Fairy Tail's secret beef curry rice, the aroma of curry could be smelled from far away.
When the plate was placed on the table, a fresh fragrance of rice immediately filled the nostrils. The rice used must be of high quality.
Rhode picked up the spoon. On the left were brown-red curry sauce, evenly cut beef cubes, diced potatoes, and diced carrots.
On the right was rice, looking even whiter under the curry's contrast. The colors and aromas on both sides were so enticing that Rhode didn't know where to start.
This delightful dilemma didn't last for more than a few seconds. Under the urging of his stomach, Rhode chose to start from the middle.
Curry and rice entered his mouth together, a salty, fresh, and fragrant taste with a hint of spiciness filled his mouth, making his tongue and teeth work involuntarily.
Rhode wasn't very good with spicy food; just a hint of spice made his forehead bead with sweat.
But after the spiciness faded, he could taste the sweetness of the rice and the savory flavor of the beef even more.
Rhode was immersed in this delicious curry rice, unable to extricate himself.
"Rhode seems very focused when eating; even my appetite is improving," Mirajane's voice sounded. "Do you like gourmet food, Rhode?"
"Of course I like delicious food. I didn't pay much attention before, but now I seem to enjoy the process of tasting food more and more."
Rhode thought for a moment and added, "Maybe I was scared of being hungry the other day, or maybe I almost died, so I cherish what I didn't cherish before."
Mirajane seemed to regain her gentle and caring demeanor: "In that case, you have to work hard. Our menu here is very long."
"I'll do my best... Haha." Rhode couldn't help but laugh. Working hard to eat? Striving for food? Neither seemed quite right.
A delicious plate of curry rice reduced Rhode's living expenses by 500J. In his own words, it was worth every penny.
In addition, he also settled the past few days' meal expenses with Mirajane, and his wallet shrunk again.
Mirajane was a bit worried Rhode wouldn't last until next month: "Actually, there's no rush to pay back. Consider those meals as a consolation."
"It's only right to pay for meals. I can't temporarily take care of the medical fees, but I'm not letting the guild handle meal money... even though the money was coaxed from the president."
"It's a temporary loan."
"Oh, oh, temporary loan, temporary loan."
Rhode looked carefully at the menu. If it was just one meal, cheaper ones would cost at least a few hundred J.
If the appetite was bigger but only ordinary food was ordered, then it would be around a few thousand J.
Of course, if one decided to eat extravagantly, nothing was off the table.
Wanting to savor gourmet food, Rhode suddenly felt pressured. He asked, "Is there any work at the guild that doesn't require magic to complete?"
Mirajane tapped her chin with her index finger and thought for a moment:
"If you are willing, you can work as a part-time waiter at the tavern. Considering you need to leave time for learning magic... the salary is about 120,000J a month. Is that okay?"
Rhode didn't hesitate: "Of course, thank you!"
For a mage, 120,000J wasn't much. For stronger ones like Natsu, they could earn it back in a day or two by taking on bandit-clearing tasks.
Weaker ones only needed to take on some local living tasks to earn 120,000J, and it wouldn't even take half a month.
Unless they were the lowest level mages who could only take on small tasks worth a few thousand J, then they'd worry about this amount.
Unfortunately, Rhode currently belonged to those even below the bottom level mages, a 'Quasi-Magic Apprentice.'
Such work was considered a favor for him, and Mirajane even specially mentioned leaving him time to learn magic.
Additionally, the perk of being a waiter was getting two meals a day. This way, after deducting rent and some daily expenses, he would probably be able to repay the president's loan in about half a year.
Mr. Hibiki's commission and Lady Porlyusica's medical fees would take even longer.
However, Rhode felt that after a few months, he should be able to take on some mage tasks and repay faster, right...
The road ahead is long and treacherous.
-----------------
Since he decided to work as a waiter for a while, Rhode stayed behind to help clean up that day.
Tables and chairs needed to be wiped and arranged neatly, floors swept clean, confirm no one lingered, lock the doors, and extinguish the lights before leaving.
