A night passed.
Sunlight from outside the window shone on Wei Bai’s face.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and stretched lazily.
Because his punch last night almost broke his own bones, Mida especially helped him ask the manager for a day off.
Even now, his hand was still slightly bent and unable to move.
Wei Bai felt that even a slight movement caused heart-wrenching pain.
Recalling the little girl last night, holding his hand and anxiously asking if it hurt while rubbing it, Wei Bai couldn’t help but smile.
But it seemed he’d gotten himself into big trouble.
He still remembered the boy lying on the ground last night, shouting threats at him and yelling about the Earl of Arni.
Crap.
It seemed he had beaten up the spoiled heir of a noble family.
In the past, he had also fought with nobles in the Adventurer Association, but the association always settled things in the end.
Yes, that was the privilege of a gold-tier adventurer in the Adventurer Association.
No matter what trouble you caused, as long as it wasn’t a capital crime like colluding with Evil Cultists, the association could smooth things over for you.
Unfortunately, he was no longer an adventurer.
The association couldn’t guarantee for him now.
Though he had some connections with a few old-timers, he didn’t plan to trouble them for his own mistakes.
Some things, you had to take responsibility for yourself.
Staring at the bright scenery outside the window, Wei Bai spaced out for a moment, then got up and quickly dressed.
He made breakfast alone.
When Anthony, who had been out for fresh air, flew back in through the window, he split the food between the two of them to prevent anyone from going hungry.
Wei Bai was good at cooking.
When he was taking on commissions or on the run, he had been forced to learn.
Elves were easier; they could just find some wild vegetables or fruits, eat by the stream, and be done with a meal.
But humans were different, with picky tastes.
Too salty, they wouldn’t eat.
Too bland, they wouldn’t eat.
Not salty or bland, still wouldn’t eat.
To avoid starving, Wei Bai had to learn to cook.
Over time, even if he didn’t reach the pinnacle, he had become quite adept.
After breakfast, Wei Bai casually tossed the dirty dishes into the empty sink, touched the pendant on his chest, then left the house with Anthony.
Today, he wanted to test something and verify a suspicion in his mind.
He wanted to try out the active energy release function of the pendant’s appraisal.
He had two bodies—one human, which might or might not contain mana, and one elf, with none at all—an outlier among outliers.
If the pendant’s active energy release was similar to magic casting, then he’d have more confidence in the future.
The prerequisite was mastering the release method.
Otherwise, for him, it was just a useless stone used to suppress his bloodline.
He stepped outside.
It was a bright, sunny day.
There were many pedestrians on the road, and several carriages sped along the street.
As the saying goes, good weather brings a good mood.
Basking in the warm sunshine, Wei Bai felt extremely comfortable.
Even Anthony, perched on his shoulder, flapped his wings.
Humming an unknown tune, Wei Bai walked down the street, enjoying the scenery along the way.
Suddenly, something caught his eye.
He spotted a stall selling roasted pears nearby and hurried over.
Roasted pears simmered in the pot, the snowy white flesh rolling, emitting a sweet and fresh aroma.
“Boss, how much for a serving?”
Wei Bai asked the busy aunt behind the stall.
“Five copper coins per serving.”
As soon as she spoke, five shiny copper coins clinked onto the table.
“Alright! Give me one.”
Wei Bai said generously.
To be honest, it was the first time he’d been so generous.
Normally, he wouldn’t even glance at this kind of street stall.
Spending his hard-earned money just to satisfy his appetite felt like a loss.
Better to tell himself repeatedly that such things tasted terrible.
What?
You ask why he was being so extravagant this time?
Last night, a kind-hearted money-dispersing boy was very generous!
He waved his hand and gave him dozens of gold coins!
Of course, he secretly slipped a dozen into his own pocket.
This money fell from the sky—why not take it for free?
But he wouldn’t carry that much gold around.
People who walked around all day with a few ‘small targets’ in their pockets weren’t rich—they were stupid.
He’d experienced days of chewing on grass roots.
The richest he’d ever been was earning tens of thousands of Points in the Adventurer Association.
But those Points weren’t currency; they could only be exchanged within the association, and outside, most Kingdoms didn’t allow their circulation.
For the first time, Wei Bai could actually hold so much valuable physical currency.
If he dropped even one gold coin, it would be a huge loss for him.
So he locked all the gold coins in his bedroom, only bringing his saved wages when going out today.
“Young man, it’s ready—take it.”
The aunt smiled, pouring the roasted pear into a bark bowl, then putting it into a bag and handing it to Wei Bai.
