“Evelyn, would you like to try this as a test?”

Mei asked as she pulled out another jar of cream.

She didn’t need it herself, and since the ingredients could be sourced from her garden, she could always make more. What she really wanted was for someone to test its effects.

“Are you sure about this?”

Despite her words, Evelyn had already firmly taken hold of the moisturizing cream Mei offered.

“I’d like you to use it for about a week and see how it works. If it’s okay, I’ll consider selling it. … If you experience any skin issues, please drink this.”

Anticipating the worst, Mei handed Evelyn a potion as well. Evelyn accepted it with both hands and thanked Mei with a beaming smile.

As for the eye drops, Mei had left them with the Merchant’s Guild, intending for someone with poor eyesight to try them.

Since she had initially planned to distribute both as samples, there were no issues. Mei hoped that, in the future, they might be sellable.

“Oh, by the way, Zeke, have you had lunch yet?”

As she stepped out of the Merchant’s Guild, Mei turned back to look at Zeke and the others who had followed her outside.

Evelyn, who was still at the entrance, waved lightly to them before disappearing back inside.

“Not yet. What about you, Mei?”

“Same here~. If it’s okay with you, would you like to join me for lunch?”

Naturally, the place Mei had in mind was Kamru’s shop.

Mei had become acquainted with the three daughters of the shop’s owner, Kamru, through an unexpected turn of events. Since then, whenever she came to Lints, she made it a point to stop by.

The last time she visited, Kamru had mentioned that the soup curry Mei had suggested was nearing completion. Mei was eager to see if she could finally taste what could be the first curry of this world.

“I don’t mind.”

When Zeke agreed, Alex leaned down to peer at Mei’s face with great interest.

“You’ve already got a regular spot?”

“Hehe, there’s a place I recommend~.”

With that, Mei led them down a side street to a hidden gem of a shop.

“Are we going to Liz’s place by any chance?”

Ermine, who was waddling beside Mei, asked. Its tiny wings on its back moved in rhythm with its steps.

“Yep, that’s right. Oh, but don’t spoil what dishes we’ll have. It’s a surprise!”

Mei placed a finger to her lips with a playful “shhh” and grinned.

Though her black hair wasn’t remarkable, her red eyes, a symbol of high magical power, often inspired fear. However, her youthful face and ever-changing expressions made Zeke and the others feel protective of her.

Additionally, Mei was incredibly naive about the world around her.

The group agreed that if they didn’t teach her basic common sense, she’d undoubtedly face significant trouble someday. Even Zeke’s companions shared this sentiment.

Mei’s designated guardian, Ermine, was a beastfolk creature unlike anything they had seen before—and just as clueless as Mei when it came to worldly matters.

Apparently, Ermine had lived in the house of the famed “Boundary Witch” deep within the Forest of Mist. The house itself was so self-sufficient that neither Mei nor Ermine had ever needed to step outside before.

Their other guardian, a fierce-looking rooster, was rumored to be the infamous “Black Dragon of Ruin” that once destroyed a nation. However, Zeke and his companions deliberately avoided dwelling on such matters.

As Mithril-ranked adventurers, they knew some things in this world were better left unexplored.

“Ta-da! We’re here!”

Stopping in front of a shop, Mei spread her arms wide and smiled brightly.

A savory aroma unlike anything they had encountered before wafted through the air.

“This is… Kamru’s place, isn’t it?”

“Cloud-san, you knew?”

Cloud gazed nostalgically at the shop’s signboard. The depiction of a knife and spoon made it clear that it was an eatery.

“The name’s a little different from before.”

“Now the daughters are running the shop in place of their father, who fell ill. But he’s better now and works with them.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Welcome to Kamru’s Shop—now renamed Soup Curry Kamru~!”

As Mei opened the door, the enticing aroma of curry reached Cloud and the others.

“Soup curry?”

Hearing the unfamiliar term, Cloud tilted his head.

The moment they stepped inside, a unique, spicy fragrance filled the air, making them stop in their tracks.

“What is this? It doesn’t smell exactly pleasant, yet it makes me hungry…”

Zeke, just as intrigued, looked around the shop and commented, “What an unusual scent.”

“Oh, Mei! Welcome!”

A cheerful voice greeted Mei as a little girl, no older than three, ran toward her. With honey-colored fluffy hair and sky-blue eyes, she was utterly adorable.

She was Mitia, the youngest of Kamru’s shop’s three famous daughters.

“Mei, it’s been a while!”

Turning around with a tray in hand, a ponytailed girl with red hair—Riz, who was Mei’s age—beamed at her. Meanwhile, a serene, lavender-haired girl peeked from the kitchen. She was Luna, the eldest daughter.

“Welcome. You’ve brought friends today, haven’t you?”

Though Luna greeted them warmly, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Zeke and his companions.

Given their father’s background as a former adventurer, the shop was no stranger to adventurer patrons.

However, Mithril-ranked adventurers like Zeke usually dined at much fancier establishments, making this their first visit.

Seeing them up close, Luna blushed deeply, finding them even more impressive than from afar.