HRB 32

In short, this meant that Gerold was the mentor Sebastian had to befriend and stick with.

But unlike the soft-feeling Eddie, Gerold exuded a cold aura that seemed impenetrable. In reality, he probably wasn’t much different.

Sebastian had many friends, but he could confidently say none of them were like Gerold’s type.

Why, of all people, did it have to be someone who seemed to have built walls against words like friendliness and sociability!

However, as a new employee who had no right to choose his supervisor, Sebastian forced his trembling lips to turn upward.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Gerold merely nodded slightly, never offering a single warm word.

I’ve gotten myself into trouble, into real trouble…

Sebastian lamented inwardly, careful not to show it.

“Well, I’ll go to the market with Ket.”

As if his role ended with the introductions, Eddie naturally grabbed Ketron and promptly left.

Suddenly left alone with Gerold, Sebastian felt a suffocating sensation.

Gerold’s cold blue eyes scanned Sebastian up and down, then gestured briefly.

“Follow me.”

Sebastian felt like he was being led to a slaughterhouse, but moments later, he shook his head vigorously to clear his thoughts.

Although his supervisor didn’t seem particularly sociable, it was just inn work after all. There shouldn’t be anything too difficult. Being his first day, there was also a possibility they would start him off easy. There was nothing to be afraid of. Nothing at all, nothing at all!

With that resolve, Sebastian entered the kitchen confidently, only to be greeted by a mountain of cabbages piled high enough to fill an entire wall.

* * *

A few days later, Sebastian was in the backyard of Eddie’s inn.

Beside him lay a pile of quartered cabbages, as he determinedly held a knife.

Slice, thud.

And he began removing the cabbage stems.

In the days following his employment at Eddie’s inn, Sebastian’s tasks were incredibly simple.

Salting cabbage, cutting cabbage into quarters, removing cabbage stems.

Of the cabbage, by the cabbage, for the cabbage.

Cabbage, cabbage, cabbage.

By now, he was so sick of cabbage that just the sight of it made him nauseated.

His pride in being the only employee selected among numerous applicants instantly faded before the mountain of cabbage.

He wondered what on earth they were making that required so much cabbage.

“Oh, that? It’s always like this. We make a lot in winter and eat it throughout the year.”

Eddie, the inn owner, answered Sebastian’s inquiry with a smile.

“What exactly is it?”

“You probably don’t know… You’ll find out when it’s finished.”

Since there were already numerous suspicious aspects about this inn, Sebastian ultimately continued trimming cabbages with a glum face, not knowing when it would end.

Well, of course, the work itself wasn’t that difficult, though he couldn’t really complain to his employer about why he was assigned such tasks.

Besides, Eddie was a generous employer.

He assigned a reasonable amount of work each day, and once it was done, he didn’t care what Sebastian did with his free time, whether resting or playing. The room provided was clean and spacious, and Eddie didn’t mind how much Sebastian ate.

The problem was that the food was almost too delicious.

The menu items were delicious, and even unfamiliar foods that Sebastian had never seen before were only strange at first—later, he would eagerly serve himself large portions.

Sebastian had never considered himself someone who particularly enjoyed eating, but since coming here, he’d awakened to what appetite truly meant.

The only disappointment was that he simply couldn’t get used to the inn’s signature dish, Fire Chicken Noodles.

“Gaack!”

The first time Sebastian tried Fire Chicken Noodles, he guzzled down crates of water and ended up with an upset stomach that troubled him all day.

When he said Fire Chicken Noodles weren’t for him, Eddie brought different versions the next day.

“No, the problem is just Fire Chicken Noodles in general!”

Sebastian screamed, but Eddie, with a smiling face, insisted on offering the Fire Chicken Noodles.

‘He’s truly a devil…’

Sebastian had to taste less spicy versions, cheese versions, and cream versions of the Fire Chicken Noodles with a salty expression.

The result, to provide a small twist, was that he completely fell in love with the Cream Fire Chicken Noodles and became a dedicated fan.

Of course, the strangeness of Eddie’s inn wasn’t just because of the unique food.

“…”

Sebastian mechanically removed cabbage stems while glancing at someone stretching in a corner of the backyard.

Ketron, was it?

This young man—too young to be called an employee—hadn’t exchanged more than a few words with Sebastian during his days adjusting to the inn.

It wasn’t that Sebastian lacked sociability; his counterpart was simply too taciturn.

The only time that man opened his mouth was when Eddie spoke to him.

