<10 - The Shortcut of the Ticket Exam>
“All the dishes made from the ingredients you rescued are rare foods that I’d generally want to eat but can’t.”
“Ah, yes… Well, that’s how it is…”
“I was raised not being able to eat much as a child, so I’m small and full of regrets. I don’t want to miss a good opportunity to eat a variety of foods!”
Jezel looked at me incredulously.
“Then what will you do about the ticket?”
“I think it’s fine to eat the food and then think about it?”
“Hah. Do you think you’ll just magically figure out how to get the ticket without any preparation by simply eating?”
“What’s the harm in that?”
“This is quite humiliating. To see my skills in front of you and still hear such lazy talk.”
Jezel’s eyes grew cold.
“If you’re that confident, how about we make a bet?”
“What bet?”
“You received 32 dishes through meal vouchers. If you manage to obtain tickets in a surprising way that I find acceptable while eating three types of these dishes a day over 11 days, I’ll give you the meal vouchers for free.”
“Huh…?”
“But if I win, you’ll give me 100 gold coins and buy one silver ticket from me. Either way, you’ll obtain the ticket, and I’ll save my pride in the bet.”
Jezel raised her chin arrogantly.
“If you’re not confident, you should surrender and hand over the ticket… the ticket…”
drip drip drip
Seeing myself drooling over the idea of free food, Jezel was at a loss for words.
“Young lady, no matter how delicious it may seem, showing drool like that isn’t a desirable sight for outsiders. Please be cautious.”
“But they’re giving it to me for free!”
“Hah. What amazing confidence. It’s clear I don’t even need to ask if you’ll accept the bet.”
Thus, the ticket exam battle between Jezel and me began.
*
It was now the fifth day of staying at the inn. The merchant Jezel watched closely, expecting her to find a new way to earn the ticket.
He thought to himself, ‘Should I report her for child abuse or something?’
He knew nobles had strict educations. They lived in a different world than commoners. Even so, there’s a limit to that.
“This dish has a taste that wraps around my tongue at the end and leaves a pleasant aftertaste—just perfect,” the girl said, smiling contently after eating the rare dish.
The clanging of the fork and spoon she left on the table echoed in a heavy sound. It was not just the cutlery that rang.
After finishing her meal, she practiced a fearsome training, going back and forth between her widely spread fingers and stabbing with her fork under the name of agility training.
If she missed, one finger could very well get chopped off—a ridiculous training.
Yet that was one of the easier trainings.
“Your specs wouldn’t benefit from normal running anymore, young lady. So we need to practice evasive maneuvers while running to avoid attacks.”
“Okay!”
“I’ll tell you where to target before the attack. If you’re late in evading, you won’t suffer from a severed limb, but you’ll definitely get hurt so keep your guard up.”
Even though he spoke respectfully to the young lady, he was still a butler who was willing to stab.
ssshhhh
He tested the poison that would make an ant thrash in agony before dying with just one drop. Satisfied, he nodded and spread the concoction on the lady’s candy.
Obliviously, the young lady gobbled it up with delight, hugging the hem of her skirt.
‘This goes beyond child abuse—a level of hired murder.’
What kind of backstory led to her being threatened by a butler and a maid on a daily basis?
Jezel had someone investigate.
“The refreshing taste of strawberry bingsu clears my head and feels invigorating. And the lingering sweetness is the best!”
“The chopped ingredients and curry’s harmony is fantastic! A perfect 10 out of 10!”
Totally oblivious, the young lady continued with her simple comments like a culinary critic.
For several days, I looked at this scene with a complicated gaze.
“Is she just planning to buy a ticket with 100 coins?”
“If I had known this would happen, I should have bet on the original outcome.”
“Damn it, just be honest. You guys are acting and tricking us out of our pocket money, aren’t you?”
The long-term guests who had bet on the outcome of the two’s match became upset.
When the young lady flinched from the loud voices, the butler’s eyes sparkled with menace.
He walked with a clenched fist, making a thud sound.
“Watch your mouth. Do you think merchant Jezel would be so blinded by your pocket money that she’d even rig a match for a private bet she’s not even overseeing?”
Before he could act, Jezel shouted first.
The long-term guests who had witnessed his skills couldn’t dare speak loudly towards her.
“Get out of my inn right now. If you don’t, you’ll pay the price for irritating my eyes.”
Tickets are valuable items.
There’s no way he showed up here unprepared after scheming to obtain several of them.
A few mercenaries hired by Jezel placed their hands on their weapons at a nearby table and glared at the guests.
“Ugh…!”
“Just you wait.”
“Such an unlucky bunch.”
The discontented remarks came as the long-term guests left.
