As soon they arrived at a small restaurant nestled in the corner of the western district, the restaurant looked ordinary from the outside—wooden roof, foggy little windows, and a faded sign worn down by time.
But the moment Athena and the others stepped inside, the rich, mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat greeted them like a warm embrace, washing away the fatigue of their journey.
"This place used to be my favorite back when I was still a C-Rank adventurer," Lucia said with a satisfied smile. "It's not fancy, but the food can make you forget the whole world."
A middle-aged man with thinning hair greeted them from behind the front counter.
"Lucia, Amyra, back again?" he said, his voice deep but warm. "And I see you've brought company."
"Hello, Uncle Dorian!" Amyra waved with a cheerful grin.
"Dorian, meet my friends," Lucia said, gesturing one by one.
"This is Athena, and that's Mary. Our mission was a success, so now it's time to celebrate."
Dorian chuckled.
"In that case, you'll need something to make your tongue forget the taste of blood and dust."
He signaled to a server.
"Three Molten Slime Steaks, and one for the fairy. Unless any of you are vegan, eh?"
Athena frowned.
"Steak… slime?"
"Relax," Lucia interrupted with a laugh.
"The slime here isn't the kind that melts all over dungeon floors. It's a special sauce made from spice-absorbing slime jelly. Triple filtered. I swear it's delicious."
Mary nudged Athena playfully.
"As long as it's not half-cooked. Otherwise, it might taste like… the edge of a boot."
"The edge of a boot?" Athena repeated softly, still clearly skeptical. Her eyes drifted across the other patrons, all of whom were happily enjoying their meals.
Moments later, the server returned with a tray of food, setting each plate carefully on the warm wooden table bathed in lantern light.
"Perfect timing," Lucia said, glancing toward the plates.
"Four Molten Slime Steaks—our house specialty. Enjoy," the server announced proudly.
Steam rose from the golden-brown cuts of grilled meat, glazed with a shimmering silver-green sauce that gleamed like slime… but in a strangely enticing way. The aroma was a fusion of savory and sweet, swirling together with every breath.
Athena stared at it like it was something from another world. Slowly, she reached for her fork and knife.
"This is… suspicious," she muttered under her breath.
Amyra was already cutting into hers.
"If you don't eat yours, I'll gladly help," she said with a wide smile.
"Don't you dare," Athena shot back with a half-laugh.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she sliced off a small piece. The scent was unfamiliar but tempting. She closed her eyes for a moment, then brought the piece to her lips.
The first bite—warm, tender, bursting with flavor.
Nothing like she'd imagined. Not a hint of boot leather.
Athena's lips slowly curled into a genuine, soft smile.
"It's… really good."
"Hehe, told ya!" Lucia said.
"Food in Leyndell's top-tier."
"Next time, let's try something wilder—like grilled dragon steak!" Mary chimed in.
"I don't think I'm quite ready for that," Athena replied with a light laugh, setting off a round of chuckles from the others.
Their conversation flowed easily, from the bizarre tastes of Leyndell cuisine to how seriously Dorian explained the grilling process. Mary even imitated him, eliciting bursts of laughter from the whole table.
The humble restaurant became warm with their laughter. Lanterns swayed gently from the wooden ceiling, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air.
Athena sat at the edge of the table, and for a moment, everything felt… strange.
Not because of the slime steak, but because of this moment—this togetherness.
Lighthearted talk, easy laughter.
Something rare for her.
—Flashback—
A noisy school hallway, echoing with footsteps.
"Athena! Hey, Athena!"
A girl called out, jogging to catch up.
"A bunch of us are going to the new café near the station after school. Wanna come?"
Athena paused, glancing back. Her eyes were distant, though her voice was calm.
"Thanks for the offer, but I can't."
"I've got something to do… maybe next time…"
Her friend looked a little disappointed but nodded.
"O-oh… okay. Maybe next time, then."
Athena only offered a faint nod before walking away.
But the truth was—there was nothing she had to do.
She just didn't feel like she belonged. Didn't know what to say.
Didn't know how to smile like the others.
—Back to the present—
"Athena?" Amyra's gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Startled, Athena looked up, slightly flustered.
"Eh… sorry. I was just… spaced out a little."
Mary eyed her, her fork spearing a piece of steak. Her usual grin softened.
"Something bothering you, Athena?"
Athena forced a smile.
"I'm fine. Really. I just... sitting here with you all makes me happy. Even though we've only just met not long ago."
"I mean… I'm glad I met you all. Even if I still struggle to express things sometimes," she added with a sincere smile.
Their expressions softened. One by one, they smiled back at her.
"Good. As long as you say so," Mary said, twirling her fork between her fingers.
Amyra rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Athena with gentle eyes.
"The fact that you're still sitting here at this table… that already says a lot."
"If anything's ever weighing on you, you can talk to us. Don't forget—we're friends."
That word hung in the air.
Simple. But meaningful.
Their eyes were on her—not demanding, just… waiting.
Giving her space.
A quiet moment followed. Not awkward silence, but a comfortable one. The kind that lets thoughts settle while the scent of grilled meat lingers in the background.
"Thank you, everyone..."
Athena turned her gaze toward the small window on the side wall.
Through the fogged glass, the streetlamps outside swayed gently in the afternoon wind.
Beyond that, the world remained strange and unfamiliar.
But here, in this little corner of it, for just a moment… everything didn't feel so bad.
'Maybe being here, isn't so bad after all..'