It was summer.
The bright morning weather put me in a great mood as I opened my eyes.
“Yawn.”
Elenia, poking her face out from Dorori’s feathers, yawned grandly and rubbed her eyes.
“Slept well?”
“It’s a fine morning.”
Dorori fluffed up its feathers, shook its body, and stretched its short legs to shake off the night’s stiffness.
As I prepared breakfast like usual, Elenia flew over and asked,
“What are we eating today?”
“I’m making something with the eggplants we harvested last time.”
“With eggplants? So rice isn’t just plain white rice! My mouth’s already watering.”
Elenia swallowed hard, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“I’ll whip it up quick.”
I grabbed some eggplants from the Ice Cave and washed them thoroughly at the well.
Then I cut the plump eggplants into bite-sized pieces.
“Elenia, grab some soy sauce.”
I lightly stir-fried the eggplants with a bit of soy sauce, then added rice to the pot, topped it with the eggplants, and poured in water.
I should make a dipping sauce to go with the eggplant rice.
I mixed half a spoonful of plum extract into some soy sauce, added finely chopped chili peppers, and drizzled in a bit of sesame oil that Yujin’s mom had given me.
This was another secret weapon from the Eastern Continent, courtesy of Yujin’s mom.
Sniff, sniff.
Elenia’s nostrils flared.
“What’s that nutty smell?”
“Sesame oil. Smells amazing, right?”
“It’s incredibly rich and savory.”
“It’s an essential spice in Eastern Continent cuisine. You’ll fall in love with it once you try it.”
Adding minced garlic and green onions to the sauce would make it perfect.
The savory aroma of rice wafted up, signaling it was done.
I brought the pot to the table and let it steam for a bit.
“Open the lid already.”
“Let’s see how it turned out.”
I lifted the lid, and white steam rose in wisps.
The glossy rice, topped with purple-skinned eggplants revealing their creamy white flesh, looked absolutely appetizing.
“Eggplant rice! Eggplant rice!”
I scooped a generous portion into a bowl and handed it to Elenia.
“Mix in some dipping sauce and eat.”
Stir, stir.
She mixed the rice with a small spoon.
I personally mixed some sauce into Dorori’s portion too.
“Mmm!”
Elenia placed her hands on her cheeks, beaming with satisfaction.
“It’s a whole different flavor from plain rice! The eggplant’s taste and aroma blend so well with the rice. The chewy texture keeps my mouth happy the whole time!”
“Right?”
“And the dipping sauce balances the flavor perfectly. The sesame oil elevates it even more.”
Elenia didn’t stop spooning the rice, and Dorori buried its beak in the bowl, devouring it.
“Ah, I’m stuffed. My stomach’s about to burst.”
Elenia rubbed her rounded belly.
I was glad I used plum extract instead of sugar in the sauce, just in case she overate.
Starting the day with a delicious breakfast made me so happy.
“Alright, we’ve had a hearty breakfast, so let’s make today productive!”
***
I packed my goods and headed to the herb shop to make a delivery.
“Good morning, Bernard.”
“Welcome. Perfect timing—the vitality drinks were running low.”
“Good thing I wasn’t late.”
I handed over the goods I brought and pulled out the soap I’d packed separately.
“I brought a new product today.”
“A new product?”
Bernard’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
I placed the tea tree soap on the table first.
“Isn’t that just soap?”
Seeing the tea tree soap, Bernard’s excited shoulders slumped slightly.
The reason for his disappointment was obvious.
“Disappointed it’s not athlete’s foot medicine?”
“Haha, was it that obvious?”
Bernard scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
“Since our last meeting, not just me, but Cayton has been secretly hoping for it. He asks if the athlete’s foot medicine is in every time he comes by.”
“Really? I should’ve hurried up and made it then.”
“No, no. You’re already busy, and now you’re learning blacksmithing too, so you must be swamped.”
Bernard forced a smile.
“We’ve dealt with this for years—what’s a few more days? We’re just happy knowing an athlete’s foot remedy is coming.”
He gave an awkward grin.
“Don’t be too disappointed yet.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Bernard tilted his head.
“It’s a natural soap with tea tree leaves. It has excellent antibacterial properties, so washing your feet with it should help with athlete’s foot.”
“What! So you’ve finally made an athlete’s foot remedy!”
Bernard held the tea tree soap in both hands like it was a gold nugget, practically jumping with joy.
