The smell of burnt noodles filled my apartment again.
I stared at the sticky mess in the pan like it had personally insulted me. Twelve hours of deliveries, barking dogs, angry customers, and a boss who thought yelling counted as motivation — and this was my reward?
I flopped onto the couch. "If there's a god watching… maybe give me a break for once, yeah?"
Then my phone buzzed. A notification appeared on a screen I didn't recognize. The icon was a golden spoon crossing a blue flame. Weird. I didn't remember downloading this.
> [System Update Complete.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Infinite Ingredient Generator]
[Initializing Dimensional Transfer Protocol…]
"Wait… what the hell?" I tapped it, but the world tilted, spun, and collapsed around me. Lights, colors, and smells swirled — garlic, cinnamon, something I could only describe as "divine flavor." My stomach growled. Terrifyingly loud.
Then I landed on soft grass. Trees stretched in every direction, and the sky was violet, with two suns drifting lazily. My delivery uniform was gone, replaced by a light travel coat and boots. A glowing cookbook floated beside me, along with a system interface:
> [Welcome, Gourmet of Realms.]
[Skill: Infinite Ingredient Generator (SSS)]
[Class: Beginner Cook]
[Quest: Prepare a dish worthy of a god.]
I rubbed my eyes. "…Okay. Definitely not Tokyo anymore."
I opened the cookbook. Pages flipped themselves, stopping at:
> Recipe 001: Simple Grilled Meat — Recommended for Divine Beasts
"Divine beasts? Are we talking dragons or… just weird magical deer?" I muttered.
Before I could question it further, the ground trembled. Trees shook. A low growl echoed, deep enough to rattle my teeth. My first instinct: run. My second instinct: grab the cookbook and cook. Because apparently that was my life now.
I summoned a small pan, tossed some meat in, and tried not to burn it. Sparks flew, fat sizzled, and the smell… wow. It smelled like everything good in the world. My stomach growled again.
From behind a tree, glowing eyes appeared. The creature was enormous, its body shrouded in mist. Antlers twisted like silver lightning, scales shimmered along its back, and fur shifted in colors. It sniffed the air and, to my horror, spoke:
"Finally… someone who can cook."
I froze. "…Wait. You can talk?"
The creature stepped closer, nostrils flaring. Its voice rumbled like thunder but smooth, like molten chocolate.
"Of course I can talk. I am Kaelthar, Guardian of the Twilight Forest. And you… you smell intriguing."
I almost dropped the pan. "Uh… hi? I'm Riku. And… thanks?"
Kaelthar circled me, sniffing delicately. "Your scent… your skill… it is absurd. I have not smelled such divine aroma in centuries. Tell me, mortal… can you cook more?"
> [System Message: Creature is Legendary — Feeding increases EXP and unlocks passive effects.]
I blinked. "…Uh… I guess? I mean, I can try?"
Kaelthar's eyes gleamed. "Good. Then listen carefully, Riku of the Other World. This land is not for the faint of heart. Gods, beasts, and spirits roam freely. Your skill… it is powerful, but knowledge will be your true strength."
I swallowed hard. "Knowledge, got it. So… you're my guide?"
"Partly. I will show you what you must know. Other beings may not be as forgiving as I am."
I looked around. Forest stretching endlessly, mountains on the horizon, and creatures I hadn't imagined. "So… I'm a walking cooking beacon in a land of monsters and gods? Awesome."
> [System Message: First Feeding Complete. EXP +500]
[Level Up! Class Advancement Available.]
[New Skill Unlocked: God-Tier Recipe Creation (Unique)]
Kaelthar nodded approvingly. "Yes. Your cooking will attract more legendary beings. Some will challenge you. Some… may become allies. Observe, experiment, and survive."
I gulped. "…Great. So I have to feed gods and monsters now. Sounds fair."
> [New Quest Unlocked: Explore the World and Learn Its Secrets]
I rubbed my temples, staring at the glowing interface. I had a skill too powerful for my own understanding, a talking mythical creature giving me warnings, and a forest that could swallow me whole if I wasn't careful.
Kaelthar padded back a few steps. "I will watch. Fail, and you will learn the hard way. Succeed, and perhaps… you may become a legend."
I sighed, flipping through the glowing cookbook. "Okay… I don't know this world. I don't know the creatures. I don't know my limits. But hey… I do know how to cook. Let's see who shows up next."
Kaelthar sniffed the air one last time and vanished silently into the trees, leaving me with a glowing system window, a magical cookbook, and the lingering smell of a dish that had impressed a legendary creature.
> "Well… let's make the gods drool."