To Arad Jin, I am Arina Rune Renslet, the lord of the Renslet Duchy and the Grand Duchess of the North.

I’ve heard rumors about your Arad Salt.

They say it transforms even the blandest dish into one worthy of the spices used in royal cuisines.

Recently, my trusted retainers and knights have confirmed the truth of these claims.

Thus, I, Arina, would like to make a request, not a command.

The letter started plainly, devoid of flowery language—characteristic of a Northener.

I quickly read on to see what her request was.

I wish to purchase the recipe for your Arad Salt.

The North is a land where everything is scarce and precious. We do not have much money, and recently, the spices imported through the Empire have caused even greater financial strain on our already fragile economy.

I would like to purchase the recipe for your Arad Salt and distribute it widely to our people.

…?!

As I read her letter, I couldn’t help but feel surprised.

A ruler of her standing could easily take the recipe from me by force, framing it as a command rather than a request.

Alternatively, she could bring me to the High Castle and monopolize dishes made with Arad Salt for herself.

Or she could purchase the recipe at a pittance and then sell it at exorbitant prices through a puppet merchant guild.

‘What an unusual ruler.’

But she chose none of these tempting and easy options.

In exchange for the recipe for Arad Salt, I, Arina Rune Renslet, promise you two things:

First, a reward of 50 gold coins will be bestowed upon you immediately.

Second, as a descendant of Eastern nobility, you will be granted the title of honorary baron. You may retain the surname "Jin," as a mark of respect for your noble heritage and adherence to propriety.

Your title conferral ceremony will be held this spring at the High Castle.

I make this promise in the name of the Grand Duchess of the North.

Even the rewards were extraordinary.

One gold coin was equivalent to twenty silver coins, and one silver coin required one hundred copper coins to equal its value.

A single gold coin was something an average person might never see in their lifetime. Yet the letter promised fifty gold coins, along with an honorary baronial title.

Granted, the title came with no fiefdom or associated income, but in a society with strict social hierarchies, even the difference in air between a free commoner and a junior noble was substantial.

Of course, the value of Arad Salt, capable of replacing spices across the continent, was incomparable to these rewards.

Still, considering this world lacked modern copyright laws or personal rights protections, this offer was shockingly generous.

“……”

After reading the letter, I glanced at Arina.

Though her face was hidden by her hood, her piercing blue eyes met my black ones.

‘What’s her intent?’

It was the kind of decision and compensation that other nobles on the continent might deem insane. I tried to reason through her motives.

‘Or perhaps she’s exceptionally clever?’

In a world without concepts like patents, the only undisclosed aspects of Arad Salt were its proportions and preparation sequence.

Anyone knowledgeable enough about the ingredients could replicate it before the summer.

Polly and other competitors likely refrained from pushing for the recipe precisely because of this inevitability.

‘She must know that monopolizing the recipe would only invite criticism.’

It seemed the Grand Duchess understood this and opted to preserve public opinion and her honor instead of pursuing a clumsy monopoly.

Moreover, there was likely a financial motive to offset the trade deficit caused by spices.

But one question lingered.

‘Then why offer me gold and a title? She could simply wait for knock-offs to appear.’

At that moment, an elderly knight who introduced himself as Dominic spoke up.

“The Grand Duchess wishes to ignite passion in the North, starting with you.”

‘The Frostblade Ghost, Balzac, was said to be an older knight… Is Dominic his alias?’

I pondered Dominic’s true identity as I asked, “Passion, you say?”

“That’s right. Her Highness wants to show what happens when someone excels outside the battlefield. She wishes to make you an example, widely known throughout the land.”

“……!”

His words widened my eyes in astonishment.

‘Remarkable.’

Her perspective was one rarely seen, even in 21st-century Earth.

At the same time, it saddened me to think that such a forward-thinking individual would meet such a tragic end.

“I will honor the Grand Duchess’s wishes.”

After finishing the letter, I knelt formally, accepting her request as both an appeal and a command.

Since the recipe was bound to leak sooner or later, selling it at its peak value suited me just fine.

“……”

I could feel Arina’s subtle smile as she gazed at me.

“Let me write it down for you right now.”

“Oh? You’d do that?”

I pulled out a piece of paper and jotted down the recipe for Arad Salt on the spot. Then, I carefully folded it and handed it to the elderly knight, who I assumed was Balzac.

“You’re a straightforward man. I like that.”

“To be honest, the attention surrounding Arad Salt has been burdensome lately.”

“Has it? Well, it seems I made the right decision to bring the gold. Here, take it.”

Balzac handed me a pouch containing the promised gold coins, clearly pleased with my decisive response.

“The title ceremony will be held this spring. When the weather warms, come to the High Castle. The Grand Duchess will welcome you personally.”

“Your generosity knows no bounds.”

Even if the ceremony didn’t happen as promised, I wouldn’t complain.

‘With the money I’ve saved up and this 50 gold, I can manage comfortably in the North.’

For now, the gold coins in my pocket were far more valuable than any noble title.

Thus, the matter was resolved swiftly, in a manner befitting the North’s practical nature.

“Ahem! Since we’re here, let’s have another meal today,” the mayor declared once the situation settled.

“Of course! I’ll prepare it immediately.”

Thanks to Jack’s earlier preparation of boiling water and prepped ingredients, I was able to start cooking breakfast quickly.

Soon, other patrons began arriving for their usual Arad Stew, and Jack naturally took charge of the regular customers while I focused on the distinguished guests.

“So, what special dish do you have for us today?”

