Chapter 63: Magical Cuisine

“So that’s it...”
Luo Yong suddenly began to understand—the significance of a camp lies precisely in this.
It brings people a sense of safety.
At this moment, the workshop built by Dodo, together with the fence outside, formed a small camp, a place where children could run, jump, and play without worry.
“Dodo, make us some food.”
“Alright, Dodo will get started right away!”
“Roar!”
After lurking for a long time, the first lion finally launched its attack on the little camp, and the first to bear the brunt was Fatty Geer.
In an instant, a blue magic shield materialized, denser than any Luo Yong had seen before—at least compared to the shields Fatty had previously conjured.
Of course, it still didn’t quite measure up to that scoundrel Ivan’s magic shield.
By then, Selly had already run back, hiding inside the workshop and staying close to Dodo.
In her mind, besides Luo Yong, she felt safe at Dodo’s side.
Luo Yong stood behind Fatty, ready to lend support at any moment.
He didn’t want the camp he had just set up to be destroyed by a bunch of wild beasts.
Bang!
The first lion charged straight into Fatty’s magic shield, sending Fatty staggering and nearly knocking him aside.
The lion was also bounced back by the shield, its mind muddled and dizzy, unable to tell which way was which.
Luo Yong, sword in hand, pondered: lion meat might not taste great, but with Dodo’s skills, perhaps she could make even the worst meat delicious.
But...
With such culinary prowess, why waste it on inferior ingredients?
Wouldn’t it be better to get some premium ingredients and cook them simply?
So he stood there unmoving, observing the surroundings and contemplating which ingredients on this grassland were truly first-rate.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed—three, to be exact.
Fatty stood his ground the entire time, not moving a step.
Whenever his magic was about to run out, Luo Yong handed him a recovery potion, offered encouragement, or brought food to replenish his energy.
Thus, when Lillian returned with her squad of female team members, Fatty finally collapsed from exhaustion.
As for leveling up, zero kills meant he gained no experience at all.
When they discussed this, everyone shook their heads in sympathy—it wasn’t that Fatty wasn’t trying, but his profession was just too much of a trap.
Yet no one knew that as Luo Yong handed him food, he also slipped him two magical potions.
One was a secret elixir to boost energy.
The other was a tonic to enhance constitution.
Both were exceedingly rare.
“Let’s see... time’s about right,” Luo Yong mused silently. He should raise his energy to the level of an eighth-tier hero.
“You all explore here for now. I’m heading to another secret realm to handle my own matters,” Luo Yong announced.

“You’re going to the spider realm to fight monsters? What about the child?” Wendy asked, a bit worried.
“It’s fine. With Dodo watching her, nothing will happen,” Luo Yong glanced over his team and said, “Anything else? If not, I’m leaving.”
“Captain!” The Storm Sorceress quickly stepped forward, pointing at some ingredients atop the giant lion’s back. “Can you cook us something before you go?”
“...”
“Let us witness Dodo’s skills—what does it mean to be specialized?”
“...”
Luo Yong almost launched into a lecture, monk-style, about how one could never taste good food without trying to make it themselves—except in his case, of course.
Before getting the alchemy sprite, Luo Yong rarely cooked for himself, always relying on spending money, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t cook.
“Alright, I’ll let you see what Dodo can do.” After a moment’s thought, Luo Yong nodded.
The more she cooked, the greater Dodo’s proficiency would become, and her food would only get better.
One day, he might even open a restaurant in this other world...
Ahem.
Without further ado, Dodo, following Luo Yong’s instructions, began processing the ingredients, summoning a stove and all the necessary tools.
Dodo the master chef was online!
Her methods baffled everyone.
Like alchemy, it had nothing to do with technique—just casual stir-frying and simple preparation. Her culinary skills didn’t seem extraordinary, yet the aroma soon wafted out.
“She’s making magical cuisine!”
After watching for a while, Lillian, the newest member, couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Magical cuisine?!”
Everyone gasped and stepped closer.
“Magic or not, it smells amazing!” Elia stared, barely restraining herself from grabbing the food.
“Magical cuisine... are you sure?”
Mira asked, curious.
“As far as I know, that sort of thing is only found in big cities or the heart of kingdoms, places ordinary folks can’t reach, where top magical chefs use magic to cook...”
“And here, an alchemy sprite does it all?” The group glanced at the tiny camp, the makeshift workshop, and Dodo crafting food...
“What kind of luck does Luo Yong have?!”
“Forget it. From now on, I’m sticking with the captain wherever he goes!” Elia shamelessly declared.
“Some people really should have more ambition!”
“That’s right. We’re Luo Yong’s team members, so naturally we follow him anywhere!” said the Storm Sorceress solemnly.
“You people...” The Barbarian Priestess rolled her eyes, about to say something when the Wild Hunter raised a hand to stop her.
“No more talking, sisters. Draw your swords—only one can win Luo Yong!”
“...”
Watching all this, Luo Yong emotionlessly pulled out a blue potion and leisurely drank it.
“Energy +1.”
With that potion, his energy and stamina rose to eighth-tier hero levels.

