"Grey, I want to eat Hamburg Steak!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna suddenly requested out of the blue with a serious and adorable expression on her face. She was staring intensely at Grey when she did so.

  It has been a couple of days sihe two arrived in Moterno, and like their usual daily routine in Galderia, they have been pleting quests in the m and afternoon while spending their evening leisurely.

  Currently, they have just fiheir quest for the day. It was a B-rank quest the Guildmaster had specially requested of them for sihey were the only B-rank party avaible at the moment.

  Si was the only quest they took for the day, they have finished quite earlier pared to usual. The sun has yet to reach its zenith and the two still haven't had their lunch yet. It was the perfect time for Yuna to request a dish for lunch.

  As Grey was currently in the process of dismantling their kill, the moment he heard Yuna's words, fusion struck him like lightning. His hands even stopped moving from bewilderment.

  As for Yuna, she was squatting on the ground as she looked at Grey with i eyes. She was even supp his head with both of his hands pressing on her cheeks as she carefully observed what Grey was doing.

  "Umm... Why so suddenly?" ［Grey］

  "Mmm... I just want to eat it... Is it no good...?" ［Yuna］

  "N-No... I'll cook it for you ter, but you'll have to help me, okay?" ［Grey］

  "Un! I'll do my best!" ［Yuna］

  Grey was helpless against Yuna's pleading eyes. The moment she had the look of a pleading i puppy, Grey instantly k was his loss. He was like a doting father who couldn't resist his daughter's plea.

  Grey breathed out a lengthy sigh full of as he realized once again how much he oiling Yuna. While he was fully aware of it, he still couldn't help himself but spoil her. He has always been like that ever since he became Yuna's "guardian".

  Ever since Grey saved Yuna, he had felt responsible towards her. It may be because he was mentally older than Yuna or just because he wahe once vulnerable elven girl, but he has been protective and doting on her ever since.

  With Yuna's eyes as excited as one could be, Grey tio brandish his knife as he tio dismahe beast they had just subjugated. With it, they have yet aype of meat in store.

  "Alright, I'm finished. Let's head baow." ［Grey］

  "Yay～!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna hummed happily as she traveled baoterno. Grey by her side was smiling warmly as he observed the adorable elven girl.

  As soon as they arrived at the guild, the atmosphere quickly became more silent. There was none amongst the adventurers who wao look at them. If there was, it would only be a quice.

  The only ones who could handle Grey and Yuhe receptionist who had the ce to i with them. They have beore fortable with them the more they i with one another.

  "Good noon, Miss Anna, we would like to report the pletion of the quest. you tell the Guildmaster about it?" ［Grey］

  "Yes, of course." ［Anna］

  "Thank you." ［Grey］

  The receptionist Grey was talking to was called "Anna". She was still in her mid-twenties and happeo be the same receptionist who reported to the Guildmaster the otion in the guild a few days ago.

  She also happeo be the Guildmaster's, Althea's, younger sister. It was the reason that she was assigo handle Grey and Yuna's procedures. Though she was just pushed into it by her older sister, she has bee fortable with the two because of it.

  A few minutes after Anhe reception desk, she came back to the lobby with the Guildmaster in tow. The tter has a look of surprise and relief on her face as soon as she saw Grey and Yuna.

  "Grey, Yuna, you're finished with the quest already?" ［Althea］

  "Yes, we alsht baaterials with us like you requested. We have some bones and crafting materials. A couple hundred kilograms of them." ［Grey］

  "Really?! Thank you!" ［Althea］

  Althea's eyes lit up like a light bulb as soon as she heard the world "materials". After all, materials from a B-ra was by no means easy to e by. It was especially rare in smaller towns like Moterno.

  The bones and fangs of the beast alone could be used to create tough and durable equipment. Not to mention the hide or leather, it was useful for armor and could even be used as decorations by nobility.

  Being a part of a B-ra's body, equipment made from them would at least reach High-grade if treated skillfully. Equipment which could easily fetch tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. They were super precious.

  "Then, I'd like to purchase all of them!" ［Althea］

  "Alright." ［Grey］

  As soon as the Guildmaster decred her words, Grey, Yuna, and the Guildmaster headed to the cold ste to drop off the materials. Anna, oher hand, tinued with her reception work.

  The moment Grey took out the materials from his "Iory", the Guildmaster became akin to aed child who just got a hand of her favorite toys. Her eyes were sparkling just as bright as Yuna's when she was also excited.

  After weighing and calg the worth of the materials, the guild immediately paid Grey and Yuna the full amount and rewarded points to their cards. They were able to earn more than 600 thousand kiels in a siransa.

  It was the most amount of mohey have made in a single quest so far. That is of course not including the raid quest on Iblis. They still have yet to receive the reward from that o was highly likely that it could tain millions.

  With their tasks at the guild finished, Yuna and Grey headed back to the "Blue Spring" inn . And si was lunch time, a time where many people are away, there were barely any people in the inn.

  "Good noon, how maー Oh, Mister Grey, Miss Yuna, will you be having lunch here today?" ［Mira］

  Mira was about to greet the two like how she greets new ers, but stopped midway as soon as she realized it was just Grey and Yuna.

