Chapter 24: Improvement March

It was only natural, but the hot dog incident was discovered by Selly.

Since this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, did I get better at sensing it?

Selly answered my question in a voice full of frustration.

“Do you think I wouldn’t notice when there’s a delicious smell in the air and people are looking for foods they’ve never heard of before?”

Ah, that oversight!

The hot dog business ended that day, but the story about the hot dog didn’t end—it only grew bigger.

How did the rumor about “gourmet Robert’s highly praised street food” evolve into “a dish you’ll regret not trying, a dish that’s half your life wasted”?

And how did it change into “food made by the Apostle of God who secretly descended to Earth”?

People, caught up in the festive atmosphere, were shouting the name of God while rummaging through every food stand, and the vendors, in turn, threw out their existing foods and switched to selling only hot dogs.

When I heard the news, I couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded.

How on Earth did a corn salad hot dog become food from heaven?

“Isn’t this the kind of rumor that most religious groups would call heresy and stamp out?”

But the religious group remained silent. Perhaps they didn’t want to break the festive mood, or maybe they felt it wasn’t worth responding to.

Thanks to that, I had to wrap a hood around my head to avoid being recognized…

Even now, the image of food lovers with wild eyes rushing toward me sends a chill down my spine.

“Was it some kind of zombie movie?”

At least they were charging with gold coins instead of teeth, which wasn’t so bad.

I shook my head, trying to shake off that scene, and tried to calm Selly down.

“Sorry. But I made a lot of money, so I’ll buy you whatever you want. Just name it!”

“Do you think I’m a woman who forgives everything just because I get presents?”

She forgave me.

After I gave her new sausages, hot dogs, clothes, and accessories, she grudgingly accepted my apology, holding up the ring I had bought for her, and kept smiling while looking at it.

“Just a little longer and this ring will fit on my ring finger…”

Well, let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.

And then I had an unexpected encounter with someone.

“You, making quite a racket even in the capital?”

“Sir! I heard you went back to your hometown! Did you come to watch the victory ceremony?”

It was the elder Graham, who had generously passed on all his knowledge to me!

Unlike when I saw him at the Hilton, he was now dressed in expensive clothes and exuded the atmosphere of a true aristocrat.

But was the only thing that changed his appearance? No, he still spoke to me in a playful tone.

“As a citizen of the kingdom, you can’t miss an event like this. So, how does it feel to be the Apostle of God?”

“No… where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from Lord Robert. He was really praising you.”

Lord Robert? That food-loving guy?

I was surprised and asked him, and yes, it was the same person.

It was shocking to learn that the president of the Kingdom’s Culinary Association, to which Lord Robert belonged, was this very elder!

My mouth fell open in disbelief, and the elder asked with a puzzled expression.

“You didn’t know? I thought you’d know since you said you learned cooking.”

“I learned from somewhere far away… wait, so do you also know the reporter who wrote the article about my restaurant?”

“Of course, I do. I’m the one who introduced your restaurant to that reporter, so how could I not know?”

I see now. No wonder it felt strange to see my restaurant on the front page.

Nodding in realization, the elder clicked his tongue.

“Youngsters these days are so lacking in information. I guess you must be completely in the dark about the victory ceremony too.”

“Oh, I heard that from Jackson, the branch leader. You’re talking about the tournament, right?”

“I’m glad you know that. You’re not planning on participating, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m retired now.”

“Right. With your body not being in the best condition, it’s probably better you don’t go. You made the right choice.”

The elder nodded and then got to the point.

“Then, during the tournament, do you have any free time? I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

“Well… I’m not participating, but my student is…”

“Student? You’ve taken on a disciple?”

“Yeah, it just happened that way.”

The elder looked at me with a perplexed expression.

“Hmm… Is there any way you could get their permission to come out? This is a rare opportunity to introduce someone to you…”

“I brought them here, so it feels odd if they’re not in the audience.”

“Still, this is such a valuable opportunity…”

He said that, but I was curious.

Who could this person be that the elder emphasized as a ‘rare opportunity’?

