Chapter 189: The Bear Hangs on for Misa

Chapter 189:
The Bear Hangs on for Misa

 

“LORD GRAN, we have a problem!” Meishun was pale.

“What happened?!”

“The head chef Botts has been injured. He was attacked.”

The two were speechless.

“What’s his condition? Is he okay?” asked Gran.

“He’s being treated right now.”

“Where is he? Lead the way.”

Gran headed out of the room, leaving Cliff and me behind.

“So that’s what they’ve resorted to,” Cliff muttered softly.

“What do you mean?”

“You remember what I said earlier? Gran was going to use his birthday party to woo influential people to his

side. The chef responsible for making the food for that party is injured. Now he can’t cook. Gran’s reputation will plummet if he has to cancel the party.”

“Can’t you just get another chef?”

“Botts was the associate head chef at a top-notch restaurant in the capital. It won’t be easy, finding a replacement. If the guests don’t approve of the food, the Fahrengram family’s reputation will suffer, and no one will lend him their backing.”

Here I was just thinking about it as food, but I guess it was important in terms of hospitality. People negotiated over food, after all. Politicians talked in expensive restaurants; corporations wined and dined people…

I guess people who came in expecting a conversation over a fine meal would be upset if they ended up being served the equivalent of instant ramen. Not that it’d be that extreme, but I knew what Cliff was trying to say.

A good meal wasn’t just part of the entertainment. No, a good meal can be a way to the heart. Serving something lackluster would ruin people’s mood, which would dampen any discussions.

“You think this was the Salbard family’s doing?”

“No mistaking it,” said Cliff, his hand on his chin. “Should we look for a new chef? Where would we find one? In this town? We could certainly get one from Crimonia, but would there be enough time?”

Morin and Anz wouldn’t be suited for these kinds of meals. No matter how delicious it might be, their food was more or less home cooking. They couldn’t prepare fine cuisine for a party with nobles. Of course, I couldn’t make party food, either. The most I could make was party cake.

“Yuna, maybe your bears...sorry,” said Cliff, apologizing before he even finished his thought. “Never mind.” I knew what he wanted to say: he wanted to use my bears to fetch a chef. It looked like we were both on the same page about that.

If there was a chef in Crimonia, I could probably make the trip in a single day with my bears. But normal horses and carriages took time. And even if we started the search now, it’d still be cutting it close, considering we’d have to prep the food as well.

As we thought about all that, Gran returned.

“Gran. How was he?” asked Cliff.

“His life is not in danger, but his arms were badly injured. He’s in no condition to cook right now.”

“Then the food for the party...”

“He can’t cook it,” said Gran. He shook his head and sat down.

Cliff went silent. A dark atmosphere hung over the two. “Where did they attack him?”

“They found him while he was returning home after scouting out ingredients for the party. It happened on a deserted street, it seems.”

“And the culprit?”

“Unknown. I’m having my men look for any eyewitnesses, but it happened in an area where few people go. We’re not even sure if there are eyewitnesses, and getting one of them to come forward is going to be another problem.”

“So you think it’s the Salbards?”

“Most likely,” said Gran immediately. “There’s no other reason why he’d be attacked.”

“In that case, Gran, what will you do?”

“Even if we can’t find someone as good as Botts, we have to find a chef. We can’t call off the party, and we can’t host the party without food.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

Gran shook his head. “The people of this town are afraid of Salbard. No one will help us. It’s likely they’ve all already been bought by him.”

“In that case we can bring someone from Crimonia,” said Cliff.

I guess it was my time to shine. “I can bring them. It’ll be quick with Kumayuru and Kumakyu.”

“No, you should stay with Noa and the others. I’ll send one of my own. We should make it if we send a fast horse. Is that okay with you as well, Gran?”

“Cliff…I am sorry for putting this upon you.”

“This isn’t unrelated to Crimonia. I would have a problem on my hands if you were no longer a feudal lord here. Gran, this is the least I could do.” With that, Cliff stood up and left the room.

“I must also do what I can.” Gran sat down at his official desk and started working.

Cliff had given me a job, too, so I headed back to my room. When I got back in, Fina and the others had glum looks on their faces.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Um, Botts was apparently attacked.”

“You guys already found out?”

“Uh-huh, we heard the maids talking. And there was such a big commotion...”

Things were pretty busy in the residence, after all. I guess it would’ve been weirder if they hadn’t noticed something was up.

“Yuna, do you know anything about it?” Fina asked.

“All I know is that he was attacked. Oh, and that Botts isn’t in any life-threatening danger or anything.”

“Thank goodness.” Misa visibly relaxed.

“But since his arms were hurt, he can’t cook for a while.” They were going to find out sooner or later, so I figured I might as well tell them.

“What about the food for the party?”

“They’re bringing in a chef from Crimonia.”

Misa seemed relieved that the party would continue, but she still looked pale. Exhausted and clearly worried about Botts, she went back to her own room to rest. Worried about Misa herself, Noa went back with her.

“Do you think Lady Misa will be okay?” Fina asked.

