Clyde's mouth dropped as he saw the two go at it in the large kitchen—mixing ingredients, chopping, pan-flames bursting and amazing smells flowing into the air . He even sensed Alice's mouth watering through the bond . He observed the cook off through a venue that resembled his combat log .

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[Harumi has activated a talent . Swift precise seasoning!]

The pink-haired girl tossed a handful of spices into the air, which seemed to hang there . Then they rained down perfectly onto the meat in her pan .

[Flavor bonus!]

[Harumi- Cooking Pa.s.sive Skill activated . Determined concentration! + 2% flavor bonus . ]

He turned to Yuki . Unlike Harumi with visible determination to win, Yuki was calm and collected . A golden aura outlined her . The young man noticed her vegetable chopping speed—it was faster than anything he'd seen in his life . All of her ingredients. .h.i.t the pan—and with grace, the demoness enhanced her dish .

[Yuki- Cooking Pa.s.sive Skill is in play . Absolute dominance . +unknown flavor bonus x3% + 2% Advanced chef bonus . ]

[Harumi has spent a cooking point . ]

[Harumi has activated a talent . Wonderous Presentation!]

[For this cook off to be settled, you—the judge—must pick a winner . There are no wagers at this time . Unknown relations.h.i.+p benefits to choosing a winner during a wagered cook off . ]

[Your life mate has silently declared herself a judge . ]

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Alice grabbed a pair of chopsticks and tasted Harumi's dish . She blushed .

"Wow that's so good!"

Clyde tried too, his tongue meeting only what he could describe as love and comfort . The juicy meat and the mushroom, complimented by her perfect handmade sauce—bliss . Pure amazingness . The duo nearly went to war over the bowl as they frantically ate from it .

"I want to try," Chika said, but it was too late . Clyde and Alice eyed the empty bowl, sadness in their eyes . Harumi had a worried look .

"Well?" the pink-haired girl said .

"Can we have some more?" Alice said, voice sad .

"That was d.a.m.ned good," Clyde said . Airi sat at the table, gla.s.s of water in hand . She was dressed in black yoga pants, white s.h.i.+rt .

"Harumi's got a gift when it comes to cooking," Airi said . "My adventuring days would've been so much better if she cooked for the party . " She chuckled . "I'm still proud of her for getting into the top college in the world and to take on that rigorous cooking program . Girl's got guts . "

Yuki smiled at Harumi .

"You've improved a lot . Excellent . " She presented a dish in front of the young man…that looked as if Heaven's light s.h.i.+ned on it . He quickly beat Alice to the first taste…and his tongue found said heaven . Chika managed to get chop sticks in, even Airi after Alice got her sample . The silver-haired girl blocked Natalia .

"Hey, no fair!" the loli whined . "I wanna try . "

Alice stuffed a chunk of the meat into her mouth, shutting up the whining . The loli chewed .

The room was silent as everyone admired the flavor . Clyde frowned at the empty bowl .

"I need more . Just d.a.m.n . My G.o.d, that…" he looked at the bowl again .

"She's…on a different level," Alice said softly . "Not even…"

"How can someone be this good?" Airi said .

"This puts all of my father's top tier private chefs to shame," Chika said .

"I've never had anything that tasted so amazing," Natalia said . The mood seemed to break when the genie walked in and sat next to Airi . Everyone stared at her .

"h.e.l.lo," she said . The group returned the greeting, restoring the mood .

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"You kind of missed out," Alice said to Kanako .

"Are you really a genie?" Natalia said, poking the girl's shoulder .

"Don't start pestering her," Matsume said as she walked in from the living room, dressed in very short gym shorts . She smirked upon catching Clyde's quick gaze of appreciation .

"So, what's your choice, judges," Yuki said . Harumi sighed .

"I know, I know," the pink-haired girl said .

"You did really well," Alice told Harumi .

"You really did," Clyde said . She nodded, smiling .

"Yuki's my mentor for a reason," she said . "One day I'll beat her . "

Yuki pulled the girl into a hug .

"I really do love cooking with you . So you'd better be ready for our next lesson because I'm going to whip you into shape . "

Natalia looked out the window .

"It's getting late . I should be getting back to the palace . Tear's waiting for me . "

"Where's Melody?" Alice said .

"Watching TV with Ruri," Natalia said . "Chao . "

Clyde ruffled the loli's hair, getting an adorable smile, before she vanished .

"What kind of Jump is that? Or teleport?" Clyde asked Alice .

