489 A new couple in team ten

“...” Clair blushed at the weird-sounding praise. Even though she cooked hard-boiled eggs, hearing “nice eggs” as a compliment instead of “they taste good” caught her off guard.

“Very nice eggs, hehe.” Pussy teased Clair.

Clair raised her hands and covered her face. She moved hastily to hide in her bedroom, but she bumped into something both hard and soft.

Clair moved her hands and saw Nick in front of her blocking her way. No his shoulders were Vincent’s hands as if he had pushed Nick to block her.

“Sorry if it sounded too weird.” Vincent apologized. “The hard-boiled eggs gave everyone one strength stat buff with a duration of ten minutes.”

Clair couldn’t believe she managed to cook food with beneficial buffs, and tears of joy welled in her eyes. Clair was happy not to be baggage dragging her team down anymore. Now, she could help and feel like a member of the team.

Vincent went over to the table and stood in front of the bowl. Inside was the last hard-boiled egg. He grabbed a knife and cut it in half.

“Lupa. Plow. Here is a part of Yesterday’s reward.”

Both Lupa and Plow became happy to eat. However, they didn’t know they were being used out of Vincent and Kazumi’s curiosity.

.....

“Thank you, my mate.”

*Pho* “Plow loves nice eggs.”

Vincent focused his gaze and scanned their new condition. The result of eating half of the stat buffing food was Vincent and Kazumi’s expected based on the RPG games from Earth.

.

[Name] Lupa Lionheart

[Condition] Healthy, Minor Strength +1 (14min)

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[Name] Plow

[Condition] Healthy, Minor Strength +1 (14min)

.

Based on the results in front of his eyes, Vincent had the necessary proof of how food buffs worked. Only the duration of the buff can be added, while the stat buffs couldn’t become more potent.

Vincent looked at Clair and bluntly told her the truth about how a person must eat all of the food that makes the dish complete in order to receive all the benefits.

Vincent also explained how the duration had about the same length as the portion is taken added to it, which was five minutes.

Cooking bite-sized food was the only type of food suitable to have when in a fight. Instead of gulping a potion, a person could eat bite-sized food, which wouldn’t be too different.

Fighting after eating a full-course meal for a powerful buff would render the benefit of boosted stats useless. Not to mention the time needed to eat all the food.

In a fight, quick movement will always be needed. Thus the person who would eat a lot of food would feel like vomiting instead of fighting, similar to drinking too many potions.

historical

“...” Clair didn’t know what to say. She became depressed after hearing how she needed to cook bite-sized food. Unfortunately, she only knew how to cook large healthy meals.

[How about I use some of the beginner recipes from my memory bank? I can tweak the recipes to create finger food and let Clair become a caterer.]

The idea sounded great to Vincent. He agreed to have Clair learn to make finger food and let her test out what food works and doesn’t. Later he would be able to give the recipes to Yula and aid her in the Cook Class.

“How about this...”

While adding a lie here and there, Vincent explained how he had used his Inspection ability to scan the food he ordered and learned a lot about meal composition. He could give her a few prototype recipes if she agreed to it.

Clair became interested. She didn’t hesitate to say, “I will try the recipes even if the ingredients do not match well. ” With a gaze filled with determination.

Pussy approached Clair and teased, “Does this mean my master will have more nice food like the famous ~nice eggs?~”

Clair turned around and swiftly went to hide in her bedroom. Pussy giggled and followed Clair to tease her for a little longer.

Vincent approached Nick and whispered in his ear, “I will give you the recipes to hand them to Clair. I hope you will find a good time to ask her for a date.”

Nick blushed when Vincent was about to become his wingman. “I-I feel like starting the morning run now.” He said before running outside.

“Vincent, are you planning to help them become a couple?” Lilith asked. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“It is their choice.” Vincent smoothly responded.

Vivid smiled and thanked Vincent for helping Nick before joining Nick in his morning run.

Jun Ye Rim peeked at Plow before heading back to her bedroom.

