I looked at the pot with a sense of satisfaction.
"I finished every last bit."
There wasn't a drop left—so much so that it almost felt like the dishes had cleaned themselves.
Well, the taste must be rare in this world.
Recalling memories from my past life, I realized: the cooking methods in this world weren't very advanced.
Most recipes consisted simply of cutting ingredients and boiling or roasting them.
"The high nobility might cook a little more luxuriously, though."
Even the foods of the high nobles were comparatively simple compared to Earth. They would consider making broth a waste of ingredients.
Anyway, I benefited from that simplicity.
The sharp tension among the Irregulars had significantly eased.
I could move freely without anyone hovering over me.
Thanks to that, I was able to clean the pot alone by the riverside.
"Good, it's clean."
By the time I returned to the cave after cleaning the pot and utensils, a member who had gone to check on Captain Hwang arrived.
"Captain Hwang was restless. It seems there are issues concerning the soldiers' security."
The other members nodded with a "Ohhh" in response.
"Then this is our chance to move."
"So… what about that guy?"
The members looked at the captain, as if asking him to make a decision about what to do with me.
I shouted quickly:
"Braised short ribs!"
"Bra… what?"
"I'll make braised short ribs next. It's meat slowly cooked in a sweet soy sauce, with chestnuts and potatoes. The meat is delicious, but if you mix the rich sauce with rice… it's heavenly."
Please, just take me with you.
I clasped my hands together with a desperate expression, and the members' faces changed.
"Braised short ribs?"
"Is it really that good? Better than soup?"
I nodded eagerly.
"Yes, better than soup."
The members, who were still absorbed in soup, looked shocked.
Muttering, "That good, huh?" they glanced back at the captain.
Seeing their sparkling eyes shooting arrows of curiosity, the captain sighed.
"You'll accompany us to headquarters as a helper."
I did it!
I felt like jumping with joy.
Now I could make real progress and secure my place in the guild.
As I said before, this man was truly my only option.
The Irregulars were terrifyingly skilled.
Some enthusiasts said they were powerful enough to shake the fate of a nation.
Their abilities were that extraordinary.
"Besides, I have information only I know."
The Irregular captain, Aslan.
He was the hidden son of Duke Esgarot.
"In other words, the future duke."
In a few years, the Esgarot house was set to become as powerful as the imperial palace.
I would win the heart of the future duke and ensure my talents were protected.
The Irregulars and I planned to move to headquarters in three separate groups.
Even if one group was caught, the other two could create distractions and escape.
But there was a problem.
"That guy is coming with us."
"Nonsense. He's coming with us."
"We want the braised short ribs… no, we can't give him up."
They were arguing over me.
"You have the most people!"
"Exactly, so we need a porter!"
"What load could he possibly carry with those arms?"
The members, who had survived for months on dried fruits, argued as if ready to bite each other.
Finally, the oldest man stepped forward and asked me:
"Decide. Which group will you join?"
The answer was obvious.
I quickly stepped next to the captain.
The other members shouted in protest:
"You'll regret it! The captain's route is different from the others."
"Yeah, Antonio is there too."
They listed disadvantages, urging me to reconsider, but I shook my head firmly.
"I still prefer to be next to the captain."
"Then why!"
"Well, um…"
I couldn't say I wanted to impress the future duke.
I rolled my eyes, trying to think of an excuse.
"Because… he's handsome?"
"Damn appearance-obsessed world…"
The members withdrew, looking disappointed.
I soothed them gently:
"We'll meet near headquarters anyway. I'll make the braised short ribs delicious then."
"Really…?"
"You won't use all the meat, right…?"
After I nodded about ten times, the members left the cave.
Our group was very small: the captain, Antonio, and me.
Antonio squinted and asked:
"You're really not… ah!"
…Now I understood why the members called Antonio a disadvantage for an elite team.
We soon departed.
From the cave at the mountainside, through the valley, heading north toward the shepherd's hut.
"North?"
North meant near the market district.
I asked, puzzled:
"Why are we going this way? There are a lot of people near the market."
Wouldn't an assassin group move through less crowded areas?
Antonio answered:
"We need to go to the market."
"Why?"
"To find something… an ancient relic—"
Just as he was about to explain further, the captain gave him a glance filled with meaning.
It told him not to give me any more information.
"He doesn't trust me at all."
My role was strictly that of a helper.
Seeing me quiet, Antonio shrugged.
"Being upset won't help."
"Huh?"
"You weren't upset?"
"I was just thinking about what to cook tonight."
Antonio blinked in disbelief.
"Usually people get all gloomy in this situation."
"Wouldn't it be stranger to trust someone who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?"
"True…"
Antonio let out a wry laugh.
"You really are a unique one."
Even so, I wasn't upset at being distrusted.
Trust had never been close to me anyway.
Even my family distrusted me, accusing me of poisoning my half-sibling.
I wouldn't feel sad just because someone I met today doubted me.
"It's better to think about how to earn trust instead."
With that in mind, we arrived near the market.
We passed the checkpoint using forged IDs.
Since I often worked in the market, the guards let me in at once.
We headed for a junk shop deep within the market.
Antonio said:
"You stay outside."
"If it takes long, can I buy some necessary items while I wait?"
"Do as you wish."
The captain and Antonio entered the shop.
I folded the robe Antonio entrusted me into my bag.
"Good, let's hurry back."
Even if we used a gate, it would take over four days to reach headquarters.
We had to buy supplies for the Irregulars in the meantime.
"What I have now isn't enough for their meals."
It seemed they sourced meat by hunting.
So I needed seasonings and vegetables.
I headed to the market's vegetable stalls.
"Hello, ma'am."
"Who's this? Ustea?"
