At the dining table, Ellie Miller focused entirely on enjoying the delicacies from the north side of the castle.
Today's dessert was an "Elf Cake Roll" crafted by elves from Gorinth Forest.
The small cake roll sat on a white porcelain plate, resembling a stunted carrot. No one could tell this thing was worth 2 gold coins per roll.
Ellie Miller used a silver fork to cut off a small piece and savored it carefully in her mouth.
Indeed, the reason this thing is sold so expensively and the elves haven't been beaten is truly justified.
The forest cream made by elves was like ice cream, sweet and melted instantly in her mouth, absolutely delicious!
At the far end of the long table, the men were discussing politics and war.
"The newly conquered territory requires garrison forces, and the Order of Knights must expand,"
The Duke took a sip of red wine, "Let's form a new order and promote Balk to the new order commander."
Ellie Miller listened intermittently.
She was more concerned about the Great Knight Commander who took the alchemy potion. Injured people can't afford to wait, and if her assumption was correct, after the injured take the [Healing Potion], she should gain a good reputation.
Sure enough, just as she finished the last bite of the cake roll, she received the Alchemy House's notification.
[You have healed 9 knights of The Coldcrest Knights]
[Your potion is renowned within The Coldcrest Knights.]
[You have gained 109 kindness reputation points, totaling 135 kindness reputation points]
[Kindness reputation has surpassed 100 for the first time; you have earned a mysterious reward, which can be automatically claimed upon entering the Alchemy House.]
Ellie Miller: "!!"
Immediately after, she received three more notifications:
[Your Forgetfulness Potion caused Bishop Solomon to experience memory loss, gaining 6 evil reputation points.]
[Your Forgetfulness Potion caused Bishop Lowell to experience memory loss, gaining 6 evil reputation points.]
[Your Forgetfulness Potion caused Bishop Hillman to experience memory loss, gaining 6 evil reputation points, totaling 209 evil reputation points.]
Ellie Miller: "..."
Silently making a 'Radiance Seal' in her mind for the three bishops, hoping their god would protect them.
Leaving the North District, Ellie Miller quickly returned to her room and plunged into the [Alchemy House].
In the Alchemy House, the stairs leading to the second floor were open.
Ellie Miller curiously walked up. It was a study room, with a wooden desk and an old bookshelf.
On the desk lay a magnificent feather pen and a thick book. The cover was inscribed with "Magical Plant Atlas."
Ellie Miller curiously opened the atlas, only to find it empty.
Ellie Miller: "..."
The first time the evil reputation surpassed 100, the reward from the Alchemy House was a mysterious small van outside the fence.
This time, when the kindness reputation surpassed 100, the reward was a 'Wordless Heavenly Scripture'?
It seemed there should be something in this book. Ellie Miller paced around the room, finally setting her gaze on the magnificent feather pen.
Is this meant for her to write the book herself?
No, it's not meant to write a book.
This book is called "Magical Plant Atlas," maybe it's meant for her to record the magical plants she's already discovered?
Ellie Miller picked up the pen, hesitated for a moment, and then wrote "Fire Bell" on the first page.
Since it's an atlas, it should also include illustrations, so she drew the small Fire Bell next to the name.
To be frank, although she hadn't formally studied art, her drawing was quite vivid.
After sketching the Fire Bell, since there was no change, Ellie Miller tried writing the recent characteristics of "Fire Bell" next to it.
"This is a small yellow flower that emits a scorching heat even after being picked."
"Suitable for making Fire Attribute alchemy medicine."
After finishing, she received feedback.
[Successfully added to Magical Plant Atlas: Fire Bell.]
[Junior Herb Pharmacist Title: 1/200]
Ellie Miller blinked her eyes.
Then, she wrote and illustrated all the magical plants she knew into the atlas relentlessly.
Water Flower, Terra Root, and Thunder Thistle...
Notification messages kept ringing out.
After finishing the last entry, "Stinky Mushroom," the Alchemy House prompted:
[Successfully added to Magical Plant Atlas: Stinky Mushroom.]
[Junior Herb Pharmacist Title: 199/200]
Today's batch of magical plants was all collected; new plants would have to wait until tomorrow. But now, she was just one plant short, a real test for her OCD!
Luckily, now the kindness reputation plus evil reputation added up to over 300.
The Rear Garden would surely yield a bountiful harvest tomorrow.
But relying solely on materials produced from the garden wasn't enough, especially since the Duke of Coldcrest casually mentioned "1000 bottles of Healing Potion..."
No way! Ellie Miller deeply believed she needed a way to improve the channels for material collection.
This world is full of extraordinary species; might magical plants quietly grow in some corners?
Ellie Miller decided to leave one "Water Flower" and one "Terra Root" tomorrow and hand them over to the duke to have him look.
Leaving the Alchemy House, it was already dark outside.
When Ellie Miller stepped out of her room, the maid who had been waiting outside immediately approached.
"Steward Kombach just sent over a box, saying it was given to you by His Highness. We've placed it in the small study room; do you want to see it now?"
Curious, Ellie Miller turned her footsteps towards her small study room.
On the desk in the study was a not-so-small wooden box. Ellie Miller walked up and opened it casually. Inside, the box was filled with golden coins, suddenly catching her eye, making the maid behind her exclaim, "My God of The Radiance!"
Ellie Miller's heart skipped two beats.
She immediately closed the box, "Is there anything else?"
The maid composed herself, "His Highness invites you to have dinner together at the north side."
The northern restaurant's food is indeed delicious, but she doesn't want too much interaction with Artor Coldcrest, and she refused, "I better not; I'm feeling unwell tonight."
The maid added, "The Duke said tonight's main course is the 150 gold coin Carnivorous Vine Dumplings (Note 1)."
Ellie Miller fell silent, "I think dumplings could cure my discomfort."
Maid: "..."
...
The knights didn't stay for dinner; only Ellie Miller and the duke were at the long dining table in the north restaurant.
Ellie Miller hadn't eaten dumplings in a long time and was very surprised that this Another World actually had dumplings. Awaiting with immense anticipation, Ellie Miller finally received the main course—a steaming plate of Carnivorous Vine Dumplings.
White dumpling skin, bulging 'little tummy,' Ellie Miller, almost overwhelmed with excitement, picked up a plump dumpling with her fork and put it into her mouth.
The filling had a very magical texture.
Carnivorous Vine, although a type of plant, tasted very similar to chewy shrimp, with a peculiar rich aroma.
Delicious!
The dumplings were delicious! The Carnivorous Vine filling was fantastic!
Ellie Miller ate one fat dumpling per bite, her cheeks puffing up adorably.
Sitting at the other end, Artor Coldcrest unknowingly paused from eating, quietly watching Ellie Miller.
After putting the last dumpling into her mouth, Ellie Miller still felt a bit unsatisfied. She was full, but having encountered long-missed dumplings, and ones she hadn't eaten before, she wanted to eat more.
"Inform the kitchen to continue serving this dish as tomorrow's dinner main course," the duke suddenly ordered the male servant next to him.
Ellie Miller's eyes brightened. Looking at Artor Coldcrest again, he seemed much more agreeable.
Artor turned back, seeing Ellie Miller, and said, "Tomorrow, come to my study room; Edward Martin and his wife want to meet you."
As Ellie Miller left the dining room, she leisurely strolled towards her bedroom, pausing halfway.
Wait!
Wasn't that dog of a man using dumplings to trick her earlier??