That noon, inside the kitchen of the Loki Familia's Twilight Manor…
"So why… did things develop like this again?"
Wearing an apron and standing before a blazing stove, Lumine couldn't help but mutter this complaint inwardly.
Beside her,
"Lumine, all the ingredients are ready~"
"You can make whatever you want."
"Looking forward to something delicious."
"U-um, sorry, it's such a bother for you…"
Tione, Tiona, Ais, and the elf girl Lefiya were all gathered as her impromptu audience.
The two sisters had even hauled over massive slabs of beast meat, leaving the supply managers scratching their heads in confusion.
Watching them so expectantly… sigh~
For some reason, Lumine suddenly recalled her main body's days before transmigration, grinding through side quests in Teyvat. They said that when one's wish became strong enough, a certain blonde, golden-eyed fool would appear to help set things right.
Heh, the ultimate tool-man…
"Well, fine."
She glanced at the cauldron before her. This situation isn't much different from what Aether (my main body) expected… probably.
And what had Aether expected? Simple!
He had thought Lumine would spend a day or two shopping and bonding with Ais and the others. Then, once she grew closer to them, she'd find a chance to cook, showcasing her skills and, half-concealing her true strength, reveal her unique, irreplaceable value.
It was, without doubt, a perfect way to quickly deepen connections.
Because, ultimately, since the Freya Familia rarely went on expeditions, if Aether wanted himself and Lumine to stay long-term with the Loki Familia, he needed to show value that couldn't be ignored.
The best gray zone was to not expose key secrets while still making the Loki Familia think: The next expedition absolutely can't happen without them.
Thus, so long as Paimon wasn't revealed, sharing a few "modest but effective" Genshin-style dishes would do the trick.
Of course, Aether had long since tested those dishes in secret. He hated entering situations unprepared.
But he hadn't expected the time to show off the Teyvat Cooking God's skills step to arrive so soon.
Anyway, for now,
"The only Genshin dishes I can make right now are Mushroom Chicken Skewers and Steak, both one-star recipes."
Lumine recalled her earlier experiments. "I've unlocked a good number of one-star recipes in the compendium, but some of the special ingredients just aren't available in this world."
"So for now, I can't make them."
For example, the one-star recipe Stir-Fried Meat Slices required Beast Meat ×1 and Jueyun Chili ×1.
Beast meat? Orario had plenty. Luckily, the system accepted Orario's meat and mushrooms.
But Jueyun Chilis? Those were native only to Teyvat.
According to the system's explanation:
Once my main body reaches Lv.2 and gains a Development Ability, he'll unlock "Synthesis," which allows conversion of Orario's materials into Teyvat ones.
For example:
Orario chili → Jueyun Chili
Ordinary flower → Sweet Flower → Teyvat Sugar
The "Synthesis" ability could also craft:
Elemental oils
Elemental potions
Skill books
In short:
Aether → Forging
Lumine→ Cooking
The main body → Synthesis
Together, a perfect trio covering Genshin's three core systems.
Which is why I really need the main body to level up faster, Lumine thought.
This was the real reason Aether planned to stay with the Loki Familia's expedition team.
For now, though, she had pushed both available one-star dishes to Auto Cook level, meaning she could produce them perfectly every time.
"Alright then. First, add some water."
Under Ais and the others' eyes, Lumine heaved a massive water jug and poured it into the cauldron.
"Uh, Lumine…"
"Hmm?"
"You're making steak and skewers, right? Why so much water?"
As the older of the Hiryute sisters, Tione at least knew some cooking basics. She couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, my cooking is triggered through my skill. It's not the same as a normal chef's process."
With that, Lumine dropped two cut slabs of beast meat into the boiling water. Then, she raised her left hand over the cauldron,
BOOM~
A flash of golden light burst forth.
From the cauldron leapt a perfectly plated steak, wrapped in parchment.
Lumine caught it smoothly with her left hand and displayed it with a smile.
"See? That's basically how it works."
Tione's lips twitched uncontrollably.
"You… call that cooking?"
"Mhm~" Lumine nodded innocently. "I mean, look, add water, add ingredients, apply fire, and out comes the dish. Perfectly logical, right?"
"…"
Tione was utterly speechless.
But,
"Oh, don't worry about the details~"
Tiona leaned in, sniffing the steak eagerly. "It smells so good. Looks delicious too."
The steak sizzled, fat crackling as its aroma filled the room.
Even Tione bent closer, frowning thoughtfully. "But wait… she only added meat. Why the change? Could the fat have melted into oil?"
She was taking it far too seriously.
Meanwhile Tiona pointed, eyes sparkling. "Slurp~ Can I eat it now?"
"Of course. I made it for you."
Lumine smiled warmly, handing over the steak.
Tiona's eyes lit up as she accepted it carefully, already drooling slightly.
Oh, right, an important note,
In the system, Steak was a borderline broken Revival-type Dish.
In Genshin, it could revive a fallen character with a sliver of HP.
In this world,
[Steak: The first person to eat it becomes bound. If they die, they will immediately revive with a small amount of health. Later eaters gain only minor healing. Revival cooldown: 120 days.]
Naturally, the first steak had been eaten by Aether himself.
Like a Devil Fruit, only the first consumer got the main effect.
Other Genshin dishes could be eaten repeatedly, though their buffs had limits.
Attack/Defense/Crit dishes stacked if they were of different types.
But same-type buffs did not.
So basically, revivals are limited, but combat buffs can be layered, Lumine noted.
The more recipes I unlock, the more valuable I become.
Just then,
"Mmm~ It's sooo good."
Tiona, cheeks puffed with steak, was glowing with happiness.
Before long,
"Lumine, you're definitely my friend now."
Eyes shining, the cheerful girl grasped Lumine's hands tightly.
Inwardly, Oh… haha… Lumine forced a polite, if slightly awkward, smile.
If this were a game, I swear a notification would've popped up: [Ding! Tiona Hiryute's Affection MAX.]
The plan worked pretty well.
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