Before long, the party from the Ducal House arrived. Once everyone was present, Ryoma guided his twenty-nine guests further into the building.
"From this point on, we’re in the employee-only area. Customers are generally prohibited from entering these sections. This includes the changing rooms, the reception room, the office, the breakroom, the restrooms, and the kitchenette."
"Is it all right if we take a look around?" Reinhardt asked.
"Yes, please go ahead."
Following Ryoma’s lead, the guests toured each room. Watching them, Ryoma privately thought they resembled a group of tourists on a bus tour from his previous life. Finally, after guiding everyone to the employee breakroom, he asked them to wait there while he headed to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the meal.
As he walked away, Ryoma finally realized that inviting high-status individuals like the Ducal House to a private gathering without regard for rank was a complete breach of social etiquette.
He had planned the party simply as a token of gratitude to those who had looked after him, and out of a lingering longing for the social connections he had missed out on in his former life. However, seeing the actual mix of people in the room, he realized how shortsighted he had been. He spent the next few minutes in the kitchen, reflecting on his blunder in silence.
Fortunately, given the good-natured personalities of his guests and the fact that most of the adventurers were high-ranked, they weren't nearly as bothered as Ryoma feared. Those waiting spent the time in quiet, peaceful conversation, though the lower-ranked guests remained a bit stiff with nerves.
After about ten minutes, Welanna suddenly grew restless, shifting in her seat.
"Welanna? Is something wrong?" Mizelia asked.
"Something... coming from somewhere... It’s probably whatever Ryoma’s cooking, but an incredibly delicious scent is wafting over here."
At her words, everyone in the room began to sniff the air. However, only the other three beastfolk and Asagi, the Dragonewt, could pick it up.
"Nya!? Now that you mention it, it smells wonderful-nya!"
"It truly does..."
"I can't tell, personally..." Pioro muttered.
"Perhaps the scent is too faint for a human nose?" someone suggested. "Maybe only those with keen senses can pick it up for now."
"No, this one can also tell," Asagi interjected. "Is this meat? Or perhaps fragrant bread? Regardless, it is a mouthwatering aroma."
"Come to think of it, Ryoma-kun's cooking was quite delicious before as well," Reinhardt remarked.
"Is that so, Lord Reinhardt?" Sebas asked.
"Yes. He put a great deal of thought into it, even with limited ingredients. His sautéed rabbit with Jija Root was particularly excellent."
"Ryoma-sama possesses Housework Skill Level 10 at his age," Arone added. "We have high expectations."
"Level 10 at that age? That's quite a feat," Wogan grunted. "No matter how common the skill is, few people reach that level before they're forty."
Another five minutes passed before Ryoma returned.
"Thank you for waiting. Dinner is served."
"I've been waiting for this-nya!"
"You're late!" Welanna complained. "Having to sit here with that smell... do you know how agonizing that was for us?"
"Eh? You could smell it?" Ryoma asked, surprised. "I thought I had a Deodorizing Barrier up... I wonder if the effect wore off?"
"Never mind that! Just bring out the food!"
"Understood."
"We shall assist you," the three servants said in unison.
Ryoma thanked them and began carrying the dishes in with Sebas, Arone, and Lilian. He also directed his slimes to bring in the beverages. The five representatives from the Commerce Guild and Branch Master Taylor—who were unaware that Ryoma's slimes were far more dextrous than the norm—watched in shock as the slimes efficiently navigated the room, eventually receiving explanations from the other guests.
Once the food and drinks were distributed, Ryoma stood to give a toast.
"Umm... thank you all very much for gathering here today to celebrate the completion of my shop. It’s nothing fancy, but I’ve prepared plenty of food. Please, enjoy the meal. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Everyone took a drink at once. Immediately, a loud cheer erupted from Gordon.
"What is this liquor?! It’s top-shelf stuff!"
"It’s a celebration, so I splurged a little," Ryoma replied.
