionally, but spicy enough to clear the princess’s tears and runny nose.
“I… realized that while I was trying to regain my sense of taste with medicine, I had forgotten the most important thing. It’s about cherishing the heart of the person who cooks and prepares the food. Sentimental, you made me realize that.”
“Haha, it’s my pleasure….”
“Truly. It wasn’t just because of the spicy taste of the Ma La Xiang Guo… It was because of your attitude, preparing dishes for me day and night, that I felt truly satisfied with a meal for the first time in a long while.”
“It’s an honor….”
“I don’t know how to repay you for this.”
You don’t have to repay me.
No, please don’t repay me.
“Your enjoyment of the food I made is the most meaningful repayment I could ever receive.”
“Oh, but wouldn’t that make me seem ungrateful? Hmm, how about this then?”
I don’t think anything could top that.
“For the next year, I propose a tax exemption for profits of Sentimental and the hero party…”
“How can we, as citizens living under the kingdom’s grace, not pay taxes? Please, collect them from us.”
“In that case, how about…”
I nearly faced the terrifying benefit of tax exemption.
Is it true that even before they take their first steps, royalty learns about politics and imperial studies?
It’s not easy.
Their skill in manoeuvring people was exceptional, as natural as breathing.
“Oh! What about a title?”
“A title… What do you mean?”
“Yes! While the hero and the saint receive treatment akin to high nobility, the other members of the hero party do not. How about I use my authority to grant a minor noble title?”
“Hmm…”
A title.
Not bad.
As long as it’s not a knighthood, there’s not much practical gain, but having a title after retirement would vastly expand the range of things one could do compared to just having money.
After all, it’s not a world without a caste system.
The power of nobility is far more influential than the power of money.
“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse further.”
“Alright. Lord Sentimental. I’ll prepare to formally confer the title on a chosen date.”
“It’s an overwhelming honor. Your Highness.”
“Then let this be my personal repayment… I didn’t come to bestow the title to Lord Sentimental just to restore my sense of taste.”
The warm smile on the princess’s face suddenly turned serious for a moment.
Was it the inherent charisma of royalty, or did it seem as if some golden aura was emanating from her surroundings?
“Oh, the shimmering again… Just a moment.”
No, it really was emanating.
As the princess touched the emblem on her chest, the shimmer disappeared.
“It happens. Sometimes it’s because of the magic imbued in the royal emblem.”
“…I see.”
“Anyway, what were we talking about?”
“You mentioned that the reason you came to see me wasn’t just to restore your sense of taste.”
“Oh, right. Um. From here on, the contents are really not something that should be disclosed to the outside.”
“Our soundproofing magic, directly installed by our wizard, should suffice, so don’t worry.”
“Really…? The royal protection magic didn’t respond at all…”
“…Our wizard’s abilities are quite remarkable.”
Honestly, I have no idea what extent of capabilities our wizard has.
Just like my elven colleague who hid the fact that she was a high elf, the magician is as secretive.
It’s particularly intriguing that the wizard herself has no intention of hiding anything.
“As the wizard of the hero party, she can be trusted. So feel free to speak without any hesitation. Even if it’s a difficult request, you can tell me, and I’ll fulfil it right away.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“In fact, among the various research projects that you, Lord Sentimental, have invested in, there’s one in particular that the royal family is keeping a close eye on.”
“I have an idea.”
“In that case, let’s speed up the conversation.”
It must be the technology for extending lifespan.
Overcoming the fate decreed by the heavens and achieving longevity is the dream and desire of all humanity.
If the royal family can monopolize this technology, they could wield significant influence over the nobility.
“The technology that the royal family is interested in… it’s the technology for hair regrowth.”
“As expected― Wait, what?”
Not lifespan extension?
“Because regrowing hair can’t be achieved even with divine power. Especially for the royalty who inevitably experience a lot of stress, most of them suffer from hair loss.”
“I see. Not me, though. It’s just for men.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Anyway, I want the royal family to acquire partial rights to the ‘hair regrowth’ technology recently announced by the Alchemy Guild. Of course, I’m willing to pay a fair price for it.”
“Separate from the title you’ve offered me as compensation…”
“Of course.”
“Yep.”
I have no idea what to say in response to such an unexpected request.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind just giving it away.
But saying that probably wouldn’t be well received.
“As compensation for the transfer of rights, let’s base it on the projected profits from the ‘hair regrowth’ technology over the next 20 years.”
“That’s too much!”
And so, the final negotiation began.
