In a realm of culinary mystery, Willow succumbed to the allure of the delectable feast set before her. The names of the dishes eluded her, yet she cared not, at least for the present moment. She immersed herself in a symphony of flavors, a dance of divine cuisine that bestowed upon her a heavenly delight. Ahh, such a stroke of luck she had stumbled upon! The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, weaving its spell around her senses, while the smooth texture caressed her palate with the sweetness of honey. Each bite was a revelation, a fusion of crispness and tenderness that transported her to a realm beyond mortal comprehension. This was a glimpse of paradise.

 

But let us return to reality, where cooked rice mingled with a medley of vegetables. Lou, driven by the scarcity of ingredients, had ingeniously combined every edible vegetable she could find into a harmonious blend. Details mattered not to Willow. In comparison to the meager sustenance she had subsisted on in the past weeks, this simple fare appeared heavenly. 

 

Observing Lou's restless demeanor, Willow detected a yearning for acknowledgment in her eyes. Expectantly, lou stood, tail flicking anxiously, her gaze sweeping over the others, hoping for their appreciation. But to Willow's chagrin, Lou's attention never fell upon her. A surge of indignation welled within her, igniting a rebellious fire. If her voice held no significance, then she would relish her meal in silence.

 

A pout formed on Willow's lips, realizing that her opinion held little value in this moment. She resolved to partake in the meal silently, feasting upon the nourishment provided without uttering a word. She cast her eyes upon the Witch, who reveled in her meal with an air of blissful detachment from the world. And without needing to cast a single glance toward Gideon, she knew that his spirit soared in elation as well.

 

Once their culinary expedition had drawn to a close, their attention shifted toward the enigmatic child whose presence seemed to shift like a caged bird. Lou, attempting to maintain an air of indifference, folded her hands and straightened her posture, but her treacherous tail betrayed her true emotions. It flicked anxiously from one side to the other, an embodiment of her hidden anticipation.

 

In a moment akin to a student receiving their report card, Lou stood. the Witch's voice pierced the air. There was no trace of mockery in her words, only a sincere acknowledgment of Lou's genius as a chef. "That is quite a delectable craft, unlike certain someone," she playfully jabbed, directing a sly glance towards Willow. Yet, even in her jest, the Witch didn't forget to bestow praise upon Lou. "Thank you, Lou," she said, tenderly patting the little girl's head. Willow, observing the transformation in the child's countenance, saw the fear dissipate, replaced by an effusion of delight. Reluctantly, Willow conceded within her own mind that the Witch's praise was a cause for genuine happiness.

 

Gideon, breaking the silence with a cough, commanded the attention of all present. "This truly is a delight to eat," he remarked, his words brimming with appreciation. And true to his nature, he bestowed upon Lou a playful moniker as a testament to his gratitude. "Thank you, little miss demon," he uttered, the affectionate title rolling off his tongue. "I hope you find your days here filled with peace and joy." His well-wishes echoed in the space, permeating the air with a warmth.

 

"Yes, welcome to the Whispering Willow Inn," the Witch chimed in, her voice tinged with hospitality as she offered yet another gentle pat on Lou's head. With grace and elegance, she resumed her seat, the epitome of poise and Cruelty, WIllow whispered in her thoughts.

 

 Willow observed it all, her meal becoming a slow procession as she savored each bite deliberately. It irked her that she lagged behind her companions in culinary conquest, their plates empty while hers still held remnants of nourishment.

 

Lou looked at her, “What!! You have nothing to say?” 

 

Lou's accusation caught Willow off guard, and she paused for a moment, gathering her composure before responding with a calm demeanor. "Of course, this meal is nothing short of heavenly. I simply assumed you wouldn't care for the opinion of a mere human like myself."

 

Lou averted her gaze, and a pang of guilt shot through Willow's heart. Her jab had been unnecessary, a needless remark that she instantly regretted. "I mean, truly, this is an exquisite delight. Words fail me when it comes to expressing my gratitude for savoring such culinary bliss."

 

A mischievous gleam sparked in Lou's eyes as she chuckled. "Hehe, remember that. Carry that gratefulness with you even to the depths of the grave."

