Three months had flown by in a blur of sizzling iron pots and roaring charcoal fires. My little tavern, Lot 42, was officially a massive hit. The industrial workers still flooded the place, but now, even the fancy academy students from the 2nd district were regularly making the trek down here just to try my signature adobo.
To solve my lack-of-carbohydrates dilemma, I had officially teamed up with a cozy bakery just down the street. They supplied me with baskets of fresh, crusty bread daily, which the customers used to enthusiastically scoop up every last drop of the rich garlic gravy. The business metrics were looking beautiful.
My body's, however, were getting a little complicated. My baby bump was officially visible now, noticeably rounding out the front of my green kirtle. A five-month pregnancy will do that to you.
"Oh, look at you, the terrifying Crimson Phantom, preparing baby purees! Hey, Mommy! Mommy Eirene! Can we get some extra garlic in the next batch, Mommy?" Plasma howled with hysterical, dramatic laughter inside my skull.
'Shut up, Plasma, or I swear I will find a way to magically choke a ghost,' I snapped back mentally, my face a perfect, unmoving deadpan as I lifted a heavy iron ladle. His crude humor was at an all-time high, and without my rings, I just had to endure the mental pollution.
Since Elicia was still busy running the academy as the principal, I didn't have her convenient white-light healing magic to shield me from the sun anymore. I was forced to wear a heavy, dark-insulated cloak whenever I stepped outside or worked near the bright front windows, looking like a total cult leader just to keep from getting a supernatural sunburn.
I scooped up a fresh, steaming portion of chicken and pork belly, laying it perfectly over a bowl next to a thick slice of the bakery's crusty bread. I glided over to a nearby table and slid the bowl down in front of an academy student.
The student took a bite, his eyes widening.
"Man, the texture of this pork belly is insane, Chef Eirene! It literally melts in your mouth, and the bread combo is genius!"
"Yeah, thanks, I checked the braising time. Eat up before it gets cold." I muttered with a lazy, casual shrug of my shoulders, my massive crimson wings giving a relaxed flutter beneath my heavy cloak.
"Oh, Mommy Eirene, look! Another hungry customer for the garlic paradise! Better stir that pot carefully, Mommy, wouldn't want the little one getting dizzy from all that spinning!" Plasma's voice echoed in my head, dripping with his usual obnoxious, theatrical cackle.
'One more word out of you and I'm swallowing an entire cup of raw vinegar,' I fired back mentally, keeping my face in a flat, unbothered deadpan as I tied the front of my heavy cloak over my five-month baby bump.
Just as I set down the last ladle, the brass chime at the front door jingled. I looked up, expecting another hungry laborer, but my single jade-green eye blinked in slight surprise. Walking through the door was Alice Brook, the dedicated maid and winery manager from back home in Town Allure. She had become one of my few familiar regulars since I opened up Lot 42, always a pleasant reminder of the ordinary, quiet days before I became a high-profile vampire bounty hunter.
"Oh, good morning, Eirene," Alice called out with a warm, polite smile, her eyes briefly tracking the way my crimson wings shifted beneath my dark cloak.
"Hey, Alice. Morning, you're just in time. The pork belly turned out completely good today. Want me to grab you a bowl with some of that bakery bread?"
Alice let out a soft, amused chuckle, shaking her head as she looked around the bustling dining hall, then locked her eyes onto my visible baby bump and the heavy cloak I was forced to wear to block the sunlight.
"Actually, I'm not here to eat today,"
Alice said, her voice turning completely serious as she stepped closer to the counter. She crossed her arms and gave me a stern, caring look.
"Eirene, look at you. You've been working non-stop running this entire place completely by yourself, and you're literally five months pregnant! You can't keep hauling heavy iron pots and wiping 13 tables while wearing a giant winter coat indoors. Apply me a job. Let me handle the floor management so you can actually breathe."
I let out a heavy sigh of absolute relief, my crimson wings giving a relaxed, floppy flutter beneath my dark cloak.
