In the spacious partitioned room, there was a wooden dining table that could seat eight people.

Polished, plush chairs were arranged around the table, and a menu made of high-quality parchment lay on top.

As soon as Lavi took his seat, he ordered from the manager.

Hearing a string of long, unfamiliar words, Sel began to feel lightheaded.

Lavi would occasionally pause while ordering and glance at Sel, only to resume speaking in what sounded like a foreign language.

“I’ve ordered all the good dishes from this place.”

Sel, looking anxious and fidgeting with her hands, seemed uneasy around Lavi.

As Lavi pondered why, he uttered a magical phrase that would instantly put Sel at ease.

“I’m paying. Haha.”

“………..”

“I’m the one who’s hungry, so you don’t have to worry about paying me back, okay?”

“Thank you.”

As expected, the response came quickly. Lavi chuckled heartily.

“Is your name ‘Sel’?”

Resting his chin on his hand with his arms on the table, Lavi recalled what Barvin had mentioned earlier to confirm Sel’s name.

Sel nodded without saying a word.

Lavi expressed a slight regret, saying he would have preferred to hear it from Sel himself.

“And your age?”

“………..”

“Wow, is that a secret too?”

“I’m not a minor.”

“Really?!”

Lavi’s eyes widened as he looked Sel up and down.

With his scruffy hair and a mask covering half of his eyes and nose, Sel’s face was obscured, but his facial structure, physique, and voice resembled that of a young boy.

Now that he thought of it, he’d heard rumors.

The Black Forest in this area was rich in magical stones, which supposedly affected the human body.

It was said that prolonged exposure to a strong magic field could cause disabilities; maybe this man’s growth had stopped early, like someone who hadn’t fully developed.

Rolling his eyes, Lavi leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. He had assumed Sel was at most fifteen, but to hear he was over nineteen was astonishing.

“Oh dear, I didn’t realize you were an adult and spoke informally from the start.”

“Of course, sir. You do seem like a noble.”

“Guess I do have a noble face.”

“…I just assumed that from the fine sword you carry that’s not available around here.”

Ah, I see. He’s observant. Lavi smirked slightly.

At that moment, he noticed a two-tiered silver cart coming in as the curtain was pulled back.

The cart was loaded with a variety of dishes, including beef and lamb steaks, roasted turkey, a large, unfamiliar grilled fish, and more.

The manager set the table swiftly and left the room.

Sel swallowed hard, her mouth watering uncontrollably as if hre salivary glands had gone haywire.

She fixated intensely on Lavi’s hands.

She’d heard somewhere that their etiquette required him to wait until Lavi picked up his utensils before she could pick up her own.

“Go ahead, pick up your fork and eat.”

Realizing Sel’s hopeful gaze, Lavi smiled and gave her permission to start.

Sel gripped her fork and quickly served herself a turkey leg and tenderloin steak, devouring them hastily.

“Haha, take it slow. If there’s any left, I’ll wrap it up for you.”

At the mention of packing the leftovers, Sel, who had been eating faster, stopped moving.

It would be in her favor to pack as much food as possible.

Sel resumed his meal at a slower pace.

Despite her mouth watering, her patient fingers knew how to control her pace.

When she finally looked around, she noticed multiple forks, knives, and spoons laid out.

Not knowing their specific uses, Sel glanced at Lavi.

Lavi’s hand gestures were as graceful as a butterfly’s wing fluttering in spring. Definitely noble-like.

“Seeing that the villagers recognize you, you must travel between your hut and the village. You seem like a reclusive hunter.”

“Well, I have to live. I come to the village to run errands or pick up work.”

Hmm, scratching his chin, Lavi set down his utensils slightly and looked at Sel.

“Sel, have you seen me before?”

“…No.”

Sel lowered her gaze, lying.

She didn’t want to acknowledge the past Lavi likely didn’t even remember.

“Neither have I. I’ve been here for almost three years, but this is the first time I’m seeing you. Yet, it seems like everyone in the village knows who you are, including Barvin.”

Lavi rubbed his chin as he mentioned the restaurant manager’s name.

A day’s stubble grew ruggedly across his chin.

“Why haven’t I noticed you? Especially since you wear a mask as distinctive as that one.”

His curious green eyes lingered persistently on Sel’s goblin mask.

Lavi, himself always wearing a mask with a constant smile, was surprisingly interested in others’ masks. Sel focused on her meal, addressing Lavi’s curiosity.

“I have a sun allergy, so I usually move around after dark. I take narrow paths with no one around.”

