ATP 3

Chapter 3

I blinked and looked at the girl. She had pretty brown hair and seemed about my age…

“Ugh! Ailet, you’re dead meat when the head maid shows up!”

“……”

Judging by the sharp tone, she clearly wasn’t a friend.

Just then, a robust-looking woman—presumably the head maid—stomped in.

“Ailet! What are you slacking off for? Go help in the kitchen immediately!”

“Uh… kitchen work? Me?”

“Then who else here but you lazy freeloader?!”

Even so, kitchen work… I couldn’t even cook in my own life. I had survived on frozen meals and delivery. Cooking was completely alien to me.

But the bigger problem was something else entirely.

I was around ten years old. Did child labor really work like this in this world?

At that moment, two more people appeared.

“Head maid! Ailet is far too young. Kitchen work is way too much for her.”

“Father is right. I can do it instead, okay?”

A man and a young boy, presumably my vessel’s family, pleaded on my behalf.

I noticed that the boy had the exact same pink hair as me.

“Prinz! Aren’t you supposed to be in class? Why are you here? Go back to your seat immediately!”

“H-head maid!”

“And the alchemist, how long will you coddle your daughter? Ten years old is old enough. She should earn her keep!”

“Putting our daughter in such a busy, exhausting place… what if she gets hurt?”

“Oh, nonsense. Maids are my responsibility. Keep arguing, and I’ll report you to the lady!”

Ah, so the scholarly-looking man in his thirties and the pink-haired boy were indeed my vessel’s family.

Family…

It felt awkward and strange somehow.

The pink-haired boy didn’t back down even after being scolded.

“But Nelly, who’s eleven, doesn’t work at all.”

The brown-haired girl flinched beside him. I caught her name.

“My daughter is different! Nelly won’t be doing chores like that. She’ll be trained as a lady’s attendant—what if her hands get hurt!”

So she was related to the head maid. Good to know.

I focused on gathering information.

Nelly, emboldened by her mother’s backing, whispered loud enough for only me to hear.

“I’m not crying today. Why? Thinking about the slap you gave me last time makes the tears disappear?”

A slap? Perfect. The rivalry was crystal clear.

The head maid made her move.

“Let’s take her to the kitchen before sending her to the laundry room!”

As someone well-read in fantasy novels, I knew the laundry room was the harshest labor zone. Hot, humid basement, heavy wet laundry, dealing with lye… Only the strongest maids survived there. A ten-year-old like me? Impossible.

The alchemist and the pink-haired boy fidgeted nervously. I didn’t want them to see me like that.

“Alright! I’ll help in the kitchen!”

“Oh!”

“It’s fine. I’ll do my best!”

Even to my own ears, my voice sounded clear and sweet.

“Good, very good choice.”

The head maid and her daughter smiled slyly. Their mischievous faces showed they planned to push me to my limits.

I grinned back. After all, the Cash Shop didn’t only sell combat packages.

[<Item> ‘Career Change Package (Non-Combat)’]
A package that helps possessed individuals make a living. You can choose one non-combat professional skill—cooking, farming, carpentry, alchemy, etc.—and awaken it.
Price: 2,000,000 Cash

[<System> You have purchased ‘Career Change Package (Non-Combat)’]
[<System> You selected ‘Heir of the Great Chef’ and have awakened Cooking Lv.1. You can now use: ‘Ingredient Analysis’, ‘Perfect Ingredient Prep’, ‘Sommelier-Level Seasoning’, and ‘Immaculate Kitchen Cleaning’.]

I can feel it.

A surge of energy filled my hands. Alright, let’s do this.

Chapter 3: The Little Maid’s Social Life

Swish, swish, chop, chop, tap-tap-tap!

“I’ve washed the mini carrots and broccoli clean!”
“……”
“I’ve trimmed all the king oyster mushrooms!”
“……”
“I peeled all the garlic and onions! That’s all the vegetables. I separated the bad ones, hehe.”
“……”
“The beef pieces are this size, right? Maybe a bit big? But meat tastes better when you chew big chunks.”
“……”
“Finished the fresh cream perfectly! Whew, my arms hurt… can I rest a bit?”
“Y-yes…”
“Thanks! …All rested!”
“Already?!”
“Yes! Now I’ll clean up!”