It’s a fierce negotiation between one who want to give a little more and one who want to take a little less.
“Wizard.”
“Hm?”
“Do you happen to not need a tower or something…? Shall I build one for you…?”
Are royalty always like this?
Truly, it’s not easy…
It turns out that the second princess is coming to the upcoming restaurant opening.
I was surprised.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason for royalty to visit a restaurant opening.
“It seems she’s curious after hearing about Sentimental’s reputation.”
“My reputation?”
“Yes.”
I’m just a rogue in the hero party, but I seem to have some reputation…
Well, come to think of it, there have been quite a lot of events recently.
Rescuing the kidnapped high elf, resolving the diplomatic conflict with the Great Forest, creating emergency escape devices for adventurers in the Great Labyrinth, and investing in alchemy research to help a talented alchemist earn the title of Grand Alchemist.
Come to think of it, they all have something like “Grand” in them.
Great Forest, Great Labyrinth, Grand Alchemist.
Then what’s next this time? A Grand Gourmet?
…This joke might not end here.
“In any case, it’s just food…”
“Perhaps the restaurant is just an excuse to build rapport with Sentimental?”
“Ah, that could be.”
If it’s about “life extension,” it’s certainly a technology worth tempting any noble or royal.
As I hold the key stake in that technology, there’s a high likelihood of attempting negotiations behind the scenes.
It could involve prioritized supply to certain factions or requesting restrictions on supply to rival factions.
“They say royalty learns about imperial studies and politics before they even take their first steps. It might be wise to be cautious so as not to get involved.”
“Ah, yes.”
“There’s even a possibility that Sentimental’s rights could be taken away by the royal family if you’re not careful.”
“I see. I’ll definitely be careful.”
Hm. Isn’t this actually good?
They should rather they take it all.
After all, the funds invested in the alchemy guild were all from the hero party’s funds.
While excess funds from the party’s funds are distributed to each member, individual funds have accumulated to the point where they’ll never be fully used in a lifetime.
It might be better to just blow through the funds and decrease favourability.
‘I completely abandoned the idea of blowing through the funds when the alchemy investment succeeded.’
I never thought such a method would still be available.
Indeed, there’s always a way out even if the sky falls.
If money can be duplicated, why not just pass the duplicator itself to someone else?
The goose that laid the golden eggs eventually became just another roast goose due to the farmer’s greed.
There’s no law saying I can’t do the same.
“Please prepare the ingredients as much as possible.”
“Yes?”
“Before the princess arrives, we need to practice cooking as much as we can. We can’t serve inadequate dishes to such a noble person.”
“Oh, yes!”
The plan was simple.
Serve the princess an incredibly spicy dish, and when she starts crying because she can’t handle the heat, apologize profusely.
Then, in the ensuing ‘negotiation,’ position myself at disadvantage.
I’d have no choice but to hand over my rights to the royal family at a bargain price to repay the debt of making a royal cry.
After all, tears shed by an honourable person surely have their own value.
***
“I’ve specially prepared a hot pot for the princess.”
A specially made level 5 spicy hot pot.
Even if she were reincarnated as a Korean from her past life, she wouldn’t be able to handle the taste without shedding tears and snot.
There’s no way the princess, raised on balanced meals made from fresh ingredients in the palace, could endure it.
“It’s delicious…. Oh my”
“…Yes?”
“This taste is completely new to me…. I’ve never experienced anything like it before…….”
“Oh?”
“It’s not like I haven’t eaten spicy food before, but this one has a special sensation, both tingling and numbing at the same time… What was the name of this dish again?”
“It’s called Ma La Xiang Guo.”
“Ma La Xiang Guo… Ah…”
The princess shed tears.
She shed tears indeed.
“Thank you…. I never thought I would taste such a flavor again….”
It was tears of emotion.
“In truth, I intended to request the Alchemy Guild through you, Sentimental, to create a remedy for the regeneration of taste buds.”
“Oh, I see.”
“The decision to visit the restaurant was symbolic. I didn’t really come here to enjoy the food.”
“I understand….”
“But Sentimental, you’ve been tirelessly preparing dishes for me for the past few days, without even getting proper rest, right? When I heard that… I felt so ashamed of myself.”
I did prepare diligently.
I had to create spicy dishes that were delicious enough to not be criticized intentionally, but spicy enough to clear the princess’s tears and runny nose.
“I… realized that while I was trying to regain my sense of taste with medicine, I had forgotten the most important thing. It’s about cherishing the heart of the person who cooks and prepares the food. Sentimental, you made me realize that.”
