Chapter 32: Hope (1)

Chapter 32: Hope (1)

In Arteil, restaurants and cooking play a significant role.

The happiness of the territorys residents increases and labor efficiency improves when a restaurant is established within the domain.

Of course, taverns have a similar effect to restaurants, but their efficiency is considerably lesser compared to restaurants.

Moreover, restaurants play a very important role not only in the territorys welfare but also in the training of heroes and soldiers.

The reason is that restaurants are the only place in Arteil that can provide a wide range of buffs to heroes and soldiers.

Even a small buff can increase the survival rate of soldiers.

Furthermore, for heroes, buffs are almost an essential element.

Given the games characteristic that it becomes harder to increase stats as one levels up, inflating certain stats for 4-star or 5-star heroes can significantly enhance their power.

Therefore, while restaurants were important from both a territorial and training perspective, more importantly were the chefs.

No matter how high-level the restaurant, it was useless without a chef to provide buffs.

Naturally, the higher the star level of the chef, who is considered a supporting hero, and the more diverse their traits, the more various buffs are added to the dishes they create in the restaurant.

However, the reason Kim Hyunwoo did not have much expectation for Lani was that she was still only a 1-star hero.

No matter how well a chefs talents and traits match, if they do not grow, they cannot fully utilize their abilities.

And in that sense, the dish Lani currently placed in front of Kim Hyunwoo was,

Is this a dish made by a 1-star? No, can a unique stat boost even appear?

It was not a dish that a 1-star could make.

Kim Hyunwoo unknowingly stared intently at the dish.

What he saw was a dish that brought an unbelievable stat increase, and not something a 1-star chef could make.

While staring blankly at it, Kim Hyunwoo, wondering, opened Lanis information window, but there was no change in her information.

The only change, if it could be called that, was that her luck had recently increased by 1.

However, since a supporting heros star level does not increase just because their stats do, Kim Hyunwoo wore a puzzled expression.

Um, maybe- this, isnt it?

He looked forward at the sound of the voice coming soon.

In front of Kim Hyunwoo, Lani was fidgeting, looking pitiful and tearing up, watching his reaction.

Realizing that he had been blankly staring at the food, Kim Hyunwoo briefly shook his head and put the stew she made into his mouth.

And.

Oh.

Kim Hyunwoo unwittingly let out an exclamation.

After all, the food Lani made was quite delicious.

So, when Kim Hyunwoo unknowingly turned his gaze to Lani,

?

Kim Hyunwoo couldnt help but look perplexed.

Because, for sure, Lani, who had been looking at him with a worried expression just a moment ago, was now naturally raising her guard stance with a ladle in hand.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

What are you doing??

Kim Hyunwoo asked with a bewildered expression.

However, Lani, seemingly flustered by his question, then asked,

Um, youre not going to hit me??

She asked.

Yes?

?

Kim Hyunwoo, wearing an incredulous expression, looked at Lani and wondered about the life she must have led, but then,

Hmm-hmm-

Kim Hyunwoo cleared his throat and then said,

I wont hit you. I never wanted to in the first place, and why would I when youve made such delicious food?

Eh?

Didnt I tell you? You have a talent for cooking. This stew is really delicious.

He said.

Thus, the girl, who had never properly heard praise or had anyone to lean on, unwittingly let her guard down and simply stared blankly as Kim Hyunwoo ate.



Two weeks later.

Territory: Lartania

Territory Development: 257

Title: King of Logs

Star (): ?? star

-Stats-

Strength: 12 Agility: 13

Intelligence: 6 Luck: 9

Magic: 3

-Traits-

Indomitable Mind (): In any situation, you can quickly regain your composure if you wish.

[The rest of the text appears to be corrupted and does not display properly]

Though his stats were too meager to be called a heros, Kim Hyunwoo was definitely growing.

Not through training, but because of the food Lani had been making for him since two weeks ago.

Since receiving praise two weeks ago, as if wanting to hear more praise, Lani served different meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, slowly increasing Kim Hyunwoos stats.

Permanent stat increases are unheard of in Arteil

Originally, in Arteil, there were no dishes or elixirs that permanently increased stats upon consumption.

A long time ago, the developers, crazed for money, sold a random stat-boosting potion for 500,000 won, but quickly ended the event when even the whales balked at it.

Whats more surprising is that they ended the event early not with a rollback but with the mentality of not refunding the money they earned

Anyway, Kim Hyunwoo was growing, albeit slightly, because Lanis cooking unexpectedly came with permanent stat increases, something never before seen in Arteil.

It would be great if this could be used to grow Elena or other heroes.

Strangely, soldiers including Elena could not see immediate effects like Kim Hyunwoo did.

Since only Kim Hyunwoo could see immediate and permanent effects, he wore a slightly regretful expression, but

It was still very satisfying.

Naturally, there was no complaint since it was absurdly advantageous for a chefs cooking to increase stats in the first place.

However, it would be necessary to further investigate this ability.

Since the permanent stat increases obtained from Lanis cooking were not listed under traits or skills, Kim Hyunwoo decided to investigate it.

Then, now that the soldiers seem ready, shall we start targeting the second tier in earnest?

With that thought, he called Elena, and,

soon after conveying his intention to target the second tier to her, he saw Elena nodding in agreement.

Lord, may I ask just one thing?

What is your question?

Um, about the room I was assigned to?

Ah, is it uncomfortable for you?

No, its not that, its just the room is generally in a mess.

The room?

Yes, I cleaned it up, but I cant remove the scars already on the room and walls. Besides, it seems it wasnt ventilated, so theres a smell that wont go away. Above all-

Elena said with a slight expression of discomfort,

The buildings within the Lords castle are ultimately the Lords property, so its unpleasant to see them treated so carelessly. Anyway, it made me wonder who on earth had stayed in that room.

Kim Hyunwoo, momentarily recalling the original occupant of the room at her slightly displeased expression,

That room, it was Merildas room.

Soon after recalling that Merilda was the owner of the room, he pondered for a moment.

Um, the one who used that room was the first hero I recruited, and the scars here and there in the room are probably from her living as a beastfolk.

Beastfolk?

Yes, she was quite reliable. Naturally, being the first hero, I have a bit of attachment to her,

he muttered with a slightly nostalgic expression.

Anyway, if thats the case, Ill arrange for you to be moved to another room.

Following Kim Hyunwoos words-

swish.

Far away, on a hill, the tail of a wolf that had never swished before and had always been droopy, with still listless eyes, began to swish.

Eh?

In her eyes, which had never brightened in the roughly ten years since the Lord left,

swish, swish-

a liveliness began to swirl.