Yeliana’s fried rice caused the Ace Mercenary to weep bitterly, and news of it spread throughout the streets and alleys.
That day, the tavern, thanks to Morey’s vivid and emotional endorsement, sold out the entire month’s supply of rice.
Tavern owner Marsha had promised Yeliana a 20-80 split. In one night, Yeliana earned over a hundred gold coins.
[Collected Strong Emotions: Homesickness, Shock, Emotion, Admiration. Emotion Menu fully unlocked progress: 25%]
Confirming her system achievements, Yeliana grinned happily.
It must be said, money is the ultimate cure for mental exhaustion. Seeing the bags of gold that Anna was helping her carry, Yeliana felt that tonight’s efforts and attempts were all worth it.
“Little girl, can we have a long-term partnership?”
Just as the two were about to leave in the dead of night, Marsha, leaning against the counter, called out to Yeliana in a pleading tone.
“Good—mmph!” Before Yeliana could finish, Anna reached out and covered her mouth.
“Sorry, boss lady, we just did it on a whim. Thank you for providing us with the venue today.”
As she spoke, Anna led Yeliana out of the tavern, while signaling with her eyes toward outside, where someone had been standing for a long time and was already displeased.
At this moment, Yiweite was staring at Yeliana with a dangerously kind expression.
She was in red robes, her long hair like fire. Though the longsword at her waist remained sheathed, it was enough to drive back anyone within ten meters.
‘Oh no! The fox’s startup was halfway done, and she got caught by her master midway?’
“Yeliana.” Her words were brief, but carried anger.
Yeliana looked at Yiweite and put on an innocent smile, trying to act cute to get out of trouble.
“I came out for a walk. Can you believe it? Ahaha…”
Yiweite approached, her high heels clicking with a sound that felt like it was striking Yeliana’s heart.
“I believe you.”
‘So easy to fool?’ Yeliana’s eyes flickered with suspicion.
Yiweite walked behind her, lightly tapping the black pot on her back, then said, “Then why did you go out for a walk carrying a pot?”
Yeliana winked meaningfully. “The pot also wanted to see the world. The pot didn’t want to stay in the big house, grounded for a week.”
Anna couldn’t help but snicker.
But Yiweite didn’t speak next. Instead, she pressed Yeliana step by step into a corner.
She placed one knee between Yeliana’s legs, a bit below the top, then slammed her hand against the wall with a slap, causing Yeliana’s fur to stand on end.
‘I’ve been kabedon… Well, there’s no helping it. She really can’t beat Yiweite.’
“When we get back, you will explain to me privately. I also want to eat that Soul-Stirring Fried Rice that made others cry.”
This left the fox speechless.
‘Not good.’
The food-guarding Sword Saint not only strongly demanded a meal, but it was obvious she was angry and jealous.
She spoke with pouted lips the whole time, and her expression turned gloomy.
Yeliana realized she needed to take positive action. Continuing to stay silent would be detrimental to her future relationship with Yiweite.
‘Dame dame, absolutely not!! This is clearly not the galge she wanted to play. How could she unlock the CG after being kabedon this early…’
“I was wrong. When we get back, I’ll think of a new dish, just for you, okay~”
“That’s more like it. And make sure to also make the Soul-Stirring Fried Rice. See you in the kitchen tomorrow.”
With that, Yiweite looked around at the whispering mercenaries with a serious expression, shooting them a glare that could kill enemies.
Then, beaming with joy, she scooped up Yeliana and carried her special wok on her own back.
[Ding, Iwitte Affection Points increased. Current affection points: 55.]
‘Whew… it went up again.’ Yeliana muttered the system data in her mind, but her big tail kept wagging happily.
—
Antar City, Grey Whale Inn, the room where the Golden Lion Holy Alliance squad was staying.
Kate stabbed the hard bread on her plate hard with a fork, but the bread’s surface didn’t budge. The two prongs of the silver fork seemed to have bent…
Kate complained with a grimace, “Sylvia, I seriously suspect that the bread in this inn is a weapon!”
Sylvia, sitting across from her, sighed softly. “Kate-chan, don’t say that. The owner will be sad…”
“What does he have to be sad about? The one who should be sad is my teeth!”
Kate responded with a mix of anger and laughter, but this reflected their current situation.
Ye Lian had left the Hero Party a week ago.
In these past few days, their quality of life had plummeted. They had spent money, they were exhausted, but they still managed to barely survive.
No one to boil hot water, no one to inventory supplies, no one to help wash clothes.
No one to serve them steaming hot delicious food when they returned from completing missions.
Aisha Parisio sat at a table by the window in the corner. Her platinum blonde hair was tied back, and her icy blue eyes were full of fatigue.
In front of her was a plate of roasted meat and a bowl of vegetable soup.
The roasted meat tasted burnt and bitter, and the vegetable soup was as bland as dishwater. She could only force herself to mechanically take one bite after another.
While eating, Aisha recalled that at noon today, the party members had spent over twenty gold coins at the best tavern in the city.
Impulsively, they had ordered a large table of dishes to relieve the stress of not having eaten well recently.
This was clearly irrational. They now had only thirty-six gold coins at most, plus some scattered silver and copper coins.
Ye Lian’s departure had indeed greatly affected them, but they still believed it was a decision that could protect him.
Sylvia suddenly spoke, her voice still gentle, like holy light falling on water.
“Speaking of which, how is Ye Lian doing now after he left?”
“With Ye Lian’s cooking skills, he can earn money anywhere. He’s probably become the new head chef in some tavern we don’t know about.”
Aisha immediately opened up. Every time Ye Lian was mentioned, she became very excited.
“Aisha, Sylvia, I still feel that Ye Lian might hate us.”
At Kate’s words, Aisha’s hand holding the knife and fork trembled almost imperceptibly.
“Yes, Sister Kate, back then we were complete villains…” Sylvia showed a sad, tearful expression.
“When we finish the mission issued by the Holy See, let’s search the whole city for him. At worst, I, as the leader, will kneel down and apologize to him…”
As the one who had been speaking to drive Ye Lian away from start to finish that day, Aisha’s guilt far exceeded the other two.
She knew she would need to do such a thing to salvage the situation.
“You two rest for a while. I’m full. I’ll go out to gather some information in the city.”
Aisha then left the inn. The cool night breeze blew in from the harbor, but her mind could not calm down for a long time.
‘There’s no news of Ye Lian at all… Could he really be in danger?’
She wandered the streets, inquiring about rumors and asking adventurers and mercenary groups for various information.
“A foxfolk chef? I haven’t noticed any male, but recently a masked fox woman appeared at the Sword Saint’s residence. The day before yesterday, she made a dish so delicious that it made A-rank mercenary Morey weep bitterly.”
‘Foxfolk? Female? When did that nouveau riche Yiweite hire a female cook?’
“Hero, you can keep an eye out soon. The Sword Saint’s residence has announced that the mysterious female chef will set up a stall at the back gate of the residence.”
After hearing this adventurer’s information, Aisha felt that things were not simple.
Although she didn’t like Yiweite, this mysterious female chef caught her attention.