Rhode found a bit of the feeling he had when he did homework duty together with classmates in middle school.
After everyone said their goodbyes, they went home. Elfman would usually wait for Mirajane when he wasn't out working.
Rhode would walk with them for a while, and in their chatting, he learned a surprising fact: "So, Elfman is your brother? I always thought he was your older brother!"
"Oh my, I'm not at the age where I get happy being praised for looking young." Mirajane touched her cheek with her right hand. Though she said she wasn't happy, her smile never ceased.
Elfman seemed happy too: "A man should be mature!"
Rhode fell into deep thought. Had he accidentally complimented the siblings? Maybe I'm good with words?
I didn't even know it myself.
Since Rhode returned a bit late, the landlord had already locked the door and gone home.
Rhode took out his key and went inside.
Inside, it was pitch black. Rhode used the moonlight streaming in from the window to find the stairs and cautiously went upstairs.
The house was made entirely of wood, including the stairs. Luckily, when Rhode stepped on them, there wasn't any creaking sound, meaning it wasn't too old yet.
After entering his room, Rhode found a match and lit the candle on the table.
The technology level here wasn't great; there were no electric lights; many people still used candles and oil lamps.
Although there were magic-powered lamps, and their prices had dropped a lot in recent years, they remained more expensive compared to oil lamps.
So the landlord didn't prepare any magical equipment for this old house that hadn't been lived in for years.
Water, however, was conveniently available with tap water, but for hot water, it needed to be boiled.
After washing up, Rhode wiped his body with cold water, pondering whether to use the guild's shower.
"It seems some home appliances—here it's called magic tools for household use—are needed for the future."
"Money, money..." Having accidentally left school, Rhode had to worry about making a living.
Thinking about the tavern's part-time salary and the mage task pay, Rhode began looking forward to his life after mastering magic.
With endless anticipation for future life, Rhode fell soundly asleep.
-----------------
Rhode opened his eyes to sunlight slanting on his face through the window; he suddenly sat up: "I'm late!"
"Fresh apples, crispy pears!"
"Morning glory for cheap!"
"Fresh zucchini, take a look!"
Outside, the street vendors' noisy calls echoed, and Rhode suddenly felt a sense of dislocation.
He lay back heavily, lifting his arm to shield his eyes: "It seems I don't need to attend morning classes anymore. What a relief?"
After a quiet moment, Rhode got up, washed, changed into a new white T-shirt and black capri pants he bought yesterday, then brushed his bangs and went downstairs.
A moment later, he ran back to the room, found the necklace on the bedside table, put it on, and left.
"Morning, Mr. Rhode, did you sleep well?" Goodman Rielenthusiastically greeted him.
"Goodman brother, you're here so early."
"Just arrived and about to open up."
The window on the first floor was a whole plank about two meters long by one meter wide.
Once the latches inside were unlocked, it could be drawn open from the outside to drop down entirely.
After propping up the two wooden legs folded on the side, it immediately turned into a platform used as a shelf.
Rhode found it interesting. No wonder the door wasn't centered but placed off to the side.
He helped Goodman set up the awning and then prepared to leave.
"Wait, take this as a thank you." Goodman tossed a small keychain-sized object to Rhode.
Rhode caught it, placing it in his palm, and saw it was a small wooden plaque two or three centimeters long, inscribed with barely recognizable words and tied with a beautifully knotted red string.
"What is this?"
"It's a Peace Talisman, just an ordinary handicraft, but I carved the wood myself, and my wife tied the knot."
Goodman chuckled, "I heard mages sometimes take dangerous commissions, so be careful."
Goodman's shop mainly sold wooden carvings and woven decorations. When stocking up yesterday, he made one.
"Thanks." Rhode wanted to say it would be a while before he took dangerous tasks, but he left it unsaid, just carefully accepting Goodman's kindness.
He found that the feeling of loneliness and unease of surviving alone in another world seemed to be washed away a little bit.