Melina had a hard time concentrating on her work. She had <Mask of Deceit> activated the whole time, making her forced smile appear more natural. But she couldn't help but feel worried. Alistair had gone to fight off the monsters attacking Sunglow. He wasn't alone this time, he had the rest of the adventurers along with him.

But she still felt nervous, and Melina wasn't the only one. There were fewer customers than usual, and those who had come whispered among themselves. Usually, the atmosphere in the bakery was light and filled with happy chatter.

I thought that stabilizing the passageway would have made the monster attacks less frequent. But the passage may lead to a monster-rich region in the Monster Realm. If that's the case, then monster attacks would remain a constant threat to Sunglow. The only way to stop that would be to…

An image of a man with marble skin, pupilless blue eyes, and mist-like hair flashed in her mind, and she shuddered.

No, I cannot even think about that. I know it would lead the world to its doom once more. Humans will have to learn how to coexist with monsters—there is no other way.

"Melina, are you alright?" Erina asked. Melina realized that she had been staring into space for a while now, instead of counting the bread Erina had requested. The amount the innkeeper ordered had increased—apparently, she was getting more customers as the weather got warmer.

"Oh, sorry. There's just a lot on my mind," she said sheepishly.

"I bet! With that attack upon the town, who wouldn't be worried?" Erina said and sighed. "But I do feel better knowing that Lord Sinclair is there. He's a System user after all."

Being a System user doesn't make him immortal.

"I'm still worried," Melina muttered and resumed her count.

Erina paused and looked at Melina with a knowing grin. "Oh, of course you would be worried about him. After all, you ran straight into danger like his knight in shining apron!"

Melina froze, her heart pounding. She had expected people to talk about the incident, but she had no clue how much people knew. "What exactly did you hear?"

Erina chuckled conspiratorially and leaned in to whisper. "I heard that you sneaked out in the middle of the night to tame the monster that hurt Alistair with one of your tarts, just like you had with Sienna, and Lord Sinclair rushed straight after you!"

Melina narrowed her eyes at the innkeeper. Was that the only thing she had heard?

"I also heard that you were unable to tame the beast, and it attacked, but Lord Sinclair, despite his recent injury, overcame the monster and banished it back into the Monster Realm!" Erina gave Melina a knowing look. "You two are quite the pair. Risking your necks for one another."

"You're exaggerating. I just did what anyone else in my place would have done."

Erina's expression grew serious, and she grabbed Melina's shoulders firmly. "You must not let this man get away! A nobleman who rushes to protect you! Girl, he's like a blessing from the System itself. Grab onto him and NEVER let go."

"You're exaggerating…"

"Do. Not. Let. Go!" Erina gently shook Melina's shoulders, looking deep into her eyes. There was no chance for Melina to argue.

Melina removed her hands and returned to counting the bread. "Please, don't tell me that the whole town has been spreading this story."

"No, I'm not some rumor monger. But perhaps you really should try–"

"Stop it!" Melina said sternly, her voice cold.

"But Melina—"

"No! Nothing is going on between Lord Sinclair and me," Melina growled, and extended the boxes with Erina's order towards her. "Here."

Erina looked hurt by Melina's cold attitude. "Sorry. I might have pushed it a bit too much. It's just you two seem so perfect for each other."

"Life is not a fairytale, Erina." Melina turned her back towards the woman. "I need to get back to work."

But Erina put her hand on Melina's shoulder, forcing her to look back. She had a kind smile on her face. "Life may not be a fairytale, but it doesn't mean we should just give up on our dreams."

Melina wanted to object, but Erina shook her head. She understood that the innkeeper only wanted what was best for her. But it was impossible, and Melina would not harbor any delusions regarding Alistair like she had in the past.

"You know where my inn is in case you need my help," Erina said and left the bakery.

It was hard to remain still while Alistair was fighting. The fact that Remi had come to get him meant that the monster was formidable enough for the adventurers to need his help. She listened to every whisper from her customers, but unfortunately, the situation hadn't been resolved by the time the bakery closed. Nobody yet knew what had happened.

"Girl, do you really believe that your lordling can't even defeat a few monsters? He's not alone this time, you know," Gilbert grumbled, as both of them were cleaning the shop.

