"Hey, something smells really good in here."

"We were just having dinner. If you'd like, would you care to join us, Lange?"

According to Guildmaster Rizac, it's still uncertain whether this man will take on the request. For now, it's best to leave a good impression.

"Really? That’d be great! I haven’t eaten dinner yet, and I’m starving. Thanks for the offer! Oh, and Tetsuya, you can talk more casually with me, okay? Formal speech makes me uncomfortable."

"…Got it. Give me a moment to prepare something."

Just like with Lilia, it seems people in this world don’t use polite or formal language very often. But speaking casually to someone you’ve just met feels like a big hurdle for me…

"By the way, this adorable girl here is someone I’m meeting for the first time. I’m Lange. Nice to meet you!"

"Hehe, I’m Fia! N-Nice to meet you, too!"

...For some reason, I had imagined elves to be more stoic and dignified, but apparently not. Though Lange looks like he’s in his late teens or early twenties, he has such a laid-back attitude.

"Sorry for the wait. This is a dish from my homeland. If it doesn’t suit your taste, let me know, and I’ll make something else."

"Huh, I travel a lot and visit many towns, but I’ve never seen this dish before."

…Well, it’s not surprising, given that deep-fried food like karaage doesn’t seem to exist here.

"This is called karaage. It’s made by coating Raiger bird meat in batter and frying it in hot oil. And here’s a salad and soup to go with it."

I served the same meal I had prepared for Lilia and Fia in front of Lange, who had taken a seat at the table. Since we were in the middle of eating when he arrived, we all resumed our dinner together.

"Wow, what is this?! It’s amazing! The outside is so crispy, and the inside is tender and juicy, bursting with flavor! It’s nothing like grilled or stewed dishes—it’s absolutely delicious!"

"And this salad has so many high-quality spices! The soup has a comforting flavor I’ve never tasted before. This is incredible!"

"Fufufu, Tetsuya’s cooking is the best, right? You can drizzle some fruit juice over the karaage for a refreshing twist on the flavor!"

"Really? I’ll give it a try!"

For some reason, Lilia explained the dish proudly. Both she and Fia seemed to enjoy my cooking, and now Lange was devouring it with the same enthusiasm. Watching people enjoy my food so much is truly satisfying.

"It makes me happy seeing you enjoy the food this much."

"This would go great with some alcohol. Alright, let me share something special!"

Lange reached into thin air, and a black void appeared. He reached into it and pulled something out.

"Whoa! Is this storage magic?"

"Yep! I can store all sorts of things in here. Plus, time stops inside, so it’s super convenient. Now, where did I put it... Oh, here it is!"

Lange pulled out a cylindrical container. This magic… it’s incredible! I’m so jealous of his ability to freeze time for stored items!

"What’s that?"

"This is ale from another town. It’s pretty famous and popular with dwarves. And I’ve kept it chilled with my ice magic."

"Chilled ale?!"

I did buy some alcohol today, but since Lilia doesn’t drink and Fia is obviously underage, I had decided against it for tonight.

"Can I have some too, Lange?"

"Of course! After this delicious meal, it’s the least I can do. Lilia doesn’t drink, right? And Fia, you’ll have to wait until you’re a bit older. You two can have some fruit juice instead."

"Thank you very much!"

Lange pulled out another container from the void and began pouring the ale into cups.

…Unlike the beer I used to drink, this ale has a darker color. If I remember correctly, ale is brewed differently from the lagers I was used to. And it’s properly chilled—how nice! I wish I could use ice magic, too.

"Alright then, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Wow, this is delicious!"

I’ve had ale and other alcohol at the inn where I stayed before, but this is by far the best. It lacks the crisp finish of the beer I used to drink but makes up for it with its complex flavor and rich aroma. And the fact that it’s ice-cold makes it even better.

Taking a bite of hot karaage and washing it down with cold ale… this is the life!

"This ale is amazing, Lange. Thank you."

"No, thank you for the meal! I thought this dish would pair well with chilled ale, and I was right. I’ve traveled to many towns and tried various drinks, but this is one of my favorite combinations!"

"Back in my homeland, we often chill our drinks like this. I’d love to hear more about the drinks and dishes you’ve tried in other towns. I haven’t had the chance to explore much beyond this one, so I’m curious."

To be honest, I’ve only ever been in this town since arriving in this world. Traveling to other towns sounds fun, but without combat skills, it’s too risky.

"Of course! Tetsuya’s cooking is incredible, but there are so many unique foods and drinks out there. I’d love to share more!"

As we enjoyed the food and drinks, Lange regaled us with stories of his travels. The tales of exotic ingredients and dishes unique to this world were fascinating. Listening to his adventures made me feel a bit envious.