1000x Random Returns: Investing in My Crippled Demon Wives!

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Efficient At What, Exactly?

Lucien moved through the kitchen with a confidence that hadn’t been there a week ago.

’Mana-Herb Flameboar Steak,’ he decided, laying out ingredients.

’Golden Crystal Rice. Moonberry Yogurt. Sunrise Mana Tea. Various Humann Spices.’

He worked through it differently now, not just seasoning by instinct, but actually feeling which ingredients could hold mana without collapsing under it.

Which one needed it introduced early, which would curdle if he rushed the process, how the Mana should flow through them and how much mana should he use, etc.

The steak took on a faint golden sheen as he worked mana carefully through the fibers, careful not to overload it.

’The Uncommon manual taught me how to cook good food, food that would atlest be 5 MichelinStars on Earth.’ he thought, plating the rice beside it.

’But this one taught me how to make ingredients actually work together, on a level I didn’t know existed, magical food that actually surpasses everything on Earth.’

’Feels less like following a recipe and more like conducting something.’

---

Aurelia appeared first, freshly showered, and changes into into new set of sports bra and leggings followed shortly by Seraphina and a still-yawning Evelisse.

”What’d you make?” Evelisse asked immediately, peering over his shoulder.

”Patience, my glutton of a wife, patience” Lucien said, sliding the last plate into place.

They settled at the table, and the moment their tongues touched food, the chime rang.

[Ding!]

[Investment Detected: Full Demon Boar Breakfast (Rare)]

[Rewards Generated]

[Aurelia — ×14 — Reward: 7 Months Cultivation Progress]

[Seraphina — ×23— Reward: Rare Culinary Recipe Book]

[Evelisse — ×12 — Reward: 2 Week Technique Comprehension]

Lucien filed the rewards away, satisfied, and turned his attention back to breakfast and his wives.

---

Evelisse took one bite and went very quiet, chewing slowly, expression turning contemplative.

”Hmm, the steak tastes different,” she announced.

”Different good or different bad?”

”Different better.” She took another bite, eyes narrowing like she was analyzing a battle plan.

”There’s something warm underneath it, not spice. Something else, almost like I can taste the flameboars flame and it is perfectly seared, oh and the spices give it a pop of flavor.”

”She’s right husband, the taste is definitely deeper,” Seraphina agreed, savoring hers more slowly. ”Like the flavor keeps going after you swallow.”

Aurelia said nothing for a moment, still chewing, then paused entirely, fork lowering.

Warmth spread through her, subtle but unmistakable, threading down through tired muscles still sore from morning training.

Her breathing eased while something in her muscles, tight since the fight the night before, loosened.

”...Lucien.”

He looked up. ”Yes?”

”This food is healing me.”

Everyone turned to look at her.

”Not much,” she added quickly, checking her own mana circulation with a small frown. ”Doesn’t touch the shattered veins. But it’s helping loosened my tight muscles, I would also assume it increased my natural healing temporarily and that’s something only Mana Chefs can do.”

”Did you learn a new technique or recipe?” Seraphina asked.

”Something like that,” Lucien said, characteristically vague.

Aurelia studied him a long moment. ”Professions,” she said finally, half to herself. ”You might be developing one.”

”Professions?”

”Specialized paths,” she explained.

”Beyond combat rank, talent, and bloodline. Alchemists. Blacksmiths. Chefs. Formation Masters. Beast Tamers. Some are universal, open to anyone with the aptitude. Others require specific talents or bloodline traits, some only certain clans or races can access them at all.” She gestured at his plate.

”This is starting to look like Chef-path cooking. Properly trained, that’s a legitimate profession on its own. Heck I even heard that high ranking Chef’s meals are equal to what same ranking Alchemists produce. ”

’Combat rank, talent, bloodline, and now professions too,’ Lucien thought, mildly overwhelmed.

’This world really doesn’t run out of progression systems, does it.’ He thought as they carried on earing savoring each bite, well Evelisse was definitely savoring them.

---

As they ate he remembered what he thought of last night with Serephina.

”So I thought of this last night, why don’t we make the master bedroom bigger and get a bigger bed so we can sleep together, it saves time and I don’t have to change rooms every night. What do you guys think?” He asked the girls, deciding this was as good a moment as any.

”I think it’s a good idea.” Seraphina said.

”What do you two think?” Lucien said.

Evelisse’s eyes narrowed immediately. ”Here we go, making another plan like last night’s bath.”

”I was thinking we expand it,” he continued. ”Bigger bed with room for all four of us, every night. Nobody’s obligated it’s just an option.”

”It would be warmer,” Aurelia said simply, already resuming her breakfast.

Lucien blinked. ”That’s your reason?”

”Is there another one required?” She asked smirking a little and looking at his pants remembering the tent she saw earlier.

