Chef Gordon

Turns out, it was Gordon who saved me from those men. I owe him more than I could ever repay.

"T-thank you so much, Chef Gordon," I say, bowing deeply, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Without you… I don't even want to imagine what could've happened last night."

Gordon smiles warmly, shaking his head. "No need to thank me. I just did what I had to do. Besides, if something had happened to you, this lady here"—he nods toward Eris—"would've torn me apart."

I glance at Eris, who's standing nearby. Her earlier rage has mostly simmered down, but I can still see the fire in her eyes.

"Those bastards dared to make my girl cry?" Eris growls, her fists clenching tightly at her sides. "I'm going to make them pay with blood! Old man, did you get a look at their IDs? What rank were they?"

"Hmmm… if I remember correctly, they were D-rank," Gordon replies calmly.

"Ha! D-rank?" Eris scoffs, her lips curling into a dangerous grin. "I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"

But… something about this isn't right.

Eris showed me her ID earlier.

And her rank is…

"W-wait a minute!" I stammer, my heart thumping in my chest. "Eris, please don't do anything rash! I know you're angry, but… you're only E-rank. Those guys are D-rank—they're supposed to be stronger than you!"

But Eris doesn't seem fazed at all. In fact, she looks at me with a confident smirk, her expression both reassuring and a little terrifying.

"Huh? So what?" she says, flipping her hair back nonchalantly. "I'm going to break their arms so they won't ever think of messing with you again! Trust me!"

"Actually," Gordon interjects, stepping in with a steady voice, "Felicia's right. You shouldn't get involved, Eris. Let me handle this. I'll talk to those guys when they return, and if they don't listen, I'll give them a warning they won't forget."

"Hmmm…" Eris' brows furrow.

But then, she gives in.

"Tsk… fine. " she clicks her tongue in frustration, crossing her arms. "But make sure they get what's coming to them!"

"I will. Just leave it to me," Gordon reassures her, nodding.

I hesitate for a moment, glancing nervously at Gordon. "B-but Chef Gordon," I ask, "are you really stronger than them?"

With a light chuckle, Gordon reaches into his pocket and pulls out an ID card, holding it up proudly for me to see.

————————————-

Name: Gordon Ramsset

Date of Birth: November 8, 1286

Race: Goat Furren

Hometown: Sablethorn - Zehrak Desert

Adventurer Rank: B

Criminal Record: None

—————————————

"So, is that enough proof for you?" Gordon grins, his confidence beaming.

"Wowwwww!" I exclaim in awe. "Chef Gordon, you're amazing! Wait… Zehrak Desert? Is that the same place as Eris?"

"Yup," Eris chimes in, a smirk playing on her lips. "The old man's actually a retired adventurer from Zehrakia. He used to be one of my father's close friends—they fought together in many battles."

"Ooooh! Really?"

"That's right!" Gordon confirms with a chuckle. "I was still deep in the dungeon, slaying monsters, when one day I suddenly felt like I needed to spend more time with my daughter." He then turns to Eris with a grin. "And I've known this little kitty since she was no bigger than a loaf of bread! Eris, you used to be so much more adorable back then!"

"Huh? Loaf of what? What are you talking about, old man?" Eris snaps her face a little bit blushed, but I can't help giggling.

It all makes sense now—why Eris calls him 'old man' with such affection. Turns out, they share a very deep bond.

"So rest assured," Gordon says, patting my shoulder with a reassuring hand. "With me around, no one's going to mess with you!"

"Yup," Eris adds, nodding. "He may be old, but he's reliable. If you run into any trouble, just go to him."

with that, a wave of relief washes over me, and I smile gratefully.

"Thank you so much, Chef Gordon!"

Now, everything feels lighter. The heavy weight of fear that had been pressing down on me begins to lift. Knowing someone as strong as Gordon is looking out for me makes me feel safe.

But then, Gordon's expression shifts, becoming more serious. "Still," he says, his tone dropping slightly, "you need to be careful, Felicia—especially because, well… you're quite pretty in the eyes of men like those."

"Ah, y-you're right…" I mumble, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Now that I think about it, maybe it's not safe to wear such cute clothes in public. What if I attract more unwanted attention?

"Nah, don't worry about that!" Eris interrupts, giving me a confident smile. "I'm with you, remember?"

"And don't underestimate Eris," Gordon adds. "She may be E-rank, but she's stronger than she looks. You're in good hands."

I look at Eris, her bright smile lifting my spirits. "A-alright," I say, nodding slowly. "I trust Eris."

"Hihi," Eris giggles, playfully nudging me.

"Actually, wait here for a moment," Gordon says, heading into the back room.

After a few minutes, he returns, holding something in his hands—a weapon.

"Here," he says, handing it to me. "Take this."

It's a messer sword, a type of one handed, single-edged sword, still sheathed, but the weight feels perfect in my hands. For some reason, it feels lighter than it looks. Slowly, I pull the blade from its sheath, watching as it gleams in the light.

"Woaaaah!" I gasp in amazement, my eyes glued to the shining metal. The blade is covered in mesmerizing wavy patterns.

Is that…

Damascus steel?

"It's my old sword," Gordon explains, "but it's still sharp and strong. I just sharpened it a few days ago. Consider it my apology for what happened."

"T-thank you, Chef Gordon!" I bow deeply. "But… are you sure? It must be very valuable."

"Nah," Eris says in with a grin. "He's got tons of weapons lying around."

"Exactly," Gordon says, laughing. "And besides, I'm a chef now. I don't need a sword to slice vegetables! Better it protect you than collect dust in storage."

My heart swells with gratitude, and I bow again. "Thank you… thank you so much for this precious gift!"

"Hihi, I'll teach you some basic sword techniques," Eris says, helping me strap the sword to a baldric that fits across my chest. "With a little practice, you'll be able to defend yourself easily!"

"Yes!" I nod enthusiastically.

Once the sword is secured, I feel a surge of confidence, like I'm ready for anything.

"So, how are you feeling now? Better?" Eris asks.

"Yes, much better!" I reply, nodding.

"Good," Eris says. "Now, shall we head out?"

"Nn!"

With that, we say our goodbyes to Gordon and step outside, ready to explore Mistvale in the morning light.