The village of Tharrosk unfolded before her as the villagers and the elder take her to their villages and they passed through a crude wooden gate. The place looked like something like those manga about ancient civilization, round huts with thatched roofs, smoke curling lazily into the evening sky.
Dirt paths wound between gardens where strange, leafy plants grew beside pens of animals Emilia didn't recognize: two-headed goat-like creatures, squat, featherless birds, and a massive lizard tethered like a beast of burden.
Men wore tunics of rough-spun linen belted at the waist, while women dressed in long skirts or wrap-around dresses, their shoulders draped with woolen shawls or fur-trimmed capes. Jewelry of carved bone, shells, and polished stones adorned their necks and wrists. Their simple leather sandals or hide boots made Emilia's sneakers look ridiculously out of place.
And then there is her hoodie and jeans. She might as well have been wearing a neon sign that said "Sky Born One, the Harbinger," or whatever they called her since before. "Blending in is officially impossible," she muttered under her breath.
Hikarimetsu's amused voice rippled through her mind. "Indeed. You stand out like a crane among ducks, Master."
"Wow, thanks, very helpful." Emilia snapped.
They brought her to the central square, where a great fire pit blazed, surrounded by stone pillars etched with spiraling runes. The elder gestured to a low wooden bench and urged her to sit, his expression full of reverence.
"Pathbreaker," the elder said, his voice trembling with awe and excitement, "we have long awaited the day the spirits would send you to us. Tonight, we shall honor you with a feast."
Emilia blinked, her brow furrowing. Pathbreaker? That was new. Earlier, they'd called her Sky-Born One, and before that, some had whispered Harbinger. Now there's another mysterious title to add to the pile.
"Pathbreaker?" she murmured under her breath, unsure if she'd even said it loud enough to be heard.
But the elder's ears are sharp. He smiled, leaning slightly on his staff as if to savor the moment. His eyes glimmered with reverence. "One who breaks the path of shadow and opens the way to salvation," he explained, his tone solemn and heavy with meaning. "It is an ancient name… a title spoken only in prophecy. It is said the Pathbreaker will emerge from the Forest of Death, bearing a weapon of divine light, to lead us out of darkness."
Emilia's stomach sank. She hugged her bag of knives tighter to her chest, feeling utterly out of place. The sword spirit's amused chuckle echoed in her mind.
"Well," Hikarimetsu purred, "they aren't entirely wrong, Master."
She scoffed when a group of villagers hurried forward with bowls and platters. A pungent smell wafted up, and Emilia's nose wrinkled before she even saw the food.
The bread is dense and dark, as hard as a rock. When Emilia bit into it, she nearly chipped a tooth. It tasted like rubber bands soaked in mud.
Trying not to gag, she reached for the stew. The moment the bowl neared her face, a sour, metallic stench hit her. She took a single sip and nearly spat it back out. The flavor was bitter and slimy, clinging to her tongue like old glue.
Her stomach churned. "Oh no. Nope. Nope. This is not food," she muttered.
The villagers stared at her with wide, expectant eyes. Some were smiling proudly, clearly thinking they'd served her their best. She swallowed hard, forcing a pained smile, but her body outright refused to take another bite.
"I… can't eat this," she whispered, horrified.
The elder's face fell. "Is… it not to your liking, great one? These are our most sacred recipes, passed down through the ages."
Sacred recipes? Emilia thought, almost laughing. "No wonder they taste like despair."
Her chef's instincts screamed at her. These people weren't just bad cooks; they had no concept of flavor. Their meals are purely functional, designed only to keep them alive, not to bring joy.
Her gaze began to roam the longhouse, and a familiar surge of determination welled up inside her. "Wait," she breathed. "I can fix this."
She scanned the shelves and baskets scattered around the room, spotting raw ingredients.
Thick slabs of marbled meat, labeled in glowing text only she could see:[Stoneboar Meat – Tough but richly flavored when slow-cooked]
Bundles of roots and herbs: [Glowroot Herb – Bitter raw, aromatic when roasted]
A sack of pale, shimmery powder:[Skyflour —expands quickly when baked; tricky to control]
Her chef's mind began piecing together a plan. "Everyone, um, please wait here," Emilia said, already rolling up her sleeves. The villagers exchanged confused murmurs as she moved toward the central hearth, grabbing knives and pots like she owned the place.