I often bought ingredients here when working at restaurants, so they were kind to me.
"I'm buying dried vegetables."
Dried vegetables were less tasty than fresh, but lighter and lasted longer.
The stall owner said, "I have just the thing," and brought out some dried vegetables.
I said firmly:
"Ma'am, these seem under-dried."
"They were just set aside. But here… this one."
"Ma'am?"
"There are so many things I need to put aside."
She bought me a prized batch of dried vegetables despite mumbling.
Next, the spice shop.
"Sir?"
"This is Naza salt."
"Sir?"
"No thief would try to take Naza salt for 20 copper coins."
"Sir…"
"Take it all!"
I bought all the items I needed at reasonable prices.
"Now, just the general goods left."
A multitool with knife, corkscrew, hammer, and screwdrivers would be handy.
I'd also need thread and needles.
The Irregulars' hoods were all tattered; I needed to repair them.
Carrying a bundle of ingredients, I walked toward the general goods store when—
Thud.
I bumped shoulders with someone.
"Ah, sorry—"
"Oh my, young lady."
I froze, recognizing the voice.
Looking up, I saw faces I'd always tried to avoid.
Servants of Marquis Andres.
"What a pitiful sight," said a maid, grinning.
Even though she said it, her expression was not sympathetic at all.
They were servants devoted to Stella, the game's protagonist and the daughter of my father's first love.
While other Andres servants despised me, these especially hated me, blaming me for Stella's poisoning attempt.
"This is why I frequently changed workplaces."
They found out where I worked and tormented me relentlessly.
At the restaurant, they labeled the door "Homewrecker's younger sibling works here."
On a tuna fishing boat, they bribed the captain to fire me.
At the knight barracks, they spread rumors to isolate me.
"A commotion would be troublesome."
I immediately tried to flee.
Or rather, tried to flee would be more accurate.
I tripped over a servant's foot.
"Ugh!"
My nose hit a spice jar, cutting me on broken glass. Blood flowed freely.
Stella's personal guards chuckled.
Being harassed like this had become routine.
No one helped, afraid of the Marquis Andres family.
"You're so rough," said the maid, squatting in front of me, gripping my cheek.
"Poor thing."
"Let go."
"You still have the same temper. Your mother suffered for it, didn't she?"
I clenched my jaw.
I couldn't help retaliating when my mother was constantly mentioned.
I slapped the maid's cheek.
"Eek!"
The maid's eyes flashed with anger.
She kicked, causing my items to scatter.
"You're still so stubborn even after being erased from the registry."
"…."
"You're just a runaway with nowhere to go."
Thwack!
Another kick sent me sprawling. The bag's clasp caught on my clothes.
"No!"
Antonio's robe was inside.
I had seen the embroidery of the Irregular insignia.
If it showed, it would be disastrous.
I clutched the bag desperately.
"Look at this."
The guards' expressions changed.
"Seems like a precious item."
"A girl exiled from her house wouldn't have anything valuable."
"Then it must have been stolen."
They smirked and approached.
One grabbed my arm roughly.
I bit his forearm sharply.
"Ah! What the—"
Even the strong men started kicking. The pain felt like bones were breaking, but I held the bag tightly.
"I can't lose this."
If the hood was taken, I could never join the Irregulars.
"You picked the wrong day, girl."
The servant who got bitten looked around, angry, and grabbed a laundry mallet from a display.
As he swung it toward me—
Crack.
A strange sound echoed.
I froze, looking up.
The servant's arm twisted unnaturally.
"Ahhhhh—!"
He screamed in pain.
I stared, clutching my bag, at the captain.
The chains of magical power from his hand had twisted the servant's arm.
"What… are you?!"
The maid asked in shock.
The captain's magic was horrifyingly strong, enough for a normal person to feel it instinctively.
Amid the guards' confusion, Antonio approached.
"You—"
Through the bag, a part of Antonio's hood peeked out.
His gaze passed over it to my battered face, and then to the scattered vegetables and spices.
I hurriedly explained:
"I—I bought these myself."
"What?"
"None of your property was harmed. I also protected the hood."
"…."
"I'm sorry for the commotion. I promise it won't happen again. I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
The captain and Antonio watched me intently.
The maid smirked:
"So, this must be the new owner."
"…."
"As you can see, this won't help you. You know the exiled daughter of Marquis Andres?"
"…."
"She's the one who attempted to poison Stella."
The maid looked triumphant, sure I'd be expelled.
I lowered my head.
"Will I really be abandoned…?"
Though I revealed I was an Andres daughter from the start, I still felt uneasy.
The Irregulars would deem me useless.
Then something happened.
"Uh…?"
The maid touched her cheek in surprise.
A strange black mark appeared, and blood trickled down it.
"Ahhh—!"
"…!"
"…!!"
It wasn't just her. The two servants who kicked me also had the mark.
The inverted cross.
Anyone in the empire would recognize it immediately.
"An inverted cross!"
"It's the Irregular insignia!"
Some onlookers shouted.
Yes, it was the Irregular symbol.
The captain approached.
"I can kill you if you wish."
Hearing this, Stella's guards, who had been shrieking, turned pale.
I stared at the captain in shock.
"Why…?"
Then I realized.
The reason he did all this for me…
"The captain must also be looking forward to the braised short ribs…"
"…What?"
"Don't worry. A few spice bottles broke, but everything else is fine. I can make them tonight."
"…."
If it weren't for the braised short ribs, he wouldn't intervene for someone like me.
"Still… thank you so much."
Three years since being exiled. I had never imagined anyone would protect me.
"I'll make the braised short ribs delicious."
The captain sighed as if with a headache, reaching out his hand.
The captain truly was a lover of food.