"Sigh…"
Eina let out a small sigh. She looked like she wanted to say something, but after seeing Hajime's face, she fell silent.
Good-looking people... can get away with anything.
"Well then," she said, giving in to reality, "when do you plan to go to the dungeon? I'll help you prepare the handbook and go over the necessary safety precautions."
Eina had officially surrendered to Hajime's good looks.
"Tomorrow!" Hajime said after thinking for a moment.
He could close shop now if he really wanted to, but that would be unfair to the customers already lining up. Better to see things through properly.
It's important to finish what you start.
Besides, it's not like he was in a rush.
"I'll come find you tomorrow morning. Is that alright?"
"Yes, no problem."
Eina nodded.
"Thanks a lot, Miss Eina!"
Hajime thanked her sincerely.
"No need for that. It's just part of my job."
Eina's mood visibly improved at the gratitude.
The thought of having more interactions with Hajime in the future made her heart flutter just a little.
"Well, you'd better get back. Your customers are getting impatient. And don't forget to come on time tomorrow!"
"No worries. I'll be there. See you tomorrow!"
Hajime turned around and saw that, indeed, several customers were starting to complain.
He instinctively sped up his pace and dashed back to his stall.
In a blink, Hajime's figure became a blur and reappeared behind the cart like a phantom.
Eina blinked in surprise.
"That speed… even a high-level adventurer would struggle to be that fast. Did I just imagine it?"
Wasn't Hajime a rookie who had only registered a month ago?
His adventurer level should still be LV1.
No way he should be capable of that kind of speed.
Unless… he had some sort of unique skill or spell that enhanced mobility?
If so, maybe she didn't need to worry about him that much.
With that kind of speed, he could escape danger even if something went wrong.
Thinking that, the very professional Eina mentally filed that scene away.
Keeping an adventurer's abilities confidential was part of her duty as a Guild advisor.
---
What she didn't know was: Hajime had shown that speed on purpose.
His strength and talent were far too great to remain hidden.
Rather than constantly trying to cover up his abilities, he decided it would be better to reveal them gradually.
With power strong enough to dominate, it was better to be open and intimidate potential threats than to lurk in the shadows.
And letting Eina know just a bit of his ability would also help her stop treating him like a total newbie.
That alone would save a lot of headaches.
---
After Eina left, Hajime returned to stir-frying.
As the wok sizzled with hot oil and grains of rice danced in the pan, he explained to the queue that today would be the last day his stall would be open.
Many customers expressed disappointment but also wished him well.
This was Orario, the city of adventurers.
Abandoning your current life to pursue adventure was practically a daily occurrence here.
In fact, it was part of the city's romantic charm.
As dusk fell, Hajime finally began to pack up.
Just as he was about to turn off the stove and head home to meet with Hestia to update his Falna...
A slender figure appeared at the front of his stall.
She was as beautiful as a porcelain doll—delicate, petite, and with golden hair that shimmered in the fading light. Her presence was so flawless, she seemed divine.
Her expression was emotionless, almost doll-like, and her golden eyes stared intently not at Hajime—but at his frying pan.
"A-Ais… Ais-sama? Is something wrong? Is there something special about this place?"
Behind her stood a shy, elf-eared girl who looked only about 14 or 15, dressed like a mage. Her figure was surprisingly well-developed for her age, and she asked timidly.
Seeing these two together—and recognizing their distinct beauty—Hajime immediately realized who they were.
They were Ais Wallenstein, the famed "Sword Princess" and top-tier adventurer of the Loki Familia, and Lefiya Viridis, a promising support mage also from the same Familia.
As for Ais, Hajime had not only heard of her from the source material but had also seen her in person.
He recalled that about a week after he opened the stall, she had been drawn by the aroma of his fried rice and bought two portions.
At that time, Hajime had been operating under the "keep a low profile" principle and didn't engage in conversation.
He'd had no interaction with Lefiya until now.
Noticing that Ais was staring at the frying pan, Hajime instantly understood.
"You want fried rice?"
"…Mm."
Ais nodded seriously, then glanced at Lefiya and added:
"Two portions."
"Huh?"
Lefiya was stunned when Ais offered to buy her food.
"Ais-sama is treating me to a meal for the first time… Ehehe~"
She immediately entered a dreamy daze.
"This stall's fried rice… it's delicious," Ais commented, her words few and precious as always.
After speaking, she fell silent again, her expression calm but eyes full of anticipation as she stared at Hajime—clearly noticing he was about to close up shop.
Seeing her pure, childlike gaze, Hajime chuckled.
"Two portions of fried rice, 400 valis."
As he spoke, he poured oil into the wok again, ready to cook two more portions before heading back to his Familia.
Without hesitation, Ais dropped the exact amount into the payment box.
"Thank you, mister!"
Lefiya bowed politely and thanked him.
Ais, meanwhile, stood still, quietly watching Hajime cook—her eyes fixed on his precise wok-flipping movements.
A few seconds later—
Her pupils shrank, as if she had just witnessed something unbelievable.
Her body trembled slightly, as though struck by lightning.
Her gaze toward Hajime changed—it burned with intensity.