A Mason Won Over by Barbecue (Please Vote!)

"Closed for business!?"

On Eckley Street in Ruby District, Mason stood at the entrance to Ron's Wonderful Flower Shop, staring speechlessly at the sign hanging on the door.

Honestly, if Nether Orchid hadn't been so effective, Mason would have suspected that Ron had fled with the money.

He went into the clothing shop next door and asked the owner where Ron had gone.

" The owner of the flower shop next door? I'm not sure. He usually closes up pretty early, though—around five every afternoon."

"But it's only four thirty," Mason said, puzzled.

"That I couldn't tell you." The owner shook his head. "You could ask the owner of the Barbecue Shop on the other side. He seems to get along pretty well with the guy next door."

So Mason headed over to Lyle's Barbecue Shop.

But Lyle wasn't there, so Mason had to ask the two employees inside.

"Someone's looking for me?" Ron asked in surprise from the courtyard.

"Yes." Lyle nodded. "It seems to be the customer who bought flowers from your shop yesterday. Should I invite him in, or would you rather go out and meet him?"

Ron's eyes shifted as he guessed what the visitor wanted. Then, remembering who he was, Ron smiled and said, "Invite him in. He can try your new barbecue while he's here. He's an assistant teacher at the Magic Academy, so he can taste it and help promote your shop there."

Lyle's eyes lit up, and he nodded at once.

Lyle soon brought Mason inside and showed him to a seat at the table, where his legs dangled above the floor.

"Hello, Mason. Nice to see you again," Ron said politely.

"Hello, Ron." Mason smiled and thanked him. "I owe you one. Without your Nether Orchid, I might never have advanced to Tier Four as a mage."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "You just advanced to Tier Four?"

"That's right." Mason nodded with a sigh. "I'd been stuck at Tier Three for a long time. I tried to advance four times and failed every time. But after using your Nether Orchid today, I made it to Tier Four without a hitch. It's completely changed my life."

"Congratulations," Ron said with a smile.

Just then, Lyle walked into the courtyard carrying a huge platter of barbecue. "Come on, give our new barbecue a try!"

Mason had been about to continue, and perhaps bring up the possibility of buying more Nether Orchids, but the rich aroma of meat immediately drew his attention.

"We can talk while we eat," Ron said to Mason. He glanced at the skewers on the table, sprinkled with cumin and pepper. They smelled incredible.

"W-what is this?" Mason had never seen meat prepared this way, and he looked at it with curiosity.

Ron grinned, picked up a lamb skewer, and took a few bites. Chewing as he spoke, he said, "Just take a clean bit at the end and eat it like this."

Mason found the whole thing fascinating. He cautiously picked up a skewer and examined it. "What did you sprinkle on it? It doesn't look like salt."

"These seasonings were invented by Ron. They taste ten thousand times better than salt! Try them and see!" Lyle said proudly.

Mason took a small bite and chewed slowly.

His eyes widened. He couldn't believe how delicious the meat was. It was as if his taste buds had exploded!

"Mmm..." Mason quickly finished the skewer in his hand and grabbed another. He couldn't stop.

Seeing Mason eating without pause, Ron and Lyle exchanged a smile.

"It's so good! Cough, cough!" Mason ate more than ten skewers in one sitting. He only stopped when his throat started to feel dry.

Lyle promptly brought over two cups of ale.

Mason thanked him and drained a cup, feeling thoroughly refreshed.

Ron had eaten barbecue countless times, so he was much calmer than Mason.

After finishing a skewer, he asked, "As a customer, Mason, what do you think of this way of cooking meat?"

"I think it's fantastic! I've never had barbecue this delicious!" Mason gave Ron a thumbs-up, then picked up another skewer.

Lyle was thrilled by Mason's praise. He felt even more confident about the future of his Barbecue Shop.

Ron nodded in satisfaction, thinking, That's the magic of skewers.

If you'd never had skewers with friends in your life, you'd be missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures!

Creating a barbecue shop in another world had given Ron a fascinating new experience and a different kind of sense of achievement.

Still, he wasn't going to spend too much time on it.

Seasonings like cumin and pepper could certainly seem novel at first, but in time they would become ordinary seasonings like any other.

Besides, it would be far too easy for someone to copy them.

Once the recipe for the seasonings got out, barbecue shops would soon spring up everywhere, taking some of the customers away from Lyle's shop.

And once the recipe spread, people would surely try making other kinds of seasonings, too.

This world was so full of wonders that someone might even come up with seasonings more delicious than these.

So Lyle's Barbecue Shop might be all the rage for a while, but in the end, it would eventually become just another ordinary shop.

That had little to do with Ron, though.

He just wanted somewhere he could get free barbecue. There was no need to think so much about it.

Maybe he could try hot pot or a hot pot restaurant like Haidilao someday?

In any case, he was still young. There was no need to rush.

After they'd polished off the food, Ron and Mason were full and had drunk their fill. Mason had even forgotten why he'd come.

Ron, however, remembered. He stood up and said to Mason, "So, shall we talk business now? I assume you didn't come just to thank me."

"Uh, right, of course!" Mason finally remembered why he'd come and hurried to his feet. "I'm here to buy Nether Orchids. Professor Hicks from our academy wants to buy five from you."

"Come with me." Ron nodded, then looked at Lyle. "Shall we call it a day?"

"Sure. Your business comes first." Lyle waved a hand.

"Oh, right. I haven't paid for the meal yet." Mason reached for his wallet.

Lyle stopped him at once. "No need. This barbecue is on me. I was going to treat Ron anyway, and I wasn't trying to make money off you."

Mason shook his head. "How could I? This is the first time I've ever had food this good. I can't just leave without paying."

"Then help Lyle promote his shop at the Magic Academy," Ron interjected. "Your friends should get to try food this delicious, too. You can help bring in more customers for Lyle. What do you think?"

"Exactly!" Lyle nodded emphatically. "That'd be great!"

Seeing that Lyle agreed, Mason gave up on paying. "All right. I'll bring some people to try your barbecue tomorrow."

Bring on the recommendation votes~(???????)