I apologize for not being able to release the chapter yesterday, I was overseas, stuck in a dungeon and unable to write the chapter as sexy demon beasts tried to play a game of meditation with me. Well maybe not that last part, but I do seek your understanding and forgiveness. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

~ Capital Marth, Magire Kingdom

*Grrrrr…*

Earth’s stomach grumbled, earning him a curious look from the party, who laughed out loud while walking through the crowded streets.

“HAHhahaha ahh… don’t worry Earth, we’re almost at the restaurant, I’ll guarantee that it would be the best meal you’ve ever ate. It’s one of my favourite restaurants.”, Ceris giggled, pointing at the restaurant just across the street.

It has a rather humble look to it, with exposed brick walls and light orange paper lanterns to give a cozy feel to it, while having a perfectly synchronised mix of traditional English and Japanese building styles to it. Above the simple wooden door is a sign that says “Restaurant Urara”, written cursive with a brush.

Going through the door, Earth was yet again overwhelmed by the amazing interior design of the restaurant. Unlike the adventurer’s guild building, he could feel the foreign culture this restaurant is bringing into the place. Clearly unlike most of the buildings he saw when walking through the streets, the inside was the same as the exterior, the wooden flooring, classy English-style furniture, with paper lanterns illuminating the whole place, along with fireplace at the center of the building.

Just like the style of traditional Japanese restaurants that Earth had seen in old pictures and videos, this restaurant adopts the same style, having a group of chefs preparing the customers’ food right in front of them. The kitchen wraps along the walls, with a counter separating the chefs’ workspace and the customers, giving a more personalised feel between the chef and their customers. This restaurant is clearly crowded, but customers quickly come and go with satisfied expressions, showing just how fast, efficient and skillful the chefs are. Quick chopping sounds can be heard all over the place, each with extreme precision.

Not long after, the four managed to find seats, which were reserved for them by a waiter. “So, where is the menu? I don’t see any menu anywhere.”, Earth asked, confused. This restaurant was clearly different from any other restaurants he had heard about through the net, this was his first time visiting a restaurant in his life too.

“Oh no no Earth, this is why this restaurant is so popular and one of my favourites. You don’t need a menu, the chefs create a menu just for you, according to your current desires and needs. They all use sensory enhancement magic, so that they can see even your slightest movements and expressions, and hear even your heartbeat and stomach movements. You don’t even need to say a word and the chef already knows what you want. It’s a little bit creepy, but very impressive. This is SO cool isn’t it!”, Ceris was clearly excited and like this restaurant very much to know so much about it, feeling as if she could go on for a whole day just talking about this restaurant.

Earth nods, acknowledging the restaurant and the impressive skills of the chefs. He was impressed, and what the chef quickly served just within a few minutes of him sitting down was nothing short of a feat by normal means.

It was a huge chunk of raw fish meat, cleanly cut and layered with different sauces and spices. There was also a large bowl of what seems to be sticky white grains, like those used for Japanese rice dishes. The strange grains, seems to absorb the sauces and spices on top of it to grow in size. Paired with a bowl of a strange soup, it was clear, yet had reflections of different colours when seen from different angles. A truly strange combination, but it was perfect for Earth. He was already drooling excessively, and immediately dug in after taking a good look at the beautiful assortment of dishes and the gleaming peach coloured fish meat, overflowing with juices and sparkling in the light.

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First, I aimed for the gloriously enticing, sparkling fish meat. I could almost feel it calling to me, but that was probably because I was too hungry. Afterall, I didn’t eat anything at all since I was ‘born’. I used the knife to ‘cut’ the fish; it was already so soft and juicy that the knife simply sank into the meat from its weight alone, leaving behind a wake of overflowing, delicious juices. I scooped it up with a spoon, being extra careful not to spill any of the juice.

I sent it into my mouth.

...

