Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 220 This life is worth it!

"Did you know? The cafeteria at the City Gate Inn has reopened, and there are new things inside!"

"New thing?"

“Have you heard of Shawarma?”

"I've never heard of it, and I'm not interested. Who would go to a place like that to eat? Have you never eaten good food before?"

"The chef is new."

"so what?"

"Have you ever seen a bird that can cook?"

"Eh?"

Early in the morning, this conversation spread throughout the dungeon. The arrogant believer who had originally disdained the restaurant suddenly changed his attitude 180 degrees after hearing about the bird that could cook, and joined the team to taste the shawarma.

In the hotel kitchen, more and more guests came.

Miss Chloe ran back and forth in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and meat smoothly, which attracted the admiration of the onlookers. Several burning golden feathers floated around a skewer, on which were cut beef, pork and chicken. If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of grease falling off.

The aroma of meat filled the air and the line in front of the counter stretched all the way outside the restaurant.

The counter retains the essence of "self-service", and diners can freely choose the types of side dishes.

"Fresh lettuce, sliced ​​tomatoes, pickles and cream... Miss Chloe is so capable!"

Soon, a familiar face appeared in front of Ethan.

The nightmare is here too.

She smiled and said, "Five portions. I want to bring some back for Winter and the others."

Watching Ethan busy behind the counter, Nightmare increasingly understood why Winter was obsessed with the man in front of her.

There was an afterimage of Ethan's hands at one point, and it seemed that there was some kind of helper behind the counter that was invisible to their naked eyes helping to assemble the burritos.

It looked like some kind of magic.

The vegetables rose out of thin air and were placed into the flattened crust by magic. Miss Chloe was responsible for cutting the meat, and then Ethan squeezed the secret sauce on the ingredients.

This gave Nightmare a new plan in his mind.

If Winter becomes the Chosen One, she will replace Flor and become the new ruler of the dungeon and even the abyss. Then she will have enough reasons to keep Winter in the abyss. Although it is destined not to last long, it may last for a few weeks to months.

Given the relationship between Ethan and Winter, they might stay in the dungeon for a while longer.

There was a subtle change in Nightmare's thoughts.

At first, she returned to the imperial capital for her students and excellent subordinates, but it seemed that now... the students were no longer important. Winter was still cold to others, including her, and they maintained a relationship as ordinary colleagues. This made Nightmare realize that perhaps her students had never regarded her as a teacher.

It was a sad thing, but it doesn't matter now.

Just like today, she heard the servants talking in the mansion, saying that someone had a drinking contest and knocked down a roomful of believers of the Father of War, and that the restaurant of the inn at the city gate had reopened, and there was a beautiful golden bird helping him in the kitchen. Nightmare immediately thought of Ethan, left the breakfast prepared by the servants, and went straight to the inn at the city gate.

She had never eaten in such a shabby place before.

Her mansion was located in the upper city area of ​​the dungeon, where most of the high-ranking followers of the old gods lived.

The Council of Elders, the Council of War, and the Lophik Chamber of Commerce.

Naturally, they would not pay much attention to these restaurants opened for the civilians in the underground city.

Her student Lin Dong is making good use of his remaining energy - as long as this student of hers stays in the abyss for one more day, Ethan will not leave.

While she was thinking, a packaged burrito was handed to her. The smell coming from it made Nightmare's appetite increase.

Just today, she tasted the breakfast that Ethan prepared for her personally.

This is undoubtedly a good start.

Ethan just exchanged a few words with Nightmare and then went back to work.

Why did things become like this?
At first he just wanted to prepare a hearty breakfast for Miss Chloe, so he followed the shawarma recipe, hummed a little tune, skewered the meat on the barbecue, kneaded the dough, selected fresh vegetables, and prepared the sauce.

However, the aroma of barbecue attracted the hungover team members, and these upright believers of the Father of War praised this simple and delicious food.

When the news spread that a bird that could cook had come to the inn, diners rushed in like crazy.

During this period, Ethan obtained another piece of intelligence about the dungeon and the followers of the Old Gods.

These people usually don't have any proper jobs and mostly do whatever they want, so whenever there's something exciting going on somewhere, they'll rush over to join in the fun. And as the person who brought Shawarma to the dungeon, he naturally became the new chef of the hotel.

Ethan originally wanted to refuse. After all, he had long passed the stage where he needed to work to earn money. However, when the innkeeper knelt down beside him in tears, hugged his arms and declared, "Please, without shawarma, I..." Ethan still felt compassion.