“I’ve prepared Arad-style tomahawk steak. I recommend pairing it with the special Arad sauce in front of you.”

“Ohoho! This steak looks like a battleaxe! Hahaha!”

“For dessert, you’ll have sherbet made by blending honey-soaked winter apples with ice.”

“Sherbet… what? Well, I’m looking forward to it.”

‘This feels like a full-on omakase course.’

Thus began another bewildering day.

Even though I wasn’t officially a baron yet, I could already feel the atmosphere around me shifting.

“Um… should we start calling you Baron Jin now?”

“There’s no need for that yet. Treat me as you always have.”

“But still…”

The first to show signs of change were Jack and Tom.

When they had heard the fabricated story about my noble lineage, they didn’t react much.

However, now that the Grand Duchess herself had formally acknowledged me, they could no longer ignore it.

‘It’s clear I need to leave this inn sooner rather than later. Ideally, by the end of the month.’

As I observed Jack, the staff, and even the regular patrons beginning to treat me with an awkward reverence, I solidified my decision.

“Do you think you’ll be alright?”

While working, I broached the subject with Jack, already planning my departure.

“What… do you mean, sir?”

Jack replied in a polite tone, clearly preferring formality when addressing me now.

“With Arad Salt about to spread across the North, your sales won’t be as high as they’ve been recently.”

“Oh… well, there’s no helping that. It’s an order from the Grand Duchess, after all.”

Surprisingly, Jack’s expression showed no concern.

“In truth, it’s been exhausting.”

“Exhausting?”

“To be precise, my heart’s been more tired than my body.”

His response was unexpected—he seemed almost relieved.

“Sales might go down, but I’ll feel more at ease. My body too.”

It seemed Jack had been under subtle pressure from the scrutiny of others.

“Ah… I hadn’t considered that.”

Feeling guilty, I decided to share a little secret with him, as a parting gesture of goodwill.

“Come closer for a moment.”

“Huh?”

“There’s a trick to Arad Salt—about the wildflower stems…”

“?!”

The recipe I had given the Grand Duchess was missing one key detail—something akin to fermented seafood in kimchi.

While its absence wouldn’t drastically change the flavor, the final product would lack a certain 1% edge.

For those with refined palates, the difference would be noticeable enough to keep them returning to Jack’s Inn.

“Th-thank you!”

Jack’s eyes glistened with gratitude as he thanked me.

I left him to process the tip and returned to my duties as chef for what little time I had left at the inn.

Jack turned out to have a talent for cooking.

In just two days, he had absorbed most of the recipes I’d taught him.

Of course, that didn’t mean he had mastered all the knowledge and techniques that came with my maxed-out cooking skill.

Rather, he had learned the basics of running the kitchen at an inn, focusing on the dishes I had prepared during my time there.

“With Arad Salt spreading across Haven, the number of hall guests has definitely decreased.”

“Takeout orders have dropped too. Is it because other inns are copying the recipes?”

“We’ll need to start lowering prices soon.”

The recipe for Arad Salt had spread quickly throughout Haven, making it manageable for Jack and Tom to run the inn on their own.

“I think I can handle everything myself starting tomorrow.”

“That seems likely.”

“I plan to continue offering free stew to the guards and officials.”

“Are you sure about that? It’ll eat into your profits.”

“Oddly enough, it brings unseen benefits.”

“Seeing the forest instead of the trees, I see.”

Jack had grown as a businessman, showing a maturity far beyond when we first met. It was clear that my guidance had helped.

‘Now I can leave the inn without worry.’

Thanks to Jack’s growth, I was finally free from my role as head chef at the inn.

That didn’t mean I had completely stepped away from cooking, however.

“Arad, are you there?”

“Yes, what can I get for you today?”

“The usual course, please.”

The only time I personally cooked these days was when the knights from the High Castle came in for their daily meals.

“Hasn’t Arad Salt been released everywhere by now? You could probably enjoy similar dishes at Polly’s Inn.”

“Are you saying we’re a bother for coming here every day?”

“Of course not! It’s just that, compared to Polly’s Inn, this place might feel a bit… lacking for distinguished guests like yourselves.”

“Hahaha! I was joking. The reason we come here daily is because of the food you prepare, Arad.”

“Me?”

“Some of us have found your cooking strangely more satisfying. No offense to Polly, of course.”

The knight who called himself Dominic—whom I suspected to be Balzac—lowered his voice as he answered my question during what felt like a K-omakase session.

‘Do they really have such refined palates that they notice the 1% difference?’

I glanced at the lone female knight among them.

As usual, she wore her hood pulled low, but she was fully engrossed in savoring the medium-cooked steak I had prepared.

The way her body subtly shivered with each bite was oddly endearing.

‘If she’s this hooked on my food… I might be able to join their party if I propose it.’

Looking at her, I made a bold decision.

I would protect Arina Rune Renslet, the Grand Duchess of the North.

Of course, that resolve had wavered slightly when I accepted the 50 gold coins for Arad Salt, but it quickly returned to focus.

“So, what brings you knights of the High Castle to Haven?”

Cautiously, I inquired about the purpose of their visit.

“The reason high-ranking knights like us are here is obvious. We’re fulfilling our duties as enforcers.”

“Are there rebels in Haven?”

Feigning surprise, I asked.

“No, nothing like that. Haven borders the Abyss, doesn’t it? We sometimes hunt high-level monsters from the Abyss to ensure they don’t trouble the people.”

“Ah…”

In fact: they were here for a bit of recreational hunting.