Sect Gathering

Guter froze, uncertain whether his guess was correct.

So he immediately opened the [System Space] and checked the item's detailed description.

[Item Name: Memory Bread (Enhanced Version)]

[Item Effect: Upon consumption, instantly memorizes all content written on the bread. (Enhanced Effect: In addition to memory, the consumer will also instantly comprehend the knowledge carried on the bread, though there is an upper limit to the amount of knowledge a single slice can bear.)]

"It really is what I thought it was, and the effect is even stronger."

Guter couldn't help but swallow, suddenly feeling that the [Three Year Period] task wasn't so out of reach after all.

A magic book that thick couldn't be all difficult points—he just needed to skim through it once, gather all the tricky parts, find a way to condense them onto the Memory Bread, and eat it. Simple.

That way, the time spent on the introductory portion of [Cursed Reversal Magic] would be drastically shortened, and fulfilling the [Three Year Period] with his teacher was within sight.

"Hello, guest. Here are the roasted ribs for you and this young lady."

Suddenly, a waiter's voice cut through Guter's thoughts. He nodded slightly in thanks, then picked up the knife and fork on the table.

There was still plenty of time; no need to rush. He'd study the Memory Bread in detail once he returned to his lodgings tonight.

For now, enjoying the meal came first.

Knife in his right hand, fork in his left, he gently sliced through the char-grilled beef ribs. The abundant juices and tender interior spoke volumes about the quality of the meat and the chef's masterful control over the heat.

He cut off a piece and put it in his mouth. The rich, fragrant sauce delivered a taste experience far beyond his expectations.

Across the table, his junior apprentice sister Gumi's expression had completely changed. Without a word of nonsense, she lowered her head and ate and ate and ate, a blissful smile spreading across her face.

Even Lairn, who was chewing on vegetable leaves beside him, paused. Surrounded by the aroma of roasted meat, he glanced at his senior and junior devouring their food, then at the sad greens in front of him. With a helpless sigh, he ultimately couldn't resist calling the waiter over and ordering an extra meat dish.

Back in the kitchen, head chef Lake, who had just finished preparing the ingredients for Guter's table with his team, saw the additional order come in and his vision went dark.

"Our guests today sure are enthusiastic,"

he muttered helplessly, then went to fetch more ingredients. At the same time, he patted his child, who had just grown tall enough to stand at the stove, and said, "Watch carefully. Learn well."

"Our family promised Hero Himmel that we'd preserve the family's signature flavor, so no matter when the Elf Mage Miss Frieren comes by, it'll taste just like she remembers."

"Okay—"

the child, just barely able to reach the stove, replied aloud, but in his heart, he was thinking something else.

"I'm going to make something even tastier than Father!"

Outside the kitchen, in the dining hall.

Several waiters had all stopped in their tracks, standing by the corridor, their gazes fixed on one table.

There, two formidable eaters were locked in a fierce contest. Piles of empty plates rose up like two insurmountable mountains on the table.

"Whew~ I'm full."

In the end, Guter was the first to concede, unable to match Gumi.

But his junior apprentice sister Gumi seemed to have fought to the point of exhaustion as well. She no longer ate with her head down like at the start; instead, her movements became slow and refined. Guter could even vaguely make out a hint of noble lady's restraint in her actions.

A few minutes later, Gumi, the "gladiator," also stopped.

She leaned back, comfortably resting against the chair's backrest, her eyes devoid of any regret.

Seeing that everyone had eaten their fill, Guter patted his clothes, stood up, and headed to the counter to pay.

But this move was stopped by Lairn and Gumi. Both junior disciples insisted that they should cover the meal.

To end this well-meaning argument, Guter had no choice but to pull out the few gold coins Teacher Serie had given him from his pocket, explaining that this was the teacher's meal budget and that she was footing the bill. Only then did the two stop fighting over who would pay.

However, after Guter settled the bill, Gumi thought of something and asked him, "Senior Disciple, why didn't Teacher Serie come to the gathering? Has she had dinner yet?"

Gumi's question caught Guter off guard. "Yeah, the teacher doesn't seem to attend her disciples' gatherings much. She didn't come to the drinking party Lairn and I had last time either."

"As for dinner, she should have eaten, right?"

Meanwhile, at a certain elf's residence.

A "Magic Old Timer" was hugging a magic book. When hunger struck, she reached into a bread basket beside her and pulled out a leftover loaf from that morning.

She nibbled on it in small bites while flipping pages.

Realizing the hard bread was a bit tough on the teeth, a ripple of magical energy flickered through her left hand. With a [Spell to Make Stale Bread Soft Again], the bread instantly regained the fluffy texture of when it was first baked.

＜()＞

"Mhm, that's more like it."

"Folk magic might be boring, but it does have its uses."

Back in the dining hall.

After talking with his junior apprentice sister Gumi, Guter thought it over and decided to pack two portions of lighter, easy-to-keep dishes to bring to his teacher tomorrow morning.

The food would definitely be cold by then, but given the sheer number of spells Serie had mastered, she surely wouldn't lack a way to heat it up.

When the waiter passed this takeout order to the kitchen, Lake, who had just finished his hard work, was about to take off his chef's uniform and step outside for a cigarette during this rare break, to soothe his tired muscles and relax his mind.

But just as Lake set down his chef's hat, the "Ding!" of a new order from the kitchen shattered his plans.

"What the hell!"

Lake couldn't hold it together for a moment. He looked up at the clock on the wall and couldn't help but question it.

I swear, it's not mealtime, and it's not even the busiest period.

In the end, the dishes Guter ordered were personally prepared, packed, and delivered to him by Lake himself.

Looking at these two takeout boxes handed directly by the Head Chef, plus the look in his eyes when he glanced at their group, Guter couldn't shake the feeling that the Head Chef's gaze carried a heavy dose of resentment?

A bit embarrassed under that stare, Guter thanked him and left with the takeout boxes.

Once outside the restaurant, Guter didn't forget to remind his Junior Disciple Gumi to wake up early tomorrow morning and gather at their teacher Serie's residence.

After the reminder, the three of them returned to their own lodgings.

Inside a hotel near the exam venue, Guter opened his door, set the two takeout boxes down, then took out a piece of [Memory Bread] from the [System Space]. Staring at the thick Magic Book before him, he began his experiment.