Äußerst's Night Market

Towards the end, Galan also had to join the ranks of those devouring desserts.

Because Lia ordered so much food, it almost covered the entire table, and she couldn't possibly eat it all herself.

But not finishing them would be a waste, and it would also be a waste of Lake's hard work. While reaping the benefits of his wallet, Galan was also broadened by today's experience. He never expected that there were so many kinds of desserts in the world. He thought that without the various high-tech and delicate ingredients of the modern world, they could not make such brightly colored desserts. Now it seems that he was really narrow-minded and underestimated the wisdom of foodies.

Not only do the desserts they make look amazing, but they also taste absolutely worth the trip.

"Please take care, and welcome back next time!"

Will I be able to eat such delicious food next time I come?

"Of course! I will continue to pass on this flavor in the store!"

As the two got up to leave, Lake reappeared and warmly saw them to the door.

However, because there were more customers in the shop at the moment, he didn't have much time to chat with the two of them. He only had a brief chat before quickly getting back to business.

After leaving the store, they strolled towards a more crowded area, walking side by side... not because Galan was a head taller than Lia, but because they could only walk head to head, strolling leisurely down the street.

Since they had nothing else to do, they weren't in a hurry to go back. Lia was fascinated by everything in the city, and kept turning her head as she walked. Whenever she saw something new and interesting, she would stop and observe it for a long time.

Sometimes she would mingle with a group of laughing children, learning from them how to catch goldfish because she had tried three times in a row and returned empty-handed.

Galan stayed by her side the whole time, chatting with her from time to time and helping her answer her questions.

After all, he originally wanted to take Lia around to relax and hopefully get them closer.

At night, Äußerst is brightly lit and bustling with people, making it impossible to feel the tranquility of the nights in the past.

Is this what it feels like to live in a big city?

Galan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. It really felt like a country bumpkin coming to the city, as if he had suddenly arrived in the provincial capital from some small, rickety village, riding a bus with creaking and rattling parts.

Even in the past in Rogley, there were rarely so many lights on at night, except for a few particularly busy shops and aristocratic Mansion.

On the one hand, there's the risk of danger at night in the North, so there aren't many people wandering the streets. On the other hand, there's the cost of lighting. Generally, streetlights need to be supplied by the shopkeepers or the city lord because cities are usually quite large and require a lot of lights. In addition, the currently popular [magic lamps] require magic crystals as raw materials, which is also a considerable expense for the city's operation.

However, in [Äußerst], neither of these two issues becomes a problem.

Even without Serie guarding the city, the protective array left by Flamme outside the city is enough to defend against the monsters and Demons in Kai.

Even if the Great Demons came, they wouldn't be able to break through the great formation head-on.

In addition, there are a large number of experienced Mages and adventurers who have long resided here, and the empire's army is also stationed here, making it a well-stocked area.

Residents have almost never worried about safety in the city, so they can stroll around the streets at night without any worries.

As one of the important Fortress Cities in the North, [Äußerst] serves as a vital trade route, generating substantial revenue solely from the taxes collected on goods and services. Furthermore, thanks to the aforementioned factors, its industry, commerce, and service sectors are highly developed, placing its economy among the most advanced in the Northern Countries. In comparison, even something as trivial as turning on the lights at night is a meager expense.

"... It's so lively here... Is this what nightlife is like?"

Clutching a bag of hard-earned goldfish tightly in her hand, Lia looked up at Galan, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.

In the past, the most common activity in the tribe's nightlife was lighting a bonfire and singing and dancing around it. Elders would sometimes tell younger people stories from the Mythical Era.

But Lia had never seen a night as prosperous as that of [Äußerst] before.

"Well, this is considered one of the larger human cities, and it's also an important Fortress City, so it's normal for it to have this level of development."

"Is that so? Aren't other cities this lively at night?"

She asked curiously, seemingly enjoying the current atmosphere.

"Yeah, that's only the case in big cities. The city I lived in before wasn't this lively. People wouldn't go out at night because they were worried about monster attacks."

Hmm...:::

She muttered thoughtfully, but was quickly drawn to something else that looked interesting.

"Galan, what is that?"

Following the direction Lia pointed, a roadside stall was displaying all sorts of small items.

Galan...

This seemed to be the first time Lia had called his name since he woke up.

He gave her a barely perceptible, light glance over his hip. Was this a sign that she had accepted him?

Well... anyway, the fact that I've managed to gain her trust is already a pretty good achievement.

Elves are naturally clumsy when it comes to matters of the heart, and they shouldn't be too hasty; it's best to get to know each other properly first.

Galan smiled and replied:

"It's a trinket stall, is there anything you'd like?"

"I feel like there's going to be something very interesting; I'd like to see it."

The two approached, and the stall owner, a shrewd-looking middle-aged man, seemed to sense something upon seeing their posture. He grinned and approached, pointing to a row of neatly arranged ornaments in the pile of miscellaneous items, saying:

"Miss, do you have any styles you like here?"

Lia looked at the pile of trinkets he pointed to for a long time, her eyes wandering hesitantly among them. "Hmm:"

2

She tapped her lips lightly with her finger, seemingly struggling to make a decision.

"Why don't you try this one? It's carved with Butterfly Orchid designs, it would suit you perfectly, miss! Don't you think so, my little boyfriend?"

Boyfriend?

I?

Galan was a little taken aback by the address; he hadn't expected that this middle-aged man could still come up with such a refreshing and unconventional way of addressing him.

But my boyfriend... seems pretty good too.

Lia looked at the two of them with some confusion, but still did as the boss said and showed it to Galan.

"How about I help you try it on? I don't know if it will fit you just like that."

Galan said, "Okay, sure."