The elder continued to persuade me, and eventually, I couldn’t resist and suggested a compromise.

“Well, if you insist… But could I at least watch the tournament until the finals?”

“That’s no problem! After all, it’ll be hard to meet that person for a long time, so it’s fine. You made a great choice.”

“You keep stressing that, so now I’m really curious. Could you at least give me a hint about who they are?”

The elder chuckled and diverted the conversation.

“Ho ho, you’ll find out when you meet them. By the way, you seem really confident in your disciple. Do I know them?”

“I think you might… But instead of introducing them here, how about we meet after the tournament? Is that okay with you?”

“If they’re your disciple, I’ll make time to meet them. Alright, I’m looking forward to it.”

The elder told me the date and location of the meeting, then left, saying he had other appointments.

And soon after, the day of the victory ceremony arrived.

It was a clear day with no clouds in sight.

On the streets, countless citizens gathered, chatting in small groups with excited faces. Selly and I were swept up in the crowd.

Selly, holding my hand, whispered to me.

“Uncle, can’t you let go of my hand?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll hold onto it tight.”

With those words, I tightened my grip.

As our fingers intertwined, I could feel the ring on Selly’s finger.

The warmth of the metal heated by her body.

It felt like a premonition of a clanking sound coming from afar.

‘It’s coming.’

I looked at the main gate of the castle surrounding the capital.

They’ll be here soon.

My comrades, who had kept their promise, are coming back.

It was something I was eagerly anticipating, but at the same time, it filled me with fear.

‘What if others who were injured are coming out too?’

It had been such a fierce battlefield.

A battlefield where it wouldn’t be strange to be gravely injured.

In the worst case, I might have lost my life.

If any of the party members who returned were missing—

Crack—

At that moment, I felt a small pressure in my hand.

Turning my head, I saw Selly looking up at me with a worried expression.

“Are you okay? Your face doesn’t look good.”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Selly stared at my face intently after I spoke.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but—”

Suddenly, Selly let go of my hand and stood in front of me.

She spun around like she was dancing, smiling brightly.

“It’s a good day! There will definitely be only good things happening!”

I couldn’t help but let out a soft “Ah” at her words.

Pollen drifting with the wind, and the fluttering of Selly’s clothes.

In the midst of it all, I saw Selly smiling brightly—

“The door is opening! It’s the victory march!”

I snapped back to reality at someone’s shout.

Looking at the main gate, it was slowly opening just as the person had said.

Beyond the open gate, I saw countless soldiers in armor.

The armor was polished, but the signs of battle were still visible as the soldiers guarded someone with intense vigilance.

And as the door fully opened, the wall of soldiers parted, revealing the person they had been escorting.

“It’s Prince Mars! Prince Mars has returned!”

“Long live Prince Mars! Long live the Cartesia Kingdom!”

The kingdom’s first prince, Mars Cartesia.

With a face as stiff as a soldier’s, he led the soldiers with a dignified gesture, moving through the citizens.

But the royal procession didn’t end there.

“It’s Princess Elisia! Princess Elisia has returned too!”

“Long live Princess Elisia!”

The second princess, Elisia.

“It’s Princess Martina! Long live Princess Martina!”

And the third princess, Martina.

Each of the royals, leading adventurers who had fought alongside their armies, advanced to the castle, greeted by the cheers of the citizens.

I desperately scanned the long procession.

Surely, our party members must be among them—

“Ah!”

And then, I finally spotted them.

Not far from Princess Martina.

Though partially hidden by soldiers, I could still make out some familiar figures.

The first person I noticed was Gatos, who was a head taller than everyone else.

Next to him, Alvin seemed to be whispering something to Gatos.

Daisy, whose cane stood out more than her small frame.

And—

‘They’re safe.’

Isel, leading the party with her white hair fluttering like snow.

Seeing that everyone was safe, I felt my heart race wildly.

‘Everyone is safe.’

I turned back to Selly, who was watching the procession, and tightly held her hand.

As Selly had said, today is truly a good day.