The room I was given was on the second floor, so after getting ready and securing my possessions in the makeshift wooden 'safe', I descended back to the first floor.

On a more careful look, I noticed how the stairs leading to the other floors were placed on the left side of the reception desk, after which there was the same lounge filled with small tables and chairs I saw earlier. On the right side there was a spacious hall designed as dining room, where long tables were arranged in a pleasing manner. It wasn't elegant, but it wasn't brusque either. Rather, it had a really comforting feeling to it, as one could see the people staying at this inn enjoy their food and a hearty conversation with the other guests they were seated beside.

I walked towards the end of this hall, where on the right side of it was a small door leading into the kitchen.

Previously when I passed by the counter it was empty and the front door was closed, signifying that the place will no longer book people today. From what the couple told me, the working hours are between 7am and 8pm, so if you miss those registration hours, you'll sleep outside. Right now it was about 6pm if I wasn't mistaken, however, given that there was no vacancy, they closed off early for the day.

When I entered and found the couple in the kitchen preparing the ingredients, I realized why: beside them and the two men who carried the bathtub in my room earlier, there were two more girls around twenty years old preparing the kitchen utensils, girls which probably doubled as maids.

When they saw me entering, all six looked at me, each with curious expressions.

[Hoooo! That is some very interesting clothing Michael. Is it from your country?] (Fred)

"No, I got it from the clerk previously. But is true that I have seen this type of wear before. Is very comfortable for the guys and even more, a woman grows at least three times more beautiful when wearing one. I can vouch for that! Also, don't worry! I'll have Martin help you get one for your miss as well. "

It was at that point that I realized: I could use this beautiful model that was the owner of a inn which was rather popular to start a fashion trend. When me and Martin (the clerk from the tailor shop) talked about the products, we were so absorbed that we forgot about how to promote his merchandise. I'll go help him tomorrow and have him give some gifts if required to other affluent ladies... there's so much work to be done...

Is all for my kimono paradise!!!

[Seeing my Caith become three times more beautiful? But you're right...somehow imagining her wearing it...it's nice!] (Fred)

[FRED! You're drooling! Stop thinking about stupid things and prepare the vegetables properly! These clothes look very good on you... maybe I should get one for Fred as well... By the way, we have prepared ingredients, but since my husband insisted that you'll decide on tonight's menu, we didn't know exactly what you have us make. Also, do keep in mind that we need to cook it for sixty people, with us included.] (Caitlin)

[I'm looking forward to your culinary knowledge Mr. Traveler!] (Fred)

"Please don't put too much pressure on me..."

I took a look at the ingredients they were using and found some interesting stuff. If I wasn't mistaken this should be...

"Is this by any chance deer?"

[Hmm? Yes, you have a good eye. Do you know how to cook it?] (Fred)

"I am pretty confident about the recipe. Also, the taste will surely be pleasing since the dish can be used as main course for dinner..."

Truth to be told, when I was 23 and traveled abroad, I worked for a restaurant that dealt in venison dishes since I needed the money. Well, it wasn't only venison, there was boar meat, wild duck and a couple of other things that were the restaurant's forte and I also started as a dishwasher boy. During the three months there, the chef drilled into my brain the way of cooking it, up to the point where I could be forcefully awaken at 3 in the morning and recite the cooking process by heart.

Why? Because I was forced to wake up at 3am and recite the process if I wanted to help in the kitchen by actually cooking...

[Well then, let's get started with...] (Fred)

"Before that, how do you serve dinner usually? How many dishes and what type?"

[We usually provide soup and a main type dish based on meat. Most of our customers are adventurers and they bring a fresh supply of it daily, while we provide it back as cooked food, obviously with a discount. Since they need as much energy as they can get out there, there's quite a lot of meat involved in all three meals we provide, therefore quite the amount of animal blood has been spilled for such a diet. Therefore the 'bloody ruby' name...] (Caitlin)

[Also, in about an hour we should start serving.] (Fred)

"Understood... We'll go then with a soup and a main dish, both based on venison. Let's prepare the ingredients first and to make it simpler, we'll split into two groups, each to handle one dish. Since it would be more fun this way, the teams will be split into men and women. The women side will take the soup since it requires more a more delicate approach and the men will take the steak since... well, it's a man's type of dish. Is that alright?"

[[[[[[Yes!]]]]]]

Honestly, I had more confidence in the ladies since both dishes required attention and focus which men usually lack, but there wasn't enough time for that. So I took the easiest dish out of the two and had the guys prepare it... Something about crash and burn kept repeating inside my head...

"I will guide both teams through the cooking process. Alright! Then let's start with the ingredients. Since the soup will take about an hour, while the steak only about forty minutes, let's start with the ingredients for the soup. We're cooking for sixty people, so please make sure you follow the instructions correctly, otherwise we won't make it in time. We'll first need oil, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and the four type of vegetables here, sugar, salt, the bullion I see over there, any sort of spicy condiment you have and around 6 kg of venison meat. Start by grabbing the ingredients and a pot to make the soup in."

[[[Yes.]]]

I have to admit that this is rather fun. Back at the restaurant I was the one being ordered around, but now I'm the chef all of a sudden. Am I not a guest here? Is it alright to let me decide on the food menu? Even more order them around in the kitchen? At least it looks like they're having fun, so I guess it's fine... Also, I kept using my Identify skill to see exactly what the things on the tables were, since some of them looked different than what I knew back on Earth.

