Chapter 578: Most of the Time, I'm Very Smart
Aragorn's alcohol buzz faded entirely, replaced by a burning thirst for knowledge. Between bites of food, he peppered Ren with questions regarding governance, agricultural policies, and civic welfare. Legolas, listening intently, found his own wine-induced haze lifting as he absorbed the chef's insights.
Meanwhile, Gandalf attempted to entertain Lucifer and her companions with a display of magic. He conjured a few dazzling, complex illusions, only for Yakumo Yukari and the others to treat them like cheap parlor fireworks. The final blow to the old wizard's pride came when Yukari casually dismissed his radiant light with a single, lazy sentence, absorbing the mana into the void. Gandalf slumped in his chair, looking utterly defeated and entirely out of his depth.
It didn't take long for the Fellowship to realize a sobering truth: not a single person in this restaurant was weak. Even Riven, quietly sitting at the side, radiated the suppressed aura of an incredibly lethal warrior.
By the end of the meal, Aragorn's group had cleared every plate. They were particularly fascinated by the white rice, a staple they had never encountered before. Ren, never one to be stingy, hauled out a massive burlap sack filled with assorted seeds—soybeans, wheat, and rice. He even took the time to print out detailed planting guides and soil requirements from the internet, handing the thick stack of papers over to the rangers.
Aragorn accepted the heavy sack with deep gratitude. As he prepared to leave, the future king let out a long breath. "My friend, stumbling into this tavern is the greatest fortune of my life. I will carry the lessons and gifts you have bestowed upon me until the end of my days, and my people shall remember them as well."
"I merely quoted a few lines from a history book in my world," Ren replied, his tone mild. "What you call gifts are just common goods here. Aragorn, advice is cheap. If it isn't put into practice, it remains empty air. The one your people truly need to remember is you—the king who actually applies the change."
A warm smile spread across Aragorn's weathered face. He unhooked a heavy, jingling leather pouch from his belt and pressed it into Ren's hands. "As you said, I do not lack these things now."
Ren didn't refuse the payment. He weighed the pouch, a faint smile touching his lips. "You really are a unique man."
Aragorn clapped a hand on Ren's shoulder, his grip firm and earnest. "You are much the same, my friend. I wish you and your beloved a lifetime of happiness."
Lucifer and the other girls offered soft smiles at the blessing.
"And you," Ren added gently. "Do not neglect your family for the sake of the throne. You are a king, yes, but you are also a husband, and one day, a father."
Aragorn nodded solemnly. Beside him, Gandalf and Legolas smiled in agreement, while Gimli simply stood there, stubbornly clutching a half-empty bottle of wine to his chest.
"I look forward to the day I return," Gandalf said, his eyes twinkling again. "Perhaps I will meet some fellow wizards from your world."
"You'd get along perfectly," Ren said.
"I quite agree."
Stepping toward the door, Aragorn cast one last look around the cozy restaurant. "I hope that one day, Middle-earth can be as warm as this place."
"That depends entirely on the efforts of its kings," Ren replied.
"Indeed. Farewell, my friend."
Ren nodded, and the Fellowship bowed their heads respectfully before stepping through the doorway, vanishing into the night.
To Ren, it was just a casual exchange of basic agricultural advice. But to Aragorn and his companions, those words and seeds were a lifeline—a priceless treasure that earned the young chef their eternal reverence.
Watching the door click shut, Ren exhaled. He looked down at the heavy leather pouch in his hand and tugged the drawstrings open. "Seriously... just how rich are these guys?"
Lucifer leaned over the counter, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Gold? Or silver?"
Ren reached in and pulled out a gold coin. The minting was a bit rough around the edges, but the heavy luster of pure gold was unmistakable.
Across the room, Reimu's eyes instantly locked onto the glinting metal.
Ren flipped the coin into the air, caught it, and tossed it casually onto the table. "What a headache..."
"Isn't making money a good thing?" Lucifer asked.
"The problem is the currency exchange. Not all, but most of my guests from other worlds pay in raw precious metals. And then there's Rimuru, who pays in magic ore. It's ridiculous."
Riven, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "It makes perfect sense. Unifying currency across different dimensions is impossible. Raw minerals like gold and silver are the most universal medium of exchange. Copper, silver, gold, and gemstones will always hold value."
Ren nodded, conceding the point. He certainly wasn't hurting for gold coins.
Reimu, however, was practically drooling on the table. 'A rich man! A genuine sugar daddy!'
She entertained a fleeting fantasy of throwing herself at Ren's legs and begging him to keep her as a pet. But the moment the thought materialized, she felt two piercing, murderous glares bore into the back of her skull. Yakumo Yukari and Yuuka Kazami were watching her with dead, smiling eyes.
Reimu swallowed hard, immediately lowered her head, and furiously shoveled food into her mouth, converting her sorrow and greed into pure appetite.
Ren suddenly remembered something. He turned to the white-haired warrior. "Riven, didn't you say you were looking for something to do? I happen to have a highly difficult task for you."
Riven eyed him with immediate suspicion. "You're not going to make me water the flowers again, are you? I already did that."
"Of course not. Come with me."
As Riven obediently trailed Ren into the kitchen, Pandemonica adjusted her glasses, a puzzled look on her face. "What is she doing in the kitchen? I thought he said it was a difficult task."
Lucifer sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "He just wants her to wash the vegetables."
"Pardon?"
"Ever since Riven arrived, Ren discovered she has a terrifying talent for washing produce," Lucifer explained dryly.
"A talent for washing vegetables?"
"Because she treats it like a military operation. She is so decisive and serious that she practically dismantles the vegetables stem by stem. When she's done, they are absolutely spotless."
Pandemonica took a sip of her coffee. "That... is certainly a unique skill."
Inside the kitchen, Riven was indeed assigned to the sink. However, it wasn't vegetables this time, but a massive crate of fresh fruit.
She didn't complain. In truth, she found the mindless repetition of washing produce quite soothing. It was far simpler than the precision required for chopping, and it kept her anxiety at bay.
Ren leaned against the counter, watching her carefully scrub an apple until it gleamed. "See? I told you this difficult task was safe in your hands."
Riven paused, the water running over her scarred fingers. She let out a soft sigh. "I might lack common sense sometimes, but I'm not stupid. Most of the time, I am actually very smart. You call this a difficult task?"
"Absolutely," Ren replied without missing a beat. "You're the only one in this entire restaurant who can get them this clean."
Riven blinked, her stoic expression cracking just a fraction. "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you about that?"
She stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for any hint of mockery. Finding none, she gave a small, satisfied nod and returned her attention to the fruit.
The kitchen fell into a comfortable, quiet rhythm, filled only by the sound of running water.
After a long silence, Riven spoke, her voice barely rising above the splash of the faucet. "Ren. Thank you."
"You're doing a great job washing them," Ren said easily. "No need to thank me for a simple compliment."
Riven stopped scrubbing. She looked up, her dark eyes locking onto his with heavy sincerity. "You know I'm not talking about the fruit."
Ren held her gaze.
"Do you remember my dream?" she asked softly.
"I remember," Ren said. "Which is why I should be the one thanking you."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Riven's lips. She picked up the freshly washed apple, took a crisp, deliberate bite out of it, and turned toward the door. "Task complete. I'm going back out."
Ren looked at the empty space where the apple had just been, sighed in amusement, and pulled another one from the crate to wash himself.
Just outside the kitchen door, Riven paused. She tilted her head slightly, a rare, sly glint flashing in her eyes as she chewed.
'I'm really not that stupid,' she thought, the sweetness of the apple lingering on her tongue.
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