"What’s the name of it?"
"The shopkeeper called it the Fountain of Jemis."
Gordon looked at his cup and laughed heartily. "The Fountain of Jemis! I’ve heard it was great, but I’ve never actually had the chance to try it."
"Is that so?"
"Did ya buy it without knowin'?" Pioro asked, slipping into his usual dialect. "The Fountain of Jemis is a famous brand for those in the know."
"I had no idea. I just bought what the shopkeeper recommended."
"You got lucky then. The Fountain of Jemis is relatively affordable, but it has so many enthusiasts that it sells out the moment it hits the shelves."
"I see... lucky... ah!"
"Is something the matter?" Sebas asked.
"No, no. I just realized why I was able to get such good alcohol."
"A reason?"
"Yes. I have a Divine Protection—from Tekun-sama, the God of Wine."
"What?! Is that true?!"
"Young Master, are you for real?!"
Gordon and Pioro both reacted with shock.
"Y-yes. It’s true. Is something wrong?"
"I’m so jealous..." Gordon groaned.
"I’m envious... I’m really, truly envious..." Pioro added.
"Tekun-sama's Divine Protection is an object of envy for all Dwarves," Gordon explained. "Especially the version from the God of Wine."
"Is that preferred over the Divine Protection of the God of Technology and Crafts?" Ryoma asked.
"Well, look here. I’m an adventurer, so it wouldn’t do me much good if my blacksmithing skills improved. Besides, any Dwarf who relies on divine help for their smithing isn't a real craftsman. Skill is something you forge and earn yourself. But every Dwarf would choose a delicious drink over anything else. Encountering rare liquor is something you can't always manage through effort alone. The God of Wine's blessing is what overcomes that 'bad luck' factor."
Ryoma nodded, understanding the logic. He then turned to Pioro. "I understand Gordon-san’s point, but do you like alcohol that much as well, Pioro-san?"
"I don't hate it, but to be honest, I'm envious as a merchant. I hadn't mentioned it yet, but my company mainly deals in food and drink. Being able to easily source top-tier liquor is a dream for someone in my trade."
"I see."
As they spoke, Welanna called out to him.
"Ryoma!"
"Yes, what is it?"
"I'd like seconds."
"That was fast! You finished already?!"
"Ryoma, me too," Jeff added.
"Me as well," Hughes said.
"And me," Wogan grunted.
"Jeff-san, Hughes-san... even Guild Master Wogan? Everyone, you eat so quickly."
"It's because your food is amazing," Welanna said. "I've never eaten a meal this good in my life."
"Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. It makes the effort worth it."
"I agree with her," an elderly guest remarked. "At my age, my jaw has weakened... I can hardly chew the meat served at most restaurants in town. But the meat in this pasta is easy to eat, and this steak is incredibly tender. It's been a long time since I've truly enjoyed a meat dish. I'm very glad I came."
"I'm happy you like it. Please, eat your fill."
Ryoma went to dish out more food. By the time he returned, Mizelia, Miya, Reinhardt, and Asagi had also cleared their plates and were asking for more.
"Even Reinhardt-san... I'm relieved it suits your palate."
"Haha, there was never any doubt that your cooking would be excellent, Ryoma-kun."
"Really? I thought you would be used to much finer things at noble parties and such... Is something wrong?"
The moment Ryoma said that, the light in Reinhardt's eyes seemed to dim.
"Ryoma-kun, let me tell you one thing."
"Y-yes?"
"Costly food isn't always the tastiest."
Reinhardt explained that at large noble gatherings, the priority was often on how lavish or rare the ingredients were, rather than how the food actually tasted.
"Everyone has different preferences... if you're hosting one or two people, you can tailor the meal to them. But with a large crowd, that's impossible. However, as the host, you want to avoid even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. Therefore, we express hospitality by using expensive materials or rare items that are hard to find in the region. It’s a safe, standard tactic."
