I Have a Task Log

Chapter 309: Chapter 308: A Nighttime Stroll

Colin studied her expression and movements.

Orelia looked almost exactly the same as before, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Otherwise, would a guy like me who’s used to gnawing on bread be eating this? The most expensive thing I’ve ever eaten is a meat roll from the docks," Colin said.

As he finished speaking, Orelia cheered, jumped off the bed, and ran over.

Colin calmly opened the box, cut the cake into slices, and the three of them began to eat it piece by piece right there in the room.

Orelia’s words and actions were the same as always.

But as Colin looked at her feet, which had turned into hooves, he couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t right... ’At the very least, I don’t think Orelia would accept reality this easily,’ he thought.

A moment later, while Orelia was in the washroom, Ale said to Colin, "I’m heading north because of the Dragon Worship Cult. I leave tonight."

"How long will you be gone?" Colin asked. "I already made plans with the Dwarf to go to the Undercity."

"Not long. Two or three days should be enough."

"Two or three days? That’s too short. You don’t have to rush," Colin said.

"That’ll be enough time," Ale said. "Have Orelia stay here for the next couple of days."

"Okay, I’ll look after her." Colin nodded.

"What are you two whispering about?" Orelia asked with a smile as she walked out of the washroom, her small hooves making a CLIP-CLOP sound on the floor.

After finishing the cake, the group went to the Black Heart Tavern for dinner with Kase and the others, and Ale took the opportunity to say her goodbyes.

Colin then walked Orelia back toward the apartment building.

After seeing her to Ale’s room, he returned to his own.

By the time he placed the last toy into the alcove, the room had grown much darker.

Colin looked back and saw that the sun had almost completely set.

He took a cup downstairs, got some hot water, and mixed in a few spoonfuls of the honey he’d acquired in the Supreme Forest. Then, he leisurely leaned against his bed, sipping the honey water and gazing at the trinkets in the alcove.

’Speaking of which, how long does that bear gallbladder wine need to steep before you can drink it?’ Colin wondered idly. He vaguely recalled it was supposed to take a few years.

After a while, he looked out the window again.

In the distance, the Southern District was brightly lit, while a few streets in the nearby Dock District also twinkled with light.

Colin thought for a moment, then swiftly put on his Armed Clothing, hung Burning Blood on his belt, grabbed two straps, and went downstairs to knock on the door to Ale’s apartment.

"Is something wrong?" Orelia asked, pulling the door open.

He hadn’t gotten a close look before, but now he noticed that the whites of her eyes had turned completely black, which looked quite strange.

"Want to go out and get a bite to eat?"

"What? But it’s already dark outside." Orelia pointed to the window in her room. "Even if today isn’t a fast day, I shouldn’t eat so much."

"You’ve been laid up for so long, it’s time to make up for all the meals you missed." Colin shrugged. "Besides, I’m pretty hungry."

"Well... all right."

"Put on your boots. I brought these down." Colin showed her the straps. He first stuffed some hay and other things into her boots, then tied the boots to the Tiefling’s legs.

It still looked a bit strange, but it would probably be hard to notice in the dark.

Once the disguise was complete, the two of them headed toward the taverns in the Dock District.

The City Guard didn’t usually patrol the Dock District at night, and the oil in the streetlamps had all been stolen. As a result, the two could only make their way through the dark alleys by moonlight—or rather, it was Colin, the human without Darkvision, who was fumbling in the dark.

Before long, they arrived at a particularly lively tavern.

A Wandering Poet next to the counter was busy singing bawdy tunes, and the tavern was filled with drunks, gang members, and Adventurers.

It was worth noting that many of them were Tieflings and Half-Orcs.

Colin led Orelia to an empty spot, waved at a busy tavern maid, and called out, "Two Thousand Masts Omelets and two beers."

Sitting across from him, Orelia curiously looked around.

"What are you looking at?"

"I didn’t realize there were so many Tieflings in Thousand Masts City, Mr. Colin."

"Most of the Tieflings in Thousand Masts City live in the sewers, so their schedules are different from the humans on the surface. Of course, it’s only at night that the city offers a space where they can relax freely without worrying about the stares of others," Colin explained.

Hearing this, Orelia quietly lowered her head.

"Remember those guys who traveled with us when we went to the White Tower? I doubt you’ve forgotten them. They were much weirder than any Tiefling."

As soon as he finished speaking, the busy tavern maid placed their food and beer in front of them. Colin took the opportunity to pull out some money and put it on her tray.

Orelia didn’t answer his previous question. Instead, she asked, "So this is a Thousand Masts Omelet? It must be a local dish."

"It’s a recipe that’s been passed down since Thousand Masts City was founded. Back then, Adventurers here had just discovered the Undercity beneath the city."

Colin said, "A lucky party of Adventurers found a piece of Magic Equipment in the Dungeon and sold it for several hundred Gold Coins. Elated, they rushed back to the surface, slapped down two Gold Coins, and demanded the tavern owner serve them his most expensive dish, threatening to wreck the place if they weren’t satisfied."

"Two Gold Coins?" Orelia was completely captivated by the story, her eyes wide as she stared at Colin.

"Two Gold Coins back then. After all, it was a hassle to ship supplies from the south. It’s much cheaper now."

Colin cleared his throat and continued, "The taverns here didn’t have much back then. The most expensive ingredients were eggs, oysters, and ham. So the tavern owner fried the ham in a pan to render the fat, then added the beaten eggs and oysters. And that’s how this omelet was born."

After speaking, Colin scooped up a spoonful of the omelet and put it in his mouth.

The fresh oysters and silky omelet practically melted in his mouth. With a slight press of his tongue, it slid down his throat, leaving just a hint of savory saltiness on his taste buds.

It was actually quite delicious. Washing it down with beer, the two of them quickly finished their food, bite by bite.

After their late-night meal, the two left the tavern and walked back toward the apartment.

Soon, they came to a narrow flight of stairs that only one person could use at a time. Colin went first, with Orelia following behind.

"Mr. Colin, I think Brother Lorraine from the Church is quite good," Orelia’s voice came from behind him.

The young woman said calmly, "He became a Cultivator in the same year I did, and he’s also able to use a Tier One Divine Skill. If you invite him, Brother Lorraine will definitely join you. After all, he was complaining to me last time that his party has been having a string of bad luck."