Morning at The Lazy Bear Tavern was supposed to be peaceful.
But of course, that was never going to happen.
The line outside stretched through the village. Adventurers, merchants, and even scholars from the capital had gathered—all demanding to try the legendary food.
Anna, carrying a tray, looked half-dead.
Cedric, Ryo’s self-proclaimed disciple, was writing down orders like a man possessed.
The Guild Master, Garreth, now a regular, was cooking eggs in the back as part of his “apprenticeship.”
And Ryo?
Ryo was ignoring everything.
“…Mmm. This tea is nice.”
Anna snapped.
“YOUNG MASTER, THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!”
But before she could continue, the door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
And instantly—the entire tavern fell silent.
She wore a dark cloak over a sleek, well-fitted outfit—something between a noble’s traveling attire and an assassin’s garb. A thin silver mask covered the lower half of her face, leaving only her piercing violet eyes visible.
The air around her felt… dangerous.
The adventurers whispered.
“Who is she?”
“She’s armed. Look at the dagger at her waist.”
“No way… is she an assassin?”
Anna gulped.
Cedric, meanwhile, was taking notes. “Mysterious entrance… dangerous aura… classic ‘hidden identity’ trope… fascinating.”
The woman walked forward, her steps silent.
She reached the counter and, without hesitation, locked eyes with Ryo.
“Are you the chef?”
Ryo took another sip of his tea.
“Yep.”
A pause.
Then, the woman pulled out a gold coin.
“…One meal.”
Anna flinched. “U-Um, we have a menu, so if you’d like to—”
“No.” The woman tossed the coin onto the counter. “Make me your best dish.”
The tavern erupted.
“SHE’S TESTING HIM!”
“SHE LOOK LIKE A WARRIOR?”
“NO, SHE’S PROBABLY SENT BY THE KING!”
Anna grabbed her head.
“WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE SO DRAMATIC!?”
But Ryo, completely unfazed, simply stretched.
“Alright.”
And then, he got to work.
Ryo strolled into the kitchen, not rushing in the slightest.
He grabbed a fresh cut of meat, some herbs, a few vegetables, and a single egg.
Anna, still flustered, followed him. “W-What are you making?”
Ryo cracked the egg with one hand.
“Something simple.”
Then—
Ding!
[Skill Acquired: Perfect Breakfast → Proficiency Maxed!]
[Passive XP Growth Applied: Heavenly Cooking Activated!]
The moment Ryo flipped the pan, a golden aura radiated from the kitchen.
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The scent rushed out like a tidal wave.
The tavern froze.
A single adventurer collapsed.
“S-Such an aroma…! I feel like my soul is being purified…!”
Cedric, crying, wrote frantically in his notebook.
Anna?
Anna had stopped questioning reality.
After a few minutes, Ryo plated the dish and brought it to the woman.
A perfectly cooked steak, topped with a lightly fried egg, served with golden-brown toast and a side of lightly roasted vegetables.
Simple.
Yet—somehow divine.
The woman stared at the plate.
Then, without a word, she picked up the fork and took a bite.
The moment the food touched her tongue—
Her body froze.
Her eyes widened.
The fork slipped from her fingers.
And then—
“—?!?”
She suddenly stood up, clutching the table.
The tavern gasped.
“She’s panicking!?”
“WHAT KIND OF REACTION IS THAT!?”
“WAIT, DOES SHE KNOW SOMETHING!?”
Anna pointed in shock. “Y-YOUNG MASTER, WHAT DID YOU DO!?”
Ryo blinked.
“…I just made breakfast.”
The woman staggered back, her breathing unsteady.
Her violet eyes trembled.
“This… this taste… it’s impossible…”
The room hung on her every word.
Then, without warning, she turned and rushed out of the tavern.
The door slammed shut.
Silence.
Then—
“WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?”
Anna grabbed Ryo. “Young Master, WHO WAS SHE!?”
Cedric furiously took notes. “The mysterious stranger… a hidden past… she recognizes his cooking… incredible.”
Ryo?
Ryo simply scratched his head.
“…She didn’t even finish her meal.”
The masked woman ran deep into the trees.
She finally stopped near a large oak, leaning against it for support.
Her hands were shaking.
Her mind raced.
That taste…
That cooking style…
It’s exactly the same as…
She clenched her fists.
No. He can’t be. He shouldn’t be alive.
Then—she took a deep breath.
“…I have to tell the others.”
she disappeared in the night.
Ryo yawned.
“Well, that was weird.”
Anna stared at him in pure disbelief.
“YOUNG MASTER, SHE CLEARLY KNEW SOMETHING!”
Ryo shrugged.
“What.”
Morning came too quickly at The Lazy Bear Tavern.
