I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 39: Surviving in the Lebringer Mansion (1)

“Confident in cooking? What’s that about…?”

Yena, who had consistently maintained a stern expression, nearly lost her spirit at my sassy assertion that I was quite confident in cooking.

Miss Drin had invited guests for dinner.

But due to the chef’s absence, it was tough to host the dinner.

In such a situation, who in the world was going to raise their hand and say “Well, I’ll do the cooking, I’m quite good at it”. No one, not if they understood even a bit about the formalities, etiquette, and decorum that exist in noble societies.

But, oh well.

What are you gonna do?

I’m a notorious one.

Being shrewd and brazen was a basic requirement in my line of work.

‘As a commoner, should I know the rules of the nobility? I don’t know?’

From the standpoint of a noble lady like Yena, there was no other way.

Though nobles, in official positions, tended to prioritize face and formality over efficiency and reason, it’s not like they were so ignorant as to really believe this was right.

They merely followed these, as these were the customs, rituals, and rules.

Imagine the tumult when a commoner like me, who knows nothing about these rules, shows up at an official event where nobles from other families are watching?

In such cases, the best response from nobility is usually to ignore or avoid.

But right now, I was not just a commoner.

At the moment, I was an invited guest who had followed Drin to the mansion.

“…”

This was why Yena was frozen in place, unable to take any action.

She couldn’t just ignore or avoid me.

In a game of tag with life, a person that argues ‘Why should I die? I’m alive,’ after being caught, is seen as a human disaster.

That’s probably how I appeared in Yena’s eyes right now.

Given the situation, the best action Yena could take wasn’t to explain the rules of tag to the other person.

‘Ah. Look at this jerk. I must remember to exclude him next time.’

With a promise to herself for the future, for now, she focused on not ruining the mood by accommodating the situation as best as she could.

That was the best action Yena could take at the moment.

Yena adjusted her glasses and put on a professional expression.

“Even though it’s very kind of you, Mr. Ceylon, you are a guest visiting our estate. To ask you to take responsibility for preparing dinner would be quite improper, don’t you think…”

Yena carefully tailed off her statement.

Even if someone was devoid of any tact, they could tell from Yena’s worried behavior and gentle tone that she was expressing a delicate refusal.

But then.

Well.

What could I do?

As I’ve already said, I’m a guy who knows nothing of subtleties.

Such a cautious rejection?

That won’t stop me.

“Ha-ha, ‘improper’? Please don’t worry, I want to do it because I enjoy it. Did you know that most people who are good at cooking also tend to love cooking?”

“…”

Suddenly, Yena’s careful refusal felt like a trap that I’d just trod right over.

Yena, taken aback, closed her eyes for a long moment.

Is she feeling desperate right now?

Soon after, Yena opened her eyes and returned to her normally cool and professional demeanor.

“If you would indeed take responsibility for this evening’s dinner in the absence of the head chef, we would officially appoint you as the temporary chef for tonight. Also, depending on your performance, we may offer certain rewards.”

It seemed like a promise of a reward, but there was an underlying implication.

We will appoint Mr. Ceylon as the official chef.

In other words, the moment I step into the kitchen I would no longer be a guest, but a temporary worker.

It’s simple.

If I do well, I will receive a corresponding reward. But if I don’t, I would be held accountable.

And that accountability would probably place me on the ‘Lebringer Estate’ blacklist.

And on the ‘bad friend for Miss Drin’ list as well.

I guess.

She was hoping to use this opportunity to severe my ties with Drin.

It was the moment when the Dark Drin Fan and the Light Drin Fan would clash head-on.

Of course, I am the Light Drin Fan.

“Oh…! A reward! This sounds exciting! Today, I will put in my best effort!”

I replied eagerly once again, and two emotions were apparent over Yena’s professional demeanor.

Fatigue. And determination.

“Understood. Then for today, we entrust the preparation for the dinner at the estate to you, Mr. Ceylon.”

Finally, I noticed gazes from behind and turned to look.

Miss Adryn, Miss Mizu, and Adella were looking at me with concern.

The gazes seemed to say ‘Are you sure you can do this?’

