Being acknowledged this much is gratifying, but it's honestly troublesome.
No matter how high the pay, anything beyond the fixed selling price would vanish during currency conversion, making it largely meaningless. Jinseo knew very well that, compared to selling small quantities at high prices to a specific individual, selling steadily at fixed prices to many people made it far easier to raise the food truck's rank.
On top of that, there was always the possibility that unforeseen circumstances could prevent him from returning to the Francia Continent. As things stood, he could freely drive the food truck and sell wherever he pleased, but if he were formally employed, failing to appear would only cause trouble.
Even so, Jinseo began thinking about how he might satisfy Karl, who clearly wanted his bunsik this badly.
AI, is it possible to designate a teleportation point here and move to it?
{It is possible, but since this location is extremely far from the currently saved base point, Falstead Castle, the mana consumption would be enormous.}
How enormous? Run the numbers.
{Teleporting from Falstead Castle to Colses Castle and returning would require leaving the mobile cooking equipment inactive for at least five days.}
Then that's not feasible.
{As the mobile cooking equipment's rank increases, the maximum amount of stored mana will increase as well, reducing the downtime required before reactivation.}
So for now, it's still impossible.
Jinseo briefly considered visiting Karl's estate once a month to sell bunsik instead of being employed outright, but quickly abandoned the idea after realizing even that would be difficult.
"I'm sorry."
"Truly?"
"Yes."
"I see. That's unfortunate."
Hearing the same answer again, Karl finally gave up on persuasion and let out a long sigh.
"In that case, I'd like to enjoy your bunsik a bit more. I've digested some already, after all. Let me indulge enough that I won't regret it later. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes."
Returning to the food truck, Jinseo took out ingredients and began preparing them. Karl watched him with lingering regret in his eyes, while the guards let out quiet sighs of relief.
They had narrowly avoided a situation where all their bunsik would have become Karl's private indulgence.
Amid the contrasting moods, Jinseo began serving bunsik once again.
"This is delicious too. I really like it."
As dishes that hadn't been served earlier appeared one after another, Karl's gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a broad smile.
"I never imagined so many unfamiliar dishes would keep coming."
"Oh my, try this one! I thought it would be quite spicy, but it has a refreshing tang to it! Stella, you should try it too."
"I really like it. But it's such a shame that we can only enjoy these bunsiks today."
The conversation continued to revolve entirely around bunsik, rather than the true protagonists of the day, Aston and Stella.
To make matters worse, Aston and Oswald had fallen completely silent, focusing solely on eating Jinseo's food.
Is this really fine…? Should I play some romantic music to change the mood?
Though he was technically a third party, Jinseo wanted to help Oswald in any way he could, considering all the conveniences Oswald had provided.
Taking out the remote, Jinseo left the large TV off and instead played an OST from a movie he enjoyed through the large speakers.
At once, the diners' gazes turned toward the food truck.
"This sound is…"
Stella, who had been eating jjolmyeon, set down her fork and turned toward the source of the music.
To produce such sound normally would require many instruments and musicians, yet no matter how she looked, only the food truck stood there.
"Father, can't you hear it?"
"Hm? Is someone performing?" Karl belatedly noticed the music and looked around.
"I've never heard music performed in this manner… No, more importantly, where is it being played from?"
"That's probably coming from the speaker attached to the food truck," Oswald replied casually, slurping up his jjolmyeon.
Having already experienced movies through the large TV, music playing through a speaker hardly seemed noteworthy to him.
The guards likewise relaxed, enjoying their bunsik as they listened to the music.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Karl finally stood up, plate of food in his left hand.
"It's definitely coming from here… but there can't possibly be someone inside."
Though he had seen many magical devices before, a speaker was far removed from anything his common sense could imagine.
Jinseo stepped up beside him and explained the situation.
"So this long black box is producing the music?"
"To put it simply, it's a magical device that stores sound and lets you hear it again whenever you want."
"A magical device that produces such beautiful music… Where did you obtain it?"
Karl turned to Jinseo, his gaze filled with determination.
"How much would it cost? No—where can I get one? Who made it?"
"Well, about that…"
"If that's impossible, could you at least introduce me to the mage who made it? Or tell me where they live?"
As Karl's barrage of questions continued, Jinseo began sweating.
Ah, this isn't good either.
As he struggled to think of an escape, more people gathered around the speaker.
"It's truly wonderful. I'd love to invite the ensemble that played this piece. Stella, don't you think so?"
"I'm very curious about what instruments were used."
Karl and his daughter stood side by side, chatting pleasantly as they enjoyed the music.
At that moment, a woman slowly entered the garden.
The guards at the gate followed her closely, tense expressions on their faces.