What I can describe what happened afterwards was that I had a foodgasm. What else do I need to say? It was simply the most delicious thing I have ever ate in my life. Well, sure it may be the first meal I ate, but it was simply too overwhelming that even I would know this level of taste is not anything ‘normal’ by most standards. Expectedly, the (almost) astronomical price of a dozen gold for each person seems to compliment the taste and experience; it may be expensive, but it was of definitely worth it. I finished everything, leaving me perfectly filled. The chefs’ skills are to the point where it is actually scary, how accurate they can predict what exactly you want to eat and how much you want to eat, and all within a few minutes. It just makes me all the more excited and curious about magic than I already have, to see that it could be used to this level and extent.

“I’ll take it from here. Thanks for accompanying this bored old woman on that little job request.”

“No problem, we were honoured to be your companions for that job.”

“Yeah, even more if the rabbits were easier to find…”

“Well… goodbye and may fate let our paths cross again.”

Ceris and Jax do a fistbump with grandma while they walk off in the other direction. Yes, it’s a fistbump.

“Well, we’ve got to get you some proper clothing. That strange coat of yours have a huge embarrassing hole almost showing off your ass cheeks.”, Grandma eyed me from head to toe. I nodded in agreement, it’s not probably the best choice walking around almost naked in public, it was as if I was calling out to all the rapists and pedophiles, if they even exist…

A short walk later, we arrived at this extravagant-looking boutique that was worlds in comparison to the looks of the restaurant we went earlier. No joke. Every corner and edge wasn’t spared of exquisite and extensive carvings and ornaments, the front windows were filled with crazy-expensive-looking dresses, overly decorated hats and jewellery filled with huge sparkling gems and stones. Even the door looks so expensive and impractical. The whole store looks so expensive that it feels like I’ll come out looking like a joke.

“Can we go to that store instead?” I pointed to the shop just a few shops beside the boutique. It was a much smaller, humble looking boutique that the sign humbly says “Jen’s Custom Tailor Shop”.

“So, you’re that type, huh, that’s a good choice.”, Grandma replied in a slightly amused tone.

We went into the “Jen’s Custom Tailor Shop” and was not surprised. A simple tailor shop, that’s what it is, but how I was wrong.

“Wow, Mare, who’s this kid?”, A figure came from inside the shop. A red-haired lady in her late fifties asks, looking slightly round but still maintaining the figure. She was wearing a rather casual dress, and if it wasn’t for her hands holding the sewing needle one would have thought she was just a customer.

“Jen, long time no see! And about this kid, I picked him up in the forest.”, Grandma replied casually.

“Ahh… well I see this boy needs a quick fix, coming right up!”, Jen replied without asking many questions.

“Don’t worry, she knows what you want, and she’s a good friend of mine, so you can trust her.” I certainly did not mind after seeing how grandma talked to her. But she must have some real skills to have earned so much respect with grandma.

I looked around the corner to see her working. If grandma told me to wait, then it should be quick. But she hasn’t measured me yet?

She was already drawing out lines on the different pieces of cloths, and at one glance, one could never tell how those different pieces would fit together. Suddenly, with a wave of her hand, the pieces are immediately cut by the scissors, 5 of them to be exact, on each piece of cloth, with extreme precision and accuracy, not wasting any fabric and time.

And with another wave of her hand, dozens of needles floated around and started sewing all the fabrics together at once, not missing any part or stabbing the wrong places. It was basically a magic show. Well, yes literally, but it was extremely efficient and the clothing was done in 5 minutes. I cannot doubt the experience and skill this woman has.

I was dazed for a while but I regained my senses after she handed me her handiwork. It was a comfortable long black inner shirt with red accents that extended to my waist, and together with a comfortable short black pants. And all these matches strangely well to my lab coat…

“Well, you didn’t look like you’re gonna leave that coat behind anytime soon, so this would probably be the best fit for you. Especially with that beautiful long black hair of yours.”

She really is a great tailor. I bowed to her politely and gave my thanks, which earned me a heartwarming smile from her. Grandma put a few gold coins onto her hand again, and exchanged a few words with Jen before leaving.

“Now, let’s go to your home.”, She said.

We boarded onto a carriage at the west end, the opposite side of the gate where I came from.

“To Homu Village”

We set off through the peaceful farm plains as the sky changes to a calming hue of orange.

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