"No!"
"Ugh! Waaah!"
"Mmmph!"
"Mmph!"
"Ah!"
Strange cries and wails echoed through the Goblin Village.
"W-why! Why—did it turn out like this!"
"Sorry, Captain… we're already… done for!"
"M-me too…!!"
"Howl!"
Three Adventurers enacted a scene of parting in life and death, and even Ranga, who was nearby, let out a howl before collapsing with a thud.
And such a tragic, terrifying situation must be traced back to half an hour ago—
Chen Hai crushed Ifrit, completely dominating the power of the Flame Spirit, and transformed it into Izawa Shizue's essence.
Essence, in this context, can be understood as an instinct.
A talent possessed from birth.
Originally, Izawa Shizue was affected by Ifrit, carrying this cursed power as she walked the world.
Without the suppression of the mask, she would have probably broken down long ago.
But now—
The 'Ifrit' that troubled her became pure 'Spirit Power,' which she could control freely.
Simply put, Izawa Shizue was no longer a 'Host,' but the 'Dominator' of the Flame Spirit's power.
Thus, she could live on with her new abilities.
The original plot was completely overturned as a result.
Was this situation good or bad for Izawa Shizue?
She was supposed to end everything, reach the end of her journey, and meet her former hometown and mother in that world;
But now, she was seized by Chen Hai, rescued from the edge of a cliff, and led onto a new path.
Izawa Shizue, who both hated and loved this world;
Izawa Shizue, who both hoped for change and hoped for an end;
Which situation was the true ending her heart sought?
To be honest, Chen Hai wasn't sure… but he thought there was no need to figure it out now.
Because—
"Miss Shizue!"
Eren rushed towards the two people in the center of the battlefield.
She was the first to embrace Izawa Shizue, who had just left Chen Hai's arms.
"It's so good that you're okay!!"
"Um…"
"I thought I'd never see you again!"
"I'm sorry… I'm truly, truly sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I… almost hurt everyone."
Izawa Shizue accepted Chen Hai's invitation, but she hadn't lost her previous memories.
She remembered the terrible things she had done.
Eren, who was holding her, shook her head at this.
"It's okay! As long as everyone is safe!"
"We just met not long ago… Thank you for caring so much about me."
"It has nothing to do with how long we've known each other! Companions on an adventure are friends! Friends should care for each other!"
In this regard, Eren, as an Adventurer, was quite naive.
But that wasn't a bad thing… "Friends… even though I just did such a thing…"
Izawa Shizue was still bothered by the fact that she had hurt everyone after being controlled by Ifrit.
Hearing this, the other two Adventurers came over.
"Haha, don't worry, Miss Shizue, we couldn't be happier!"
Kabaru laughed, causing Shizue, who was being hugged by Eren, to tilt her head.
Kid, standing to the side, then explained,
"It is our greatest honor to be able to fight a legendary hero, a legendary Adventurer who has saved countless people!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Hahaha!"
The two Adventurers laughed heartily.
Just a moment ago they were lamenting, 'Life is about to end,' but now they had completely changed.
While Chen Hai marveled at how quickly their mindset shifted, Shuna and Shion also rushed to the scene.
They hugged Chen Hai's arm, checking various parts of his body.
"Is Master Chen Hai alright?"
"He looks unharmed, but… Shuna, I think we need to check under his clothes!"
"Yes, Sister Shion!"
Hey, hey, hey!
Grabbing the wrists of the two Ogre beauties, Chen Hai immediately responded,
"I'm fine, there's no need to take off my clothes."
"Master Chen Hai can be shy too."
"It's just unnecessary. If it were Shuna, she wouldn't want to be undressed and examined at this moment, right?"
"If it were only Master Chen Hai…"
This girl sure knows how to talk.
"Me, me too!"
Shion puffed out her chest.
Why did a competition suddenly start?
To calm the two down, Benimaru and Hakuro stepped forward.
"It's good that Master Chen Hai is alright."
"That Flame Spirit just now… I felt its flames were enough to incinerate the entire village, and even weapons made of refined iron would probably melt before it. How exactly did Master Chen Hai defeat it?"
This question made Souei, Kurobe, Ranga, and others who had followed along very curious.
Chen Hai's answer was simple enough:
"As long as my flames are stronger than his."
To use a childish argument as an example, it's like: if 100 is the maximum, then I add 1 to make it 101, which is bigger!
If it's a meme, then it's… my flames are above yours.
Not pain, but flames.
Transcending all 'fire elements,' dominating all 'flames' in the world—this was the breakthrough effect of the Almighty Genius (Anomaly) trait, achieved by consuming all levels.
After hearing the simple yet exaggerated explanation, everyone could only give a wry smile.
