LRAB Page 78
Page 78
Chapter 103 Magic Jar Knowledge - Sword Skills - Ex Curry Stick
“What, what is this…?!”
Mino's voice trembled slightly.
"What kind of practice is this? Mixing black tea and milk like this..." Altotai, standing in the corner, looked astonished. "Such a deviant practice—no, impossible! This is an insult to the way of tea!"
It recalled its previous master, a true connoisseur of tea, who, on his deathbed, had said with deep regret:
"I can sense that there is an even more profound and unfathomable realm beyond the tea ceremony... Unfortunately, I will never have the chance to see it."
"If something like that could actually be created in this world, it would definitely be... a groundbreaking invention."
And now, this epoch-making scene seems to be about to be born in the arena, accompanied by the hero's free gift!
"What kind of drink is this—" Altotai's sword trembled slightly, somewhat puzzled, "And these strange little desserts, can they really be considered drinks... Wait, my lord!"
Mino's face no longer showed any craving, and his eyes remained unwavering. He simply reached out step by step toward the teacup that Fim had just made, as if on a pilgrimage.
“Zhen…”
The system's countdown was nearing its limit, more like a countdown for some kind of mysterious ritual.
【00: 09】
【00: 08】
Mino held the perfectly warm, mysterious drink in her hands, feeling the sweet aroma rise to her nose.
“Zhen De…”
【00: 03】
【00: 02】
"Jade~ Eat mud duck—!"
The dazzling light shone down through the iron bars of the window. Mino raised the cup high with both hands and shouted excitedly with starry eyes.
Taro and Boba Milk Tea!!!!
Within her body, the DNA that once conjured tea paled in comparison, rolled aside, and her eyes shone brightly, Mino's milk tea spirit burning fiercely...
No one can resist! Taro Boba Milk Tea!
"Wait! My lord!" Altotai, sensing something was wrong, made a last-ditch effort, pleading hopefully, "You won't be tempted by such a cheap drink, will you? You're the proud hero who wasn't even corrupted by rye bread, aren't you?"
"Believe in the bond between you and the rye bread!!!"
Mino's pupils widened instantly.
Countless painful memories suddenly flooded my mind—
"My lord, having learned that you have gone without food or water for three days at the border, Prince Ota specially sent me to deliver food that you are sure you can eat—"
Kneeling on one knee, the young apprentice knight held a luxurious silver tray covered with a red cloth, looking at the hero before him with excitement and reverence.
"Oh, that guy Ota?"
On the sand, a resolute-faced young man smiled faintly:
“Heh, even as a prince, he’s still so unpretentious… How can the people respect him?” Shaking his head, Mino smiled and walked to the apprentice knight, lifting the ornate tray from the knight’s hands.
"It's also hard for him to remember what I like to eat..."
The sound stopped suddenly.
On the tray, a very coarse rye bread appeared before my eyes.
……
"Hero! Over here! Shh... Keep your voice down. Knowing you've had a tough time in the Sword Saint Trial, Her Highness the Princess specially asked me to bring you a dish she made herself—"
At the edge of the trial grounds, head maid Ruth handed a delicate hand basket to Mino.
“Princess Kalia, she actually came in person…” A hint of emotion flashed in Mino’s eyes, and she was slightly moved.
"Although I seem to have lost my sense of taste recently, I'm still a little excited. What could it be?"
Huddled in the corner, full of anticipation, Mino lifted the basket, revealing the exquisite dishes inside—
That was a delicate rye bread made by Kalia herself...
……
"Mino Warrior! Please wait!" Before the farewell ceremony at the border, Archbishop Hope brought a black brick the size of a Bible.
"Hearing that you are going to the front lines to fight the demons, Saintess Lena, who is in seclusion, specially asked me to deliver this to you, hoping for your triumphant return!!!"
Mino smiled as he took the brick, which emanated a deep, chilling aura. He asked softly, "What is this?"
"This is a freeze-dried compressed rye bread specially made by Saint Lena using her pure heart!"
