"I think I heard you say something along the line of the family."

Nevis looked at Varth with eyes narrowed in suspicion. He clearly heard him say something, but he is now refusing to admit it. Something sure is fishy!

"It's probably your imagination. I didn't say a word."

Varth tried to brush it off, but his words only piqued the other party's curiosity.

"Your behavior is very suspicious. Now I want to know what you said!"

Nevis looked at him with squinted eyes, acting as if he was trying to see through him, trying to find out what he is hiding.

Having no intention of telling the sad story of his life that one could very well turn into a tragic novel, Varth turned away from his gaze and aggressively thought in his mind, "This damned unreasonable child!"

Nevis's gaze was so intense that he felt it searing his back.

With his back facing him, Varth expertly changed the subject by saying, "Listen well, the meat of ranked beasts is full of impurities but also medicinal, replenishing, and strengthening properties. Combined with the right amount of magical spices, herbs, and stuff, they create a Wizard's meal. Not only do these dishes taste more delicious than the ones made using the meat of farm animals, but there is also a chance for a person to gain temporary or permanent benefits after consuming them."

Swayed by the prospect of gaining knowledge not known before, the interest of the young man changer faster than the blink of an eye.

"What kind of benefits?" Nevis asked as he looked at him with eyes that desired to know more about the benefits of a Wizard's dish.

Feeling satisfied that he had managed to change the interest of the young man and finding the curiosity of his past self in him, feeling that Nevis is the boy he used to be, the one who used to hang around the man who taught him all that was to know about this world, Varth decided to bestow him more knowledge about this subject.

"You might gain an increase in your strength, gain temporary or permanent beneficial effects, get better and healthier or feel a burst of stamina filling your body while eating them. It depends on what type of beast's meat you're using and the type of ingredients."

"Then, what will I gain from eating what you're cooking."

"A temporary increase in your strength, flexibility, and defense. But you need to consume 3 kg of its meat."

The eyes of Nevis brightened when he heard the mystical effects of a wizard's dishes, all that was left was for him to experience it first hand.

After he finished decorating the plate with sauce and meat that smelled so great that the mouths of the humans and demi-humans watered unconsciously, Varth said, "Time to eat!"

He served a palate to each of them before he sat down with one in his hand.

"I've been waiting too long for this!"

"Time to taste the fruits of my efforts to control myself,"

"Thank you for the meal!"

They were talking too much and not even taking a bite out of the meat he prepared, causing him to feel a tinge of unhappiness. "Stop talking and dig in!"

An instant after the basilisk said those words, the humans and demi-humans used their knives to chop it up and pick a mouthful of it up towards their mouths.

"Mmm!" When the meat entered their mouth, tingled on their tongue, and exploded into a waft of aroma that assaulted them silly, their groans and moans of delight filled the hall, even though they had no intention of doing so.

They couldn't help it, however. After all, they felt as if thousands of firecrackers were bursting inside their bodies, making each fiber of their beings feel hot, warm, fuzzy, and extremely happy.

The boy, neither human nor vampire, but a mixture of both, was able to understand the cause of their delight. However, he wasn't able to enjoy it. Yet, he still kept on eating and occasionally moaning as if he was eating something truly incredible so that the harmony of this moment won't get destroyed.

[You've consumed the meat of a panther-type beast that is known for its agility]

[Your Flexibility, Speed, defense, and Reaction time has increased by 25%]

[The effect will disappear after three days]

To Vincent's surprise, although the food tasted blank, it truly did increase his strength temporarily. Wizard's dishes, he no longer doubted the meal's capability or considered it frivolous. Now, he only had praise left for it.

"Splendid! Truly, splendid."

After Vincent praised him, the rest of them also applauded his extreme dish.

Although a mask covered his face, the basilisk indeed smiled.

It's been too long, too long since he last shared such a meal with a group.

Vincent teasingly touched Leilani, and she turned to look at him with eyes that asked what's wrong?

Vincent teasingly touched Leilani, and she turned to look at him. His eyes looked into her's as if trying to convey something, and she stared right back at him with eyes that asked what's wrong?

His lips thinned into a smile. "You got the sauce all over your face."

"Eh?" Leilani hurried to wipe it off her face, but she repeatedly missed the mark.

Seeing her going silly, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

He raised his hands and gently grabbed her face, moving it to face him and holding it in place.

"Let me help you." He said before he started to attentively wipe the sauce off the sides of her cheeks. He said before he started to wipe the sauce off the sides of her cheeks. The pretty woman's eyes opened wide enough to turn to complete rounds. He found her cute and squished her irresistible cheeks. She was so lost in her surprise that she forgot to free herself from his teasing.

The basilisk could also see a part of their intimacy reflected off from John and Iris.

He remembered the happiness he had already lost when he looked at their smiling faces and intimate actions.

By the time the basilisk took his eyes off the others and focused on his surroundings, he saw Nevis looking straight at him. Although he was startled, he remained seated in his place, not even a single disturbance appearing in his esoteric breathing pattern.

"If you have something to say, then say it."