Chapter 48

After lunch, I was pondering what to do with the leftover pot of rice when my thoughts turned to my cooking level.

I decided it’d be a good idea to make some fresh rice dishes and share them with the villagers while also leveling up my cooking skills. That thought sprouted in my mind like a seedling.

What new abilities would I gain if I could raise my cooking skill to intermediate level? My curiosity was piqued.

I pulled out ingredients from my bag and prepared to cook a large batch. Even though it was warm in front of the stove, thanks to the air conditioner running full blast 24/7, not a bead of sweat formed on my brow.

The method remained the same as before:

Grill the meat, stir-fry it with kimchi, add soaked rice and simmer over low heat, then cover and let it steam.

Finally, garnish the finished dish with various vegetables or chopped green onions for completion.

It was such a simple recipe that I often found myself returning to it. If it had been overly complicated, I might have skipped making it altogether out of laziness.

I stacked the completed dishes neatly into my bag.

When I felt I had enough prepped meals ready for gifting, I headed outside.

It was two o’clock in the afternoon – the time when the sunlight was most intense.

Perhaps due to the oppressive heat, there were very few people walking around the village.

Even those I did encounter looked rather glum.

It’s true what they say: heat can drain one’s energy and make them irritable.

“Thank you…”

“I’ll eat well…”

When handing out food, the villagers’ expressions brightened momentarily, but their gratitude lacked vigor.

I distributed portions of the rice dish to people who were forcing smiles despite the heat.

If only I had brought something refreshing like cold noodles instead! Next time, I’ll be sure to do so.

With that resolve, I continued my rice-sharing event.

As I went door-to-door, I eventually arrived at Evangelin’s house.

Her vivid red hair came to mind effortlessly.

Her graceful movements and her characteristic stoic tone.

And sometimes, her flustered gestures.

Just imagining her must mean she’s left quite an impression on me.

Shaking off these musings, I knocked gently on the door.

She appeared just as she always does.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve brought some food.”

“Food?”

A faint smile graced her lips, exuding an elegant aura.

A refined beauty that epitomizes gracefulness.

“The smell is wonderful. There’s a hint of spiciness too.”

“This is called Kimchi Meat Pot Rice.”

“I haven’t heard of it. Is it very spicy?”

“It shouldn’t be too spicy. Would you like to try it?”

“Yes.”

Her polite acceptance carried multiple layers of meaning, always a pleasant phrase to hear.

I handed over two boxed lunches.

One for Evangelin and one for her younger brother Jack.

Upon realizing this, she called for Jack, who greeted me with a cheerful wave.

“Hello, Jack.”

“Ahh.”

“I’ve brought food. Why don’t you try it with your sister?”

“Ahhh.”

Jack grabbed my hand and smiled brightly.

He then turned his gaze toward Suri and extended his hand to her too.

Unfortunately, Suri has never learned how to shake hands, so nothing came of it.

Though slightly deflated, Jack maintained his cheerful demeanor.

Somehow, we ended up having a sort of food tasting session.

I naturally entered Evangelin’s home and watched as she and Jack enjoyed the pot rice.

Evangelin ate daintily with her spoon, while Jack dug in enthusiastically.

Jack devoured every last grain of rice, leaving none behind, which made me feel quite accomplished, prompting a natural smile to form on my face.

“You cook too?”

“I’m still learning.”

“Could you teach me this recipe?”

“I’d be happy to.”

“I have quite the interest in cooking…”

Her voice trailed off softly, yet her eyes brimmed with curious anticipation.

Despite her calm tone, that was part of her charm.

“Certainly.”

“In return, I’ll teach you a few things. If you’re interested in cooking, that is.”

“That sounds great. So, we’ll exchange information periodically?”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

“Please come by our place sometime with Jack for a housewarming party. We’ve recently expanded the house, anyway.”

“A housewarming? I’ll definitely come.”

We need to host a housewarming.

Who should we invite?

As I mentally compiled a guest list, Evangelin slowly continued speaking.

“I’ll help you with the cooking too.”

“A housewarming meal?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fine. Isn’t that usually the homeowner’s responsibility?”

“We agreed to teach each other cooking, didn’t we?”

“Another time would work too…”

“Shh.”

Evangelin gently placed her index finger against my lips, interrupting whatever I was about to say, and a moment of quiet passed between us.

“I’ll help.”

Her firm yet gentle tone.

The warmth of her fingertip against my lips.

A slight blush creeping onto her cheeks betrayed her modest embarrassment.

Her hand withdrew slowly, and I finally spoke to express my gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“What kind of dish were you planning to make?”

“I haven’t decided yet…”

“Then why don’t you come over to my place before the housewarming and we can finalize the menu together? You’ll need practice for the dishes you’ll serve, after all.”

“I’d be happy to.”

After saying that, Evangelin averted her gaze.

Her head tilted slightly downward, partially hiding her face behind her short hair.

She looked a bit shy.

Was there some shift in her feelings?

“Are you busy today?”

“No, I have time.”

“Then shall we decide the menu together today?”

“Sure.”

“Let me finish distributing the rice, and I’ll come back.”

“Alright.”

Since neither of us had any pressing engagements, I decided this impromptu housewarming wasn’t such a bad idea.

