It was a standard two-layer cake, about twenty centiters in diater. It was covered in an even layer of white cream and topped with a few bright red strawberries. The overall look was simple yet full, almost indistinguishable from the exquisite cakes Colin had seen before he ca to this world.
After the clerk packed the cake into a box, Colin carried it and headed out of the city with Ale.
Along the way, the Half-Elf would occasionally ask strange questions, like how to greet the city’s residents, and Colin would offer a brief response now and then.
The two of them soon arrived at the sewer entrance.
Dorn, bald with a white beard, was still standing lazily by the entrance.
"Is Orelia here?"
"She went in a few hours ago." Dorn’s expression changed. "Wait... why is there a Half-Elf with you?"
"She was with last ti, too. Didn’t you notice?" Colin said, glancing back at her.
"Wasn’t I busy picking a lock that day? And then I was looking at your Magic Equipnt. I didn’t have ti to notice so little forest sapling. Besides, I don’t like her high-and-mighty attitude, acting as if I’m so sewer rat instead of a proper Dwarf!" After saying his piece, Dorn muttered sothing in Dwarvish, clearly annoyed.
Colin could definitely relate.
Even now, he could sense that Ale didn’t quite see him as an equal. ’It must be an ingrained Elven mindset,’ he thought, ’not sothing that can be changed in a day or two.’
"Short Person," Ale said suddenly.
Colin glanced over and saw the Half-Elf pressing her lips together, looking angry.
At her words, Dorn’s entire face flushed red, looking just like the strawberries on the cake.
He demanded, "What did you say?"
’Short Person? Is that a slur for Dwarves?’
Colin was a little confused. ’Doesn’t Dorn usually ignore this kind of thing? Why did he get so bent out of shape all of a sudden?’
He couldn’t help but ask, "What does that an?"
"A long ti ago, when Dwarves first made contact with humans, translation practices were very direct and sloppy. They used to call themselves ’Short Person’ in the Common Language," the Half-Elf explained, her cheeks puffed out indignantly. "That lasted until they discovered the term ant ’a person of short stature’ in the Common Language, which wasn’t a complint. So they specifically created the word ’Dwarf’ in the Common Language instead."
’So that’s the story behind it. Does that an Dorn doesn’t usually get angry because no one’s been insulting him correctly?’
After explaining, Ale turned to tattle to Colin. "What he just said in Dwarvish ans, ’No hair on your lip, you’re fated to eat shit.’ It’s a standard racial slur, and it’s aid at Elves!"
Colin cleared his throat twice.
He stepped in to smooth things over. "Okay, you’ve each insulted the other once, so you’re even. Besides, you’re the one who insulted him first."
Hearing this, Dorn, who also felt he was partly in the wrong, imdiately lost his bluster.
The Dwarf crossed his arms, huffed twice, and fell silent, leaning against the wall.
With the argunt settled, Colin cleared his throat and led Ale into the sewer.
They walked all the way to the training area.
Orelia was indeed there, practicing her Shield techniques with Langgrin. Or rather, the Tiefling was holding up a Shield and taking a one-sided beating.
"I brought the cake! Why don’t you take a break?"
At Colin’s call, Orelia imdiately threw her hands up in surrender, tossed her gear aside under Langgrin’s resigned gaze, and ran over to Colin.
The young Tiefling put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and said proudly, "Colin! Colin! I’ve made progress with my Divine Arts recently!"
"Is it because of that matter Edwin arranged?"
"That’s right, Colin." Orelia reverted to her usual timid deanor. "I can use Divine Arts three tis now! If any of you get hurt in the future, I can heal you. Aren’t you going to praise ?"
"Okay, okay, that’s very impressive," Colin said with a laugh. "On that note, I got a little injured while playing teacher just now. Can the amazing Orelia help heal ?"
"Very impressive," Ale parroted from the side.
"Hee hee." Orelia giggled shyly, but then her expression turned serious. "You need to be more careful, Colin!"
As they chatted, she recited a prayer and healed Colin’s injuries.
Just then, Langgrin walked over as well.
He glanced at Ale, then looked at Colin and asked, "Are you here to ask about the equipnt?"
"Yes. And while you’re at it, could you grab the plates and cutlery?"
Langgrin teased him, "What do you think this is, a park for a picnic? I’m amazed you have the stomach to eat anything down in the sewer."
"Then you should ask yourself why you were able to host a party here."
With that, Colin lifted the lid off the box, revealing the strawberry cake inside.
"Wow, this must be one of the super expensive ones, Colin." Orelia clasped her hands behind her back and lowered her head, looking a bit sheepish. "I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear... I actually ant the kind that’s just a small slice for a few Copper Coins..."
"I didn’t plan on you eating it alone. This is enough for six people," Colin said.
"I get a share too? Alright then, I’ll go get Donkexes and the others."
Langgrin said before scurrying off on his short legs to find the cutlery.
A little while later, Donkexes and a still-fuming Dorn walked over.
Colin cut the cake and gave everyone a piece.
After handing out the slices, he eagerly took a bite of his own piece.
The cream on the cake was dense and rich, leaving an almost buttery feeling on his lips. The cake layer itself was perfectly fluffy, and combined with the tart sweetness of the strawberries, it instantly cut through the cream’s richness.
He wasn’t sure if it was because he hadn’t eaten anything decent in so long or sothing else, but for a mont, Colin thought this cake was even more delicious than the ones he’d had before coming to this world.
"Colin, my boy, your Armor is going to take a while longer," Donkexes said. "We’ve finished translating the Scroll, though. Now you just need to know the pronunciation to cast the spell on it."
Colin nodded. "That works."
"But there’s another way to use this Scroll."
While eating his cake, Colin looked up at Donkexes, gesturing for him to continue.
"You can use the Scroll to learn the Object Positioning Skill spell."
Colin quickly asked, "So how do I learn it?"
"That’s going to cost you. To learn this spell, you need to buy a Gemstone that’s been appraised by the Divine Hall of the Goddess of Wealth—a Gemstone worth fifty gold coins. There are other materials as well. In total, it will cost you one hundred Gold Coins."
Colin’s head throbbed just hearing that.
Knowing Colin’s stingy nature, Donkexes explained, "A Magic Scroll records the frawork and Magic Power needed to make a spell function, but it’s incomplete compared to the full version of the spell found in a Spellbook.
"Therefore, if you want to learn a spell from a Scroll, you need to use Gemstones to help your mind resonate with the Magic Net. Once you’ve done it this first ti, you’ll be able to learn from any other Magic Scrolls you find on your own."
"I get it," Colin sighed.
"So, what’s your plan?"
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