Plow asked Lilith to put her down. Afterward, Plow entered Jun Ye Rim’s bedroom, and the little fox wasn’t asked to leave. As if Jun Ye Rim was warming up to Plow and her cuteness.

That day, Vincent didn’t participate in Maria’s lesson.

Vincent, with the help of Kazumi, spent time writing down a battered chicken recipe with various herb combinations. He also added ways to make them similar to chicken nuggets or chicken fingers. Additionally, he also added the idea of incorporating cheese to make it taste better.

Vincent went to wait for their return with Plow. He summoned a barrel, took a seat, and petted Plow to let the time move faster.

Four flashes of light appeared. Later, Lilith, Nick, Clair, and Jun Ye Rim appeared.

Plow went with Jun Ye Rim as if she had become her next best friend and Clair left to find Pussy.

Lilith and Nick approached Vincent and asked at the same time, “Is it done?”

[Lilith is eager to see romance sprout while Nick is nervous. He probably is wondering if he can do it.]

-I just hope everything goes smoothly.-

[Yeah. Me two.]

Vincent took out a piece of paper with instructions on both sides. He also included a few illustrations to allow anyone reading the recipes to understand Earth’s cooking techniques.

Nick received the recipes. He nodded and said, “I am able to understand everything clearly. I feel I might be able to cook without the fear of burning the food.”

“Then shouldn’t you help Clair and confess?” Vincent bluntly asked.

Lilith revealed a beaming smile. “I didn’t think you were this romantic, Vincent. I hope you can attend the girls’ next romance book reading session.”

*Cough* “I am busy training. But I hope you can have fun sharing the stories.”

Nick chuckled, and his nervousness waned. He could see how Vincent and Lilith didn’t mind telling each other how they did not wish to join if they didn’t feel like it. They respected each other’s personal space.

Nick left and knocked on Clair’s door. Pussy opened the door and winked at him before leaving the two alone.

*Day 142 – 28 October – Wednesday*

The following day was an ordinary one if not for the fact that Nick, Clair, Vivid, and Pussy were nowhere to be found. Kazumi had seen them leave early in the morning, and they still hadn’t returned.

Kazumi was quite grumpy because she couldn’t follow them with the distance limit hindering her curiosity from getting satiated.

Later, Nick and Clair stood beside each other in front of the entrance. Vivid and Pussy stood behind them with content smiles on their faces.

Nick and Clair looked at each other. After exchanging a smile, both held each other’s hands they shouted, “We are blessed with all of your support and encouragement. We have become a couple.”

The door opened immediately as if those inside the mansion had an idea something big was about to happen. It was no surprise with the hearing of Lupa and Plow and the scouting of Kazumi and Jun Ye Rim’s Blemish.

One after the other starting with Vincent, approached Nick and Clair. They clapped and congratulated the new couple. Even Jun Ye Rim, who couldn’t clap, congratulated them in her own manner of speech.

“Thank you for giving me the courage to ask Clair out. ” Nick said with a beaming smile. His happiness reached the sky at that moment.

“I listened to the rumors instead of the truth. Thank you for the encouragement you have all shown me.” Clair said after Nick with a beaming smile. The two were happy to be together.

Vincent cleared his throat to attract attention and said, “Yesterday, my wives and I discussed what would be best if the two of you became a couple. Fortunately enough, it happened the next day.”

Vincent looked at his wives. They nodded to show how they agreed.

“We came to a unanimous conclusion that the relationship between the second son of the Graymoon family and the first daughter of the Reddawn family should keep the relationship a secret until the feelings for one another can deepen and become rooted strong enough to resist the erosion of rumors.”

“We also came to a unanimous conclusion that the two of you should inform your family of this joyous event. However, it would be best if they keep this a secret for now.”

Vincent looked at Nick and noticed how he contemplated what he had heard.

Vincent approached and placed his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “There might be many rumors about you doing something to Clair or forcing her to be together. The decision the two of you should make with your family in the end.”

Nick and Clair looked at each other.

“I contemplated about my infamy causing a problem. But I don’t want to make you suffer, Clair.”

“I am afraid of students talking badly about us. But I think what our friends suggested might be the best answer.”