Port Town was mainly occupied by a mix of ordinary people and witches. It was one of the central hotspots in Riviere, known for its blend of culture and dynamics.
Naturally, there were restaurants open everywhere for witches to indulge in foreign food, most especially for those recluse witches who never stepped foot outside of Rivere.
"This place looks good."
Lancel led them inside a pub reminiscent of the ones he often frequented during his adventurer days.
Even this type of restaurant was one of the attractions for witches to understand the life of an adventurer. Because actually, there were well-known eccentric witches who abandoned the life of research and beca adventurers themselves.
For that reason, there were witches who aspired to the life of adventuring rather than burying themselves in books.
Already, the sll of ale and the scent of food registered the mont they stepped inside.
"There sure are a lot of people," Fiore said. "Must be so kind of special occasion?"
Lancel glanced around. Judging from so of the patrons’ outfits, they were clearly adventurers, with a fair number of witches mixed in as well.
"Probably."
Lancel shrugged.
When they found their seat, they imdiately placed their order. Lancel and Faust knew exactly what they wanted and ordered quickly.
Fiore, however, was left confused by the choices, unfamiliar with the type of cuisine pubs usually offered.
"What the hell is pottage? And this... rabbit stew? Is that actually rabbit? Do people really eat that here?"
"You’ve never tried rabbit before?" Lancel asked.
"For a al? No. For experints? A couple of tis."
Seeing this, Faust chuckled. "Has Countess Gretelle sheltered you that much that you’ve never even tried rabbit before?"
Even Faust was no stranger to such food. In the first place, Faust was one of those witches who had traveled all around the continent.
But still she had tried all sorts of food, even when she remained in Riviere. Rabbits weren’t all that strange in the first place. Just that it was probably because of Fiore’s noble background, added to her guardian, who valued class above all else.
In simpler terms, Fiore was too much of a rich young lady.
"Have you also tried sli paste, Countess Lieber?" Fiore asked.
"Of course. It goes well with cabbage layered with at. Do you want to try it?"
"...at?"
Fiore seed to be drooling at the thought of at. Was it really that strange?
"Ah... I can’t," Fiore said. "It’s Wednesday, so I’m not allowed to eat at besides chicken breasts..."
"Why not?" Lancel asked.
"Master is really strict when it cos to diet. Says a bad diet would taint my circuits..."
"Hahaha!" Faust laughed. "That’s ridiculous. Did Countess Gretelle really say such a thing?"
"Y-Yeah... Growing up, I was only allowed to eat at on Sundays. And even then, it’s through a selective process. Sigh. I shouldn’t have co. I was thinking of just ordering so salad, but it seems like they’re not selling any of that here."
"We do have Roasted Salad Crochet, Miss," the waiter suggested.
"It says it cos with at, though?"
"Why not just cheat?" Lancel said. "It’s not like Countess Gretelle is here to monitor you."
"Eh..."
Even just thinking about cheating on her strict diet made Fiore feel guilty. She had been conditioned that way from a young age.
According to her master’s teachings, a witch must always remain refined no matter where she was, even if no one was watching.
Because witches were ultimately human beings first. A talented witch was no good if her character was sloppy.
"If Countess Gretelle finds out, I’ll put in a good word for you," Faust said.
Hearing this, Fiore contemplated for a mont. Even Faust, a witch she admired, was encouraging her.
It would be a sha not to indulge in this.
"Okay... Then could you two recomnd sothing for ?"
Lancel and Faust turned to look at each other before turning back to Fiore.
""Sure!""
* * *
Fiore’s reactions were colorful, to say the least.
"This can’t be edible..."
Every dish that Lancel and Faust pushed onto her plate made her pull a strange face, as if she were seriously debating whether the food was even edible.
"Huh? Isn’t this where poop cos out of...?"
Lancel felt like they had kidnapped a princess from her tower and dragged her straight into a commoner village. That was how out of place she seed, and even Faust found it oddly adorable just how sheltered the girl truly was.
In fact, it made Lancel even more confused how soone like her could boldly suggest having sex if she ever t a male witch.
Did she even know what sex was?
"Co on, just try the rabbit stew," Lancel said with a grin, sliding the bowl closer. "You’re supposed to scoop it up with the bread like this. That’s how real adventurers eat it. Makes the whole thing taste ten tis better."
Lancel picked up a piece of the roasted at and waved it in front of her.
"And this? You roll it in the cabbage first, then take a big bite. That’s the secret technique. If you eat it plain, you’re basically committing a cri against the chef!"
Fiore stared at the food like it might bite her back. They suggested mixing this and that. It was crude, it was strange, and surprisingly, it tasted good.
If she had known there was more to cuisine outside of delicate poached quail eggs, herb-crusted venison served with silver forks, and saffron-infused rosewater puddings, she might have thrown a tantrum at her master years ago.
Faust swirled the ginger ale in her cup and chuckled.
"You know, Fiore. Your master had actually been quite a rebel during her apprentice days."
"Eh?" Fiore felt like her entire world had just shattered. "Seriously? Master?"
"Mhm. Back then, we’d skip our lessons and sneak around the city doing who knows what. There was even that ti she got into a street fight with rogue witches in Hellenberg."
"Master did? No way! Tell more!"
Fiore couldn’t believe it.
That master of hers, who had always been so strict and stern, always wearing those flowy dresses and never leaving the mansion without perfect makeup, had once been a troublemaker in her younger days?
The night wore on as they continued their conversation until Fiore realized it was way past her curfew.
"Ah... Master’s going to kill ..."
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