# 198


    Chapter.40 Cooking Competition


    ***


    Maa Grand Festival in the Arin region.


    This festival is a huge event to show off, eat and show off Maa cuisine, a specialty of the Arin region.


    Therefore, most of the Maa cuisine restaurants in this region participate.


    Thergest restaurant among them was the main branch of Merly, owned by Leain Trading Company, the counterpart of Ricent.


    If you win the festival, you will be given the honor of being the winning store for one year. Even if youe in second or third ce, people will flock to that.


    Rankings are based purely on sales, but there was a special event in the meantime.


    A cookingpetition event in which all participating stores participate in the afternoon of the first day.


    If you win here, sales are bound to increase. It is natural for people to flock together. In other words, that event can ultimately be said to be the main event of the festival.


    Since not many people participate in cookingpetitions, it seemed like it was set up like a festival.


    Anyway, I heard that it is the biggest festival and event in the region, so it is held during the city’s holiday season and most citizens participate.


    Therefore, the location of the store also seemed important.


    In the case of stores that have achieved ambiguous results in cookingpetitions, sales among such stores are determined through this position selection.


    Since the stores are lined up from the entrance to the beginning, rtively few peoplee to the end area and sales are ridiculously low.


    With two days left before thepetition, Licent and I were at something like a preliminary meeting. The drawing for seats is tomorrow.


    “There are indeed many participating stores.”


    “I heard that they are putting a lot of effort into selecting a position because even if they show only mid-level grades, they will receive a grant. “This is the analysis memo!”


    Licent took out a notepad with something written all over it from his pocket. The will to win is amazing.


    Is there a need?


    And at that time, the two people in front must have seen Licent jumping up with the note and came up with frowns on their faces.


    “Licent. “I don’t think you are in a position to participate here, but I heard that sales at the branch havepletely copsed.”


    “Don’t you know what it means to know your subject? Are you finally crazy?”


    A man and a woman who appear to be slightly older than Licent spit out a line that seems like an advertisement: ‘I am the enemy.’


    Licent’s eyebrows twitched, but he tried to feignposure and answered them with a nonchnt expression.


    “I’m not crazy. “Brother and older sister!”


    “Are these people your brother and sister?”


    While rolling his eyes, I asked a question in his ear, and Licent quietly nodded. Eyes still staring at them.


    “yes. “They are the so-called loyal siblings who have been recognized and raised since childhood.”


    “Ah, I see.”


    “Recent! Pure! “Why are you mumbling something about someone else from above?”


    Are you saying it’s someone else?


    In an instant, I became a different person. It’s not even funny. Of course, it’s tiring to deal with these minnows one by one.


    Just looking at him, he doesn’t have any personality at all.


    He is a viin who makes you want to help Rescent.


    “Besides, who said you can call me sister?”


    Ppaaeak! It’s a long distance.


    This line is so typical of a viin that it almost makes me yawn.


    Of course, Rent is not a character who just suffers. He smiled brightly and began to calmly and clearly exin his position to the two people.


    “sorry. Vice President. “But the CEO has already told you to participate, so if you say you can’te here, does that mean you can disobey that?”


    “Oh, I opened my eyes and was shocked… !”


    The author named Unni started to glow.


    Licent did not give up and took a step closer.


    “I asked if it was okay to rebel. Shall I go and talk to the CEO?”


    “what? “This is really it!”


    Sigh-!


    A little girl called Unni, who didn’t like the fact that she was attacking Ricent and pped her in the face. The guy called Onii-chan looks at this with a relieved expression on his face.


    There is no such thing as no answer.


    “I have nothing to say because my father told me to participate, but you are inst ce anyway. “I’m packing up and getting ready to go!”


    The two of them cedst before they even started, then turned around and disappeared.


    “sorry. “Because it looks funny.”


    “Are your cheeks okay?”


    “Yes, this is nothing.”


    “They are spoiled people. Moreover, he went so far as to dere that he would interfere… .”


    “that’s right. I expected it anyway! Actually, it’s true that I have a lot of concerns about that part… .”


    “Don’t worry. it’s okay.”


    “yes?”


    “Because interference is meant to be destroyed. Just destroy it. If you destroy it.”


    “I don’t think it would be that simple… . When I analyze it, I always get a good position at the Leain Chamber of Commerce every year. Especially Merly’s main branch, always!”


    “Well, where there’s money, there’s a ce, so it’s only natural. That’s not what I’m aiming for. “Let’s take a look around and talk first.”


    I shrugged and moved to the center of the square. A festival is held in this square. With Licent, who followed, he pointed to the best spot.


    “So, the seats starting from that entrance are famous ces?”


    “yes. that’s right. “From there, you start to get full, so at least no onees to thest seat.”


    “That’s fun.”


    “What’s so funny!” I’m talking seriously! “You can never pick thest digit!”


    Licent started running wild, but I stayed calm. Actually, I’m intentionally thinking of starting from the end.


    Stores that focus on position are aiming for middle rankings, and anyway, to get first ce, you have to win the cooking event.


    That means that if you win the cookingpetition, your ce is meaningless. Stores that are not confident of winning first ce in a cookingpetition are focusing on their position.


    Or maybe it’s the Leain Trading Company that wants to monopolize both.


    “are you okay. are you okay.”


    “It’s not okay. “I think we should do well in tomorrow’s draw.”


    “Now that I think about it, what happens if I can’t participate in the lottery?”


    “Then it will automatically end. “Because you are assigned a seat that no one has chosen.”