After all, they couldn't achieve Chen Hai's 'as long as you're stronger than the enemy, you win' approach.
If they could, they wouldn't be here… "Please forgive me… My power went out of control just now. If it weren't for Mr. Chen Hai…"
Izawa Shizue comforted Eren, who was worried about her, then turned to Shuna, Shion, and the others.
The Ogre and Goblins didn't mind.
"It's alright. Master Chen Hai was willing to save Miss Shizue, which means Miss Shizue is someone Master Chen Hai values. Please let us get along well!"
As soon as Shuna said this, everyone's complaints vanished.
Because the premise of her statement was 'Chen Hai chose Izawa Shizue,' so no one would be foolish enough to continue bringing up the topic of 'Izawa Shizue threatening everyone.'
Once spoken, it would be equivalent to standing against Chen Hai.
Then Shuna winked at Chen Hai, as if saying, 'I did a good job, didn't I?'
Seeing this, Chen Hai patted Shuna's head, making her happily narrow her eyes.
"What's going on?"
Shion saw this scene and didn't quite understand.
"Do you want one too?"
"N-not now!"
A somewhat tsundere Shion chose to refuse.
Immediately after, she snatched the spot on Chen Hai's right.
"The matter is resolved, let's take a rest."
Grrr!
Before Shion finished speaking, a growl came from her stomach.
"You… how long has it been? Are girls all such big eaters?"
Kabaru's gaze fell on his companion, Eren.
Her words also made Shuna, Shion, and Izawa Shizue look over.
"Huh? What? Did I say something wrong? How did I become an enemy of all women? Even Miss Shizue…!"
"What do you mean, 'are girls all such big eaters'? I just used magic continuously, expending a lot of magic and stamina, that's why I'm hungry!"
"Oh, you worked hard…"
"That's why the captain can't find a girlfriend."
"That has nothing to do with this, does it? Being single is being single, there's nothing wrong with it! Right, Kid!"
Kid, addressed by Kabaru, saw his captain about to put an arm around his shoulder, and quickly pulled away.
"No, no, no."
It seemed Kid wanted to find a girlfriend.
After discussing these things, Rigur and Gobta pointed to the village below.
"Then let's go eat."
"Besides fruit, let's make something delicious too!"
The two Goblins began to lead the way.
Hearing them say this, everyone agreed.
Shion, walking beside Chen Hai, rolled up her sleeves.
"Then I'll show off my skills too."
Hearing her say this, everyone present, including Chen Hai, who knew the plot, showed expressions as if facing a formidable enemy.
——
——
Half an hour later.
The timeline returned to the beginning.
Those who had eaten Shion's cooking successively collapsed.
Eren, Kabaru, and Kid, the three Adventurers;
Several Ogre who thought Shion's skills might have improved;
Ranga and his kin, who approached the kitchen upon smelling a strange odor;
And the Goblins who had just finished work, hoping to eat together.
"N-nooooo!"
The Goblins wailed.
Shion frowned, looking at the people laid out by her cooking.
"What's going on…? Is my cooking really that bad?"
She said, then looked around.
Shuna lay on her left, and next to Shuna was an ashen-faced Izawa Shizue.
As for Chen Hai.
He had eaten a small bowl.
"Sure enough, they're just too weak. My Master Chen Hai is perfectly fine!"
Shion said, then happily ran to Chen Hai and hugged him… Chen Hai's system was operating.
[Trait Almighty Genius (Anomaly) activated.]
[Learns all observed magic and techniques, making them more fundamental.]
[Special skill 'Shion's Cooking' has been learned.]
[Skill activated, internal viruses neutralized, poison resistance made fundamental, allowing one to ignore all viruses in the world and use them as energy to strengthen oneself.]
Well, he just brought out his trait?!
Facing Shion, who was hugging him and expressing her affection with a powerful embrace, Chen Hai pointed at the viscous dish in front of them.
"The appearance is terrible, the taste is strange, the texture is subtle… How did you do it?"
"Huh? Is Master Chen Hai curious? This is a secret recipe! But if you want to eat it, I can make it for you every day!"
No, thanks… Chen Hai didn't want to eat dark cuisine every day.
He had only taken one bite just now and it had brought out his trait.
If he ate it every day, what would happen then?
I'm afraid it might turn into an all-resistance stat.
But... that doesn't sound too bad, does it?
As Chen Hai was thinking this, Gobta, whose face was green, swayed and stood up.
Oh, oh, this kid has a lot of willpower.
Just like in the original story, did he also acquire 'poison resistance' from Shion's cooking?
It seems my previous analysis was wrong; Gobta indeed has some potential.
He just gives off a silly impression.
After all, the entire Goblin race evolved, but Gobta, who was named by Chen Hai, remained unchanged.
