In the city of Agafari,
Night had already fallen, yet the streets of the small city remained lively and bustling.
Noel found himself deeply captivated by the sight. Even though he had wandered these streets every day in the past, they had never felt so vibrant and alive.
Big cities truly were different. Still, Noel couldn't help but feel somewhat out of place. To this city, he would always remain an outsider.
Perhaps it was an ingrained sense of inferiority from his past life on the streets. But as he glanced down at the badge pinned to his chest, it felt as if he found new courage.
I'm an alchemy apprentice at Mond's workshop now. And not just that—I'm a qualified alchemist.
Noel's eyes darted rapidly around the bustling street, searching for the barbecue shop that offered the Earth Dragon special. It wasn't that he had a particular obsession with barbecue; he simply wanted to try it, driven by the curiosity of tasting something unknown.
"We're almost there. Don't get too excited." Mond chuckled, seeing right through Noel's thoughts. This kid was still so innocent—but that wasn't a bad thing.
"How can I not be excited? This is going to be the first real barbecue feast of my life! And if I get the chance, I definitely want to treat Oliver to a meal too," Noel exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"Better save up first. A meal here isn't cheap. Tonight's dinner will cost at least 2,000 gold," Mond said, dousing Noel's enthusiasm with a cold splash of reality.
2,000 gold? That was an astronomical figure for Noel. Life was truly difficult, he sighed internally.
Seeing Noel's crestfallen look, Mond quickly added, "If you study hard, earning 2,000 gold will be easy. A single alchemy commission can fetch at least 10,000 gold."
"Commissions pay that much?" Noel was stunned. Having never seen that much money in his life, the idea that such sums were considered normal in this world was mind-blowing.
"That's just for the simplest jobs. Special commissions can pay much more. So 2,000 gold really isn't a big expense."
Down a narrow, lively alleyway was a small shop with ancient magical lettering on the sign: Aqua Barbecue House.
Mond approached the counter. "I have a reservation. Two Earth Dragon barbecue sets, please."
"Of course, esteemed sir." The attendant wrote up the order and passed it to the kitchen.
"Let's take a seat. They'll bring the meals to us soon," Mond said as they sat down. "And one more thing—make sure you eat until you're full tonight. Tomorrow, during the ceremony, you'll need all your strength. That's the main event."
Ceremony? What ceremony? Noel thought, confused. Why don't I know about this? Master never mentioned anything. And now he's bringing it up all mysteriously?
He wanted to ask Mond, but the look on his face said there would be no answers for now. How troublesome…
"Your barbecue sets." A sturdy man, surprisingly the waiter, brought over two large sizzling platters, each topped with a thick, juicy slab of meat.
Noel had never seen such a large piece of meat before, let alone imagined having the chance to eat it. He took a bite—and the juices exploded in his mouth, the tender meat crumbling softly with a delightful grainy texture.
It was an incredible feeling—so tender, so smooth, yet with that satisfying bite. The meat seemed to possess a magical power; once he took the first bite, he couldn't stop.
A second bite. A third bite. It was as if something had taken control of him. He simply couldn't stop—it was too delicious.
Noel was completely conquered by the barbecue, and in his heart, he quietly decided that next time, he would bring Oliver here to try it.
Watching Noel devour the meal so happily, Mond felt a deep sense of contentment. The past few days had been spent cooped up in the workshop studying alchemy. It was good to come out occasionally to refresh the mind.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you. If it's not enough, we can order more." Mond lifted his wooden mug. "Noel, want some beer? Barbecue and beer are a match made in heaven."
"I'm underage, Master. I can't drink alcohol." Noel quickly declined, knowing it was against the law, and he would never break it.
"Youngsters don't know how to enjoy life," Mond sighed dramatically. "Barbecue and beer are the best combination in the world. I thought someone would finally understand me."
"But the barbecue really is delicious. I finally get why knights love it so much—it's really good, and the restaurant's service is great too." Mond took a large gulp of beer, then tore off a bite of the meat, utterly satisfied.
"Next time, I want to come here again!" Noel said, a little spoiled.
"It's not some unreachable luxury, you know. If you want to come, we can come anytime. Just work hard, learn more alchemy, and graduate early." Mond gave him a mock disdainful look—teasing that only a master could give his apprentice.
"Master, something weird is happening. My body feels strange…" Noel suddenly felt uneasy.
Something was definitely different. His body felt warm from his stomach, and that warmth seemed to spread throughout his body.
There was no sharp pain, but he felt like he had grown a bit stronger, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.
"Anyone eating Earth Dragon meat for the first time will experience this," Mond explained. "Earth Dragons carry draconic genes, and for those with weaker constitutions, the meat helps strengthen the body."
Seeing Noel's worried face, Mond continued gently, "Your body has always been too frail. I brought you here so you could get stronger."
"But now things are different," Mond said, suddenly straightening up with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I've prepared a training plan for you: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day."
He sounded so proud, as if unveiling a sacred secret. "This plan was customized for you based on a manual by a certain alchemy master."
Noel had a bad feeling about it. If I really follow this plan, will I lose all my hair? he wondered, but wisely kept that thought to himself.
"You're doubting my training method, aren't you?" Mond narrowed his eyes.
"No! Master's method is the best. How could I possibly doubt it?" Noel quickly defended himself.
"Good, as long as you don't doubt it—" Mond suddenly swayed, and Noel noticed how red his face was, as red as a ripe fruit.
Is he… drunk? It had only been two beers, yet Mond was already in this state. Master's tolerance is practically nonexistent…
Of course, the unlucky one was Noel, who had to help Mond back to the workshop. He couldn't let him sleep it off in the barbecue restaurant.
After finishing his meal, Noel helped Mond back to the alchemy workshop, carefully removing his dirty outer garments and helping him into bed.
Mond exhaled, and the smell of alcohol was overpowering. It was almost too much for a minor like Noel to handle.