"How many times do I have to tell you not to abuse the power of resilience? I already explained to you that the damage you receive doesn't disappear. It simply increases your limit. When you stop using the essence, and it returns to normal, all the extra damage will weigh on you.", said Anna to Lina, who was still on the floor.
"When that happens, you'll probably spend the whole day sleeping, and then your father or I will have to replace you by delivering the orders, and you know that always creates problems."
"Do you remember the last time this happened? I took your place delivering the orders, and because of that, I had to spend the whole day listening to the customers complaining that the food wasn't the same anymore and how the happiness of their day was to eat the food I cooked.", Anna said.
Upon hearing what she said, some people in the bar remembered that day and felt a chill. Some then began to say, "It's-it's true. I don't know what my day would be if I couldn't eat Miss Anna's food."
"Yes, I agree, and besides, Mr. Balkan cooks very poorly."
"Indeed, I don't know how a person can cook as poorly as he does."
Hearing this, Gen said while having a fit of laughter, "Pfft, You indeed, haha, c-cook, hahaha, very badly, hahaha!"
Balkan shivered as he heard what everyone was talking about and said with difficulty, "I-Indeed, I-I cook very badly."
He finished by letting out a sigh, but as he looked at Gen, who was still laughing, he sawed his fists and asked, "How long are you going to laugh!"
"I'm sorry, hahaha, but you have to agree, cof cof, that it's hilarious to hear that, cof cof.", Said Gen, knowing that Balkan was probably the best cook in town.
"I understand.", spoke Balkan with a calm expression, "here, take it.", said Balkan passing Gen a drink.
"Cof cof, thank you.", spoke Gen and then took the drink, "Pffft, cof cof, BALKAN!", Said Gen as he realized he had again taken the cactus smoothie.
"Now we're even.", Said Balkan, satisfied.
Gen was still annoyed but put it aside and went back to paying attention to Anna, who was still hearing compliments about her food and complaints about Balkan's food.
"I understand, my loves, and of course, I will not leave you without my food, but this creates other problems. Although Balkan is not a bad person, your father gives a terrible first impression. Even when I met him at the tournament, I thought he was some wild animal. This makes customers who come here for the first time afraid. Some don't even come back.", Anna said.
"Can you see the problems this will create for our business?" Anna asked
"Yes, Mom, I understand.", Answered Lina.
"If you are going to burn out like that, at least let it be against someone strong, like Gen, for example.", said Anna while pointing at Gen.
"There you go with that mom. Gen doesn't even have an essence. How can he be strong?", asked Lina, rolling her eyes.
"That's right, Miss Anna, I can manage, but I'm not strong enough to fight people who have essences.", said Gen, leaning back on the counter.
"I wonder?" said Anna and at the same time started walking towards a table.
Everyone at the table stood up and then walked away from the place, and Lina took the moment to stand up.
Anna then picked up a fork from the table, looked at it for a moment, and threw it in Gen's direction. The fork went past the side of Gen's face and stuck in the wall behind the counter.
Looking at Gen, Anna noticed that his expression remained the same as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this, Lina looked at her mother and said, "See, he didn't even react to the fork you threw. If you had aimed the fork at his forehead, he would be dead now.", Lina said, proving her point.
Anna looked at her daughter and said, "You lack experience.", and started walking toward the counter.
On the way, she passed the table Lina and Raja were at, picked up the drink that caused this dispute, and said to Lina, "Clean up the mess you made and finish delivering the orders, then come to the counter. I'll let you have some.", then continued walking towards the counter.
Hearing this, Lina said with a huge smile on her face, "Yes, ma'am.", and began to do what her mother had asked as quickly as possible.
Upon reaching the counter, Gen said to her, "Miss Anna, please don't do that again. You almost hit me with your fork!"
"I'm sorry, Gen, I was just trying to prove my point.", Anna said, smiling as she looked him in the eye.
Gen looked away and decided to change the subject by asking Balkan, "What about the supplies I asked you for? Are they ready yet?"
"Yes, I'll get them for you.", Balkan said and walked towards the kitchen.
After Balkan left, Anna started talking to Gen, "So the day has finally come."
"Yeah ...", said Gen thoughtfully.
"How long have you been preparing for this again?", asked Anna trying to remember.
"It's been three years.", Spoke Gen nostalgically.
"Wow, how time passes. You need to be careful in those ruins; people who come back from there always say they don't remember anything, and that's when they do come back." " said Anna with a serious expression as she looked at Gen.
"I know, but I'm willing to take the risk." " said Gen, looking into Anna's eyes.
Looking into Gen's eyes and seeing his determination, Anna sighed and said, "All right, it's not like I need to worry about you, right? You will use it as a last resort, won't you?"
Hearing this, Gen looked at her and said, "I don't know what you're talking about. Use what?"
"Gen, I don't know why you're doing this, but if you're dead, nothing else matters. Ultimately, you have to use it.", Anna said as she looked at him.
Gen opened his mouth to say something but gave up in the middle and thought, 'I wish I could ...', and then immediately said, "What about my food? I need to be well-fed to withstand the desert heat."
Anna looked at him, sighed, and went into the kitchen.
Just then, Lina sat down next to Gen, propped her elbow on the table and her face on her hand, and said, looking at him with a smile on her face, "Hi, big guy."
"... Good morning, Lina.", said Gen a little annoyed.