"Useless." Heizen cursed under his breath.
Looking at the 92% experience next to his level, Heizen was dumbfounded. He practiced for a whole 6 hours without distraction and his experience only increased by this meager amount.
No wonder so many people couldn't reach Tier 1 even after practicing their whole life. He, with 5-star affinity, could only practice with this speed. How about others?
Then again, it must be because of the common breathing method and mana environment. If he showed his 5-star life affinity, he would most likely get a specified breathing method and a separate Elemental Mana Nexus Chamber in the headquarters.
"But, let's not be too high profile." Heizen thought. He was only in the novice village and already died once. If someone got jealous of his talent, he wouldn't even know how he died.
"Let's leave the Academy and eat something at the restaurant outside. It is almost time to meet Bernard and Bowen."
He still remembered those intoxicating aromas on the market. Just by remembering, his stomach started growling.
After coming outside of the Academy, he made a beeline to the south. If he remembered correctly, the name of the restaurant was Twilight Inn.
When Heizen arrived at the restaurant, there were still many people eating and laughing. The intoxicating aroma of foods, crystal lanterns, and beautiful ornate decorations, gave him a warm and enchanting impression.
He picked up an empty spot at the side of the window and browsed through the menu. It was made up of simple leather with the name of the food and their corresponding price. Well, everything was in order.
He noticed that everything here cost mana crystals. There were a variety of foods from cheap ones to expensive ones costing up to 100 mana crystals.
After browsing, he waved at the waiter and ordered Starfire Stew and Moonlit Salad. For meat, he ordered Venison of the Silver Stag, and for dessert, he ordered Elderberry Sorbet.
The restaurant owner seemed to have researched everything. There were many choices for him to choose. All those cost him a total of 84 mana crystals.
Heizen didn't care. Sometimes, you need to reward yourself with good food. Moreover, hearing the noise from the nearby tables, he understood that those menus were generally only available on special occasions.
After placing the order, he was waiting for the order when he got a message from Bernard. After seeing that it was time to go to the black market, he told them his location.
After a while, his order had arrived. The steaming hot stew and meaty aroma made him almost salivate. After resting his impatient heart, he waited until the waiter put down everything on his table.
"Enjoy your meal, sir." The waiter bowed and left his table.
He also noticed that many people were looking in his direction. It was a rare occurrence when a single person ordered such a variety of foods. Moreover, they seemed too expensive.
Heizen didn't mind those looks and picked up the spoonful of stew and savored the taste.
"Ah, refreshing." Starfire stew was said to be made up of rare herbs that could restore stamina. So, people would generally order after a long journey.
The moonlit salad also tasted good. The chewy texture of multiple vegetables filled with mana made it more appetizing.
After tasting them, he picked up a knife and cut the meat of the Silver Stag into small pieces. He noticed that there was no fork available. Instead, you were given a small sharpened branch of some kind of herb.
Heizen picked up a meat piece with the help of a branch and placed it in his mouth. Once he began to chew, he felt a burst of vitality traveling through his entire body making him full of vigor.
The meat was lean and carefully cooked with the right amount of salt, but unlike in the previous world, there were no condiments and spices. Instead, the meat itself was delicious due to its special properties. However, Heizen believed that using those cooking methods could make it even tastier.
While he was savoring the dishes with a happy look, the people around gulped their saliva due to his reaction. Heizen had no idea he did free marketing for the restaurant.
"Damn! How much did you order? Are you so rich?"
Just when Heizen was eating with gusto, Bernard arrived with Bowen. He looked at his table full of dishes and couldn't help but comment.
"Haha, you should also try it. They are truly delicious." Heizen laughed and put the last piece of meat in his mouth.
"Tch, I already ate at the Tavern. Moreover, I am not as rich as you." Bernard commented as he proceeded to sit in the opposite chair. Bowen said nothing but was looking at his eating posture curiously.
Heizen picked up the glass of Elderberry Sorbet and moistened his throat in a big gulp. Suddenly, a cool energy nourished his mind making him feel cool all over. All the fatigue accumulated by doing meditation for 6 hours completely disappeared.
"Hah," Heizen sighed with satisfaction. These dishes were perfect after a hard battle or deep meditation.
"Gulp," Bernard couldn't help but gulp at his reaction.
"Dude, does it taste that good?"
"Yeah, you should taste sometime after a hard battle or a long journey. It can sweep through all the accumulated fatigue."
Heizen really liked the food. Additionally, the serene atmosphere around the restaurant made the felling even more awesome. The owner of this restaurant truly knew how to do business.
It didn't take long for him to finish all the stew, salad, and sorbet.
"Hah, I am stuffed. Now, I have all the energy for a good fight." Heizen said refreshed.
"Ok, stop trying to entice others. Don't you see how others are looking at you?" Bernard couldn't help but complain. Looking at this guy eating, he almost got hungry.
"Haha, okay, let's go." Heizen didn't pay attention to others. After arriving at the counter, he generously paid 100 mana crystals. Seeing him walking outside, the waiter hurriedly called out to him,
"Sir, your change."
"Consider it as your tip." Heizen laughed and swaggered away with his companions. He always wanted to do this in his previous life but never got a chance. Let's fulfill this small wish of his.
The waiter looked at his leaving figure, and pondered, "What is a tip?"
This chapter is my small attempt to introduce a slice of life in a fantasy world. Of all the Fantasy stories that I read, I saw many Authors didn't consider this aspect. So, what do you think? Should I occasionally write this kind of chapter? Please tell me in the comments!