A Living Armour Owns A Tavern - Chapter 52 Complimentary Breakfas
Rita’s anger urged her to draw her sword as soon as she saw Amanda, but seeing the children around her, she calmed down since she doesn’t want to involve the children in her fight.
“Calm down, Rita. If she wanted us dead, she would have killed us last night. Just play along for now, and look for clues. I think she means no harm,”
As soon as Molt noticed Rita’s killing intent, he immediately whispered to Rita before anyone else notice them. Fortunately, Sheriff Molt managed to successfully pacify Rita from her anger. He knew that they were simply no match for her. But they did find it odd that the person who almost killed them last night is now sweeping the floors and serving them breakfast. Molt immediately knew that the answers they were looking for might be closer than they have initially thought.
“Call me crazy Rhoanne, but doesn’t this place look a whole lot different from last night?”
“I was wondering about the same thing too, Boss!”
It turned out that their hunch was correct. The single-story tavern grew an upper floor extension overnight. Everyone talked about the establishment as they made their way to the establishment’s dining area.
“Papa’s magic sure is amazing! One day, I want to be a great cooking magician which can make people happy!”
“I thought you always wanted to be a Court Wizard, Little Sage?”
Gretel knew their youngest sister the best. It was her dream to be a Court Wizard someday. She wondered when Little Sage has decided to make her decision.
“That too… But I have changed my mind. I want to use Magic for the sake of cooking, I just want to be as great as Papa! This is way more fun than any boring magic!”
Gretel couldn’t argue with her Little Sister’s decision. She realized that Gus’ unusual magic has limitless possibilities that can help every person in the world with no distinction. Both the fortunate and the underprivileged will greatly improve their health and lifestyle. Unlike Circa’s elemental or spiritual magic, Gus’ magic is the type that has the most practical uses to everyday living. She vaguely remembers that Gus has once called his magic, “Lifestyle magic,” which is totally unheard of in the world of Circa.
“Excuse me, Children, Did I hear correctly that your Father owns this place?”
Rita is very pleased to hear that this sweet little girl is their Savior’s daughter. Judging from their healthy condition, She has always wanted to thank him for rescuing them from the creature that attacked them last night. She figured that the creature should be no match against the caliber of the man that has the skills to create this mystical establishment.
“Of course Papa owns this place! The Mana in here definitely belongs to My Papa! He’s the best!”
Sarah gasped when she heard what Little Sage has said.
“Little Sage, you can sense Mana?”
Sarah wanted to confirm Little Sage’s words one more time.
for visiting.
“Uh-huh!! This Mana definitely, definitely, belongs to Papa! His Mana is always warm and ticklish!”
Little Sage continued to hum her own breakfast song, as she fiddled with her iron spoon as if it was her magic wand. To be able to sense mana at a very young age is tantamount to that of a blessing from the Gods. Sarah was in awe as she realized that Little Sage has the makings of a great wizard. But little do they know, that Little Sage’s potential has been unlocked thanks to the System’s mana-rich ingredients coupled with Gus’ cooking skills.
“My word! You should have her enroll in Phanzal Academy! I am sure the Principal will be happy to grant her a full scholarship. Um… Miss…”
“Sarah. My apologies, I haven’t introduced myself.”
“Likewise, My name is Sheriff Molt, a Watchmen from Phanzal City and this is our Sheriff-deputy Ms. Rita,”
Sarah remembered during the town-meet, that Phanzal City will be sending a few investigators to inspect the recent Goblin attack. She guessed they might have arrived in this establishment last night, since there are no other inns, inside Yellowleaf Village.
“I thought Gus only made a tavern? I swear, I didn’t remember him mention anything about an Inn,” thought Sarah. But as her stomach grumbled she simply ignored the thought and instead anticipated the complimentary food that was generously offered to them.
Everyone finally arrived at the first floor. Gus’ Tavern has been slightly altered to properly serve the Inn’s complimentary breakfast buffet. Walk-in guests are also welcome to dine as well, given that they pay five silvers, per head.
“Dear Customers, We have arrived in the dining area. As First-time customers, it is only right for me to explain the procedures for this establishment’s complimentary breakfast. The food is unlimited, you can take and eat as much as you want before we close our breakfast service. Taking out food is strictly prohibited, so please consume the food within the dining area. If there are no more questions, please take a plate beside the buffet table and enjoy your breakfast,”
As Amanda opened the double doors, they were greeted by the intoxicating smell of sizzling bacon. The smell of hot toast, pancakes, and syrup also lingered in the air. They see Henry waiting at the buffet’s egg station. He is assigned to cook eggs in accordance with their customer’s choice.
– Boiled
– Poached
– Scrambled
– Omelet
– Sunny-side up
– Over-Easy
Henry wipes his utensils clean, as he awaits their patron’s requests. On another side, there sits a bread station, where they saw different baskets with different types of freshly baked bread inside.
On a wooden platter, there were danish pastries beautifully lined up with each other. Aside from sweet pastries, there were also different loaves of bread like german rye, pretzels, bread sticks, croissants, dinner rolls and french baguettes on the side. There is also soup being offered beside the bread station. The soup of the day is none other than Henry’s ever-popular French Onion Soup.
There were also fancy Fruit Juice dispensers that dispense Orange, Mango, and apple juice. Aside from that, they saw three more chafing dishes, lined on the table. It contained, Sausages, Hash-browns and of course, the popular breakfast icon, Bacon!
Since Molt and Rita were new to Gus’ cookery, they were in shock of the luxurious-looking food in front of them.
