※Descriptions of alcohol consumption are included.

※This work is a fiction.

※Please refrain from drinking alcohol until you are 20 years old.

※Also, if meat is not adequately heated, it can induce various diseases. Please take care when cooking.

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I had a nostalgic dream.

 

The day I first met that person.

 

I can say with certainty that I will never forget that day from here on out.

 

I am still captivated by her beauty.

 

Opening the menu and displaying the current time, it shows 20:20.

 

It seems I had fallen asleep without realizing it.

 

Since I arrived at the inn, nearly two hours had already passed.

 

Hurrying to the first floor, the once bustling restaurant now had noticeably empty seats.

 

“Hey, you there!”

“I’m sorry, I fell asleep in my room. Can I still get something to eat?”

“I was just about to put out the fire. You just made it.”

 

The inn in the game was open 24/7.

 

But, here, of course, it is run by real people.

 

Moreover, in fantasy RPGs, the era setting is old, so inevitably the night is short.

 

That was close.

 

Skipping lunch and dinner would result in a bad status due to the game’s mechanics.

 

It’s the time when the restaurant becomes a full-fledged tavern.

 

I take a seat at the counter.

 

“So, what will you have?”

“Hey, kid! The food here is delicious!”

“If you can afford it, meat is a good choice! Orc meat steak! Jena, do you still have any left?”

“We do. We bought a lot, but there weren’t many orders today.”

 

The landlady asks me for my order.

 

Then, the other patrons, who are all drunk, start suggesting the restaurant’s recommendations.

 

I remember when I came to the Silver Wolf Inn, Jena, the landlady, also recommended the steak, right?

 

The meat dishes at the Silver Wolf Inn were menus that gave a STR buff.

 

Maybe that’s why they are delicious?

 

“Then, I’ll have that.”

“The chef here is particular even about the way he grills!”

“Alright, orc meat steak it is.”

 

Ordering just the steak seems like it would be heavy on the stomach, so I add a salad as well.

 

I wanted water for a drink, but I couldn’t find it on the menu, perhaps because of the game’s influence.

 

I had no choice but to order a wine that seemed to have a low alcohol content.

 

The steak takes time to prepare, so I start with the salad and wine that were served first.

 

I had imagined red wine as a mature grape juice.

 

However, it was more sour and bitter than I thought.

 

“Here you go! The main course, orc meat steak!”

“It looks delicious.”

“Try it out! It’s my husband’s special recipe!”

 

As I was trying to satisfy my hunger with the salad, the steak I ordered was served.

 

It’s large.

 

A chunk of meat, looking about 500 grams, is sitting on an iron plate.

 

The oozing meat juice sizzles on the hot iron plate, giving off a nice aroma.

 

The aroma naturally makes my mouth water.

 

I cut the chunk of meat into bite-sized pieces with a knife and carried it to my mouth.

 

The orc meat steak is simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic.

 

With no unnecessary seasonings, the strong umami of the meat can be fully enjoyed.

 

The meat juice that overflows with each bite.

 

The sweetness and umami of the fat spread all over my mouth.

 

To be honest, I was scared of things like O157 and Hepatitis E because it’s pork (orc) meat.

 

However, whether it’s due to the magic in this world or the skill of the cook, despite the thickness of the steak, the heat has thoroughly penetrated the meat.

 

I can’t stop taking bites of the meat, one after another.

 

…huh?

 

I wonder why.

 

For some reason, tears are welling up.

 

There’s a warmth deep in my chest.

 

I can’t find the words to express this feeling.

 

“Use this.”

“….Thank you.”

 

The burly owner behind the counter offers me a towel.

 

I accept it and wipe my tears.

 

“…”

“What is this?”

“You don’t need to pay.”

 

I accept the roughly offered glass.

 

The wine cup is a mass-produced wooden cup.

 

In contrast, this one is made of quality glass.

 

Is this alcohol?

 

I swallow the amber-colored liquid.

 

At the first sip, I knew it was something expensive.

 

The depth and sweetness were certainly different from the wine I ordered at first.

 

I checked my status, thinking it might be, and saw a buff indicating 『Experience gain up』 in the abnormal status section.

 

The hidden menu of the Silver Wolf Inn, 『Platinum Wine』.

 

It’s a menu item that doubles the amount of experience gained during the next fieldwork when consumed with during a meal.

 

Originally, it was supposed to be a drink added to the menu after ordering meals 77 times at the Silver Wolf Inn.

 

I see.

 

In this world where NPCs have become more than NPCs, developments that are not bound by the rules of the game can occur.

 

I carry the remaining Platinum Wine in the glass into my mouth.

 

This time, I savor it slowly and swallow it down my throat.