Chapter 51

"Well, what book should I read today?"

After deciding on my future plans and allocating my status points after a class change, I headed to town since it was a holiday.

The reason being, I had recently gotten into reading and had started spending my days off holed up in a nearby café, engrossed in books.

"Hey, Tim. Are you off today?"

As I entered the shop, the middle-aged master greeted me with a smile.

"Yes, I got a bit delayed because I was thinking about a few things, but is it still okay to order from the lunch menu?"

It was just past noon, and since most people who didn't set their own schedules had already returned to work, the café was sparsely populated.

"Of course, I love watching young people enjoy their meals. Go ahead and order as much as you like."

Indeed, the food at this café was delicious and the portions were generous.

It was a place I had learned about from Olive, and it seemed she also liked it, as I would occasionally run into her when I visited.

"Then, I'll have the 'Recommended Pasta Soup Set' and a warm tea after the meal, please."

"Sure thing! Just a moment, please."

I set the menu aside. Since I planned to spend the whole day here and would be placing additional orders, I wanted to save some trouble.

"Take your time. I'm just choosing a book."

This café had a bookshelf with a vast collection of books. The master had been collecting them bit by bit since his youth, and customers were free to take any they liked. For me, who didn't own many books while living in an inn, this was a very welcome service.

"Should I go for a classic adventurer success story... or a dungeon exploration tale?"

Both genres were thrilling. I spent my days exploring dungeons and even thought about them on my days off. As I held the book, I pondered the allure of those dangerous places.

Eventually, I chose a few books from the many available and returned to my seat.

"Hey, you picked that story? We must have similar tastes."

After reading for a while, the master brought my meal.

"It seems we do have similar tastes when it comes to books."

I closed the dungeon story book I was reading, placed it at the edge of the table, and started enjoying my meal.

"Yeah, it's hearty and delicious. I could eat it all day."

I transferred a generous portion of the pasta from the large plate to a smaller one and took a bite. The flavor was impeccable, and I occasionally reset my palate with the soup before continuing to eat.

"Phew, that was a great meal."

The large amount of pasta disappeared into my stomach in just a few minutes.

"You have a good appetite."

"I've been living in the dungeons every day, so I get really hungry on days like this."

"Hmm, that's a sign of fatigue. Adventurers sometimes eat a lot to recover from their exhaustion. If you need more, just let me know."

I thanked the master. I was indeed tired.

"By the way, the wall broke the day before yesterday, and there's a draft coming in, isn't there? Maybe you should move to a different seat?"

Now that he mentioned it, I could feel a breeze on my cheek.

"It's still warm, so it's quite comfortable."

"Is that so? Just be careful, as too much wind can make you sick. Feel free to move to a different seat if you want."

With that, the master returned to his work.

I focused on my story, listening to the sounds of the master washing dishes, other customers placing orders, and the bell announcing new arrivals.

"...Mr. M? ...I'm sorry."

I thought I heard something, but I was too engrossed in the story to look up.

The warm sunlight and the post-meal drowsiness gradually made me sleepy, and before I knew it, I had dozed off.

"Ah... I must have fallen asleep."

As I sat up, something fell off my back.

"What's this...?"

It was a scarf. As I examined the pattern, a soothing, indescribably pleasant scent wafted up.

"Zzz..."

Looking to the side, I saw Olive leaning against the chair, fast asleep.

It seemed she had been the one who called out to me earlier.

"So, this scarf must be hers."

I remembered her wearing it when we met on a previous day. She must have draped it over me so I wouldn't catch a cold.

"Hey, Tim, you're awake? Would you like something to drink?"

The master asked me. I gently placed the scarf back over Olive's sleeping form and replied...

"No, not right now. But I might order two hot cocoas a bit later."

"That's a good idea."

The master and I shared a laugh, and I waited for Olive to wake up.