Chapter 66: Garion the Muscle Chef
Garion looked around the hall with satisfaction before turning toward the restaurant.
"Let’s go to the restaurant. I’ll cook you something good."
Dahlia’s face instantly brightened.
"Yes, Master! Finally! I’m so tired of chewing those hard pieces of meat every day. Cook me something delicious."
Garion chuckled, walking ahead with his hands in his pockets.
"Of course, I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait."
The two entered the restaurant area, and Garion’s eyes sparked as he stepped behind the counter, entering the kitchen.
The place looked almost identical to the one he had back on earth.
For a moment, he just stood there in silence, a small grin forming.
"It was indeed... feels like home."
He began checking the drawers and shelves, nodding in approval.
"Perfect setup. System really knows my style."
Dahlia leaned against the counter, watching him with curious eyes.
"Master, although I am looking forward to what you’re cooking, can you really cook?"
Garion smirked over his shoulder.
"Don’t underestimate me. As a body cultivator, I always watch what I eat, so cooking was already a natural part of my routine."
He then raised his finger, reminding her.
"Although I’m not as good as those professional chefs, I know my way around a kitchen."
Dahlia rested her chin on her hand.
"Then hurry up. I want to see if your cooking is as good as your training."
Garion laughed, waving his hand casually as he opened the system menu.
"Yeah, yeah. Just wait there. And now let’s see what ingredients I have."
Several items appeared on the screen and each one had a faint tag floating beside it, describing teh taste and effects.
Garion’s grin widened.
"Now this is what I call convenient. System ingredients with built-in nifo. Guess I can’t mess this up."
He rubbed his chin, thinking.
"Now, what should I make? Something warm and rich after days in teh forest, huh..."
Dahlia raised her hand.
"Something soft, please. If I have to chew another tough beef steak, I’ll scream."
Garion Laguedh.
"Soft, delicious, and full of protein. Got it."
He rolled up his sleeves and cracked his knuckles.
"Alright, let me show you some real food."
Dahlia rested her chin on her palm.
"I’ll believe it when I taste it."
Garion smirked.
"You’ll eat your words soon enough."
He then took some ingredients from his system storage and placed them all onto the counter.
There was a cut of Thunder Boar meat, still fresh and marbled with faint blue lines of mana.
A bunch of Fireleaf herbs, known for their spicy aroma, and some Moon carrots, glowing faintly white, and a few Rock onions with thick, crunchy layers.
Dahlia leaned in, quite curious about the strange ingredients.
"Master... are you sure all of this is edible?"
Garion grinned.
"You’ve been eating dried monster jerky for days. Trust me on this one. This is what I call gourmet food."
He grabbed a knife and started cutting the meat into even slices.
Dahlia watched the steady, precise movement of the knife, which made her quite surprised.
"You’re actually... good at that."
Garion didn’t look up.
"I told you, I used to cook for myself all the time. A strong body starts in the kitchen."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
He finished slicing the meat, then chopped the vegetables quickly, filling the kitchen with their mixed scent.
He lit the stove and poured a little oil into the pan, and as soon as it heated, he dropped in the meat.
The sizzling sound filled the air, followed by a savory smell that made Dahlia’s stomach rumble audibly.
Garion chuckled.
"Hungry already?"
"I wasn’t! That was just... uh, air." Dahlia snorted, cheeks flashing red.
Garion continued to chuckle.
"Sure it was."
He flipped the meat expertly, then added the chopped onions and carrots.
The colors mixed beautifully, orange, white, and brown, coated with oil and meat juice.
He reached for a small bowl and poured in a mix of crushed Fireleaf, a pinch of Saltstone dust, and a dash of river honey.
The sauce bubbled, then turned golden-red as it thickened.
Dahlia sniffed the air again, eyes wide.
"That smells amazing. What’s that sauce called?"
Garion smirked.
"Secret recipe. Only shared loyal disciples."
She pouted. "So never, then."
Garion laughed. "Correct."
He gave the pan a final toss, then turned off the stove and plated the food.
The result was mouthwatering but straightforward.
Tender Thunder Boar slices in sweet and spicy sauce, with roasted vegetables shining beside them.
Garion slid one plate toward her.
"Alright, test subject number one. Eat."
Dahlia hesitated only for a second before taking a bite. Her eyes widened almost instantly.
"Oh... wow. It’s soft, juicy, and... it’s actually fucking delicious!"
Garion folded his arms proudly.
"Told you. It was the real gourmet food."
She nodded, still chewing.
"You win, Master. This is the best thing I’ve eaten since coming to this island."
Garion grinned.
"Good. Because tomorrow, we’re doing double training."
Dahlia froze mid-bite.
"...I take back what I said."
Garion laughed, directly changing the subject.
"After you finish eating, follow me outside."
Dahlia blinked.
"Wait... what? You just said tomorrow! How can you change your mind that fast?!"
Garion raised his hand calmly.
"Relax. It’s not training."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Then what? Fighting more demonic beasts?"
He shook his head.
"Nope. Nothing like that. It’s not related to training or fighting at all. Don’t worry."
Dahlia frowned, suspicious.
"Then why outside? Why not here?"
Garion stood up, brushing off his hands.
"Because it might get a bit messy. I don’t want to dirty my gym right after it was built."
Dahlia stared at him for a few seconds, furrowing her brows.
"I see. I still don’t know what you’re planning, Master, but are you really sure it’s not something exhausting?"
Garion chuckled and shook his head.
"I promise. It’ll even be interesting."
She sighed and finished her meal.
"Fine. But if this turns into training, I’m throwing rocks at you."
Garion smiled, walking toward the door.
"Deal. I’ll wait for you outside."