Kairos invited them over to the fire as the merchant explained their situation while holding back his tears. This man is called Leo Stout, and like his family name, he was a well-build lad with a lovely daughter. His wife had passed away during child-birth and Linda became his everything. A year ago, his daughter suddenly developed anorexia and lost interest in food. He searched far and wide for doctors that could save her but no one could find the cause.

Linda who is only seven back then surely did not become anorexia from chasing the fashion fad that many of the young ladies are doing. But, without finding the cause, they could not help her.

To save her, Leo sold all his possessions and became a travelling merchant, hoping to meet someone who could cure her.

Although Kairos and Relestia doesn’t look old enough to be doctors, but if it is food like this then perhaps…

When they curiously asked about why Leo looked so stricken now, the merchant fondly ruffled Linda’s hair and said, “A father can’t let his child suffer alone can he? We are in this together okay, darling?”

The little girl wanted to cry immediately but she still couldn’t eat no matter how hard she tried.

However, this time… the food is nothing like anything she had seen before.

“Young Sir, could you spare Linda some of your roast? I… I will pay you handsomely I promise.”

Kairos nodded kindly but refused the money pouch.

He could tell with a look that the money offered is enough to buy a month’s worth of food and couldn’t take it in honesty. Moreover, right now Kairos is sitting on a castle’s worth of gold.

The little girl gingerly plucked a piece of meat from the oversized chicken. The white steam coming off was a delight to her nose. Her mouth drooled slightly and her father was about to scream in joy.

She happily put the meat into her mouth and chewed, then almost ravenously swallowed it.

“You did it Linda, you did it my lovely Linda! Oh darling, you finally ate!”

But, the next moment, the child turned green and started vomiting with tears in her eyes.

Kairos quickly produced a glass of water to help her calm down as Relestia patted her back.

“Why! Why did this happen? HEAVENS why torture such a young girl? I will give all I have for her to eat a meal.”

Kairos’ brows furrowed in thought then after a while he looked at Leo.

“Mister Stout, I have a theory,” Kairos said and the merchant visibly tried to control himself.

He nodded at Kairos, “Please say, kind Sir.”

“I will need to know when the last time Linda ate was and the kind of food she could eat so far.”

After the merchant explained, Kairos nodded, “As I thought. Her body is far too malnourished to eat anything solid right now. I will specially prepare something for her.”

The past year, Linda had been surviving on fruit juice and little else.

Kairos smiled at the little girl and took out some of the cockatrice bones. Before their eyes he started cleaning the bones and then set it to simmer to drain all the impurities. Afterwards, he wrapped it up properly and started roasting it.

Once the bones are caramelised, he added the pure distilled water made by magic, a mixture of spices, and a pinch of salt.

The spices he picked are all refreshing and gentle to the tongue.

After everything was done, he sealed the stone pot using melted rock and then placed it in a specially-made soil mound.

Kairos took out a handful of fire crystals and placed them around the handmade oven. Everyone can feel the heat emanating from the cookery increase, until it became nearly unbearable even when they took a few steps back.

Looking at everyone’s pained expressions he explained, “The soup will need six to eight hours of simmering to properly finish, but because of little Linda’s condition, four hours should be enough. However, it wouldn’t do to make the little one wait so long, so I’m using high pressure to cut down the time. It will be ready in an hour.”

The rest decided to head off to a cooler area while they waited, and at the same time Kairos started creating other dishes.

An hour later they returned to an amazing sight. The whole place has changed. Their carriages are now rested at a sheltered parking area. A small rest house lies on the side of the common road. Of course, small is relative to Gaia’s standard, in Axis it is big enough as an inn. In the future this place can be used as a gathering hub.

It’s incredible for the locals, but to be able to do this much is expected of Cultivators. Even though Kairos does not have even a strand of Ki left, his physical strength is still far above any Aura Knight.

They politely knocked on the door and stepped into the place when Kairos invited them in.

Kairos was just finishing up as they stepped into the dining room. A huge boulder sliced in two served as table lined up with two rows of stone chairs.

The seats had been significantly thinned so that even Linda could pull it, but the design made it sturdy and durable.

As a disciple of Siegfried, Kairos cannot consciously make low quality products.

When everyone was seated, Kairos brought out a stone egg half as big as the table. It is the sealed pot he used to make the soup. Without a container of this size it will be impossible to cook the large cockatrice bones.

Kairos took a hammer and a nail to strike the top of the stone egg. The moment a crack appeared the fragrance struck the roof.

It was a minty breeze that rejuvenated everyone. A gentle smell that invigorates.

Most days, just the smell of cooked food is enough to make Linda puke, but this time it isn’t as overpowering and a small smile appeared on her face.

While Kairos was pouring, a shadow appeared and disappeared so quickly that no one else noticed, but he knows that it is Aisa who took some soup because he felt a tug on his scarf.

In a moment, four bowls of golden-brown soup was set on the table. The smell was so good that even though Relestia just ate, she felt hungry again. However, no one touched their food but looked intensely at Linda.

Besides, the stone bowl that is used is thick enough to keep the temperature warm for a while.

The little girl gingerly took a spoonful of soup and placed it close to her lips with obvious hesitation in her eyes. After vomiting the previous time, she is much more cautious. There’s no one who would willingly go through it again without being some sort of pervert.

After a while of wrestling with herself, Linda finally lost to the temptation and took a small sip.

At she furrowed her brows for a while then her eyes widened with pure joy and afterwards she started taking copious sips.

“I… I can drink this!” Linda chirped happily.

“Dad, I can drink this…”

There was a silent moment and she and her father Leo started crying loudly.

Relestia looked happily at the two and secretly wiped away some tears, hoping that no one saw.

Kairos, of course, did not expose her, and started drinking the soup. After a warm moment, everyone joined in and finished the entire pot of soup in moments. Once everyone is full, Kairos invited them to the adjacent guest hall with something to say.

After they are seated, Kairos said, “I am actually a student of an herbalist. I can tell that Linda’s condition is not actually medical.”

When he said this, Leo jumped out of his seat and loudly said, “Impossible! No… maybe that’s why none of the doctors could find anything wrong with her?”

Kairos nodded, “Her problem is actually a gift…”

Leo’s face turned red with anger, “A gift? What kind of gift can cause a child such pain!?”

Kairos did not react to his “Have you heard from Linda about how her food doesn’t taste good?”

“A… All the time? I thought it’s just a child’s whim…”

“No, she isn’t a picky eater. I believe Linda just has overactive taste buds. In the chefs’ world it’s called the Chef God’s Tongue.”

“What?! But if that’s the case, how can I feed her?”

The eight year old child looked at Kairos with wide hopeful eyes and then Leo who understood what she meant started to look to Kairos as well.

Kairos sighed, “My other teacher is a renowned chef. Normally, I cannot impart his skills without his consent but this time it concerns a child’s life. I will teach you how to cook, Leo.”