Genshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Gourmet LoviaYou're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

Lovia practically skipped all the way back to her tiny, secluded shack tucked away in a quiet corner of Liyue Harbor. Her mood was positively radiant.

Having finally shed the crushing psychological burden of impending Adeptal retribution, the evening air tasted sweeter than ever. Even the squelching mud she accidentally stepped in along the winding path looked rather charming today.

“Safe at last, safe at last~” she hummed, a tuneless but incredibly cheerful little melody escaping her lips as she pushed open the creaking wooden door.

The very first thing to greet her was a remarkably fat crab, still furiously flailing its claws in a water basin, attempting a daring prison break.

“Hey there, little guy. You’re certainly full of energy,” Lovia chirped, squatting down to playfully poke at the air just above its snapping pincers. “Perfect timing. I’m in a fantastic mood today, so you have the grand honor of becoming a sacrifice for my stomach. Now, should I steam you, or perhaps transform you into a pot of Perfect Tonic Crab Soup…?”

She settled on the latter without a second thought.

Steaming was far too monotonous. It lacked the soul-soothing satisfaction of a piping hot, bubbling stew. Besides, it had been a while since she last cooked a proper meal, making a rich broth the obvious choice.

Tossing aside her hooded cloak, Lovia eagerly set about lighting the hearth and preparing her cookware. Her mind was already swimming with visions of a steaming, vibrantly colorful crab stew. Humming a jaunty tune, she deftly prepped the feisty crustacean.

Soon, her beloved cooking pot was settled securely over the crackling fire. The inner walls of this particular pot were permanently stained with a brilliant, variegated patina—the colorful scars left behind by countless meals of boiled minerals and bizarre delicacies.

“Time for the base broth,” Lovia murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with culinary ambition.

She poured in a generous measure of clear mountain spring water, waiting for it to warm before introducing her precious treasures. First went in a handful of crushed Jueyun Chilis; these wouldn’t just add a fiery kick, but a delightful, crunchy texture to the liquid. Next came a small cluster of aquatic mushrooms, their caps pulsing with wondrous blue-purple veins, followed by a few sprigs of Seagrass that immediately released a frosty, cooling aura into the steam.

As these bizarre ingredients mingled, the clear water underwent a rapid, captivating transformation. It didn’t turn murky. Instead, it shifted into an incredibly clear, deep indigo hue that mirrored the night sky, complete with countless tiny points of light slowly drifting through the liquid. The mushrooms unfurled like miniature blue-purple nebulas, while the Seagrass swayed gracefully within the cosmic tide.

“And now, for the star of the show!”

Once the starry water reached a rolling boil, Lovia skillfully dropped the prepared crab into the pot. She watched with deep satisfaction as the hard shell reacted to the boiling, eerie purple broth, gradually taking on an even more vibrant coloration.

But this was merely the foundation.

“The finishing touch!” She rubbed her hands together in pure excitement, carefully retrieving a small pouch of powdered Noctilucous Jade—an ingredient that Melusines universally considered the absolute pinnacle of fine dining.

She sprinkled the glowing dust over the bubbling surface, then waited patiently. Every so often, she gave the mixture a gentle stir with a long-handled wooden spoon, feeling the elemental harmony of the ingredients fusing together.

Half an hour later, she tossed in the final garnishes: a scattering of soft Silk Flowers, a few whole Jueyun Chilis, a handful of bright Berries, and lastly, a couple of shimmering Crystal Cores.

Success!

Lovia extinguished the fire, carefully lifted the heavy pot, and set it down on the low wooden table in the center of her room.

The Perfect Tonic Crab Soup sitting before her was nothing short of a masterpiece. The broth was a dreamlike, starry indigo, crystal clear and suspended with countless tiny golden specks of light that resembled a swirling galaxy. The once-flailing crab was now dressed in a kaleidoscope of colors, its shell shimmering with the ethereal glow of Noctilucous Jade, while its joints and claws revealed an enticing, warm orange hue. The blue-purple mushrooms drifted lazily, Silk Flower petals dotted the surface like gossamer threads, Jueyun Chilis and Berries bobbed in the current, and the Crystal Cores refracted occasional, tiny rainbows through the steam.

The entire pot emitted a strange, incredibly complex aroma. The myriad of ingredients blended together flawlessly; far from being pungent, it was mouth-watering and deeply refreshing.

To a normal human, this bubbling cauldron of glowing rocks and neon flora might look utterly terrifying, perhaps even highly toxic. But to Lovia’s Melusine senses, the color, the aroma, and the dense elemental power swirling within had reached a state of absolute perfection. It was an unmatched temptation.

“Flawless!” Lovia practically vibrated with satisfaction. Unable to wait a second longer, she ladled a massive, overflowing portion into her bowl.

Blowing on the steaming liquid, she took a cautious sip.