One mercenary, irritated by their boastful behavior, drew his sword.
swish
The chilling sound of the sword startled the guests, causing them to flee in panic.
Some didn’t even get to request a refund for their remaining lodging fees and simply ran away.
“Haha. Cowardly brats.”
“Now this is a disgrace to adventurers.”
When the mercenaries turned their heads to scan the room, those who were laughing at the fleeing guests flinched and avoided eye contact.
Unlike adventurers who take on all sorts of trivial jobs, mercenaries are professionals when it comes to combat.
Even mercenaries on guard duty would automatically be judged to be at a higher level than adventurers.
“Come here, little lady.”
The girl peeked at her butler.
When he nodded, the girl dashed over.
“I’m not someone who makes bets with just anyone.”
“Did you feel disappointed because I underestimated you?”
Jezel shook her head.
Instead, her cheerful attitude and demeanor annoyed him.
It wasn’t about her bold character.
It was concerning how a young girl, having experienced challenging trials and a difficult life, could perceive this trivial trouble as a major issue.
His disdain for the butler, the maid, and that mysterious duo who had pushed her this far added to his concern.
“Young lady, I have seen just how intensely you’ve been living your life these last few days. I’m not disappointed, and there’s no way I’d be disappointed over a trivial bet.”
Disappointment was far removed from what he felt.
What he felt now was worry.
“If you ever find yourself without a place to go, feel free to say my name to any merchant in any city. I’ll at least take care of your means of making a living.”
“Are you scouting me right now?”
Jezel acknowledged the butler and maid guarding their table with a blank expression.
“If you’re as talented or bold as the young lady seems, you might become a rare figure even in this industry. That was all I was thinking.”
“Heh… I’ve never heard such words before.”
The girl was genuinely impressed.
The butler spoke softly, as if to advise caution.
“The young lady is set to enroll in the academy. I appreciate your suggestion, but she will never become a merchant.”
“That’s what I think too.”
“…I didn’t say it with high expectations. Just remember this for now. Life doesn’t always unfold as planned.”
The girl tilted her head, bit her lip, and then smiled like a mischievous boy.
“I’ll remember that.”
She thought about convincing him once more, but soon dropped the idea.
Those child abusers wouldn’t let her go that easily.
For now, this would do.
When difficulties arrive someday…
Just knowing that an adult would stand by her side would be a great help for that young lady, I thought.
*
A few more days passed.
Now that a week had gone by since the ticket exam began, the examinees started returning one by one from their departures.
“I’ve come to deliver the ingredients!”
“Too bad, those have already been submitted.”
“What, what did you say?!”
Of course, most of the shabby ingredients got caught in the deadline established by Jezel’s early submissions.
“Owner, please give me just one chance. If I go out now, I won’t have the lodging costs!”
“Our inn doesn’t accept credit. Will you leave on your own or suffer some hardship?”
“This year’s a bust. I’ll leave on my own….”
The innkeeper was someone related to the examiner.
Defying his orders could mean losing qualification for next year’s exam, a much greater loss.
“Ahahaha! Little rat, are you still here?”
In the midst of ingredient delivery failures, the Monkey Humanoid had struck big.
THUD!
A large bag filled with the sap of the prickly vine monster.
After the innkeeper opened it to check the aroma and taste, he nodded with satisfaction.
“You brought the right stuff.”
The senior examiner Michael pulled out a gold ticket that shimmered with a golden glow from his chest.
“It’s a gold ticket.”
“If I passed, then I don’t have to worry about the examiner now, right? So, how about a round?”
“That could serve as a proper post-meal exercise.”
After they devoured plates of rare dishes made from the ingredients brought, they went out to the inn’s backyard.
THUD!!
A heavy sound and a few shouts were heard, and Michael, wearing a bored expression as always, walked back in and immediately headed upstairs.
On the other hand, the Monkey Humanoid didn’t return until an hour later, limping on one foot.
Of course, it was expected.
If he fought the senior examiner, surviving was already impressive.
While groaning, the Humanoid caught my scent and sniffed.
“You lazy one. Haven’t you left yet?”
“There’s no need to.”
“How dull.”
He left the inn without any hesitations, signaling that his business was done.
However, Jezel’s gaze towards me was filled with strange admiration.
She had seen what bold thing I had done while the Monkey Humanoid was busy dueling the examiner.
“Was that the opportunity you were waiting for, little lady?”
“Correct.”
The menu I’d usually carried up to the second floor for examiners was left unattended while he dueled with the Monkey Humanoid.
I had opened the menu and written down the
The strategy for a veteran player that transcends luck—a special menu that forcibly generates the mission I desire.