Making fun of Randle must’ve been the reason they attacked the chef. Misa looked even gloomier after she heard the chef had been injured. She was trying to keep positive, but it was obvious she was putting on a brave face.

“It’s okay,” I told Fina. “Noa’s with her.”

Noa was spending the night with Misa to keep her company, so she’d be fine even if she was gloomy.

 

Fina and I were left alone in the room, and Fina was starting to look anxious. I figured this was a job for cute bear cubs, so I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu for her. Fina sat on the bed and hugged the cubified Kumayuru, while I held and patted Kumakyu’s head.

“Yuna, do you think things will be okay?”

“Cliff and Gran will take care of it.” Things didn’t look good, but I had to calm her down somehow.

“Yeah, you’re right. Lord Cliff’s definitely going to do something.”

“Once Gran’s birthday party is a success, Misa will have her birthday party. We have to make sure it’s a great celebration.”

“Uh-huh. I want to give her the presents soon. Do you think Lady Misa will like them?”

“We worked really hard to make them, so I’m sure it’ll go well. She’ll love them.”

Fina yawned slightly; she looked about ready to turn in. I was just about to switch off the lights so we could get to sleep when there was a knock at the door. I looked at Kumayuru and Kumakyu just in case, but there was no sign of danger—the bears were yawning, in fact. Maybe it was Noa and Misa at the door?

“Who is it?”

“It’s me. Do you have a moment?” It sounded like Cliff. I opened the door and there he was, exhausted. He came in, and I poured some water into a cup for him. Cliff drained the water in one gulp.

“All right, Cliff, what’s going on?”

“I have a favor to ask. You’re the only one I can go to for it.”

Whew, boy. “Yeah?”

“I sent my guard, Rabon, to Crimonia, and…he encountered a hail of arrows on his ride out. Rabon is safe. The horse, though…” Cliff let the silence speak volumes. “At any rate, Rabon couldn’t get to Crimonia. He just came back.”

I was glad that Rabon was safe, but shooting arrows at a galloping horse was way more dangerous than I would’ve expected. “You think he was ambushed?”

“Yes. I think they may have been tailing him; he was attacked not far from town. That might’ve been what saved him. If they had attacked when he was further from town, he might not have made it back.”

Even though he fell off his horse, he wasn’t badly injured. He was lucky on his way back to town and a carriage had picked him up, so he’d gotten back here a lot quicker than he would’ve.

“I didn’t want to get you caught up in a dispute between the nobility,” he said, “but we’re running out of options. The Fahrengram family is facing ruin. I won’t allow them to meet it. Gran has done much for me since my youth, so I want to help him. I’d like to ask for your help too.” Cliff bowed his head slightly.

Cliff was a noble. In the manga and novels I knew, nobles didn’t just lower their heads for commoners. Was he really that desperate?

“Yeah, sure. I just gotta bring you a chef, right? I’m kind of annoyed at these nobles too. Plus, I’d feel bad for Misa if Gran lost his household. I’ll make that kid regret picking a fight with me.”

Heh. I still hadn’t forgotten that stupid noble calling me a pet and laughing at me.

“Oh? Do you have a chef in mind, then?” Cliff asked.

“I do. And one nobody could complain about either.” I just so happened to be acquainted with a chef in the palace.

“Who would that be?”

“It’s a secret.”

“I can trust you to do this for me, then?”

“Well…you are kinda putting me on the spot, but I’ve got a favor I can cash in, so I think it’ll work out.” A favor from the king, as a matter of fact. Even if I couldn’t get Zelef himself, I could just borrow a chef who worked at the palace. “Okay, I’ll head out now.”

“At this second?”

The capital was farther away than Crimonia. If I didn’t leave soon, somebody might suspect something. “Better now than later. Could you let Noa and the others know?”

“I shall.”

“She should be safe as long as she stays indoors, but if you could watch over Fina too…?”

“Yes, I will keep a close eye on her.”

“In that case, I’m going to change, so could you leave the room? I’ll head out sometime after that, so don’t worry about me.”

“In that case, I’ll leave it to you.” Cliff didn’t seem suspicious of what I said at all, leaving the room without another word.

“Yuna, are you leaving now?” Fina asked, already sounding lonely. She was holding Kumayuru.

“Hmm? I’m not leaving,” I told her.

“Huh?” Fina looked surprised.

“Well, I have my bear transport gate. Even if I go now, it’s night. I might as well just head out early in the morning instead. It won’t make a huge difference either way.”

I told Cliff I was going right away so he thought I traveled on bearback. In actuality, I just teleported over instantly with my bear gates.

“O-okay. I guess so, but are you sure you should?” Fina tilted her head to the side.

“It’s fine. It’s already late, so let’s rest. Get ready, I’m turning off the lights.” I pushed Fina into bed and crawled into my own. “Oh, right—Kumayuru, Kumakyu, please get me up early tomorrow.”

They crooned in reply. I grabbed the bear next to me, Kumakyu, and fell asleep.