I knew he’d be happy, but his reaction exceeded my expectations.
Seeing someone so delighted by something I made filled me with pride.
“And this is laundry soap.”
I pulled out another soap.
“I tested it myself, and it foams up richly, cleans well with minimal scrubbing, and barely damages the fabric.”
“Really? That sounds great! It’ll appeal to a wide range of customers!”
Clutch.
Despite his words, he still hadn’t let go of the tea tree soap.
Guess that’s his top priority.
“How are the Gath vitality drinks selling?”
“Oh, they’re doing great. The potato-eating contest promotion really paid off. Customers are specifically asking for Gath vitality drinks now.”
“That’s great news.”
“Thanks to your products, we’re swamped with customers all day long.”
Indeed, every time I visited, the shop was bustling with people.
That’s why I made a point to come before opening or after closing.
Otherwise, it’s hard to even talk to Bernard, and sometimes there’s barely room to stand.
“Here’s a thought—how about expanding the shop?”
“The shop?”
“With more customers coming in, it’s getting crowded.”
Maybe we could add more display shelves and a storage room.
“I’d love to, but leaving this place I’m so attached to… I’d need time to think about moving.”
He seemed reluctant to leave the shop he cherished.
After all, reviving this third-generation herb shop was his goal.
“I don’t mean moving the shop.”
This place, the last herb shop in Alberton and a family legacy, held meaning in itself.
Plus, the regulars wouldn’t want it gone either.
Bernard tilted his head.
“Then how would you expand?”
The shop was in a crowded commercial area with buildings packed tightly, and raising the building would mean halting business for a while.
His concern was understandable.
“Open a branch.”
“A branch?”
“Yes. A nearby branch would spread out the customers, effectively expanding the shop.”
“A branch… that’s a pretty good idea!”
Bernard smacked his fist into his palm.
“But it’s not without issues. We’d need to figure out how to manage the branch.”
For example, hiring a manager could work…
As I paused to gather my thoughts, Bernard added,
“I’d feel more at ease if I could oversee the overall operations of the herb shop.”
“I was thinking the same.”
Having Bernard as the general manager, overseeing both locations, would be the best approach.
“It’d be ideal to have the branch nearby.”
That way, moving goods would be easy, and we could direct customers to the other shop during busy times.
“No rush—let’s think it over slowly.”
We’d need to find a suitable shop nearby and consider the finances.
Bernard’s eyes seemed to sparkle.
“With a new goal, I’ll have to work even harder at business!”
Bernard was brimming with motivation.
“Then I’ll head out to deliver the tea tree soap to Cayton. He’s probably waiting eagerly for it.”
***
I left the shop and headed to the adventurer training ground.
You could tell you were nearing the training ground just by the smell.
The air always carried a faint whiff of sweaty odor.
Murmur, murmur.
“Hey, isn’t that the guy from before?”
“Who?”
“The vitality drink guy!”
“Oh, yeah! That’s him!”
A few adventurers recognized me and started whispering.
By the way, where’s Cayton?
I looked around the training ground entrance, searching for him, when an adventurer quietly approached.
“Are you looking for Cayton?”
“Oh, how’d you know?”
“I remember you talking with him. By the way, I’m from the same cohort as Cayton.”
He grinned broadly, clearly trying to make a good impression.
It felt a bit overwhelming.
“Where’s Cayton?”
“He’s probably training inside right now.”
“Thanks.”
I headed in the direction he pointed, but he followed me.
“…?”
“Oh, I have business that way too.”
“Then are all these people headed there too?”
Including him, about a dozen adventurers were trailing me.
Their eyes met, clearly startled.
“Oh, uh, we’re all training there together. Right?”
“Y-Yeah, training.”
“Haha, let’s all train together.”
What’s with this awkwardness?
They let out strained laughs, glancing at each other nervously.
Weird. They all look like faces I saw at the training field that day.
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Let’s go. We’ll guide you.”
Caught off guard, I followed their lead toward Cayton.
Soon, I spotted him in the distance.
“Cayton!”
One of his cohort mates shouted, and he turned toward us.
“Why’s everyone gathered?”
“You have a visitor.”
“Fabir?!”
Cayton spotted me, broke into a big smile, and ran over.
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve got something urgent to deliver.”
At that moment—
Twitch.
A chill ran down my spine.
I felt intense gazes boring into my back.