Liam’s ears perked up at that. The combat potential was intriguing, even if the method of charging it was... unconventional.

"And the blood on the sheets?" Hestia whispered.

Liam’s face heated. "She was... it was her first time."

"OH, then you did well, Butcher. The recipe requires authenticity and passion, I’m pleased."

Liam felt a strange sense of pride at Hestia’s approval, which he quickly suppressed. He wasn’t cooking for her approval.

"Is there anything else I should know about these recipes?"

"Cook with love, dear Butcher. The most powerful ingredients are always those given freely."

Before Liam could respond, the bathroom door creaked open. Elizabeth emerged, wrapped in a towel, her pink hair damp and clinging to her neck. She looked exhausted but somehow more radiant than before.

Liam quickly dismissed the HUD. "Feeling better?"

She nodded, her cat ears flicking water droplets onto the floor. "Much, though I think I might need to lie down again soon."

Liam moved toward her instinctively, his hand reaching out to steady her. "I’ll make you something to eat first."

Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. "Nothing weird and please no ’special recipes’ from whatever goddess you were just talking to."

"I wasn’t..."

"I heard mumbling," she said, crossing her arms. The towel slipped slightly, revealing the bite mark on her shoulder. "And you had that look."

"What look?"

"The ’I’m thinking about cooking something that might not be food’ look."

Liam’s tail swished behind him. "It’s just regular food. Promise."

Elizabeth studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Because if I find out you’re trying to make me into some kind of... of..." She gestured vaguely at her body. "Ingredient, again, I’ll..."

"Cut me into tiny pieces?" Liam suggested, already moving toward the pantry.

"Exactly."

But there was no real heat in her threat, her watching, both of them pretending not to notice the invisible tether now binding them together.

And somewhere, in whatever divine realm gods inhabited, Hestia was probably watching with a satisfied smile, already planning her next "recipe."

Liam’s boots echoed on the stone floor as he made his way to the kitchen, the scent of herbs and spices wafting through the air. He began to prepare his take on shin cup ramyun, a dish that was simple yet comforting. The first step was to boil strips of sea kelp, their salty aroma filling the room as they simmered in the pot. He then added a mix of spices, their pungent scent mingling with the kelp to create a rich, savoury broth.

Next came the beef extract and beef fat, their addition deepening the flavour of the broth. The sizzle of kimchi, onions, and garlic being sautéed filled the room, their fragrant aroma adding another layer to the sensory experience. The noodles were added last, their soft texture contrasting with the crunch of the vegetables. Finally, he topped it off with hot spring boiled runny eggs, their yolks a vibrant orange against the dark broth.

With a satisfied nod, Liam set out the food in front of Elizabeth. The steam from the bowl curled up into her face, carrying with it the tantalising scent of the ramyun. He gestured for her to eat, watching as her eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh my god," she breathed out, her cat ears twitching in delight. "This smells like home." She took a moment to savour the aroma before looking up at him with curiosity in her eyes. "Are we going to go find the others today, or do you have a plan?"

Liam leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "I do have a plan," he said, his voice steady and confident. "Today, we are doing a side quest. Well, it’s not even a quest, really. I want to make some money before we move to the city."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him, her spoon paused halfway to her mouth. "What do you have in mind?" she asked, her tone laced with scepticism. She knew Liam well enough to know that whatever he came up with would likely be unconventional, if not outright insane.

Liam simply smiled.

Elizabeth stared at the makeshift stall in horror, her pink cat ears flattened against her head. The "food cart" consisted of two warped planks of wood balanced precariously on rocks, a torn blanket draped over the top as a makeshift awning. Mismatched nails jutted out at odd angles, and the whole structure wobbled dangerously with each gust of wind.

"You can’t be serious," she whispered, glancing around at the other players streaming toward the Slime Ruins’ entrance.

The dungeon loomed behind them, gleaming obsidian pillars carved with ancient runes, magical barriers shimmering with arcane energy, and players in enchanted armour checking their gear before entering.

Liam stood beside his disaster of a stall, looking utterly unfazed in his simple black apron over his usual clothes. His white tail swished calmly as he set up his Wight-Cured Serpent Jerky on individual plates.

"It’s functional," he said, turning one of the skewers with his bare hands. "The fire is hot, and the meat is good."

Elizabeth tugged her hood lower over her face, her cheeks burning. "Functional? Liam, that’s not a food stall. That’s... that’s what happens when a hurricane hits a lumberyard."

Before she could continue her protest, a group of players approached, their armour glinting with enchantments. The leader wore a breastplate emblazoned with "OnlySlop" in glowing blue letters, while his companions sported similar guild markings.

"Well, well," the leader sneered, his fox ears twitching with amusement. "Look what we have here, boys. The homeless have decided to set up shop."

His companions laughed, one of them nudging the rickety table with his boot. "What’s on the menu, hobo? Rat on a stick?"

Elizabeth’s hand instinctively moved to her sword hilt, her protective instincts flaring despite her embarrassment. She stepped forward, positioning herself between Liam and the guild members.

"Keep moving," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "No one’s forcing you to stop."

[TOOL TIP: THE DISASTER CLASS VENDOR]

Status: Visual Quality: 0/10 | Lethality: 10,000/10.

The "Hurricane-Lumberyard" Aesthetic: Liam has successfully utilised the [Zero-Effort Architecture] skill. The stall is so poorly constructed that it applies a [Pity Debuff] to onlookers, which immediately converts into a [Confusion Stun] when they smell the S-Rank jerky.

The "Strategic Refuel": Elizabeth is currently operating at 80% Battery. The "Home-Style Ramyun" has restored her [Radiance] stat, but the [Cringe Damage] from the stall is slowly draining her social stamina.

Passive [The Protective Stray]: Despite being "wrecked" an hour ago, Elizabeth’s [Claimed] status has activated a high-tier [Aggro-Management] reflex. She is one "Hobo" joke away from turning the "OnlySlop" guild into "OnlyScrap."