Grabbing the spoon the aunt had kindly provided, Wei Bai walked while taking a bite.
Hmm.
It was sticky and sweet, but he didn’t like it.
To him, the roasted pear was too sweet.
Forget it.
Throwing it away would be wasteful.
He decided to take it to the shop for Mida—she’d probably love such tooth-achingly sweet things.
Thinking this, Wei Bai changed direction and headed for the old man’s café.
Anyway, it was his day off and he had plenty of time.
He might as well visit the café first and show off a bit in front of the old man.
Imagining the old man’s mustache twitching in frustration yet being unable to do anything, Wei Bai let out a smug laugh.
Wei Bai walked quickly.
Soon, he saw the café ahead.
He was about to speed up when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention—the advertisement on a street bulletin board.
A thought surfaced.
Wei Bai paused, silently turned back, and looked at the prominent advertisement on the board.
“Want to become a Chef God?
Want fame and fortune?
Be recognized by the world and win prize money at the same time!
What are you hesitating for?
Come participate in the 17th Chef God Competition in the territory of the Earl of Arni!”
Wei Bai twitched at the cliché and awkward advertisement, but his focus wasn’t on the content, but on the line at the very bottom.
“The winner receives a prize of 100 gold coins.”
A hundred…
That was a hundred.
To say he wasn’t tempted would be a lie.
Though Wei Bai had a dozen gold coins stashed at home like treasures, he understood the more money, the better.
He tore off the part of the ad with the competition date and location, folded it, and slipped it into his pocket.
Silently, he turned and continued toward the café.
Pushing open the door, the first thing he saw was the old manager’s wrinkled face.
Wei Bai flashed what he thought was a dazzling smile and greeted the manager.
“Manager, you’re looking well today.”
The old man clearly didn’t want to talk to him, turning away to busy himself.
Wei Bai wasn’t bothered.
He leisurely found a seat and sat down.
Noticing the manager’s unfriendly gaze, he pretended to pick up the menu and perused it slowly.
“Manager, I’d like a Wilderness.”
Wei Bai stood up, menu in hand, and smiled at the old man.
“Life is like the Wilderness—free and unrestrained.
Even the heart and spirit are carried away by the wild wind.
No one knows, no one…”
Wei Bai started spouting nonsense.
The old man’s forehead vein bulged as he listened to Wei Bai’s endless rambling.
“You brat!
Can’t you be quiet?
Why are you as noisy as that stupid bird of yours?!”
Finally, the old man lost it, pointing at Wei Bai’s nose and yelling.
Anthony nearly fell off Wei Bai’s shoulder in fright.
“Hey, manager, that’s not fair.
I paid for my drink.
I’m a customer, you know.
As the saying goes, the customer is Senatas…”
“Shut up!”
“Manager, is something wrong?”
The old man’s roar had its effect.
Mida, who had been fetching water in the cleaning room, came over.
Seeing Wei Bai, Mida blushed.
She set down the water and hurried over in small steps.
“How is it? Does your hand still hurt?”
Mida saw Wei Bai holding a bowl of roasted pear in one hand and his other arm hanging weakly, her voice tinged with concern.
“It’s nothing.
Probably a severe cramp or dislocation.
It’ll be fine after a while.”
Wei Bai said nonchalantly.
Noticing Mida’s face darken, he immediately corrected himself.
“I’ll go see a Doctor later—it’s really nothing.”
At his words, Mida’s frown eased and her cheeks flushed again.
“Here. It’s for you.”
Looking at the girl in front of him, Wei Bai suddenly remembered the bowl of roasted pear he was holding and handed the bag to Mida.
“Th-this… is for me?”
Mida’s already pink cheeks turned bright red as she took the roasted pear, her hands fidgeting.
“Of course.”
Wei Bai didn’t think much of Mida’s reaction and turned to the old man, who was preparing to brew coffee himself.
“Manager, I have something to do, so I’ll skip the coffee.I left the money on the counter.”
With that, ignoring the old man’s puffed cheeks and glaring eyes, Wei Bai dashed out of the café and disappeared into the crowd.
Wei Bai hadn’t forgotten his main purpose for coming out.
He found the pendant full of mysteries and needed to find a place to study it carefully.
And that Chef God Competition—he could check it out too.
After all, who doesn’t love money?
The more, the better.
Staring at Wei Bai’s fading figure, Mida lowered her head and looked at the roasted pear in the bag.
She noticed the missing piece and the slightly damp spoon.
Her heart pounded violently, and even her ears turned red.
Th-this stupid pig!
How could he give me something he already ate himself?!