“Haha, it’s my pleasure….”
“Truly. It wasn’t just because of the spicy taste of the Ma La Xiang Guo… It was because of your attitude, preparing dishes for me day and night, that I felt truly satisfied with a meal for the first time in a long while.”
“It’s an honor….”
“I don’t know how to repay you for this.”
You don’t have to repay me.
No, please don’t repay me.
“Your enjoyment of the food I made is the most meaningful repayment I could ever receive.”
“Oh, but wouldn’t that make me seem ungrateful? Hmm, how about this then?”
I don’t think anything could top that.
“For the next year, I propose a tax exemption for profits of Sentimental and the hero party…”
“How can we, as citizens living under the kingdom’s grace, not pay taxes? Please, collect them from us.”
“In that case, how about…”
I nearly faced the terrifying benefit of tax exemption.
Is it true that even before they take their first steps, royalty learns about politics and imperial studies?
It’s not easy.
Their skill in manoeuvring people was exceptional, as natural as breathing.
“Oh! What about a title?”
“A title… What do you mean?”
“Yes! While the hero and the saint receive treatment akin to high nobility, the other members of the hero party do not. How about I use my authority to grant a minor noble title?”
“Hmm…”
A title.
Not bad.
As long as it’s not a knighthood, there’s not much practical gain, but having a title after retirement would vastly expand the range of things one could do compared to just having money.
After all, it’s not a world without a caste system.
The power of nobility is far more influential than the power of money.
“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse further.”
“Alright. Lord Sentimental. I’ll prepare to formally confer the title on a chosen date.”
“It’s an overwhelming honor. Your Highness.”
“Then let this be my personal repayment… I didn’t come to bestow the title to Lord Sentimental just to restore my sense of taste.”
The warm smile on the princess’s face suddenly turned serious for a moment.
Was it the inherent charisma of royalty, or did it seem as if some golden aura was emanating from her surroundings?
“Oh, the shimmering again… Just a moment.”
No, it really was emanating.
As the princess touched the emblem on her chest, the shimmer disappeared.
“It happens. Sometimes it’s because of the magic imbued in the royal emblem.”
“…I see.”
“Anyway, what were we talking about?”
“You mentioned that the reason you came to see me wasn’t just to restore your sense of taste.”
“Oh, right. Um. From here on, the contents are really not something that should be disclosed to the outside.”
“Our soundproofing magic, directly installed by our wizard, should suffice, so don’t worry.”
“Really…? The royal protection magic didn’t respond at all…”
“…Our wizard’s abilities are quite remarkable.”
Honestly, I have no idea what extent of capabilities our wizard has.
Just like my elven colleague who hid the fact that she was a high elf, the magician is as secretive.
It’s particularly intriguing that the wizard herself has no intention of hiding anything.
“As the wizard of the hero party, she can be trusted. So feel free to speak without any hesitation. Even if it’s a difficult request, you can tell me, and I’ll fulfil it right away.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“In fact, among the various research projects that you, Lord Sentimental, have invested in, there’s one in particular that the royal family is keeping a close eye on.”
“I have an idea.”
“In that case, let’s speed up the conversation.”
It must be the technology for extending lifespan.
Overcoming the fate decreed by the heavens and achieving longevity is the dream and desire of all humanity.
If the royal family can monopolize this technology, they could wield significant influence over the nobility.
“The technology that the royal family is interested in… it’s the technology for hair regrowth.”
“As expected― Wait, what?”
Not lifespan extension?
“Because regrowing hair can’t be achieved even with divine power. Especially for the royalty who inevitably experience a lot of stress, most of them suffer from hair loss.”
“I see. Not me, though. It’s just for men.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Anyway, I want the royal family to acquire partial rights to the ‘hair regrowth’ technology recently announced by the Alchemy Guild. Of course, I’m willing to pay a fair price for it.”
“Separate from the title you’ve offered me as compensation…”
“Of course.”
“Yep.”
I have no idea what to say in response to such an unexpected request.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind just giving it away.
But saying that probably wouldn’t be well received.
“As compensation for the transfer of rights, let’s base it on the projected profits from the ‘hair regrowth’ technology over the next 20 years.”
“That’s too much!”
And so, the final negotiation began.
It’s a fierce negotiation between one who want to give a little more and one who want to take a little less.
“Wizard.”
“Hm?”
“Do you happen to not need a tower or something…? Shall I build one for you…?”
Are royalty always like this?
Truly, it’s not easy…
