NOVPUB
Chapter 48: The Man, The Myth, The Cook
Zayn was speechless.
His pulse thundered in his ears, his hands twitching where they rested on the floor.
The heat from where she had kissed him lingered, not just on his lips, but on his very soul.
He swallowed, feeling the brand pulsing faintly against his neck. It wasn’t painful, but it was definitely there.
"You — " He exhaled sharply. "You tricked me again."
The Witch Princess giggled, tilting her head. "I did ask this time."
"That was not asking!" Zayn hissed, glaring at her.
She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "You did agree to it, though. Voluntarily."
Zayn groaned, throwing his head back against the floor.
’Unbelievable.’
The Witch Princess smirked, standing up and brushing off her skirt. She reached a hand down, offering to help him up.
Zayn eyed her warily before taking it, pulling himself to his feet.
"So, what exactly does this mark do?" he muttered, touching his neck.
"Many things," she said vaguely, clasping her hands behind her back. "But for now, let’s just say... it’ll make sure you don’t run away from me again."
Zayn froze.
He turned to look at her, eyes narrowing. "What?"
The Witch Princess simply winked before heading toward the door.
"See you later, Zayn," she called, waving over her shoulder as she stepped outside. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Zayn stood there for a long moment, staring after her, before dragging a hand down his face.
"Great," he muttered. "Now I’m marked by a witch... again."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"But Zayn, you’re the man," he muttered to himself. "Kissing two big-boobed babes in a span of a day? That’s peak work right there."
His stomach growled, interrupting his self-congratulations.
Right. Food. He had to make for himself and the others.
He pushed himself off the dining table and started checking the kitchen.
It was surprisingly well-stocked — Bran probably made sure of that since Tobias was too busy being the responsible leader type.
Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with different ingredients, some familiar and others looking like they had come straight out of a fantasy RPG.
A pot hung above the stove, which had a magical heating rune carved into its side.
He opened a nearby cupboard, scanning the food supplies. There was meat wrapped in thick parchment, vegetables of all colors and shapes, and spices in small glass containers.
Above each ingredient, small labels from the System hovered in the air, making it easier to identify them.
He raised an eyebrow at some of the names — Frostleaf Basil, Pyre Peppers, Aether Garlic.
"Man, these sound like items straight out of a magic cookbook," he muttered.
He picked up a slab of deep-red meat wrapped in parchment.
The system identified it as "Titan Ox Steak."
Sounded impressive.
He poked at it, feeling the firm yet tender texture under his fingers. This would do just fine.
Grabbing a sharp knife from the rack, he set the meat on the wooden cutting board and began trimming off any rough edges.
The knife slid through smoothly, proving it was still sharp. He sprinkled salt, crushed black pepper, and a bit of Frostleaf Basil over it, rubbing the seasonings in with his fingers.
He didn’t know how to cook in this world so he was randomly testing ingredients.
The basil gave off a light cooling sensation against his skin — interesting.
Next, he reached for the vegetables.
There were things that looked similar to carrots and potatoes, though their system names were entirely different.
He grabbed a few and started peeling, cutting them into even chunks before tossing them into a bowl.
He decided to roast them, which meant they’d need oil.
There was a bottle labeled "Sky Olive Oil," so he took it and drizzled a bit over the vegetables, mixing them with his hands to coat them properly.
A few Pyre Peppers, which the system warned were mildly spicy, were chopped up and added in for a bit of a kick.
With the prep done, he lit the magical stove and placed a pan over it.
The moment the surface got hot enough, he dropped the steak in, and it let out a satisfying sizzle. The rich aroma of searing meat filled the kitchen almost instantly, making his stomach growl again.
He chuckled, flipping the steak after a couple of minutes. The other side had developed a perfect golden-brown crust.
In a separate pan, he melted a slab of golden butter, adding some crushed Aether Garlic to it.
The smell that hit him was incredible — rich, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor.
He spooned the garlic butter over the steak, letting it seep into the meat, enhancing the taste with every pass.
While the steak finished cooking, he slid the vegetables onto a baking tray and pushed them into the magically heated oven.
They only needed a few minutes to roast, given the heat distribution from the enchanted runes inside.
Everything here ran on magic, and while he was still getting used to it, he had to admit — it made cooking way easier, better than paying for gas.
Once the steak reached the perfect level of doneness, he pulled it off the pan, letting it rest on a plate while he finished up.
The vegetables were just about done, their edges slightly crisped from roasting. He plated everything together, stepping back to admire his work.
"Not bad," he muttered, grabbing a fork and knife.
He cut into the steak, watching the juices seep out before bringing a bite to his mouth. The moment it hit his tongue, he paused.
’Holy. Shit.’
The meat was rich, tender, and full of flavor, perfectly balanced by the hint of Frostleaf Basil and the butter’s smoothness.
The roasted vegetables had the right mix of sweetness and spice, the Pyre Peppers adding a mild heat that tingled pleasantly.
This was damn good.
He ate in comfortable silence, leaning against the counter as he enjoyed the meal.
Cooking had always been one of those things he never thought much about in his old world, but here? With food this good?
He could see himself making a habit out of it.
