Archmage’s Restaurant – Chapter 22: Cheese (1)

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“It’s been a while.”

A familiar face entered the restaurant at sunset. It was Miltein, the mercenary who had gifted Mr. Ment with the spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun. [1]

“Long time no see.”

I greeted him warmly, but his expression was lifeless. The reason he had been absent was clear: after that team dinner, the mercenary group had gone out on a mission to protect a merchant caravan.

“Haven’t seen you in a while. Just got back?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s right.”

He should be bouncing around after returning from a job, but this guy was sighing heavily. Miltein pulled out a bar stool, sat down, and looked at me with eyes full of longing.

“Could you give me some of that drink from last time? Was it Soju?”

If it’s about cheap and potent liquor, nothing beats Soju. Whisky like The Macallan, which I offered to the old black dragon, is too rare to serve just any time.

“And what about snacks?”

“Anything’s fine. I just want to get drunk.”

With another sigh, he accepted the Soju bottle.

I didn’t know why, but if he wanted to drink to get drunk rather than eat, there’s no better snack than clam soup. It might be a bit of my personal taste.

Soju with spicy soup!

I took out the clams I had stashed in the magic refrigerator. I got them myself by magically upturning the mud near the sea. They’re perfectly purged of sand. Although I don’t know their name in this world. Since refrigeration technology isn’t developed here, they might not even have a name due to being unusable far from the sea.

They look like clams from the lily family, very similar to Manila clams. The taste of the broth is similar, so I think they’re the same kind.

I added some leafy vegetables that also give a refreshing flavor to the clam soup. Vegetables similar to bean sprouts are a must, too.

As it simmered, the aroma even made me crave some Soju. Clam soup truly shines when paired with Soju.

“Here, don’t just drink the Soju straight, try this dish with it.”

I didn’t know what his story was, but if he wanted to get drunk, getting drunk is fine by me.

“Thank you. Do I just eat it with a spoon?”

“That’s right, Mr. Mercenary.”

He nodded and slowly scooped the clam soup with a spoon. Soon his face brightened, and he spoke.

“Wow! This is great! It’s spicy, but not too much. It goes so well with this drink. This is exactly what I needed. Beer just wasn’t cutting it….”

As he gulped down the soup and took shots of Soju, it reminded me of a scene from a street food stall. Nostalgic memories surfaced.

“Did something happen? You seem really down.”

The reason I set up a bar table was to connect with customers. If he didn’t want to talk, he could have sat at a four-person table. Psychologically speaking.

Besides, people tend to be more open when drinking Soju. They start babbling.

He looked up at me, scooped another spoonful of soup, and drank some more Soju before lowering his head and starting to sob.

“My senior… my senior… got seriously injured because of me. It’s all my fault!”

Senior?

The only person he calls senior respectfully is Mr. Ment. So, Mr. Ment got hurt.

“Mr. Ment?”

I asked in shock, and Miltein slowly nodded.

“Yes, he got hurt trying to help me when we encountered a band of brigands….”

He trailed off.

“Did he get stabbed or something? Is he alright? What happened?”

I pressed for details, and Miltein shook his head before speaking again.

“He fell off a cliff and sustained severe injuries all over his body.”

“All over?”

That’s serious. Injuries all over the body mean life-threatening injuries.

“The doctor said even if he recovers, he might walk with a limp. He’ll have to retire from being a mercenary… but my senior told me not to worry about it and that it wasn’t my fault…! I’m such a pathetic fool. Why did I block his view? Useless idiot! Just die, die.”

Miltein slapped his own cheeks, berating himself. This was quite shocking.

“Hmm, I had no idea. Mr. Knoll didn’t say anything either….”

“That’s because we just got back today….”

Of course, knowing Mr. Ment’s character, it’s not surprising he got hurt protecting a cherished junior. It’s unfortunate that the injury is severe enough to force retirement, but there’s nothing to be done now. If he had received high-level healing magic from an elf right after getting hurt, it might be different, but it’s too late now.

Healing magic doesn’t work on aftereffects.

Healing magic is primarily effective on bleeding wounds and lacerations. It doesn’t have much effect on internal injuries.

“I see. I should visit him. We’re not strangers, after all.”

“Yes…. By tomorrow, word will spread, and people will flock to see him. My senior is that kind of person. Someone like him… I wish I had fallen instead! Another bottle! Please!”

Miltein started opening another Soju bottle. He had to drink. At least tonight, to lessen his guilt.

“Sure. Drink up. Drinking is the best thing for you now.”

I brought more Soju bottles. But after finishing two bottles, Miltein passed out. His tolerance couldn’t keep up.

Even though it’s not a service we usually offer.

I had no choice but to let him sleep in a bed under mine on the second floor. The smell of Soju filled the room.

The next day.

Miltein woke up looking like death warmed over. Much later than me. Clutching his head, he expressed his hangover with his whole body.

“Where am I…?”

“You’re on the second floor of the restaurant. You drank and fell asleep peacefully. It’s a relief you just sleep when you’re drunk.”

It would be very troublesome if he clung on when drunk, like our dragon does.

“Who is this human?”

It was already lunchtime. I had woken Rurin to feed her. She looked quite annoyed upon seeing Miltein. But why is she annoyed?

“He drank and fell asleep in the restaurant, so I let him sleep here. Normally, I’d kick him out before he got too drunk, but there were circumstances.”

