Abyssal Sovereignty

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Chapter 9: Stir-Fried Ice Cream

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“Right, it’s all confirmed—herbs and wild boar meat are collected. The quest is complete.”

The receptionist at the guild tapped on her instrument, marking the quest status as finished for Aris and her companions.

“Ah, about the wild boar...”

Elyssa began recounting the strange occurrences they had encountered while hunting.

“...Very well, we shall take care of that. If any issues arise, we’ll issue an announcement.”

...

“What shall we do now?”

“Thanks to little Veridith, what we initially expected to take a whole day is now done in under half. As for the remaining time, it wouldn’t be worthwhile to take on another quest, so let’s enjoy some free time instead.”

“Then... goodnight...”

As soon as Marlyno announced the free time, Mira collapsed into a deep sleep.

“Oi, Mira! If you want to sleep, head back to the inn!”

Suddenly remembering something, Marlyno grabbed Mira.

“Ah! You just arrived here, and you haven’t got a place to stay, have you? How about I take Mira back and help you register at the inn?”

“No problem.”

Aris and the rest of the group, besides her, had no immediate plans to leave the town, so a place to rest was necessary. With Marlyno volunteering, they readily agreed.

“The innkeeper is quite friendly to adventurers, as she was once saved by one.”

After a brief walk, they arrived at an inn not far from the Adventurers’ Guild.

To maximise efficiency in undertaking quests, adventurers typically form or join parties. As their groups grow, many opt to purchase a small house or plot of land as a base.

As for why the renowned ‘Eclipse’ team, known throughout this town, still resided in an inn, it primarily stemmed from their insufficient numbers. It was simply not cost-effective to buy a place for just a handful of members.

“However, with new members joining soon, it seems it’s time to address that matter.”

“...Your words make me feel rather lonely.”

At that moment, a middle-aged woman stepped out.

“You all look like new adventurers, right? Then you’ve come to the right place; I’m quite friendly to novice adventurers.”

“Ah, good evening, landlady. These are adventurers we’ve just met, and since they don’t have a place to stay, I’ve brought them along.”

Marlyno explained the situation, and the innkeeper grabbed a piece of paper and a pen.

“Hmm... We don’t have any four-person rooms left. Would you prefer two double rooms or one for each of you?”

“...Two double rooms will do.”

After a brief discussion, Aris and her companions decided on two double rooms, as this arrangement would be more economical and safer.

“Here’s the fee.”

“Thank you. Here are the keys; just follow the numbers on them to find your corresponding rooms.”

The innkeeper handed over two sets of keys to the eldest-looking among them, Farkonia.

The lodging fee was covered using the rewards from their recent quest to gather materials. As most of the herbs had been collected by Veridith, the bulk of the payment had gone to Aris and her team.

“Now that we’re registered, we’ll head up first. You can take a look around town.”

Marlyno pulled the seemingly half-asleep Mira along with Sisi as they ascended the stairs.

 

“...So where shall we go next?”

“Just wander around?”

“Then...”

In the end, they split into two groups: Misako and Farkonia in one, while Aris, Veridith, and Pupu formed the other.

“Let’s check over there.”

Misako pointed in a certain direction before walking off with Farkonia.

“...Where do you want to go?”

Aris turned to Veridith and asked.

“Hmm... I’d like to see what food they have here.”

Veridith recalled the delectable meals she had savored after Aris had fallen unconscious and the dragon kin had moved to the black demons territory. Those meals were far superior to simply devouring an entire pig or relying solely on magical energy for sustenance.

Moreover, it was said that the food of the black demon race drew upon knowledge from other worlds. Thus, Veridith was eager to discover what external cuisine, mixed with that foreign culture, would be like.

After all, she was still a young dragon, barely in her teens.

With Veridith brimming with excitement, Aris led her and Pupu to the nearby street.

At a glance, the street was lined with an array of food stalls. Unlike the shops in the black demon territories, which were often enclosed, these stalls formed the essence of the street itself.

“Skewers, fried bites, grilled treats, and more... Why do they all seem so similar?”

As Veridith observed the repetitive fare, her initial excitement began to wane into disappointment.

Although, as a dragon, she had a penchant for meat, there were exceptions; what she craved now was something sweet, not another salty, aromatic dish.

“In that case, how about that one?”

Noticing Veridith’s dismay, Aris scanned the area and pointed to a stall that stood out.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, it’s a little customer, is it? This is something called ‘Stir-Fried Ice Cream,’ and it’s simply delicious!”

The burly man, muscles rippling all over, wielded a spatula as he introduced his creation.

“‘Stir-Fried Ice Cream’? Can you really fry ice?”

Veridith couldn’t help but envision ice blocks tossed into a hot pan, sprinkled with chilli and garlic, then fried vigorously.

“Ah, it’s quite common for first-timers to think that. Since you look young, I’ll let you try a few on the house.”

The vendor presented a cup of rolled-up ice cream, handing it to Veridith.

“Um... ahm.”

Veridith examined the ‘fried ice’ before popping it into her mouth.

“Wow! It’s so cold!”

In an instant, a refreshing chill filled her mouth, accompanied by a wave of sweetness.

Having just traversed the steamy area dominated by skewered foods, this newfound delight was immensely revitalising, making her feel wonderfully cool.

“Ha-ha! What do you think? This is a new flavor prototype, and you’re the first to try it.”

“...I want more!”

Recovering from the initial icy sweetness, Veridith promptly requested additional servings.

“Um, that’ll cost you, right?”

Reaching into her pouch, Veridith produced a coin and placed it on the stall’s counter.

“Oh! This little one knows the score! Thank you!”

The vendor’s eyes widened as he realized she had placed a gold coin on the counter!

“Copper... just a copper coin will do! Quick, put that away!”

“Um... I think I don’t have any copper...”

She had obtained this gold coin after selling a particularly unique Hether herb upon returning to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“...Are you some noble who has escaped?”

Each portion of his food only cost about seven copper coins, and one gold coin was equivalent to ten thousand copper coins!

“I have some copper coins.”

In this situation, Aris pulled out several copper coins.

“Ah... thank you for your patronage!”

The vendor quickly accepted the money and hastily prepared more ‘Stir-Fried Ice Cream’ for Veridith and Aris.

“...I thought the amount I paid would only cover one serving.”

“No worries; consider it a treat! It’s not every day you encounter a kid who casually pulls out a gold coin. I wouldn’t want to create any trouble. A little extra food to make a good impression is worth it!”