What Changed in Pond, and What Didn’t – Part 04

“Ouch! Ugh, Unken really doesn’t hold back.”

“A-Are you all right, Lord Hikaru? Should I use healing magic on you?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just muscle pain… and honestly, I think it’s necessary.”

Hikaru groaned as he sat up in his bed at a hotel in Pond the next morning, his muscles aching. The day before, while he was enjoying tea with Freya, Unken had barged in, handed him an updated guild card, and casually remarked that he had become rusty. Before Hikaru could say anything, he was dragged to the guild’s training grounds for a grueling session.

Thanks to that unexpected detour, his plan to return to the royal capital that morning was delayed by a day.

“By the way, what were you up to?” Hikaru asked.

“I visited several churches,” Paula replied. “They were clean and filled with worshippers. Apparently, Ballast Trading volunteered to handle the cleaning and repairs.”

“Huh, really.”

The previous chairman of the Ballast Trading Company, Doma Ballast, had once been on the verge of death from lung disease, refusing healing magic. However, after witnessing a heated quarrel between his sons, Samal and Edward, he became so enraged that he stopped their fight. Paula’s magic ultimately cured him, and since then, Doma had been rebuilding his trading empire. Perhaps that lifechanging moment had awakened a sense of faith in him.

“So, do you have plans today, Lord Hikaru?”

“Yeah. I actually need your help with something.”

“What is it? If there’s anything I can do, I’d be happy to help!”

Paula leaned forward eagerly, her eyes sparkling. She loved it when Hikaru asked for her help.

Hikaru chuckled dryly. “Let’s talk somewhere more private.”

The two arrived at the hotel reception. The hotel was a simple, no-frills establishment with small, functional rooms. Hikaru had often stayed here during his early days as an adventurer. As he checked out, the feline receptionist at the front desk recognized him. She gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. It brought back a memory of when she’d teased him once, whispering that he could invite her to his room.

“It’s not like that, okay? I even booked two rooms,” Hikaru clarified.

“Oh, I see,” she replied coyly.

“And what exactly do you see?”

“Don’t worry. Discretion is part of the job for hotel staff.”

“She’s totally got the wrong idea,” Hikaru muttered under his breath.

Explaining further would only make it worse, so he resigned himself and left the hotel with Paula in tow.

As they stepped outside, Hikaru felt a sharp, piercing stare.

This must be it… what Unken was talking about yesterday. “Feel the gaze,” Unken had said.

Unken had seen through Hikaru’s overreliance on Detection. He didn’t know about the Soul Board, of course. He just assumed Hikaru used some sort of Skill or tool.

The old guildmaster had told him to learn to sense when he was being watched. At the time, Hikaru didn’t understand, but now he did. Both his Life Detection and Mana Detection were currently turned off, and only his Instinct was working. Though Instinct was vague and difficult to control, such an intense gaze was impossible to miss.

Who could be staring at him with such intensity? Hikaru turned toward the source. Across the street, right in front of a food stall, stood a man in short sleeves despite the chilly weather, his arms crossed.

“Master. Would you mind having some of my hot dog?”

“I-It’s you! Yeah, you were glaring at me like that back then too,” Hikaru blurted out. “Uh, I mean, it’s good to see you’re doing well.”

The vendor at the stall handed Hikaru a hot dog, freshly assembled. Steam curled from the grilled sausage nestled in a toasted bun. The contrast of red ketchup and yellow mustard was visually striking, and the finely-chopped onions and pickles added a wonderful finish.

Hikaru swallowed. He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, and the aroma was irresistible. The butter on the bun, hidden beneath the sauce and sausage, added a layer of delightful fragrance.

“How much do I owe you?”

“I can’t charge my master.”

I’m not your master. And since when did you start giving off this enlightened guru vibe? You were way blunter when we first met.

As Hikaru mulled over this change in demeanor, Paula, standing nearby, chimed in with a word of admiration, her eyes practically sparkling with reverence.

The hot dog Hikaru received was almost too hot to handle. As he took a big bite, the sausage’s casing popped, releasing a burst of juices. The tangy sauce and crunchy vegetables added surprising layers of flavor, and the contrast between the soft bun, juicy sausage, and crisp toppings was delightful. He swallowed his first bite and immediately went in for another.