Anyway, he had just arrived and had nothing to do here during the day.

The chef of this inn has been gone for a long time.

The note on the wall was left a few years ago. After leaving the note "Come back in three days", the chef left the underground city and never returned.

But in fact, usually no one comes here to eat, and there are very few outsiders staying in the hotel, especially in the past few months - it is said that the empire has changed, the old forces headed by the Pope have been eradicated, and all cities are developing in a good direction. There will be almost no residents of the empire leaving their familiar lives and fleeing to live in the abyss.

This hotel survives on the minimum living allowance from the Chamber of Commerce. The owner can't remember how long it has been since he saw the hotel so busy.

"Boss, the bread is gone."

Ethan's words interrupted the boss's thoughts. He quickened his movements and led the hotel staff to prepare the ingredients.

He saw hope.

This hotel is coming back from the dead!

With everyone working together, Ethan was busy until noon. Only when most of the ingredients in the restaurant were used up did the boss announce the suspension of meals. The Old God believers and residents who didn't get a chance to line up could only sigh and secretly decide to line up early tomorrow. There were also curious people who surrounded Ethan and asked him where he found such a bird that could cook.

When the crowd dispersed, the boss's face was flushed. He rushed to Ethan excitedly and shook his hands tightly, "Mr. Ethan, I would like to invite you and Miss Chloe to become the deputy store managers of this store!"

This is a well-considered decision.

He seemed to see this deserted hotel return to its peak.

"No."

Ethan waved his hand.

"But this store can't do without you!"

“You already know the recipe for shawarma.”

Ethan, in line with the principle of teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish, taught the recipe to the people in the inn without reservation. "I can also write some other recipes for you."

He couldn't help but lament the backward learning ability of people in this era, which was caused by lack of information and backward education system. According to the cabinet report, the popularization level of education in the empire was only 7%, and more than 7% of this % were aristocrats and emerging bourgeoisie, while the literate population of the empire was less than %, which was already in a leading position among major countries.

The boss looked embarrassed, "But..."

“I’ll present it in the form of a comic strip.”

A list of simple and easy-to-cook foods emerged in Ethan's mind.

Burgers, fries, sandwiches, pizza.

The ingredients here are quite complete.

While the two were talking, a man with a little girl timidly walked into the restaurant. Meeting the boss's puzzled gaze, he swallowed and said, "I heard... there are shawarma and birds that can cook here. This is my identity information."

As he spoke, the man pulled up his sleeves, revealing the black flame pattern on his wrist.

The boss's expression changed and he asked, "Which batch?"

“This time.”

"Come in, prepare the rest of the ingredients and bring them over!"

The boss also went against his usual behavior and gave orders to the employees who had just relaxed. After hearing the man's response, the people in the store did not complain but took action again.

The little girl in ragged clothes hid behind the man, sticking half of her head out to look at Miss Chloe curiously.

Feeling the little girl's gaze, Miss Chloe tilted her head, her eyes curved into crescent shapes, and made a friendly "coo" sound towards her to express her friendliness.

The little girl also laughed and waved to Miss Chloe. Only then did Ethan see that she was missing a front tooth.

The atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly became solemn.

"That's great. Now that you've mastered the art of making shawarma, the next step is making hamburgers, French fries, and pizza."

Ethan stopped the inn employee who was about to put the remaining minced meat on a skewer.

The boss's face lit up with joy and he asked all the employees to gather around and learn.

"Can I watch it too?"

The little girl asked timidly.

"of course."

Ethan asked Miss Chloe to help him chop up the leftovers from the roast and make them into meat patties, and he also brought a few slices of bread from the kitchen - these slices of bread were originally the only cooked food in the hotel.

The patties were baked with a sizzling sound, and the little girl stared at the makeshift baking tray that Ethan had made as if possessed.

At this moment, the boss was sure.

Ethan is a true food seeker, so he can create so many delicacies that do not exist in this world at any time. More importantly, they look simple and easy to cook. Even laymen like them with no basic knowledge can easily learn them after just a few tries.

"This is a burger, these are fries, and this is pizza."

Soon, a table of delicious food was served. "What I just showed you is just one of the methods of making it. You can change the ingredients according to your own taste."

There is no real fast food restaurant in this world. Even in the imperial capital, Ethan can't find a place to eat a hamburger when he goes out.

Fortunately, Bi'an is a real gourmet, and his ideas are always well implemented by Bi'an.

