Free Web NovelChapter 116: Chapter 116 The chef.
After much thought, Albert reluctantly moved to the kitchen area outside, which Ivy had already arranged earlier that morning. Without wasting any time, he began by washing the dishes and utensils Ivy had used while preparing breakfast for her children. Once he was done cleaning up, he immediately started preparing food for the remaining team members who were yet to return.
After all, he had to earn his stay somehow.
And if even Erick, the captain himself, alongside Darren, were obeying Ivy without complaints, then Albert knew he had no right to act differently.
As the large pot simmered over the fire, Albert carefully boiled the meat Ivy had provided, planning to make a rich and creamy pasta. While cooking, his gaze unconsciously kept drifting toward Ivy.
She was currently focused on strengthening one of the traps. A few of the stools supporting the barricade had loosened earlier, and she was now tightening and reinforcing them with complete concentration.
Ding!
{One thousand points rewarded.}
“Huh?” Ivy raised an eyebrow, her hand resting against her waist. “From strengthening the traps?”
Ding!
{Reward obtained from team members killing monsters.}
“Really?” Surprise flickered across Ivy’s face. “They can earn points for me too?”
Ding!
{Yes, Host. The territory they are expanding belongs to you. Therefore, every monster killed within the expansion process grants you points as well.}
“That’s actually great,” Ivy muttered under her breath, clearly pleased by the information.
Just then, both Aria and Lila walked out of the shelter together with Sunny happily trailing behind them.
“What’s wrong, sweethearts?” Ivy asked from where she stood outside the shelter’s compound. “Do you girls need something?”
“Bark! Bark!”
Sunny barked excitedly before running ahead of the girls.
Rather than answering Ivy immediately, both children headed straight toward Albert, who was stirring the well seasoned meat and creamy sauce carefully.
“You’re the one cooking, fine uncle?” Lila asked first, her soft and sweet voice instantly melting away the irritation Albert had been carrying since morning. ƒreewebɳovel.com
A helpless smile appeared on his face as he crouched down to their height.
Ivy quietly observed the interaction from afar, curious about what her daughters were planning. Just earlier, the girls had still been wary of the newcomers and had repeatedly asked why the strange men were staying with them.
Yet now...
Food seemed to have erased every trace of fear from their tiny hearts.
“Yes, I’m the one cooking little angels,” Albert replied warmly.
“The aroma wouldn’t let me and my sister concentrate inside,” Aria chimed in with a grin. “At first, we thought Mommy was the one cooking, but it turned out to be you.”
Her curious eyes shifted toward the pot.
“It’s creamy pasta, right?” she asked excitedly. “Can we have some? Or maybe... can you make hamburgers for lunch instead? It’s already afternoon anyway.”
Albert blinked in slight surprise.
Meanwhile, Ivy scoffed inwardly while shaking her head.
Seriously?
These girls were no longer afraid of strangers simply because someone was cooking delicious food?
“Uh... you want to taste my cooking?” Albert asked, sounding slightly amused now. “Actually, I’m a really good chef. I even won a cooking competition once.”
Instantly, both girls’ eyes widened.
“Really?” Aria gasped.
Albert chuckled proudly before nodding.
“Of course.”
“Then can you cook for us too?” Aria asked hopefully.
Right after speaking, she subconsciously turned toward Ivy’s direction, only to find Ivy deliberately avoiding eye contact while pretending to remain focused on repairing the traps.
Aria immediately understood.
“Mommy’s busy,” she whispered to Albert as if sharing a secret. “We shouldn’t disturb her by asking her to cook.”
Then she pointed at herself proudly.
“I’m Aria,” she introduced, “and this is my little sister, Lila.”
Lila gave Albert a tiny wave before hiding slightly behind her sister.
“And baby Hope is still inside sleeping,” Aria continued. “We fed her formula already so she wouldn’t disturb Mommy while she’s working.”
Albert slowly nodded, listening attentively.
Despite the harsh world outside, despite the monsters, fear, bloodshed, and constant survival...
These children were still smiling so innocently and that melted Albert heart even more. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
He then turned his attention toward Ivy before shifting his gaze back to the children.
“Sure, you’re right,” he replied with a soft smile as he gently patted Aria and Lila’s hair. “How about you two sit down while I prepare your hamburgers? The creamy pasta I’ll be preparing is actually meant for my other brothers, but I don’t mind giving some to you but then I’m not even cooking it yet. I’m on my preparing the ingredients down to make everything easy for me when they get back. Although...” He paused dramatically and narrowed his eyes at them playfully. “Looking at the two of you, I’m pretty sure you’re craving hamburgers, aren’t you?”
“Yes!!!” Aria and Lila chorused excitedly.
