The sound of a spatula clattering against a pan drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by the rich, savory aroma of seared meat.
Chen Mian rose and made his way to the kitchen doorway.
Flora stood before the stove, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her pale, slender forearms.
She was currently searing a slab of beef. The oil in the pan sizzled and popped; the edges of the meat were turning a perfect golden-brown, while the center remained a tender pink.
A small pot beside it held a bubbling soup, with a few green vegetable leaves floating on the surface.
“It’s almost ready,” Flora said without looking back, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Please take a seat, Mr. Chen Mian.”
Chen Mian sat down at the dining table.
A short while later, a plate of seared magical beast steak, a bowl of vegetable soup, and a small dish of dipping sauce were placed before him.
The meat had been cut into bite-sized pieces, each glistening with savory juices.
The vegetable soup was simple, yet it possessed an indescribable sweetness, likely from using a meat-based stock.
“Give it a try,” Flora said, standing nearby and unconsciously fiddling with the edge of her apron.
Chen Mian picked up a piece of beef and placed it in his mouth.
The meat was incredibly tender. The surface was seared to a crisp, but the inside was so soft it felt like it would melt away. The juices exploded in his mouth, carrying a faint, milky fragrance.
The refrigerator contained high-level magical beast meat from the outskirts of the Forest of Death, which was already far superior to ordinary meat. However, to master the heat to this degree meant Flora’s culinary skills were truly exceptional.
“...Is it good?” Flora asked expectantly.
“It’s delicious.”
Hearing Chen Mian’s confirmation, Flora let out a small sigh of relief. “That’s good then.”
She sat down opposite him, served herself a bowl of soup, and began to sip it slowly.
Chen Mian took another bite, then suddenly remembered something and looked up at her. “Flora, do you know anything about magical cuisine?”
This was something he had seen on her wish list.
“I do.” She set down her spoon and looked at the table, a nostalgic expression on her face. “There are ancient recipes that use ingredients imbued with mana. When consumed, they can temporarily boost physical strength, mana recovery speed, or even heal wounds. And they are exceptionally delicious.”
“Can you make them?” Chen Mian asked.
Flora fell silent for a moment and shook her head. “I can, but magical ingredients are hard to find. They’re incredibly expensive to buy.”
Her expression was calm, but Chen Mian noticed her fingers tightening slightly around her spoon. “And... my magic is very weak right now.”
He opened the system panel and glanced at Flora’s wish list.
【Wish 2: Develop magical cuisine (+300 Points/type)】
“What if the ingredients were provided?”
Flora looked up, a trace of confusion in her eyes. “What?”
“If I provide the magical ingredients, would you be willing to try?”
Flora blinked, seemingly giving the question serious thought. “Theoretically... yes.”
She hesitated before continuing, “Some basic magical cuisine steps can be substituted with manual labor, but the effects would be diminished.”
“Then let’s try it,” Chen Mian interrupted, his tone casual.
He finished the last piece of steak and stood up to clear the dishes.
“I’ll figure out a way to get the ingredients. You just focus on researching how to make them.”
Flora watched his back as he carried the plates toward the kitchen. Her lips moved, and she finally whispered, “...Thank you.”
While washing the dishes, Chen Mian opened his panel.
As long as he upgraded the apartment to Level 2, he could complete the initial quest and unlock the Mana Garden.
Once he had the Mana Garden, obtaining magical crops would become very simple.
“Upgrade to Level 2 first, then we’ll see,” he muttered, closing the panel and drying the dishes before putting them away.
“Um... Mr. Chen Mian.”
“Yes?”
“I... I don’t have any spare clothes to change into.”
Flora’s voice grew quieter as she spoke, her face flushing red again.
“Right.” Chen Mian dried his hands. “Wait here a moment.”
He went upstairs and rummaged through his wardrobe.
Calling it a wardrobe was a stretch, as he didn't have many clothes. Over the past fifty years, he had spent most of his time wearing the standard tunics and trousers common among adventurers—durable, but not exactly stylish.
However, he had indeed accumulated some “spoils of war” over the years.
He pulled a wooden crate from the very bottom of the closet.
Inside were several sets of brand-new women’s clothing, neatly folded.
These were goods he had rescued over a decade ago from a merchant caravan that had been raided by bandits. To show his gratitude, the caravan leader had insisted on giving him several sets of clothes, claiming, “Your wife might find a use for them.”
At the time, he had found it a nuisance and simply tossed them into the crate.
He hadn’t expected them to actually come in handy.
He selected a pale green linen dress, a light gray short jacket, and a pair of soft-soled cloth shoes.
The fabric felt comfortable to the touch, and the size looked like it would fit Flora’s frame.
He grabbed a clean white towel as well and carried everything downstairs.
Flora was standing in the living room, clutching her staff with both hands. She blinked in surprise when she saw Chen Mian coming down with a pile of clothes. “This is...”
“Wear these for now,” Chen Mian said, handing them over. “They might not fit perfectly, but they’ll do. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Linyu Port to buy some new ones.”
Flora took the clothes, her fingers brushing the soft linen fabric. “This fabric... it’s so comfortable.”
“The bathroom is at the end of the hallway. Do you know how to use the water heater? It’s the same principle as the gas stove. Turn it to the left for hot water.”
