Chapter 99: Realism Is Spelled ''L-E-G-I-E-L''

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Fundamens (Month 1) 3, 1617 Central Calendar

Tranquila District, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire

Among the many business establishments in the district that cater mostly to the youthful demographic of the Student Town, there is a newcomer that stands out as particularly intriguing. If not for the bright sign at the entrance, this store looked no different from a small minimalist restaurant. While it peddles warm meals suited for the winter months to both students and workers, an offering typical of many stores, what truly sets this place apart for this era is what it sells.

A man riding a certain white-and-gold autobike pulled up to this particular store just after sundown, entering with his helmet still on while casting a curious glance at its small but eye-catching storefront.

Inside, people already packed the admittedly cozy space. Among them were the familiar faces of three blonde and one brunette high school students from abroad who chatted and laughed over their steaming bowls. However, the new arrival chose not to acknowledge them, and the group likely didn't recognize him due to the dark visor of his helmet.

A dark-haired girl manning the counter greeted the helmeted man with a friendly smile that seemed to light up her entire face.

"Hello and welcome! Will you be dining in or taking it out tonight?" she asked.

"For takeout. Double original fried with egg topping."

"Alright, coming right up!"

After a few minutes of waiting, the girl returned to the counter with the man's order. She smiled again as she handed over the neatly packed takeout.

"Here you go. Double original fried noodles with egg topping, enjoy your meal, sir!" she said cheerfully, as if she had repeated the line countless times, given the store's apparent popularity.

"Thanks."

"May the Goddess bless your night!"

"Oh, which Goddess?" the helmeted man blurted innocently.

"Eh? W-what?"

"........."

The girl blinked in surprise at the sudden question. Her smile faltered, and for a split second, she was at a loss for words. Her brow furrowed as she tried to piece things together, and an awkward silence filled the space between them. She could feel the heat of her cheeks rising, both from confusion and a touch of embarrassment.

"Uh... well, um..." she stammered, her mind racing to recall something. "Which...? I mean, there's... isn't there only the Goddess... right...?"

While the girl's voice trailed off and she seemed to be clearly confused for some reason, the man quickly raised his hand in a placating gesture. "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to make things awkward. Thanks again for the food."

Without waiting for a reply, the man quickly paid, turned on his heel, and walked briskly toward the door. Moments later, he sped off on his autobike, disappearing into the urban sprawl of the Sleepless Magical City.

"What does that even mean...? Eh, weird customer," the girl wondered for a moment, shaking her head in bemusement as she returned to her work.

---

A type of food called 'instant noodles' wasn't meant to exist in this world until decades from now, when it emerged in a possible future timeline when the battlefront of the World War against the Gra Valkas Empire began to shift to the west. While the people of the Middle Lands had long been familiar with noodles as a centuries-old cuisine, the idea of creating an instant version that could be prepared in just two minutes with boiling water only arose after it was introduced by a certain country that appeared in the Far East and the Holy Milishial Empire started producing their own version of instant noodles.

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