The two of them kept working in silence, until Nyx asked, "What are we making?"
"Stew," Luke replied, grateful for the distraction. "The lizardman seems like the type who'd appreciate a hearty meal. And Millie struck me as practical, not fussy about food."
"The half-orc looked tough though," Nyx commented while washing vegetables. "Do you think she's really just a hired guard?"
Nyx's question reminded Luke of how Millie had examined the inn with sharp eyes, carrying herself like someone competent in battle. "Maybe. We'll only know later if they become regular customers."
"You think they will?"
"If the food's good and the rooms are comfortable?" Luke said while stirring the pot on the stove and adding some herbs. "But yeah, I think so. Word of mouth is everything for a business like this."
Nyx smiled at his answer. "Then we better make sure this stew is amazing," she said.
They continued cooking together, and the awkwardness from earlier gradually faded, replaced by comfortable teamwork. Luke felt himself growing more at ease with his role in this world, someone who could provide travelers a place to rest safely and comfortably.
"Arx. Please let us know when they come down for lunch," Luke asked the inn.
"Thanks."
The stew they made now filled almost the entire inn with its aroma.
"This smells incredible. Where did you learn to cook like this?" Nyx asked while carrying bowls and spoons back and forth to set them in the dining area of the inn, right in front of the reception counter. Her movements weren't stiff at all, even though it was her first time setting tables, thanks to the system skills she had received the day before.
"Trial and error mostly," Luke answered while pouring stew into a bowl to test portion size. "Had to teach myself after moving out. My mom tried to show me some stuff but I never paid attention back then. Regretted that later."
"Do you miss them?" Nyx asked quietly, already knowing Luke wasn't from this world. "Your family?"
Luke stopped stirring, the question catching in his throat.
Did he miss them? His parents who never understood his choices, or his sister who moved across the country and barely called. A family that existed more as obligation than connection.
"Sometimes," he said honestly. "But not as much as I probably should. We were never that close."
Nyx nodded and didn't push for more details. She simply accepted his answer and continued setting the table.
In truth, Luke appreciated that, how she knew when to probe and when to leave things alone. That was a rare trait, one he valued deeply.
"What about you?" he asked in return. "Do you remember your family?"
The succubus girl paused while picking up a spoon, then resumed with the next one. "Not really. Just fragments, more feelings than memories. It's better that way I think," she answered carefully.
Luke understood what she didn't want to say. Her past should have been painful, who she had run from, or who had hurt her. All wounds that hadn't healed.
'Showtime,' Luke thought as he straightened his new outfit.
Nyx took position near the kitchen entrance, ready to serve. Her expression quickly shifted into one pleasant and welcoming.
Seeing her like that, Luke felt a surge of pride. She was really good at this, she had natural hospitality skills, enhanced by system knowledge.
The lizardman, Gralk, appeared first, descending the stairs with heavy steps. He looked more relaxed now, perhaps impressed by the dimensional room. Millie followed behind him, her eyes still scanning every corner of the room.
"Welcome back," Luke greeted warmly. "Lunch is ready if you're hungry. Fresh stew and bread."
Gralk lifted his nose and inhaled deeply the fragrant aroma from the kitchen. "That smells incredible. What's in it?" he asked eagerly.
"Beef, root vegetables, herbs from the local area. Nothing fancy but it's filling," Luke replied, then gestured for them to sit near the fireplace. "Please, sit. We'll bring it out."
The two travelers sat at the table already set with utensils, and Luke nodded to Nyx, signaling her.
Together they served the meal. Luke carried bowls of steaming stew, Nyx followed with bread and butter.
Gralk immediately dug into the stew, his eyes widening as he chewed slowly. Then he swallowed and looked at Luke.
"By the ancestors…" he said in awe. "This is the best meal I've had in months."
Seeing his companion enjoy the food, Millie tasted the stew carefully. Her reaction was almost the same as Gralk's.
Her eyes widened, then she took another spoonful, then another. "Where did you learn to cook?" she asked curiously.
"Necessity mostly," Luke answered. "Had to figure it out to survive."
"Hahahah, well, you figured it out damn well," Gralk said around another mouthful. "This is truly high-quality food."
Luke felt proud and relieved that his cooking had value in this world. Their validation made him confident he could survive here. "Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"How's the room?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Impressive," Gralk admitted while tearing off a piece of bread. "I've never seen dimensional magic like that. The space inside is three times larger than it should be. And the bed is actually comfortable. Do you know how rare that is in roadside inns?"
"Very rare from what I understand," Luke replied with a relieved smile. He already knew from Arx that there were other monster inns in this world, so he actually had competition. "We try to exceed expectations."
"You're succeeding," Millie said. "We'll likely stay a few days to rest before continuing our journey."
Luke's heart leapt in his chest. A few days meant more income, and more opportunities to build their reputation. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need. Same rate applies."
The two guests finished their meal, praised the food again, then paid upfront for another night without complaint, before returning to their rooms to rest.
Luke slumped against the counter in relief. "We did it," he muttered, truly relieved. This was an inn for monsters, not an ordinary lodging.
Hearing Arx, Luke smiled and looked at Nyx, who was smiling back at him, and he could imagine this place becoming successful.
He straightened up and started walking to the kitchen. "Let's clean the kitchen. Then we can rest until dinner time."
Nyx followed him into the kitchen.