Be Careful When Agreeing to Terms and Conditions

1. Mond (5)

There’s something special about my “cooking.”

Until now, I had simply thought of the “cooking” function as a skill that improves cooking ability from a skilled solo-liver to a top chef.

Otherwise, a technique that allows for a lot of cooking in a short time with minimal waste of movement?

Isn’t that a specialized ability for food business?

I felt that way from the first time I experienced the “cooking” function, and at least I believed that I could gather enough initial capital for a food business.

And that plan was actually succeeding.

At the moment, I could have enough money to repay Amber, at least.

It would be difficult to repay her immediately, as I would have to expand the business for a while.

But the efficacy of the “cooking” function was not limited to that.

Today, I could be sure of the change that had happened to Amber. The food icon that appeared when the cooking function was turned on, and the mark at the top right.

Some were green crosses, some were sword shapes, and some were shield shapes.

I hadn’t thought about it before, but now I realized that this ‘cooking’ function was a game function. There was no reason to include a function to ‘make delicious food’ in the game.

In other words, cooking beyond delicious things.

So, it could be inferred that there were abilities such as recovery or buffs.

The Tivat continent was too realistic to forget. No, it was beyond realistic, and now the Tivat continent was reality itself to me.

So suddenly having a cheat-like ability made it feel unreal, and I felt like I was just being childish.

I was thrilled by the greatness of this ‘function’ and was moving my body quickly.

Before I knew it, it was evening. The sunset was covering the white landscape of Mond.

In fact, when I discovered this new thing, that is, when I found out that my cooking had special abilities, there were various actions I could take.

I could actively publicize this fact to attract guests.

Items with special abilities are expensive in themselves. Because the ingredients and materials cost more. But I could give a function to the cooking without the need for additional ingredients or materials.

Having an incomparable advantage in price competition, it was natural for guests to flock.

If not, I could also ally with the knights through Amber.

The knights have recently been rapidly increasing their injury rate in the field. If there were dishes with functions like recovery or buffs, they would welcome it with open arms, and there was little chance of refusal.

However, the action I took was neither of those two.

So what was the first action I took?

It was running to the inn where Lumine was waiting, carrying ingredients.

“I’m back, Xiu?”

As I entered the inn, Lumine, who happened to be on the first floor, greeted me with a smile in her eyes.

The inn was deserted like never before. Recent threats from the Wind Dragon had driven away all travelers and merchants alike.

So, in reality, the inn was practically monopolized by our group, and the sight of Lumine waiting alone on the first floor was a common occurrence.

I blurted out to Lumine, “Lumine, are you hungry by any chance?”

“Hungry!”

The response came from an unexpected place. The guide, Paimon, who had an amazing sense of smell for food, suddenly popped up behind Lumine.

Paimon rolled her feet in anticipation with a hopeful look on her face.

“What’s for dinner today, Xiu? Did you ask with the intention of cooking today?!”

“You’re always hungry anyway…”

I sighed deeply in response, but soon I couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Perhaps it was because I hadn’t seen her for so long, but even Paimon’s whining about food seemed cute. Well, she did look like a cute girl.

Lumine stared blankly at the scene, then smiled and said, “It’s been a while, Xiu. I feel like I haven’t seen your cooking skills for a long time.”

“Well, we’ve both been busy… But today, I made an important discovery.”

At my boast, Lumine looked puzzled and tilted her head. It seemed like a question mark was floating in the air.

Paimon, too, seemed curious and came closer to me.

“An important discovery?”

I decided to show rather than tell. I immediately sought permission from the innkeeper and rented the kitchen.

As I pondered what to cook, I decided to make something that Lumine could feel the effects of immediately.

Among the recipes I had, “Radish Dumplings” and “Fisherman’s Toast” stood out.

Since Lumine seemed unharmed at the moment, I decided it was better to focus on buffs related to attack or defense.

