"Thank you for everything during my stay."

"Ah, I heard you’re opening a new shop in town. Good luck, we’ll be rooting for you!"

"Feel free to stop by for a meal anytime!"

"Of course. Since the new shop isn’t too far from here, I’ll definitely come by for your delicious food."

The morning after signing the lease for the shop, it was time to bid farewell to the inn where I’d stayed for so long. Honestly, the meals here were some of the best I’d had in the area, so I’d probably visit from time to time.

"Big brother, come back and visit, okay?"

Today was also the day I said goodbye to Albera, the cheerful young girl whose smile had often brightened my days. She’d thanked me for sharing the outdoor spice blend, and her father had taught me a lot about this world’s ingredients. I promised to bring more spices when they ran out.

"Of course, Albera. Stay healthy and happy!"

"Okay!"

After moving my belongings to the new shop, I updated the Adventurers' Guild about the change in my base of operations and met up with Lilia, who had also vacated her inn.

"Shall we head to the market to get everything we need?"

"Yeah."

Together with Lilia, dressed casually, we began shopping for essentials like kitchenware, bedding, and other daily necessities. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a date—it was all practical.

"...Alright, that should be everything."

"I’m done on my end too, Tetsuya."

Back at the shop, we set up the living quarters on the second floor. Each room was furnished with a bed and a small desk. The living space had a larger table and chairs, while the kitchen was equipped with shelves and utensils.

"Wow, the day flew by. Let’s have dinner. It’ll be simple tonight—hope that’s okay?"

"Of course, I’m fine with anything."

As we prepared for cohabiting, we discussed some ground rules.

Since cooking would be challenging for Lilia, given her one arm, I offered to handle meals. She used to rely on eating out, but cooking for two wasn’t much harder than for one, and I enjoyed it. In return, Lilia would take care of cleaning and contribute to the cost of ingredients. Laundry was a personal task, given the nature of undergarments.

The shop’s rent was 20 gold coins per month, which stretched my budget, but the location and size made it worth it. Lilia insisted on paying part of the rent since she’d live and work here, even though I considered her presence and security as part of the shop’s expenses. Eventually, she agreed to pay 5 gold coins a month, which I’d later balance by increasing her salary once the shop took off.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Dinner’s ready—hope the simple menu is okay!"

"Oh, it smells great! There’s soup too—it doesn’t look simple at all."

Having spent the last two days walking around town, I was exhausted. Dinner was a quick meal of stir-fried meat and vegetables, bread, and soup.

"Alright, let’s dig in."

"Let’s eat."

First, the stir-fry. The meat came from a creature called a Black Bull, a relatively affordable magical beast. I paired it with vegetables similar to cabbage, onions, and carrots from my old world. My time eating at the inn helped me learn about this world’s ingredients, and the stir-fry turned out pretty well.

"Not bad at all!"

"This is delicious! It’s just meat and vegetables, but the flavor is incredible!"

I used my trusty outdoor spice blend for seasoning. The food in this world wasn’t usually heavily seasoned, so the bold flavors seemed to hit the spot. I wished for some rice, but since the market didn’t carry any, bread had to suffice.

"And this soup is amazing too! I’ve never had anything like it before!"

"Oh, so you’ve never tried miso soup? It has a unique aroma—are you okay with it?"

"Yeah, it’s a flavor I’ve never experienced, but it’s delightful!"

"I’m glad you like it. There are other soup flavors too—let’s try them sometime."

Thanks to the outdoor shop reaching level 3, I could now buy new products like instant soups. Options included miso, corn cream, consommé, and egg soup—quick and easy to prepare by just adding hot water.

Though instant rice wasn’t available yet, these soups were a lifesaver. I planned to feature them as a key product when the shop opened.

Even as I sipped the miso soup, it evoked nostalgia for the flavors of my old world. For a brief moment, I felt a pang of homesickness.