There was no rush since the event wouldn’t happen immediately.

We could take our time preparing everything step by step.

My cooking skill had leveled up, and I found myself increasingly fascinated by cooking.

My first attempt at cooking was probably roasting meat over a bonfire.

Now, I’ve reached a point where I can whip up decent meals that others can enjoy without issue.

After receiving a personal farewell from Evangelin, I wandered through the village again.

Seeing the joy on people’s faces as they received the rice made me feel good.

Eventually, after visiting all the houses and exchanging friendly greetings, I returned to Evangelin’s home.

There she was, already wearing an apron to greet me.

“You’re here?”

A delightful aroma wafted through the air.

It smelled delicious.

Clearly, she had been cooking.

“Looks like you’ve been cooking.”

“Yes. I prepared some dishes that would be suitable for a party.”

Her willingness to take initiative was truly appreciated.

Rejecting someone’s kindness isn’t polite, after all.

Jack sat at the table, happily wiggling his head side to side.

His excitement was evident as he anticipated the tasty meal ahead.

I shared the same sentiment, knowing full well how excellent Evangelin’s cooking always was.

“What are you making?”

“I’ve prepared fried chicken wings, oil-based pasta, small portions of mac and cheese, and a mini cheese pork cutlet. Since I didn’t have all the ingredients, I managed to prepare this much.”

“Wow…”

Here was another glimpse of Evangelin’s serious dedication when it came to anything involving cooking.

Impressive how she managed to prepare so many dishes in such a short time.

Although the selection leaned a little heavy, I figured as long as it tasted good, it didn’t matter.

The kitchen was on the smaller side,

so there were inevitable moments of accidental contact between us.

Every minor touch added a layer of intimacy to the situation.

As I approached, Evangelin continued explaining the recipes with a radiant smile.

She seemed genuinely happy while discussing her craft.

It was easy to see why people might assume she had worked as a chef before.

Her calm explanations carried a certain allure.

“So, this is how you make it.”

A sense of pride radiated from her expression.

Thanks to the impeccable results, my attention was naturally drawn to the food.

“You clearly love and excel at cooking.”

I almost asked why she stopped being a chef but held back.

Seeming to guess what my next question would be, Evangelin answered preemptively.

“You were going to ask why I stopped being a chef, right?”

“Ah… If there’s a reason…”

“It’s nothing major.”

She glanced briefly at Jack seated at the table.

Her voice softened further, almost becoming inaudible.

“When I focus on cooking, there’s no one to look after Jack.”

Evangelin gave a bittersweet laugh.

“It’s not that I dislike Jack. I chose family over my dreams. Once Jack grows up and can stand on his own, it won’t be too late to start cooking again.”

Her seemingly calm tone somehow carried a tinge of melancholy.

“There’s no blaming anyone for this situation. Things just turned out this way, and it’s not fair to blame others.”

Her smile lacked its usual strength.

Watching her, I felt a surge of sympathy welling within me.

But this wasn’t pity.

More like offering a good opportunity to someone I care about.

Not in a condescending manner, but more as an act of goodwill.

“Why don’t you tell me how you’re managing financially?”

The somewhat stiff tone of the question masked a hidden offer of assistance.

“Oh, I’m just getting by on the gold I saved up. Despite appearances, I was actually a skilled chef.”

She gave a wan smile.

Perhaps because of that, my words came out a little jumbled.

“Would you consider working for me then?”

“Huh?”

“It’s just that I’ve become so busy lately that I barely have time to cook. It feels wrong to let such a talented chef go unused.”

“Hehe, it’s alright…”

“I was thinking, could you and Jack come over for meals? I’d pay you a salary comparable to what you earned previously.”

“That’s really unnecessary. You know I’d cook for you anytime for free.”

Touched by her mild refusal, I felt a pang of disappointment but pressed on.

“Learning from a skilled chef is worth every coin. Where else could I find someone like you to teach me? Think of it as paying for lessons.”

“My rates are high, you know…”

“I have plenty of money. No worries.”

Her laughter lightened the atmosphere.

This was the perfect moment to boast about my wealth.

How often do I get the chance to say such things?

“Sometime in the future, I’ll repay you. Thank you. I was feeling a bit down just now.”

Evangelin accepted my offer with a blush, thankfully interpreting it as pure goodwill rather than cheap pity.

“Of course. Shall we start with today’s meal then?”

“Sounds good.”

The tasting commenced.

As always, Evangelin’s cooking was flawless.

The only reason the buffs weren’t updating was because the ingredients weren’t from my own crops.

But soon enough, I’d have access to buff-enhanced meals at every mealtime.

Even if my cooking level doesn’t rise as quickly, it’s fine.

I can always set aside time specifically for cooking.

Seeing Jack and Evangelin smiling happily is far more satisfying and heartwarming.

“Chirp!”

“Suri, would you like some too?”

“Chirp.”

Enticed by the delicious aroma, Suri, who had been dozing on my shoulder, woke up and began eating Evangelin’s cooking.

She gulped it down with her tiny beak, clearly enjoying the taste.

After finishing the enjoyable meal, I headed home.

Though somewhat impulsive, the prospect of savoring delicious meals daily filled me with excited anticipation.

“Chirp!”

“Did you enjoy it, Suri?”

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