  "Ah, well, yeah. But... could I borrow your kit for a bit? ay if needed. We only need a few minutes." ［Grey］

  "The kit...? Are you going to cook your lunch yourself?" ［Mira］

  Mira tilted her head out of pure curiosity. Although it wasn't the first time someone had asked to borrow the kit, it was still a rare situation.

  "Yeah. If you want I could also cook a portion for you." ［Grey］

  "Really?! Isn't that too much trouble." ［Mira］

  "Not really. I'm used to cooking a rge amount of food all at once. An additional portion or two wouldn't be a problem. Also, Yuna will be helping me so it really wouldn't be too much of a task." ［Grey］

  "Un! We'll be done in a jiffy." ［Yuna］

  Grey looked at Yuna's dire and the tter nodded in agreement. Her face was so ihat it made people believe her instantly.

  "Alright, then just wait a moment, I'll just ask permission from my parents." ［Mira］

  With anticipation visible on her void face, Mira quickly left the reception desk and headed further ihe building. The dire she was heading to was towards the kit adjat to the dining hall.

  As most of the inns in Merusia are owned by a family, the ones w inside of it are most likely reted. It was also the reason why receptionists like Helen and Mira were children of the owners.

  A couple of mier, Mira came back with a positive atmosphere about her. She was smiling from ear to ear as she reyed the good o Grey and Yuna.

  "My parents said that you use the kit as long as you things up properly and you don't break anything." ［Mira］

  "Then about the usage fee..." ［Grey］

  "You don't o worry about that. My portion will serve as payment!" ［Mira］

  Mira decred with a cheerful smile blooming on her face. A few moments ter, Grey and Yuna then headed to the kit to prepare and cook the hamburg steak.

  As soon as they arrived, four people greeted them. There was a man and a woman in their forties, a man in his early-twenties, and a young man who seemed to be a little youhan Yuna. They were Mira's father, mother, older brother, and younger brother, respectively.

  The parents and the older brother looked at Grey and Yuna with pure curiosity while the younger brother looked at them with admiration. Especially towards Yuna, it seems like she was captured by her beauty.

  "Pardorusion." ［Grey］

  "Thank you for letting us borrow the kit." ［Yuna］

  "It's fine. You take the rightmost stove since we'll be using the other ones. Just make sure to not make a mess, alright?" ［Mira's Father］

  Just as Mira's Father instructed, Grey and Yuna headed to the rightmost stove and grabbed their cooking equipment and a variety of ingredients from Grey's "Iory".

  Meat, egg, bread crumbs, spices, cheese, and ents came out of it. He alsht out a few cups worth of white rice along them. After all, to Grey, no meal is plete without ri the pte.

  Like usual, Grey has taken out quite a preeat. While he did say he won't cook those types of meats while other people are around, he had realized that it wouldn't matter if they didn't know what it was. He just o keep his mouth shut.

  "Yuna, could you cook the rice while I prepare the patties?" ［Grey］

  "Un, leave it to me." ［Yuna］

  As per Grey's request, Yuna took a pot and washed the riside of it. She washed it two times to make sure it was and pced it on a stove on high heat. It rocess which didn't even take a couple of minutes.

  And just as Yuna prepared the rice, Grey also started making the patties. He first grouhe meat with the use of wind magic, grinding the meat into fi which could rival the quality of market brought ones.

  After the meat was ground, he the on a rge bowl and mixed it with egg, bread crumbs, diced cheese, and spices. The spices were turo fine pieces by processing it with high-speed winds.

  He mixed it gently for a couple of minutes and when the perfect sistency was reached, he then started turning them into patties. Each patty was the size of an open palm and had quite the thiess.

  Just as Grey finished preparing the patties, the rice had already e to a boil. Yuna then turned down the heat to prevent the rice from being burnt. After all, no os burnt rice which has the same bitterness as coffee grounds.

  While there was a way to make coffee from burnt rice, that was when the rice grains weren't cooked and were still raw. Burning ri the pot will just be a waste of precious and delicious rice.

  "Grey, the rice is done." ［Yuna］

  "Ah, thank you." ［Grey］

  "Un. No problem!" ［Yuna］

  A few mier, the rice had finished cooking and an aromatic smell started to waft the kit. It was the smell of freshly cooked rice which was enough to make people feel hungry.

  With the rice finished, Grey pced a pan oove aed oil on medium heat. Soon after, Grey pced the patties on the heated pan and a familiar sizzling sound resounded in the air.

  Along with the sound of sizzling oil, the meaty aroma of the patties bined with the preexisting smell of the rice. It was quite the bo which make people salivate in anticipation.

  Mira's family who were minding their own business had their attention caught from the aromatic smell. Especially sihey were cooks, their curiosity was aroused from the dish Grey was cooking.