"Honestly, Alice? Sure, I don't even have a single employee right now, and running this place while carrying a five-month-old passenger is turning into a total logistical nightmare. I'd love the help."
"Awesome! You won't regret it, boss," Alice beamed, immediately tying her hair back.
We hurried right into the back kitchen, away from the roaring noise of the dining hall. I set down my heavy iron ladle and leaned against the counter, looking at her with a nostalgic smirk.
"You know, back when you were a maid in Town Allure, I distinctly remember you serving me that crazy good liver stew at the vineyard. So I know you've got some skills. Let's prove your cooking metrics right now."
Alice didn't hesitate. She whipped out a small notepad and a pencil from her apron pocket, clicking it into place with a grin.
"Bring it on, Eirene. I'm ready. Lay it on me."
I calmly listed down the entire classic Philippine adobo blueprint while she wrote down every single word like a dedicated student.
"Alright, first rule: we use a 50-50 mix of pork belly and bone-in chicken. Crush a whole head of garlic… and don't be stingy, the more the better. Half a cup of dark soy sauce, a third of a cup of cane vinegar, and a handful of cracked peppercorns with a few bay leaves."
While she memorized the numbers, I fired up a fresh batch of charcoal in the stove, letting the orange glow warm up the room. I grabbed a fresh pot and showed her the actual execution.
"Watch closely, You gotta sear it first to lock in the juice. Once it's golden brown, dump the marinade and water in, throw the lid on, and let it simmer until the pork gets super tender." I told her, throwing the marinated meat into the hot oil. A massive, loud sizzle erupted, filling the kitchen with a gorgeous, garlicky steam.
Alice nodded rapidly, her pencil a blur on the paper.
"Now, the most critical part, The sacred rule: do not stir it right away. If you stir it now, the vinegar stays raw and tastes like battery acid. Let it bubble uncovered for about four minutes so the harsh acidity cooks off."
"Oho! Look at Mommy Eirene teaching the next generation of garlic warriors!" Plasma cackled inside my head.
"Shut up, Plasma, I'm working," I snapped back mentally.
I waited until the sharp smell faded, gave it a gentle stir, and let the sauce reduce until it was thick, glossy, and beautifully oily. The mouth-watering aroma of braised meat, bay leaves, and caramelized vinegar completely filled the kitchen.
Alice closed her notepad, staring at the bubbling pot with her mouth slightly open.
"Oh my gosh, Eirene... that smell is absolutely insane. It's sweet, sour, and incredibly savory all at once."
I grabbed a wooden ladle, scooped up a bit of the dark, rich gravy, and took a quick sip to check the metrics. It was absolutely perfect. I handed a clean spoon to Alice, offering her a taste.
"Go ahead. Try it."
She took a small sip of the sauce, and her eyes instantly went wide with pure astonishment.
"Wow! I've never tasted anything like this in the entire region! The balance is incredible. Eirene, you're not just a tavern owner, you're a literal culinary genius!"
"Okay, cook several batches of it just like that, Imma go and serve the crowd out front." I told Alice, handing over the wooden ladle with a confident nod.
"You got it, boss! Leave the kitchen to me," Alice smiled, already grabbing the next head of garlic with absolute determination.
I went full multitasking mode. I had a heavy woven basket overflowing with fresh bakery bread clinging tightly to my left wing bone like a sidecar, while my hands balanced a steaming, hot pot of freshly rendered adobo. Walking out into the noisy dining hall, I scanned the tables and spotted a very familiar face sitting near the corner.
It was Brick! The savvy merchant who ran that gear stall in the market district where I used to buy my tactical maps, sturdy leather purses, and writing supplies back during my hardcore bounty hunting days. He had become one of our regulars lately, drawn in by the smell of garlic, but he hadn't actually locked eyes with my face yet. The Eirene he used to deal with was just a mysterious, heavily cloaked woman buying assassin tools in the shadows.
As I approached his table, his eyes went from the steaming pot up to my face, then down to my very obvious five-month baby bump, and finally up to my massive crimson wings holding a bread basket. His jaw completely dropped.
