Chapter 127: Another Acquaintance

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Another Acquaintance

They were excellent at serving their master, maintaining his living quarters, and following his orders. However, their culinary abilities left much to be desired. Most of the meals they prepared consisted of meat that had been heated until it was barely edible, accompanied by whatever ingredients they happened to find in the dungeon.

Sometimes the meat was burned on the outside and raw in the middle. On other occasions, it was so tough that even Ragnar’s powerful jaws struggled to tear it apart. The seasoning was almost nonexistent, and the few attempts they had made to prepare something more elaborate had ended in disasters that he preferred not to remember.

As a former human, Ragnar found the experience unbearable.

He had endured it because there were no proper alternatives inside the dungeon, but now that he had discovered an eatery operating within the entrance hall, there was no reason to continue suffering.

More importantly, this would be his first opportunity to taste human cooking since his reincarnation.

"Finally," he murmured, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Something worth looking forward to."

He walked toward the eatery, blending into the crowd of adventurers passing through the hall.

When Ragnar reached the counter, he found a middle-aged woman standing behind it. She wore a simple apron and was busy arranging several plates of food while a young man carried a pot from the cooking area.

The woman glanced up at him.

"Welcome! Take a seat if you’d like to eat here, or tell me what you’d like to order. We’ve got grilled meat, stew, vegetable soup, and fresh bread today. If you’re looking for something more filling, I can also prepare a large meat platter."

Ragnar studied the menu displayed beside the counter.

There were several dishes he didn’t recognize, but the descriptions were straightforward enough. More importantly, everything smelled considerably better than the meals he had been eating in his dungeon.

He had no idea whether the food would live up to his expectations, but he was determined to find out.

"I’ll take a large meat platter, a bowl of stew, and some bread," he said. After a brief pause, he added, "And bring me whatever drink you recommend."

The woman raised an eyebrow at the size of his order before smiling.

"That’s quite a meal for one person. Have you just come back from exploring the dungeon?"

"Something like that."

"Then you’ve come to the right place. Adventurers are always hungry after a long expedition." She turned toward the cooking area and called out to the young man. "One large meat platter, a bowl of stew, bread, and a drink! Make sure the meat is freshly cooked!"

Ragnar nodded and found an empty table nearby.

He sat down, placed his backpack beside him, and waited patiently.

At that moment, his entire attention was focused on one simple matter.

I wonder how good this world food tastes.

When the woman finally approached his table with the first plate, he straightened in his seat.

The platter was filled with slices of roasted meat, their surfaces glistening with oil and seasoning. Beside them sat several pieces of bread, while a bowl of thick stew released a fragrant cloud of steam. The drink was a lightly colored fruit beverage served in a wooden cup.

Ragnar stared at the food.

"Enjoy your meal," the woman said before returning to the counter.

He examined it for a moment, then brought it to his mouth and took a bite.

The meat was tender, its juices spreading across his tongue as the seasoning brought out its natural flavor. The outside had a pleasant roasted texture, while the inside remained soft and moist. There was no unpleasant taste of raw flesh, no burnt bitterness, and certainly none of the toughness he had come to associate with his maids’ cooking.

He chewed slowly, then he took another bite.

Delicious.

For several moments, Ragnar said nothing. He simply continued eating, savoring every mouthful as though he had discovered an entirely new world.

He picked up another piece of roasted meat with his fork and brought it toward his mouth.

Just as he was about to take a bite, a woman’s voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here!"

Ragnar paused.

A woman wearing a mage’s robe stood beside his table. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with shoulder-length brown hair and a pair of bright eyes. A staff was strapped to her back, and several small pouches hung from her waist. Judging by her equipment, she was an adventurer who specialized in magic.

She looked at Ragnar with an amused expression before glancing at the food spread across his table.

"Wow, Gil! Do you have some extra money now? I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be able to afford a proper meal like this. Usually, you’re the type to buy a piece of bread and call it a day. What happened? Did you finally discover a treasure chest?"

Cough!

Ragnar nearly choked.

He hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth, then reached for his drink. His eyes widened slightly as he took a large gulp to clear his throat.

’What the hell?!’

He had barely begun enjoying his meal when another person who knew the original Gil appeared. Worse, unlike the five men who had mocked him earlier, this woman seemed familiar enough with Gil to casually approach him and comment on his spending habits.

Ragnar maintained his composure with considerable effort. He placed his cup back on the table and looked up at the woman, trying not to reveal the surprise he felt.

The woman tilted her head.

"Are you alright? You almost choked."

"I’m fine," Ragnar replied after clearing his throat. "I was just eating too quickly."

She pulled out the chair opposite him without waiting for an invitation. "Anyway, mind if I sit here? I was looking for somewhere to rest, and I didn’t expect to run into you."

Ragnar stared at her for a brief moment.

He had two choices. He could politely refuse and risk making her suspicious, or allow her to sit and try to learn more about the original Gil through their conversation.

The second option was obviously better.

"Go ahead."