The two of us arrive at the town gates barely eight minutes later, both of us a little winded, though still with plenty of energy to spare. The two of us share a glance, which quickly turns into a glare and then an argument.

　　"Ha, Ash, looks like I won!" Sammy has her hands on her hip, somehow looking down upon me despite my eyes being at the same level as the top of her head.

　　"Three problems with that, Sammy. First, you took a head start. Secondly, you can`t just announce that the race has started without getting all the participants to agree and ready up. And third, and this is the most important thing, even with those first two handicaps, I recall that the race was still a tie!"

　　Sammy smirks. "Well, whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better. Anyway, that was fun. Shall we head inside?"

　　I`m left dumbfounded. What in the goddess`s name happened to quiet, demure Samantha Relford, patron saint of wallflowers, and who is this woman standing before me? This woman who has taken over Sammy`s body and yet, in her own way, still transfixes me with her spellbinding charm. Yet one more mystery to unravel, but for now, other, more immediate concerns demand my attention.

　　The city of Rotini, as a center for commerce in the region, is by far the largest city in this quadrant of the kingdom. Though, compared with the sprawling megalopolises of Earth, Rotini`s size and population are more reminiscent of a small suburb than a major city. Still, there`s plenty of opportunity to get some better gear and supplies, and maybe pilfer a few pieces of choice loot that I know about. My fingers twitch with glee at some of the offerings awaiting our dashing young heroine.

　　Though, for now, lunch is a higher priority, and Sammy leads the way. We pass through the central administrative district, and I catch a glimpse of a pair of large houses atop one of the hills on the northern edges of town. The homes of a couple of rich nobles with more dols than sense, whose houses are rich with useful equipment and weaponry, and whose nice open doors just invite me in and ask me to appropriate their effects for heroic purposes.

　　The aroma of some sort of cuisine breaks my chain of thought. Rich, savory, and delicious. My mouth waters at the smell, though, I can`t pinpoint exactly what it is. It`s sweet, filled with undertones of spiciness and citrus, a scent so powerfully sublime, so unlike anything that I`ve ever tasted before. I so much want to taste that delectable food, though I find myself gripped with the unpleasant worry that it`ll cost every dol I have and so much more. And yet, despite these fears, Sammy leads me further on, toward the source of that now omnipresent fragrance that`s filled every fiber of my being.

　　And we quickly arrive at its source - a small wagon in the middle of a park near Rotini`s residential district. Unfortunately, though not expectedly, there`s a substantial line of perhaps thirty people ahead of us, though Sammy smiles as she drags me with her to the back of the line.

　　"Did you know about this place?" I ask.

　　"Vaguely. It came up during the two days you were resting after our fight with the trolls in Rigatoni. I was helping a couple of travelers from the capital repair their wagons, and one of them mentioned that there was a small food vendor here in Rotini park called Wallack`s Wings & Things, and that if I ever traveled there, it would be a must-experience."

　　"Judging by the smell, I can believe it! Although, I`m not sure I want to know if I`m smelling the wings& or the things right now."

　　Sammy shakes her head. "Are you that hungry?"

　　"I was pretty hungry before, but after smelling this absolutely mouthwatering aroma, I can feel my stomach expanding, readying itself for a feast unlike any other."

　　She giggles. "I`ll take that as a yes. Anyway, is there anything you want to do after lunch?"

　　"Maybe go for a walk around town, do a little sightseeing? Perhaps we could split up and meet at a hotel later?" I decide against mentioning that I want to go on a bit of a treasure hunt around town; it`s perfectly allowed in-game and doesn`t result in any negative repercussions, but here in this new reality, I get the feeling she`d object.

　　The line moves quickly - about a person a minute, though not nearly as quick as I`d like. My stomach roars - sorry, not nearly as quick as I or my stomach would like. We do reach the front spot in the line eventually, and on Sammy`s advice, we each order a Wallack Special. It only takes half a minute before we`re given our food - 2,000 dols, though it seems like a bargain. I`m not quite sure what`s in it, and I`m not sure I want to know, but I do know I want to eat it.

　　And it`s delicious! I take a quick bite on the way over to a nearby bench, and instantly, I feel my soul separating from my body again. This is truly a dish crafted by divinity, one that I could die for. Correction - a dish that was worth dying for! The meat - I think - is juicy, perfectly cooked, seasoned to absolute perfection, with some sort of spicy honey citrus sauce glazed over it. And there are still yet more subtle flavors, seasonings with which I`m unfamiliar, ones which might not even exist on earth. My head spins, trying to parse through the harmonious undertones of all the different flavors. But my stomach cares not, compelling me to scarf down the food with a primal vigor even Sammy`s parents` feast could not hope to match.

　　"Are you okay?" Sammy asks. "Can you breathe?"

　　I`m snapped out of my trance and look around. Sammy has a look on her face conveying equal parts worry, intrigue, and disgust, and as I take a deep breath, she shakes her head and wags her finger at me.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author`s consent. Report any sightings.

　　"Ash. I know the food is good. I know it`s your first time and all. But, as a personal favor from one woman to another, would you please try to eat like you have some semblance of manners?"

　　My face turns red and my cheeks burn with embarrassment. It was good. A little too good. But thankfully, there don`t seem to be too many people around as the two of us sit on our bench and enjoy the quiet afternoon. The lunch rush has quieted and other than a few young kids and an elderly couple, the park has completely cleared out.