"Holy smokes... Eirene?! Are you kidding me? The terrifying, stone-cold Crimson Phantom I used to sell black-market maps to is actually running a cozy food joint? And wait… you're retired and having a baby?! Man, the news papers did not prep me for this!" Brick gasped, slapping the table in pure shock.
I let out a lazy, amused chuckle, my wing giving a slight shrug that jingled the bread basket.
"Yeah, well, the bounty hunting got pretty stale, Brick. Turns out feeding hungry people pays the bills way better, and it's a lot less stabby. Plus, I've got a little passenger to think about now."
"Yeah, a passenger who demands constant garlic intake, courtesy of Mommy Eirene!" Plasma snickered inside my head. I ignored him, using my elbow to nudge a piece of crusty bread out of my wing-basket and right onto Brick's plate.
"Here, try the combo, The bread is perfect for soaking up the gravy." I said casually, pouring a rich, glossy ladle of the chicken and pork adobo directly into his bowl.
Brick took a quick bite, his eyes lighting up as he groaned in absolute culinary defeat.
"Oh man, this is illegal. You went from destroying syndicates to destroying my diet. Here you go… 10 coppers for the legendary adobo, 2 for the bread, and a 2-copper tip because I value my life and your cooking." He laughed, digging into his leather pouch and sliding 14 shiny copper coins onto the crimson tablecloth.
"Appreciate it, Brick, Eat up, and let me know if you need any more carbs." I replied with a genuine, relaxed smile, scooping up the coins.
The bustling chatter of the dining hall gradually dissolved into a quiet, echoing stillness as the heavy pendulum clock on the wall struck 7:00 PM. Our official closing time had finally arrived. Outside the windows, the bright, oppressive daylight had completely melted into a deep, velvety twilight. With the sun gone, I finally stripped off the sweltering, dark-insulated cloak that had kept me trapped like a furnace all afternoon. My massive crimson blood wings stretched out into the cool evening air, letting out a heavy, relaxed rustle that felt absolutely liberating.
For the next half hour, the kitchen was a synchronized symphony of clinking ceramic and sloshing soapy water. While Alice swept up the final crumbs from the floorboards, I stood by the iron sink, washing off the mountain of empty adobo bowls, massive cast-iron pots, and wooden ladles. Once everything was pristine, I extinguished the glowing charcoal embers in the main stove, grabbed our leather cash pouch, and blew out the primary lanterns.
Alice and I stepped out onto the cobblestones of the industrial district, the cool night breeze rustling our clothes as I turned the heavy brass key in the lock.
"Thanks for working with you today, Eirene, It was exhausting, but honestly, seeing how much everyone loves your food made it totally worth it." Alice sighed happily, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow as she leaned against the brick storefront.
I reached into my kirtle pocket, pulling out a small, heavy drawstring pouch filled with a generous stack of copper and shiny silver coins. I dropped it gently into her hands.
"Here's your paycheck, Alice, You did a great job today. Seriously, your kitchen metrics saved my life. I wouldn't have survived the noon rush without you."
Alice's eyes went wide as she felt the weight of the coins, a massive grin breaking across her face.
"Wow, Eirene! This is incredibly generous! Thank you so much. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning!"
"Get some rest first, Anyways, Alice... have you seen Olive lately? He's your manager from the tailor shop, right? I've been meaning to track him down. I really want to thank him for everything he did for me, and honestly, I need to apologize to him right after." I replied, crossing my arms as my wings tucked neatly against my back. My mind suddenly shifted back to our old home territory, and a wave of unresolved guilt pulled at my chest.
Olive Oil… the dry, business-like magic tailor who used to run Elite Tailor Shop. He was one of the incredibly rare civilians who knew my absolute deepest secret. He was the one who meticulously crafted my iconic crimson trench coat, tailoring the enchanted, fire-resistant fabric perfectly around my demonic wings and fangs without ever selling me out to the authorities, despite the massive bounty on my head. I always found his full name a little amusing, but the loyalty he showed me was nothing to laugh at. I owed him a massive debt.
