Chapter 44: Help Gone Wrong Part Two

Cashel stared at the kitchen and the three women. No one said anything as Andeen’s words died in the air.

The thick, pitch-black substance inside the pot let out a slurpy pop, releasing a plume of purple smoke that smelled like burned plastic and a bunch of regret.

Blub!

Cashel felt his entire skin crawl. He slowly took the knife from Olga and set it down on the counter, already exhausted despite barely having done anything.

"Olga."

"Yes?" she answered normally, looking at him with her blank stare.

"What is that?"

Olga turned back to the pot. He thought she was unsure of what to say because anyone would be, but a small smile appeared on her lips. She then looked at him and said with complete seriousness, "Breakfast."

"...."

Across the kitchen, Andeen laughed softly under her breath and crossed her legs, adjusting her position to enjoy what was going on.

Nina quietly dropped what she was doing and made her way to Cashel’s back. She wrapped her arms firmly around his waist like a vice, staining his body with the white flour, and Cashel took it all.

He pointed at the pot lazily. "Can you eat that?"

Olga was about to nod, but when the black concoction made another blub sound, she hesitated and slowly took a step back.

"You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover."

"That thing will melt the drain if I pour it in there. Look at it!" he half-yelled, and she frowned, her eyes darkening behind her glasses.

Cashel took a deep breath. He had to be calm. One had to be calm and mature enough to handle however many wives the System decided to throw at him.

That was the price he had to pay.

Olga crossed her arms and averted her gaze. "You gave me a responsibility without checking whether I knew how to do it."

Cashel’s eyes twitched. He placed both hands over his face, let out a long, throaty groan, and took a deep breath.

"I understand. It’s my fault." He gestured at the pot again. "But food shouldn’t be that black or make sounds like that, do you understand?"

"Cooking is experimenting. I am certain it will taste good."

"Not in my kitchen..."

"This is my kitchen too. I have every right to cook or experiment with edibles if I want to," she argued rather calmly.

Cashel opened his mouth, found no immediate counterargument, and looked toward Andeen for backup.

She just shrugged, her fogged-over eyes gleaming with amusement. "She’s right, honey."

Cashel pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine, fine. Everyone step away from the kitchen."

He reached for a clean skillet on the top shelf, but Nina’s grip around his waist only tightened, making Cashel’s face scrunch in pain.

"Nina, I’m trying to cook."

"I’m staying," she insisted, looking up at him with unyielding stubbornness. "I’m helping."

Cashel sighed again. He couldn’t argue with them, especially when it was three against one. Times like this were when he wished he had Nathan around or his friends from his past life.

"Fine, you can hand me ingredients. Olga..."

Olga stepped forward instantly. "I can assist."

"You can wash the vegetables," Cashel said quickly, pointing toward the sink. "And don’t touch the stove."

Olga frowned. "I am capable of operating a stove."

Cashel pointed a spatula at the smoking pot. "The evidence suggests otherwise."

Olga glanced at the black sludge, then lowered her head with a rare moment of humility.

"...Perhaps not."

Andeen let out a quiet laugh into her teacup.

Despite the chaos, the warmth in the kitchen the moment he arrived was addicting. Cashel cleaned up everything with Nina stubbornly clinging to him like a barracuda. He prepared eggs and French toast while Nina handed him the seasoning from the cabinet behind him.

Olga washed the vegetables at the sink with a rather terrifying focus, even polishing the apples. Andeen stayed at the table, guiding Nina when she asked questions.

’God, I’m going to die...’

Cashel grimaced as Nina’s grip tightened, but he couldn’t bring himself to complain. He flipped an egg with a flick of his wrist.

"How many eggs does each of you eat?" he asked, in between flipping the fourth egg and handing Nina a pan to heat up oil for the scallions and chili.

Olga paused her washing and glanced at him. She then looked at Andeen, who smiled and gave a nod to go ahead. Then she answered, "Four is alright for me, but I consume about six on a daily basis."

"I eat eight," Nina replied, one hand working on the stove and the other around Cashel’s arm.

Cashel just stared at their heads. He then shook his head and glanced at the crate of eggs beside Andeen.

"At this point..." He sighed. "I might actually have to get a farm."

Andeen laughed softly. "Don’t be like that, honey. We could afford all that."

"Says the person who barely takes two eggs," Cashel retorted pointedly, and Andeen just laughed softly, turning away in guilt.

An hour later, breakfast was served in generous portions: crispy chicken, fluffy fried eggs, warm bread, and his special chili sauce at the center of the living room because the dining table was only reserved for three, and Cashel couldn’t leave anyone out.

Olga sat down after setting the cups down with pride.

"I helped."

Cashel nodded, helping Andeen to her seat on the sofa before moving to the ground.

"Yes, you really did spend your time doing the veggies."

Simply put, they were all cut perfectly.

As they ate, the entire house was filled with the warm aroma of food wafting through the air. Nina kept casually spearing food off Cashel’s plate when she thought he wasn’t looking, while Olga questioned everything he did.

And Andeen...

He couldn’t be happier seeing Andeen actually eat until she was full, a satisfied smile resting on her face.

When the plates were finally cleared, Cashel stood up.

"Wait here."

He moved to the kitchen, accessed his inventory, and took out a three-tiered ice-cream cake, deliberately leaving the ring boxes for a different day. He grabbed clean plates and a large knife.

Nina’s eyes widened, her mouth watering, and Olga leaned forward, completely mesmerized by the sugar work.

"For us?" Nina whispered.

"For you three," Cashel said, setting the cake down in the center of the table. "Consider it an official welcome." He looked at Andeen and squeezed her hands tenderly. "And a thank you as well. I wouldn’t have any of this if I’d been sold off to someone else or killed."

However, before he could say another word or listen to their response, his System screen appeared before his eyes again.

[Binding Slot Expanding]

[Primary Bound Target: Andeen Altar]

[Linked Bound Targets: Nina Altar, Olga Altar]

[SUPPORT NETWORK: Stable]

Cashel raised an eyebrow, but before he could dismiss it, the screen glitched violently. The blue light twisted into a dark, bruised violet, with static buzzing faintly in his ears.

[UNREGISTERED CONNECTION DETECTED.]

[Analyzing...]

[Connection Type: ██████████]

[Additional Bound Tar#@##&_@]

[■■■■■■■■ ERROR]

[ERROR.]

[ERROR.]

Cashel stared. "What the hell?" he muttered under his breath, making all three women turn to him with questioning looks.

Andeen frowned, noting the change in his energy. "What’s wrong?"

Cashel looked at her briefly, then at the screen.

"I... don’t know."

The System flickered again, and the previous message vanished completely.

A new screen replaced it.

[Syncing With Player’s Active Missions.]

[Upcoming Tasks: 1/20]

[Primary Objective: Veloce Group.]

[Secondary Objective: Shelly Jones.]