A chorus of swallowing echoed by the fire.
Gulp…
Balke, Misi, Brenda, and Sailin—these four rough men who lived their lives on the edge of a blade, accustomed to coarse dry rations and terrible cooking—were at this moment like wolves starved for three days and nights, their eyes fixed on the iron pot less than half a meter wide, their eyeballs practically falling into the rolling broth.
Even Leo, who had been feeling awkward from being teased just moments ago, had all his attention stolen by this overbearing fragrance.
He was still holding the wooden basin filled with peeled potatoes, unconsciously leaning forward, his stomach letting out an extremely loud, thunderous protest.
“Ailiya… this, this is too fragrant, isn’t it?”
Leo’s eyes sparkled like stars as he looked expectantly at the figure leisurely stirring the broth with a wooden spoon.
“Young Master, please mind your manners. Your drool is about to drip into the basin.”
Ailiya didn’t even lift her head, mercilessly calling him out.
At the same time, she took the basin and neatly poured the cut potatoes and a few slices of mushrooms into the pot.
“Also, everyone.”
Her ice-blue eyes calmly swept over the four adventurers around her, who looked famished and as if they might pounce at any moment.
“If you keep staring at this pot with that prey-like gaze, I won’t mind adding some interesting ingredients to speed up your digestion and completely empty your stomachs.”
“No, no, no! Miss Ailiya, please have mercy!”
Balke shuddered in fright and quickly withdrew his ravenous gaze.
“We just… we’re just completely conquered by your cooking!”
He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and chuckled dryly while rubbing his rough hands.
“Just smelling this—it’s even better than the Wind Moon Tavern’s signature roast!”
“Yes, yes! This is simply divine. Compared to you, the innkeeper’s cooking is only fit for goblins!”
Sailin nodded frantically as well, betraying their innkeeper without hesitation for a bite of hot food.
Ailiya ignored their flattery.
[Gained Life Experience Points: Chef +10]
Listening to the crisp, pleasant system notification in her mind and seeing the experience bar increase by only an imperceptible sliver, a faint displeasure flickered in Ailiya’s eyes.
‘Only 10 experience points.’
‘This kind of messy outdoor stew is definitely judged as too low-level.’
‘From the perspective of grinding experience, this meal was basically a waste of effort.’
“You may eat.”
Ailiya casually set down the wooden spoon and uttered these four words flatly.
Instantly, the five of them were like soldiers hearing the charge bugle.
They lined up with a speed that was even more agile than when they were killing goblins during the day.
Each person clutched their wooden bowl tightly, staring eagerly as the Head Maid distributed the food.
When that steaming bowl of stewed potatoes with tender rabbit meat and rich, fragrant broth was handed to them, no one cared about noble etiquette or the pride of high-level adventurers.
“Slurp… Hot, hot, hot! So fragrant! So delicious! Wah…”
Misi’s eyes were tearing up from the heat, but he still couldn’t bear to stop chewing; Brenda even chewed and swallowed the bones; Balke ate while giving a thumbs up and mumbled indistinctly:
“The best food in Fengyue City, no contest!”
Leo sat beside Ailiya, eating with greasy mouth, completely lacking in dignity.
“Ailiya…”
Leo licked his bowl completely clean, not leaving a single drop of broth.
He looked at her with lingering desire, his eyes sparkling.
“You’re amazing. Not only in battle, but your cooking is also this delicious.”
“You flatter me, Young Master.”
Ailiya picked up her own wooden bowl, which had a smaller portion, leisurely took a bite, her tone still flat.
“Instead of focusing on my cooking, I suggest you pay more attention to your appearance. Your face looks like it just crawled out of a mud pit.”
“It’s fine. No one here cares anyway.”
Leo muttered quietly, wiping his mouth with his sleeve carelessly, but he couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
This simple yet rustic campfire dinner strangely brought this hastily assembled team closer together.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone’s fatigue gradually set in.
After arranging the night watch shifts, the camp soon echoed with loud, reverberating snores.
The next morning.
They packed their gear and set out on the return journey.
The road back was surprisingly smooth, with no more unfortunate magical beasts encountered.
When the first rays of sunlight pierced the gloom of the Mist Forest, the party had already appeared in their line of sight.
***
A few hours later, the familiar walls of Fengyue City finally reappeared in their view.