"Not sure to be honest," the half-demoness replied . "Natalia knows a ton of magic, perhaps more than even Tear . "

"I can help with the dishes," Kanako volunteered .

"Me too," Chika said .

"Can I talk to you alone for a second, maybe outside," Airi said to Clyde . "Stone business . "

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Alice was helping the others clean off the table . He returned Hinako's text message before nodding .

Clyde hurried to his room, threw on some socks and shoes, and met up with the young woman outside .

"My treasure-sensing skill went off," Airi said . "Something rare is about a mile and a half from here . In a forest . "

Clyde frowned .

"Girl, you must be crazy if you think I'm going into a forest at night…and in this world . Yeah, no . "

She grabbed his arm .

"You have the crave for adventure inside of you, I can feel it . The chest is rare, perhaps even gold, but it will be gone in the morning . If you're scared, I'll protect you . " She folded her arms . "I want to talk to you about some things anyway . "

Clyde sighed .

"I'm not scared, but you can't blame me for not wanting to walk a mile and a half, while dealing with the soreness from the strain . "

"Oh, I'm sorry," Airi said . "I've completely forgotten about that . Just forget I asked—I never seen such amazing power like that . " She knuckled the side of her head then stuck her tongue out at him . "Sorry for being so inconsiderate . "

Clyde placed a hand on her shoulder .

"Let's go get the chest," he said . "Fifty-fifty on the rewards . "

Airi hugged him .

"Just you and me . There's no way the others will agree to this . "

"Maybe if we're lucky, we'll have a stash of legendaries . I need to replace my sword," Clyde said .

Maybe he'd find the materials to craft one complicated item and finally get that off his quest log . A late-night level with the top adventurer in the world . Cool .

After this, he hoped to find some way to get into Melody's good graces . He'd give her points for being a challenge . Thank goodness the system hadn't forced him to build a romantic link with Noona . High difficulty no doubt—the beautiful girl could be as dense as steel .

Somewhere… .

"So, it's time to scoop up and spank daughter dearest," Matsuko said to her guards . Abruptly, she smashed a fist into the closest one . "STOP STARING AT MY t.i.tS AND FOCUS, YA MEATHEAD . " Some of the Blood Hand snickered as the downed man picked himself up . He returned to attention, face stony and now focused in the way the fallen angel approved . "So yeah, we've got to do the legwork and actually find her, so packing your f.u.c.king things . I want to make this quick, but this may take a week . We're not going there to fail . It'd be an embarra.s.sment on the Blood Hand if the Great Lord had to step in himself . We'll be f.u.c.king pointless . "

Matsuko didn't give a s.h.i.+t about the orders, Platus and his s.h.i.+tty family problems, the realm core nor any problem with the dark G.o.ds or any of the higher powers . f.u.c.k 'em . Still, she couldn't pa.s.s up the opportunity to chug some drinks and cause some mayhem .

She sighed . This was better than being under the Fallen G.o.d's reign . Stupid b.i.t.c.h . "Move out, Blood Hand . We should be arriving by Lot City's morning . And you know she'll sense us . " Matsuko chuckled . "We're going after that little bitc—I mean teach the 'princess' some humility . But don't bruise her up too bad . Her dumba.s.s—I mean the Great Lord would want to do most of the punis.h.i.+ng . "

Matsuko walked out of the meeting room and down a palace hall . She stopped in front of a green door and knocked thrice . It cracked . A dignified woman's voice greeted her .

"Can't a girl have time with herself for even one hour? What do you want, fallen angel?"

Matsuko barged in .

"Ah quit your b.i.t.c.hing, ya useless sack of blood . I need a new Hallow sword . The last one broke . If rumors are to be believed, the Stone's in that city . " She grinned . "I'm going to fight him . "

The surprisingly beautiful woman sitting on the couch stretched and stood . Well, she didn't have Matsuko's beauty . And poise mixed with the desire to just f.u.c.k things up in combat .

"You do all blacksmiths a dishonor, breaking their swords," the woman said .

"Speaking of sword, how big do you think the Stone is?" Matsuko said in a joking manner .

The blacksmith sighed .

"Hearing that from a virgin fallen angel, pretending like she knows anything about s.e.x is just embarra.s.sing . Come, you barbaric purist . I'll make you something that I'd like to see returned . "

Matsuko flushed .

"I'm not a purist!"

The blacksmith woman laughed .

"Matsuko, speak when you've had a man inside of you . Now come, little girl . I'll make you a nice toy to swing around at things . "

Matsuko rolled her eyes .

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