Ketron was holding what looked like an enormous sword, but for reasons Sebastian couldn’t understand, the blade was completely wrapped in cloth.

When Sebastian first witnessed Ketron stretching, he inwardly scoffed.

Thinking the kid was trying to look impressive by wrapping cloth around a sword, and that he probably couldn’t properly wield such a massive blade.

However, that thought completely vanished when he saw Ketron swinging the enormous sword as if it were a mere twig.

Sebastian thought perhaps the sword was lighter than it appeared, but judging by how the backyard soil was deeply gouged whenever Ketron briefly set the sword down, that didn’t seem to be the case.

After that day, Sebastian could no longer think of the man’s actions as childish and quietly deflated.

Despite being shirtless in the weather transitioning to winter, Ketron didn’t seem cold, perhaps because he kept his body constantly moving.

No, with that level of muscle, he probably doesn’t even feel the cold. How much training would it take to build a body like that?

Sebastian, who had unconsciously been staring at Ketron’s stretching routine while pausing from removing cabbage stems, subtly flexed his own arm.

His muscles were somewhat defined, but they still jiggled softly, revealing his lack of exercise.

Damn, if I just put my mind to it— Sebastian was grumbling inwardly when Eddie appeared in the backyard.

He’s glowing again today… Sebastian gazed blankly at the sparkling appearance that he still hadn’t gotten used to despite seeing it for several days, when he noticed Eddie naturally approaching Ketron. The gesture of brushing back Ketron’s sweat-soaked hair was incredibly affectionate.

“Ket, you’re working hard.”

With a smiling face, he offered Ketron a suspicious square-shaped drink.

Sebastian recognized it. Chocolate-flavored soy milk, was it? He had received one earlier while wandering nearby, and it was incredibly delicious, with a taste different from banana milk.

While all three people at this inn were equally suspicious, the owner was certainly the most peculiar.

Where on earth did Eddie get all these things?

He always brought them up from the basement, so Sebastian once pretended to get lost and went down there, only to find a door that absolutely wouldn’t open.

As Sebastian absentmindedly trimmed cabbage stems mechanically, Eddie placed what looked like a straw in Ketron’s mouth, brushed his sweat-soaked bangs back, and gently caressed his soft cheeks.

And there was Ketron, quietly allowing all this while obediently drinking his soy milk.

The large man who had been ferociously swinging his sword moments ago had instantly become docile, contentedly receiving affection, which was quite astounding.

Well, well.

Sebastian unconsciously made such a remark to himself.

Considering everything, there was no doubt that this man called Ketron was the inn owner Eddie’s secret lover.

No, the word “secret” itself was laughable. This was just openly being lovers.

Well, with the owner’s appearance and all, there clearly seemed to be some backstory, and maybe it was difficult for him to openly have a male lover, so he ran away to open this inn where the two could live lovingly together.

Obvious, totally obvious.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for such tender affection.

“Mr. Eddie.”

At that moment, Gerold appeared behind Eddie. Sebastian, who had been pushed to his limits by Gerold over the past few days, unconsciously straightened his hunched back.

“I’ve prepared everything you mentioned before.”

“Oh, really? Thanks, let’s go see.”

With a bright smile, Eddie placed the soy milk firmly in Ketron’s hand, patted his cheek, and went inside the inn with a smile.

But Sebastian saw it.

In that fleeting moment, the gazes between Ketron and Gerold met fiercely.

Gerold definitely didn’t like Ketron.

“Sebastian, aren’t you finished yet?”

“Uh, what?”

Sebastian jumped at Gerold’s sudden question. Somehow, Gerold’s bright blue eyes were now directed at him.

Although he had been working his hands diligently, perhaps due to lack of concentration, the cabbage was still piled high.

“Ah, not yet…”

He laughed awkwardly, but Gerold stared at him silently without reacting to the laughter, then abruptly went inside.

Whew, that scared me. Suddenly exposed to those piercing eyes, Sebastian inwardly sighed with relief.

Of course, Sebastian understood. Gerold’s words weren’t meant as “Aren’t you working hard?” but purely as a genuine inquiry of “Aren’t you finished yet?”

Despite his expression and tone that could easily be misunderstood, Gerold didn’t particularly dislike Sebastian.

Of course, that didn’t mean he showed any particular fondness either.

He looks exactly my type, but… sigh.

It was certain that Gerold simply didn’t like anyone except Eddie.

Making this gloomy deduction, Sebastian continued trimming cabbage stems.

The fact that his skill had now reached professional level was hardly something to be happy about.