"They couldn't defeat Sienna," Melina noted, pointing at the wyrm who was hanging upside down on the ceiling. Lately, that had become her favorite spot, especially during shop opening hours. Children couldn't get to her up there.

"Oh, yes, they couldn't defeat an ember wyrm on the verge of evolution. You say that as if monsters like Sienna are a regular occurrence."

Melina had to concede there. Evolved monsters were quite a rarity in the Human Realm, and even if they did come here, it was more so by accident. They needed large amounts of food and experience to keep growing and to evolve further, something which was difficult for them to obtain in the Human Realm. If Sienna hadn't bonded with Melina, she would have undoubtedly tried to find a way back to Monster Realm.

But it was also a fact that evolved monsters, albeit lower-level ones, have been appearing more frequently around Sunglow. Melina was worried that one of these monsters might be attacking now.

"Melina," Gilbert grumbled, noticing her pondering. "You are not an adventurer. Not anymore."

This brought Melina out of her contemplation. "But I could still—"

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"Just because you have an ember wyrm familiar, it doesn't mean you have to solve every problem that arises in this town. Let the adventurers do their job, and you, in the meanwhile, focus on your job!"

Melina nodded, although the worry didn't lessen in the slightest. The shimmertart Melina had prepared for Alistair sat in the chill box, waiting for his return.

Maybe I could make something to help him recover from fatigue and possible injuries. There can never be too many healing items. Although the effect with feyfruit and mana alone would be very minuscule. I need some healing herbs.

"Master, do you need something from the apothecary?"

"Apothecary?" Gilbert asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, there are a few things I'd like to pick up there."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose since you're going, you might as well pick up my medicine. Let me get the doctor's receipt."

The old baker went upstairs and returned a few minutes later, carrying a small paper in his hand. "Heilia should know what I need, but give her this anyway. She likes to keep her paperwork perfect."

Melina took the little receipt, which had a list of medicines in it, as well as a doctor's seal and signature. She recognized one medicine, which was meant for arthritis, and one for nerve pain, but the remaining names were a mystery to her.

"Got it. I'll be back soon, so you don't have to worry about dough for tomorrow. I'll make it once I return."

"Don't rush me into retirement so quickly. I still want to make the bread I sell in my bakery," he grumbled, grabbing one of the large tubs they used for making dough.

Melina nodded and hurried away into town. The people seemed nervous, not fully able to focus on their daily tasks. Instead, they often stood together in groups and discussed what Melina assumed were the recent monster attacks.

They greeted her as she passed by, and some even extended greetings towards Sienna. A group of kids cheered as she passed by. "We have nothing to worry about, because we have Sienna."

"That's right! Nothing can beat Sienna."

"But she's so small," an older boy objected. "What can that little lizard do?"

Sienna got visibly offended at the remark, letting out a puff of smoke, but Melina pacified her with a gentle pat. She didn't stop to talk with the children, although their eyes were basically begging her to do so.

I've never been too good with children. They'd demand that I show them some magic, but whatever I showed them ended up either scaring them or scaring their parents, who'd later chase me down with lectures on what was appropriate to show to children.

Judging by how most parents have been eyeing Sienna with great suspicion, I assume a full-sized ember wyrm is among the things I shouldn't be showing to children.

In the apothecary shop, Heilia greeted her with a calculated smile, no doubt remembering how much Melina had spent on those reusable pads. In all honesty, Erina had been right—they were incredibly comfortable and so easy to clean that she had barely had to worry about the process. Also, Melina had a suspicion that they were imbued with magic that lessened the pain.

"Hello, dear customer. How may I help you today?" The elven apothecary asked.

"I came for Master Gilbert's medicine as well as a few herbs," she handed the receipt to Heilia, who accepted it without a second glance and pulled out a small bundle which she had no doubt prepared for Gilbert in advance.

"What herbs exactly?"

"Sunlily root, drakemint leaves, and phoenixfly wings, if you have them," Melina listed the ingredients used in healing potions. Or at least the ones she'd use. Newbies probably wouldn't be able to use these ingredients as they have to be properly prepared first. But Melina already knew how to prepare them, so it wasn't an issue.

"Of course, how much do you need?"

"Three of each should do."

"Very well. That will be a gold coin," Heilia said, deadpan.

