Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 1246 - 32: Memories of the Past

Chapter 1246: Chapter 32: Memories of the Past

"They only sell three kinds of food here, very common dishes." Pannis stroked the table that had been smoothed from the wear of several generations of use, and spoke softly, "First is pan-fried fish filets, then boiled snow jade root, and lastly red rice pudding, along with the owner’s home-brewed wool wine."

"It does sound just like very ordinary food." Seeing Pannis sink into his memories, Antuin sighed and asked, "I can’t tell what’s special about it. Could it be that they use particularly special ingredients? Otherwise, using ordinary materials, it’s hard to imagine that humans with their craftsmanship could create anything exceptional in taste."

"While the choice of ingredients is somewhat selective, one could only say it is ordinary." Pannis shook his head, "The pan-fried fish filets are made with Red-mouthed Silverline Fish caught from the Naramia River that very night, minced and then mixed with just regular eggs, spread into a pancake shape and fried in a pan, the boiled snow jade roots have to be over a kilogram in weight; aside from this, there’s nothing special. As for the red rice pudding, other than the need to manually sort through the rice before cooking, removing grains that aren’t plump enough, it’s made with the same ingredients as any other shop’s red rice pudding, which is why I said these three dishes are completely ordinary."

"But the most common food caught the attention of both you and her," Antuin said with a puzzled tone, "I still remember, although when adventuring you both seemed casual about the quality of life, that was just putting up with it. In truth, you both valued life’s pleasures highly: comfortable clothes, delicious food, fine wine. These things had a strong appeal for you, which is why I find it strange that such an unassuming little tavern could make the most common ingredients taste appealing enough to catch your interest."

"This shop is probably older than I am." Pannis pointed at the table, "Just like the age of this table."

"You can tell." Antuin nodded, "But what does that prove?"

"It is said that from the time they first opened, they have only been selling these three items." Pannis said, "For over a hundred years, passed down through generations, each generation has concentrated on cooking just these three dishes, pouring their entire souls into them, without any distraction from other trivial matters. I think even if they were cooking mere stones, they could produce a flavor that would tempt deities. Not to mention others, can your Elves do this?"

"We cannot." Antuin thought for a moment, then ultimately shook his head, "Time wouldn’t be a problem, just a hundred years or so, but to devote one’s entire energy solely to cooking, and only three dishes at that, it’s just not possible for Elves."

"They can do it, which is why they can produce the best taste from ordinary ingredients," Pannis shrugged and said, "When I first heard of this place, I came three times in succession. The first time I arrived at one in the afternoon, and they had closed for the day. Apparently, they open at half-past nine in the morning and do business for just two hours, closing by half-past eleven. So I came a second time, the following day at noon, only to be told by the owner back then that they had run out of ingredients and that all I could get was a very good tasting wool wine. What was really infuriating, though, was that the female knight in front of me happened to get the last meal, and while I was drinking the wool wine, she was sitting right across from me, looking at me with pitying eyes, then with an apologetic smile at me, unabashedly scooped the last spoonful of red rice pudding into her mouth."

"That would be Nellie," Antuin shook his head with an amused smile, "Sounds like something she would do."

"Everything can be endured, but having food snatched away from you is something one absolutely cannot tolerate. Naturally, I had to seek revenge," Pannis seemingly returned to his youthful days, to those happy times, "So I spent a whole day making a detailed investigation, then two more days perfecting my plan. By the third day, I successfully got ahead of her in line and ensured that the last three meals were for me."

"You really are silly," Antuin couldn’t help but roll his eyes, at a loss for words to describe Pannis’s actions, "Even though both of you were only Legendary Rank at the time, you shouldn’t have been that idle."

"Hmph, that was my revenge." Pannis’s gaze drifted off as if he saw once again the familiar face at the edge of the table, "I will never forget her brilliant expression at that moment. Hehe, she pouted, staring at me with angry eyes as I ate contentedly. She wanted to scold me but couldn’t find the words; it was truly... amusing."

As Pannis’s voice softened further, Antuin couldn’t help but sigh. The busy Guild Master of Mages clearly had serious matters to discuss, but at that moment, couldn’t find it in his heart to interrupt his old friend’s reflections on the past. He could only watch with a bittersweet expression as a gentle smile slowly spread across Pannis’s face.

"Two guests, your food is ready. Please enjoy." The old innkeeper, unaware of what he had interrupted, carried the tray out from the kitchen and set the table for the two waiting patrons. He then bowed politely and retreated back to the kitchen, leaving the space once again to the two mid-conversation. However, after his interruption, nothing could return to the way it had been moments before.

"Hmm, it seems I’ve spoken a bit too much," Pannis hastily gulped down a mouthful of wool wine, smiling bitterly. "You’ve come to notify me, haven’t you?"

"Yes." Antuin’s expression remained unchanged, just sighing inwardly, "Her Majesty the Queen has instructed me to inform you that all is well, and you may act whenever you wish."

"I knew I could count on you guys the most," Pannis nodded. He hid his expression behind his drink and murmured, "While I’m away, I’ll trouble you to take extra care of them."

"Just for this period?" Antuin countered lightly, "Or do you mean after you’re gone?"

"Heh, who knows about such things," Pannis’s glass still in front of him. "At least for now, neither of us knows, so I trust you won’t refuse to look after them."

"Heh, who knows about such things," Antuin returned with the same phrase. "Since I’ve delivered the message, I’ll be going back. There’s still much work to be done."

"Tch, that’s why I say elves are the stingiest," Pannis didn’t get angry at Antuin’s noncommittal reply, just shook his head with a wry smile. "Fine, if you must go, go. But are you sure you don’t want to try the food here?"

"No need," Antuin scoffed, "After all, the food you ordered was never intended for me. You might as well enjoy it yourself."

"Yes, it was never prepared for you," Pannis raised his knife and fork, a fragrant pan-fried fish filet laid out before him. Yet he could only stare blankly, the knife in his hand unable to make the cut.

"Oh, I forgot one thing," Antuin, already at the door, looked back. "You better head over to the Alchemy Guild hall this afternoon."

"Why?" Pannis blinked, "Is there something going on?"

"I don’t know," Antuin curled his lips, "But I guarantee you’ll regret it if you don’t go."

"Tch, as if I’m scared," Pannis retorted with a similar expression, took a deep breath, and finally made the cut.