After a simple farewell, Charles wobbled as he walked in the front, with Kate beside him, her face cold, occasionally reaching out to push him to prevent him from bumping into the stone pillars on the roadside. Zephyr and Lili walked at the back.
Back at the Communal Dormitory.
Charles and the others chose to return to their respective rooms to rest. After all, the battle at the Soma Familia tonight was exhausting.
But Zephyr didn't intend to be idle. After returning to his room, he took out a portion of the remaining Infant Dragon meat. Since he wasn't entertaining friends, he would just cook something simple for himself.
Hot pot was too much trouble. He still had to go explore the Dungeon tomorrow, and staying up too late would easily affect his condition for the next day.
So...
Pan-seared Dragon, I choose you!
Zephyr picked up the knife and sliced the tenderloin along the grain into steaks of even thickness. The cut surfaces were flat and smooth, rich in fat, and displayed a snowflake-like pattern.
I feel like even A5-grade Wagyu beef doesn't look as good as this Infant Dragon meat.
He lit the magic stone stove and heated the pan with oil. The moment the oil rose to the right temperature, he placed the extra-large Infant Dragon meat into the frying pan. The moment the meat touched the pan, it erupted with a "sizzle" sound.
He gently pressed the meat with a spatula to let it heat more evenly.
Just as Zephyr was busy, Lili hesitated for a moment before choosing to walk over. She stood by the cutting board, her gaze cast toward the unprocessed side dishes, and she rolled up her sleeves to begin handling them.
Zephyr glanced at her but didn't stop her.
Lili placed the cut vegetables on a ceramic plate, then stepped back half a step, quietly watching Zephyr flip the meat, adjust the heat, and take it off the pan.
Soon, he plated it. The surface was crispy and golden brown. When cut open, the inside was a perfect pink, and juices slowly seeped from the cut surface.
A rare delicacy!
"Do you want some?" Zephyr sat down.
He hadn't forgotten that the ultimate meaning of gourmet food was sharing, but Lili shook her head.
She asked, "Have you thought about where you want to go next?"
"Actually, not yet."
Zephyr cut off a piece of Infant Dragon meat and shoved it into his mouth. As he chewed, he could feel the tender meat quality of the Infant Dragon tenderloin, and that unique flavor instantly filled his mouth.
He looked at Lili. She kept her head down, her shoulders slightly hunched, and she had a worried look, which seemed quite unusual.
He asked, "Where are you planning to go next?"
"The same place as you."
After Lili gave her answer, she pursed her thin lips, her gaze falling on the wood grain of the table, and added, "I haven't thought it through yet."
I want to follow you.
She couldn't bring herself to say words like that. But thinking of their shared experiences during this time—the beating from Ivankov, and including how Zephyr had firmly chosen her from beginning to end—she felt a sense of relief inside.
Regardless of whether her future would intersect with his, these were precious memories that she could never forget in this lifetime.
However, just as she was preparing to frankly say: "I don't plan to continue being a Supporter in the future, I want to open a flower shop in Orario"—
Zephyr said, "Then we'll see when the time comes. Since we need to find a Familia, we must find one that can recruit both of us."
"I... us?"
Lili looked at him, feeling nothing but disbelief.
This... Did he suddenly have an epiphany?
"That's right."
Zephyr didn't think it was a big deal. Based on his experiences during this period, he knew very well that exploring the Dungeon was like walking on the edge of a knife, and he needed people he could trust by his side.
Lili was a veteran of Orario, she was familiar with the rules and reliable when it mattered most. Most importantly, he could trust her unconditionally.
Since he was going to find a Familia, he would definitely have to bring her along. Besides, with the talent he currently possessed, relying on nepotism to bring along a Supporter, surely some god in Orario would agree to it.
But before he could think of what to say next, he heard Lili's slight sobbing.
What's going on?
He saw Lili's red-rimmed eyes, tears welling up, but her smile was exceptionally bright.
Lili looked at Zephyr, her eyes excessively gentle. "Then... Then you aren't allowed to throw me away, we... have to be in a party together for life."
She gathered her courage, using her own way to make a subtle confession.
"Yeah. No problem."
Zephyr kept feeling that the way Lili looked at him was wrong, but after stuffing several pounds of Infant Dragon meat into his stomach, his stomach was negotiating with his brain and he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Finding a Familia was something for the next couple of days. For now, increasing his stats was more important.
—
Leaving the Soma Familia, Loki's mood was complicated.
The happy part was clear—Zephyr's talent, the combination of supporting skills he possessed, and his growth rate.
As long as the relationship with Lefiya was maintained properly, she believed that recruiting Zephyr into the Familia was actually just a simple matter of time.
Of course, there was also the sad part. For example, not being able to buy wine from Soma. The wine brewed personally by the God of Wine, Soma, had all its remaining stock taken away by Zephyr, and Soma himself had no intention of brewing more.
I came too late. I wonder if Zephyr has any stock. If nothing else, I could even buy some.
Loki liked drinking, but it hadn't reached that exaggerated level of being addicted to alcohol. Compared to this small regret, Zephyr's future belonging was obviously more important. After all, which god in Orario didn't want their Familia to develop further?
Besides, she was very curious. With the talent Zephyr had shown so far, as long as he was provided with a platform, what heights could he create in the future?
Gluttony.
An Adventurer with a skill similar to Zald of the Zeus Familia was now unattached and placed right in front of her.
When Lefiya comes over tomorrow, I must ask her properly. If Ais and the others were here, that would be great, they could help me pass on the message.
Loki dragged her body back to the Familia headquarters. She pushed open the door to the reception room, and was just about to drink some alcohol to calm her mood when she saw Lefiya waiting for her here in advance.
Hearing the door open, Lefiya turned around, her expression carrying a hint of nervousness. "Loki-sama, you're back."
"Why are you here?"
For Lefiya, who participated in tonight's operation, Loki was actually quite at ease regarding her safety. After all, she was a Level 2 Adventurer. She didn't think she would stumble in front of an opponent of the level of the Soma Familia.
Lefiya bowed, reporting in a serious tone, "Loki-sama. Tonight went very smoothly, no one was hurt, and the problem was successfully resolved."
"Of course I believe you all." Loki waved her hand and walked around the sofa toward the wine cabinet.
Even though she had known the final result long ago, the fact that Lefiya came back specifically to explain this matter to her still made her heart feel warm. She was truly sensible. Her eye for people was definitely flawless.
It's just...
When her gaze swept over the coffee table, Loki's footsteps paused. A bottle of wine was placed on the table.
She remembered that before she left, she had cleaned the tabletop very thoroughly, so this wine must have been brought by Lefiya.
"This bottle of wine?"
"Oh..."
Lefiya snapped back to reality and explained, "This was given to me by Zephyr to pass on to you, as a thank-you gift for updating his status."
Recalling the details of the conversation, she paused for a moment and added, "It seems to be Divine Wine personally brewed by the God of Wine, Soma. When updating his status tonight, Zephyr said he saw that you like drinking, so he asked me to bring it over specifically as a gift for you."
Loki stared blankly at that bottle of wine. The wine bottle emitted a faint, mellow fragrance—it was definitely the same scent she had smelled in the Brewing Room.
The regret she felt earlier when she was told at Soma's place that there was no stock and no intention to brew more wine was now transformed into another kind of emotion.
Loki looked at Lefiya, her expression serious. "Lefiya."
Lefiya's spine straightened. In her impression, Loki rarely showed such a serious attitude, so she listened patiently.
"I have a very important matter to entrust to you. Can you do it?"