With the +3-level necklace bonus, he was identical to a standard eighth-tier hero.
Even without the necklace, his real strength was at that level, but his magic could only cast fifth-tier wind blades, and his summoned skeletons were only fifth-tier.
Soon, Dodo finished preparing some of the ingredients, and the group gathered around, eating without a care for appearances.
At first, Lillian and Mira, the new arrivals, felt a bit embarrassed and reserved, but as time passed and Dodo’s food proved irresistible, they dropped all pretense and joined in.
Fatty sat beside Luo Yong, silently devouring the food to replenish his strength.
He realized that during his time guarding the gate, the food Luo Yong had given him was made by Dodo.
He hadn’t thought much of it then, focused on the beasts outside the fence, gobbling down the food without tasting it, like Pigsy eating fruit, never savoring its flavor.
“Tsk tsk!”
Thinking of this, he felt sweat bead on his forehead—how could he call himself a veteran gourmet?
Meanwhile, with a giant lion formed from a secret realm key guarding the camp, no wild beast dared approach.
The gate was shut.
While eating, no one spoke.
Despite their excellent figures, these female team members fought fiercely for food, each wishing they had more hands to snatch morsels from others.
Aside from Luo Yong, the only one who remained composed was little Selly.
She’d already tasted Dodo’s cooking and wasn’t as eager.
Besides, she knew that as long as she stayed with Luo Yong, she could eat Dodo’s food at every meal.
This time, Dodo took her time, turning all the ingredients into magical cuisine, and everyone shared and stored their portions.
Mira and Lillian, lacking storage gear, left their shares with others for now, but there was no fear of losing out.
When it came to eating, everyone feasted together.
“Alright, I need to go now. I’ve already delayed too long.” Luo Yong patted Selly’s head to signal her to follow, waved to the group, and prepared to leave the Lion Isle secret realm.
Leveling up was painfully slow.
He wasn’t the only one anxious—Elf Lady Yan Bao’er was probably more impatient than he was.
Stuck at level five, who knew when he’d reach level twenty?
“Wait!”
Elia called out, stopping Luo Yong, then turned to Wendy, saying, “I want to go with the captain to the spider realm—it feels more suited to me...”
“Me too!”
Before Elia finished, the Barbarian Priestess stepped forward, glanced at Luo Yong, and said, “I need to overcome my fear and face those disgusting spiders head-on, so I’ll be ready if I ever encounter them for real!”
“Wow, you two switched sides pretty quick!” The Storm Sorceress sighed, joining them.
“Let’s all go,” said the Wild Hunter.
“You guys...” Wendy was speechless, unable to do anything about them.
She looked at the two new team members.
“I’m fine either way,” Mira shrugged carelessly.
“...”
Lillian felt as if she’d been singled out.
Weren’t they supposed to explore the Lion Isle secret realm together? How come they’d barely started, and everyone was already changing plans?!