Instantly, an indescribable explosion of umami detonated across her tongue. The sheer depth of flavor was staggering.

“Waaah! This is way too delicious!” Lovia’s eyes sparkled, genuine tears of joy pricking at the corners. Completely ignoring the scalding heat, she launched her assault on the colorful crab.and support the real translator.Read at elysianreads.com This is a stolen translation. You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

Stewed in the elemental broth, the crab shell had become wonderfully brittle, cracking open with a satisfying crunch under a gentle bite. The meat inside wasn’t the usual dull white; it had soaked up the essence of the soup, taking on a plump, succulent texture with a faint pinkish-blue luster. Its natural, sweet aroma perfectly complemented the deep, fragrant spices of the broth.

Lovia eagerly sucked a massive chunk of meat straight from the claw, her eyes narrowing into happy little crescents.

The texture was divine. The meat was sweet and springy, but the true magic lay in how it had absorbed the dreamlike broth, elevating the savory notes to an entirely new dimension. The elemental spices permeated the flesh, blending with the crab’s natural sweetness to create an indescribably complex flavor profile. Every single taste bud in her mouth was throwing a wild celebration.

Lovia feasted with absolute abandon, eating to her heart’s content.

Visually, the pinkish-blue crab meat contrasting against the starry-sky broth was a feast for the eyes, doubling her euphoric dining experience.

“Awoo! So good! As expected of ingredients that cost an absolute fortune!” she mumbled around a mouthful of food, thoroughly lost in this top-tier Melusine delicacy.

Her lingering anxieties about furious Adepti hunting her down were completely obliterated by the sheer, overwhelming comfort of the meal.

As for what the soup actually tasted like? That was a secret only a Melusine palate could ever truly comprehend.

Having eaten and drank until her stomach was perfectly round, Lovia leaned back into her simple wooden chair, letting out a long, blissfully happy sigh. The strange, enticing aroma of the soup clung to the air inside the small shack, refusing to fade.

Outside her window, the warm lanterns of Liyue Harbor gradually flickered to life, casting a golden glow over the returning merchant ships and the bustling evening crowds.

“As expected, gourmet food is the ultimate cure-all…” she murmured, her fingers unconsciously drumming a light rhythm against the tabletop as her gaze drifted to the half-empty pot.

Looking at the broth that still faintly shimmered with starlight, a sudden, unbidden thought popped into her head, startling a laugh out of her.

“Tsk.” She smacked her lips, a teasing, incredulous smile tugging at her mouth. “Lovia, oh Lovia. Back in your past life, you were the kind of person who thought Century Eggs were the peak of dark cuisine. And now? Now you’re actually moved to tears by a pot of boiled rocks, glowing mushrooms, and random fruit, praising it as the ultimate culinary masterpiece…”

She shook her head, chuckling softly at the sheer absurdity of it all.

The contrast was staggering. Honestly, when she first realized she possessed a ravenous appetite for ‘ingredients’ that humans would consider completely inedible, she had gone through quite the existential crisis.

But… enjoyment was king! Who cared what she was eating, as long as it tasted this heavenly?

Lovia raised a hand, staring at her own fingers as if she could see the unique Melusine blood pulsing just beneath her skin. From initial resistance, to cautious acceptance, to genuine appreciation, and finally to her current, unashamed obsession—the transition had been so rapid she couldn’t help but marvel at it. Human adaptability, or perhaps Melusine assimilation, was a truly terrifying force.

Even plain white rice, once her staple comfort food, now tasted dreadfully bland in comparison.

But it wasn’t just physical assimilation. She carefully recalled the sheer euphoria that pot of soup had just given her. That was a deep, soul-deep satisfaction that couldn’t be faked. Her taste buds, her body, and her soul were all in total agreement: this was a flawless, top-tier delicacy.

“So, it’s not that my aesthetics have become twisted,” Lovia concluded, nodding solemnly to herself as mirth danced in her eyes. “Rather, I have been sublimated! I have evolved! I’ve kicked open the door to a brand-new world and ascended to a higher dimension of culinary art!”

She stood up, striking a dramatic pose. “From this day forward, please refer to me as Gourmet Lovia, the grand pioneer of ingredient research and development across the entire continent of Teyvat!” she announced to the empty room.

A second later, she broke character and burst into a fit of giggles.

Once her laughter faded, a strange, deep sense of peace washed over her. It was true. She couldn’t go back to her old world. But since this new body and this new life in Teyvat had gifted her such a fascinating perspective, why not embrace it with open arms?

It was just a different way to enjoy life. Plus, she got to meet so many incredible people, write highly questionable fanfiction about them, and occasionally run for her life—how thrilling!

With a light, airy laugh, Lovia rolled up her sleeves and cheerfully began to wash her glowing pot and bowl.You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.