The same weather I've been living with for the past two days greets me again today. This cold won't stop my excitement or my desire to explore. I got up early today to head out as soon as possible—yesterday, Susan recommended I go to the fish terminal early in the morning. It's the best time, when the fishermen return, and the fish is both cheaper and fresher.

I pay for one of the school carriages to take me to my first stop. The scenery along the way is breathtaking—nature here is well cared for, and the sunlight reflecting off the river creates small rainbows along the road. We enter the city through another gate, and after showing my student card, I'm allowed to pass without any trouble.

I've learned my lesson about carrying it with me. Luckily, Susan gave it to me last night after dinner—otherwise, I would've faced the same problem as two days ago. The coachman drops me off at the designated spot and gives me some advice on where to find the best stands for fresh white sea fish. I reward him with a generous tip.

After wandering around for a while, I finally find the place he recommended. After talking with a few vendors, I buy two different types of fish—perfect for making ceviche. The most important ingredient is already secured. "Turn right at the next corner…" the vendor told me about a local market just a few minutes' walk away.

At last, I've got all the basic ingredients: lime, onion, coriander, chili, and sweet potato. That's the bare minimum for a good ceviche. I can look for the side dishes later—right now, it's time to find a good food stall for breakfast.

Walking around the local market, I find a small place with a line of people waiting. Without thinking twice, I join the end of the queue. If people are willing to wait, it's for a good reason—usually, the food is so good it's worth the time.

The little stand sells sandwiches—you can choose between marinated chicken or beef, add fresh vegetables, and they use a special house sauce. I order two of each to take away and head to a small park across the street. Sitting on a round bench, I take the first sandwich and bite into it. My eyes widen—the marinated meat is exquisite, and that special sauce is heavenly.

"Delicious…" I can't help but say my thoughts aloud after the first bite. The guy next to me lets out a small laugh, and I feel a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, it's definitely the best breakfast around here." The black-haired guy with slicked-back hair looks at me—his gray eyes are deep, and he seems quite fit. "I never get tired of eating it every day." His last words sound a little sad.

"Is everything okay? You sound like you won't be able to eat it again." He seems like a fellow food lover. Maybe he knows good restaurants or hidden spots worth discovering.

"Today's my last day in this city. I have to go back to my hometown—it's a very remote place. It's a shame I won't be able to eat these sandwiches anymore." I feel bad for him. I understand that feeling of not knowing when you'll get to taste something again; I've been waiting years to make ceviche.

"That's too bad… but I'm sure you'll come back someday." I try to cheer him up somehow.

"I doubt it. My city's really far, and getting long vacations is hard." He looks up at the sky. "But there's no time for regrets—I'll make the most of my last day by eating at the best restaurant I know in this city." A wide smile spreads across his face. He looks around thirty, and I can't detect his rank—which means he's either very strong or has perfect control over his Imra.

"What's the name of the restaurant? You seem like a real food lover, so I'd like to hear your recommendations." The guy gives off a good vibe—it's easy to want to talk to him.

He looks at me for a few seconds before smiling. "Grandma's Flavor. It's not very well known across the whole city, but in this district, it's famous. Would you like to come with me? I have a reservation for lunch, and food always tastes better when shared." I try to read any hint of malice in his tone or gestures—but find nothing.

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"If it's not too much trouble, I'd love to go with you." I can't refuse an opportunity like that. This city is quite safe, and I can defend myself if needed, though honestly, this person doesn't seem bad at all. "By the way, my name's Maki." I raise my hand toward him.

"No trouble at all—you seem to have a refined palate. It'll be an honor to share a meal with you." The young man shakes my hand firmly. "I'm Ubit. Nice to meet you, Maki. Do you have any plans before lunch? We've got about five long hours to go." Five hours? That's a lot. I realize I'm still having breakfast—and still eating while talking to him.

"Not really, I just planned to explore the city a bit and get to know my surroundings." I answer honestly—it's the least I can do.