    “Oh yeah? “So the disruption will start today?”


    “yes? “What is that?”


    They must have at least had a hand in the lottery. And to Licent.


    When you say it’s obvious even without looking, isn’t this what you’re referring to?


    “Don’t worry too much about the lottery. “Even if you’re inst ce, you just have to win the cookingpetition.”


    “That’s true, but… Because it’s obvious that I’ll get in the way… .”


    “I thought you just said you would destroy anything that gets in the way? “Even though I know that, I n to help you since you asked me to help you.”


    “yes? “How on earth do you destroy it?”


    “It’s simple. Since you have decided to ovee all obstacles and take charge of the cooking, all you have to do is win the cookingpetition at any cost. Hehehe. Your father said that there are manypetitive elements in festival fights. It’s clear that they’re trying to see how they can ovee the obstacles moving behind them, but to me, that’s useless. If you win, that’s enough. “If I win.”


    “The judges must have been bribed too!”


    “I told you. I’m going to win. Don’t make me say it twice. If you can’t win, you’re responsible. I will tell you the shabu-shabu recipe from Visera Restaurant and introduce you to the current Merli branch. Of course, that won’t happen. “I have to return the favor to Visera Restaurant.”


    “… that… ! “I don’t know if I’ll get another chance or not, so how can I be so confident?”


    “Even if you bribe the judges, you just have to make it taste so good that they can’t possibly give a wrong evaluation. And a little bit of trickery.”


    “… … .”


    “Don’t make that face, just believe me. “Blessed is he who believes.”


    “I believe it, but… Disturbances… .”


    Without responding, we headed back towards the eastern branch of Merli, that is, our current hideout.


    “Obviously the food was delicious, but still… Wait a minute! Let’s go together! “Aaaah!”


    “huh?”


    I turned around because I heard a scream, and sure enough, it was different.


    While running, I fell and my nose was bleeding. I can’t stop you.


    I really can’t stop you.


    “I heard your nose isn’t broken?”


    “You can be resistant to falls and lessen the impact! Ho ho ho! Oh no, it’s not tolerance! “I’m just agile to begin with!”


    “Don’t be stupid and block your nose. “There’s so much blood.”


    I tore a handkerchief and covered Licent’s nose.


    “There is no blood on this!”


    “What’s not necessary is stopping the bleeding. “Hemostasis.”


    “Still, I tripped on a material and fell, so it was a good savepared to when I fell even though there was nothing.”


    “Nope!”


    It’s not scary at all if you cover your nose and shout loudly.


    ***


    “That insolent thing!”


    “Iknow, right. I’m not even sure if she’s her father’s daughter or not, but she may have slept with another man! Have you ever seen someone with an unknown origin talking back to you without even knowing the topic? “I’m shocked!”


    Licent’s step-sister, Leain Seren, said with a huff.


    “okay. “I really couldn’t see it.”


    Licent’s step-brother, Leain Deren, nodded in agreement.


    His eyebrows are trembling with a lot of difort.


    “Yes?”


    “How dare you get involved in a battle for session? “Even I am giving in to my brother!”


    “That’s right. If you don’t know the topic, you have no choice but to step on it. But that’s because sales at the Merly branch have increased significantly recently… “I think that’s why my father gave me a chance.”


    “I need to step on it thoroughly. “I want you to never be rude to me again.”


    “Hoo, did they use some trick?”


    “Your brother. They told me to break my leg so I don’t have toe to the lottery tomorrow. “And I ordered you to lock me up for a day, so I won’t be able to let you out anymore.”


    “Is that so? Hehe, but you don’t have to, I’ve already taken care of it. Even if you participate, you will be inst ce.”


    “The judges and the lottery itself were likest year… ?”


    “of course.”


    “Hmm, then I wasted money for no reason. Should I ask you toe back?”


    “No. It’s better to keep your wits about you, so use your hands well. It would be fun to start at the end and watch them make miserable faces. “By limping!”


    “That’s nice. Brother. Oh ho ho!”


    ***


    This is true.


    I thought it was typical even if it wasn’t, but maybe the longer it goes on, the more I can’t help but fall into a routine.


    If it’s baduk, the game is already over. Can it be a game if we just shake hands like this?


    A group of people gathered in front of Merli. Just looking at them, I could tell they were the ones sent earlier to take care of Licent and me.


    They look fine, but they are not healthy. As soon as they see us, they approach us and start messing with us.


    This is also so routine that it just makes you sigh. But why do they have such neat faces? If you’re going to send a gangster, didn’t you have to send some tough guys to make them scared?


    “All of you!”


    Licent stutters while looking at the guys walking towards him. It was just then. A voice came from behind me.


    You woke up at the right time, didn’t you?


    “Hmm? Ugh? you… ? Why are you outside? “Where have we been?”


    “Iknow, right. Are you awake now?”


    “Why am I on your back? “It doesn’t matter because it’s nice to be carried on your back.”


    Is that so?


    Yes, I kept carrying Rurin on my back as I went to the square where the festival was held.


    Since he was still sleeping, I carried him on my back.


    I’m leaving it at Rare and going to the city of Great Lake. Lurin doesn’t say anything like that. In fact, it’s so bad that I can’t even wake up.


    However, if I left it alone in an unfamiliar ce like this, there was a high chance that it would be upset for a day or two, so I had no choice but to carry it on my back.


    “I didn’t get up and carried him on my back. “Have you finally woken up?”