The pale gold of afternoon turned into deeper amber tones that stretched long shadows across the floor. The runic lamps flickered to life before long, lightning up the spaces the sun no longer reached.
When Ludwig moved his sight around the slightly emptier hall, a smile appeared on his face. He felt something he didn't know he was carrying finally stopped clinging into him.
The cracked stone had been replaced, the scorched wood had been sanded down and resealed, and the air no longer carried the faint bitterness of burned mana. Whatever scars the restaurant had worn earlier in the day were now replaced by polish, warmth, and routine.
His sight lingered for half a breath longer before turning away from the dining hall. Relief was dangerous when someone dwell on it too long. He pivoted back toward the kitchen, hands already wiping themselves on a cloth as his eyes dropped to the practical things.
First, he checked the stock. He moved straight to the long table where the pasta components had been made earlier. The dough first. He lifted the cloth, pressed a thumb into the nearest mound, and nodded. Still supple. Still elastic. More than enough to carry them through the night, even if a few tables decided they liked it more than expected.
But the ragù was another story.
He dispersed the mana around the ragù out before lifting the lid of the pot and leaning in just enough to know. What remained clung thickly to the bottom, rich and dark, but the volume had fallen faster than he'd like. The sauce had done its job too well earlier. And the people noticed.
Ludwig exhaled through his nose.
"Alright." He muttered to himself, hands already reaching for another pot.
Meat came out again in chunks as the boards were cleared. Then, he went into the motion. But this time, it was faster now since no one needed a lesson while he cook it.
Finka glanced over once, saw what he was doing, and immediately shifted her pace without being told while Bilo wordlessly set aside space on the stove.
The second batch came together in early, blending splendidly into the silence before dinner service.
By the time Ludwig lowered the heat and covered the pot, the sun outside had finally dipped. Anytime now, the bell on top of the door would start chiming endlessly.
He wiped his hands again, gave the pot one last glance, and walked towards his station. With a book opened and coffee returning to its cold state, he was ready.
The bell finally chimed not far from the point he started reading. Then again, then another one.
Tempest denizens Ludwig didn't get an opportunity to hear the name moved with the easy confidence of people who knew this place would feed them well. Other than them, Ravenhall's famous human power shrugging off cloaks and evening chill. Boots scraped softly against the floor. The chairs shifted. Low conversation bloomed and overlapped.
The twins and Zhark moved in perfect coordination. The customers were quickly seated, waters served on their table not long after, and today's menu read for them.
Then the bell chimed again, louder this time, the sound briefly cutting through the murmur.
Cale Henituse stepped in first, posture relaxed, hands tucked into his coat as if this were just another evening stroll. Flanking him were the two cats—one crimson red, one grey—moving with opposite energies. One paused at the threshold, sniffing the air like food was a puzzle to be solved. The other flicked its tail and walked straight in as if ownership had already been claimed.
Behind them came Raon.
The dragon didn't bother pretending to be subtle, or maybe he forgot. He flew through the doorway with eyes already shining with interest the moment he spotted the kitchen.
"Oh?" Raon's voice rang out, too loud, too excited. "Something smells different."
Cale sighed quietly. "Raon."
"I know, I know." Raon waved him off and immediately veered toward the counter. "Joy Bringer! Did you change something? Is it meat? No… vegetables? Why do vegetables smell good?"
Ludwig closed his book partway and flashed a grin toward the little dragon. "I'm sure a wise dragon like you could figure it out yourself."
Raon hovered in place for a moment, eyes narrowing in exaggerated concentration. He sniffed again, circling once in the air.
"I can smell… many things." He declared proudly. "That means you did something,"
Ludwig chuckled. "I always do something."
Raon beamed, clearly taking it as confirmation, then zipped back toward Cale without waiting for permission. He landed beside the red cat with a soft thump, immediately leaning across the table. "We're ordering that. Whatever that is."
Cale sighed, already reaching for the menu. "You don't know what that is."
"That's future Raon's problem."
The grey cat flicked an ear but said nothing, eyes still tracking the kitchen with interest.
A few breaths later, the bell rang again.
Lee Han entered quietly, his massive frame made the doorframe that was specially made to accommodate those taller than most humans look small. He gave the room a brief scan before nodding to Ludwig then made his way to his usual spot. Of course Tempest denizens drifted toward him naturally, like iron filings finding a magnet.
Not long after, Kashi and Kira followed.
They spoke even less. A glance, a shared nod, and they took their seats where they could see the whole room. The Daeben sat before the black wolf sat and curled beside him on the floor.
Unfortunately, like every restaurant, the calm never lasted.
Orders began to arrive in clusters instead of lines. Denizens from Tempest raised a hand. A Shadow from Ravenhall followed a heartbeat later. Valerie's voice chimed once, twice, then stopped bothering to count as her tray filled faster than it emptied.
"Two pasta, extra sauce!"
"Grilled Skewer set, 3."
"Four Ra-Ratouli, whatever. The pretty dish!"
