"Please rest assured, keeping a customer's secret is a basic duty of a competent healer."
"Alright then—"
Saying that, Fron recited a chant Amid was familiar with, causing her expression to waver in shock.
----------------------------------
The still-steaming black tea sat in the center. On either side of the tea table were the silver-haired human girl Amid, sitting upright with her hands placed ladylike on her thighs, and Fron, who was stirring a beautifully crafted teacup with a spoon.
This was the VIP reception room of Dian Cecht Clinic.
As one of the top clinics in Orario, it was extremely busy.
Adventurers came and went constantly—some came to visit their companions, but most came for treatment.
As the clinic's poster girl and chief healer, Amid was usually very busy.
But today, she had unusually taken time to personally receive the blond young man from the Loki Familia.
"To think... aside from Lady Riveria and Lefiya, there's actually a third person in the Loki Familia who can use more than four types of magic."
In the beautiful human girl's eyes swirled complex emotions—wonder, astonishment—interwoven and making her thoughts a mess.
"Actually, I'm a newbie, Amid-chan. It's totally normal you haven't heard of me. I've only been in this city for less than half a year."
"...That makes it all the more surprising. If I'm not mistaken, you're already a Level-2 adventurer. Your leveling speed leaves me speechless."
Fron lowered his eyes slightly and forced a smile.
"Um, Amid. Can we not talk about my leveling speed? Like you didn't know before, I'm the type who doesn't like standing in the spotlight."
Staring at the man closely, Amid's little face froze in surprise, then she let out a small laugh, quickly covering her mouth with her hand upon realizing her slip, her shoulders shaking.
"Uh, was it really that funny? For me, a quiet, peaceful life is the best. Like now—drinking tea, reading books, occasionally studying magic or crafting something I like—this kind of ordinary daily life. Compared to those bigshots dancing on the edge of death every day on center stage, I think this is just fine."
Looking at the young man's helpless face, Amid took several deep breaths to barely regain her ladylike demeanor, though the amusement in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"I never expected Mr. Fron to be such an interesting person. Of all the adventurers I've met over the years, every single one sought fame, fortune, or power.
They dream of becoming heroes and attaining everything.
But you're the only one who even avoids the stage. I don't know if I should call that your personality or something else, but it's certainly interesting!"
She probably meant something like, 'You've caught my attention,' Fron thought.
"Well, cards on the table. I'm just afraid of dying."
Amid's big eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled and replied gently.
"Mr. Fron, you're very honest."
The young man took a sip of the tea the girl had brewed by hand, and the sweet and fragrant flavor spread down his throat, making him squint his eyes in delight.
"This is the best black tea I've ever had."
The girl's face flushed red. What's with this man—but for some reason, she felt a little happy.
"I've stayed long enough. I should be going. I'll come visit again after I return from the dungeon."
"Alright then. Safe travels."
"Thanks, see you!"
Fron wasn't one to linger. After finishing his tea, he picked up the potions and "Spirit Protective Cloth" he'd purchased and left leisurely.
"Twilight Manor."
Already driven mad by Fron's provocation, Ais and the others now had the aid of the [Suppressing Wristbands], and it was as if they were living in the dungeon, much like back in their Level 1 days.
The residence had become cold and deserted, with not a trace of life. Even the kitchen staff were said to have gone to act as supporters.
Uh... Fron stood dumbfounded in the empty hall, looking blank.
"So... I have to make dinner myself?"
Scratching his head in frustration, he glanced around the kitchen.
"All the ingredients are here... Alright, I'll cook something myself."
From his previous life experience, Fron was average in most respects—but his culinary skills had been especially enhanced.
From his very first time cooking, he seemed to have an innate intuition for spices and seasonings, creating dishes above average from the start.
Naturally, he carried that talent into this world as well.
When he first arrived, Fron had nothing but the clothes on his back, living alone in a corner of a village.
To survive and just to fill his stomach, earning money became his top priority.
Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation: the essentials of life, no matter the world.
So with excellent cooking skills, Fron naturally chose that as his starting point.
In the center of the village was a small square where, during leisure hours, villagers, traveling merchants, and adventurers would gather. It was quite a lively spot.
The next day, he used the dried meat, vegetables, and fruits stored at home to make delicious skewers, transforming into a mobile street vendor.
The mouthwatering aroma wafted far and wide, gradually attracting customers.
His superb cooking became the ultimate opening move, and in just one day he had conquered the stomachs of more than half the village, including a white-haired red-eyed boy who had been a farmer.
"Big Bro Fron, what's your dream for the future?" The boy had asked this while casually chatting with Fron at the stand.
"Me? To become a great scholar and a mysterious seeker of knowledge. Don't you think the unknown is just fascinating?"
"That's amazing. Compared to a scholar…"
"Bell, you want to become a hero from a fairytale, right? Then you'll have to work hard. Being a hero... isn't easy."
Leaving behind that somewhat meaningful statement, Fron disappeared from the white-haired red-eyed boy's sight.
In the following days, the youth wasn't seen again. It was said he had left the village alone, heading toward the center of the world, Orario, the Dungeon City.
...
...
Thinking back to those days when he first arrived in this world, Fron smiled.
"If I count the days, that kid should be arriving in Orario soon."
Standing at the table, looking at the array of ingredients, Fron pondered for a moment and began selecting.
"Mushrooms, garlic, onions, cheese, sweet red wine, a bit of anchovy paste, capers, juniper berries, roasted pine nuts, crushed walnuts, mortadella, sage, thyme, orange and lemon, and finally, yellow mustard."
"And a big slab of pork belly-"
What Fron was planning to make was a well-known dish, crispy roast pork roll.
Simply put, it involved mincing all those ingredients, cooking them in a pan, then spreading the mixture evenly over a butterflied pork belly, rolling it up tightly, tying it with string, and roasting it.
Sounds simple, but it was actually quite a bit of work.
Since becoming an adventurer, aside from having had a feast at the Hostess of Fertility, he hadn't had a good meal in a long time.
With no one else in the manor, Fron decided to quietly treat himself.
With the main dish settled, he figured eating only meat would be too much, so a pot of soup was also in order.
Not far from Orario was a port town called Melen, which served as the city's maritime gateway.
Every day, large quantities of seafood were delivered there.
Naturally, the Loki Familia's kitchen lacked for nothing.
He simmered a big black fish into a soup, sprinkled in some coriander leaves, and added a bit of seasoning.
Finally, he casually made a big pot of dessert as well.