Elemental Imps.
Born within the elemental forces of heaven and earth, they subsist on elements, possessing a similar nature to elemental kitchen maids. Hiring them can allow for the performance of relatively basic tasks for the hirer.
For instance, dissection and decomposition are tasks they can competently undertake.
Upon hearing this news, Chen Yu was overjoyed.
This was exactly what he needed!
"How do I hire them?"
Chen Yu's eyes were filled with urgency as he heard this.
Basic tasks.
These had consumed a large amount of his energy.
If Imps could work for him, he would be able to allocate his surplus energy to other matters.
"Mmm~"
Ilia suddenly raised a hand to her lips, then displayed a dazed and cute smile.
"I don't know?"
Chen Yu: ∑(o_o；)
"Heehee, I'm going to do my exercises now, bye-bye, Brother Chen Yu~" Waving her little hands, Ilia skipped back to the side yard.
Leaving Chen Yu staring blankly at her retreating figure.
Teasing him?!
He had painted such an enticing picture for Chen Yu, only to end with "she doesn't know." Frankly, if Ilia weren't so pretty, he would have thrown two punches.
Even though he understood nothing.
At least Chen Yu now knew of the existence of Imps, and he wouldn't give up.
Human nature is always like this.
When you are unaware of a convenient method, you can tolerate the trouble and do things bit by bit. However, once you know that a shortcut exists, you will definitely find ways to take it.
This was precisely Chen Yu's situation.
He couldn't stand it.
"Little demon."
Squatting before the beast carcass, Chen Yu tossed aside the hunter's dagger. He stopped dissecting, his mind completely occupied with how to hire Imps.
*Whoosh.*
The wristband glowed faintly.
Little Demon floated in mid-air, chin raised, a proud expression on its face.
"What do you want?"
"You must have heard it just now, how do you hire Imps?" Chen Yu's eyes were filled with desperation. Little Demon noticed this and chuckled, "Give me a reason, and I'll tell you."
"I'll reduce your foot-washing sessions by three days."
Chen Yu held up three fingers. Little Demon immediately extended its little hand upon hearing this.
"Five days!"
Seeing her resolute stance.
He thought she would name some grand figure, but unexpectedly, she only asked for five days.
That was her limit.
"Deal."
Chen Yu nodded slightly.
Instantly, Little Demon acted as if she had won a victory, a smug smile gracing her face.
"The simplest way is to contact the Elemental Kitchen Maids. Tell them you wish to hire Elemental Imps, and they have the channels to connect you."
"It's that simple?"
"That simple!"
*Swish!*
Without a moment's hesitation, Chen Yu dropped the pile of beast carcasses and ran back to the camp. Little Demon, still floating in the air, hadn't even had time to react before it bumped into an invisible barrier with a 'thud,' forcefully pushed back to maintain a one-meter distance from Chen Yu.
During this time, Ilia, witnessing this, smiled faintly.
She continued her gymnastics.
Others followed her movements, and the rest of the camp watched them exercise, becoming more energetic. Especially in Kuka's area, the sounds of pounding were incessant.
The Magic Kitchen.
Several Elemental Kitchen Maids surrounded Chen Yu, welcoming his arrival with graceful dances.
At this moment—
The kitchen was no longer just the initial two Elemental Kitchen Maids. Chen Yu provided a stable working environment and generous compensation for the Kitchen Maids.
The Kitchen Maids communicated with each other, and Chen Yu now had over a dozen Kitchen Maids employed.
Their division of labor was clear.
Their work efficiency had also significantly improved.
Various fruit preserves, combined with critical hit buffs, were piled high like mountains. The kitchen could barely contain them, and the Elemental Kitchen Maids would proactively place the preserves into the refrigerated storage areas.
"Ding."
"You have received a hiring request from an Elemental Kitchen Maid."
Chen Yu received the notification.
Again?
He had actually hired quite a few Elemental Kitchen Maids recently. Almost every time he visited the Elemental Kitchen, new maids would join.
He looked up.
It did seem like there were a few unfamiliar Kitchen Maids.
The Kitchen Maids gathered around Chen Yu, some sitting on his shoulders, others perched on his head, or tugging at his fingers and acting cute.
Looking at these adorable Kitchen Maids before him, Chen Yu felt his heart almost melt.
With such treatment, who wouldn't be captivated?
Even though Chen Yu now had enough Elemental Kitchen Maids, when new ones joined and wanted to sign an employment contract with him, he still couldn't bear to refuse.
Tell me, who could refuse these cute little ones?
With a wave of his hand!
Sign!
The Elemental Kitchen Maids who received their contracts joyfully twirled in the air, acting cute. Seeing them happy, Chen Yu couldn't help but smile.
"So cute~"
He poked the little faces of a few Elemental Kitchen Maids with his finger, then remembered the main reason for his visit.
"Could you also contact the Imps for me?"
Several Elemental Kitchen Maids gestured non-stop in the air. They couldn't speak yet, but from their expressions and movements, Chen Yu understood they were saying they had already contacted them.
"Okay."
Chen Yu whispered with a smile. Little Demon, standing beside him, pouted.
"You just keep spoiling them."
"Why, are you jealous?" Chen Yu turned to look at her with a smile. "If you want to compete for favor, then come and act cute too. I'll dote on you."
"Pah!"
Little Demon glared and spat.
"See, you're still unwilling," Chen Yu sighed with mock helplessness, then his gaze lifted slightly, signaling to the Elemental Kitchen Maids.
The Elemental Kitchen Maids were very intelligent.
Upon seeing Chen Yu's gaze, a group of them flew to Little Demon's front, dancing gracefully and acting cute in front of her. Some even kissed her little face.
Little Demon, who had been maintaining a stern expression, visibly softened from melancholic to gentle.
A smile appeared on her face.
Chen Yu chuckled secretly.
Could he be blamed for this? Anyone who encountered these Elemental Kitchen Maids would be charmed, and even Little Demon couldn't resist their cute advances.
Watching Little Demon's heart seem on the verge of melting, Chen Yu whispered.
"Little Demon?"
"Mmm~" Little Demon, who was happily playing with the Elemental Kitchen Maids, turned her head. Chen Yu softly asked, "I have a question, why can't Elemental Kitchen Maids cook barbecue."
"Why can't they?"
"They can?"
Chen Yu was stunned, asking in surprise.
"But, the ones who came to you were all beginner Kitchen Maids. They don't have much cooking experience. This requires your kitchen's recipe book to have barbecue recipes for them to make it," Little Demon whispered. "Or, you could hire some Master Kitchen Maids, and they can teach the Kitchen Maids some recipes."
"So that's how it is."
Chen Yu nodded slightly.
He had wondered, as barbecue was also a form of cooking, why wouldn't Elemental Kitchen Maids be able to do it. It turned out they needed to acquire recipes or be taught by Master Kitchen Maids.
Hiring a Master Kitchen Maid seemed rather difficult for him.
However, recipes were something he could consider.
Just as Chen Yu was preparing to search the trading channel, the few Elemental Kitchen Maids on him suddenly stood up, tugging at his fingers and pointing forward with their little hands.
Chen Yu followed their gaze and looked ahead, his expression instantly turning serious as he froze.
"These, are Elemental Imps?!"