CHAPTER 27: PARTY MEMBER #2

Crimson Witch.

In the game, she didn’t appear until the second half — not some mid-tier mob boss, but a full-on commander of Infernus. One of the big names. A late-stage raid boss.

Alicia Valemont.

The last princess of the Valemont kingdom — a tiny independent nation swallowed by endless dungeon outbreaks. Multiple fissures opened at once, monsters flooded the land, and the kingdom collapsed in under three months.

Her family died.

Her retainers died.

Only she escaped — dragged out by those who loved her.

The game never gave more details.

Only that she hated the Empire.

Hated them deeply.

She simply appeared one day as the Crimson Witch — a calamity in human form.

It always bothered me why she hated the empire. But I think I know now.

She must have been sold to some perverted noble of the empire and would have suffered.

But now? Nothing like that will happen.

But seeing her condition now I couldn’t even imagine her to become a villainous who spread terror among masses.

...she looked like a hollow corpse sitting in human shape.

A fragile, malnourished girl.

No spark. No fire. No life.

Yet...

Lv. 9 Fire Magic Comprehension.

"Insane," I whispered under my breath.

Even Kael — protagonist golden boy — only had Lv. 8 Sword Comprehension.

One level above him.

If she hadn’t been defeated for plot convenience... how far would she have gone?

Archmage?

Above that?

A grin stretched across my face without my permission.

Don’t worry, Alicia Valemont.

I’ll make your talent bloom.

Villain party member #2 — recruited.

"Pfft— HA HA HA HA—!"

I laughed out loud like a madman.

Lily, seated across from me in the carriage, jumped back in shock.

Alicia didn’t react in the slightest — her eyes remained dead.

I coughed lightly, regaining composure.

"Ahem— don’t mind me. Sometimes I laugh for no reason. You’ll get used to it."

Lily’s eyes screamed I don’t want to get used to this.

Then I noticed both their clothes — or what was left of them. Rags barely holding together.

No. This won’t do.

When the carriage reached the market district and I hopped out.

"I’ve got something to take care of here," I said, handing Lily my house key. "Go ahead first."

I told the carriage driver my home location.

Then I headed straight to a clothing shop.

I bought 10 sets of clothes for each — simple, clean, durable outfits.

Nothing fancy — but leagues above rags.

Total cost: 8 silver.

Pocket change.

After that, I headed home.

When I opened the gate, both girls were sitting on the floor waiting like abandoned puppies.

"...Why are you sitting here? You could’ve gone inside."

"We were waiting for you, master," Lily said.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Alright, first rule — stop sitting on the ground like you’re strays. Use the chairs, the sofa, anything."

They stood upright instantly.

"And second— stop calling me master."

Lily blinked. "T-Then... what should we call you?"

"Lucien," I said. "That’s my name."

Lily shook her head rapidly. "W-We cannot. A slave cannot speak her master’s name—"

I sighed.

"Fine. Then call me ’boss’."

"Boss...?"

"Yes. Boss. Someone superior. That works, right?"

Lily bowed. "Then... understood, Boss."

Finally.

Hearing "Master" from a girl older than me was cringe-level painful.

Boss works.

Boss is fine.

*****

I sighed in relief and unlocked the door.

"Good. Now get inside — both of you. Standing around like this makes it look like I kidnapped you."

...well... technically I bought them legally — but semantics.

They stepped inside.

Lily’s gaze darted around the living room — curious, cautious, a little overwhelmed.

Alicia... walked like a wind-up doll. Hollow eyes. No reaction. No interest. Just movement.

I placed the folded clothes on the table.

"These are yours. Change into them later. Bathroom is down that hall — first door on the left. Clean yourselves first."

Lily bowed lightly. "Understood, Boss."

Alicia didn’t respond — didn’t even blink. Just stared at the clothes like they were random stones.

...yeah. rehab project level 100.

I let out a breath and headed into the kitchen.

Their stomachs had growled several times in the carriage. They tried to hide it, tried to suppress it — but hunger hits harder when you’ve had nothing decent in ages.

So — simple decision.

Fried rice.

I’d wanted to make it before, but without soy sauce or proper condiments, it would never taste right.

But now...

4900 points sat in my system.

I opened the shop and purchased:

Soy sauce – 2 points

• Sesame oil – 2 points

• Pepper blend – 1 point

Cheap. Dirt cheap.

Worth every point.

Once the points deducted, the ingredients materialized on the counter — glossy black soy sauce in a small glass vial, aromatic sesame oil, a packet of pepper.

Perfect.

*****

I washed the rice and set it to boil.

As steam slowly filled the kitchen, I sliced hare meat into fine bits — tiny granules, uniform, smooth, no ragged edges. My knife moved in a rhythm so natural I barely had to think.

slide slide tap tap—

Then vegetables — cabbage, onion, small bell peppers — chopped fine.

I flicked sesame oil into the pan.

whoosh—

A soft, mellow fragrance rose instantly, sweeter than butter, richer than anything this world normally had.

I tossed the meat in — the pan hissed sharply.

shhhh—

Aromas flared. The scent of browning fat mixed with sesame — savory, smoky, addictive.

My hands moved on autopilot.

Eggs cracked and whisked.

Veggies tossed in at perfect timing.

Heat adjusted with subtle flicks.

Culinary Creator (Passive)

Cooking done in natural flow improves dish quality and aroma.

Yeah. I didn’t even realize I was smiling.

Without thought, without recipe — just muscle memory — the dish rose and turned golden before my eyes.

I added the rice, then soy sauce.

black drops — sizzling — instant color change

Everything coated.

Everything fragrant.

This was the kind of fried rice you’d smell ten meters away.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Bathroom door opened — footsteps — and both girls walked out in simple robes provided by the house.

Lily froze mid-step.

Alicia... stopped too.

For the first time — her dead crimson eyes moved.