“I feel like something’s off with him,” Fokil expressed to Ivana, his tone laced with concern, prompting Ivana to turn her attention to Broken, though she couldn’t discern what had caught Fokil’s notice.
“I don’t see… something wrong with him, Mr. Fokil.”
“He works tirelessly, like a machine. Not even a Master Blacksmith works as hard as him, I can assure you that. He needs a distraction, something to take his mind off whatever problem might be weighing on him. And that’s where you come in, Ivana. You could be the one to offer him comfort, help him forget his troubles. I’m not good at handling these kinds of situations.”
“Really?” Ivana responded. “I’m not sure if I can help, but I’ll make sure he eats some of what I brought.”
Ivana approached Broken with caution, her footsteps measured so as not to disrupt his work. She delicately placed a steaming dish of freshly cooked pasta on the table near his workstation.
The aroma wafted towards Broken, instantly stimulating his appetite, and he looked up at Ivana with a hint of confusion in his eyes. In his gravelly voice, he gruffly questioned, “Food?”
Ivana paused momentarily before introducing herself softly, “Hi, my name is Ivana. I am… um… Gia’s daughter… My mother speaks highly of you, and she mentioned that you loved her cooking. So, I brought enough food for Mr. Fokil and you to enjoy together.”
Broken eyed the plate suspiciously. “Umh…. thanks. My name is Broken, and… is this meal cooked by Gia as well?” he inquired.
“Oh no… I cooked it myself… I apologize, but I’m confident my cooking won’t disappoint you. Next time, I’ll ask my mother to cook for you again if you’d like,” she said with a soft and calm voice, accompanied by a warm smile that never left her face.
“Oh no, it’s okay, don’t let your mother work harder, I don’t want… I mean, I don’t intend to eat her food again.”
Ivana giggled at his words. “Would you like to take a short break and enjoy this meal before it gets cold?” she offered.
Continuing because Broken still seemed puzzled, Ivana expressed, “Um, I want to extend a big thank you to you. Thanks to you, my mother’s health has improved… and if you don’t mind, I’ll bring you food as I usually do for Mr. Fokil.” she paused briefly. “But make sure you like my cooking first.” she giggled.
Broken then powered down the forge and set aside the blacksmith equipment, walking slowly towards the table. Ivana smiled warmly and began serving the food she brought, taking a moment to glance at Fokil. “Mr. Fokil, would you like to join us too?”
“No, haha, I’m still busy, you go ahead and eat with him. I think he’s on the verge of passing out, so no need to wait for me,” he said warmly.
Ivana then placed the steaming plates of food on the table. “Please, enjoy,” she said with a warm smile.
Broken smiled and quickly grabbed a plate and fork, eagerly digging in. The blend of seasonings and the tenderness of the pasta melted in his mouth, and he couldn’t believe how delicious it was. He hurriedly took another bite, becoming even more impressed with the taste of the pasta combined with the perfectly cooked pieces of meat. It felt as if even his physical body outside the game was salivating, experiencing the sensation of eating the girl’s cooking.
“This is… so… perfect….” he said with a mouthful of food.
“Really?” Ivana said, giggling. “Thanks, I’ll make sure to bring you food every day if you like
it.”
“Ivana has a Unique-grade Chef class, kid,” Fokil chimed in from his workstation. “She is at Expert rank.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
“Expert Rank Chef?!” Broken was momentarily stunned by Fokil’s words, glancing once again at Ivana, the blonde girl with her serene gaze and peaceful demeanor. Could she really be an Expert Chef? But how? Isn’t leveling up a Production class in this game incredibly difficult? Especially if she is only an NPC with… limited resources?
“No wonder this food tastes so amazing….” Broken exclaimed in amazement. “I feel honored to taste the cooking of an Expert Chef.”
Ivana couldn’t help but beam with delight as she shook her head in disbelief. “Thanks for your praise, Broken, but… I just cook because I love it, so it’s not as special as you make it out to be.”
“Someone like you should be working as a royal chef in the kingdom’s palace, shouldn’t you?” at least that’s what Broken thought. Because the food he was eating truly felt like a luxurious meal fit for royal families, no exaggeration. The blend of flavors, and the perfect level of cooking, was truly impeccable and harmonized perfectly on the palate.
Ivana said, her eyes gleaming with pride, “I don’t feel that special, Broken. But, honestly, I was so amazed when I heard your story. you’re truly extraordinary. You’re a natural talent at Mining; you managed to mine moonstones in such a short time when you tried it out, right? And you’re also the only one Mr. Fokil has taken on as an apprentice. Did you know that?” she said, giggling.
Fokil quickly interjected, raising his voice. “He’s not my only apprentice, Ivana. Stop talking nonsense!”
Ivana just chuckled at Fokil’s remark.
Broken continued eating until he was completely satisfied. He was delighted with the
deliciousness of the meal; it was the tastiest thing he had ever eaten.
“I could eat this same meal every day for the rest of my life, and I would still be happy,” he thought to himself.
[You have devoured a generous helping of the delicious pasta.]
[A random stat will be temporarily boosted.]
[You will receive a 12-point increase to your Stamina stat for a period of 24 hours.]
[Additionally, your most desired stat, Dexterity, will be increased by 12 points for the same duration.]
Broken was beaming with surprise and joy when he saw his two stats boosted, especially since it was a special stat! His eyes darted to Ivana, and he flashed a huge smile.
“I got a boost to my Dexterity by 12 points; this is truly amazing… I feel like your cooking truly holds high value, Ivana. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your cooking,” he said in
admiration.
Ivana smiled and nodded, “Thanks, glad to hear you enjoyed it.”
Broken excused himself to return to his work. “Thanks, I need to get back to my work,” then rushed back to his task, full of enthusiasm.
[Ivana was overwhelmed with gratitude for all the help you had provided for Gia. Upon meeting you, she was filled with admiration and respect. She felt an instant connection with you, and her admiration for you grew to 45%, indicating her willingness to offer full support and assist you in completing your projects.]
Ivana blushed and shyly looked away as she approached Fokil.
“It seems like your presence has left quite an impact on him,” Fokil remarked. Confused, Ivana furrowed her brows, “What do you mean, Mr. Fokil?” she asked timidly.
“His face lit up with joy when you walked in. I don’t think it was just because of the food,” he
said knowingly, his grin widening.
Feeling her cheeks flush, Ivana stuttered, “M-Mr. Fokil…”
“I believe he’s quite fond of you,” Fokil teased. “Maybe he’s already smitten with you.”
Ivana felt her cheeks burning, and she stammered, “M-Mr. Fokil, where did you come up with
such ideas?”
Exchanging a knowing glance with her, Fokil replied, “Just observe how happy he becomes in your presence! That should be evidence enough.”
Speechless, Ivana struggled to find the right words. “Mr. Fokil, I- umh, I’m planning to prepare another dish for sale. I’ll be back tomorrow. Have a nice day,” and she quickly exited
the smithy.
Meanwhile, Broken continued working diligently at the Smithy, hour after hour. As his eyes grew tired and his stomach rumbled with hunger, he reluctantly logged out and took a break. After completing a few routine tasks, he eagerly logged back in and resumed crafting his new items one by one.
It took him nearly two weeks to craft 5 items, which was quite a long time. But through it all, Ivana diligently visited each day, bringing delicious food and a comforting presence.
“Just a few more steps,” he muttered as he hammered away at the anvil. “I’m almost
finished.”
Finally, Broken was on the cusp of completing his task and he could sense the surge of newfound power coursing through his body.