I Became a Food Developer in Another World-Chapter 103 - : Air Fryer (2)

Everyone has days they want to avoid.

However, as time passes, that day will eventually come.

"Can't I not go?"

"You know, even if you don't want to, you have to go."

At Aria's curt response, I quietly kept my mouth shut.

As she said, I had to go 'no matter what.'

That makes sense.

'The Emperor wants to see me, so I can't refuse.'

Five days ago, a messenger bearing the Emperor's edict visited our mage tower.

The message was long, but the gist was that the Emperor wanted to see his face, so he should come to the palace.

Well, it was only natural for the Emperor to be curious since I had released a magic stone that could change the paradigm of a culture like 'Cryostones' to the public.

In fact, even before, the Emperor had subtly hinted that he wanted to see me.

It was a place I wanted to avoid, if possible, but this wasn't a restaurant reservation I could cancel, and I couldn't just not show up for an 'audience with the Emperor.'

That said, I couldn't go alone, so I was looking for a scapegoat to go with me...

"I want to go with you, but I'm busy today, so it's difficult."

Aria, having noticed the meaning of my gaze, answered before I could even ask.

"I know."

Aria had been very busy lately overseeing the management of the Cryostones.

There was no time to spare for the sudden palace event that had been scheduled.

From the beginning, the person I was looking for wasn't Aria.

"The Tower Master is not available."

"Since last night, she has yet to come out of her room because she said that she wasn't been feeling well."

"...Suddenly?"

"Yes, suddenly."

"...."

Yesterday afternoon, Ranya was lounging on the sofa, munching on Pringles.

The only reason that came to mind for that person's sudden health deterioration was "an audience with the Emperor."

Because of the budget issues, Ranya, who had been suffering from the imperial family, had a 'royalty allergy.'

Moreover, it's not just a meeting with royalty, but an audience with the Emperor.

Sudden bodily abnormalities had to be seen as a natural phenomenon.

"Should I bring someone else?"

There was no need to forcefully drag someone who clearly didn't want to go.

Anyway, the main purpose of this audience was for the Emperor to see me.

The problem is.

"...Trap card open. Energy Controller. ...Using the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon, and Lizard Warrior, as a sacrifice, summon the Ultimate Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon.

"This, this can't be happening! My Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon...!"

On one side of the office, the Third Prince, who had come in broad daylight claiming he would take Iberkina's Ice Dragon, was being outsmarted.

"Ahem, cough."

Zion was looking at the crystal orb, his face turning red with displeasure.

It seems unnecessary to even mention what he's looking at.

'Why is there no one normal around here?'

There was no one suitable to take along.

But I can't take the Magic Tower family members who won't even step outside the room.

"Such occasions are bothersome. As you know, I have a busy schedule."

Lilith, who had been licking her lips with a pleased expression at the thought of eating a summer hunt, declined.

I didn't even bring it up.

"Come to think of it, today is the day you go to help serve at Bianca's tavern, right?"

"If I'm not there, the store won't run properly. It's annoying, but I have no choice but to go."

Lilith spoke as if reluctantly agreeing, but her voice was filled with excitement.

The gaze kept glancing out the window as if waiting for something.

After a long time, as if she had finally found what she was looking for, Lilith's eyes sparkled like stars.

A moment later, the door to the conference room opened and someone came in.

With a gentle appearance and a warm atmosphere contrasting with her not-so-gentle body.

She was a woman with a heart so wide it seemed she would accept anything.

"Bianca!"

Lilith jumped up.

Then, like a baby bird seeing its mother, it runs over quickly.

"Why did you come so late!"

"Sorry, I got a bit delayed because of the shoot. Did you wait long?"

"Who said I was waiting?"

The woman who entered the meeting room was none other than Bianca.

She was also the 'guardian' who came to pick up Lilith every weekend.

"Listen up, I've created a new magic for the magic refrigerator this time."

"Hehe, is that so? That's impressive."

Bianca listened to Lilith's weekly bragging without getting bored, responding to each and every one of her stories. It was a level of patience that was almost admirable.

For reference, the Lilith who is currently being patted on the head and feeling smug is much older.

When our eyes met, Bianca smiled brightly and greeted me.

"Hello, boss."

"Yes, how are you, Bianca?"

Bianca was wearing a simple autumn tunic dress, as if she had just finished filming an advertisement.

"You're handling all four seasons."

Clearly, it was a modest outfit, but when Bianca wore it, it didn't look modest at all. The soft fullness was fully revealed above the tunic.