I completed every task perfectly and even cleaned up afterward. Even as a child, my hands were skilled.

“Hehe… experience points… experience points… hehe…”

For some reason, I enjoyed this grueling work.

The head maid, who had been watching me, panicked. Her plan had gone awry. Her lips pursed tightly, like a tiny walnut.

This isn’t what I brought her here for!

Other kitchen maids, who had only been observing, couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Wow. You work so well.”
“You have a good eye for ingredients.”
“Was there really talent like this in our mansion?”
“Of course, the daughter of Alchemist Leonard is exceptional.”
“So cute…”

I smiled politely at their compliments, and more maids gathered. Someone even fed me a strawberry they had carefully washed.

“Delicious, sister!”
“Mhm!”

Soon, all sorts of fruit used for pancake decorations were being offered to me. The warm, lively kitchen atmosphere made the head maid fume even more.

I leaned forward, sniffing the air like a deer.

“The cream stew smells amazing.”
“Want to taste it?”

It was Chief Chef Faisha who asked casually.

All the kitchen maids gasped. Faisha’s pride in her craft was legendary, and she almost never let anyone taste her cooking.

“Yes!”

I answered cheerfully, oblivious to the tension.

The head maid tried to intervene.

“Chef Faisha, what are you saying! That little girl can’t just—”

“Head maid, stop wasting time. This is my kitchen; stay out of it.”

With Faisha’s authority, the head maid had no choice but to step back.

I ladled some stew to taste.

Sommelier-Level Seasoning activated!

The power of Cash infused my tongue.

“Hmmm… needs more umami. Maybe just a pinch of crushed pepper?”
“…Really?”

Faisha’s usually indifferent eyes sparkled with renewed interest. I had just passed her test.

This child has talent!

Without hesitation, she decided.

“Ailet Rodeline.”
“Yes, Chef! Anything else you need me to do?”
“Would you like to learn cooking?”
“Cook? Uh… well, I guess so?”

I had been chasing experience points more than skill, so I answered half-dazed.

The kitchen maids were shocked. The strict head chef taking on a disciple was unheard of.

“From tomorrow, come to the kitchen at 6… no, 7 a.m. You’re young, so we’ll give you a bit of leniency.”
“Yes!”

Even giving me an hour later start!

The head maid’s arm trembled with frustration. My path had been smoothed entirely against her intentions. In rage, she kicked a pot.

“Ugh!”

She hit her thumb wrong and hopped away from the kitchen.

“Pant… pant…”

Absorbing cooking experience points like a maniac, I finally realized my body—the body of a child being overworked—was screaming in protest.

My arms trembled from churning butter.

“Ailet, take it easy.”
“Yes, your arms will get sore. I’ll do the rest.”
“No! I’m fine, sisters!”

I gritted my arms, determined not to let the kind maids take over my churn. Nearly done. I wouldn’t give up my precious experience points.

I’m about to level up!

The reward right in front of me pushed every bit of strength from my body.

Of course, it reminded me of my old life, working part-time just to survive. If only I had done this in my previous life…

If only I had possessed myself properly in a fantasy world parenting story…

I could have been a cherished royal or the beloved baby of a secret influential duke, enjoying all the sweet things of the world.

Ahhh!

Despite the hardship, I felt strangely sentimental.

Just then, someone rushed into the kitchen looking for me.

“Oh! Are you okay? Did anything happen?”
“Prinz?”

The word “brother” didn’t feel natural, so I called him by name. He didn’t seem to mind.

“Lord Romdio’s history class just ended. I’ll take over. You rest.”
“I-I’m fine…”

I hesitated. A little experience points lost wouldn’t stop me from leveling up…

“No, really! I’ll help. What should I do? Just spin it?”
“No, don’t spin blindly. And first, wash your hands thoroughly if you’re in the kitchen…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Red lines ran across the small back of his hands and fingers—whip marks.