The silver coins sat like holy relics on the counter.
Kai stared at them, heart still pounding. That woman had walked in out of nowhere, tasted what barely passed for food… and paid him.
Two silver. For a scrap-stew.
The Culinary System pulsed gently at the edge of his vision. Waiting. Watching.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The smell of boiled pork fat, garlic, and old wood smoke clung to everything.
"I'm not wasting this chance," he muttered.
He opened the Status Window again:
📜 Status Window: Kai Elgren
Level: 1
XP: 6 / 20
Active Quest: Savor the Start – Progress: 1 / 10
He needed 14 more XP to reach Level 2. If a single acceptable dish earned him 6 XP, then...
"Two more dishes like that," Kai whispered, "and I level up."
He wiped down the chopping board and checked his pitiful stock again:
One potato
Half an old onion
Garlic husk
Fatty pork rind
Salt (barely enough)
One chipped bowl left
Not much.
But enough.
[Skill Equipped: Basic Knife Mastery]
[Passive Skill Active: Flavor Sense I]
He reached for the potato first, slicing it thin—thin enough to crisp, maybe. The knife moved easily under his grip, the System-guided skill smoothing every motion.
Next, he scraped the last of the garlic husk into a pan with pork fat and set it over the flame. A sizzle hissed into the air. He layered the slices of potato on top, slow-cooking them in the fat, then salted them evenly.
The scent rising from the pan had… promise.
He diced the remaining onion—smaller cuts this time, letting them soften slowly in the corner of the pan—and watched the colors change. Gold. Crisp brown.
The old Kai would've overcooked it. But not now.
The System made sure of that.
When the slices looked golden and translucent at the edge, he plated them in a simple curl, onions draped like a ribbon on top.
[System Advisory: Dish Crafted – Pan-Fried Pork Fat Potatoes]
Cooking Technique Bonus: Knife Mastery Applied
Flavor Balance: 68%
Presentation Bonus: Minimal
Customer Satisfaction: Mild
[Dish Quality: 6.0/10 – Acceptable]
+5 XP
Progress:2 / 10 Satisfying Dishes
[Flavor Sense I – Progress: 14%]
Kai nodded, satisfied. Not a masterpiece—but it would feed someone. And it pushed him closer.
XP: 11 / 20
He set the bowl down beside the silver coins. Two dishes served. Both acceptable.
Still, the kitchen was cold. Quiet. His stomach rumbled, but he ignored it. There was work to do.
From outside, the creak of a door opening echoed again.
His head snapped up.
Another customer?
A girl this time—no older than him, maybe younger. Dirt-stained clothes. Hollow cheeks. She stepped inside shyly, drawn by the smell still clinging to the air.
"You open?" she asked.
Kai didn't hesitate. "Always."
She stared at the bowl on the counter. "Can I trade something? I don't have coin."
Kai hesitated—but the System didn't.
[New System Prompt: Choose Response]
A. Accept trade – gain Reputation
B. Refuse service – conserve ingredients
He didn't even think.
"A."
[Reputation +2 → Total: 6 (Rumors Stir)]
"Got anything?" he asked gently.
She pulled out a tiny bundle wrapped in cloth—dried herbs, maybe? Kai opened it. Mint. Wild and sharp.
Not much, but…
"It'll do."
He turned back to the counter. Only enough for one more dish.
🎯 Quest – Savor the Start: 2 / 10 Complete
🎁 Reward: +50 XP, Unlock Skill: [Ingredient Recognition I]
He would make it count.