Hikarimetsu's voice chimed in, amused. "So quick to seize control. I like this side of you, Master."
"Quiet," Emilia hissed. "If I'm stuck here, I'm at least going to feed these people properly."
Emilia sliced the Stoneboar meat into chunks, her movements sharp and precise. The knife glimmered faintly, almost humming with approval as she worked. She seared the meat over high heat, releasing a rich, savory aroma that instantly filled the room.
The villagers gasped. "By the spirits! The meat—it smells alive!" one whispered.
Emilia grinned faintly. "Just wait."
She tossed crushed Glowroot Herb into the pot, letting its oils bloom in the heat. The bitter edge mellowed into a fragrant, earthy scent. She added water, chopped vegetables, and a pinch of salt-like crystals she'd found in a jar. The stew began to simmer, bubbling gently.
For the bread, she worked carefully with the Skyflour. It was trickier than normal flour, expanding dramatically as it heated. "Okay, knead longer, bake slower," she muttered, folding the dough over and over. "Let's make this edible." She shaped the dough into small, rounded loaves and nestled them near the fire to bake.
As the minutes passed, the air filled with a heavenly aroma. The rich stew sent waves of savory steam curling upward, mingling with the warm, nutty scent of fresh bread. The villagers crowded closer, their eyes wide and mouths watering.
"What magic is this?" a young woman gasped.
"Is this the power of the Pathbreaker?" cried another.
Emilia laughed breathlessly, stirring the pot. "It's not magic," she said. "It's called cooking."
When the meal is finally ready, Emilia served it herself. She handed the first bowl to the elder, along with a warm loaf of bread. He hesitated, trembling. Then, slowly, he took a bite.
His eyes widened. His mouth opened, then closed again, as if words had abandoned him. Tears spilled down his wrinkled cheeks. "This… this is…" His voice broke. "Glorious! Like tasting sunlight for the first time!"
Emilia, exhausted and starving, finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She scooped a generous portion of stew into a bowl and took a bite before anyone could take it away. "Oh my god… flavor!"
Her eyes fluttered shut as tears pricked at the corners. The broth is savory and rich, and the meat is tender and perfectly seasoned, the taste is something she has never tasted on earth before, but it's great. The bread, though dense, had been coaxed into chewiness with the strange flour she'd worked with. It isn't perfect, nowhere near her usual standard, but it's edible, and after days of eating bitter roots and drinking water, it felt like a miracle.
And she's not about to let the villagers devour every last drop before she gets her fill. Shoveling spoonful after spoonful into her mouth, she ate fiercely, reclaiming her strength. Her body needed it. Her mind needed it. Without it, there's no way she could cook again, let alone face using her knife or Hikarimetsu.
As the last of the stew disappeared into happy bellies, Emilia leaned back, rubbing her aching stomach. The sounds of the villagers' joy are almost overwhelming. But then, something strange happened.
She froze, her jaw dropped. Around her, faint golden light shimmered over the villagers' bodies, like sunlight breaking through a storm cloud. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they noticed it too, holding up their hands in wonder as the glow pulsed gently against their skin.
"What the hell…?" Emilia whispered. Then, before her eyes, glowing text appeared in the air, floating symbols and numbers only she could see. Her breath caught in her throat.
[Temporary Buff Gained: Strength +10, Stamina +8, Recovery +12]Effect Duration: 24 hours.
The message blinked, hovering in front of her like something out of a video game. "My food… gives them stat boosts?!"
Hikarimetsu's voice purred with satisfaction. "Indeed, Master. Your gift is rarer than you realize. Through your food, you wield power that can change this world."
The elder fell to his knees before Emilia, bowing low. "Pathbreaker! With this miracle, you have proven the prophecy true. You will lead us from darkness to dawn!"
The villagers took up the chant, their voices rising to the heavens. "Pathbreaker! Pathbreaker! Pathbreaker!"
Emilia stood frozen, clutching her knife as the reality sank in. She wasn't just a stranger in a strange land anymore. To these people, she's their savior, even when all she'd done was make dinner.
"…What the hell have I gotten myself into?" she whispered, staring into the fire.