Even if Bi'an had not joined the Holy Sepulchre of Netheril, he would have become an excellent chef.

The man with the black flame pattern on his wrist seemed a little frightened. He looked at the innkeeper for help, and after getting a nod from him, he thanked him and said, "Thank you!"

In stark contrast to him, the little girl smiled broadly, and before taking her seat, she touched the feathers on Miss Chloe's wings.

It was the second softest and warmest thing she had ever touched in the world.

When she held the burger with both hands and took a bite, her surprise was beyond words. Ethan stretched and sat down behind the kitchen counter. At the boss's signal, the employees also dispersed. After the restaurant closed, the hotel welcomed the last table of guests.

The man only ate one piece of pizza, and then silently watched the girl eating heartily across the table.

A happy smile appeared on his face.

However, he still had a lot to tell the other party.

Ethan listened silently.

This is a survival guide for dungeons.

The hotel with the logo of the Lofik Consortium in the lower town is the last safe haven. If you encounter extreme weather, you can show the black lines on your wrist to the hotel staff and they will provide you with temporary accommodation.

Be sure to go to the food distribution center in the central square of the downtown area to get meals at 10:00 a.m. and 18:00 p.m. every day. If you go late, there will be no food.

If you are really hungry, you can try your luck in the inn or tavern.

Before winter comes, you can get thick clothes and thick quilts from the collection points set up by the Lofik Consortium.

If you pick up a silver antelope or a golden lion, it is best to save it for a rainy day.

The little girl was a little absent-minded and would steal a glance at Miss Chloe from time to time. The man was worried, so he took out a piece of paper and started drawing on it.

He was illiterate, so he could only rack his brains and leave behind some patterns that he was not even sure whether they could be understood by others.

The two of them ate all the food carefully. After they stood up, the man helped the little girl wipe the bread crumbs from the corners of her mouth. The little girl looked back every few steps and said goodbye to Miss Chloe reluctantly. Their voices faded away, and Ethan vaguely heard the man asking her if there was anywhere else she wanted to go.

The little girl was satisfied.

She saw the bird that could cook and touched its wings. Now it was time to go home.

The conversation disappeared around the corner and the restaurant fell into a brief silence.

"What does that black line mean?"

Ethan asked. He noticed that his boss seemed to be in a low mood and had a vague premonition.

The boss seemed to be hesitant to speak, then adjusted his mood and said, "They are the chosen ones."

"Are you a follower of the old gods?"

The pattern was in the shape of a black flame and looked familiar. This should be the emblem of the Demon King Xinkalo. He had seen this mark on members of the Lophik Consortium.

"You can say that."

The innkeeper forced a smile. "This is a supreme moment for him. He can finally dedicate his soul to the almighty old gods, and at such a grand festival."

Compared to the tone of his speech just now, this was more like a recitation that had been rehearsed many times beforehand.

The tone is familiar.

This is how the people of the Empire praised the Church before Julius fell.

If you have doubts about the Vatican's actions and have raised your questions, then congratulations, you are in big trouble.

Ethan also heard that because the phenomenon of gluttony was too serious, in order to rectify the empire's atmosphere, the high priests of the Holy See put forward more than ten clear regulations on the tone of praise in some cities. If the Holy See finds that your praise is not sincere enough, it will trigger a series of serious consequences.

These regulations were abolished as soon as the cabinet was formed.

But now, the boss's tone of reading is obviously not right enough.

In the words of the Vatican's high priest, it is not sincere enough. This should be an exciting and emotional praise.

Furthermore, they will very "considerately" ask you why your tone is not sincere enough and whether you have other ideas?
Ethan understood.

His guess was correct. For the man, this was his "last meal", so he kept telling the girl about his funeral arrangements while eating.

"How many souls are needed for the festival?"

"13."

the innkeeper blurted out.

As the conversation progressed, Ethan gained a more comprehensive understanding of the city.

Most of the "mixed-race" residents of the underground city are refugees from various countries. They live and work here in peace and contentment, own their own jobs and shops, and do not have to pay high taxes. Compared with the harsh environment and church regulations of the empire in the past, this place is like heaven.

The prerequisite is that you need to pay enough souls to the old gods.

Additional rituals require 13 souls.

In addition, they have to pay 10 souls to the old gods every month in exchange for their protection.

If we look at it from a macro perspective, this tax can already be described as "conscience". In the past empire, the number of people persecuted by the Church in a month was probably several times more than this.