Anna was already running around, prepping the kitchen. Cedric was frantically writing down "Great Lessons from Master Ryo." Garreth, the Guild Master-turned-apprentice, was trying (and failing) to crack an egg properly.
And Ryo?
Ryo was sitting at the counter, half-asleep.
“…I need another nap.”
Anna slammed a tray down. “YOUNG MASTER, YOU JUST WOKE UP!”
Before Ryo could ignore reality again—
The tavern doors swung open.
A man in royal attire stepped inside, flanked by knights in golden armor. The crowd fell silent.
Anna froze.
Cedric dropped his notebook.
Garreth stopped cracking eggs.
Even the background adventurers stopped mid-drink.
Because the man standing before them was—
Grand Chancellor Victor Laurent.
The King’s closest advisor.
The Grand Chancellor’s gaze swept across the tavern before settling on Ryo.
“…So. You are the one who rejected His Majesty’s invitation.”
Ryo blinked.
“…Yeah.”
Gasps filled the room.
Anna started sweating.
Victor studied him for a moment, then pulled out a royal scroll.
“By decree of His Majesty, King Alden IV, you are once again summoned to the royal palace.”
Silence.
Then—
Ryo pushed the scroll aside.
“…Nah.”
The room exploded.
“HE REJECTED THE KING AGAIN!?!”
“DOES HE HAVE A DEATH WISH!?”
“NO, THIS IS CLEARLY A TEST OF COURAGE!”
Anna wanted to die.
Victor’s eye twitched.
“…You truly refuse?”
Ryo stretched. “Too much effort.”
Victor exhaled slowly.
“Then, I have no choice.”
He snapped his fingers.
And from the doorway—
A second figure stepped forward.
A woman.
Dressed in royal purple robes, with a silver mask resting on her hip.
Anna’s breath caught.
Cedric gasped. “It’s—!”
Ryo blinked.
“…Oh. You’re back.”
The mysterious woman from yesterday stared directly at Ryo.
Then, she spoke—
“…Brother.”
Anna screamed.
The tavern descended into chaos.
“WHAT!?”
“SHE CALLED HIM BROTHER!?”
“IS SHE A LOST PRINCESS!?”
Anna slammed her hands on the counter.
“Y-YOUNG MASTER… SHE’S YOUR SISTER!?”
Ryo… tilted his head.
“…I don’t think so?”
The woman exhaled. “Not by blood. But you are the only one who cooks exactly like him.”
The room froze.
“…Like who?” Anna whispered.
The woman took off her mask.
Revealing piercing violet eyes, sharp noble features, and a crest embroidered on her collar.
Victor cleared his throat.
“This is Princess Seraphina Alden. The first princess of Eldoria.”
Anna nearly passed out.
A PRINCESS!?
Seraphina’s eyes never left Ryo.
“My teacher… my master… disappeared years ago.”
She clenched her fists.
“And now, I find someone with his exact skills—living in a countryside tavern, pretending to be lazy.”
The air grew tense.
“Tell me the truth, Ryo.”
She stepped forward.
“Who taught you to cook like that?”
The crowd held their breath.
If Ryo’s teacher was someone known by a princess, then—
Could he be some lost culinary master? A divine chef?
Anna, shaking, whispered, “Y-Young Master… who trained you?”
Ryo scratched his head.
Then, after a long pause—
“…Google.”
Anna collapsed.
Seraphina stared. “What?”
Ryo shrugged. “I looked up recipes in my past life.”
Silence.
Victor blinked. “Your past life?”
Anna groaned. "Oh no, now we’re talking about reincarnation too!?”
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. “You mean to say… you weren’t trained by him?”
“Nope.”
Seraphina’s expression shifted.
From suspicion… to confusion… to something unreadable.
“…I see.”
Then, after a long pause—
“…Then, in that case—”
She dropped to one knee.
“Please. Take me as your disciple.”
Anna screamed again.
The tavern exploded.
“A PRINCESS IS BOWING TO HIM!?!”
“HE REFUSED A KING AND NOW HE’S GAINING ROYAL DISCIPLES!?”
“IS THIS HOW LEGENDS ARE FORGED!?”
Ryo stared.
Then, after a long sip of tea—
“…Nah.”
The entire kingdom stopped breathing.
Seraphina froze. “...Excuse me?”
Ryo stretched. “Teaching sounds like work.”
Victor rubbed his temples.
Anna was too emotionally drained to scream again.
Seraphina, however, smiled.
“…I see. So that’s how it is.”
She stood.
And, with a soft but deadly serious tone—
“Then I’ll just stay here until you accept me.”
Anna broke inside.
Cedric wrote even faster.
Garreth, the Guild Master, sighed. ”I’ve been there.”
And so, with royal involvement now unavoidable.