“Phew.”

Fully satisfied, I left the restaurant in high spirits after finally enjoying the meat I’d been craving.

The head chef of the restaurant was quite motivated to research new dishes, so I’m sure the next time I visit, they’ll serve me something even tastier.

It’s a shame there’s no pepper or spices, but the tree of all-purpose seasonings in the magic garden doesn’t produce seeds, so it can’t be grown. I wonder if planting the gourd whole would let it grow?

“Ermine, can the all-purpose seasoning tree be cultivated?”

On my way back to the Merchant’s Guild, I asked Ermine, who replied, “Probably not.”

“That tree only grows in the witch’s garden. Koko told me it was originally created through alchemy by a world-hopping witch who found it troublesome to grow multiple spices separately and made a plant that could produce them all at once.”

Huh, so that’s how it is.

Maybe that world-hopping witch was just a little lazy.

“But that wasn’t in any alchemy books, right?”

Then again, since we now know the all-purpose seasoning tree can be made through alchemy, maybe it’ll be in a book the next time I check.

“Well, Mei, you’re still just starting out as an alchemist. To make something like that witch did, you need to level up your skill a lot more.”

“Level up my skill, huh?”

So, I’d need to make all sorts of things, not just potions, to increase my skill.

I wonder if cooking can raise my skill, too.

“Of course! Sometimes increasing your skill even adds effects.”

Oh, right. I remember someone saying that making soup could sometimes add a magic recovery effect.

“Does that effect happen only if you make something super delicious?”

“Yes.”

So maybe if I get a ‘super success’ on a dish, it might have an effect.

I’ve never achieved a ‘super success’ in cooking yet, but maybe I’ll aim for it from now on.

I’ll give it my all!

“I wonder what kinds of effects cooking could add…”

“Who knows? I’ve never heard of such a thing, but then again, it’s Mei we’re talking about.”

“Yeah, with her, anything’s possible…”

Behind me, Cloud and Zeke were having a quiet conversation.

Guys, I can hear you!

It makes me sound like I’m so unusual, but for the record, I do try to avoid anything impossible in this world.

Sure, I sometimes get carried away, but I can’t just pull out random things like Ermine or go on a rampage like Koko.

I’m just an ordinary girl who can do a little bit of alchemy! It’s only that what I make in the alchemy pot sometimes has a bit more effect.

When I insisted on that, Cloud looked off into the distance, muttering, “What exactly does ‘ordinary’ mean?”

Hey! I mean, I can’t use magic, and without battle gear, I’m pretty weak.

…Yep, totally ordinary.

“By the way, was the Merchant’s Guild preparing some meat for us?”

Trying to change the subject, Zeke asked Victor.

The guild wasn’t far from the restaurant, but it was fun to see the town’s orange-roofed buildings.

The cobbled streets were laid with variously shaped stones in the middle where carriages pass, and square stones on each side marked the pedestrian paths.

The streets were wide enough for carriages to pass each other comfortably, and when entering houses or shops, you’d go up a few steps.

Arriving at the Merchant’s Guild, we were led to a waiting room, just like before. Herbert was with us, too.

“Wow!”

The moment I opened the door, I gasped.

The table wasn’t only filled with meat but with all sorts of food!

“We brought out some Golden Cow meat stored by the Merchant’s Guild, as well as other items we thought you’d enjoy. If you find anything you like, just let us know, and we’ll prepare more.”

Herbert’s words made me leap with joy.

“Thank you so much! Yay, now I can make all kinds of dishes!”

When I check my alchemy book later, I’m sure there’ll be tons of meat recipes. I can’t wait!

“Oh? Then I’d like to partake as well.”

Herbert, seated on the sofa, crossed his long legs as he spoke.

“Of course! Please come by anytime. I’ll treat you to freshly picked vegetables.”

Storing them in my bracelet’s item box keeps them fresh, but somehow freshly picked ones seem even juicier and tastier.

“I look forward to it. You know, delicious food truly enriches life. I’ve never had anything as tasty as that.”

“Are you talking about the ice cream?”

“That too, but I was amazed at how that Golden Cow meat became even tastier with just your spices and butter.”

It’s true that even the best meat feels lacking with just salt. Butter is something I can make, but the problem is the pepper.

Once I get back, I need to ask Koko right away.

Though it’s still uncertain if it can be cultivated… I’ll leave that to the experts.

“Let’s go out to eat again soon!”

“Absolutely. Next time, I’ll invite you to my residence. You should get some recipes from my chef.”

“Sounds wonderful!”

Hehe. I’m all for expanding my meat recipe collection.

“By the way, let me just say this. If you ever dine at the Golden Deer Pavilion, keep that knowledge to yourself.”

The Golden Deer Pavilion… isn’t that the most high-class restaurant in town?

Could it be a place where newcomers aren’t welcome?

“Why’s that?”

“The chef at the Silver Branch Inn is open-minded, but the Golden Deer Pavilion’s chef was once a court chef and is rather proud. They might take it as an insult.”

Ah… I see.

So they could think I’m looking down on their cooking?

…Thinking back, maybe it was a bit rude of me to add seasoning and butter to that meat, even though it looked so delicious right in front of me.

Oh no…

I’ll need to reflect on that.