Boom!
A bolt of Black Lightning suddenly struck down, hitting the pile of charred and twisted unknown objects in front of Charlotte Linlin.
The Black Lightning dissipated, leaving behind a scorched mark in front of Charlotte Linlin; the original pile of "indescribable things" had vanished without a trace.
"Ugh..."
The loud noise woke the Female Giant nearby. Ripley rubbed her bleary eyes and propped herself up, only to find in shock that the gruesome wounds from yesterday's battle had all healed, her fair skin as smooth as new.
"How long... have I been unconscious?"
She muttered blankly, thinking she had slept for several days; otherwise, how could all the injuries on her body be gone?
"Not long, only about half a day. It's still noon."
Charlotte Linlin glanced at the small pit struck by lightning. After confirming the contents were completely annihilated, she casually hung her nodachi back on her waist, her tone indifferent.
"Half a day? How is that possible! My wounds... did you do this, Captain?"
Realizing something, Ripley looked at Charlotte Linlin in disbelief, her eyes filled with wonder.
Charlotte Linlin just gave a mysterious smile: "It's a secret."
Then, she pointed to a flat boulder nearby, upon which sat several plates of food emitting an enticing aroma.
Golden-brown, succulent roasted beast leg meat wafted a savory scent, alongside Honey Cakes studded with berries and several barrels of Ale shimmering under the sunlight.
"Are you hungry?"
Grumble—!
The aroma of the food awakened her dormant stomach; Ripley clutched her rumbling belly, her face flushing crimson.
The tempting scent of these delicacies was more lethal than any banquet she had ever attended, making her swallow involuntarily.
"It smells so good! Did you... did you make all of this, Captain?!"
Even though she tried her best to maintain some decorum before her new Captain, the appetite-whetting aroma made her almost unable to stop herself from pouncing on it.
"Secret~"
Charlotte Linlin continued to play coy. Seeing Ripley's eager, longing expression, she found it somewhat amusing.
"Eat up. It was prepared specially for you."
"Thank you, Captain! I won't hold back then!"
After a day and night of fierce fighting, she was already famished. Once given permission, Ripley immediately reached out and grabbed a perfectly roasted steak.
The moment her teeth pierced the savory, charred crust, hot and delicious juices exploded in her mouth, and an indescribable, wonderful flavor instantly swept over her taste buds.
"This is so delicious! I've never eaten anything so tasty!"
A glow of immense happiness radiated from Ripley's face as she praised indistinctly through her food.
"This feeling... it's so strange. It has a, a... well, a warm 'Housewife-like' taste!"
Nearby, Charlotte Linlin, who was drinking, nearly choked. She suddenly regretted preparing food for this outspoken Female Giant.
What do you mean by 'Housewife taste'?! You brat, do you even know what a Housewife is?!
Charlotte Linlin was ranting wildly in her mind.
"Captain! From now on, you are my one and only Captain!"
Ripley swore her oath with a mouth full of food, her hands never stopping as they tore at the beast meat.
"If I'd known you had such cooking skills, Captain, why would I have wasted a day getting beaten up? I would've followed you from the start!"
Although Ripley's praise for her cooking made her happy, she didn't like being called a Housewife!
So, Charlotte Linlin indignantly joined the feast, intending to snatch the food right in front of Ripley!
"Captain! What are you doing?! Wasn't this food prepared specially for me?!"
Ripley looked at the encroaching Charlotte Linlin in shock, while subconsciously accelerating the speed at which she stuffed food into her mouth.
"Who said that? Why didn't I know?"
Charlotte Linlin replied righteously, swallowing a large chunk of meat and retorting indistinctly.
"Dammit! Captain! I'm an injured person!"
Ripley continued to eat faster while trying to gain sympathy by acting pitiful.
"I healed your wounds long ago! You're healthier than anyone now!" Charlotte Linlin didn't back down an inch.
Seeing that her protests were useless, Ripley could only turn her words into appetite, devouring the delicacies before her even faster.
Some time later, both lay on the ground with rounded bellies, satisfied. Ripley was still smacking her lips, reminiscing about the unforgettable, exquisite taste.
"Captain, I want to eat this again next time!" She turned on her side, looking at Charlotte Linlin with an expectant face.
"I've never eaten such delicious food. Even the teacher who taught me cooking can't compare!"
"It's gone," Charlotte Linlin said flatly, looking at the sky.
"What's gone?"
"Your food stores are gone," Charlotte Linlin said without looking back.
"What?! My food stores!"
Ripley sat up with a start and hurriedly looked toward the corner where she stored her food—except for the small cake she had left for the children, her warehouse area was indeed empty.
"How can that be! There was enough food in there to last me a month!" Having experienced a period of food shortage a few years ago, she placed an extraordinary importance on food.
She immediately rolled over, her massive body pressing down on Charlotte Linlin, and shook the Captain's shoulders vigorously:
"Captain! What did you do?!"
Charlotte Linlin turned her head, an imperceptible blush creeping onto her cheeks, as she said with a hint of embarrassment:
"This time... my luck was a bit bad, and I wasted a lot of ingredients."
"What does luck have to do with wasting food, hey!"
Ripley shook her even harder, her voice filled with despair.
"Alright, alright. Anyway, you're my Crew member now. I'll take care of you from now on, so what are you worried about?" Charlotte Linlin quickly consoled her.
"I guess that works..." Ripley stopped and, after thinking for a moment, proposed a condition,
"But from now on, my meals must be as delicious as what we just had!"
"Impossible! Aren't you a chef? From now on, you're in charge of the meals on the ship!" Charlotte Linlin refused flatly.
"I can cook for the others! But you must be responsible for my meals, Captain!" Ripley stared at Charlotte Linlin, refusing to budge.
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