”He wants all three wives in one room, huh, looks like our husband is getting cheeky, he doesn’t want us to walk straight ever again.” Evelisse said, deadpan remembering last night’s pounding in the bathroom.

”It’s efficient,” Lucien said coughing into his first and trying to appear as innocent as possible.

”Efficient at what exactly, husband?” She asked staring at him suspiciously while covering her chest jokingly and teasing him.

He declined to answer that one.

”I don’t really mind, we can sleep together every day.” Seraphina said softly, smiling and blushing a little.

”Fine,” Evelisse said, waving a hand. ”As long as I get a good spot and can walk properly after.”

Even Aurelia’s mouth curved slightly. ”You’ll have to fight for it.”

”I will absolutely fight for it.”

’Family banter,’ Lucien thought, watching them bicker good-naturedly.

’This is genuinely what family sounds like now.’

---

”Well for today’s agenda,” he announced once the bickering settled.

”We have to sell the wolf materials, check on Rika’s party, they went into the dungeon during the break. Buy a proper storage ring and maybe look into better transportation.” He paused.

”Anyone want to come shopping later? I need clothes. You three might too.”

”I’d like that,” Seraphina said immediately.

”I don’t need anything,” Aurelia said.

”You own training gear and one wedding dress, even yesterday’s pajamas were Seraphina’s.” Lucien pointed out.

Aurelia opened her mouth, found no actual counter, and sighed. ”Fine, I’ll come.”

”I’m in,” Evelisse said instantly. ”Someone needs to keep Aurelia from buying only grey and black.”

”Grey and black are practical.”

”Grey and black are depressing as hell, you gotta add some color to it, maybe we can even check some naughty clothes to please our husband as he wants to sleep with all of us together.” She said cheerily while laughing.

Making Seraphina blush at the mention of naughty clothes as she pictured what her clan females used to wear when sleeping with various men.

---

After breakfast, Lucien retrieved the healing items from his inventory, palming them as though pulling them from his storage pouch.

He handed Aurelia hers first the Mana Vein Restoration Elixirs, glinting faintly.

She examined them, expression shifting slowly toward suspicion. ”...Where did you get these? Half of this isn’t even available on this continent.”

”I know a guy,” Lucien said.

Aurelia closed her eyes. ”Of course you do.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek anyway, brief and warm.

Seraphina received the Bloodline Stabilization Potions next, cradling them carefully. ”Thank you,” she said quietly.

”Don’t thank me,” Lucien said. ”You’re my wife, this is just what that means.”

Something in her expression wobbled slightly, touched.

Evelisse extended her hand expectantly. ”Now mine.”

”There isn’t anything for you.”

Her cheeks puffed out. ”Nothing?”

”Nothing.”

She latched onto his arm and bit down, lightly, more indignation than actual force.

”Hey! What are you, a dog or something?”

”You gave them both things!”

”You already got a Divine Talent!”

”That’s irrelevant.”

Lucien caved almost instantly. ”Fine. I’ll make you a special dessert tonight.”

She released his arm immediately. ”...What kind?”

”Secret.”

”Fine, you’re forgiven, but it better be delicious or else I’ll bite something way more precious.” She said while looking below his waist.

”Those are off limits for biting, what if you break it, how am I supposed to please my dear wives then, with my tongue and what about making little Evelisse’s how am I going to do that?” Lucien replied jokingly while covering his crown jewels protectively.

Everyone laughed, Evelisse going faintly pink at her own predictability while imagining Luciens tongue pleasing her and multiple little Evelisse’s and Luciens running around.

---

They split up shortly after, Aurelia heading down to the underground training room, Seraphina settling in to work on potions, Evelisse retreating upstairs to cultivate with her mana crystals.

Lucien kissed each of their foreheads and hugged them on his way out, the gesture already feeling like habit rather than novelty.

Outside, he paused at the base of the front steps.

’I really need my own transportation,’ he thought. ’Hailing a carriage every single time I leave is getting old fast.’

’A personal carriage, maybe. Or something better, a magical vehicle, a beast mount, something.’

’Future goal,’ he decided, filing it away, and flagged down a passing carriage instead.

As it rolled off toward the city, he glanced back once at the estate, sunlight catching off its newly repaired roof.

---

Deep among the trees bordering the estate, a figure lowered a spyglass.

They hadn’t moved in over an hour, perfectly still, perfectly silent, watching everything, Lucien’s departure, the faint shimmer of the defensive barrier, the absence of any visible household staff, the occasional glimpse of the women moving through the windows.

No magic disturbed the air around them. No trace lingered.

”So the reports were true,” the figure murmured, voice barely above breath.

Their gaze stayed fixed on the estate a moment longer.

”Interesting. Very interesting.” A faint, unreadable smile touched their lips.

”Who would have guessed the failure would amount to anything at all?”

Then, without a sound, they melted back into the forest, leaving nothing behind to mark they’d ever been there at all.

***************

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