Translator: CinderTL
"Don't say things like 'farewell dinner'..."
Roland stepped forward and gently flicked the elf girl's smooth forehead.
"It sounds like this is our last meal together."
"Hehe..."
Avril rubbed the small red mark on her forehead, then leaned in close, her breath almost brushing Roland's cheek.
"Roland, are you... worried about me?"
Her gaze locked onto Roland's face, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she tried to catch every subtle shift in his expression.
But Roland's next words caught her slightly off guard.
"Of course."
Roland answered without hesitation, meeting the elf girl's probing gaze.
Though Avril's motives for getting close to him remained a mystery, their time together had convinced Roland she meant no harm.
Moreover, her decisive willingness to join him in clearing out demonic beasts without a second thought had already cemented her place in his heart as a true friend.
With that, Roland beckoned Avril to follow and turned to head straight for his room.
Seeing this, Avril casually waved goodbye to Hoby and followed him with light steps.
Inside the room, Roland retrieved an exquisitely crafted waist pouch from a wooden cabinet and placed it on the table.
"These are some potions I've concocted. They're not particularly potent, but they might prove invaluable in a pinch. And..."
As he spoke, he began laying out the items he had prepared one by one.
"This is a leather armor custom-made to your measurements."
"I originally considered forging sturdier chainmail or plate armor, but given your fighting style, I opted for flexible leather instead. In addition to that..."
The items on the wooden table gradually piled up into a small mountain.
Avril watched Roland's retreating figure as he continued to retrieve items, gently biting her lower lip. The bright, slightly feigned cheerfulness in her eyes quietly faded away.
In its place flowed an indescribable, softer, more complex emotion, silently streaming through her gaze as she watched him.
Roland remained oblivious to the complex emotions swirling in the elf girl's eyes.
He merely stroked his chin, scrutinizing the items piled on the table.
"Hmm, this should be about right... Wait!"
As if suddenly remembering something, he strode to a corner of the wooden cabin.
When he turned back, he was holding a brand-new longbow.
"I've observed your combat style. Compared to a shortbow, this longbow will allow you to leverage your strength more effectively."
With these words, Roland handed the longbow to her.
Avril took the longbow, her fingertips tracing the smooth, warm wood as her eyes meticulously examined it.
The longbow was substantial, meticulously crafted from premium dark purple heartwood.
The wood grain flowed seamlessly across the polished surface, radiating a warm, lustrous sheen.
The limbs weren't simply curved; they formed a crescent-shaped arc that exuded a powerful, elegant beauty, perfectly suited to the elf's drawing technique.
The grip was wrapped in supple leather, fitting snugly against every contour of her palm as if custom-made for her hand.
The tips of the bow were sharply defined, inlaid with subtly shimmering silver filigree.
"The craftsmanship..."
Avril gently plucked the bowstring, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
"Roland's forging skills are even more remarkable than I thought."
As the elf girl marveled inwardly, her gaze suddenly landed on the inner side of the bow, near the grip. Her breath hitched.
There, etched clearly and solemnly, were prominent words:
Avril Starwhisper.
Each letter was deeply and fluidly carved, bearing an unmistakable mark of personal ownership.
A warmth surged through Avril's heart, but her expression remained unchanged. She merely exhaled slowly, maintaining her usual playful smile.
Yet the slight dryness in her voice betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Roland, did you... did you make all this specifically for me?"
"Of course," Roland replied with a gentle nod.
Thanks to the Blacksmith's Guild's abundant resources, he had used his own funds to forge various tools while honing his Basic Forging Technique, Avril's longbow being one of them.
"So..."
Seeing the youth's open and honest expression, Avril awkwardly averted her gaze, tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. She was about to say something more when Roland's words interrupted her.
"Though your longbow was probably one of the simpler pieces to forge."
As he spoke, Roland retrieved two more items from the corner: a brand-new harp and a slender longsword that gleamed with a cold light in the sunlight.
"Theresa's rapier was incredibly difficult to forge due to its thin blade. As for Galvis..."
Roland shook his head helplessly, recalling the bard's numerous demands.
"That guy had the most requests. I think next time..."
Hum!
Just as Roland was complaining, a crisp twang of a bowstring suddenly rang out beside his ear.
"Uh..."
He turned to see Avril standing with her head slightly bowed, her expression hidden.
Though he didn't understand what had happened, Roland instinctively sensed something was amiss. His voice softened as he asked cautiously, "Avril, is... is there something wrong with the longbow?"
"There's nothing wrong with the longbow. I love it. It's just that..."
The elf girl lifted her head, her eyes regaining their usual bright sparkle.
"I'm feeling particularly hungry today, so I want to eat a lot of things. Like..."
Avril rattled off a long list of dishes before pausing, smiling.
"As my farewell dinner before I leave for war, I think Roland... you'll grant my request, right?"
"Well..."
Roland recalled the lengthy list of dishes and frowned in confusion.
"Avril, when did your appetite become like Theresa's...?"
Before he could finish, the crisp twang of a bowstring echoed through the air.
Seeing this, Roland instinctively swallowed the rest of his sentence and nodded gently.
"No problem. But preparing so many dishes might take... longer than usual."
"That's fine."
Avril patted Roland's shoulder lightly, tilting her head playfully.
"I won't be leaving until tomorrow morning, so I have no plans for tonight. I can wait patiently."
The moment the words left his lips, the elf girl's gentle pats suddenly intensified into a heavy punch.
Thump!
After the muffled thud, the elf girl ignored Roland's wince of pain and turned to leave the room.
"What's with her... she was perfectly fine just a moment ago?"
Roland gently rubbed his aching chest and shook his head in exasperation.
"Is the pressure of the Wolf King subjugation mission really this overwhelming?"
After tidying up, Roland headed to the kitchen.
Despite Avril's extensive menu, his exceptional cooking skills allowed him to present all the dishes perfectly on the dining table.
As twilight deepened, Galvis returned from the banquet, and Theresa arrived from her training.
The courtyard soon filled with lively conversation and laughter.
After dinner, Roland quickly cleaned up, then collapsed onto the soft bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next morning, after seeing Avril off, Roland set out for the port.
(End of the Chapter)
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