Chương 95

Rudra tapped the heavy metal block resting in the red dirt. The Protean Crafting Cauldron hummed, its shape smoothly unfolding and shifting until it formed a wide flat-iron grill and a sturdy prep station. He didn't waste any time. He opened his inventory and pulled out a thick, high-quality slab of monster meat. Next to the meat, he dropped a handful of dark, twisted roots that pulsed with a faint, sickly purple light. Piaro frowned, taking a step closer. The swordsman's eyes narrowed at the plants.

"Duke Rudra," Piaro warned, his voice tight.

"Those are Shadow-Root Herbs. They are cultivated exclusively in the shrines of the Yatan Church. They are saturated with demonic energy. If you ingest them, the toxins will literally rot your internal organs."

"Normally, yeah," Rudra smiled cheerfully, picking up his cooking knife.

"But they also add a really great, earthy flavor if you clean them right. Watch." Rudra focused his gaze on the twisted roots.

"[Sage's Eye]." His vision instantly shifted. The physical outer layer of the roots became slightly transparent. Running through the center of the plants were thick, dark purple lines of toxic mana, tangled around thin, bright green threads of pure, healthy nutrients. Tapping into his massive Dexterity stat, Rudra's hands became a blur. He didn't just chop the roots blindly. He sliced exactly along the glowing green threads, perfectly trimming away every single trace of the dark purple poison.

He swept the toxic scraps off the board and tossed the purified, bright green herbs into a wooden bowl. Piaro watched in absolute silence. Extracting lethal poisons from raw ingredients with nothing but a standard kitchen knife defied all basic logic. Rudra tossed a heavy block of butter onto the hot iron grill. It hissed loudly. He laid the thick steaks down, coating them in the purified Shadow-Root and a heavy pinch of Epic Fire-Crystal Salt.

The rich, savory smell of roasting meat and deep, earthy spices quickly filled the dry canyon. Kratos, sitting faithfully by Rudra's boots, let out a demanding squeak and drooled onto the dirt. As Rudra flipped the meat, he didn't just casually watch the heat. He focused his mind entirely on the meal. He thought about the massive stone walls of the Stormbreak estate. He pictured Kentrick laughing loudly by the campfire, holding three massive skewers of meat at once.

He remembered the soft, genuine smile on Dante's wrinkled face as the old man drank his tea. He thought about Winfred and Elysia standing proudly in the snowy courtyard, finally free of the Empire's shadows. He poured the overwhelming warmth of that home directly into the sizzling pan. He wanted the ragged, broken swordsman sitting in front of him to feel that exact same safety. A blinding, platinum light suddenly erupted from the grill. [You have successfully created 'Heartwarming Shadow-Root Steak'!] Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. [Rating: Unique] [A masterpiece that carries the profound, unyielding warmth of a safe home. - Instantly clears all mental debuffs and abnormal psychological states. - Permanently increases Maximum Health by +100 - Permanently increases Courage by +10.] [A Unique-rated dish was produced! All stats have permanently risen by +12. Reputation throughout the continent has risen by +300.] Rudra smiled, wiping his hands on a towel.

He plated the massive, perfectly seared steak onto a wooden board and walked over to Piaro. He handed the hot plate to the starving swordsman.

"Eat up," Rudra said kindly.

"You're going to need your strength for our training." Piaro took the wooden plate. His hands were shaking slightly. He hadn't eaten a warm, properly cooked meal in years. He picked up his fork, cut a piece of the steaming meat, and placed it in his mouth. The moment he bit down, the [Empathic Cuisine] passive triggered. Piaro completely froze. The fork slipped from his fingers and hit the dirt. He didn't just taste the rich butter and the perfectly seared meat.

A massive, overwhelming wave of emotion crashed directly into his mind. It wasn't pity. It was pure, unfiltered warmth. Piaro felt the loud, booming laughter of his vanguard. He felt the quiet, steady loyalty of his tactician. He felt the absolute, unyielding hope of his little sister waiting for him to finally come home. The toxic, suffocating cloud of hatred and betrayal that had trapped his heart in endless darkness was violently washed away by the sheer relief cooked into the meal. Piaro dropped to his knees.

He grabbed the rest of the steak with his bare hands and ate frantically. Tears streamed freely down his dirty, scarred face. He choked on quiet sobs, chewing the meat as the heavy, agonizing burden on his chest finally shattered. Rudra just stood nearby, leaning on his bone staff and giving the man some space. When Piaro swallowed the final bite, he stayed on his knees for a long moment, simply staring at the empty wooden board. He took a slow, deep breath. The canyon air filled his lungs.

When Piaro finally stood up, he looked completely different. The ragged clothes and the dirt on his face were the same, but the pathetic, broken beggar was entirely gone. His eyes were clear, sharp, and terrifyingly calm. A heavy, overwhelming aura flared around his body. It wasn't the erratic, toxic pressure from before. It was a pure, absolute sword aura that made the very air in the canyon feel dangerously thin. [Piaro has overcome his severe sickness of the heart!] [All penalties have been lifted. Piaro's original stats have been fully restored!] Piaro looked at Rudra. The Great Swordsman offered a deep, respectful bow.

"I have lived in a nightmare of my own making," Piaro said, his voice steady and carrying the absolute authority of a master.

"You did not just save my life, Duke Rudra. You saved my soul. I am in your debt."

"Don't worry about it," Rudra grinned, tossing a small piece of leftover meat to Kratos.

"Just remember our deal. We have three months of non-stop sparring ahead of us. I expect you to hit me hard." Piaro picked up his rusted, chipped sword from the rocks. Even though the weapon was complete garbage, in Piaro's hands, it looked like a lethal, legendary blade. A faint, confident smile broke across the swordsman's face.

"I will push you to your absolute limits," Piaro promised.

"By the time we are finished, you will not waste a single ounce of momentum."

"Perfect," Rudra cheered. He walked over and tapped the Protean Cauldron, shrinking it back into a heavy metal block, and tossed it into his inventory. He checked his map, confirming the route toward the northern border of the Eternal Kingdom. The Siren King had mentioned fifteen Ocean God Temples hidden in that region, and Rudra was eager to push his milestone progress.

"Alright, let's hit the road," Rudra said, slinging his heavy staff over his shoulder.

"We have a lot of walking, a lot of fighting, and a lot of temples to raid." Piaro nodded, falling into step beside his new liege. As they marched out of the sweltering heat of Kesan Canyon, the three-month contract officially began.