CHAPTER 28: TALKING BUSINESS

As they stepped out of the bathroom — steam still clinging faintly to their hair — the aroma hit them like a physical force.

They froze mid-step.

Alicia’s empty eyes... flickered.

Not much. Barely there. Like a broken fluorescent light trying to spark once more.

But it was emotion.

A tiny, tiny spark of emotion.

They both — without even realizing — drifted toward the kitchen like they were being pulled by an invisible thread.

I turned, spatula in hand.

"Oh, you girls are back."

Now that they were clean — the difference was obvious.

Lily looked... human again. Still thin, still worn — but her features were actually pretty refined under the dirt.

And Alicia... with the grime washed off, her scar was clearer — ugly but striking — yet her natural beauty was undeniable.

These two... after some time and proper nourishment...

Yeah. They’d turn heads.

"Good timing," I said, shutting off the burner. "Go wait in the dining hall. The food’s almost ready."

Lily stepped forward immediately.

"How can boss serve us, slaves. We should be the ones—"

"First of all," I cut her off, stern. "Stop calling yourselves slaves. You’re my employees now. Not slaves. Understood?"

She flinched — then nodded.

"And second — relax. I can carry a plate or two. I’m not crippled."

But Lily looked almost distressed.

"Please, Boss... let me

do it. If I don’t help... I’ll feel like you’re stealing our job."

I sighed.

"Fine. Set the table. I’ll go wash up."

*****

By the time I came back from the bathroom, steam still clinging to my skin, the dining table was set neatly — utensils aligned, water poured, napkins folded. Lily stood ramrod straight behind her chair, Alicia sat silently, the faintest tremor of hunger visible in her fingers.

Both of them had their eyes glued to the pot of steaming fried rice I placed at the center.

Their stomachs growled in stereo.

I couldn’t help but laugh. "Why didn’t you start eating?"

"How could we eat before you?" Lily said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Right. Noble-world etiquette. Servant hierarchy. This world’s sense of ’commonsense.’ Fine. I wasn’t going to waste a decade fighting it in one dinner. I sat, scooped a generous portion, and gestured. "Alright, then eat."

They served themselves. Very tiny portions — Like squirrels trying to ration acorns.

I chuckled inwardly.

They wouldn’t stay modest after one bite.

I took my first bite.

Holy hell.

Even I paused mid-chew.

This wasn’t just good — this was divine. The Culinary Creator passive wasn’t a joke. The balance of sesame, soy, salt, the vegetables — everything fused perfectly. Like a seven-star chef had slapped me aside and taken control of my hands.

And then — the moment the food touched their tongues — both of them jerked.

Alicia’s spoon clattered softly against the bowl. Her dead gaze trembled — her lips parted — her breath hitched — her eyes shimmered.

For a girl whose emotions were murdered out of her, this one spoonful was enough to wake something in her chest.

As for Lily — she practically froze solid.

She didn’t even chew at first. She just sat there, eyes wide, spoon still in her mouth — overwhelmed.

Her mind wasn’t just tasting — it was analyzing.

She had cooking skill at level 5. She could taste every component distinctly.

She could identify the heat of the pepper blend.

The nutty lift of sesame oil.

The delicate sear of hare meat cut to perfect grain.

The fluff of rice grains individually coated but never soggy.

And that soy — that flavor didn’t exist in this world — it shot through her palate like divine revelation.

Her hand trembled. Her throat tightened. Then she exhaled — slowly — like she had just been released from starvation and ascended to a higher dimension.

She looked at me — eyes wide, full of awe — as if I was something godlike.

Not a noble.

Not a boss.

Not even a man.

But a higher being.

A man who created miracles out of a simple pan.

I blinked at her.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lily swallowed hard — tears actually forming. "...Boss... is this really cooking?"

No. That wasn’t the tone of someone asking a question.

That was devotion.

That was faith.

She had just found her god — and unfortunately — that god was me.

Meanwhile, Alicia silently took a second spoonful.

And a third.

Her hands still trembled faintly — but she never stopped eating.

*****

The chairs creaked as we all leaned back and just... existed. There wasn’t a single grain of rice left in the pot. They scraped that thing to the metal.

Both girls looked like they wanted to eat a second round but their bodies simply couldn’t fit another spoonful. They looked drunk on food — eyes half-glazed, shoulders heavy, breathing slow.

Lily eventually stood, shaky but determined.

"...I will get the dishes cleaned."

I waved her off. "That can wait. We need to talk first."

"Talk...?" she blinked, confused.

Even Alicia looked up at me, expression faintly curious — like she was only now capable of feeling curiosity again.

"Yeah." I crossed my arms. "First tell me — what do you honestly think of my cooking?"

Lily answered instantly.

"It was heavenly, boss."

Her voice trembled with sincerity. "Even after being full... my mouth didn’t want to stop."

Alicia nodded — not a tiny nod — a full, meaningful agreement.

I laughed. "Good. Because I’m thinking of opening a diner."

Silence fell.

Lily stared at me like I’d just asked if water was wet.

"Profit...?" she repeated. "Boss, with cooking like this you’ll flood the market. There won’t be a competitor left standing."

She wasn’t exaggerating — she was stating it like fact.

"I traveled for years with merchant caravans," she said quietly, "I’ve tasted food from many regions. Nothing comes close to what you just served us. This isn’t just good — it changes how food should taste."

"Hah." I leaned back, smirking. "Fried rice was just housekeeping. Barely even a warm-up."

Both of them stared at me like wide–eyed animals who’ve finally discovered oxygen existed. There wasn’t a shred of doubt in their eyes — only expectation.

Hope, hunger, anticipation.

Even Alicia — the hollow ghost — was looking at me with light in her eyes now. That alone made the gamble worth it.

Lily swallowed once before speaking — nervous, almost reverent.

"Boss... if you don’t mind... could I observe you while you cook? Not to steal... just to learn. Even a little..."

I snorted and flicked her forehead lightly.

"Observe?" I snorted. "You’re not observing. You’re learning. You think I hired you for washing dishes? As of tomorrow — you’re my trainee chef. You’re learning every recipe in my head."

Her entire face lit up as if she’d been blessed by a goddess. She bowed so hard her forehead nearly hit the table.

"Thank you—Boss! I’ll devote myself to it!"

"Good. Training starts tomorrow. Now you can go wash."

"Yes!"

She grabbed the plates with the enthusiasm of someone about to ascend to heaven.

Alicia stood to follow, but I raised my voice.

"Alicia, stay. I need a word."

She paused — turned — then slowly sat back down, hands folding in her lap.