Chapter 54: [54] Taste of the Sea
"Only children make choices; adults take it all. Although my body hasn't matured yet, being rich is good enough." Aiden extended his right hand in a mock grip.
Recalling various seafood dishes he had seen but not tasted, Aiden felt his stomach growl even louder.
"Hestia, have you decided on a restaurant?" Aiden, his appetite thoroughly awakened, immediately asked as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom.
However, Hestia didn't answer his question. Instead, she pointed to the infant dragon horn temporarily serving as a decoration in the living room. "Aiden-kun, is this the material you mentioned, dropped by an infant dragon? Why is it so big?"
"Yes, this is the material dropped by the infant dragon. It mutated just before it died, but it didn't pose any threat to me, don't worry. I plan to find Hephaestus and have him forge it into a greatsword. What do you think?" Aiden lifted the slender dragon horn, which exceeded a meter in length, gently stroking it as he spoke.
Of course, if it's too expensive, he'll go to Welf Crozzo, who isn't well-known yet.
As for why Hephaestus was the first choice instead of Welf, who forged Bell's Ushiwakamaru in the original work?
Although Hephaestus, the Goddess of Smithing, sealed her arcanum in the lower world, she was still capable of creating weapons like Hestia Knife, a growth-type divine weapon, a realm beyond the current Welf's reach.
Currently, Welf is only at Level 1 and lacks the advanced development ability Blacksmith that is essential for a high-level blacksmith. Besides being able to craft magic swords, his swordsmithing skills are far inferior to those of an advanced blacksmith.
Though Aiden didn't intend to create another Hestia Knife, being able to obtain a weapon close to Durandal would satisfy him. However, when it came to weapons, which were crucial to survival, being picky was acceptable when there was enough wealth.
Of course, if it could surpass Durandal, that would be even better.
A greatsword forged from the mutated dragon horn would be an excellent choice, whether as a backup weapon or for dual wielding.
"Hey, weapons forged by Hephaestus are indeed powerful, but they're also expensive." Hearing Aiden's casual tone, Hestia couldn't help but still feel a bit worried.
"Don't worry, our recent gains have been quite good, and we have enough for a decent meal. Anything on the menu is fair game." Aiden reassured the financially strapped Hestia.
After all, even before Aiden arrived in Orario, Hestia was already known as the goddess of poverty.
"Really? Are you serious?" Hestia clasped her hands to her heart, her big watery eyes sparkling with excitement.
Perhaps because they didn't spend every day together in the same underground basement, and Aiden spent most of his time in the dungeon and training, coupled with his intentional efforts to maintain a certain distance, Hestia's feelings for Aiden weren't as profound as Bell in the original work.
This was both reassuring and troubling for Aiden. Reassuring because he didn't want Hestia to be too saddened by his departure. Troubling because he doubted his charm as a male compared to Bell.
Ah, men.
So Hestia didn't immediately think of going on a date like Bell did in the original work, although she was equally excited, it was because of her anticipation for good food.
"Of course, it's true! I haven't rested for a whole month, going to the dungeon every day. We've got plenty of money now." Aiden patted his bulging wallet at his waist.
"Then I'm relieved. Let's go to the newly opened restaurant nearby. Many my friends say it has the best seafood in Orario. And then we can go to Hephaestus." Hestia blinked her left eye, giving a thumbs up, her adorable face beaming with a smile.
Oh, gods, this is too awful for a man like him. Watching Hestia unintentionally act cute, Aiden felt something pierce his heart, he coughed lightly and asked, "Okay, I think the same... so what's the name of the restaurant, and where is it located?"
Lost in her anticipation for good food, Hestia didn't notice Aiden's strangeness, otherwise, she would have used her mature tone to express how pleased she was that he had grown up.
"The restaurant is called Taste of the Sea. Although it's just opened, it's already quite famous. How could I not know? Aiden-kun, you're too hardworking. You need to relax and take a break occasionally." Thinking of Aiden working tirelessly like a workaholic for a whole month without a break, Hestia couldn't help but feel a bit disgruntled.
"Okay, okay, since you know where it is, let's go."
This restaurant didn't appear in the anime, but Orario was so vast; it was impossible to know every shop in detail.
Aiden strapped the dragon horn to his back and followed Hestia out of the courtyard, her bounding steps filled with excitement.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Hestia led Aiden to Taste of the Sea.
As they entered the restaurant, Aiden and Hestia were greeted by a sight of a fishing boat powered by magic stones, loaded with various seafood, emitting a strong sea breeze. It felt like stepping into a seafood market back in his home.
A king crab as large as a basin, blue lobsters waving their claws, geoducks inviting contamination, pufferfish swollen like balloons, shrimp scurrying around, and vibrant red prawns still alive... There were even more seafood items Aiden didn't recognize, but each had clear introductions, available for order and freshly made. Despite being pricier than Hostess of Fertility, everything was clearly priced.
The restaurant's specialty was seafood, served in its purest form without heavy oil or excessive seasoning.
Sashimi, stir-fries, pan-fries, steamed dishes, and deep-fries... all cooked in simple ways, paired with an array of dipping sauces, beautifully showcasing the freshness of the seafood.
Pan-fried dragonfish, with tender and flavorful meat perfectly cooked to bring out its savory-sweet taste, creating a rich and layered experience; geoduck sashimi, with a crisp and chewy texture, complemented by a hint of sweetness; deep-fried shrimp, with a crispy coating and juicy interior bursting with flavor...
It was irresistible to Aiden, and even Hestia found herself indulging until her stomach bulged.
Taste of the Sea lived up to its name in every sense.
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