  "Young man, you're cooking quite the dish over there. What's it called?" ［Mira's Father］

  "It's called hamburg steak. Would you like some as well?" ［Grey］

  "Hm? Is that fih you?" ［Mira's Father］

  "Yeah. We're also cooking a portion for Miss Mira. Might as well cook a portion for everybody to enjoy." ［Grey］

  "That's right. It's more fuing with more people." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, then I'll be imposing on you. As pensation, lunch will be in the house. That way, there'll be more dishes to choose from." ［Mira's Father］

  With a boisterous decration from Mira's Father, a smile appeared on everyone's faces. All of them couldn't wait to have a taste of each other's dishes.

  As soon as the patties have turned golden brown, Grey flipped them one by oo the other side. A few mier, the patties were fully cooked. It was time to cook another batch.

  After cooking the patties, Grey melted butter in the pan and pced back the patties on it for another few minutes for the final cooking and when all were finished, Grey sauce of them which he had prepared beforehand.

  Of course, no meal would be pleted without a refreshment. While Grey was cooking the hamburg steak, Yuna had prepared a pitcher full e juid chilled it with the help of ice magic.

  Strangely enough, even though Yuna's main attribute was ice, she wasn't fond of having too much i her drinks. She had the least amount of ice since she hates having brain freeze.

  With a scoop of ri the side, a serving of hamburg steak, and a gss e jui the side, the meal was finished. It was time for lunch!

  """""Thank you for the meal!"""""

  Oer anrey, Yuna, and Mira's family took a bite of the hamburg steak and as soon as the fvors touched their tongues, it was like a surge of savoriness and juiess flooded their mouths.

  "Waah～ This is so delicious!" ［Mira］

  "Young man, this is amazing. It's my first time eating quite the fvorful dish." ［Mira's Father］

  "Un! Hamburg steak is delicious! As expected of Grey!" ［Yuna］

  Grey was showered with praises as soon as everyone had a bite of the hamburg steak. While there were some who didn't ent, the glint in their eyes and smile on their faces were enough.

  Mira's younger brother in particur looked at Grey with a peculiar shine in his eyes. He has newfound admiration trey. Not only was Grey quite a looker, he was also a good cook. He was an idol to him.

  "This rice is also delicious. It pliments the hamburg steak very well. It seems like Miss here is also a good cook." ［Mira's Father］

  "Mhm... thanks." ［Yuna］

  Even when Yuna reoccupied with eating the hamburg steak, she was still able to respond to the pliment from Mira's Father. Grey thought Yuna was so cute wheried to swallow her food quickly to respond.

  Thankfully, she didn't choke on her food even though she was eating so quickly. It seems like the juice had other uses other than plimenting the dishes and serving as a refreshment.

  "Mister Grey, could I have another one?!" ［Mira］

  "Mira, don't be overbearing!" ［Mira's Mother］

  "No, it's alright. lenty of hamburg steak and rice for everyoo enjoy. o hold yourselves back." ［Grey］

  "Un. Please eat to your heart's tent." ［Yuna］

  As soon as everyone heard Grey and Yuna's ahe three siblings' eyes lit up. It was as if a pair of benevolent angels desded before them. They have beore fortable with them.

  With the presence of "Iory", there wouldn't be any food wasted if there are aovers, but Grey and Yuna decided to share all the hamburg steaks and rice with everyo was best to eat food without holding back.

  And with the meal cooked by Mira's family, lunch became even more lively ay. It reminded Grey and Yuna of the feeling whee together with Gerd and family back when they were still in Galderia.

  "Waah～! Thank you, Mister Grey!!" ［Mira］

  "Then, I'd like to have some more as well." ［Mira's Older Brother］

  "Me too!" ［Mira's Younger Brother］

  With Mira on the lead, everyone had their ptes refilled with another serving of rid hamburg steak. Their faces were filled with happiness and satisfa as they started with their sed serving.

  "Hey, kids, where's your manners at? You should at least thank the young man and young miss." ［Mira's Father］

  """Thank you, Mister Grey, Miss Yuna!"""

  In unison, the three siblings gave their gratitude to Grey and Yuna who were sitting on the opposite side of the table from them. The recipients of their gratitude just smiled in respoo them.

  While the three siblings went ahead and had their sed serving, Yuna was on another level. She was already on her fourth serving and was not showing any signs of slowing down.

  Of course, Grey didn't lose out to her either. Even when he did as fast as Yuna, she finished about the same amount of servings as Yuna. It was an amount that had Mira and her family stupefied.

  But for the two, it was just a normal amount to them. With the amount of times they move in a single day, it is only natural that they'll have to eat more to fuel those as.

  Mana could be substituted to sate one's hunger, but Grey and Yuna didn't want to resort to that method unless it was absolutely necessary. After all, eating meals was much more satisfying than using mana.

  """""Thanks for the meal!"""""

  Just like how they started before eating, everyone ehe meal by expressing their gratitude for experieng such a delieal. It was a tradition most people did in Merusia.

  While it has only beehan a week since Grey and Yuna had left Galderia, they already missed the times and meals they spent with Gerd, Helen, and Selia. It already felt like a big part of their daily lives.

  But as they wait for the time they return, they will enjoy the new experiences in front of them. They wao explore more things and create more memories with every pce they visit.

  CHAPTER 38 END