Chapter 87: Silver Spoon
Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph headed toward a cafe, stopping to ask a passing woman in a burgundy dress for directions. She pointed them down two blocks and to the left with a friendly smile before waving them goodbye.
The cafe sat on a corner, its large windows revealing warm interior lighting and occupied tables. A sign above the door proclaimed it "The Silver Spane" in elegant lettering. They pushed through the entrance, and immediately, a woman at the front desk looked up.
"Welcome! Find a seat anywhere you like." She said with a faint smile. "Someone will come to you to take your orders. In the meantime, you can look over the menu."
Marie nodded with a grin. "Thank you."
Marie headed past the desk, weaving between tables with Reinhard and Joseph following. They found a spot near the window that was a table with a good view of the street outside and enough space for all three of them comfortably.
After all of them sat down, Marie picked up the menu immediately, her fingers tracing down the list while she hummed softly. Reinhard leaned over to scan his own menu, and he noted the offerings.
Roast meat with herbs, baked breads in various styles, wine from local vineyards, fresh apples, dried fruits, elaborate meat pies with detailed descriptions, pork chops cooked on the bone, and various other dishes.
Joseph spoke up after a couple of seconds. "What do you guys think about Phineas’ surprise in seeing us? Do you think it was fake, or was it really real?"
Marie blinked as her face emerged from behind the menu, and then she tapped her chin. "It’s real. The way his body trembled and the emotion his eyes displayed, he wasn’t expecting us. In addition, there would be no reason to fake it when we know he has a big advantage over us."
Reinhard nodded slowly, his gaze drifting toward the window. "And to be fair, us going through the Monster Zone was unexpected... I can still recall what happened back there, and if we weren’t close to the exit at Area Nine or had chosen to go right, we might have been screwed."
Joseph and Marie both grimaced, their faces reflecting the memory of near-death experiences too fresh to be comfortable.
Reinhard sighed as the explosion surfaced in his mind.
That terrifying eruption of energy had torn through the forest. The shockwave had sent everything in its path hurling through the air like leaves in a hurricane.
The sensation of being lifted off the ground, completely powerless against forces beyond comprehension.
Marie looked at Joseph, her expression softening into something vulnerable. "We didn’t get to say it, but thanks for saving us, Joseph..." Her tone shifted, becoming stern. "But you’re an idiot for not taking better care of yourself."
Joseph chuckled with a smile. "I suppose I should have hurled myself out of the way a bit better." He paused, then his expression grew more serious. "Regardless, everything worked out in the end and we’re all alive."
Reinhard frowned as his gaze dropped to the table surface. "That’s true. No point in trying to think of what we could have done better. We just need to get stronger..." His voice trailed off, memory surfacing. "Like those Beast Masters who were chasing the Rainbow Deer."
Marie’s eyes lit up immediately as she excitedly tapped the table. "You think that explosion came from them using their strongest skills against each other?"
Reinhard nodded slowly as he thought over the possibilities. "Either that, or similar to how, when Joseph struck the Star Walker with your Purging Lance attack. The shockwave from it, driving the beast into the ground, was able to shatter the buildings around and crack the ground."
Joseph sighed. "But back at the forest was far more terrifying. It felt like the entire forest was going to be forced up into the air and blown away. Which is ridiculous when the entire Monster Zone covered the range of an entire island."
Reinhard nodded in agreement, although he was still a bit surprised that the Monster Zone was that large.
But it wasn’t shocking, given that most of the current civilization had been created by destroying vast swaths of forest and nature across the Hesod continent.
The only reason Monster Zones remained untouched was because of the terrifying Phantasm Beasts that still inhabited them.
Phantasm Beasts that were powerful enough to make even the most ambitious expansion efforts suicidal.
Marie laughed as she leaned in. "But outside of almost dying, it was pretty amazing! Dad once told me Second Class Beast Masters’ strongest blows could destroy an entire city. I didn’t believe him, but just feeling and seeing that type of explosion back then... I’m starting to believe."
Reinhard’s eyes widened in surprise, and a bit of disbelief crossed his features. An entire city? The scale of that seemed impossible, yet the evidence of what they’d witnessed supported it.
Joseph nodded with a sigh. "Professor Rosaria mentioned the same thing, but she said it was B Tiers who can. This was back when she told us to gain full control of our powers, so we don’t cause trouble and destroy the places we go."
Reinhard looked up toward the ceiling. "That would explain why every city has Beast Masters as its guards. Only they can deter the crazy ones from causing trouble."
A waiter appeared at their table, a young man in a clean apron, his pad and pen ready. They ordered grape juice for all three, meat pie, baked bread, pork chops, and cut onions. The waiter noted everything and departed toward the kitchen.
Marie’s voice pulled Reinhard’s attention back. "I wonder if that explosion caught the attention of other Phantasm Beasts."
"It most likely did. Especially from the damage it did in the forest and near that towering tree." Reinhard said.
"Then hopefully those Inquisitors had time to rush away after claiming the Rainbow Deer’s soul." Joseph said.
Marie hummed thoughtfully, her expression growing distant. "I don’t think they did. There’s a legend that says a rainbow will shoot up into the sky once a Rainbow Deer has fallen."
Joseph raised a brow while leaning in slightly. "That’s new, but then again it would have been nice to see... A beautiful rainbow rising up into the sky."
Marie giggled as she gently held her hands together. "Right? The Rainbow Deer is one of the Beast Spirits. I hope to become my Sigil!"
Reinhard and Joseph both blinked in surprise before turning to look at her directly.
"Does it have a skill you want?" Reinhard asked.
Marie nodded. "One of its skills allows someone to see the heart of others and know how they’re feeling and thinking. I hope to gain this skill to better communicate and..." She paused, something shifting in her features. "See past the lies of others when they say something they don’t mean."
Reinhard’s eyes slightly widened when he saw the sorrowful look on Marie’s face, and pain flickered across her features. Then it vanished so quickly that Reinhard found himself questioning whether he’d really seen it at all.
Joseph smiled warmly as he chuckled. "Well, when we’re strong enough, we can head back to Colin Forest to help you look for it."
Marie beamed at them. "Thanks, guys!"
The waiter returned, carrying a tray with their order, and the plates were distributed quickly on the table.
On the table were the yummy meat pies, the baked bread still warm enough to release steam when broken, the thick pork chops, and the onions. The grape juice was poured into glasses before the waiter told them to enjoy it before leaving.
All three of them dove into the food immediately, conversation ceasing as hunger took priority. The meat pie was rich, filled with chunks of tender beef and vegetables in thick gravy.
The bread had a perfect crust that gave way to a soft interior. The pork chops were seasoned simply but effectively, allowing the quality of the meat to shine.
They ate with the appreciation of people who’d been through significant physical exertion and near-death experiences. Food tasted better after survival, and this food was genuinely good even without that context.
Reinhard chewed slowly, savoring each bite while his mind continued processing everything. But for this moment, there was just good food, good company, and the simple pleasure of being alive to enjoy both.
The cafe’s warmth surrounded them while conversation happened around them from other tables.