Archbishop Hope proudly introduced, "It is said that as long as you eat one, you can go three days without eating."
“The Holy Maiden said so,” Archbishop Hope said sincerely, looking at Mino.
"The way to satisfy hunger lies within this..."
Mino handed the freeze-dried compressed rye bread back to Hope, and said sincerely:
"My face is still cold, I'll be right back—"
"Let's put it back in the freezer for a few more years."
……
Mino stopped at the city gate.
The black robe fluttered gently as Mino looked at the unfathomable figure guarding the city gate and asked helplessly:
"Chief Lark, are you also... here to deliver rye bread to me?"
"No, it's not."
With an expressionless face, Chief Lak of the Round Tower drew a strange, purplish-black mark on his body:
"This is a banishment... oh no, it's a 'guaranteed victory' contract spell. Until you lead your army to the Demon King's castle, you will never be able to return to the capital..."
Patting Mino on the shoulder, Lach said meaningfully:
“Mino, what you need is not rye bread, but the glory of looking directly into the eyes of demons through the cage… isn’t that right?”
"Promise me you won't come back..."
"Chief Lark!"
Mino's eyes widened in shock, a warm feeling welling up inside her, and she exclaimed, as if struck to the very soul, "You are the one who truly understands me, my friend despite our age difference!"
"I understand now! This is our bond!"
"But rye bread is not!"
……
"I remember now, I remember everything," Mino murmured, gently putting down the milk tea in her hand.
He remembered something more important than milk tea: his bond with Chief Lark!
“People cannot, at least should not, betray each other for a cup of ‘milk tea’.” Mino’s tone gradually became firm.
“My lord…” Artotai’s eyes were filled with tears of relief.
[Ding—Quest progress refreshed: You have valiantly endured the torture of the demon Fim. As a reward, you might as well treat yourself to a cup of milk tea, and incidentally give it away for free—]
[Reward: Magic Jar Knowledge - Sword Skill - Ex-Curry Stick]
"Oh? Just rewarding yourself?"
Mino smiled: "Since things have come to this, it would be impolite not to confess now."
Put the straw in your mouth and inhale the mints like crazy!
"My Lord!!!"
Altotai's eyes widened in fury.
The smooth, sweet liquid glided down the throat like silk, the bouncy and rich texture exploded in the mouth, and an unprecedented aroma filled the body from the inside out, making Mino's eyes light up.
"Wow~~!"
He looked up in amazement, his eyes sparkling, and said:
"I tasted a pearl in the very first bite!"
Mino was as happy as a 1.8-meter-tall, 135-pound child, huddled in the corner, head down, sipping Fim's freshly made milk tea.
Fim's bow trembled slightly with excitement. She straightened her skirt and sat down next to Mino.
"Mino, do you like it?"
The maid's white stockings covered her knees. Fim curled up slightly, hugged her legs, tilted her head, and looked at Mino, asking a question.
"I never expected... Fim, you actually figured it out." Mino looked up and said with a look of admiration.
He initially just wanted to show off in front of the cute maid, casually mentioning some delicacies that only he knew about, to refresh Fim's worldview as a food expert. However, he did not expect that Fim would be able to perfectly replicate such milk tea after only hearing a simple description.
Does this count as knocking out himself?
Mino grinned, gave a thumbs up, and replied, "Just kidding, I love it!"
A glimmer of light appeared in his previously emotionless, empty eyes, and a pure smile gently bloomed on Fim's fair face.
Mino laughs.
Fim laughs.
Altotai burst into tears!
"What the hell—where did your bond with Chief Lark go?! What happened to the promise that you wouldn't give up for nothing just because of a cup of milk tea?!"
“Calm down, Altottai.” Mino turned his head and said seriously, “I said I remembered… it was Chief Lac who told me.”
"He said that life shouldn't just be about milk tea, it should also include taro paste and boba! So, I didn't just get this for free because of milk tea..."
With a sigh of regret, Mino let out a lament: