World’s Cutest Alchemist

[Luna: Gate clear, omw back, 20~ mins.]

[Me: !! Finally! Dinner will be done by the time you’re back! (happy raccoon icon)]

[Luna: (drooling mouse icon)]

I jumped off of my bed and stretched my arms before heading to the kitchen with a smile.

The dinner plan today was simple but expensive. Honestly, monetarily, I don’t think it’s worth it at all. But! Even if it’s a bit of a scam, I don’t mind since it’s a reward for Luna.

[Purchase Successful]

[Ekadyrus Meat]

Grade - A

Meat carefully butchered from an A grade Ekadyrus; Highly marbled and fatty, its meat is known for its rich flavor and extreme tenderness.

“Gah!” I clutched my chest as the 20 oz slab of meat appeared on the counter.

Though it looked beautiful—the gorgeous red meat popped like a rose in a field of grass; Stunning white lines spread across that red slab. When I touched it, it literally started to melt from my body heat.

But! As flavorful and lovely as it looked, there was one glaring reason I couldn’t be excited about this.

The price.

“Sniff, sniff…” I sniffled and wanted to cry.

This 20 oz cut of meat cost me 1,250,000 points! A whole $1,250! Like, seriously! For that price, I could buy like two or three months of groceries!

It is a sacrifice I must make though…I swear! If Luna comes back with even the tiniest scratch on her, I’m eating this whole cut right in front of her!

And I’m going to enjoy it!

Sucking in a deep breath, I pulled out the stir fry pan then headed to the fridge.

The next ingredient was something I had actually made the night before and left in the fridge for today! The good ol’ reliable white rice! Professionally made by chef rice cooker!

Really, rice cookers are a great invention. Just one click of a button and it gets made perfectly!

Fried rice wasn’t something I’ve made in a long time. Mostly because I don’t like waiting, since you’re supposed to use leftover rice to make it. I mean, there is probably an invention out there or something to make it easier, but, I don’t want to buy it.

Anyways! Let’s get to cooking!

…

Some dozen minutes later, I heard the front door unlocking.

I perked up, heading to the door.

And soon, a beautiful girl entered the apartment.

“Welcome home!” I greeted her cheerfully.

“I’m home.” Luna smiled and spread her arms.

I didn’t hug her immediately, instead, circling around her and inspecting her from head to toe. I was really checking her out closely. I swear! A singular scratch—No! Even a small piece of debris on her and I was feasting on that $1,250 cut of meat by myself!

“Hm…” After circling her a few times, I found that she was pristine! Not even a mark was on her. The only evidence I found that she was even in a gate was her boots and the hems of her pants having grass clippings stuck to them. “Good!” I exclaimed and jumped into her embrace.

Nothing makes me feel better than an unhurt Luna.

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It even distracts me from the fact that I spent $1,250 on food that’ll be gone in 20 seconds!

We kissed plenty of times, before we eventually separated lips but staying in each others embrace.

“How was the gate?” I asked.

“Simple as expected.” She answered, “Told you I’d come back uninjured.”

“So confident and attractive~” I smiled

A faint blush appeared on her face after I said that.

“Mm…” She let out before sniffing the air like a curious dog, “What smells so delicious?” She asked, wiping her mouth.

“Hehe, I splurged on your reward today. I think you’ll like it.” I said, finally separating from her embrace, “It’s cooked and ready to eat!”

Luna gulped as we headed to the kitchen.

When Luna saw her plate, she drooled a little and wiped her mouth again.

“Fried rice and…steak? No…That’s not cow?”

Pfft, this foodie can tell the difference that quickly? Without even a taste? That’s impressive.

“No,” I shook my head, gesturing for her to sit down. On one half of her plate was fried rice and the other half had cubed bite-sized cuts of ekadyrus meat. When she took her seat, I continued speaking, “Chef Stella presents to you: Egg fried rice and the finest ekadyrus meat I could find on the market.”

“W-what!? Ekadyrus meat!? That super expensive cut!?” Luna exclaimed.

“Yep, yep.” I nodded casually, “Like your reward?”

“Like?” She said, “I love it!” She swallowed her drool and stared at the plate of food in front of her.

“Go ahead, go ahead, enjoy.” I said with a smile, taking a seat next to her.

As if my words were the starting shot of a race, her hands move to her fork as she went to stab a cube of ekadyrus. But, her fork didn’t reach it. Luna paused, stopping her fork from piercing it.

Hm?

She turned to me with a tilted head then looked at my plate of fried rice.

“Where’s your portion?” She asked.

“Huh? Fried rice right here.” I tilted my head.

“No, no, your ekadyrus meat?”

“Oh, I didn’t want any.”

Luna’s brows furrowed as she stared at me.

“You didn’t want any or it was too expensive?” She pointedly asked.

“Well, I mean $1,250 for 20 ounces is ridiculous.” I said.

“So because it’s too expensive?” Luna asked, though it was more of a confirmation statement.

“I guess.”

“Why didn’t you take half of the meat then?”

“It’s a reward for you. Seeing you eat so happily is all I need.”