“Sir? Should we ask some questions now?
“Urm, Let’s eat first Deputy, Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It shouldn’t take too long after all,”
Rita couldn’t believe what she has just heard. Initially, he was dead serious about searching for Daniel’s whereabouts. But his tension completely disappeared as soon as Amanda opened the double doors. Sheriff Molt has immediately succumbed to the intoxicating smell that lingers the dining area.
“If this were a trap, this mission is definitely over,” thought Rita.
As her superior walks to the buffet table, she figured that she should just follow his orders and enjoy the luxurious-looking breakfast she has never encountered before.
Born in a noble family, Rita mostly ate luxurious dishes that were not commonly available to the commoners. She grew up eating mostly meat as vegetables were not highly regarded with the nobles, as it was believed that they were difficult to digest, but in fact, the reverse is the case.
Her homeland “the wetlands,” provided wildfowl of all types (duck, geese, etc), as well as plentiful freshwater fish, such as perch, eel, and pike (the pike is a noble fish, but its bottom-feeding habits make it taste very muddy. Smoked pike beats smoked salmon every day, however).
Other fish she has experienced was mostly trouts, including herring, sole, pilchard, and mackerel as well as crab and mussel. Sometimes her family provided game, such as boar and deer, and beef.
As a proud cook herself, she was saddened as she couldn’t recognize most of the food that was neatly served on the buffet table. She thought she has eaten every delicious food which the noble life has given her, but then she realized what a foolish thought that was since there is more delicious food the world could give her. She decided to try everything on the buffet table and judge for herself the food of this Inn. She is convinced that not all the food here should not fit her tastes after all.
Meanwhile, Sarah, Nico, Rhoanne and the children were delighted to eat a delicious breakfast once more.
“I didn’t know eggs can be cooked in so many ways! I only know boiled and fried!” Griffin and Ray came to Henry’s egg station admiring at the multiple cooking methods one can apply to cook an egg.
“I see. Eggs are really, interesting,” Ray decided he would start off with an omelet.
“As you wish, Dear Customer,”
They were watching Henry with awe. He cooks the omelet as if he was dancing on a stage. the way he moves is quick and precise, there are no unnecessary movements from the way he cracks the eggs to how he flips the pan. He is simply flawless!
Gretel and Little Sage love potatoes ever since they discovered it’s versatility. Little Sage especially love potato chips, Last night, she discovered that it is more delicious to eat the salty Lay’s chips along with chocolate! She was surprised that the potato made a whole new flavor once again. It can become a snack if you slice them thinly and fry it, and it becomes a meal if you roast it or boil it. After deciding that nothing else further can be done with the versatile vegetable, witnessing the Hash browns, have blown their minds away!
“Little Sister, I know I said that we should taste new potato dishes together, but I… I’m sorry! I cannot hold on any longer! ”
The Naughty Gretel broke her agreement with her younger sister and took a bite out of the Hash brown straight out of her hand.
“Crunch!”
Because of how the potato was cut before it was fried, the bits and pieces that stuck together have created a whole new level of crispiness. each piece of finely cut, fried potato strands has created its own crispy exterior both inside and outside the dish.
“Mmm!!! It’s soooo crispy! It’s different from French fries and potato chips even though it’s fried! It’s not as crunchy as chips, but it’s not as soft as French fries! how bizarre!”
Gretel happily devoured the whole thing before it has even touched the plate in her hand.
“Ahhh!!! No Fair! If you eat, then Little Sage must eat as well!” Little Sage also reached for a hash brown in her hand and immediately took a bite of the dish.
“CRUNCH! Mhmmm!!”
Little Sage squealed in delight as she was able to experience a unique texture she hasn’t encountered before. After completely devouring the hashbrown, she immediately deduced that the factors for its unique texture are because of the knife skills applied to the hash brown.
“I didn’t know that Knife skills can greatly affect the flavors and textures of whatever ingredient! Papa sure is amazing!”
She puts down her plate on a nearby table and took out a notebook from her backpack. She writes her discoveries before she forgets this unique experience.
“Hey! Eat your breakfast first, Little Sage! Or else your food will get cold!”
Being a responsible elder sister that she is, Gretel makes sure that her little sister doesn’t forget to remind her of her bad habits.
“Aah! You’re right! Oooh!!! What are those?”
As soon as she puts her notebook inside her backpack, the juice dispenser has immediately grabbed her attention.
“Little Sage! Don’t Run! Hey, Wait for me!”
Gretel went after her curious little sister as she couldn’t sit still when it comes to her father’s unusual food and beverages.
Cindy loved sweet foods, so the bread station has caught her attention. More specifically, she was in awe while looking at the sparkling danish pastries. The beautiful, baked, butter pastry was shaped like pinwheels, pockets, twists, braids and more. Some even have jewel-colored fillings inside. Blueberry, strawberry, and peaches! Cindy couldn’t help but grab every flavor she can see. She wanted to know more sweet flavors from her loving foster father.
As usual, being a Meat lover herself, Rhoanne couldn’t help but fill her plates with her favorite dish, the Bacon. She could always come back to the buffet table for more, she thought. Nico and Sarah assisted Rita and Molt since they barely knew anything about the food on the table. Everyone happily dined on the table as if the problems of the world has faded away.
As the pancake helplessly dangles on Little Sage’s mouth, she couldn’t help but ask herself.
“Munch! Nom! mm… Hm… I Wonder Wer papa ish.? munch, nom! BURP!”