It was a richness that could not be hidden by mere health.

That's why every ad you shoot turns into a big deal.

"Then I'll take my leave. See you next week."

"Yes, please be careful."

Lilith left for Whiston with Bianca.

To serve at the tavern.

'Who will I go with?'

In the meeting room, the Third Prince was still being robbed of cards by Iberkina in a wager duel. (The Energy Controller was also one of the stolen cards.)

Even so, I have to acknowledge his tenacity for not giving up.

At least it wasn't a real fight like Paradox.

"Elder Brother, should I go with you?""

'No just stay and watch the Magic Tower.'

"Understood."

Zion was anxious.

As expected of a wizard lacking social skills, the kid was a bit oblivious.

If he made a mistake in front of the Emperor, he won't be able to handle the consequences.

In the end I was left with just one person.

"Aria, let's go."

"Sigh, I understand."

Aria stood up as if she had no choice.

*

"Master, I will be back."

"Mu, you have to come back safely."

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to die or anything, right?"

After greeting the Tower Master, who had come out to see us off to the entrance of the tower with great difficulty, I set out with Aria from the magic tower.

Before I knew it, autumn had fully arrived outside.

The weather was quite chilly.

At the entrance, a magic carriage from the imperial palace was parked, and the driver was waiting for us to come out.

"Look at me."

"Why?"

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"Alright, just stand still."

Aria stopped me.

A white hand reached out and smoothened the creases caught in my collar and sleeves.

"Hmm, that's good." Aria, who had scrutinized me from top to bottom, nods her head in satisfaction.

"You're going to meet His Majesty, so you should at least dress neatly."

"Yeah, thanks."

I tidied up as best as I could, but it seems there were still shortcomings in Aria's eyes.

Even though she seems tough on the outside, she actually takes good care of people.

"Let's go."

I got on the magic carriage with Aria.

"Departing."

With the driver's voice, the magic car started moving with a whoosh- sound.

"Why did you bring the air fryer?"

Aria, who was sitting next to me, looked at the air fryer I was holding and asked.

"You can't go to an audience empty-handed."

It's my first time meeting the Emperor, so I should at least bring a gift.

"Do you think he will like the air fryer?"

Aria tilted her head.

Indeed, the air fryer was a gift that did not suit the position of an 'Emperor.'

The air fryer is simplified 'mini oven' made to reduce the hassle of cooking, but the Emperor doesn't cook in the first place.

There are servants around who will do anything if he just say the word, so why would he bother using an air fryer?

To the owner of a country, convenient items were unnecessary.

Because the Emperor's position allowed for a life where everything was possible just by lying in bed.

However.

"He needs to manage his reputation well."

"...Ah, right. Then, he might like it."

The current Emperor was a person who devoted great effort to reputation management.

There are various circumstances here, but first, the previous Emperor was a tyrant.

Exploiting the citizens of the Empire was the norm, and thieves were rampant both inside and outside the country.

Even the influence of the 'Church' had risen to the level of imperial power.

The Emperor's reputation management was also to restore the image of the imperial family that had been tarnished by the previous generation.

Because there was a subtle sense of competition within the Church.

"That's why Summer Hunt became the dessert of the imperial court."

Because the Pope's favorite coffee ice cream is affogato.

And, to be precise, Summer Hunt was a 'rationed affogato' made to mimic an affogato.

The reason the Emperor chose the summer hunt as the imperial dessert was also due to this.

The Pope enjoys expensive affogato, but he says he prefers the summer hunt that the commoners eat.

The Emperor had previously revealed that he liked ramen. It's just that it didn't get much attention.

That's why I decided to give an air fryer as this year's imperial audience gift.

There was no gift as fitting for an Emperor pursuing a 'common man's image' with an air fryer.And my thoughts on this were exactly right.

"Come on in. We were waiting."

In the Emperor's audience chamber, there were 'common' items placed everywhere.

However.

'...That's not supposed to be open.'

The refrigerator door was wide open, with 'clothes' hanging inside, and the milk that should have been inside was outside.

In addition, there were Nuclear Fire Chicken Noodles and Beast Cards, which were presumed to have been placed by the First Princess and the Third Prince, respectively.

The Emperor smiled broadly when he saw my eyes turn towards magic refrigerator.

"Is it a product you made? When I put it away and take it out to wear, the clothes are cool, so it's nice. I'm also using the gym well."

"...."

The Emperor was a person who was quite wrong about the commoner lifestyle.

***

Read Forty (40) Chapters ahead!

Patreon(.)com/SiRoasa