“Don’t be such a fool, dummy.” Luna tapped my forehead softly, “The only reward I want is a reward we can share together. That’s the best reward I can get.”

“Mm…” I accepted the pokes to my forehead without resistance. Thinking about it, if Luna were to give me a edible reward, I’d want it be something we could share together rather than something I eat alone, “Sorry…”

“Just make sure you remember that, dummy.” She said playfully, “Thank you for thinking of me though, I love you.”

“Mm…” I nodded with a slightly flushed face, “I love you too.”

Luna scooped half of the ekadyrus meat onto my plate.

“Let’s eat at the same time?” Luna asked.

“Alright.” I nodded and stabbed a cube of meat with my fork, “Should we hook arms like those sailors did when they drank?”

“Pfft, let’s do it.” She chuckled.

We hooked arms and simultaneously ate the ekadyrus meat.

The flavor literally exploded in my mouth. The fat from the meat melted in my mouth, hitting my taste receptors in all the right ways. My teeth slipped through it like a hot knife to butter. It was so juicy and tender and before I knew it, I had finished eating it.

I swallowed and looked Luna in the eyes. She looked into mine. Without even verbally communicating, we both knew exactly what the other was thinking.

We unhooked arms and quickly began to eat—It was like we were starving wolves with how quickly we feasted on the ekadyrus meat. Neither of us even touched the rice—as delicious as it might be.

Literally within 20 seconds, all of the ekadyrus meat vanished.

And now that it’s gone…Was it worth the $1,250? Definitely not. As delicious as it was, I can’t justify spending that much money even if I made $1,250 per day. Though, that being said, I’d definitely buy it as a reward again.

“Delicious…” Luna said, she looked like she was savoring the aftertaste.

“Very,” I nodded, “Can you imagine what the other parts of ekadyrus taste like?”

Luna gulped and licked her lips.

“Pfft!” I chuckled, “Don’t forget the rice.”

“Right!” She exclaimed and started to eat the rice just as happily as she ate the meat.

I smiled, starting to eat as well.

…

“So, how did the gate go?” I asked.

“Very simple,” Luna shrugged, “The most annoying part was trekking through the forest, but, the explorer mostly cleared the path. We just had to walk behind him.”

“Wow, every time I hear about these explorers, they’ve been really useful.”

“They are.” Luna nodded, “Whether it’s finding the way, making a path accessible to everyone else, or not getting lost, they’re key classes of any party.”

“If they’re that valuable, wouldn’t they all be taken by guilds or something?” I asked.

“They’re definitely sought after, but, just like anyone else the explorers have to apply to guilds. Of course, there are guilds who specifically look and send inquiration e-mails to them.”

“Makes sense.” I nodded.

Should I call it the guild market? When I make my guild, I wonder how many application letters I’ll get? Oh my goodness, will people be sending me their resumes and stuff?

Ah!! That sounds like such a hassle!

You know what? I’ll just hand that work to Ashley. Perfect!

…

Somewhere in a dark apartment only the computer monitor lit up the room. Sitting at it was a brown-haired girl with her bangs curled up. She suddenly got goosebumps through her whole body and chills ran down her spine. She turned around, unable to see anything and let out a deep breath before continuing to use the computer.

…

“So, what’d you do today?” Luna asked.

“I played games with Rumi! We were on ALG Royale for hours, I’m actually almost high enough level to play ranked.”

“Oh, really?” Luna smiled, “That sounds fun. When you get to ranked, I’ll carry you.”

“Pfft,” I chuckled, she sounded just like Bryson and Cassian.

“What? Don’t believe me?” She asked, feigning offense.

“No, no, not that.” I said.

“Then what?” She tilted her head.

“You sounded like Bryson just then.”

“Bryson…?” She repeated and then something clicked in her mind, “Oh, your friends before awakening? You talked to them?”

Luna started to sip her water.

“Mm,” I nodded, “Tomorrow, I’m gonna go have dinner with them and explain what happened.”

“PFFT!” The water she just sipped spat out of her mouth and all over the table, “W-What?” She said, confused, “So suddenly? What time? Where”

I internally chuckled, it’s a bit cute that she was so baffled.

“Xx steakhouse, at 18:00. And yeah, I have the free time. I’d like to invite them to the housewarming party whenever that is.”

“Xx steakhouse? Got it…Then,” She started but I quickly cut her off,

“Wait,” I said and she stopped speaking. I grabbed her hand and leaned in, “Um…When I meet my friends…Can I do it alone?” I hesitantly asked.

“Alone…?” She repeated.

“Mm…I think…I think that’s what I should do. It’s not that I don’t want you to be there or meet them, but…”

“Stop,” She said, “You don’t have to explain yourself me.” Luna smiled, “If that’s what you believe is best, then that’s fine.”

“Hehe,” I giggled, “Thank you, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I do want to introduce you to them though. Maybe next month, I can invite them over for dinner or something.”

“Next month?” Luna questioned.

“Haah…” I just shook my head as a reply. If tomorrow went how I thought it would, I don’t even know if a month will be long enough. But, alas, the only thing I can do is wait for tomorrow to come.