After leaving the clothing store, the two little ones had changed into brand-new outfits—puffy, lantern-like skirts with a distinct otherworldly style. Though not as exquisite as their previous attire, at least they were fresh and clean.
Ji Xiaofei thoughtfully handed Yarrow a wide satin ribbon to tie around his waist, concealing his emerging wings. She also got Tao Hu a beret to cover her large ears, while her tail was discreetly hidden beneath the voluminous folds of her skirt.
Beyond the clothes, they also acquired new sets of underwear, socks, and shoes. Though everything was relatively inexpensive, the total cost was still considerable. Yarrow reluctantly abandoned the idea of getting himself a new outfit.
Once they changed, they drew far less attention on the street. By now, night had fallen, and the city shimmered under the glow of colorful crystal lamps. The illuminated signs gave this mystical world a modern vibrancy, reminiscent of a bustling metropolis.
"Hmm, where should we go for dinner?" Yarrow pondered aloud. This was a celebratory feast—his first proper meal after days of surviving on wild vegetables and fish soup. It had to be something delicious, something satisfying. Anything but grilled fish.
"Yarrow, that smells amazing! I want to eat there!" Ji Xiaofei tugged at his sleeve, pointing eagerly at a restaurant nearby.
Yarrow followed her gaze and recognized the source of the tempting aroma. "That's a roast chicken restaurant."
"Really? No wonder it smells so good!" Ji Xiaofei's eyes sparkled with excitement.
So much for her previous hesitation.
"Alright then, if you don't mind, roast chicken it is."
Hunger gnawed at him, and with his stomach grumbling in protest, he decided not to be picky. Without further debate, they stepped inside.
The restaurant was lively and bustling, packed with customers. A young waitress, clad in an apron and a neatly tied square headscarf, balanced two large glasses of malt beer in her hands. She barely had time to glance their way, offering a quick "Welcome!" before hurrying past.
They found an open table in a quieter corner. Not long after they sat down, the waitress returned, notebook in hand.
"What would you like to order?"
"Roast chicken, braised chicken, fried chicken, crispy chicken—" Ji Xiaofei rattled off excitedly, scanning the menu.
Yarrow gently pressed her head down. "We'll have one braised chicken, one roast chicken, a dozen grilled breads, a glass of malt beer, two glasses of apple juice, and a green salad."
"Got it. Please wait a moment," the waitress said, jotting it all down before hurrying off.
As they waited, Ji Xiaofei sat expectantly, nearly bouncing in her seat. Meanwhile, Tao Hu pointed toward an object hanging on the wall. "Yarrow, what is that?"
"That's a crystal projector," he explained. "This world has a special type of crystal that records images. They grind it into discs, and then with a specially designed projector, they can display the images—things like dramas, horse races, boxing matches, and more."
It was essentially this world's version of television, but limited to playing pre-recorded discs. A relatively recent innovation, the technology skipped over chemical cameras entirely, jumping straight into what was essentially a magical equivalent of the digital age.
However, it remained a luxury. Even without a projector, a single crystal disc cost nearly half a month's wages for an average family, making it accessible only to the middle class and above.
Yarrow had once dreamed of owning a crystal projector himself. The thought of watching TV in another world? Now that was cool.
"Oh, I see," Tao Hu murmured, intrigued. "We haven't seen anything like this before. It must be rare."
Some restaurants and taverns used these projectors as a way to draw in customers. If someone had extra coin and wanted to show off, they could buy rounds of drinks for the house—or even rent the projector for the entire restaurant to enjoy an exciting horse race or a thrilling boxing match.
But tonight, it seemed no one was in the mood to splurge. The screen remained dark.
Their food arrived shortly after—a feast laid before them. The two roasted chickens were golden brown, their skins glistening with oil. The braised chicken had a rich, reddish hue, brushed with honey, its aroma mingling with the scent of stewed vegetables spilling from within. The roast chicken, on the other hand, had been hung in the oven to perfection, its crispy skin crackling at the touch, the meat inside tender and succulent.
Yarrow's stomach clenched in anticipation. After days of roughing it in the wild, this was exactly what he needed. Without another word, he tore off a piece of steaming chicken and took a hearty bite.
Juicy, flavorful, absolutely divine.
Paired with freshly baked soft bread and a gulp of rich malt beer, Yarrow finally felt alive again.
Across from him, Ji Xiaofei and Tao Hu were just as satisfied, their faces smeared with oil as they devoured their meal with gusto.
For the first time in days, they were warm, full, and content.
While eating, Yarrow's ears perked up at the conversation from the table behind him.
"Another person died? Where did they find them?"
"By the river outside the city, just in front of the Hackma stables. I heard it was a woman washing clothes."
"The Security Department is useless. They haven't caught that bear after so many days."
"Don't underestimate it. I heard it can use magic!"
"A bear that can use magic? That's absurd."
"Oh, come on. There are pigs that can sign documents! Why not a bear that can use magic?"
"Pigs that can sign documents?"
"Yeah, like the city lord of Haidar City! Fat as a pig—and now that [redacted] is raising the beer tax again."
Yarrow took a long gulp of beer, listening intently.
"A magic-wielding bear? That's rare, but not impossible in this world. After all, even chickens here eat chicken."
He glanced at Ji Xiaofei, who was happily devouring a drumstick, chewing blissfully. The thought made him chuckle.
By the time they finished, the plates were wiped clean. Tao Hu and Ji Xiaofei, full and satisfied, lounged in their seats, rubbing their round bellies, their expressions blissful.
"With food this good, immortality and grain abstinence sound like a terrible loss," Tao Hu murmured, voice drowsy.
"Well, but my meat is still more delicious," Ji Xiaofei added.
"Can you stop saying such bizarre things?" Yarrow sighed, pinching her soft cheeks.
Satisfied and full, they stepped back onto the bustling streets. The next priority: finding a hotel, taking a hot bath, and getting a good night's sleep.
Having visited Haidar City before, Yarrow led them toward a familiar inn. Their path took them through a vibrant night market, where vendors called out from both sides, each voice trying to outdo the last.
"Top-quality alchemical potions! Only 3 Daka per bottle—limited sale!"
"Platinum Knight co-branded armor! Just 10 Sik per set—comes with a soul ring!"
"The finest swords from every village—get them here!"
"Familiar summoning! Only 3 gold lang per try! Guaranteed SSR-level familiar after ten summons!"
"My wife asked why I was so fierce tonight—it turns out I used..."
Because vendors in the night market didn't require business licenses, counterfeit goods ran rampant. Yet, many still flocked here, hoping to stumble upon a rare bargain. Everyone believed they were the chosen one, the lucky buyer who'd find treasure amidst the fakes.
Yarrow, however, had learned his lesson. Once, he had been tricked into buying what was claimed to be a Fiery Feathered Eagle egg. It was supposed to hatch into a powerful magical beast, a fearsome predator. Instead, after a month of diligent care, a gray rabbit emerged.
A rabbit.
A cabbage-loving, ever-hungry rabbit that now weighed 40 pounds and had recently bitten off one of his table legs.
Losing money was one thing, but for months, he couldn't fathom how a rabbit had hatched from an egg. Since then, he had steered clear of night market "bargains."
....
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