Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Bountiful Mistress

Though expeditions and military training have nothing to do with each other, that’s not important; getting the gist is enough.

As he watched the Familia’s expedition team depart, Izay, after freshening up, stepped out of his room.

First, as per routine, he headed upstairs, only to find the large dining hall completely empty. Suddenly, it hit him.

Yesterday, when his Ability Values were updated, Loki had specifically informed him.

During the expedition, no one in the Familia would be cooking —

because all the cooks had left with the expedition team…

Most of the Familia’s cooks are girls, and they’re actually not weak in level at all; they have their place within the expedition team.

The few stragglers left behind in the Familia would just have to fend for themselves if they wanted to eat.

For this period, Loki’s Familia would be very quiet.

Regretfully leaving the large dining hall, Izay prepared to leave and find a place to eat.

As he crossed the courtyard, he happened to bump into the returning Deity.

“Yo, Izay-kun, are you heading to the Dungeon?”

Looking at the spear strapped to his back and the medium-sized backpack, Loki waved and greeted him.

“Hmm, but before that, I’m going to find a place for breakfast.”

The more Izay interacted with this Deity, the less reverence he felt towards her.

At first, he was careful about honorifics and such, but now, after just two short days, he barely cared!

Izay himself wasn’t quite sure how this mental shift happened.

But he didn’t mind this change.

“Is that so? Well, good luck then! Strive to catch up with Ais and the others. Hmm~ With you, it probably won’t take long. Personally, I believe in that.”

“But today you’ll be exploring the Dungeon alone. Be mindful of your surroundings, don’t go too deep, and watch out for other Adventurers. Some might have ill intentions toward lone wanderers. Don’t trust strangers easily.”

“Understood.”

“In that case, be careful. I’m going to catch some extra sleep. Yesterday, I intended to sleep off a hangover, but Mama Mia dragged me up early. My head’s still pounding. See ya~”

After a brief chat, Loki yawned and stretched lazily as she walked into the Central Tower.

After yesterday’s briefing, she wasn’t overly worried about Izay venturing into the Dungeon alone.

After all, Izay’s Ability Values were there for everyone to see—three Magics and two Skills. Those Monsters wouldn’t dare touch him.

As long as Izay didn’t foolishly run into the Middle Layer and get himself killed, everything would be fine.

With that thought, Loki felt relieved and prepared to catch some extra Zs.

And after bidding her farewell, Izay made his way through the path toward the West Street.

The two western districts were both areas packed with taverns.

To put it simply, tavern = restaurant.

So, if you want to eat, heading west is the best choice.

Arriving at the bustling streets in the west, it became clear that Izay wasn’t the only Adventurer with this idea.

The eastern sky was already lit by the rising sun, and the stone-built taverns on either side of the road had their doors wide open. Many fully-equipped Adventurers could be seen entering and exiting, creating a lively scene.

On the street, Izay looked around, searching for his target.

For breakfast, he hoped to try eating at “The Bountiful Mistress.”

Having been in Orario for so many days, he hadn’t once visited this well-known place.

As for whether any Goddess might take an interest in him, Izay wasn’t concerned.

Let’s not even talk about whether his soul could attract anyone, even if it did, so what?

He, Izay, was destined to be a man beyond their reach.

Unless someone doesn’t consider Loki as a deity and tries to snatch from the tiger’s mouth.

Amidst this scenery, Izay found the most prominent tavern.

Like the others, it was stone-built, extending backward into a two-story structure. Among nearby taverns, it was the largest. A sign hung by the entrance displaying its name.

— “The Bountiful Mistress”

Like the others, it chose to open during the busiest morning hours, but not many Adventurers chose to enter.

Because the consumption level here was somewhat… high-end?

There might be more customers at night, but in the morning, it was pretty quiet, with not many people coming or going.

Izay entered the store, and the first person he saw was a tall woman wearing a white apron behind the counter, serving food and drinks with her robust figure.

The owner of this establishment, Mia Grand, affectionately called Mama Mia by the Adventurers.

Seeing her immediately reminded Izay of a joke.

Have you ever seen a dwarf who’s only 180 cm tall?

Well, now he had.

Perhaps noticing Izay’s gaze, Mama Mia smiled warmly at him.

“Welcome! What would you like to order?”

Approaching the counter, Izay softly asked, “Do you have any breakfast recommendations?”

“Oh, speaking of which, we have plenty! Egg dishes, fruit salads, bread, milk, meat, and our highly recommended drink. Would you like a full set?”

Saying this, Mama Mia handed Izay a menu. While he was looking at it, she skillfully instructed the kitchen staff to prepare a full set for him.

“Cough cough cough, wait a moment! I never said I wanted a full set! Not considering the price, there’s simply no way I can finish all that.”

Quickly noticing her scheme to swindle Valis, Izay hurriedly stopped her.

“Just one dish of bacon and eggs will suffice. Add a fruit salad, two cream-loaded baguettes, and a glass of milk.”

“Not having a drink?”

“I don’t drink in the morning, thank you.”

“Tsk, how can an adventurer not drink? Young man, you haven’t grasped the essence of adventuring yet! But I understand. When you come back tonight, I’ll make sure to serve you one.”

This time, not giving Izay a chance to argue, Mama Mia turned around and went back to instructing the kitchen again. Izay stood there momentarily stunned, speechless.

“…”

Why are you so skilled at swindling people?

How many adventurers have you scammed like this????

It’s truly a miracle that this tavern has such a good reputation among adventurers.

“Come come, dear customer, please follow me~ This is just how Mama Mia is, she means no harm~ She just wants everyone to eat and drink well~ Please don’t mind~”

Just as Izay stood there stunned for a couple of seconds, a brown-haired catgirl appeared beside him.

She gently pushed Izay to a nearby empty seat while maintaining a lively and adorable smile, making it impossible for anyone to refuse or get angry……

Alright, Izay understood why this shop held such high renown among adventurers.

This is so awkward!