Munch, munch, munch. Hikaru devoured the hot dog with laser focus.

“I-Is it really that good?” Paula wondered. “I can’t believe the Lord Hikaru would be so engrossed in food.”

What do you mean by that? Hikaru thought. Sure, he was a bit particular about food, but only because most dishes in this world lacked any real seasoning.

“Me too? Thank you so much!”

As Paula eagerly took the hot dog the vendor handed her, the man said, “That’ll be 30 gilans.”

“Wait… what?”

“The price is 30 gilans,” he repeated flatly.

Apparently, Paula didn’t qualify for the master discount. Flustered, she fished out 30 gilans and handed it over.

The vendor glanced at Paula, who was happily devouring her hot dog, before turning to Hikaru. “So, Master, how’s the taste?”

“It’s excellent,” Hikaru said. “It’s even better than before. Honestly, there’s nothing left to say about it.”

The vendor’s face lit up, his eyes welling with tears.

“When it comes to hot dogs, at least,” Hikaru added.

“What?” The vendors tears instantly dried up. “Wh-What do you mean?”

“The hot dog is perfect. But is this all you’re planning to sell?”

“That’s right. I’ve decided to dedicate my life to perfecting hot dogs.”

“Do you think this hot dog will taste just as good anywhere on the continent?”

“Of course! Even you admit it’s delicious.”

Hikaru let out a long sigh. “I was surprised to learn you opened a store and even expanded to the capital, but I think that’s as far as you’ll go.”

“Wh-What? I-I’m not doing this for money. I just want to make great hot dogs! The branch in the capital wasn’t even my idea. Someone wanted to open it, and I gave them my permission. I’ve stayed here, at this cart, making hot dogs the whole time. The store and branch are being handled by other people.”

“You’re being negligent. You’re letting other people manage the product you’ve worked so hard to perfect. What happens if they cut corners or ruin your reputation? Worse, what if there’s a food poisoning incident? Are you okay with that?”

“Ugh.”

“My advice? Find a trustworthy partner. Or, if all you care about is the joy of making hot dogs, just drop the branches altogether.”

The vendor went from brimming with enthusiasm just moments ago to utterly deflated. Hikaru couldn’t help but pity the man.

“Let me give you a tip about flavor,” Hikaru said with a small sigh.

“Hm?”

“This hot dog is perfect as it is. But its perfection is limited to those who can properly assess its flavor, or those who share our standards. For instance, there are people who grew up in regions that use unique spices, or those who can’t eat meat due to religious reasons.”

“I see. Other regions might not like it.”

“That’s not all. Environment matters too. Climate affects whether this hot dog can even be served. You’d struggle in heavy rain, for instance. In dry or humid climates, the ideal hot dog might need adjustments. To truly succeed, you’ll have to adapt your recipe to suit each environment.”

“I… I see.”

“There’s more.”

“Really?!”

“Yes, really. This hot dog is perfect, sure, but only the hot dog.”

“Huh? Isn’t that enough?”

“It’s not. Dining is a much more complex experience. Think about fine liquor. It shines best when paired with the right snack.”

The vendor smacked his palm with his fist. “Side dishes! And drinks!”

“Exactly. It might be tough to manage from a stall, but in a proper establishment, it’s doable.”

“But… I’m not sure I can expand that far.”

“Not even for the sake of hot dogs?”

The man’s breath caught in his throat.

“Elevating the humble hot dog into something more than just a hot dog. Now that’s a dream worth chasing.”

The vendor froze in shock, like he’d been struck by lightning.

“Oh, and I’ll pay for the hot dog,” Hikaru added. “Good food deserves proper compensation. Honestly, 30 gilans is way too cheap for this.”

Also, I’m not your master.

Swallowing that last thought, Hikaru pressed 30 gilans into the vendor’s hand. With Paula, who had just finished her hot dog, he walked away from the stall, leaving the vendor in stunned silence.

“Lord Hikaru, to be honest, I didn’t understand a word you said,” Paula admitted.

“Don’t worry about it. Neither did I.”

“What?”