CHAPTER 168: THE REOPENING

The sun was just beginning to crest over the rooftops of Elandra when the aroma of sizzling meat and frying potatoes began to drift into the cobbled streets of the western plaza. It mingled with the morning air like a siren call, tugging at the noses—and stomachs—of passersby.

The building wasn’t grand. Inigo hadn’t wanted it to be. It was compact and charming, made of red stone and wood beams, with a slanted shingle roof and wide windows. Above the entrance, a wooden sign hung proudly with the painted words: Mcronald’s — Burgers and Fries.

Inside, the layout was tight but functional. A wooden counter with a brass bell stood in front of a modest kitchen visible through an open service window. Eight small tables lined the dining area, each made of sturdy local oak. A painted chalkboard on the wall listed the menu:

Burger + Fries Combo – 5 coppers

Double Burger Meal – 7 coppers

Adventurer’s Feast (2x burgers, large fries) – 10 coppers

Morning Fried Egg Rice Bowl – 4 coppers (available until 10 a.m.)

Add egg – 1 copper

Add soda – 2 coppers

Behind the counter, Inigo wore a dark red apron and a short-sleeved tunic, his hair tied back. Lyra stood beside him, arms crossed and a rare smirk on her face, also wearing a matching apron—though hers had a dagger tucked discreetly at her hip.

"Doors open in ten minutes," Inigo said, glancing at the small wall clock they’d installed. "You ready?"

Lyra raised a brow. "To cook burgers for half the city? Not really."

"Too late. You’re employee number one."

"I demand hazard pay."

"You’ll get a burger after your shift."

She rolled her eyes but grinned. "Fair enough."

Their two hired staff—a pair of local teens named Riko and Maddy—stood nervously behind them, wiping down trays and double-checking that the condiments were stocked.

"Remember," Inigo said, turning to the pair, "you take the orders, repeat them back clearly, and always smile. We’re not just selling food—we’re giving people something to remember."

Riko nodded quickly. "Yes, sir!"

"Sir?" Inigo echoed, laughing. "No need for that. Just call me Inigo."

Lyra leaned in. "But do call me ’Commander.’"

The teens paled for a second, until they saw her grin and realized she was (mostly) joking.

Outside, a small crowd had already begun to gather. The rumors had spread fast—Mcronald’s was back. Adventurers who remembered the stall months ago were now returning with their guildmates. Locals who’d caught the scent of cooking meat were drifting in, curious and hungry. Even a few off-duty guards had stopped by, lured in by the promise of "foreign food that actually tastes good."

Inigo took a breath and pushed open the door.

"Alright!" he called. "We’re open!"

The crowd surged forward—not like a riot, but like a stream, everyone trying to be first in line. Riko and Maddy sprang into action, manning the front with shaky confidence. Inigo stepped into the kitchen, tossing patties onto the grill with practiced rhythm, while Lyra dropped baskets of chopped potatoes into the bubbling fryer.

The sound was glorious—crackling oil, sizzling meat, and the soft shuffle of feet as the tables filled one by one.

"Two double burgers, one with egg!" Riko called.

"On it!" Inigo flipped a patty. "Lyra, fries up!"

"Already frying."

He layered cheese, added lettuce and sliced tomatoes, then slid the buns together and wrapped them in wax paper. He handed them off just as Lyra emptied a golden batch of fries into the tray.

"Next!"

By mid-morning, the pace hadn’t slowed. If anything, it had picked up.

"We’re out of eggs!" Lyra shouted over the din.

"Riko, check the pantry!"

"Got it!" the boy rushed through the swinging back door.

Inigo was sweating, his sleeves rolled up, face flushed—but there was a gleam in his eyes. This wasn’t just food service. This was a show. And he was the lead act.

Customer after customer walked away grinning, mouths full and fingers greasy. Kids shared fries, adventurers toasted their burgers with wooden cups of soda, and one old merchant was seen wiping a tear after his first bite of longsilog.

"This," Inigo said to Lyra during a lull, "is exactly what I wanted."

She looked around at the crowded tables, at the chatter, at the joy, then smiled. "It’s like a second guild."

"A tastier one."

Even the city officials who had approved his permit arrived near noon, sampling the menu under the guise of a ’site inspection.’ One of them—Councilman Brant—was so impressed he offered to sponsor a second branch if they ever expanded.

"We’ll think about it," Inigo said with a grin.

After the initial rush, the lunch crowd trickled into afternoon regulars—students with study scrolls, guards on break, and a couple of mages from the local academy.

At the front, a bell above the door jingled, and a familiar face stepped in. It was the old man who ran the neighboring bookshop. He gave Inigo a slow nod of approval and quietly ordered a Morning Silog Bowl—despite it being hours past breakfast.

"Make it for him," Inigo whispered to Riko. "He’s one of the good ones."

As Lyra mopped up a spill near one of the tables, a small girl tugged at her apron.

"Miss Lyra?"

She knelt. "Yes?"

"Is the man in the kitchen really from another world?"

Lyra blinked, then chuckled. "He likes to say that, doesn’t he?"

"But he makes the best food ever."

Lyra smiled. "Yes. He really does."

By late afternoon, they finally closed the door, hanging a simple sign: SOLD OUT.

Inside, the place looked like a battlefield. Empty trays, sauce splatters, crumpled paper wrappers—but everyone was grinning.

Inigo collapsed onto a bench with a long sigh.

"We did it."

"You did it," Lyra corrected, handing him a cold mug of water.

"No way. This took all four of us." He raised his mug. "To burgers, fries, and teamwork."

They clinked mugs, and even Riko and Maddy joined in, despite their exhaustion.

As the sun dipped low and bathed the diner in gold, Inigo looked around.

The place was small. The paint still smelled fresh. The stove was already stained.

But it was theirs.

More than a business, it was a slice of home in a world that didn’t have one. And that made it perfect.

"Same time tomorrow?" Lyra asked.

Inigo smiled. "You bet."