(Morcster Chef Book 2) - Chapter 85 (Patreon)

“Trapping the room?” Arek guessed.

“Only a little,” Belmont muttered. “I’m still working on new designs. But this giant window was unsettling me. I don’t want people watching me when I sleep.”

“I think I might agree with you a little,” Arek agreed, sitting down on his bed. The window was so large that he could easily see out of it from across the room. Belmont and Ming finished hanging up the towels and stepped back, nodding approvingly at their work.

Belmont finished a few minutes later and Ming hopped into her bed. After one final sweep of the room, Belmont took out a pad from his extradimensional bag and laid it out over his bed before laying down on top of it, leaving his armor on.

The Happy Sunflowers drifted off into sleep, peaceful and relaxed for the first time in weeks.

The following morning peeked under the towels that Belmont and Ming had hung. Faint rays of sunshine slipped through the cracks and illuminated the room in a warm glow. They all arose at about the same time, climbing out of bed and yawning.

“Was that really a full night of rest?” Malissa asked. “I feel like it wasn’t.”

“We’re up in the clouds,” Belmont said. “It’s very possible that we’re seeing the sun earlier than when we would have on the ground, since there are mountains or buildings blocking it.”

“Wonderful,” Malissa said. “Should we find a place to train?”

“I think we’ve had enough training recently,” Arek said. “We shouldn’t slack for too long, but we can afford to take a few days off.”

“You just want to challenge that chef,” Ming said. “And I want you to as well. I’m hungry.”

“It would be a good way to get some more insight into the city,” Belmont said. “If you’re anything to go by, chefs wake up very early. Maybe he’s ready for you. Everyone here is so relaxed, but exciting events are great ways to see people’s true feelings. This is a useful opportunity.”

“Hey, you don’t have to convince me,” Arek said, laughing. “I’d try to learn from this chef, even if half of the city was trying to shish kebab me while I was doing it.”

“Shish kebab?” Ming asked. “That sounds like food.”

“It’s spiced meat on a skewer,” Arek replied.

“Tasty.”

“Not if you’re the meat.”

They chuckled at Ming’s forlorn expression. After a few more minutes of tidying up and visiting the restrooms to prepare for the day, the Happy Sunflowers headed back down into the tavern.

About five dozen gazes tracked the four of them as they stepped out of the stairwell. The tables had been pushed to the side to make room for the huge crowd that had piled into the center of the tavern.

“We’ve been waiting for you to come down!” the waitress from the previous night exclaimed cheerfully, pushing through the crowd and waving to them. “I hope you all slept well!”

“We did,” Arek said, taken aback. “Why are there so many people here?”

“Not many people try to challenge Chef Gernon! It’s been a while since we’ve had a chef come through the Floating Cities,” she said. “Naturally, I sent out some feelers to let people know there would be a challenge today.”

“I see,” Arek said. “Well, I’m ready to compete, so long as you’re providing the ingredients.”

“Your party can join the crowd,” the waitress said. “Gernon is waiting for you outside.”

People parted like a sea of flesh, allowing her to lead Arek through.

“I’m Betsy, by the way,” the waitress said, opening the door and steeping through it. Arek followed after her. His eyes widened. The street was covered with people. Rope barriers had been erected in a wide ring around two huge tables in the center of the street.

A large man in plain white robes stood behind it, his heavily muscled arms crossed before him. His head was clean shaven and shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Arek slowly approached the table beside the man, taking in the crowd as he walked.

The tables were laden with several tools. A large circular stone sat atop the center, crisscrossing metal forming a basket shape above it. A dial at its bottom gave away that it was powered by a Moonrune.

A flash of red and black slipped through the corner of Arek’s vision. He spun to look for it, but the crowd was too dense and whatever he’d seen had already vanished. His brow furrowed but he mentally shrugged, striding over to his table.

“Welcome, challenger!” the man who could have only been Gernon boomed, uncrossing his arms and giving Arek a wide smile. “It’s been too long. I’ve been worried that my skills have been getting rusty. I hope you’re up to the task.”

“I highly doubt your skills being anything but polished,” Arek replied, taking his pack off his shoulders and setting it down on the ground beside the table.

Another flash of black and red caught his eye off to the left of the crowd. This time, Arek was able to make out the vague form of a cloak before it disappeared back into the sea of people.

“You speak too highly of me,” Gernon chuckled. “Before we begin, I must request that you introduce yourself. It is tradition, and the Floating Cities follow tradition very closely.”

“Uh…” Arek said, his mind blanking out. He cleared his throat. “I am Arek. Roaming chef with the Happy Sunflowers adventuring group.”

“Well met, Arek of the Happy Sunflowers!” Gernon boomed. “I am Gernon, Fourth Chef of the Floating Cities! My specialty is meat. I’ve yet to face off against an orc, but I have high hopes for you, Arek. Are you ready?”

“I am,” Arek said. “What will we be cooking?”

“The staple of all meats. The commoner’s meal, but brought to new heights,” Gernon said, theatrically throwing his hands out and spinning to look at the crowd before returning his attention to Arek. “Today, we’ll be making chicken.”