"Instead, we often get dishes that are completely overpowered by spices," Elise added with a sigh.
"The chefs work hard, but it's the nobles who place the orders," Reinbach noted. "The food is edible, but it’s not something I’d want to eat every day. Besides the flavor, at my age, it’s often just too heavy... In that regard, your cooking is perfect."
"Your meals are a comfort to eat, Ryoma-san," Eliaria said with a smile.
"I'm glad you feel that way. I’ve prepared dessert as well, so please save some room for that!"
Hearing the perspective of the Jamil family, Ryoma had serious doubts about the merit of sacrificing flavor for the sake of expensive ingredients. However, he accepted that this was simply the way of the nobility and moved on.
He checked in with the other guests, but the pace of the meal didn't slow down. Everyone had at least one refill; Welanna and Jeff even went back for fourths, leaving Ryoma wondering where they were putting it all.
When he finally served the sliced apple pie and tea, a hush fell over the room. Not only was the flavor superb, but Ryoma had been generous with high-quality honey. The dessert was a massive hit, especially among the women.
"Phew... I'm stuffed-nya. Today was a great day-nya."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. But you all certainly have hearty appetites... Especially you, Jeff-san. Where does it all go?"
"Huh? I can still eat more if I have to. I have a skill called Binge Eating."
"Binge Eating?"
"Never heard of it? You get it by repeatedly eating massive amounts at once and then going for several days without food. I picked it up naturally back when I first started as an adventurer. I’d spend almost all my earnings on one giant meal and then coast for a while."
"In addition to Binge Eating, Jeff has a lot of resistance skills from his time in the slums-nya," Miya added. "That's why he's famous for taking on the grueling requests that most adventurers can't handle-nya."
"That's impressive, Jeff-san."
"It's just the result of picking jobs with good pay. It’s not that big a deal. Actually, you could probably do the same thing. You have resistance skills that even I don't have. Why don't we take on a request together sometime? You look like you could keep up with some of the tougher work."
"I'll be in your care when that time comes," Ryoma replied politely.
"It would be a help to the guild if Ryoma worked with Jeff," Wogan said. "Jeff doesn't play well with others, so he almost always works alone. But there are some jobs that require multiple people, and those requests just sit there gathering dust."
"What kind of requests?"
"Well, there's a C-Rank request to mine Fire Ore in a volcano. That one is a nightmare without Foul Odor Resistance. You're stuck with the smell of rotten eggs for the entire trip. Plus, the air in the volcano is lightly poisonous; in the wrong spots, it can be fatal."
"Volcanic poison... is that the kind where the light poison causes swollen eyes and tears, while the heavy poison makes it impossible to breathe?"
"Yeah, that's the one. You're well-informed, kid."
"I've just heard bits and pieces about it."
"Knowledge like that is a survival tool for an adventurer. Do you know a countermeasure? Is there a medicine for it?"
Ryoma thought for a moment. Such medicine didn't exist in this world's common knowledge, and he wasn't sure if he could reproduce Earth's medicine here yet.
"Unfortunately, I don't know of a medicine. However, since the poison is carried in the volcanic smoke and gas, perhaps protecting oneself with Wind Magic to circulate the air could work..."
"Ho... that grandmother of yours must have been quite the intellectual to teach you all this. I've been a Guild Master for a long time, but your knowledge of poisons and diseases always catches me off guard."
Ryoma felt a small pang of anxiety but brushed it off with a smile and a vague comment about his grandmother being an amazing person. He then turned his attention to Caulm and Carla.
"Caulm-san, Carla-san. How was the meal?"
"It was delicious," they replied in unison.
"I'm glad. ...By the way, I would be very happy to have you work here, but are you truly certain? As I said at the shop earlier, I don't think this workplace will allow you to fully utilize your talents."
"We have discussed that among ourselves once more," Carla said.
"Please, let us work here," Caulm added firmly.
