The Career-Betting Roast Chicken

The afternoon sun in Broken Gold Town wasn't particularly intense, but as it shone upon the streets where the snow had yet to melt, it reflected a bright and cheerful luster.

Compared to the tranquility of Buyena Village, Broken Gold Town was clearly much more bustling.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and the cries of vendors rose and fell. Adventurers, merchants, and townsfolk in various attires weaved through the crowd, filling the air with the lively, bustling atmosphere of the mundane world.

"Phew... There really are a lot of people here."

Lynch walked in front, occasionally looking back at the two behind him. His eyes carried a hint of helplessness, yet also a doting smile.

Half a step behind him, Felsy was holding a delicate small handbag. She wore a light purple, waist-cinching long dress, draped with a snow-white fox fur cloak on the outside.

She kept her head slightly lowered, seemingly deliberately avoiding the amazed gazes of the passersby. Her reserved and noble demeanor made her look exactly like an aristocratic young lady out on an inspection tour.

And behind this young lady...

"Ugh... So heavy... Why do I have to carry these by hand when I have a spatial ring..."

Kuma was carrying bags big and small, all filled with the snacks and sundries Lynch had just bought. She followed behind with a look of utter despair on her face.

Originally, Lynch had wanted to spend some alone time as a couple.

But before leaving the house, Felsy had been extremely forceful in stating that if they didn't bring Kuma along as a laborer, she wouldn't go.

Lynch thought she was physically weak and needed someone to take care of her, so he gladly agreed.

But little did he know, this was purely the Lady Witch's sense of shame acting up.

If it were just the two of them, there would inevitably be intimate contact along the way, like holding hands or linking arms.

It was one thing at home, but on a street crowded with so many people... Felsy felt that she wasn't thick-skinned enough for that yet.

Bringing Kuma along as a third wheel might be a bit noisy, but at least it could alleviate that awkward atmosphere that made her heart race.

"Alright, we've walked around enough. Let's go get something to eat."

Lynch pointed to a two-story building not far ahead. "I heard from Asik that this restaurant is the most famous in town. Let's go try it."

The three of them arrived at the entrance of the restaurant.

Lynch looked up, and the expression on his face instantly froze.

On the massive signboard, written in an extremely exaggerated, almost blood-red font, was a long string of words for the shop's name:

[The Secret Recipe Crispy Roast Chicken That Stakes the Chef's Career]

In the corner of the signboard, there was even a stick-figure drawing of a chef holding up a kitchen knife, swearing an oath with a tragic and solemn expression.

"..."

Lynch's mouth twitched twice.

What was with this familiar sense of deja vu?

Why did this look exactly like the names of those takeout restaurants from his past life's food delivery apps?

To think that marketing gimmicks like "Refund if it tastes bad" or "Boss selling at a loss with tears in his eyes" could actually be seen in this alternate world!

"Um... Lynch?"

Felsy looked at the oppressive signboard and asked with some hesitation, "Is this restaurant really legitimate? It feels full of resentment."

"Ahem, the name is a bit weird, but the taste should... probably... be fine, right?"

Lynch himself was a bit unsure.

But since they were already here, and they were indeed hungry.

He pushed the door open and went in.

A rich, scorched aroma mixed with honey, rosemary, and burning fruitwood instantly assaulted their senses.

All previous doubts vanished into thin air at this moment.

The restaurant was packed with no empty seats. On every table sat a golden, crispy-skinned roast chicken. The diners were feasting heartily, their mouths shining with grease, and their faces beaming with happiness.

"Looks like it's the real deal."

Lynch breathed a sigh of relief. "Come on, let's find a seat."

The three of them found a corner seat by the window and sat down.

After ordering, Lynch's eyes lit up as he watched the waiter bring over the roast chicken, which was still sizzling with oil.

He skillfully tore off a chicken leg and placed it into Felsy's plate first.

"Here, wifey, you eat first. This skin looks so crispy."

Then he tore off a piece of chicken breast and tossed it to Kuma, who was watching eagerly from the side.

