At first, Yserazor thought it was an issue with the tools and materials. To that end, he hadn't hesitated to spend a fortune on a set of top-tier cookware, ranging from kitchen knives inlaid with magic gems to magic stoves capable of automatically regulating heat—he had it all.
But after many failed attempts, he had no choice but to admit that he truly had no talent for cooking.
As a result, those expensive tools eventually became mere decorations, and the high-priced ingredients he bought could only be used to stave off hunger in desperate situations, barely filling his belly.
Watching from the side, Po Kong couldn't help but roll his eyes, a look of schadenfreude on his face. “Little Star, you’ve really got your hands full this time. With so much stuff, you’re going to be busy for a while.”
Starlight shook his head helplessly but didn't say much. With a practiced wave of his hand, he ignited the flames within the stove.
Starlight was a bit unfamiliar with the giant magic grill at first, as it was taller than a person and far more complex than any cooking tool he had ever used.
However, he soon discovered that the items Yserazor had spent so much money on were indeed as good as their reputation suggested; their quality was impeccable. After a bit of exploring, Starlight found that the grill was much more convenient to use than he had imagined.
The interior of the grill was extremely spacious, enough to fit all the ingredients at once.
What surprised Starlight even more was that the grill could actually control the temperature distribution inside using mana.
He only needed to slightly adjust his mana output to achieve precise temperature control in different areas, making the cooking process exceptionally efficient.
“The design of this grill is truly ingenious...” Starlight couldn't help but praise as he operated it. He suddenly thought of the master and disciple he had met in the Crimson City-State, Branno and Falmer.
“Yserazor, may I ask where you bought this grill?” Starlight turned his head and asked curiously.
At this moment, Yserazor was like a child waiting for a meal, staring intently at the steaks sizzling in the grill. His eyes didn't blink once, as if he were afraid of missing the exact moment they were done.
When he heard Starlight’s question, he was clearly startled and took a moment to react.
“Ah! You mean this? It really is a good thing, isn’t it?” Yserazor patted the outer wall of the grill proudly, completely ignoring the high temperature. “I had this custom-made by a mage in the Ochre City-State decades ago. It cost me quite a bit of money back then!”
He thought for a moment and continued, “Although that fellow’s strength wasn't top-tier, he was a real pro at cooking. I spent over a hundred thousand gold coins just eating at his place! Hmm... I’m not very good at remembering you humans' names. What was he called again?”
Hearing Yserazor’s description, Starlight immediately understood who he was talking about and quickly added, “It should be Master Branno, right?”
“Oh! Right, right! Branno!” Yserazor slapped his hand and nodded repeatedly, a look of realization dawning on his face. “I remember now. I even gave him a hand when he was breaking through to the Saint Rank! Why, do you know him?”
“I’ve met him once,” Starlight smiled and explained. “He is currently one of the few living Grand Archmages. I’m surprised you didn’t remember his name.”
“Ahem...”
Yserazor coughed somewhat awkwardly and scratched his head. “It’s been almost a hundred years since I last saw him. Besides, the human lifespan is so short compared to ours. It’s like I take a nap and you’re all gone. There’s no point in remembering every name.”
It was true. To the long-lived Dragon Race and elves, a human life was indeed like a fleeting dream. No wonder Angela felt so much pain over it.
“Perhaps Po Kong and I will encounter such problems in the future as well...”
Starlight sighed softly, not dwelling on the topic as he refocused his attention on the cooking in front of him.
Although the magic grill provided a lot of convenience, there were still many operations to handle. Especially with such a large quantity of ingredients, he needed to pay attention to the details of every piece of food at all times.
Soon, the steaks in the grill began to emit an enticing aroma. The fat sizzled under the high heat, and the surfaces gradually turned golden and crispy.
Starlight adjusted the temperature inside with his mana, ensuring that every steak was heated evenly.
As time passed, the entire cavern was filled with a rich, meaty fragrance.
After smelling the aroma, Little Gold and Lian couldn't move their feet away. The two of them walked over to Yserazor’s side in unison and sat down, waiting quietly.
For a moment, the sight of one large and two small figures by the grill was quite harmonious. All three stared longingly at the stove, the sound of someone swallowing saliva echoing occasionally.
Watching this, Po Kong’s lips twitched, and he couldn't help but mock them. “I say, Little Lian, a girl should be more reserved. Don’t learn from these two silly dragons. Look at them—do they have even a shred of dragon-like dignity? I’d believe you if you said they were dogs!”
Lian turned her head and blinked at him, saying with an innocent face, “But the things Brother Starlight makes really are delicious! What’s wrong with being excited?”
Her tone was very direct, not hiding her desire for the food at all.
“Hmph, what do you know, Po Kong?” Little Gold curled his lip dismissively, then looked at Lian beside him and said earnestly, “Ignore this guy whose head is full of nothing but muscles. He only knows how to fight! People who don’t know how to enjoy themselves are the ones who are truly pitiable!”
Lian looked at Po Kong thoughtfully after hearing that, though no one knew what she was thinking.
As for Yserazor, he simply ignored Po Kong’s teasing and didn't even turn his head.
Seeing his words completely ignored, Po Kong could only shrug helplessly and mutter to himself, “Fine, wasting my breath on a bunch of gluttons.”
Starlight couldn't help but laugh as he listened to their conversation. While controlling and flipping the steaks in the grill, he said, “Alright, stop arguing. It’s almost ready. Po Kong, if you don’t want to eat, you can go rest for a while.”
“Who said I’m not eating? I’m going to eat more than them!” Po Kong immediately retorted, looking quite defiant. “I just think they look embarrassing. Also, I’m not belittling your cooking skills—you should know I recognized your talent long before they did!”
“Alright, alright, you go sit and wait for the meal too! It’s almost ready here, don’t get in my way~” As Starlight spoke, he reached out and opened the grill door. The steaks inside were currently in their most perfect state.
Starlight flicked his finger toward the grill, and a gust of Breeze quietly rose, wrapping around the various cuts of meat as they floated out of the oven.
Under the reflection of the cave's light and the fire from the stove, the fat shimmered with an enticing luster, making one’s mouth water.
Because the pieces of meat were quite large, Starlight specifically took out a clean canvas from his storage space and laid it on the ground, intending to carve the food into bite-sized portions.
But before the steaks could even land steadily, Yserazor impatiently reached out his large hand and grabbed a piece of meat half as tall as a person.
He opened his mouth wide and took a huge bite, a look of deep satisfaction immediately appearing on his face. “Mmm! This taste is quite good! Although it can’t compare to Branno’s skill, it’s still top-tier! As expected... things made by humans taste the best!” he praised while chewing, his words slightly muffled.
Seeing this, Little Gold refused to be outdone. He grabbed a leg bone directly from the pile of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, meat and bone together, crunching away. The hard bones were like fragile crackers under the teeth of the two dragons, crushed to pieces in an instant.
In contrast, Lian’s eating manner was much more restrained. She took a plate from Starlight, carefully cut off a piece of steak, and then sat down beside him to eat in small, dainty bites.
Her movements were elegant and refined, forming a sharp contrast with the boisterousness of the two dragons.
Rate on N.U.