"Oh... did something change? You both seem much more resolved now."
The hesitation was gone from their voices. Even Ryoma could tell they were different than when they first arrived.
"We showed you a shameful side of ourselves earlier. After seeing you and the shop firsthand, we have changed our perspective," Carla explained.
"We were anxious at first, but now we feel there is much we can learn from the tools and the systems you have designed, Ryoma-sama."
"They're quick to adapt," Serge noted with a smile. "Ryoma-sama, being young means they have the flexibility to absorb new things. If it were only a matter of experience, I could have introduced more senior staff, but I chose these two specifically for their adaptability."
"We shall do our utmost to bring no shame to the Morgan Company or to House Takebayashi!" the twins declared.
Seeing their conviction, Ryoma thought they shared a certain spirit with Serge.
"I understand. Having people with such deep commercial knowledge is very reassuring. I look forward to working with you."
"Yes!"
The two replied with bright smiles, and Serge watched them with pride.
"But please, don't overdo it," Ryoma added. "Just act naturally. I don't mind the Morgan Company, but as for the shame of my house..."
"No, that is the proper mindset," Carla insisted. "Even a minor rumor would spread through noble circles instantly."
"Eh? Do people really gossip about every new shop? Caulm-san?"
"Most nobles pay very close attention to the movements of other houses... It will likely be as my sister says."
"Other houses...? ...Wait, do you both think I'm a noble?"
The twins blinked. "...Are you not? You have such a close connection with the Ducal House..."
"As you can see, I have a connection, but it was just a chance meeting. I'm not a noble myself... Serge-san?"
"...My apologies," Serge said, looking away slightly. "I don't recall explicitly stating that you weren't a noble..."
Finally realizing where the confusion lay, Ryoma, Serge, and the twins began a long conversation to clear up the misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, another group watched Ryoma from a distance.
"Hey, you old hag," Wogan grunted.
"What is it, you oaf?" Griselda replied.
"Is Ryoma's shop actually going to be that profitable? It's a weird niche..."
"It’ll be profitable. Exactly how much, even I can't say for sure yet."
Wogan frowned. "Aren't you going to offer him some guidance?"
"For now, I'm just going to watch. I want to see him try things exactly the way he envisioned them."
"Will he be okay?"
"I’ve made sure he has those two from Serge’s place. Even if some unsavory types take notice, they should be able to handle it. If it gets too dangerous, he’ll know how to ask for help, and I’ll step in as a merchant if he needs me. However, greedy merchants who don't care about the rules might resort to force. Keep an eye on that side of things, will you?"
"I know. But honestly, he might not even need the help. Did you hear? He ran into those 'Fangs of Obtemo' guys the other day."
"Those thugs? ...Did the boy take them down?"
"Yeah. He caught them harassing some kids while he was on a request. From what I heard, it was completely one-sided. He also cleaned up during the goblin subjugation. Ryoma and his swarm of slimes are a force to be reckoned with... People are going to regret it if they underestimate him just because of his monsters."
"Do they use weapons?"
A third person joined the conversation.
"So you knew too, old man Taylor," Wogan said.
"There were rumors among the staff about an adventurer asking if slimes could use weapons. Today was the first time I saw it for myself... I think I'll recommend that he give a lecture sometime."
"It's probably best he learns how average tamers operate," Griselda noted. "Either way, just keep a look out."
"I've got it covered."
"A talented youth is always welcome," Taylor added. "Reinbach asked me to keep an eye on him, as well."
Unaware of the conversation taking place in the corner of the room, Ryoma spent the rest of the evening enjoying the company of friends and colleagues—a kind of social life he had never known before.
As the celebration drew to a close, the guests departed one by one, each offering Ryoma words of encouragement and warnings not to overwork himself. After tidying up the remains of the banquet, Ryoma stood outside and looked at his shop. Savoring a profound sense of fulfillment he had never experienced in his former life, he finally made his way back to the inn.