"Thank you, big brother Lynch!" Kuma didn't stand on ceremony, grabbing it and gnawing away.

Lynch took a bite himself.

"Mhm!"

It was crispy on the outside, and the chicken meat was tender and juicy. The flavor of that special marinade had completely seeped into the meat. The chef really had some skills.

"It's delicious, alright, but..."

As Lynch chewed the chicken, he pondered in his heart, "It seems like a special herb was added to the marinade, a bit like thyme, but not quite. The heat control is also crucial; they must have used some kind of constant-temperature magical stove."

His occupational habit was acting up.

As a feeder dedicated in every sense to plumping up his wife, Lynch's first reaction upon eating something good was no longer just to enjoy it, but to wonder: could he replicate it?

If he learned how to make it, he could cook it for Felsy at home in the future, saving them the long trip to town just to eat it.

"You guys keep eating."

Lynch suddenly stood up and wiped his mouth. "I'm going to the kitchen."

"Eh? What are you going to the kitchen for?" Felsy, who was elegantly cutting her chicken, looked up upon hearing this.

"I'm going to chat with the boss and see if I can steal a few culinary secrets."

Lynch blinked, a sly smile appearing on his face. "I can tell the boss is an honest guy. We still have a few high-quality wolf pelts on hand; maybe we can trade them for the recipe or some tips. That way, we can enjoy this, well, career-staking flavor at home in the future."

After saying that, Lynch walked towards the kitchen with great enthusiasm.

Looking at his energetic back, Felsy's hands holding the knife and fork paused slightly.

She lowered her head and looked at the chicken leg on her plate—the one he never forgot to give her first, even when they were out.

The corners of her mouth curled into a gentle, uncontrollable curve.

That feeling was like being enveloped by the warm winter sun, warming her all the way from her stomach to her heart.

This man...

He clearly possessed unfathomable strength, and he clearly could have pursued grander goals, yet he always spent his efforts on trivial matters like "how to make sure she eats well" and "how to make sure she stays warm."

This sense of happiness from being cherished in the palm of someone's hand was something she had never experienced in her past hundreds of years of life.

However.

In the very next second.

That happy smile suddenly froze on the corners of her mouth, then slowly faded away, turning into an unresolvable melancholy.

Felsy put down her knife and fork, turning her head to look out at the bustling street outside the window. A trace of confusion flashed through her purple eyes.

"My Lady?"

Kuma, who was engrossed in her eating, keenly sensed the change in atmosphere.

She swallowed the meat in her mouth and looked at Felsy cautiously. "What's wrong? Is the chicken not to your liking? Or did the way that waiter peeked at you just now make you want to kill someone?"

"No."

Felsy shook her head gently, her voice somewhat ethereal. "Kuma, tell me..."

"Why does he do all this?"

"Huh? Who?" Kuma was taken aback. "Lynch? He went to learn how to cook so he could make it for you. Isn't that an obvious sign of his doting?"

"I know."

Felsy's fingers gently stroked the slightly cool glass window as she whispered:

"But... this doting love is built upon a lie."

"He thinks I am just an ordinary, sickly, and impoverished noble lady. That is why he treats me so well without any reservations, even trying to warm my heart with the simple comforts of a mundane life."

At this point, Felsy's eyes dimmed.

"What if one day... he finds out who I really am?"

"If he knew that the woman sitting across from him, enjoying the chicken drumstick he carefully prepared, is the world-ending witch who once made the entire continent run red with blood and has been hunted by the Church for a century..."

"If he knew that the peaceful life he cherishes so much could at any moment draw the siege of countless powerful experts because of my identity, and even bring him absolute ruin..."

"When that time comes, would he still be as animated and joyful as he is now, just from making me a roast chicken?"

Felsy closed her eyes.

She was afraid.

As her body recovered and their relationship grew closer, this fear did not fade away; instead, it grew with each passing day.

The more she clung to this warmth, the more terrified she became of losing it.