I immediately set about crushing garlic, boiling oil, chopping onions, and starting to toast the bread.

My body, supported by the ‘cooking’ function, was completing the cooking with its usual optimal movements.

The delightful aroma wafted through the air, and around the time Paimon swallowed her saliva several times.

[Perfect]

[Delicious Mora-Fried Radish] x2

[Delicious Fisherman’s Toast] x2

Although skewered dishes could be made in batches due to my proficiency, the inconvenience of having to make Mora-Fried Radish and Fisherman’s Toast one at a time remained, but well.

In the end, I could complete the dishes for Lumine and Paimon one by one.

As I carried the dishes out, Paimon flew over, seemingly unable to resist, and admired the appearance of the dishes.

Golden-fried Mora-Fried Radish, fresh onions and tomatoes on crisply baked toast, topped with a tangy and sweet sauce.

As I placed the plates down, Paimon started playing with the fork, and after a grateful glance from Lumine, she elegantly began her meal.

The crispy aroma beyond the golden-fried coating, the fragrant and moist scent of crushed radish, contrary to the expectation of spiciness from frying radish, subtly pleased Lumine and Paimon’s taste buds.

Now, what about the Fisherman’s Toast?

The egg-soaked bread emitted a savory fragrance, and the onions on top, subtracting the spiciness, provided a fresh sensation. The tangy and sweet sauce based on tomatoes stimulated the palate, making the somewhat heavy dish more enjoyable.

Both were dishes I had experimented with while thinking about running a food business in the past. Although both were delicious, skewered dishes were excluded due to their quick preparation and simple ingredients.

Paimon, with a satisfied and dreamy expression, exhaled deeply, and Lumine’s reaction was no different.

It was a proud reaction, no matter when.

After the meal, Paimon spoke with a voice filled with lingering satisfaction.

“As expected, amazing, traveler. Isn’t this the incredible discovery?! A more delicious recipe!”

Oh, hmm. No, it’s not like that.

It seemed like Faymon was quite moved. It’s natural, considering how he has no one to keep up with his appetite.

Instead of denying Faymon’s words, I proposed to Lumine.

“Lumine, would you like to go to the backyard for a moment?”

Lumine, who was savoring the taste, widened her eyes and tilted her head. Then, she quickly smiled and asked, “Is this a date request?”

“…Oh, no, it’s not.”

I stumbled over my words, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere, but nonetheless, Lumine and Faymon obediently followed me to the backyard.

The inn’s backyard was just an empty space. It was peculiar that there were no targets or scarecrows set up, as if it were a place for adventurers to practice.

It was the worst place for a date, but it was suitable in many ways for testing the performance of cooking.

“Lumine, would you like to wield the sword?”

Lumine tilted her head slightly and then drew her sword. She had a skilled stance.

“Do you have an interest in martial arts?”

“No, not really… You’ll know once you try wielding it.”

Lumine had a doubtful look, but she trusted my words and swung the sword.

After a few clean and coordinated movements, Lumine’s actions stopped.

As if sensing something was amiss, she narrowed her delicate brows, tilted her head, and then swung the sword once more.

She did this several times. Perhaps Lumine still hadn’t gained confidence, as she approached a nearby scarecrow and drew her sword.

Swish, a clean trajectory was drawn.

There was no feeling of resistance at all. The swishing sound was the only indication that the scarecrow had been cut.

Lumine opened her eyes wide.

“The sword… does it go in more smoothly?”

“Yes!”

As my deduction proved to be true, I applauded with joy.

While I had some understanding of how the recovery ability worked, I was secretly anxious about how the enhanced attack or defense would be applied.

I didn’t know the details, but hearing the words “the sword goes in well,” I could say that the effects of the cooking were properly applied.

“Lumine, then, can I pinch your arm a little?”

“Trying to use this as an opportunity for some physical contact? Really, Xiu.”

“Well, no… I mean….”

