Roland was designing the medal patterns for tomorrow's award ceremony. Normally, this wouldn't be such a big deal and should have been done long ago, but he's been feeling restless since the afternoon.
To be precise, after the nightingale had kissed him.
Though he had sensed it vaguely before, the other party never made it clear, so he hesitated to speak up. Now that it was beyond doubt, how should he respond to their feelings?
The Nightingale's predicament made him realize he didn't resent her at all—indeed, he felt a tinge of self-satisfaction. Who could possibly despise a woman of such beauty and composure, who shared his daily life? Roland's inability to respond directly stemmed from two decades of ingrained beliefs, the realities he would face, and... Anna's thoughts. Above all, he couldn't ignore her and act solely on his whims.
Perhaps these answers can only be answered by time.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in, it's unlocked," Roland called out, surprised—who'd come to the office at this hour?
Anna entered with a push, holding two plates in one hand and a clay pot in the other. Before she could speak, Roland had already caught the enticing aroma.
"Food?" "Hmm," Anna said with a smile, setting the plate on the table. She then removed the bowl from the earthenware jar and poured out the milky broth. "This is honey-roasted mushrooms. One dish is mine, another by Nightingale, and the jar holds mushroom soup seasoned with common herbs." "It looks delicious," Roland said, licking his lips. "You should join us." Anna nodded and sat down across from him.
"Where's the Nightingale? Why hasn't she come?" "She said... she doesn't know what expression to wear when she sees you," she replied. "I don't quite understand why she cares about that." "..." Roland sighed softly to himself. Though he spoke with righteous indignation, showing no regret and boldly declaring, "It's not your fault—I just did what I wanted to do," his actual state was no better than a squirrel daring to peek out of a hole. Honestly, was this boldness or cowardice? "Well, let's eat first." He picked up a mushroom and popped it into his mouth. The honey's sweetness melted instantly, followed by the mushroom's natural juices. In an era without MSG, the rich flavor was jaw-dropping... A pinch of salt enhanced its umami, and finally, the mushroom's chewy texture—delicate yet resilient—left nothing to be desired.
"These... aren't regular mushrooms?" Roland swallowed and immediately noticed their uniqueness. Most mushrooms barely stay crisp after grilling, so how could they be naturally juicy? They weren't even boiled.
"Well, it's a specialty of the Hidden Forest, locally called the' Bird Kiss Mushroom '," Anna explained with a smile, tracing the mushroom's origin. "That's exactly why I wanted you to try it." Roland sampled another mushroom used in the soup—equally delicious, but with far more liquid, making it feel like eating a soup bun. The chewy texture added a crisp crunch. This long-lost flavor reminded him of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a versatile seasoning that became ubiquitous in later cooking. Before its discovery, chefs could only indirectly enhance flavors through methods like simmering whole chickens, bones, mushrooms, and soybeans. While modern cooks prefer to showcase their culinary artistry through authentic flavors, it's undeniable that even a novice chef can elevate a dish by adding MSG, creating layers of complexity.
If the bird's-nose mushroom were naturally succulent, it would be the perfect material for flavor extraction. Growing on trees and hard to harvest, this is why it hasn't been widely promoted? But for Roland, none of this is an issue.
"Are these mushrooms plentiful?" "I'm not sure... but there must be plenty," Anna munched on a bite. "Macy said she only flew around the forest's edge once and brought back a big bag for me." "That's good news," Roland said, finishing Anna's grilled mushroom slices with a crisp bite. He reached for another plate. "I was worried the meat patties would be either peppered or honeyed—almost too much to eat—phew." "What's wrong?" "Nothing..." Tears welled up in his eyes. Oh no, this was way too salty. Had the Nightingale accidentally dropped it in the salt jar? Still, he swallowed the mushroom. Roland later noticed the rest were either burnt or undercooked, with one side charred and the other half-raw. Fortunately, the Bird's Kiss mushrooms were naturally delicious, more than making up for her clumsy cooking.
"I... I'm full," he said, setting down his chopsticks. After struggling through the second plate and downing the soup, his stomach was already bloated. "Thank you." "Oh, and Nightingale," Anna said with a laugh that was utterly adorable, and Roland couldn't help but pinch her nose. She let out a soft whimper and leaned in to kiss Prince's cheek. "Then I'll wash the dishes. Remember to go to bed early." Roland let out a sigh of relief as the Witch left.
Though he couldn't ignore Anna's feelings... some things were just too hard to say. He thought wistfully—perhaps it was because of his robotic dog identity. Throughout his academic years, he'd barely interacted with the opposite sex. Even after landing a lucrative position at a major design firm post-graduation, that fundamental reality remained unchanged.
Fortunately, there's still a long way to go before we can completely dismantle the Church, so he can take his time to figure out what to do next. For now, he should focus on getting the job done.
...
The next morning, when Roland climbed onto the makeshift wooden platform set up in the square, the area was already packed with people.
Border Town has undergone a complete transformation compared to its former desolate and impoverished state, and it's no exaggeration to say it's been completely revitalized.
The town's scattered old houses have been completely demolished, replaced by construction sites everywhere and uniform brick houses—all built according to the overall community plan. At first glance, the layout appears orderly—though it occupies only one-third of the town's land, it is sufficient to accommodate the original two thousand residents.
With the construction of third-and fourth-floor residences and subsequent neighborhood developments, the same plot of land will see its population steadily grow. Currently, the name "Border Town" hardly reflects the reality—no small town can boast a population of nearly 20,000 and a professional army of 600 soldiers. He plans to officially upgrade this area to a full-fledged city by next spring.
Roland's voice quickly silenced the crowd, thanks to his remarkable echo control.
Today marks the inaugural award ceremony of Border Town, honoring and inspiring those who have made monumental contributions to this land. It has been nearly six months since my arrival, during which we defeated the evil beasts, overcame the Duke, and built this town into its present form. Many have devoted themselves to this cause, among whom are several exceptional individuals—neither nobles nor wealthy merchants, but ordinary people like you before serving me! "He surveyed the crowd and declared loudly," Now they shall receive generous rewards! Among them are a medal forged by my own hand, a hundred golden dragons, and five acres of land!" The news sent ripples through the crowd. Even without mentioning the medal and land, the mere one hundred golden dragons represented an enviable sum.
"This ceremony won't be a one-time event—henceforth, an annual award ceremony will be held. Regardless of birth or wealth, anyone with exceptional achievements will receive this highest honor!" As Roland finished speaking, the simulated cannon fire from the echo system instantly filled the venue. Amidst the continuous roar, Iron Axe, Kaimoschuir, and Nana Wa Pien, escorted by the First Army, ascended the wooden platform.