　　I take another deep breath, still trying to quell my embarrassment from earlier, before turning to Sammy. "By the way, I was thinking of taking a stroll around town. How would you feel about splitting up and then meeting back at a hotel for dinner and sleep?"

　　"Uh, no, Ash. Absolutely not!"

　　"Wha? Why not?"

　　"Because I know you, you dolt! The second I take my eyes off you, you`re going to go off and do something asinine. And probably illegal, too! And I can`t go adventuring with you any more if you end up thrown in a dungeon somewhere."

　　Sammy sighs. "You know, Ash, these past few days, I`ve had a lot of fun traveling with you. Sure, your fighting style is& unorthodox, to put it mildly. And half of what you do makes no sense. But, still, it`s nice being by your side. And I don`t want that to end anytime soon."

　　"Well, I`m going to go do some stupid things, yes. Which is why I want to do them alone. The last thing I`d want is for you to get caught up in any messes I cause. Because I do care about you."

　　"There`s no convincing you, is there? Even though I`ll remind you that it doesn`t make sense, that it`s unethical, immoral, illegal, what have you& You`re still going to do so anyway. You don`t have to answer that - your eyes already did. And don`t try to lie. You`re a terrible liar."

　　I wouldn`t say I`m terrible. But I would say that Sammy has a preternatural knack for seeing right through me. I lower my head in defeat. But Sammy, angel that she is, rubs her smooth, gentle hands along my own, sending a cooling, rejuvenating wind through me. Her new Heal spell?

　　"Just, make sure you take care of yourself, okay, Ash? I know I don`t want to know what you`re planning. But if you get yourself hurt, I swear to the goddess that I will finish the job! Do you understand me?"

　　"I do. And don`t worry. I know what I`m doing. Even when it doesn`t look like it." Well, most of the time, but I see no need to say that.

　　With a nod, I`m off. I make for the largest house in Rotini, a true sprawling estate at the top of a large hill, a mansion which would fit right at home in the glitziest neighborhoods back on Earth. Windows of rich stained glass create an awe-inspiring facade as I approach, and the refracting sunlight creates a holograph-like projection of epic battles from ancient myth, of human warriors facing off against demons and dragons alike in the far past. Ornate gardens surround the manor, filled with carefully trimmed bushes in the shapes of various heraldic beasts - a lion, a phoenix, and a wyvern, among others.

　　And the security, as expected, is all-but-nonexistent. I do my due diligence, looking around for any signs of pursuit, but encounter no resistance as I stroll right through the front entrance. A pair of maids greet me at the entrance, but with a smile and a nod, I pass right by and into the antechamber. And that`s all I have to do as I proceed along my path - a smile, a nod, and an air of confidence about me, just enough to lull the staff here into thinking I`m a new member of their team. Though I start pondering a couple of lies to spin if I am asked directly.

　　I wander the hallways, and before long, I reach my target - a small room along the northwest corridor of the second floor of the mansion. Nondescript on the outside, but inside, a wealth of valuables lies in wait for their new owner. Three treasure chests emitting a pale golden light. And my fingers twitch once more, eagerly anticipating the contents within.

　　Meteorite Iron (2)

　　Iron ore laced with trace amounts of rare, ultradense elements.

　　Provides minor protection when equipped. [Defense +3%] [Forgeable]

　　Experience Charm

　　A trinket which weakens its wielder during combat to enhance their growth.

　　[Attack -10%] [Experience Gain +25%]

　　Shining Blade

　　A sword whose light pierces all darkness.

　　[Attack +50] [Attacks Deal Light Elemental Damage]

　　I waste no time in equipping one of the Meteorite Irons and the Experience Charm and stow the Shining Blade for later. It has 20 less Attack than my current weapon, but it has much better prospects for being reforged later on once I get access to a few more materials. And I have a fallback weapon if I ever run into any other enemies that inexplicably have Ice immunity. Still a little salty about that fight earlier.

　　With no more reason to stick around and a lingering worry that I might be spotted, I leave the remaining items alone and take my leave of the mansion. Everything is going well, until I`m stopped at the manor`s entrance by a middle-age woman in a stereotypical maid outfit. I have to double-take at the outfit, at how unwieldy it looks and how it simply can`t have any functional value. Perhaps that`s just an aesthetic preference that transcends worlds. Though I don`t see it.

　　"Are you one of the new workers who started today?" she asks.

　　"No." I smile, preparing an appropriate tale. "I was merely summoned from the Banker`s Guild by Lord Carravius to deliver a few of his personal effects into storage."

　　"Normally, there is a team of staff here when that happens."

　　"Unfortunately, the guild was a bit understaffed, so I was sent alone. If you are concerned about his effects, please worry not. I may not look particularly tough, but I worked as an adventurer for several months, and I`m stronger than I look. Now then, if I may excuse myself, I have a busy schedule. A good day to you, ma`am, and please send regards to the lord when next you see him."

　　With a smile and a nod, I`m off and out of the mansion before anyone realizes that I`m no banker and certainly don`t have the lord`s best interests at heart. Well, I do, from a certain point of view. He probably does want the world to be saved from the Calamity. I find most of those snooty good-for-nothings like the world as it is. I`ll just consider my appropriations to be taxation. The world needs to pay the hero tax, a contribution to my adventuring efforts. Now then, it`s time to meet up with Sammy. The plot awaits.