novelraw Chapter 63: Gus’s Story
Chapter 63: Gus’s Story
Even after learning all that, Leon’s determination to head to the Calico Desert remained unchanged. After all, the newly acquired Prismatic Shard needed to be offered at the center of the three stone pillars in the open desert, in exchange for the most powerful weapon in the game—the Galaxy Sword.
Sharpening your blade doesn’t delay the chopping of firewood, and the strength of the Galaxy Sword was definitely worth the trip.
Mounting his bike once again, Leon took a leisurely ride around town before making a special stop at Evelyn’s house. He handed George, who was watching TV, a leek as thanks for letting him take the bike for free. Although George’s expression remained rather stiff, when he saw the leek in Leon’s hand, a reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
Leon politely declined Evelyn’s invitation to stay for lunch. At first, she was a bit upset—it was already her second time inviting him. But when she learned he already had plans to dine at the Starfruit Saloon, and that his companion was a single young woman from town, her attitude changed in an instant.
Before he left, Evelyn even gifted Leon a tulip from her own garden to give to the girl he was meeting.
Under Evelyn’s indulgent gaze, Leon walked away holding the tulip.
“Hey! Gus, I’m here again.”
As soon as he stepped into the Starfruit Saloon, Leon saw Gus as usual, polishing a glass. It was as if the saloon’s cups could never be completely cleaned.
“Leon, welcome! You’re always welcome here.” Gus greeted him warmly with a broad smile and gestured for him to sit. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’m inviting a young lady to lunch today. Got any recommendations?” Leon had been to Gus’s place several times, but since Gus changed his menu often, Leon didn’t know what was available today. He decided to leave the choice to Gus.“Oh? And who’s the lucky lady?” Gus leaned in with a curious smile, lowering his voice.
“Penny.” Leon didn’t bother hiding it—after all, she’d be here soon, and Gus would see for himself.
“Teacher Penny, huh? Let me think.” Gus paused for a moment.
“How about this: starter salad, main course root platter, parsnip soup, and cheesecake for dessert. Oh, and will you be having any wine?”
“No wine.” Leon wasn’t a drinker, and given Penny’s aversion to alcohol—thanks to her mother’s drinking problem—he wouldn’t order anything alcoholic. “Juice is fine.”
“Apple juice, then. Need me to change anything on the menu?” Gus confirmed.
“No, that’s fine. How much will it be?” Leon nodded and prepared to pay upfront to avoid any trouble later.
“One hundred and twenty,” Gus said.
The price made Leon frown—not because it was expensive, but because it felt cheap.
“Gus, that can’t be right.”
Leon enjoyed freebies as much as anyone, but only when they came without strings attached. Sometimes, what seemed like a bargain came with debts or traps waiting in the wings.
“It’s the discounted price,” Gus explained. “Maybe you don’t know, but my saloon has an unspoken rule: when a man and a woman dine together, I only charge twenty percent above cost.”
“We’re just friends,” Leon stressed.
“I know. That’s why you get the discount.” Gus countered with a grin. “If you were a couple, or married, I wouldn’t give you any discount at all.”
“Why?” Leon asked curiously.
Gus glanced around and saw no other customers coming in. “Since no one’s here right now, I’ll tell you a story.”
“I’m all ears.”
“When I was young, I worked in the kitchen of a top restaurant in the city as an apprentice. That’s where I met a girl who was working part-time to pay for school. I fell for her at first sight.”
A nostalgic smile appeared on Gus’s face. “She didn’t come often—only twice a week—but every time she did, I felt full of energy. The whole kitchen knew I liked her, though she seemed oblivious. We’d become friends by then, and she once told me she wished she could dine at the restaurant, but it was far too expensive. She figured it would be a long, long time before she could afford it.”
“So I started thinking of inviting her for a meal. But the prices were so steep, and my pay wasn’t great back then. I had to save up. Unfortunately, before I could, she graduated and stopped coming. Later, I found out she’d moved to another city for work, and I never got the chance to invite her.”
Gus’s voice softened with regret. “Years later, when I had become the head chef at that restaurant, I met her again one evening. But by then, she was wearing a wedding ring, dining with her husband. She congratulated me on becoming head chef, and I congratulated her on starting a family.”
He chuckled a little awkwardly. “Old-fashioned story, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Leon replied honestly.
“But it’s still one of my fondest memories. When I returned to Pelican Town and opened the Starfruit Saloon, I wanted to bring good food to the town that raised me—and, maybe, avoid those awkward memories. That’s why I made the rule. I don’t want another young man to miss his chance to invite a girl just because of the price.”
Gus looked Leon in the eye. “Now do you understand?”
“I get it.” Leon nodded. “But I still have to stress—we really are just friends.”
“Mm-hmm.” Gus’s reply was a little dismissive.
Leon was speechless. He tried again, half-joking: “If—and I mean if—I bring another girl here in the future, can I still get the discount?”
“Of course,” Gus replied without hesitation. “But if the girl is someone you’re already in a relationship with, then I’ll charge full price.”
“Heh. I’ll remember that, Gus.” Leon’s smile hinted at deeper meaning.
“Looking forward to seeing it,” Gus said, amused. “But remember—only when you bring one female companion.”
…
Among Pelican Town’s residents, aside from a few eligible bachelorettes and bachelors, most people’s backstories are pretty simple. So, I’ll be adding details here and there to flesh them out—not just to enrich the characters, but also to meet my word count. If you don’t like it, feel free to comment, and I’ll cut down on it in the future.