Alice's cheerful expression instantly vanished, replaced by a heavy, somber shadow that made my single jade-green eye narrow in concern.
"Oh... Olive, Well, Eirene... it's a really long story. Shortly after you made your big move against the syndicates, the Bureau of Investigation caught wind of his connection to the Crimson Phantom. They raided his elite shop. He was held captive by the Bureau for weeks and went through absolute hell. They tortured him, trying to break his discretion and force him to reveal your location, your weaknesses, your true identity... everything."
She let out a shaky breath, looking down at the cobblestones.
"He never broke, Eirene. He protected your secret until the very end. But after he was finally released, the trauma was too much. I haven't heard a single word from him since. The rumor among the old networks is that he completely packed up whatever was left of his magic fabrics, left the kingdom of Caria entirely, and moved somewhere far away to a safe, hidden region. He just wanted to stay as far away from you and the bounty hunting world as possible to survive."
A heavy, suffocating silence settled over the empty street. Inside my mind, even Plasma completely went quiet, his usual crude, mocking humor entirely absent as the gravity of Alice's words sunk in. My hand subconsciously rested over my five-month baby bump, a profound, aching guilt twisting in my gut. Olive had suffered a monstrous fate simply for being a regular, human ally to a monster like me. I had moved on, retired, and built a peaceful restaurant, while the magic tailor who clothed me was forced to flee his entire life in fear.
"I see, He kept me safe, and paid the price for it. I understand. If he's safe away from me... maybe it's better that way."
Alice noticed the heavy drop in my posture and quickly reached out, gently patting my arm to break the somber silence.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up like that, Eirene, Olive is a tough guy, and he made his choice to protect his favorite client. He's out there somewhere building a peaceful new life, just like you are right now. Focus on the tavern and the little one, okay?"
"Yeah, Thanks, Alice. See you tomorrow." I muttered, exhaling a quiet breath as I adjusted the strap of my bag.
With that, we parted ways. I began the familiar trek back through the cooling night air, navigating the quiet paths from the 1st district all the way down to the checkpoint of the 3rd district.
As I approached the final torch-lit archway, the sharp-eyed gatekeeper, Renny, smirked the moment my massive, uncovered crimson blood wings came into view.
"Well, well, Eirene, it's getting weird watching your daily fashion routine. In the morning you're walking around looking like a shadowy cult leader wrapped in a giant winter cloak, and at nighttime, you're just casually airing out the wings. What's the deal? Anyway, you know the drill… toll and status card." Renny chuckled, leaning back against the wooden guard post.
"Blame the sun, Renny. Its daylight metrics are completely incompatible with my current complexion. Just let me through so I can finally sit down. My feet are killing me." I replied with a lazy, casual wave of my hand, tossing him a couple of coppers along with my identification
"Haha, fair enough. Have a good night, mama," Renny waved, stamping the logbook and letting me pass into the quiet residential streets.
I finally reached the front porch, unlocked the heavy wooden door, and stepped into the pitch-black safety of my own house. I kicked off my shoes, letting out a long, exhausted groan as I sank heavily into the nearest armchair, my hand instinctively resting over the prominent five-month baby bump beneath my green kirtle.
"Oh, look at Mommy Eirene, totally wiped out after a hard day's work! Hey, Mommy! Since you're retired and hormonal, what's the plan tonight? Wishing you had a massive twelve-inch cock slamming right through your tight little cunt to relieve all that pregnancy stress? Peak crude humor, I know, but a ghost's gotta ask!" Plasma's voice suddenly echoed inside my skull, completely shattering the peaceful silence with a loud, theatrical cackle.
A dangerous, icy vein throbbed on my forehead. My single jade-green eye snapped open in the dark, flashing a venomous crimson glare at the empty room.
"Shut up, Plasma, one more word out of your pathetic, vulgar mouth, and I will literally rip my own ears open just to stop hearing your disgusting mental pollution."