"New to the city?" I nod. "You must be a new student—you don't look that young, though. If you've got no plans, we can walk around, and I'll share my wisdom. I'll show you the best restaurants and shops in this area." He looks quite proud of his offer—he takes food even more seriously than I do.

"I hear that a lot." I'm a little proud of not looking like a twelve-year-old—people treat me very differently because of that. "That sounds great!" I can't lie; I'm really excited about this free culinary tour. As a food lover, it's an irresistible invitation.

We finish our breakfast while chatting casually about food—our favorite dishes, ingredients, and more.

The walk was fascinating. Ubit showed me dessert shops, hidden breakfast spots, and restaurants perfect for lunch or dinner. There was everything—local cuisine, imperial dishes, seafood, and all kinds of flavors one could imagine.

At first, I was a bit wary of Ubit, but as the hours passed, my doubts faded. He wasn't a bad person at all. He also showed me the best food markets, where to find the best price-quality ingredients—fish, vegetables, fruits.

I absorbed every bit of knowledge like a sponge. I wished I'd brought a notebook and pen to write down all the names and places. I doubt I'll forget, since I paid close attention, but it's always good to have things written down.

As we walked, we also talked a bit about our backgrounds. Ubit was born in a northern region beyond the Merno Empire. That region doesn't belong to any empire or kingdom—it's a coalition of cities formed for survival. Apparently, reaching it requires crossing mountain ranges and extreme conditions—the hardest part being the Grade 5 and 6 monsters that inhabit those lands.

According to Ubit, every three months, massive cargo airships travel between the Merno Empire and his region, carrying goods both ways. He took one of those cargo ships to cross all the dangers of the route—the ticket is extremely expensive, and since the flights only happen once every three months, the journey is a rare chance.

At that moment, I understood his melancholy. His city isn't just far from the Merno Empire—it's far from everything. And if I'm not mistaken, Skyblue River City is on the opposite end of the continent. The trip must have cost him a fortune and a lot of time. He probably saved for years to make it happen—it's a shame I might not see him again anytime soon.

Lunch was a completely different experience—a homemade flavor, a comforting taste. Yesterday's dinner with Susan had been good, but this was no less amazing. The cooking styles were distinct, and each flavor stood out. We barely talked while eating, just focused on enjoying every dish.

"That was delicious. Thanks for showing me this place." We sat down for a while after eating three dishes each, drinking some juice.

"Don't mention it. The food tasted even better with another true food lover around." Ubit looked at his watch, and sadness clouded his face. "It's time for me to go—I don't want to miss my teleportation back to the Merno Empire." It feels a bit sad to say goodbye to someone I just met.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you, Ubit. It's a shame our time was so short." I extend my hand, and he shakes it firmly. "Don't forget my name—Maki Vichag. If you ever come back to the Empire or the Timal Marquisate, look for me." I hand him a small emblem, the size of a button—the family symbol: a mountain with a sun above it.

"If fate ever brings me back here, I promise I'll look for you, Maki. The same goes for you—if you ever travel to the Northern Alliance, ask for the Gravad family. If you show this ring, they'll treat you kindly and help you find me." I look at the ring—it's as ornate as those of the marquis or even Susan.

"I'll go someday. The food you mentioned from the Northern Alliance sounds delicious." We both smile. Ubit turns around and walks away quickly until he disappears among the crowd. I glance again at the ring—it bears a leaf design I've never seen before. I store it in my dimensional bracelet. Ubit is a good man—a bit crazy about food, but a good person nonetheless. He never showed a hint of bad intent.

I can't help but feel curious—he's clearly strong and comes from an influential family. The money he must have spent to survive so long at the other end of the continent is no small amount. He's definitely from a wealthy, powerful background. Ubit is someone worth having as a friend, and I'm glad we met on good terms.

Everything's ready—it's time to head back and prepare ceviche for tonight's dinner. I can't wait to eat my favorite dish again!

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