The Origin of Prejudice and the Night Before Parting

"In the past, because of my family's business, I often had to host banquets for guests."

"To be honest, I didn't like eating with them. Since most of the guests were nobles from various city-states, as a girl, I had to act like a proper lady—mind all sorts of rules while eating, with this restriction and that limitation. Such a hassle."

"For example, I always had to watch the placement of my knife and fork; the angle I opened my mouth while eating was limited, and I couldn't make even the slightest chewing sound; even where I held my cup had a standard, and the liquid inside couldn't be filled to the brim; I had to pay attention to my expression when hosting guests, and react according to the changing atmosphere of the banquet, and so on."

"Just thinking about it gives me a headache. How could anyone truly savor delicious food under all those rigid rules?"

Gumi complained helplessly. After finishing these recollections, the Young Girl muttered in a very small voice, "And on top of that, I could never get full."

"But—"

"It's not like my parents had any other child but me."

Saying this, Gumi's originally troubled face had unknowingly taken on a smile. The light in her eyes, looking back on the past, softened even more with this familial affection.

"As the sole heir of the merchant guild, since I enjoyed a life of material abundance and all of my parents' love, it was only natural that I had to bear the corresponding responsibilities."

"It's just a pity that, after all those years of banquets, I developed a certain feeling toward places like this restaurant and the food they cook."

"Mm—"

"A 'prejudice,' I suppose you could call it."

"I always felt that the atmosphere here was oppressive and unpleasant, the cuisine here was cold, and the food here never filled me up."

"Of course, of course, it's not the restaurant's fault—it's my own problem."

The Young Girl waved her hand and explained earnestly.

"I've always believed this was a punishment from the God of Cuisine."

"Because I was too busy attending to the guests' moods, putting on a lady's facade, and thinking of ways to maximize the guild's profits, I ended up neglecting countless delicious dishes."

"By the time I finally had time to take care of those lovely little darlings, they had thrown a tantrum, greeting me with a cold attitude and scolding me for being so late."

"So much so that later on, even when I dined alone and tried to savor the flavors with all my heart, that chill never faded."

"Maybe—"

"That's the same reason I dislike high-end restaurants. When I'm here, I can't help but recall how my father, who could do anything, would grovel before important guests, and how my mother, who usually hated alcohol, would drink glass after glass for the sake of the atmosphere. I don't like those scenes, so I grew to hate the fancy restaurants where they happened."

"Whenever I try to converse with the carefully crafted works of the kitchen chefs here, my taste buds always send me the feeling of the food turning completely cold at the end of a banquet."

"So, it's not that I don't like the food here—it's that the 'little darlings' here have come to dislike me."

Watching the Young Girl beside him, whose eyes were already glistening with tears, Guter opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words to comfort her. In the end, he could only gently pat his Junior Disciple on the shoulder.

"Sorry, sorry."

Gumi wiped her hand across her nose, took a light sniff, and sucked back all her surging emotions and tears. Then she stood up and apologized to her teacher and senior brothers seated at the table.

"I went on and on like that, and even brought my own feelings to everyone. I'm really sorry."

"It's fine. Sit down."

Serie waved at her disciple, signaling Gumi to sit.

"I chose this place not just for the meal, but also because there are some things I need to tell you."

After receiving her teacher's instruction, Gumi bowed to everyone once more before sitting down.

But no sooner had she sat than she felt her Senior Brother nudge her.

"Senior Brother, what is it?"

Gumi asked Guter in a low voice.

"Don't rush off after the meal. Come with me to the night market. There's a festival tonight—it'll be lively, and there's lots of good food."

"Really, Senior Brother? It's a promise!"

Watching his Junior Disciple Gumi extend her pinky toward him, Guter was momentarily stunned, then smiled and extended his own pinky to meet hers. The two pinkies hooked together.

"It's a promise."

Off to the side, Serie silently observed her disciples' little antics. She tapped her fingers on the table a few times, deliberately waiting until they had finished chatting before continuing her speech.

"The First Mage Examination organized by the Continental Magic Association's branch in Oysaster officially concluded today."

"Tomorrow, I will take Guter and leave the city for the Association's designated headquarters, the Holy City Hutrall, to hold another examination. We'll stay there for a while, likely not returning until next year."

"Huh?"

For a moment, aside from Guter, who had already anticipated this, both Gumi and Lairn were quite shocked.

Though they knew their teacher was going to the Holy City to organize another Mage Examination, they hadn't expected her to leave so suddenly, nor for such a long time.

"During this period, Lairn, Gumi, the two of you will remain in Oysaster."

"Although the Mage Examination has concluded, the construction of the Association branch here hasn't been fully handed over yet. So I need you two to stay and represent the Association, assisting and overseeing the remaining construction work."

"I understand, Teacher."

Lairn nodded in acknowledgment.

"Teacher, make sure to come back soon. I'll miss you and Senior Brother."

Compared to her socially oblivious Senior Brother, Gumi, besides accepting her teacher's task, also added an extra expression of concern.

Whether this concern was parting politeness or genuine feeling, it warmed the heart to hear.

And from the junior sister's sincere expression, Guter was more inclined to believe it was her true feelings.

Afterward, Serie went on to explain a few more matters regarding the association's rules, as well as, in her capacity as a teacher, assigning tasks to her disciples who were about to leave her supervision. When she returned, she would assess their cultivation results one by one according to these task standards.

Once the conversation wrapped up, the dishes everyone in the private room had ordered were all prepared. The restaurant waiter stood outside the door with a cart, ready to serve at any moment.

Serie, seated at the head of the table, gave the waiter a glance, and the evening's master-disciple dinner officially began.

One beautifully crafted dish after another was brought in. Though they had missed their optimal tasting window due to sitting for a while, the flavors were still commendable.

While enjoying the meal, Guter couldn't help glancing a few times at his junior sister Gumi beside him.

How to put it—Gumi really was like a different person now. Even though he could tell she was restraining her movements, her gestures still unconsciously followed the old habits.

Poised and elegant, restrained in manner—it was as if she had transformed from the girl next door into a noble lady.

Her movements truly resembled...

They resembled Lairn on Guter's other side.

Well, Junior Disciple Lairn was a genuine noble, after all. If Gumi's trained mannerisms mirrored Lairn's, there was nothing wrong with that.

After the meal ended, everyone stood at the restaurant entrance, planning to say their goodbyes as usual and then go their separate ways.

Guter exchanged a glance with his junior sister Gumi; both still remembered their agreement.

But Master Serie did not turn and leave as usual. Instead, she took a few steps closer to her disciples and said with a smile.

"Now, this is the last night before we part."

"I heard one of you mention that there's an event tonight at the night market in Oysaster. Come with me to take a stroll."

"Awesome!"

Gumi jumped in celebration, while Guter deliberately looked at his teacher, meeting Serie's gaze head-on.

After giving his teacher a smile and a thumbs-up, Guter thought silently to himself.

Seems Frieren's judgment back then wasn't quite right either. The way Serie expressed her feelings to her disciples wasn't so hard to understand after all.

"You old thing," how adorable.