Chapter 13

"Ah! Boss Zyhark, you're finally back. We thought we'd have to revert to our bread-eating days tonight!"

To Zyhark's surprise, despite the complete darkness and the quiet streets, hungry customers were still waiting outside his restaurant for it to open.

They were the three carpenters dressed in white vests.

Due to their work, they often had to work late, and other restaurants in Windmill Village would close early.

So, before Zyhark arrived in the village, their dinner usually consisted of bread.

"Have you not eaten yet? Come on in."

After his initial surprise, Zyhark hurriedly opened the restaurant door to let them in.

Tired from the day's work, he hadn't planned on opening, but he couldn't bear to see them hungry.

Admittedly, the feeling of having his cooking eagerly awaited was quite gratifying.

Plus, he wanted to discuss boat construction with them.

"Eh? Did you run into some trouble? Why does Miss Aqua look so disheveled?"

Sitting at their usual table, one carpenter noticed Aqua's messy hair and dirtied appearance.

Before he could continue, another quickly pulled him aside and discreetly signaled him.

Realizing his mistake, he changed his tone, "Ah, my apologies, revered Goddess Aqua!"

"It's alright, it's alright."

Aqua, always magnanimous towards her "followers," casually explained, "I just slipped while casting the Sacred Water Creation spell."

The carpenters exchanged glances and sighed heavily.

Falling is just falling, but mentioning magic? This poor child is really not well...

"We're out of fried rice. Would beef noodles be okay for you?"

Zyhark, fearing Aqua might slip up, quickly intervened to steer the conversation.

"No problem, anything made by you is great."

The carpenters trusted Zyhark's cooking implicitly.

"Just a moment, it'll be ready soon."

Zyhark nodded and headed for the kitchen.

"I'll help you. Just let me serve it!"

Aqua, with ears perked up, followed eagerly, showing unusual diligence.

"You just want to serve it into your own stomach, right?" Zyhark bluntly exposed her real intent.

Her scheme was all too transparent!

"Heh, heh."

Caught, Aqua awkwardly scratched her head, then earnestly added, "Even goddesses get hungry. Besides, I helped you out so much today. Eating a bit is only natural!"

"Lounging on my back like an octopus, you really did put in a lot of effort, didn't you?"

Despite his words, Zyhark didn't stop Aqua from following him into the kitchen.

After washing his hands and donning an apron, Zyhark quietly suggested to Aqua, "Let's skip the beef noodles. The beef is leftover from yesterday. I'll make you pork bone meatball noodles instead."

Aqua scowled, "You're actually serving leftovers to your customers, Zyhark. That's terrible."

"Then don't eat. Go stand by the door and catch the north wind."

"My apologies, Lord Zyhark. I was wrong!"

...

The process of making noodles was relatively simple, and soon, five steaming bowls of soup noodles were served by Zyhark—followed by a drooling idiot goddess.

Zyhark placed Aqua's bowl of pork bone meatball noodles on a table in the corner and sat opposite the three carpenters, serving them beef noodles: "Sorry for the wait."

"Let's eat!"

The carpenters eagerly started slurping their noodles.

Zyhark also picked up his chopsticks to enjoy the meal after a hard day's work, having the same beef noodles as the carpenters.

Once the carpenters had nearly finished, Zyhark broached the subject of building a boat.

Although not the best shipwrights in Windmill Village, they had ample resources and connections in boat-building, far superior to randomly chosen people.

"You're planning to leave Windmill Village and set sail?" The carpenters were surprised.

"Indeed, the vast sea is where I truly belong. I want to make a name for myself out there," Zyhark didn't hide his intentions.

No one transported to the world of pirates would be content with a quiet life in a remote village.

Even if the sea was more dangerous and cruel than imagined, it was worth encountering those legendary figures.

"That's a commendable aspiration. Unfortunately, we only have modest skills to survive on."

Seeing the determination in Zyhark's eyes, the carpenters couldn't help but sigh, reminiscing about their own grand dreams of conquering the sea.

"If you need a basic single-masted sailing boat, we and some friends can finish it in about a month. Any specific requirements?"

"No special requirements, but one month is too long," Zyhark shook his head slightly.

He only needed a transitional vessel for sailing in the East Blue, as Aqua was his only crew member for now.

"Others might need a month, but we can do it in just ten days."

Another carpenter confidently promised.

Zyhark, satisfied with the timeline, finished his last piece of beef: "Then I'll leave it to you."

The deal was settled, and the estimated cost for the boat was about five hundred thousand Beli.

"Boss Zyhark, could you cook some more dishes? We'd like to drink a few rounds to commemorate our last meals here."

Thinking they might not enjoy Zyhark's unique dishes again, the carpenters rubbed their hands together.

"No problem. I'll cook the dishes first, then get some wine from Makino," Zyhark readily agreed.

Before he could finish, Aqua, who had been sitting at the next table, appeared lightning fast.

"No need, I have wine here!"

Aqua, with a pork bone in her mouth, placed the wine Makino had sent earlier on the table and waved at Zyhark.

"Just cook the dishes. And remember to make plenty; I'm still not full!"

Zyhark's lips twitched at her brazen attitude.

Watching Aqua pop open the wine and start toasting with the carpenters, he briefly considered poisoning the food to silence this gluttonous drunkard.

In the end, in front of others, Zyhark chose to endure and couldn't actually poison the food—regrettably, his kitchen lacked the necessary toxins...

The carpenters trusted him enough not to ask for a deposit for the boat, so naturally, Zyhark didn't charge them for the meal and dishes.

This was reciprocity.

(End of Chapter)