ASDEF 07

Chapter 07

Today was the day of the second regular market held after the village, which had been devastated by the Dimension Gate, was reorganized.

The Dimension Gate. A staple of the original novel’s worldbuilding, opening gates to other dimensions and summoning random monsters.

This was a world where the conflict never ceased between the dark mages and the anti-royalist faction who opened Dimension Gates at random, causing chaotic situations; the pro-royalist faction who protected the people against them; and the royal mages of the Royal Order.

The people of our village could only gradually come out, one by one, after the battles had subsided to a certain extent.

Perhaps that was why even the current crowd, which was barely over half of what it used to be, was a welcome sight.

Every time I faced a narrow alley crowded with people, I cut through using a shortcut and arrived in front of a restaurant. I raised my head and proudly looked up at the restaurant’s sign.

Goblin Grilled Specialty Shop.

A place that had become the most famous restaurant in the village, thanks to the recipes I’d developed over a year of cooking.

As I entered, many customers had already taken their seats and were waiting for their food.

The owner, who had been in the kitchen, hurried out.

“Sophy, why are you so late! Hurry up and get cooking!”

“Yes…”

At the owner’s gruff command, his protruding belly and scowling face, I quickly tied on my apron.

Some might say, ‘What? Such treatment for the developer of this golden recipe? Tell her to move to another restaurant!’ But unfortunately, I had to stay here for another six months.

All thanks to Mrs. Eva, who secretly drew up a contract with the owner behind my back and deducted six months’ worth of my salary all at once.

Which she then promptly lost in one go gambling.

I grilled the goblin meat, and suddenly recalled that day.

The look of astonishment in Duke Benson’s eyes as he stared at this food.

It was a place I’d gone to without knowing anything, and they were people I’d never see again, but the memories from that place lingered in my mind for quite a long time.

The Benson family was different from what I had imagined.

Perhaps because of the status I’d claimed, there was a Duke who listened to me, unlike the people here, and there was Daniel, who granted my request to forgive a servant’s mistake…

Should I have told them then? To be careful of the female lead.

The thought of Daniel, rising again in my mind, made me smack my own head.

“Snap out of it! You idiot! Just focus on your own work, alright! This is no time to be telling others what to do!”

“That wasn’t meant for me to hear, was it, Sophy…?”

A piercing gaze from behind.

I slowly turned my head and forced the corners of my mouth upwards.

“…Is what Sophy said to herself! Haha. Boss, if you glare at me like that, Sophy gets scared.”

At my signature aegyo, the owner shook his head with a disgusted expression.

“Go wipe the tables! You crazy girl.”

I dashed over to the tables and let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew. Well, crazy girl? Just wait until the contract is over. I’ll make sure to get back at you in every way possible!”

I pursed my lips and silently cursed the owner to my heart’s content as I roughly wiped down the tables.

Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, but I had no time to wipe them away, thanks to the endless stream of customers.

Even amidst the chaos, I kept a sharp eye on my surroundings. There were always one or two people who tried to sneak away without paying.

By the time dusk settled in, all the prepared grilled meat had been sold.

As closing time approached, the bustling customers disappeared, and it became quite quiet.

I was clearing the remaining empty tables and heading towards the kitchen when I heard someone’s voice.

“Is anyone here?”

A familiar voice that sent chills down my spine.

The owner and I instantly recognized who it was.

Before I could even think of fleeing, the owner, who had been in the kitchen, came out with a beaming face and blocked my way.

“Sir Sutton, it’s been a long time!”

The reason for the owner’s usually grim face to brighten so quickly.

It was because of the middle-aged gentleman standing right before us.

As Olph, dressed in a black suit, took off his hat, a few strands of hair lifted in the wind and settled back down.

Olph Sutton, the son of the local lord I’d mentioned last time.

The lord had only one son, and due to his ugly appearance and poor personality, he had remained unmarried even past the age of 50.

He was also an incompetent man who had failed to gain any proper title, whether as a military officer or in any public office.

So, in the novel, whenever Olph appeared at social gatherings, all the young ladies would rush to avoid him.

Then, the kind-hearted female lead once spoke to Olph, just once, and after that, the bastard persistently chased after her.

His obsessive nature, once fixated, never let go, eventually leading to a severe scolding from the male lead, the Prince.

And the unfortunate person who caught his eye this time was me.

I thought his interest had waned a bit, but here he was, visiting again today without fail.

Entering the restaurant, Olph frowned deeply and hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, bringing it to his nose. He seemed to find the distinctive smell of the grilled goblin hard to bear.

Yet, he never took his eyes off me for a single moment.

“It’s humble, but please have a seat over here, Sir.”

“I’ll pass. I don’t wish to stay here long.”

Olph raised his hand in refusal, his hoarse voice oddly ringing out clearly at the owner’s invitation.

He turned his gaze back to me. And slowly looked me up and down.

Olph soon narrowed his brows and shook his head.

“Oh dear, Sophy. You’ve gotten even thinner. You really shouldn’t be eating so poorly, you know?”

He curled one corner of his mouth slightly and approached me.

With a stiff body, I hurriedly took a step back.

Seeing me frightened, his eyes sparkled even more. His enjoyment of this reaction sent a shiver down my entire body.

“Sophy, have you thought about my proposal from last time?”

Hearing those words, my face turned pale instantly.

I quickly glanced sideways at the owner. A glint of interest appeared in his eyes.

‘Why bring that up here of all places… What a despicable man.’

The owner was known in this neighborhood for having a loose tongue, so I didn’t want to discuss this here.

He usually only made advances when we were alone; it seemed he was determined today.

I just bit my lower lip in frustration.

Ignoring my expression, the owner eagerly interjected.

“Sir, a proposal? What did you mean by that to Sophy…?”

Olph cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking. He even wore a lecherous smile.

“Oh dear, it seems our innocent Sophy hasn’t told anyone yet. I’ve granted her the special privilege of becoming my wife.”

“Good heavens! Are you serious, Sir?!”

“Sophy is of age to think about marriage, isn’t she? Rather than some ordinary husband, I thought there could be no better life for her than to live comfortably through me. Heh.”

Heh, a sound of disbelief escaped my lips. I was dumbfounded.

What was he going on about? Here he was, dressing up nonsense and speaking so eloquently.

Olph took out a bulging money pouch from his pocket and offered it to the owner. The owner’s eyes glinted again at the sight of the pouch.

“So, I’d like you to leave work early today.”

“I’m so grateful for your consideration. Sophy, you must listen carefully to what Sir says. It’s not good for any of us to displease a noble. If I hear even a whisper of your impertinence, I’ll inform your parents about this tomorrow, first thing.”

The owner, showing me a flexibility I’d never seen before, quickly headed outside.

Olph scanned the surroundings and spoke even more boldly.

“How long are you going to keep living like this, tsk tsk. If you’re worried about your family, I’ll even arrange a small house for you. In the bustling part of town, no less.”

With a lecherous look, Olph drew closer. Wearing a crooked smirk, he casually placed his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m trying my best to be considerate of you, Sophy. This is plenty enough to take care of not just you, but your family as well…”

Even as he spoke, he kept patting my shoulder, never losing his smile. His yellowed teeth gradually became more visible.

All my nerves were focused on my shoulder, and an indescribable sense of shame made me grind my teeth.

Just as I was about to seize an opening and bolt out of the restaurant, the soldiers who had come with Olph blocked my way outside the door.