Chapter 12 – Meeting the Guild’s cook

The Guild Master opened the door for them and followed them to the outside. After smiling at his new two employees, he went with the Priest to the stable, while Nozomu and Taisetsuna went to the upper floor, to check their rooms.

Taisetsuna opened the fourth door on the right side of the corridor, and Nozomu opened the fifth door. When both of them entered, they took a look around the room. A bed, a closet, a table, and a chair. There was also a small bedside table with a candle holder on top, and several new candles inside the drawer.

Nozomu tested the softness of the bed, and when he was bumping on the edge, Taisetsuna entered with a big smile, “Oh, our rooms are similar! Very simple, a plain board. I am going to put some vases with pretty plants in mine, to make it cosier, what about you? You want vases as well?”

“No, I think I prefer books. I may need to put a few shelves or find a small bookshelf. It’s probably better if we go downstairs to work. I wonder what kind of a person the Cook is.”

Taisetsuna grinned as she was following him along the corridor, “That’s right, you don’t remember him. You are up for a surprise for sure because he hates your guts. You used to mock him a lot every time we came to the City because he is a little overweight. He is a nice person, but you always made him lose his temper. It was funny seeing him running after you, trying to choke you.”

“That will for sure cause a lot of problems if I am supposed to be working with him.”

When they reached the lower level, Taisetsuna went to the reception desk to see if her help was needed after pointing out a door at the end of the corridor that led to the kitchen. Nozomu took a deep breath and opened it. The smell in the air of roasted meat was inebriating, and Nozomu took a long sniff with his eyes closed. When he opened them again, a long-bearded man with an angry look and two horns on the side of his head was looking at him. Nozomu glanced down and saw a huge and large belly covered by a white apron.

The angry Bovine-kind man noticed and asked, almost spitting in anger, “Saw something funny, you brat?”

“No, but judging by the smell around here, I can tell that you are an amazing cook. What are you making? It smells delicious!”

“Roasted manioc with chicken thighs, seasoned with my secret spice mix. Do you want to ask anything more? Or you want to mock me about my weight again?”

Nozomu immediately raised both open palms, “I don’t want to mock you, and I also want to apologise if I ever said something that made you angry! It would be stupid of me to say something about your weight because if I were able to cook something that smells like this, I would be enormous for sure because I wouldn’t stop eating my dishes! I do hope I can learn with you because I know that being a Cook is not an easy job!”

The enormous man frowned and pointed at a big bowl in the far-right corner.

“I am not sure if you are joking or if you are serious, but in the meantime, you can peel that manioc.”

Nozomu smiled and went to the bowl, “On it, boss! By the way, how should I call you?”

“Now I know you are joking, you brat! You know my name very well!”

Nozomu stopped and looked back at the angry-looking man, “Actually, I don’t remember you. I lost my memory two days ago when I hit my head on a rock when I was training with Taisetsuna. I couldn’t even remember my name. I don’t know anything about the World, and the little I know, I learned in the books that the Priest gave me that day. I will need a lot of help to learn how to live in this City, not only because of my memory loss but also because I lived in the Orphanage until this morning. I will be counting on you to teach me everything you can because you can’t possibly imagine how frightening it is not to remember if I ever met you or not.”

The enormous Cook crossed his arms and stared at Nozomu with a frown. He then came close and looked deep into Nozomu’s eyes.

“My sister told me you looked different, and she was right. Your eyes have a very intriguing seriousness. Very well, I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but if I find out that you were mocking me all this time, I will detach your head from your body.”

“Your sister? You mean, that beautiful receptionist is your sister? For a moment I thought she could be your wife or girlfriend, but now that you say it, I do see some resemblances, especially the nose and cheeks. She is prettier, though, and that is a good thing for you because a man looking as pretty as a woman it’s weird in so many ways!”

“Thanks, I guess. I am Seta Azusake and my sister is Koyaga Azusake. You can call me boss like you said, or Mister Azusake.”

Nozomu extended his hand for a handshake, and the Cook squeezed it, still a little doubtful of Nozomu’s intentions.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Azusake. I am going to take care of the manioc, tell me if you need anything else. The Guild Master told me that a lot of Adventurers will come for lunch, so it’s better if I go work.”

Seta Azusake kept his arms crossed and looked at Nozomu going to the bowl. When he started to peel the manioc, Seta went to the grill outside, to check the meat.