 

"I shall," Willow replied with an endearing tone, her voice brimming with warmth. Little Lou was undeniably adorable. Without a moment's hesitation, she rose from her seat and enveloped the young girl in a tight embrace. However, to her surprise, she detected a flicker of fear in Lou's eyes as she approached. What could possibly make the child feel afraid of her innocent self? Willow dismissed any suspicion from her mind.

 

"The little innkeeper has even Littler chef. I wonder what wonders lie ahead," Gideon pondered aloud, his curiosity piqued.

 

"If I were to hazard a guess," the Witch interjectedt, "her system should allow for significant expansion, even the potential for opening new shops... and, of course, the need for upgrading the Inn itself. Which is truly essential, considering that this broken and shabby place is unlikely to attract anyone other than Gideon."

 

"I believe you're right," Willow agreed, releasing Lou for a moment before gently scooping her up and returning to her seat. She settled down, placing Lou comfortably on her lap, and to her surprise, the young dragon girl didn't resist.

 

"Let's check the requirements for an upgrade," the Witch prompted, encouraging Willow.

 

"How will it appear?" Willow inquired.

 

"Just envision it right in front of you," the Witch advised.

 

With a vivid imagination, Willow conjured the Inn management system, and before her eyes, a screen materialized. She tapped on the screen, and the main interface loaded, presenting a wealth of information.

 

For a considerable amount of time, Willow delved into the stats, exploring numerous options, but none seemed to pertain to upgrading the Inn. Frustration tugged at her, “There are no such option, perhaps the only way to upgrade was through physical labor and financial resources.”

 

"No, that can't be right. You must be overlooking something," the Witch stated firmly.

 

Willow once again combed through all the available choices, her gaze falling upon the Tier section. It appeared plain and unassuming, with only a bold "I" etched upon a shabby wooden background. Intrigued, Willow tapped on it, and the page transformed before her eyes.

 

New information materialized, revealing the path from Tier I to Tier II, accompanied by a set of requirements. Willow read through them carefully:

 

Staff: 4/4

Shards: 1200/500,000 (250,000 contribution to be made by the Innkeeper or Inn Funds/Resources)

Monster Cores: 200 (100 contribution to be made by the Innkeeper or Inn Funds/Resources)

Innkeeper: Constitution I

 

As she absorbed the details, a sense of defeat welled within her.

 

 The rewards of upgrading the Inn:

 

Reconstructed Inn, Shabby and old Inn to Habitable Old Inn

Unlocked expansion capabilities

Inn Level unlocked

Management Storage Access

Access to Inn perk system

Inn management store

 

"Yes, I found it," Willow uttered, her voice lacking any semblance of delight. The requirements before her seemed preposterous, beyond reason. How could she ever acquire such an abundance of resources?

 

"And they are as absurd as your voice tells me," the Witch remarked, her response void of surprise.

 

"Yes, what exactly are shards? I need to obtain 500,000 of them, along with 200 monster cores, and acquire a constitution for the next tier," Willow inquired.

 

"Shards are acquired by slaying monsters," the Witch explained, her voice carrying a hint of speculation. "They are used to level up, and though I  have always theorized that shards are fragments of souls we have shattared that we consume to enhance our own abilities, although no study has definitively proven it,"

 

"That seems as obvious as the sun on a clear day," Gideon interjected.

 

"Yet, the Confedrium refuses to acknowledge it," the Witch sighed.

 

"Well, I'm not particularly concerned about their agreement," Gideon dismissed nonchalantly.

 

While Willow didn't fully grasp the intricacies of their conversation, she understood that shards were akin to experience points. The magnitude of the requirements, however, left her disheartened. The prospect of fulfilling them seemed to stretch across years, a seemingly endless journey.

 

"I suppose, just this once, I can make a contribution. You should focus on leveling up," the Witch offered.

 

"What? No, I must do this myself. This is my Inn,"

 

"But I am doing you a favor, and you can always... repay," Vivienne's voice trailed off suggestively.

 

"No..." Willow attempted to deny once again, her mind shook at the feeling,.