"Oh! Th-that person, could it be…!"
Recognizing the vestments she wore, Stella covered her mouth.
The maids, having recognized her as well, quickly parted to make way.
"I never imagined she would come in person…"
Karl set down his plate, wiped his mouth with a rolled cloth napkin, and adjusted his attire with the butler's help.
Amid the collective tension, the woman approached Karl with a warm smile.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Fedora, an unworthy servant of Him."
"It is an honor to meet you, Cardinal Fedora."
"May His blessing be with you. I was delayed after meeting some acquaintances within the order."
At the title Cardinal, tension spread through the garden.
The guards who had stood up in advance stared at him blankly.
They had grown quite close during the journey to Colses Castle, forgetting for a time that she was not someone to be treated casually.
Right. She's a cardinal. This reaction is only natural.
Jinseo felt both awe and relief—the attention had finally shifted away from the speaker.
"I originally came to bless the new bond being formed today, but…" Fedora's gaze swept over Aston and Stella. "Judging by your expressions, it seems a bit early. We can postpone that."
Smiling gently, Fedora turned toward Jinseo.
The people around them instinctively stepped aside, leaving Jinseo standing face-to-face with him.
"Mr. Jinseo."
"Yes—yes! Please speak."
Seeing Jinseo flustered, Fedora smiled more lightly than before.
"From now on, you should attach this to your food truck. Somewhere highly visible."
From within her robes, Fedora took out an object and held it before Jinseo.
"Th-that is!" At that moment, Oswald gasped, staring fixedly at the small emblem Jinseo had received.
The people of the marquisate widened their eyes as well.
"This is…?" Jinseo tilted his head, utterly confused.
It was a small object made of pure white silver—clearly connected to the order Fedora belonged to, but nothing more.
"Cardinal, I'm afraid I don't know what this is."
"Ah, that's understandable. You're not a follower of our order. This emblem is a sacred symbol officially recognized by the Heirem Order, signifying a consecrated relic."
"…What?"
"Any follower or cleric of the Heirem Order who sees this emblem must make the sign of the cross and show reverence."
"…."
Jinseo couldn't quite grasp what was happening.
Being asked to provide bunsik at a noble matchmaking banquet was one thing—but having his food truck designated as a holy relic was something else entirely.
I'm not dreaming, am I?
As he turned around in disbelief, Jinseo saw guests standing solemnly, making the sign of the cross toward his food truck.
"If the food truck were fixed in one location, it would have been designated a holy site," Fedora continued. "But since it can move, consensus formed around recognizing it as a sacred relic instead."
"A relic… a holy site…"
"Of course, you're free to refuse. You are not a believer, and we considered the possibility that religious conviction might prevent acceptance. And…" Fedora paused, then leaned closer, whispering near Jinseo's left ear. "My apologies for not informing you sooner. It occurred to me suddenly."
Her tone turned solemn as she continued, looking at the food truck.
"If you accept this designation, incidents like the recent ambush will not happen again—unless one is foolish enough to make an enemy of the Heirem Order."
At that moment, Jinseo's eyes widened—not from Fedora's authority, but because a translucent status window appeared over the emblem in his hand.
{Name: Sacred Emblem of the Heirem Order
Effect: When attached to mobile cooking equipment, followers of the Heirem Order who use it gain a 20% increase in mileage and experience gained.}
"I accept. Should I attach it here?"
Without hesitation, Jinseo affixed the emblem above the driver's-side door of the food truck.
"This is… a sacred relic of the Heirem Order…" Karl made the sign of the cross, staring silently at the emblem—very differently from how he had looked at the speaker. "Jinseo, forget everything I said earlier. I nearly committed a grave offense."
"Pardon? I didn't take it as rude in the slightest…"
"No. I cannot ask for a sacred relic for my personal desires. Nor can I demand that something officially recognized by the Heirem Order be moved at will. It is only right that I come to it."
"If you insist… then very well."
Now the inadvertent owner and resident of a sacred relic, Jinseo could only stand there, dazed.
Moments ago, the guests had been happily eating bunsik; now they clasped their hands in prayer toward the food truck.
Finding the sudden sanctity of the garden unsettling, Jinseo stared at Fedora.
"Cardinal, how did you manage to have the food truck designated as a relic?"
"The method was simple. Some years ago, I stayed in Colses Castle for a time. I recently reunited with brethren I was indebted to and treated them to an appropriate meal." Fedora smiled and handed Jinseo an empty plastic bag. "I couldn't have eaten five servings of special tteokbokki by myself, after all."
As everyone's attention remained fixed on the food truck, Fedora met Jinseo's eyes alone, her smile faintly mischievous.
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