Chapter 39: Food First!

*Celia’s POV*

The city was overwhelming, to say the least. So many places that I would love to visit. Not like I didn’t have the time, mind you. But it was still overwhelming regardless.

Amelie: “It has been twentyish years since I last visited this kingdom, but I am sure that my favorite places still exist. Shall we go to my recommendations?” She proposed.

Celia: “That would be great! Honestly, I was overwhelmed by all of the choices.” I reply with a slightly embarrassed tone and expression.

Amelie: “I understand. Shall we go eat first? Looking at your soul, I can tell that you recently went through a lot of harm. A good meal would cheer you up.” She said with a concerned tone.

Celia: “I am actually starving, so yeah, let’s eat first.” I reply with a nod.

Luckily, my stomach didn’t growl this time. So I was able to save face! Until it growled a few minutes later while we were walking… Look, it wasn’t my fault that there were so many different good smelling food smells around this area!… Ah… now Amelie is giggle about it… I am not a child anymore either, so I can’t use that excuse…

With a pout, I followed Amelie to a restaurant. The place she chose, was very expensive looking, to say the least… The place looked like the kind of restaurant that a king or queen would go to. It practically screamed, “If you aren’t important, then kindly leave.” Or something like that…

Without even getting a reservation, Amelie just walked right in. Of course, with me reluctantly in tow. The inside was even more immaculate than the Guild. Amelie took me to a private room, and then handed me a menu after we sat down.

Celia: “Don’t you need a reservation for a place as fancy as this?” I ask with a nervous tone, while not being able to focus on the menu at all.

Amelie: “I might not have been here in a long time, but this restaurant is still owned by me. Why would I, the owner, need to get a reservation, or even pay?” She replied with a proud tone and expression.

Celia: “Fair…” I say with a defeated tone.

Looking at the menu, I was absolutely shocked at how many different meals were listed on it. I was even more shocked by the prices. The cheapest meal, if you could even call it cheap, was fifty Gold Celestium…

Sounds like a lot for some food, right? Well, the most expensive meal was two Platinum Celestium… I might not have a chance to eat at a place like this ever again, so I need to hurry up and figure out what I want to eat!

After looking at the menu for ten minutes, I came to a decision. I went with steak and mashed potatoes. Sound a little basic? Well, the steak was from the meat of this worlds basically w*gyu cows. The potatoes weren’t actually called that at all. But they were some kind of a potato-like vegetable, that costs a lot of Celestium.

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I told Amelie what I wanted, and then she took my menu from me, and walked over to the door. She opened it, and handed a woman dressed as a maid the menus, before telling her our orders. After that, she then walked back to her seat.

Celia: “So… how have those Mana Crystals treated you?” I ask with a curious tone.

Amelie: “I have never seen such an amazing stockpile of Mana Crystals before. As such, they have greatly increased my strength. But the output of those stupid Goblins is quite slow.” She replied.

Celia: “Sorry. You know, I have a few thousand Mana Crystals stored within my pouch. Do you need any of them? Oh, of all elements.” I offered.

Amelie: “Really!? I was just on a breakthrough to get even stronger when I ran out. Could you perhaps, give me 500 of each?” She asked with an excited tone.

I do not have a use for them at the moment, so the least I could do is hand Amelie some of them as thanks for helping me out of that shitty situation. As such, I did just that, as Amelie got a weird expression plastered onto her face.

Amelie: “I honestly thought that you were joking… I intended to pay for them, but I do not have enough Celestium on me at the moment.” She said with a remorseful tone.

Celia: “It’s fine. Just see it as thanks for helping me out.” I reply with a shrug.

Amelie: “I refuse. I will give you a portion of what you’re owed at the moment, and will pay the rest at a later time.” She said with a serious tone.

Amelie then wordlessly handed me 678 Platinum Celestium… No. Not all by themselves! They were in a pouch of their own, and Amelie told me how much was in said pouch after I asked. Isn’t this, like, way too fucking much!?

This seems like all of the money that she had at the moment… No, I can’t take this much money! She is clearly just treating me nice, right? Those fake bandits had a bad look on their faces at the idea of receiving Mana Crystals as payment…

Celia: “I cannot accept this much Celestium, Amelie…” I say with a nervous tone.

Amelie: “Why? That isn’t even half of the Celestium that those Mana Crystals are worth.” She replied with a raised eyebrow.

Celia: “You sure? I tried to bribe those fake bandits with Mana Crystals, they didn’t look too pleased at the idea.” I reply.

Amelie: “That is because they probably assumed that you meant the Mana Crystals that are commonly sold. The Mana Crystals from your dungeon, are a hundred times more pure than the most expensive ones on the market.” She replied after a small giggle.

Celia: “Really?” I say with a head tilt.

Amelie: “Really. Like with your System, be sure not to tell anyone untrustworthy about them. Anyone who uses magic would kill you a hundred times over just to get one of those Mana Crystals from you.” She said with a serious tone.

Celia: “…”

With a deadpan expression, I put the Celestium into my pouch for safe keeping. At least I am not broke now…

Amelie: “Oh? Our food is here! Enough talk about serious matters, it is time to eat!” She said with an excited tone.

Two maids came into the room with our meals in tow. The smell of the food was divine, heavenly even… It looked even tastier than it smelled. My thoughts on how difficult the past few days have been, were completely blown away, as I was lost in admiring, and eating this succulent meal. Ah, I am running out of fancy words to describe how fucking amazing this food is!

By the time I woke up from my food stupor, my plate was completely clean. But… I was still hungry…. Looking at Amelie with puppy eyes, she let out a cute laugh and said, “You’re still a growing girl, so don’t worry, I already ordered seconds for you.” With a knowing smile. Like clockwork, a maid brought in another helping of my order.

With a bright blush on my face, I wordlessly ate the second serving, while Amelie looked at me with an odd gaze. But not a gaze that I could discern at the moment, as I am now once again completely engrossed in eating this wonderful meal…