 

"Don't worry, for me, that amount is practically worthless," the Witch assured, her tone laced with confidence. Willow wanted to argue, but she knew the battle was already lost.

 

"Still, I'll need to gather at least 250,000 shards and 100 monster cores on my own. The rest can be contributed," Willow explained.

 

"I see. Unfortunately, the Inn will have to remain barren for a few weeks," the Witch stated nonchalantly, seemingly unfazed by the prospect. To her, a few weeks was a mere trifle.

 

"A few weeks? Isn't that too short of a time?" 

 

"No, I will teach you weapon handling, and you can start slaying monsters," Gideon interjected, offering his assistance. "What are your wisdom points?"

 

"I think I have 10 wisdom points,".

 

"Your wisdom is remarkably high for a level one. With a few more points, you'll grasp the basics like second nature," Gideon concluded, acknowledging Willow's potential.

 

"Yes, your high wisdom at such a low level is quite advantageous. I will teach you mana control. Once you've mastered the basics, you can begin hunting monsters," the Witch added, outlining the path ahead.

 

"Thank you..." Willow murmured, gratitude flowing through her voice as she struggled to find the right words to express her appreciation.

 

"Hey, I'll make a clay doll for you to practice with," Lou chimed in, breaking her silence after a considerable duration.

 

"Oh, you sweet little doll. Thank you," Willow exclaimed, her voice brimming with warmth and affection as she held Lou tightly in her embrace. A choked noise escaped Lou's throat, unheard by Willow's ears.

 

"Let's go back to the backyard before we begin our magic session," the Witch suggested.

 

"No, we should start with weapon handling. Willow can learn mana control at night," Gideon intervened, asserting his viewpoint.

 

"Ohh, are you saying that weapon handling is more important?" the Witch mocked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

 

"Is that even a question?" Gideon retorted, his tone filled with conviction.

 

Willow could sense the sparks flying between them, and she didn't want her inn to become collateral damage in their dispute.

 

"Wait, let's settle this with an unbiased judge. Lou, you will decide which one I should learn first," Willow proposed,.

 

"What? Hey, I don't want any part in their squabble," Lou objected, retreating back in the Willow's lap.

 

"After your divine cooking, they wouldn't dare to defy your judgment, would they?" Willow appealed to their sense of reason, and both the Witch and Gideon obediently nodded.

 

"Very well, I shall impart my impartial judgment on this matter," Lou declared, her voice resonating with a demon lord authority. "Since Willow has never learned magic before, she is likely to have a harder time grasping it compared to weapon handling. Learning weapon handling will result in sore muscles, and then practicing mana control will give her a maddening headache as a cherry on top. If she learns mana control first, she will likely need rest. Therefore, her suffering will be singular. Thus, we should go with weapon handling first, followed by mana channeling." Lou cackled with a cruel delight.

 

"HEY! How is that impartial?" Willow protested, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.

 

"Hehehe, and that's what you get for treating this demon lord like she's a stuffed toy," Lou continued to cackle, reveling in her newfound victory.

 

But Willow wasn't one to back down easily. She held Lou even tighter and whispered ominously in her ear, "Oh dear, you will be so sorry for this."

 

"That was a great idea, good girl," the Witch praised, as if she had found a partner in her mission to torment Willow relentlessly.

 

"As long as I get to teach weaponry first. We shall begin with swords, and a light sword will be helpful for you. I'll search if I have one," Gideon declared, with enthusiasm as he hurried into his room.

 

"I currently have 1,200 shards. What should I do with them?"

 

"That should give you three levels and about six attribute points. Put them in wisdom and dexterity first, then intelligence," the Witch advised, guiding Willow's decision.

 

"Actually, I already have 12 points in intelligence," Willow revealed, proud of her existing high stat.

 

"In that case, put the points into strength. Having intelligence without sufficient strength or wisdom would leave you vulnerable in the earlier stages. After reaching the first constitution level, a mage starts investing in intelligence," the Witch explained, offering her strategic insight.

 

Willow nodded as she allocated the attribute points. With the two points she already had, her new stats looked like this:

 

Attributes:

 

Strength: 9

 

Dexterity: 12

 

Intelligence: 12

 

Wisdom: 13