Inside the Guild, Taisetsuna was reading the forms of new Quests, checking for errors before placing them on the Quest Board. The noise of the doors opening, and the sound of voices called her attention, and she raised her head to see a group of Adventurers arriving, talking and laughing loudly.

The receptionist was near Taisetsuna, and she rolled up her eyes as she whispered, “There they come. After you finish that, go see if the food is ready in the kitchen because more Adventurers will arrive, and they will ask for drinks and food. I am going to take care of that annoying Party, but it’s better if you don’t come near them, they are not easy to deal with, they are too full of themselves.”

Taisetsuna glanced at the loud group that was seated at a table right in the middle of the room. Two big and muscular men, and one that looked like a Mage, dressed in a long dark brown robe and with a sword at his waist. They were talking loudly about some criminals they delivered to the City Guards as if they did an amazing stunt. One of the bigger men raised his arm and shouted for the receptionist to bring them three cups of ale, and she made a forced smile while going to the barrel behind her, to pour the ale in large cups that she carried over a round tray.

Taisetsuna took a few forms to put in the Quest Board, and she saw from the corner of her eyes the three men looking at her and whispering among them.

When Taisetsuna went to the kitchen to check the food, she heard one of them saying in a loud voice, “We have some pretty fresh meat, around here! I wonder if she purrs when she gets a kiss!”

The three men laughed while the other Adventurers that were also in the room glanced at them, annoyed by their conversation.

The big three-breasted Koyaga Azusake put the cups on their table with a loud bang and spoke in a cold voice while keeping her forced smile, “Careful guys, she started today, and if the Guild Master hears you disrespecting that girl, he might come and take your heads off.”

One of the men answered with a big smile, “We were not being disrespectful, just curious and surprised! Who is she?”

“Our new waitress, if you ask. No need to call for her because she has other duties today, but if any of you need something, just call me.”

One of the men slapped her butt, “I will for sure call you, Koyaga, I sure will! Ahahah!”

That slap granted him a tray pushed against his neck and a warning from the scary smiling Koyaga Azusake, “Next time you touch me, will be your last. Get it? I am not the whore you call mother, I am a lady, and as such, you will act and address me with respect, or you will need a straw to eat for the next six months. Understood?”

The man spoke with a frown, “I was just joking, Koyaga, give a guy a break!”

“Go joke with your mother. I am not your plaything for you to be so abusive. Mind your manners, or you will leave this Guild in a stretch.”

Koyaga Azusake backed away and returned to her forced smile.

“Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, I hope you enjoy it.”

She left, and two of the Adventurers burst into laughter while the one that was threatened was rubbing his neck.

The door was opened again, and more Adventurers arrived. Soon, the Guild was full, with all the tables occupied and even a few benches at the reception had Adventurers talking and drinking, using the reception desk as a table.

Koyaga Azusake and Taisetsuna Kawa were filling cups with ale one after the other and delivering them to the thirsty and purse-full Adventurers.

Nozomu Shinchaku came from the kitchen, pushing a wheeled cart full of plates with food.

Koyaga took four plates and spoke to the two youngsters, “Bring the rest, there are a lot of guys hungry! Nozomu, when the cart is empty, go get more plates, okay?”

“Sure thing, Milady.”

Koyaga Azusake blinked a few times, “No one ever called me Milady before! It has a nice ring to it, for sure! I could get used to being called like that!”, she said with a surprised tone.

“I won’t mind addressing you with Milady if that makes you happy. Let me help you with these plates so that you can return to the reception.”

While Nozomu was going towards a table with two plates, Koyaga Azusake leaned to Taisetsuna and said, “He sure is different! I like how he is now!”

Taisetsuna made a nervous smile and took two plates with her and went to a table as well. Nozomu returned and carried more plates to the next table.

When the cart was empty, Nozomu went to the kitchen and helped the Cook to prepare the food, and he swiftly returned with a full cart again.

When Taisetsuna was putting three cups of ale on a nearby table, the same Adventurer that slapped Koyaga Azusake’s butt, slapped hers, making her scream in surprise.

The Adventurer pulled Taisetsuna’s hand and forced her to sit on his lap. He then spoke with a grin, “Now, now, no need to scream, pretty girl! A nice butt such as yours deserves a good slap. What do you say to a kiss? I could give you a nice tip if you are kind to a tired and strong Adventurer such as myself.”