"Soup, soup, and—wait—another soup!"
The kitchen snapped into motion.
Ludwig was already on his feet, book closed, coffee abandoned where it cooled untouched. His apron was adjusted in one smooth movement, hands clean and ready before the words finished echoing.
Finka was beside him instantly, tying her hair tighter, eyes sharp. She didn't ask where to go. Instead, she slid into position, hands moving for the skewers. Bilo followed half a breath later, shoulders squared, nerves gone the moment the first command reached him.
"Pasta in thirty."
"Don't rush the skewers."
"Slow down on the Rattaouile."
Bilo moved like he'd done this a thousand times, even if he hadn't. His scoop was clean and faster than before but never sloppy. Finka adjusted the heat and passed plates without being told. In the meantime, Ludwig juggled between scooping up the handmade pasta and pouring the ragu before garnishing it with cheese.
Valerie and Vilera danced through the hall, trays rising and falling, dodging chairs and tails and wings with practiced ease. Zhark anchored the room, presence alone enough to keep traffic flowing where it should.
The noise rose. Voices layered. Orders stacked. The air grew warm with oil and broth and meat.
And then, Ludwig heard the bell rang again over the sizzle.
This time, three—no, four figures walked in.
The first was small, blue-haired, and smiling far too easily for someone who carried the kind of presence he had. Rimuru paused just past the threshold, eyes moving through the hall with quiet curiosity rather than caution.
Behind him came Benimaru, posture straight, presence sharp. His gaze swept the room out of habit, cataloging exits, people, and distance in a single glance.
At his side was Shuna, hands folded neatly, expression gentle but observant, eyes lingering briefly on the walls, the floor, the rebuilt beams. She noticed things others missed.
While the fourth was invisible, Ludwig knew who it was. The Tempest Wolf was hiding inside Rimuru's shadow like a guardian.
However, Ludwig didn't stop moving.
"Finka." He said calmly, already turning back to the stove. "Be ready for another set of skewers."
"Got it."
"Bilo, get ready. The big eater is here."
"Yes, Chef."
The tension rose and fell, and then Ludwig heard Rimuru's voice from the bar table. "Rattatouile?"
The eyes of Benimaru and Shion stayed on him after he shouted. Then, in a higher tone, he called for Ludwig. "Hey, Lud. Is this what I think it is?"
Ludwig chuckled. "Should be. Minus the plate and the rat of course."
"Damn." Rimuru quipped. "Why did I never think about making this?"
"You probably forgot." Ludwig crossed his arms in front of him. "Now that I look at you, you are far more energetic compared to when you named other people of Tempest."
"Ah… Yeah that may be the case." Rimuru nodded. "Well, remember the earth hog you cook? That helped. A lot actually."
"A lot?" Ludwig asked. "What do you mean by that?"
Rimuru shrugged. "You know, monsters from the deepest part of Jura Forest had quite a number of Magicules. I think—no, your cooking preserved that. It replenishes my magicule when I eat it."
Ludwig paused for half a beat, thoughts deep in consideration.
"That's… not intentional." He said honestly. "I didn't even use my mana sight when I cooked them."
Rimuru laughed, his smile looked too cheeky for his liking "Yeah, I figured. But intention doesn't really matter when the result's already there."
Ludwig turned back to the stove, hands resuming their work. "If it helps, then that's good. But don't expect every food to be like that, okay? And no matter how good that is, it won't replace rest or caution."
"Hey, I'll take what I can get." Rimuru grinned. "By the way, a Ratatouille and pasta for me."
"This Rattatouille for me."
"I want the fish soup."
After three most important personnel on Tempest ordered, another deep voice echoed through the hall.
"The skewers for me. I don't eat vegetables."
That order sent the staff and people close enough to hear into a laughing fit. Some orcs even nodded sagely, as if they had heard a revelation from the seventh sky.
"Aye, please wait a little." Ludwig laughed and went back to what he did before.
In the meantime, the conversations in the dining hall grew louder. Laughter finally replaced the tight pauses that had lingered since the attack.
Then, the bell rang again.
Ludwig's hands didn't stop moving, but something in the room shifted. It was not the same tension as before, nor it was the same paused before a fight broke out. If he had to put it into words, it was like every people in the room inhaled at the same time.
He glanced up, not to see who it was, but for precaution.
The figures at the door hadn't fully stepped inside yet, but from the silhouettes they looked like human. A lot of humans.
They were also armoured quite a bit. But, the way they stood wasn't aggressive.
Rimuru noticed it too, smile fading just enough to sharpen. Benimaru's gaze quickly locked onto the entrance, his red eyes narrowing.
No words were spoken by the new group, but Ludwig already knew.
They were from Konoha.
Currently we have 1 reward chapter. Let's hope I can release it this week because I have been quite busy with IRL stuff. And, thank you to anyone who have leave a rating, a suggestion, an appreciation, and a critique.
I'm trying my best to change what I can change. Again, thank you so much guys.
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