I smiled at them, full of confidence as if to say not to worry.

“You all should look forward to it”

Only for the three ladies to look even more apprehensi.

It has to be because these ladies are not used to dealing with someone as straightforward as me.

Worrying about a dinner prepared by such a person.

Well.

Actually, what I was really worried about was not the taste of my cooking, but what would happen to me if something went wrong.

If things go wrong, I would become a thorn in the side of the Lebringer family.

Even by my standards, it was quite a reckless breakthrough.

But I had no choice.

What if I miss this opportunity, and Yena makes my room ready and advises me not to approach Miss Drin anymore?

At that moment, I would be banned from accessing Miss Drin by the Lebringer family.

In that case, there would be great difficulties in progress of future quests.

More than anything, I would no longer be able to hang out with Miss Drin.

A flower that doesn’t see sunlight will die.

I will die if I don’t see Miss Drin.

It was common knowledge.

Now, I was floundering to survive.

Of course, I don’t know what would happen if Miss Drin raises her voice.

I should not owe Miss Drin anything.

On the contrary, I need to pay off my debts.

Then, I can tease Miss Drin to my heart’s content.

By the way, how did she feel about the current situation?

“Ceylon, can you really satisfy me? Despite how I look, I am quite a gourmet.”

Our Miss Drin seemed to have started some kind of duel? With a face full of playfulness and a competitive spirit.

It’s as if inside her, a battle had begun where if my cooking didn’t suit her taste, it would be her victory.

‘Heh.’

Apparently, our genius swordsman Miss Drin, though unmatched in swordplay, seemed indifferent to such political matters.

I got a small understanding of why the Lebringer family always has stubborn Yena around.

***

Even so, you cannot just serve the guests at Lebringer’s Estate with unverified food.

“Whenever you are comfortable.”

While Yena and I had a verification time with other maids in the kitchen, the rest of my group had tea time in their room.

If I pass, it will continue to dinner.

If I fail, it would end immediately.

“Well, then-”

As I parted ways with my group, Yena looked at me more severely.

She seemed to say, “Someone like you is not suitable for our Miss Drin, would you please keep your distance?”

“First, can you grill this?”

Yena handed me a well-packed chunk of meat.

Roasting whole meat – grilling steak.

It was the best method to check cooking skills in a short amount of time.

Normally, I wouldn’t know how to grill a steak.

A raw meat pretending to be medium rare – copied clumsily from a YouTube video.

A piece of rubber pretending to be medium rare.

That would’ve been the best result I could’ve accomplished with this chunk of meat.

***

[Trait : Absolute Taste]

[Grade : Legend]

You are a culinary expert.

You’ve tasted countless tastes and created it.

There may be tastes you don’t know, but there won’t be tastes you cannot understand.

Always keep an eye on your teacher’s belly.

***

But now, I am different.

Now I have the will of the boss of a gray gym in the gray city of the Kanto region with me.

It may be strange that the boss of the gym helping was in cooking, but it happened.

‘Let’s see…’

I looked at the chunk of meat from the perspective of a culinary expert through the trait.

Then, a lot of information was inputted into my head directed toward my eyes and nose.

The fat content, the tenderness of the meat, the type of meat, the degree of maturity – wait, what is this?

‘It’s a bit excessive.’

Just having a staring contest with the meat, too much information went into my head.

This wasn’t a talent that could be obtained by always cooking for my colleagues.

‘Did I mess it up again?’

Wow, my cooking skills are crazy.

When I realized another incredible talent I got with irresponsible clicks, a bitter taste filled my mouth again.

I had no face to see the chefs who are suffering under a stingy head chef’s abusive language to learn cooking.

‘Sigh.’

But what can I do?

With this trait that has become a part of me.

I apologize to all the chefs.

Well, I’ll just freeload a little.

‘I’ll use this precious talent for selfish reasons.’

Suddenly, there were several recipes ready in my head to cook this meat.

“How should I cook it?”

Rare, medium rare, medium, medium well done?

Come at me with everything!

“First of all, Miss Drin prefers a doneness level of 4, can you cook it to that level first?”

Roger that.

‘What’s that, though.’