Passing through the noisy, bustling streets, the carriage came to a smooth stop at the main gate of Kastian Manor.
“Finally back!”
“Whoa—”
The coachman pulled tight on the reins.
Leo impatiently lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.
He carried the backpack that, though not heavy, was filled with the thrilling memories of his first adventure, and took a deep breath of the familiar rose fragrance in the manor, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
Balke and the others also jumped down, stretching comfortably with the ease and joy of completing their escort mission.
At the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor of the main building, Lady Elsa stood in an elegant dark house dress, quietly watching the safely returned group below.
Seeing that her son, though covered in dirt and with over a dozen tears in his robe, was full of spirit and had a newfound determination in his eyes.
The tension that Lady Elsa had held for two days finally completely relaxed.
Her gaze passed over the excited Leo and landed on Ailiya, who was following behind, still spotless and as if she had just taken a stroll, a deep appreciation and reassurance flickering in her eyes.
“It seems the effect of this training trip is even better than I anticipated.”
A gentle smile curled at the corner of Lady Elsa’s mouth as she turned and descended the stairs to welcome them.
In the manor’s spacious and bright dining room.
The long oak table was already laden with a rich and exquisite breakfast.
Freshly baked butter bread with crispy crust, fresh omelets drizzled with rich sauce, cut smoked pork chops, and authentic black tea, all emitting enticing aromas.
Though it lacked the wild flavor of last night’s delicious rabbit stew, it was still an irresistible luxurious temptation for adventurers who had endured two days in the wilderness.
“Lord Balk, everyone, you’ve worked hard. Please don’t stand on ceremony, help yourselves to breakfast.”
Lady Elsa sat at the head of the table, gracefully hosting the adventurers, who were a bit restrained and even afraid to speak loudly.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Madame! Then we’ll help ourselves!”
With the permission, Balke and the others immediately let loose and began wolfing down the food.
Their whirlwind, ravenous manner left the attending maids stunned.
Leo was also starving; he grabbed a butter-slathered bread and stuffed it into his mouth.
While eating heartily, he excitedly gestured to his mother about how he fought goblins in the mine and how he “bravely” battled the armored crocodile at White Water River.
Of course, he tacitly omitted the embarrassing details of falling into a dark pit and being forced by Ailiya to mine with his staff.
Lady Elsa listened to her son’s bragging with a smile, nodding and agreeing occasionally, without exposing his full-of-holes, obviously embellished exaggerations.
As long as her son returned safely, that was enough.
Ailiya stood quietly behind Lady Elsa, her hands folded, perfectly fulfilling her duties as Head Maid.
Her cold expression made it seem as if she wasn’t the one who had been slaughtering in the wilds and kicking Balke away.
Breakfast was halfway through.
Lady Elsa set down her teacup and took out a silk handkerchief to elegantly dab the corners of her mouth.
She interrupted her son’s endless chatter.
“Leo.”
Her tone suddenly turned a bit serious.
“Are you full? Come with me to the study.”
Leo shrank his neck, sensing the change in his mother’s tone, and immediately put down the half-eaten bread, obediently standing up.
“Huh? But I haven’t finished talking…”
“Now.”
Lady Elsa’s tone intensified, her gaze carrying an undeniable authority.
Then, she stood up and gave a slight nod to Balke and the others.
“Lord Balk, everyone, please enjoy your meal. Regarding the remaining payment for this commission, I will settle with you later.”
“Excuse me.”
“Madame, please attend to your business! Don’t mind us!”
Balke nodded repeatedly with his mouth full of omelet, speaking indistinctly.
Lady Elsa led a bewildered and slightly anxious Leo out of the dining room.
On the second floor, in the quiet study.
The heavy oak door was closed, sealing off the noise from downstairs.
Leo stood before the desk, still not realizing the seriousness of the situation, looking somewhat unsatisfied.
“Mother, you don’t understand, at that moment the armored crocodile’s tail almost swept me away, but luckily I reacted quickly…”
“Leo.”
Lady Elsa stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, her back to him.
She interrupted her son’s chattering, turned around, and her eyes no longer held the gentleness from the dining room, but were filled with deep worry and rare sternness.
“Tell me honestly.”
Lady Elsa stared intently into her son’s eyes, her voice slightly heavy.
“On this trip outside, did you overdraw your magic power again?”
The excitement on Leo’s face instantly froze.
His eyes began to dart away.
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