Act 2-13 - Gourmet Rogga

Chapter 13 : Gourmet Rogga

After I regrouped with Mani, the two of us then went on our way to do some shopping.

The color of the sky had already turned orange, it was almost evening.

It was the busiest time for the shopping district.

The reason why I’m visiting the shopping district around this time was to purchase the ingredients for dinner.

Even though we still have some leftover ingredients, the food that is easily spoiled such as meat and fish has to be supplied everyday since we didn’t have the method to store it for a long time.

Though the food could be stored longer with frozen ice stone, I’m not a merchant, I had no reason to store food for that long.

It was much cheaper to buy just the amount we need for today than using the pricy frozen ice stone, I mean, we were not some sort of nouveau riche.

「Thanks god my blacksmith acquaintance is willing to buy the wise wolf stone with a slightly higher price. I mean, I’m not skillful enough to work with it.」

The harvest from today’s exploration in 《Romburgh’s Underground Ruin》 was one C-rank battle bone, three D-rank battle bones, four E-rank battle bones, and wise wolf stone.

From Mani’s simple calculation, she said it would be sold for 350k temis but it was bought for 400k temis thanks to her mediation.

Dividing it between the three of us, each person got 130k temis.

「Since I leveled up from 【Lv:12】 to 【Lv:15】 at once during today’s exploration, I think I just need a bit more to reach the next level. I’m now capable of quickly processing the work that need alchemy.」

Mani spoke delightfully.

Indeed, Mani was only 【Lv:7】 just a while ago, and she was twice as strong as before so her mana should be at least double from before but I doubt that was the only change in her.

【Lv:15】 was the general level of the blacksmith in this city.

【Lv:20】 was the level of a famous blacksmith in the city, and except for the blacksmith in the army, 【Lv:25】 was the top class blacksmith of this city.

At this pace, Mani might reach that top level soon enough.

As long as she has 《Evil Spirit’s Battle Hammer; Gadras》, reaching 【Lv:20】 wasn’t a pipe dream.

「… I feel sorry for saying this even though you just crafted 《Demon Eater Sword; Beelzera》 a while ago but, you may have to craft a new enchanted sword for me soon.」

When I muttered so, Beelzebub replied even faster than Mani.

『Haah!? D-Dean! A-Are you’re going to abandon this mistress!?』

I facepalm as soon as I heard Beelzebub speak directly in my head.

「You’re mistaken! When I say new enchanted sword, I mean we take the demon core, and use it in the newly crafted sword!」

《Demon Eater Sword; Beelzera》 was made from Beelzebub’s demon core which is presumably at least an A-grade demon core along with Fang Wolf’s battle bone and black iron of D-grade which resulted in a D-rank enchanted sword.

But, after today’s exploration, I concluded that it was still too soon for both Edda and I to go against the C-rank demon beast, and the price of C-rank mineral was still too expensive for me.

As long as I gathered enough money while helping Mani to raise her level and mining some minerals, the time for me to ask her to craft a C-rank enchanted sword with C-rank materials would come soon enough.

I went around the shopping district along with Mani to buy enough food for us. [TL : Date?]

Though she was rather frivolous sometimes, I feel a deep sense of gratitude toward Beelzebub.

That’s why let’s make a feast for Beelzebub who had lost any other enjoyment.

I mean, I got 130k temis from today’s exploration.

We entered the slightly luxurious foodstore which I normally avoided back then during my porter era, the 《Dragon’s Smacking Lips》.

This store was the supplier of high ranking personnel of the army, chiefs of a large company, or famous chefs since we could find delicious food or delicacys which they bought from the adventurer guild.

… Mani and I, a blacksmith and your run-of-the-mill adventurer might be slightly out of place in this kind of place.

I mean, I was the only one in this store who wore blood soaked cloths.

I really couldn’t help but to endure the criticizing gaze of the shopkeeper and the other guests.

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Let’s buy what we need and get out of this place immediately.

Since I found a delicious looking gourmet demon toad meat, the species of demon toad in the display, it took less than a second for me to decide today’s menu.

I mean, I also wanted to try this meat since a long time ago.

Since they rarely appeared in the market, you might say that I was really lucky to find one today.

Demon toad was the kind of demon beast which appeared frequently around the fountain or swamp in the demon labyrinth, they’re almost as big as a human child.

Their most notable features were their slimy skins, ogling eyes, and thin limb to move in the water.

The gourmet demon toad was a C-rank demon beast, it is said to eat nothing but meat around the battle bone of its prey.

In addition, since it was rather picky about its meal, it completely ignored F or E-rank demon beast, thus it was called “Gourmet” Demon Toad.

Naturally, I never ate this meat before but, I heard that gourmet demon toad meat was fully packed with umami and meat juice, it was so delicious to the point that light seasoning was enough for it.

The price for two people worth of gourmet demon toad’s belly meat was 12k temis.

Such a price was absolutely out of my reach in the past.

… Considering Beelzebub’s appetite, shall I order six portions? or more?

「Excuse me, gourmet demon toad meat 1200 rang please」[TL : Rang: weight measurement for sure]

「Ha~h… gourmet demon toad meat right? my apologize but, have you read its price tag?」

Maybe he thought that we were only window shopping, it was clear that the shopkeeper was looking down on us due to our attire but, he bowed his head and started to prepare my order as soon as I took out my money pouch.

「To, ah, nevermind! My apologies for the rudeness! I’ll prepare your order immediately!」

I received three chunks of gourmet demon toad meat wrapped in cloth.

「We’ll be waiting for your patronage in the future too.」

The shopkeeper said so while bowing his head as we left 《Dragon’s Smacking Lips》.

… I think a slightly well off adventurer would come to this place fairly often but, his change of attitude was way too fast.

Well, I guess the adventurers who frequent this place rarely bought high class ingredients.

I mean, they were the kind who rather go to restaurants to eat delicious meals rather than cooking for themself.

Though I had no idea whether that shopkeeper was acting on his intuition, he might have thought that the most outstanding adventurer would aim to enter the army for stable income and safety guarantee.

The shopkeeper’s expectation made me slightly embarassed.

『Yup! Good job, Dean!』

Beelzebub’s voice resounded in my head again.

She seems to be extremely delighted.

「You’re in the mood for splurging huh.」

「Maybe I’ll come to regret this later.」

I replied to Mani with a wry smile on my face.

「What a surprise. I never expected that the dirty folks who just came out of 《Dragon’s Smacking Lips》 are you guys. You seems to be doing just fine, Dean-kun.」

I turned around upon hearing the voice that called out to us.

The first thing that caught my eyes was the gaudy mantle and feathered hat.

「What’s the matter… Gilbert.」

Gilbert’s brow creased as he glared at me.

This was the first time I met him since the incident with Gold Maimai from before… I wonder why he suddenly appeared before me?

In addition, he seems to be slightly smaller compared to the last time I saw him.

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TN : In case you don’t remember about Gilbert, he was the a*ss hole who caused Dean to find Beelzebub.