"Now the men team. We'll need unsalted butter, onions, salt, dried thyme from that table, honey, fresh parsley, dandelion leaves, around 2 and a half kg of fresh mushrooms and 8 kg of venison. Prepare the ingredients and bring them over here fast. I'll let you know the quantities we need! In the meantime the girls team will start the soup."

[[[Yes!]]]

It impressed me how hyped they all were, running around but not colliding with each other. I had to admit that their energy and enthusiasm were quite contagious.

They did seem a bit surprised by the ingredients, but is to be expected since this type of cuisine was refined over the course of thousands of years back on Earth, so it might be strange to them. Either way, this should be an interesting experiment.

"Girls, let's start with the preparations...it looks like the vegetables are ready and clean. Good! Start by dicing the onions, tomatoes and all other vegetables thinly, but keep them in separate bowls. Next the potatoes must be cut into small cubes and do the same with the venison. Let me know when is done."

[Michael, we've prepared the ingredients for the steak. What do we start with?] (Fred)

"Good. Let's see... First off prepare the onions by cutting them thinly and put them in a pan. Also bring out the venison meat and salt it real good. We'll let it settle to room temperature while we cook the onions. Listen well and follow the instructions properly! First, you put in the pan the butter and when is hot enough you add the onions. In order for it to be cooked well, you slow down the heat and stir slowly until they turn lightly brown. Then, when they start to soften, add salt and let them cook slowly again for another 10 minutes. After that you add the thyme and honey. When they have a nice brown color, take the pan from the fire and put it away. Remember, this will be for 60 people so make sure the quantity is enough. After that, wipe the frying pan used for the onions and add butter again to it. Make sure the venison is dry, so if required wipe it with a clean towel and have it cooked on a medium heat fire, turning it on all sides until they are well browned. In the meantime add the mushrooms and put it on a high heat flame to make sure the water inside them evaporates. When they begin to boil and become brown, add the butter and the oil and sprinkle salt on them while they cook. Once the mushrooms are ready, add back the caramelized onions and the parsley and stir to combine. Heat through and put some on everyone's plate. Add the dandelion leaves at that point and cut the venison into small oval sizes that are good to serve. Questions? "

I got a bit carried away there and kept talking... They look quite confused, but one of the guys was prepared and taking notes. Well, since I'll watch over them as they do it, it should be fine since I can offer reminders. Now for the soup, should be a bit easier.

"Now for the soup. Girls, are the preparations ready?"

[We just finished cutting the venison into cubes. Was it required to be cubes?] (Caitlin)

"Since is soup, it will be easier to eat. Now then, let's begin. That pot with a lid that you brought will be perfect. Start by putting the venison in oil and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Then..."

[Simmer?] (Caitlin)

"Oh, sorry. It means that you must keep it under the temperature at which the water is boiling."

[Understood.] (Caitlin)

"Did she really? I'm not sure even I understood that explanation..."

"F..Fine. Now then, to continue, is rather simple. At the point where the venison is brown, add the remaining ingredients and let it stay like that for at least an hour, until the meat is tender enough. Make sure you don't forget to add the water, or it might become something else. You obviously add it at the same time as the remaining ingredients. Questions?"

[[[None.]]]

Within that hour, I kept walking back and forth, giving advice or answering the questions of both teams when needed. The smell of the food freshly cooked was seeping under the door and soon, the sound of hungry people could be heard clamoring in the dining hall, cheering them on.

It wasn't the first time I cooked for other people, but it was the first time I directed and decided on the menu. It was a different kind of pressure, even if I didn't belong to the inn's staff. But I was confident in my memorization skills and all six of them were rather well versed in the kitchen's matters. I was impressed on how they managed so far with only six people, but now I understood. Their cooperation was incredible... That and the fact that they possessed the Endurance, Agility and Dexterity skill which allowed faster and more precise movement, as well as Intelligence and Wisdom which enhanced their cognitive abilities...

It felt a bit like cheating when remembering how hard it was when rush hour hit us at the restaurant...

Soon, the food reached everyone's plates, us seven included. I savored each bite as if it was a divine offering, both because I haven't eaten anything in two days, except for flowers and burnt rabbit meat and probably also because this was cooked how I instructed them to.

Contrary to my expectations however, the food was really great. Especially the venison. Both in the soup and the steak itself had a really rich flavor, richer than I remembered it be. I ate happily and everyone had a pleased look on their faces.

When we finished eating and the six returned to the kitchen to clean up, I announced an early retreat and they sent me off after thanking me for the two new recipes. It seems that they were well received by the customers and will like to use it more often.

Before I left upstairs, I had Fred write on a piece of paper the recipe for venison tips with mushrooms. Since it requires for the meat to marinate for 8 entire hours, I told him he could prepare it for tomorrow, since they had a surplus of such meat at the moment.

He looked really curious and interested in it. Well, I guess is okay...

I realized after reaching my room and undressing from the black yukata and changing into the white one, that there was no smell coming from the one I just wore. It was impressive since, for an entire hour I stood where the food was being continuously cooked.

"So, the mana prevents the smell also?"

With those words, I threw the black yukata in the item bag, put it under my pillow, held the short sword near the bed with my right hand and fell asleep instantly.