“Why not wear a mask and go out during the day, like now?”

“I’d get stoned.”

“Oh.”

It was an indifferent statement from someone who’d genuinely been through it.

Feeling a bit awkward, Lavi scratched his temple and stretched his words, “Well…”

“Why not switch to a simpler mask?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Do you know what you’re wearing? It’s not just any goblin’s face; it’s the face of a goblin chief. The blue mark between the brows signifies the chief. I don’t know how you managed to get the skin of that powerful creature, but it looks weird and feels unsettling, don’t you think?”

“It’s a keepsake from my mother.”

“Oh.”

Noticing the uniqueness of the mask again, Lavi awkwardly tried to smooth things over by saying, “Yeah, it’s got character,” but Sel ignored him, quietly focusing on her portion of the meat.

Thinking that the conversation was strangely going nowhere, Lavi kept an eye on this boyish youth as he silently sliced his meat.

***

After finishing their meal, Lavi and Sel left the restaurant and headed toward the city center.

Holding the food Lavi had packed for her close to her chest, Sel wanted to return home immediately. She felt unworthy of walking under the bright sun.

But Lavi was not only leisurely but practically lazy. Although he had long legs, he walked slowly. Sel, growing impatient, said she’d go ahead, but Lavi stubbornly insisted on staying together, so Sel reluctantly matched his pace.

“Why is that vagrant out in the daytime? Ugh, what bad luck.”

“Lower your voice. The boss is right there!”

“Does the boss know what he’s hanging around with?”

“They say he’s possessed, so maybe the boss pities unlucky people.”

“Hey, watch your mouth.”

Villagers whispered as they noticed Sel, moving away as she passed. Usually, someone would throw stones, but perhaps thanks to Lavi, no one dared this time.

Just the presence of this man seemed to dispel the violence Sel had long been used to. It felt strange, though the disgusted stares, as if she were a germ, remained.

Sel walked through it all with quiet composure. She had received this kind of treatment all her life. Familiarity didn’t make it painless, but it wasn’t unbearable.

So, with Lavi, Sel walked slowly through the city.

As they followed the wide road, a tall, five-story building constructed of large gray bricks appeared. Sel recognized it. Built three years ago by foreign engineers, it was the largest and tallest building in the village.

At the top, a large flag with a black horse flapped in the wind. A prominent sign below read “Cavalry Mercenary Guild.” The grand gate fitting its reputation stood impressively before them.

“Here we are, my home.”

“You live in a place better than the village chief’s.”

“Well, I’m far superior to the village chief.”

“Oh… right.”

“I’m serious. You don’t believe me, do you?”

Lavi bent down, looking directly into Sel’s face, his crescent-shaped eyes smiling. Sel didn’t avert her gaze.

On Lavi’s handsome face was a scar that seemed out of place. Sel’s eyes lingered on the short scar cutting across his eye.

A face too fine for such a scar.

As if he had read Sel’s thoughts, Lavi snorted.

“My sword. Once it’s fully repaired, come here. Show this, and the door will open anytime—day or night.”

Lavi placed a necklace from his neck around Sel’s. The black pendant bore the mercenary corps’ insignia.

“Any deadline?”

“Hmm, sooner would be better, but… I’ll wait for you as long as it takes.”

“I’m not sure what that means…”

“Just as it sounds. For some reason, I feel like waiting for you.”

Lavi playfully tapped Sel’s forehead, and Sel blinked with each touch.

“I strangely have a knack for attracting good people. My intuition just pointed straight to you.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s why I bought you food. To get on your good side.”

Lavi winked, then straightened up and turned towards the building. Sel silently watched him, baffled, as he entered through the heavy doors.

With a loud thud, the doors closed, and Sel snapped back to reality.

He had vanished beyond those iron doors, like a mirage.

Yes, a mirage. He was like an apparition, someone who treated Sel to a meal so fine she’d never taste its like again in her lifetime, for a hefty price of 50 rubles.

And a hunger that struck her suddenly and unexpectedly, shaking her to the core.

‘Still, maybe it’s not so bad to have a day like this in my life.’

It was like a dream, a sleepy afternoon of a meal and outing. Yes, she’d enjoyed it enough; it was time to wake up.

Looking down, Sel gave a wistful smile and slapped her cheeks lightly.

The street bustled with people in the bright daylight, and she sighed.

Sel held the food parcel close to her chest, careful not to drop it. Trying to shrink herself as much as possible, she walked on, doing her best to avoid drawing any attention.