“You already taught me.” Flora clutched the clothes, the tips of her ears turning pink. “Thank you.”
The bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water soon followed.
This girl is surprisingly naive. The high-level mages I’ve met before were all incredibly devious.
No wonder someone of her level ended up losing her mana.
After all, he had also suffered greatly due to his own naivety shortly after arriving in this world. It was that experience that had led him to choose the path of a lone traveler.
“It’s hot! Oh, to the right... ah, there we go.”
Chen Mian couldn’t help but chuckle.
About twenty minutes passed.
Flora’s voice drifted from the end of the hallway, tinged with hesitation. “Mr. Chen Mian... how do I use this thing?”
Chen Mian stood up and walked over.
The bathroom door was ajar. Flora stood before the sink, studying the hairdryer in her hand while looking in the mirror.
Chen Mian had told her it was for drying hair, but this was clearly Flora’s first time encountering one, and she hadn't figured out how it worked.
In the bathroom, she had changed into the pale green linen dress with the light gray jacket over it. The clothes were much more form-fitting than her original mage robes, with a natural waistline and a hem that reached just below her calves.
Her wet hair was draped over her shoulders, water still dripping from the ends and soaking a small patch of the fabric on her shoulder.
She turned to look at Chen Mian, her face slightly flushed. “...These clothes seem a bit large.”
They were indeed a bit big. The neckline was slightly loose, revealing her pale collarbones and shoulders. Overall, however, she looked much more refreshed than she had in her old robes.
“It looks fine,” Chen Mian said. “We’ll buy some better-fitting ones tomorrow.”
“I... I don’t have any money right now.”
“Then you can owe me. Pay me back when you have some.”
Chen Mian walked over, took the hairdryer from Flora’s hand, and patted the small stool beside the sink. “Sit here.”
Flora hesitated for a moment before sitting down with her back to him, her spine held perfectly straight.
Chen Mian flipped the switch, and the hairdryer emitted a low hum as warm air rushed out.
He tested the temperature on the back of his hand first, then gathered a lock of her hair.
The light brown strands slipped through his fingers, damp and fragrant with a faint floral scent mixed with her own natural, subtle body fragrance.
Flora’s body was tense.
“Relax.”
“...Okay.”
Warm air blew from the roots to the tips as Chen Mian’s fingers slowly combed through her hair.
“Mr. Chen Mian.”
“Just Chen Mian is fine.”
“...Chen Mian.” She paused. “Did you make all these things yourself?”
Chen Mian thought for a moment. “They were conjured.”
“Eh? Honestly, Chen Mian... that’s such a casual answer.”
Chen Mian gave a helpless smile. This was originally a normal apartment; the items generated by the system were essentially conjured out of thin air, weren't they? No one believed him even when he told the truth.
Flora was silent for a while. “Where exactly is this place, Chen Mian?”
“The Forest of Death.”
“What? Are you serious? Aren't there many terrifying magical beasts in the Forest of Death?”
“Mhm, it’s true. Don't move.” Chen Mian’s fingers paused for a second before he continued drying. “Don't worry, it’s safe here.”
“Why?”
“There’s a magic array.”
“I see... Don't you feel lonely living here all by yourself?” Flora asked, sounding like a curious child. It was impossible to tell she had once been a Level 78 Great Mage.
“I’m used to it,” he said. “Besides, I have you now.”
The tips of Flora’s ears turned a violent shade of red.
The air grew quiet for a few seconds.
“...I mean, as a tenant,” Chen Mian added.
This was, of course, his own bit of mischief.
Flora didn’t say anything, but Chen Mian noticed her ears turning even redder.
When her hair was nearly dry, his finger accidentally brushed against the tip of her ear.
Flora’s entire body jolted, and she nearly jumped off the stool.
“Was it too hot?” Chen Mian quickly pulled the hairdryer away.
“N-No, it’s not the heat...” Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. “M-My ears... are a bit sensitive.”
Chen Mian was silent for a moment. “...I’ll be more careful then.”
He softened his movements, cautiously avoiding her ears.
Flora’s body gradually relaxed, her head lowering slightly to reveal the pale nape of her neck.
A few stray hairs clung to her skin; as Chen Mian gently brushed them aside with his fingers, her shoulders tensed again.
The only sound in the bathroom was the hum of the hairdryer.
After about ten minutes, her hair was dry, falling loosely over her shoulders with a soft luster under the light.
“All done.” Chen Mian turned off the hairdryer.
Flora stood up and turned around, looking up at him.
Her face was a bit red, though whether it was from the warm air or something else was unclear.
Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only managed a soft, “Thank you.”
【Daily interaction quest complete! Obtained 30 Points.】
Chen Mian put away the hairdryer and turned to leave.
Drying a girl’s hair really is a hassle... I should have just used magic.
Chen Mian walked back to his room.
Lying on his bed, he opened the system panel and glanced at the Taming Contract.
“What should I catch...”
A moment later.
Knock, knock, knock...
“Chen Mian, are you asleep?” Flora’s slightly timid voice came from outside the door.
“What is it?”
“T-That... I haven’t fulfilled the condition for the massage yet...”
Rate on N.U.
