Chapter 13
## Episode 13
### Chapter 5: How to Get Close to the Strongest Powerhouse
* * *
"What brings you here, Lady Iri?"
After tucking Cookie snugly into her pocket, the place Iri headed to was none other than...
"Um, I'm curious about the kitchen!"
That's right—the kitchen.
Last night, Cookie had asked with a baffled expression.
"Wait, why the kitchen of all places?"
"Heh, but yummy food is the best."
"Huh?"
"Get friendly with the kitchen adults, eat lots of tasty stuff, purify their magi too! And give lots of yummy food to the elder!"
"Wow, genius! Killing three birds with one stone!"
"Really?"
"Using the method of getting close through people, no less. What a social hero—it's been ages."
Originally, Korean elementary kids got friendly by sharing snacks.
Of course, the kitchen maids grew noisy at Iri's sudden visit—it was only natural.
"Baby, do you mean you want to see inside the kitchen?"
"That would be even better!"
"Please wait a moment. I'll fetch the head chef!"
And so, this tiny child came face-to-face with the prickly-faced head chef, Noma.
Iri bowed her head politely as usual.
Just greeting them made the maid sisters melt and giggle right away.
But as expected, the battle-hardened head chef was a tough nut to crack.
"Yes. Head Chef Noma here. If I may say, the kitchen has dangerous things like the hearth. You'd need to be extremely careful—is that alright?"
Polite and courteous, but an tone that gave no ground.
"Yes, it's fine-nimida!"
"Then let's go."
As she toddled after them, Cookie sent a telepathic message from her pocket.
[Whoa, super sensitive.]
Iri shook her head inwardly.
*'Probably 'cause lots of naughty kids like Schultz barge into the kitchen.'*
Surely, the head chefs had no choice but to be prickly in such an environment?
Just then, the kitchen door opened, and another lady in a head chef hat appeared.
"Hello, baby. Head Chef Nera here."
Iri's eyes widened hugely.
*'Noma and Nera? They look exactly alike!'*
And right then, the identical twin head chefs glared at each other simultaneously.
"What're you doing here? Not working?"
"It's my business. I don't think I have to follow your orders?"
"Hah! Still mad I got assigned Duke Your Highness's breakfast?"
"Not holding a grudge over something from years ago."
"Then quit acting like a kid and come in."
"What? A kid?"
Caught between the two, Iri rolled her eyes around.
Cookie, tucked in her pocket, muttered softly.
"Iri, you know those two? They're sworn enemies who fight so much even Duke Your Highness can't stop them. Their fights probably aren't just because of magi."
"......"
"Maybe find another target now..."
*'But why are they on bad terms?'*
Could it be a love triangle issue?!
Iri had heard plenty of such gossip sitting on her grandma's lap.
She knew very well that aunties were full of romantic entanglements!
At that moment, the growling head chefs turned to Iri.
"Sorry, Lady Iri."
"Ah, please come inside."
As they entered the kitchen, a delicious grain scent assaulted her nose.
*'Gasp, this is!'*
Iri muttered softly to herself.
"Grain food smell-nimida!"
There were tons of beans and rice!
East kitchen chef Noma's face twisted sourly.
"Making useless stuff again."
West kitchen chef Nera's lips curled.
"Duke Your Highness prefers hearty grain dishes."
"Grain what. Duke Your Highness needs sweet food. Studies show sweet food affects mood—basic nutrition science, don't you know?"
"I've worked here 30 years! I know more about Duke Your Highness."
"But I went all the way to the war camp barracks where he is!"
The kitchen staff shut out their familiar bickering and got back to work skillfully.
Thinking even Duke Your Highness himself couldn't stop their fights.
But one person was listening intently to their conversation.
As Iri blinked up at them, a kitchen chef hurriedly spoke.
"Hah! Starting again... Ah, sorry. Baby."
"It's fine-nimida."
Iri declared solemnly.
This child could stop the fight between the two prideful adults.
Because she was used to auntie fights.
A fight between two prideful adults!
A polite, courteous, mature child knew exactly what to do.
First, slip right between them.
Up to this point, they hadn't noticed the child squeezed in between.
Because a kid was only 100cm tall.
*'Hehe, just as planned!'*
Iri raised her hand politely, like crossing a crosswalk with a flashing green light.
The fight was about to start again!
Normally, kids shouldn't butt into adult business.
*'But the other adults look uncomfortable!'*
Above all, they looked exhausted!
*'Then I'll step in!'*
Wise child Iri shot to her feet.
"I'll do it!"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, Lady Iri?"
At Iri's words, all eyes focused instantly.
Iri solemnly punched the air.
"Shall I show you something I do really really well?"
"Y-Yes?"
Finally, time to show Taekwondo Form 1 in front of them!
Iri thrust her fist forward with a pounding heart.
After the powerful form ended.
The mood grew extremely quiet.
"How was it?"
Iri beamed with pride.
As they stared, forgetting their fight.
'Grandma-and-auntie fight mediator artist,' five-year-old Iri nodded and said.
"And I have something to say-nimida! Everyone, focus!"
"Yes, fo-focus."
"I wanted to say thanks for the super tasty lunch! I'm so happy to come to the super super cool kitchen!"
"Pardon?"
Noma's lips twitched up ever so slightly at the same time.
Cookie had said it. 'Adults love praise.'
'Especially specific praise.'
So Iri gave earnest, specific praise.
"The purslane dish was especially yummy-nimida!"
"Eh...? Pardon?"
Noma's face flushed with surprise.
Normal kids didn't like purslane dishes much.
But purslane's effects were amazing.
They kept adding it as a longevity tonic.
To think a kid liked purslane!
"Do you know purslane, baby?"
"Yes! I know how to tell purslane from mugwort too-nimida! I eat bitter stuff well, not like a kid. And."
"My goodness."
"They say eating purslane long makes you live to 100! A longevity tonic-nimida!"
"How did you know that?"
"Hammuni told me-nimida."
"You're truly bright."
"Bright? Yes-nimida."
Iri rolled her eyes at the hard word.
Noma, whose favor rising fast, spoke.
"I prepared purslane tea—want to try some?"
"Thank you-nimida."
Iri gulped down the purslane tea, thinking.
Respect adults. Endless praise.
Thanks to that, the two seemed a tiny bit softened.
*'But still, no magi absorbed!'*