Looked at from another perspective, did Gobta originally possess the strength 'after being named'?
As he thought of this, some of the people who were 'defeated' by the cooking slowly regained consciousness.
"Ugh... what just happened...?"
The cute Adventurer Eren rubbed her head, looking around.
Shion's dark cooking even made people lose their memories.
What is this?
Magic? Skill? Virus?
Sure enough, settings with 'comedic' elements are the strongest.
For example, that cat chasing a mouse.
Dismemberment, high-altitude falls, body deformation, etc., would not threaten its life safety at all.
This level of 'passive' would only scratch the surface even if a god came.
Anyway, it will be restored in the next shot... "My head hurts, I remember eating something just now."
"Me too... it should be... Miss Shion's cooking?"
Kabaru and Kid recalled, then their eyes widened.
"I remember!"
"Me too!"
"It was poisonous cooking!"
"Ogre are too terrifying!"
The Adventurers were traumatized... Shion listened, then walked over with her cooking.
"Hey! You two humans, I can't pretend I didn't hear your taunts just now! Now eat another bowl!"
"Aaaaaaaah!!!"
Screams echoed again.
Chen Hai had to stop Shion.
"Shion, that's enough. Put your cooking away first. No matter what, those two are our guests."
"I understand..."
Hearing Chen Hai say this, Shion obediently complied.
On the way, she stepped on Rigurd's arm.
The Goblin Chief also opened his eyes at this moment.
"Ouch...! When I passed out just now, I seemed to see myself as a child..."
That was a deathbed vision, wasn't it?
Is it really okay?
As Chen Hai muttered inwardly, Shion tidied up her cooking and said,
... 0
"It's not my cooking that's the problem; it's this kitchen! The kitchen the Goblins built is terrible; I can't properly control the heat, and the ingredients are...! Not fresh enough!"
"Cough, cough, cough... Sister Shion, I think... the ingredients and the kitchen aren't the real problems..."
Shuna woke up at this moment, coughing twice as she denied Shion's statement.
However, hearing this, Chen Hai thought it was indeed necessary to improve the living environment.
He could transfer things from the is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon? or apocalypse worlds.
Therefore, he decided to transfer houses from the apocalypse and some equipment and magic stone-driven furniture from is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?, such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
All this would start tomorrow; for now, he would just relax leisurely.
"We are already working hard to build the village. For us Goblins, the kitchen is the lowest priority, but if Miss Shion needs it, we can reassign some people here."
Rigurd patted his head and discussed future arrangements with Shion.
The Goblin Village, after the battle, slowly began to fill with daily life.
——
——
After the three Adventurers recovered from the negative status of 'Shion's Cooking,' they ate a pile of fruits picked by the Goblins and baked flatbreads.
Once they had eaten their fill, drunk their fill, and replenished their nutrients, the trio decided to return and report.
Before leaving, Kabaru, as the leader, waved to everyone, then faced Chen Hai and emphasized,
"Don't worry, Boss Chen Hai, we won't reveal what happened here! I guarantee it with my integrity!"
"Thank you all for your trouble this time. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Kid bowed and was the first to step forward.
Eren had not yet left.
She grabbed Izawa Shizue's hand.
"I hope we can meet again, Miss Shizue!"
"Yes, we will meet again sooner or later."
"Then I'm off!"
Eren let go of her hand, but she didn't turn around immediately; instead, she ran to Chen Hai.
"If possible... can I still come to this village?"
"Of course."
"That's great... Then I won't bother you anymore!"
After bidding farewell to everyone, the three Adventurers embarked on their journey home together.
When the trio's silhouettes disappeared into the forest, Izawa Shizue gently tugged at Chen Hai's sleeve.
"Can we talk alone?"
This was the second time... Although Shuna and Shion were still very curious after hearing this, they didn't say much and followed everyone back into the village.
Izawa Shizue, left behind, took out the previously broken mask from her embrace.
She handed it to Chen Hai.
"This... I hope Mr. Chen Hai can accept it."
"Isn't it something very important to you? Giving it to me now... is it a token of love?"
"Perhaps... In any case... I hope Mr. Chen Hai can accept it."
"I will keep it safe."
After a brief hesitation, Chen Hai took the mask Izawa Shizue gave him.
The next moment, Chen Hai directly teleported it to the Abyss Floor of his Dungeon, finally placing it on the cave platform where he lived during his initial Crossing (cross-world travel).
Seeing this, Izawa Shizue was not surprised; she already knew that Chen Hai possessed various powerful abilities.
"In that world, Mr. Chen Hai told me... he would show me a new world."
"That's right."
"Now please allow me to officially respond."
She took a deep breath.
She actively took Chen Hai's hand.
"I want to see...!"
At this moment, her true journey began.