“A customer? Why is a customer sleeping in my territory? He’s decided to die! Only my territory… in your room!”

I pressed my hands to Rurin’s temples and spoke.

“Why is my room yours?”

“There are things like that!”

Rurin grabbed my hands and glared at me.

“Once you move to the underground lair, this space won’t matter, right? So let’s make the lower part your territory.”

I whispered firmly into the dragon’s ear and then turned to Miltein.

“Anyway, it’s already lunchtime. You should get yourself together.”

Miltein, still clutching his aching head, nodded. There were now two Rurins.

“When we move to the lair, we should share a room!”

Rurin immediately lost interest in Miltein and started bouncing around, talking about her future dreams.

Ignoring her, I hurriedly prepared to visit Mr. Ment in the hospital.

I had to visit him as he was a regular customer.

“Rurin, come here and help me carry this.”

I couldn’t go empty-handed, so I prepared a special meal all morning.

“What is this? It’s stretching!”

“Right?”

“Wow?”

“How far does it go?”

Trying to surprise her, Rurin acted like a fool. She stretched the heated mozzarella cheese all the way to the entrance of the restaurant.

Anyway, what I had prepared was pizza.

It’s a very common food on Earth, enjoyed by people all over the world, but it doesn’t exist in this world.

I fired up the oven for the first time in a while.

Then I took out the flour dough that had been resting since the morning.

The tomatoes in this area are fantastic, so the pizza will undoubtedly be delicious.

An Italian pizza with just a tomato base and mozzarella cheese.

And a Korean-style pizza loaded with everything delicious: mutton mushrooms, premium Uka sirloin steak, potatoes, bacon.

Rurin started playing with the stretchy mozzarella cheese on the table while I focused on making the pizzas.

—

“By the way, why isn’t Mr. Ment married?”

I asked Miltein, who was guiding me, and he shook his head.

“Well, being a mercenary means you’re rarely home, so he’s not popular as a marriage candidate. Besides, I don’t think my senior ever had any particular thoughts about it. I’ve been dumped by women many times because of that too!”

“Really?”

The sorrow of a mercenary. Indeed, a job where you’re rarely home wouldn’t be popular for marriage. Mr. Knoll and Ms. Reine, for example, were both mercenaries.

When we arrived at Mr. Ment’s house, Mr. Knoll and Ms. Reine were already there. And for some reason, even the elf Elena was there. Rurin was working on her lair construction. Despite her grumbling, she was working hard because it was her lair. The hill was almost entirely hollowed out now, with only the finishing touches left.

“Hello. Why is everyone here?”

Mr. Ment had bandages wrapped around his leg. He was sitting up in bed.

“Oh, El, you’re here?”

Mr. Knoll, who was sticking close to Mr. Ment, glanced at me and greeted me in passing.

“El, you’re here?”

Ms. Reine clasped her hands and approached me with a happy face.

“E-El!”

Elena reacted awkwardly and stuttered

“In this humble place….”

Finally, Mr. Ment bowed his head.

All different reactions.

“Senior!”

Miltein, with a tearful face, rushed to Mr. Ment and practically hugged him.

“Get off me, you fool! I told you not to worry and just do your work!”

The two started bickering.

Ms. Reine approached me. Taking this as a chance, I whispered to her quietly so Mr. Ment wouldn’t hear.

“Is it true that he might limp for the rest of his life?”

“Yes, unfortunately… But we brought Elena here just in case, though she said it’s too late now.”

Elena subtly approached and peeked at us. Her long ears weren’t just for show. She must have heard us and was now hiding behind Ms. Reine, whispering.

“That’s right. It’s too late now. I heard he got injured several days ago. His external wounds are all healed, but the nerve tissues got compressed and stuck together, so there’s nothing we can do now…. I’m sorry. If I had been there right away, it might have been different….”

“There’s no need for you to apologize, Elena.”

I looked at Elena. Our eyes met, and she quickly turned away, hiding behind Ms. Reine again.

What was that?

“By the way, El, thanks to you, I’ve changed my mind a lot!”

Elena’s voice came from behind Ms. Reine. Ms. Reine looked at her and smiled mysteriously.

“Huh?”

“Oh, never mind!”

One was smiling mysteriously, and the other was waving her arms. What?

Leaving those strange two behind, I approached Mr. Ment.

“You’ve worked hard. Please recover soon and visit the restaurant. Our sales have dropped without you.”

“Oh, yes, yes! Right? I’ll go. Sure.”

His reaction was odd too. Mr. Ment gave me a strange look. Why the strange look? What’s wrong with everyone today?

“Let’s go get some Soju!”

Mr. Knoll slapped my back.

I was relieved. Everyone seemed strange, but at least Mr. Knoll was still normal.

***

Footnotes:

[1] Buldak Bokkeummyun (불닭볶음면): Buldak Bokkeummyun, often referred to as “fire noodle,” is a popular South Korean instant noodle known for its extreme spiciness. The name “Buldak Bokkeummyun” translates to “Fire Chicken Stir-Fried Noodles,” with “buldak” meaning “fire chicken” (a spicy dish with chicken) and “bokkeummyun” meaning “stir-fried noodles.” These noodles have gained international fame through various online challenges and reviews highlighting their intense heat.

Chapter 22: Cheese (1)

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