10 souls a month in exchange for the possibility of living in heaven is a temptation that is hard to refuse for people.

On this basis, the Lofik Group carried out a series of reforms to make sacrifice more "humane".

From the perspective of public opinion, these sacrificed residents were devout believers. The people of the abyss would give the highest praise to their sacrifice. The black flame-like patterns were proof of their piety.

In terms of living environment, the residents of the underground city are willing to provide help to these noble people within their ability. Just as the man just said, when his daughter was hungry and cold, she could find temporary accommodation and free food in the hotel. No one would "waste" such a noble soul.

Once their souls are sacrificed, their relatives and descendants will receive varying degrees of care from the residents of the underground city.

This is a virtuous circle.

At least, that's what most people in the dungeon think.

Of course, there are a few people like the innkeeper who have doubts about this. In the words of the believers of the old gods, his belief in the old gods is not pure enough. If he can accept from the bottom of his heart that the sacrificed souls will return to the throne of the old gods and go to a better world, then he will not ask these stupid questions.

Ethan also asked many questions, many of which were dangerous topics. If they were heard by some extreme believers of the Old Gods, it would very likely bring him trouble.

There is only one iron rule in this free dungeon - it is forbidden to violate the rules set by the old gods, and any voice that slanders them will be regarded as the enemy of the abyss.

When winter returns, the last candidate appears, with only three days left before the festival begins.

The dungeon will usher in an unprecedented grand occasion.

Ethan heard about the general process. The sacrifice of 13 souls would serve as the prelude to the ceremony. These 13 noble ones would kneel in a circular magic circle prepared in advance. When the believers finished chanting the spell, the messengers of the old gods would come to greet them.

Each of the Old Gods' messengers looks different.

Sometimes it is countless wriggling tentacles, and sometimes it is burning black flames.

Even more shocking is some invisible pressure that crushes the bodies of the sacrificed persons until they completely disappear in the center of the circle.

The boss's doubts about the publicity came from the time he arrived too early and stood too far to the front.

He heard the sacrificed people's cries of fear and pain, and he also saw their bodies being burned by black flames until they were reduced to ashes. It was a very long process.

Later, he had nightmares for a long time, always dreaming that he appeared in a circle with his body burning.

That scene did not look like the reaction that the followers of the old gods advocated for moving on to a better world.

During this period, there were several cases of sacrifices escaping. Some inhabitants of the dungeon who couldn't bear it helped them, but the consequences were...

The boss would not describe it in detail.

Once they are regarded as enemies by the followers of the old gods, they will show their most brutal and evil side.

Maybe that's what they really are like.

But even so, this place is much better than the outside world.

Until recently, some rumors made the residents' beliefs no longer firm. Some said that the empire had changed, and perhaps it was a better place to live now.

However, legend has it that those who made these remarks were quickly punished and sacrificed to the old gods.

"Don't fight them."

These words really showed his true feelings, and the boss's eyes looked a little nervous.

Ethan helped him a lot and allowed him to see hope again in this hotel that was like a candle in the wind, so he didn't want Ethan to follow in the footsteps of those people.

He advised, “You’ll get used to it if you stay here for a while. Sometimes, just pretend you didn’t see it, and it will pass quickly.”

These are his heartfelt words as a person who has experienced it.

"Being able to live peacefully here is worth it. The person just now must think so too."

"I'm not a militant, why would I go against them?"

Ethan said, "I believe in peace."

"That's good, that's good!"

The boss breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes showing some relief.

I didn't expect that Ethan, who is so young, could see things so clearly. You know, it took him several years to gradually calm down.

He was about to continue discussing the recipe with Ethan, but the sound of footsteps at the door made his heart rise to his throat.

The men stopped at the door and black shadows moved into the room.

Leading the group was a woman wearing heavy, bright makeup with a smile on her face.

"Mr. Ethan, you came all the way here without even saying hello to me."

Rattle!

Why is this woman here?
The boss' heart was in his throat and he couldn't say a word in front of this vicious woman.

A senior member of the Lophik Group, she was once Flor's henchman, but after the Ophira incident, she was the one who instigated a series of disturbances within the Xinkalo believers.

"Oh, it's you."

Ethan smiled and responded to her, "You are still alive."

……

Looking at Ethan's smile, the boss choked.

He couldn't believe his ears.

What does "you are still alive" mean?
How to speak?
Who was it that advocated peace being the most precious thing just now?!
(End of this chapter)