As I sighed, Lumine, as always, subtly smiled as if it were a joke. Then, she willingly extended her arm to me.

Milk-colored skin, a well-crafted arm like an art piece.

With caution and a tense heart, I pinched her arm, fearing that I might accidentally hurt her soft skin with its graceful extension.

But there was more resistance than I thought. Rather than being softly pinched, it felt like grabbing something firmer.

Lumine widened her eyes again.

“It seems a bit less painful?”

Perfect. I cheered inwardly. It seemed that both attack power and defense were applied well.

With a full smile on my face, I said, “I don’t really understand the principles, but it seems like there’s been some special ability in my cooking since one day.”

“A special ability?”

Paimon, who had momentarily forgotten her presence, suddenly leaned in and asked. I was a bit surprised but casually replied to avoid showing that I had forgotten about Paimon.

“Sure, it’s abilities that allow me to take less damage even if I get hit or attacked more than now… And maybe even cooking that can heal injuries, on top of that.”

“Could Siwoo have come from a different world to have such abilities?”

Faymon presented the most plausible inference. After all, Luminé could manipulate elements, which was said to be a very unique ability considering she didn’t have the ‘Eye of God’.

Luminé hesitated for a moment, and then let out a shallow sigh before speaking.

“I don’t really know. The ability to infuse special power into cooking… It’s a power I’ve never heard of, even though I’ve traveled through various worlds.”

With her head still slightly tilted, Luminé soon burst into a bright smile.

“But well, it’s okay because it’s Siwoo, right?”

Upon hearing those words, Faymon crossed her arms and nodded soon after.

“Yeah, because it’s Siwoo.”

What does that mean? I looked at them with a slightly dissatisfied gaze, but they seemed to have reached their own understanding and didn’t pay much attention to it.

What does it matter to me?

I can also be harmful at times. Maybe.

I shrugged helplessly, as if there was nothing I could do, and brought up the main point.

“So, Luminé, from now on, I’ll cook for you every morning. Take that with you. It might come in handy when you fight.”

Luminé seemed surprised by these words, as she tilted her head like she had done several times today.

“But… wouldn’t that be too hard for Siwoo? And you’ll have to prepare the stall too.”

What is she talking about?

As I was thinking that, I soon realized the misunderstanding.

The reason I started the food business was to earn money to help Luminé. That was the extent of what I could do.

It seemed that Luminé saw the business as a means of self-realization, but that was not the case at all.

I felt the need to correct the misunderstanding at this point. Wouldn’t it be disappointing if I neglected the group because I got caught up in business?

“Lumine, you’re much more important than such things.”

I stated firmly. Lumine, seemingly caught off guard by such words, widened her eyes. And froze. No reaction.

“Cooking and doing business are things I do because we’ll need money in the long run. I may not know how to fight, but I still want to do something for you.”

When I finished speaking, Lumine reacted again. She shivered with a soft whimper.

Her head drooped deeply. Why is she acting like that?

“So, don’t feel burdened. Doing things like cooking in the early morning…”

“…Stop.”

Interrupting my continued words, Lumine cut in with a faint, pleading voice.

It was a sudden reaction.

Lumine’s face was tinged with a faint rosy hue. She couldn’t seem to fix her gaze anywhere, avoiding my eyes here and there.

She fanned herself while speaking.

“I-I understand Shi… Shio’s feelings well. So, you can stop.”

I tilted my head in confusion. Come to think of it, Lumine’s attitude was strange.

Normally, she would mock me with a leisurely smile. But now, she was strangely subdued.

Did I do something wrong?

As I stood there bewildered, I felt someone poking my side.

It was Paimon. Paimon was poking me with that mischievous smile, jabbing me with her slender elbow.

“Yael, it’s a confession, Shio~”

Wait, what in the world.

Paymon just smirked ominously and prodded my side, while Lumine hunched over, fidgeting with her fingers.

I could only sigh in frustration.

I didn’t do anything.