MTLNOVEL Chapter 24: The Outing
The restaurant was alive with sound and energy, packed with patrons seated at wooden tables, the air thick with the rich aromas of roasted meats, simmering stews, and exotic spices.
Laughter and conversation wove together into a warm, comforting hum, the kind that made the world outside feel distant—if only for tonight.
In a private room off to the side, Oliver, Dante, Tariq, Aiko, and their host, Lina, sat around a polished table, comfortably separated from the lively chaos beyond.
They had just placed their orders, and as they waited for their meals to arrive, the conversation naturally drifted toward strategy—though there was little to actually discuss.
The tournament was still in its 1v1 phase, meaning each match was a test of individual prowess rather than team coordination.
With tactics temporarily set aside, their discussions gave way to banter. Dante boasted about his "flawless victory," Tariq speculated on his next opponent, and Aiko, ever reserved, only spoke when directly addressed.
Lina, however, had a knack for keeping the conversation flowing, her natural charisma making even the occasional pause feel intentional rather than awkward.
Their food arrived soon enough, and for all their talk of combat, nothing compared to the sight of steaming plates set before hungry warriors.
Oliver's plate held a perfectly seared wyvern steak, resting atop a bed of garlic-butter vegetables, accompanied by honey-glazed root fries. Each bite was tender, rich, and bursting with flavor.
Dante had gone for something absurd as usual—a towering triple-stacked chimera burger, dripping with sauce, cheese melting between layers, a small mountain of crimson spiced fries piled beside it.
Tariq's meal was an impressive seafood platter, boasting grilled serpent eel, spicy firecrab claws, and a mysterious black fish with scales that shimmered faintly under the room's light.
Aiko opted for simplicity, yet her portion was shockingly large—rice bowls stacked high with tender teriyaki beast strips, paired with a side of miso soup. She ate with quiet efficiency, unfazed by the sheer amount of food in front of her.
Lina's dish was the most refined: a grilled phoenix breast plated with saffron-infused rice, drizzled with golden berry sauce—the kind of meal fit for someone with status and connections.
For a while, they ate in comfortable silence, savoring each bite.
Oliver, in particular, found himself utterly absorbed in the meal.
Since arriving in the Main World, his diet had been anything but luxurious—starting with the system's basic bread and water, followed by tough, gamey monster meat during his travels, and eventually the serviceable but uninspired fare at the Purehaven inn.
But this—this was the best meal he'd had since coming here.
As the last bite of wyvern steak melted in his mouth, Oliver leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
"I need to enjoy myself more," he thought, staring at his empty plate. "Life isn't all about battle. Maybe I'll go hunting this weekend—just for fun. Blow off some steam."
When the meal was over, Lina paid the bill without hesitation.
Her casualness raised a few eyebrows—Oliver, in particular, found himself wondering where her funds came from.
Was it the system? But Lina offered no explanations, and no one pressed the issue further.
One by one, the others filtered out, leaving only Oliver and Lina behind.
He shifted in his seat, curiosity gnawing at him.
There was so much he wanted to ask her—so much he didn't understand. And now, with just the two of them, he finally had the chance.
"Alright," Oliver said, leaning forward, his tone both curious and cautious. "I've got questions, and I'm hoping you've got answers."
Lina smiled, gesturing for him to go ahead.
****
3 years ago, at St.Maria orphanage.
The rain poured relentlessly that day, each droplet a cold reminder of the somber atmosphere enveloping the orphanage.
Lina stood at the entrance, draped in a meticulously chosen outfit, luggage in hand, ready to depart from the place that had been her refuge.
Her eyes, once vibrant with empathy, now seemed distant, haunted by thoughts of what could have been if not for the tragedy of the stillborn calamity.
As she stepped out, the heavy door creaked, revealing Oliver standing just beyond the threshold.
His body bore fresh injuries, a testament to the battles he faced both within and outside the orphanage's walls.
But today, Lina's gaze barely acknowledged his wounds—her mind was elsewhere.
"You're leaving," Oliver's voice cut through the sound of the rain, half a statement, half a question.
Lina nodded, her grip tightening on the handle of her suitcase. "It's time," she replied, her tone devoid of the warmth he once knew.
Oliver searched her face, seeking some trace of the nurturing spirit that had cared for so many. But all he found was a mask of resolve, concealing the depths of her pain.
"Will you come back?" he asked, the vulnerability in his voice betraying his usual stoicism.
Lina's eyes flickered—just for a moment. A glimpse of hesitation. Then, softly, she whispered, "I don't know."
She turned away, shielding her face from view, and walked off into the rain.
Years later, in the quiet of the private room, Oliver's curiosity finally found its voice.
"Where did you go after you left the orphanage?" he asked, his gaze locked onto Lina, searching for answers to questions that had lingered for too long.
Lina exhaled slowly. "I traveled," she said. "Searching for any way to escape the fate of the calamity but all I found out was one can never escape the calamity."
Oliver hesitated before voicing the question that had haunted him. "And the father? Who was he?"
A shadow passed over Lina's face. "I don't know," she admitted. "It was a one-night stand."
Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Oliver leaned back, watching her carefully. "So… how did it happen?"
Lina swirled the remnants of her drink before setting the cup down.
"You know, when you're young, people tend to fall into two categories. Some people plan for the future, thinking ten steps ahead, making careful decisions. Others? They just want to enjoy life while they can. I was part of the latter."
She paused, eyes distant.
"It was a friend's party—meant to be just a fun night. But I had one too many drinks, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in a hotel room. Alone. No memory of what happened."
Oliver frowned, his fingers tapping idly against the table. "Most people in that situation would have—"
"Gotten rid of it?" Lina interrupted, her voice calm, yet edged with something sharp. "Yeah. That would've been normal. No one would've judged me. But I wanted to keep it."
Oliver's expression darkened. "If you were going to keep the child, you should've at least tracked down the man responsible. He should have taken responsibility for you both."
Lina shook her head. "No. I didn't want to find him."
"Why?"
Her eyes darkened. "Because a man who could sleep with someone, then leave them alone and defenseless… wasn't someone I wanted in my life. Or my child's."
Oliver sat in silence, absorbing her words. The weight of her past—of her choices—settled between them, unspoken yet undeniable.