She's trying to rip me off. These ingredients might seem unusual, but they are very common. I could probably find them in the nearby forests, but since I was forbidden from going out unaccompanied, I can't.

"That's way too expensive. 20 silver coins," Melina countered, activating her <Guilded Tongue> skill.

"It is a fair market price, dear customer," the elf said.

"I can pick them myself in the nearby forest. 20 silver coins."

"But it is dangerous outside the town. 90 silver coins."

We have entered the negotiation phase. But she seems like a tough cookie. Elves are not so easy to haggle with as humans.

After some back and forth, with one counterargument after the next, they agreed on the price of 45 silver coins. It was daylight robbery in Melina's opinion, but the elf wouldn't budge any further. She must have sensed that she wouldn't leave the shop without the herbs.

But Melina had gotten what she needed and returned to the bakery, only stopping for a moment to gaze at the faraway wall. Everything seemed calm, and there was nothing that would indicate any sort of ongoing battle. But even if everything looked calm, Melina's heart was anything but, so she hurried back to the bakery with the herbs in tow and a plan in her mind.

Once she returned, Melina got straight to preparing the dough for the next day, eager to get the work out of the way and get started with her experimental pastries. Gilbert did give her a suspicious glance, but in the end, didn't comment, probably satisfied by the fact that she had indeed returned instead of doing her "heroics" again.

After dinner, once all the daily tasks were complete, Melina remained in the kitchen and began her experiments.

"What are you going to do with those?" Gilbert asked, pointing at the ingredients she bought in the apothecary.

"Try to make a healing pastry," Melina said as she took the drake mint, rolled it up, and squeezed the juice out using a rolling pin. New mages made the mistake of using the whole leaf in the potion when only the juice was needed. The kitchen instantly was filled with the strong scent of mint.

"A healing pastry?" Gilbert asked, looking over the ingredients. Melina noticed something akin to amusement on his face. "Good luck with that."

"You think it'll fail."

"Oh, I know it'll fail."

"How so?"

"Don't think you're the first one who has tried to put the nasty healing medicine in a more pleasant package. But don't let me stop you. Go ahead and make it and see for yourself," the old baker snorted, and hobbled outside, probably to take care of Knight.

Others may have failed, but they weren't [Archmages] with extensive knowledge about alchemical ingredients, were they now?

Melina smiled to herself and transferred the juice from the mint leaves into a small bowl. There wasn't a lot of it, but she didn't need much—it was very potent even in small doses.

Next, she got the phoenixfly wings, threw them into a stone bowl, and then ground them into fine powder with a pestle. It shimmered ever so slightly, indicating its good quality. Finally, she took the sunlily roots, threw them in a pot, and boiled them for about fifteen minutes. Once that was done, she peeled the roots and mashed them together with the water they were boiling in, getting a sort of gloopy mash.

"Now that these are prepared for the maximum healing potential, all that's left to do is to turn them into a pastry, and I just got the idea how to do it!" She said to Sienna, who was sniffing at the sunlily gloop. Judging by the loud snort that came from the wyrm, she was not a fan. "Don't worry, they should taste much better once we are done."

Melina's idea was rather simple—she started by making a dough from sunlily mash. It was a bit tricky balancing it with yeast, flour, and water, but after a few tries, she got a rather good consistency, which she made sure to infuse with mana.

With the dough resting, she made strawberry jam and mixed the drakemint juice into it. The whole time the jam was cooking, Melina was infusing it with mana with the strong intention of healing. The smell that came from it was delightful, and even Sienna seemed a bit interested in it.

"These buns will be my best creation yet!" Melina said resolutely and checked on the dough. It had risen nicely, so she rolled it out just like she would with her pear roll dough.

With the dough rolled out, she cut it into squares and placed a dollop of strawberry-drakemint jam inside. Once all the rolls were closed and shaped, Melina whisked a few eggs together with phoenixfly wing powder and used the phoenixfly eggwash to coat her rolls.

"Let's use <Haste Bake> to make them faster," Melina said excitedly after putting her creations in the oven. The kitchen smelled strongly of strawberries and mint, so she was sure that the end result would be delectable.

[You've made <Healing Strawberry Roll – Rank E. You've gained + 5 exp.]

"Oh, Sienna! I did it! It even has "healing" in the name. The rank is a bit low, so it could still be improved, but it's a good start," she cheered.

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