He asked me to cook dinner...is he serious?
As I checked Sulien's food storage, I realized—there wasn't a single ingredient I could recognize.
What the hell do they even use to flavor their food here?
Not even one herb looked familiar. What caught my eye instead were... monster parts.
Is this even edible...? Or is this some kind of failed alchemy experiment?
I stared at a slimy, blue-scaled organ that pulsed like it was still alive. I wasn't sure if it belonged in a stew—or a summoning ritual.
Still... I wasn't about to back down now.
Who knows—maybe improvising with this mess might unlock some hidden EXP or intelligence bonus or something.
I grabbed the least horrifying ingredients I could find and set them on the counter.
This better not kill us. Or taste like feet. Or both.
I dismantled the tentacles from some bird-like creature—I had no idea what it was called, but the meat looked... well, meaty enough. That was going to be the protein for the dish.
Then I peeled the thick hide off another monster. It was oddly tough, with a texture somewhere between old leather and dried bark. I sliced it into small bits, hoping it would add some kind of salty flavor.
Please don't poison us...
I boiled water in a dented iron pot I found lying around and tossed in whatever passed for aromatics here—some purple root, a few crushed leaves that smelled faintly like pepper, and a piece of monster bone that looked disturbingly porous.
Soup. It's the safest route. Harder to screw up.
Besides, a warm bowl before bed helps with sleep, and I'd need the energy before Sulien's "welcome to hell" training begins tomorrow.
"Dinner's serve..."
"OHHHHH!!" Sulien's came rushing to the table and left Commander Galen's hanging during their conversation
"Kid, I never thought you can cook!"
"Yes..." Deep inside, I really hope this wouldn't kill them.
"Come on here now Moron!"
"Before it gets cold" Sulien said as he lustfully stared at the dish
"....." Commander Galen just stood up, without saying a word.
What were they talking about earlier?
Could it have something to do with
Commander Galen's past... or maybe even his trauma?
I shook my head.
Never mind. That's not something I should be prying into—at least not now.
Right now, the only things that should be on my mind are whatever twisted form of training Sulien's preparing…
And this dish I just made out of monster parts.
"Is this a soup?" Commander Galen asked bluntly.
"Yes, Sir."
Commander Galen doubtfully glanced at my dish, while the other guy was already drooling uncontrollably.
At the far corner of the table, I couldn't stop trembling. A cold sweat slid down the side of my face, trailing past my jaw.
I was frozen in place—eyes wide, breath shallow.
Ahhh… taste bad, I don't care.
Just don't kill them…
"Let's bow our heads and pray for our God-"
"DIG IN!!" Sulien shouted, chugging the steaming soup like it was just another glass of water.
He slammed the bowl down and grinned at me—wide, almost unhinged.
"MORE, PLEASE!" he barked, his grin somehow growing even more disturbing.
I slowly turned my head toward Commander Galen.
He hadn't even touched the bowl.
His face was the very definition of annoyance.
I waited for a few more seconds, it looked like nothing happened.
Looking down, I sat in my chair and felt comfort slowly kicking in.
Commander Galen started eating his own too.
No reaction.
No comment.
Well, I don't expect anything from it anyway... except of course...
Not poisoning them.
I finally started eating.
Meanwhile, Sulien was already on his seventh bowl.
Ehhhhh...?
To my surprise, it wasn't bad at all.
Maybe that monster skin really did add some saltiness.
I took another slow sip of the soup—warming, slightly and...
oddly comforting.
And then, just as I was getting into it—
the system window popped up.
[Hidden Knowledge "World's Dish – C Tier" has been added to your Inventory's
Knowledge Category.]
[+90 EXP has been added to your Identity Profile.]
[+30 EXP to Intelligence. (70/200 to level up)]
[ You have successfully added a new soup dish to this world.]
[Would you like to name the dish?]
[Would you like the system to describe it?]
I'll disregard naming it for now, but I'll let the system describe it.
"Ahhh... man, that was a feast!" Sulien groaned with satisfaction, leaning back and patting his stomach like he'd just devoured a royal banquet.
"It's soup," Commander Galen replied flatly, not even looking up.
"Hey, don't lecture me—I'm a cook myself, you know?" Sulien shot back, pointing a spoon at him.
Galen crossed his arms. "Whatever you say."
"Hey Kid, you done?"
"Almost."
"Great, don't rush, let's take a short break before training."
I finally finished cleaning up, rinsing the sweat and fatigue from my body with a splash of cold water. The chill jolted my senses awake—it felt good.
As I stepped back into the room, Commander Galen approached me, his eyes briefly scanning me from head to toe.
"Your sword," he said, extending a hand.
"Let me see it. I'll sharpen it—bring out its true form."
I blinked in surprise, then quickly unsheathed it and handed it to him with both hands.
Then I felt a strong relief, when I took it out from the inventory, it didn't create a light bright enough to be noticed.
Should I just show them I have the system? Maybe tomorrow.
"Thank you, Sir!"
He gave me his rare, quiet smile.
"Good luck with your training." Then he turned and walked off, into what supposedly referred to as the Forging Room.
So, this house was bigger than what it looked like huh...
"I'm all set Sir."
With a toothpick still in hand, Sulien paused mid-clean, casting me a look sharp enough to cut—mischief written all over his face.
I look forward to completing his training.
I'll never give up; I need to be strong.
To find Yunji-Nim and restore my world.
We returned to his yard, and the wind tonight was strangely fierce.
The trees nearby—the ones still standing—swayed violently, as if they were seconds away from being torn from the ground.
"Alright, Kid here's a wooden sword I hand crafted."
"Based on my observations today-"
Sulien then burped.
I awkwardly hummed and continued to listen to him.
"You won't be able to learn it in just a day."
"Wind's often called the second easiest
magic to learn—but mine's different.
"I didn't study it. Didn't train for it."
"It was a blessing from the Gods."
Sulien's gaze drifted upward for a moment, like he could feel them watching.
"There are a lot of Gods out there," he continued.
"Probably watching us right now. But that's not what matters at the moment."
He stepped closer, nodding toward the sword in my hand.
"When you hold your blade, think of wind as your partner—not a weapon. Wind flows best when your swing is natural, purposeful. If your movement is weak, so is the wind. But if you let it guide you—move not with force, but with flow..."
His voice dropped just slightly.
"...then even the storm can become your ally."
Unlike before, there was no trace of doubt.
No hesitation.
My mind was locked in, focused entirely on the path ahead.
My body—already itching to move—seemed to resonate with the fire inside me.
My will burned bright, spreading through my soul like wildfire.
I tightened my grip on the sword.
And without looking away, I met Sulien's gaze head-on.
"I understand."
He stared back—eyes sharp beneath a smile that looked almost innocent.
But everything about that smile warned me otherwise.
Unlike before, there was no trace of doubt. No hesitation.
My mind was locked in, focused entirely on the path ahead.
My body—already itching to move—seemed to resonate with the fire inside me. My will burned bright, spreading through my soul like wildfire.
I tightened my grip on the sword.
And without looking away, I met Sulien's gaze head-on.
"I understand."
He stared back—eyes sharp beneath a smile that looked almost innocent.
But everything about that smile warned me otherwise.
"So, what am I going to do?"
Silence surrounded us.
Sulien's smile faded and glared at me as if I had already failed.
"What?"
"Kid, I told you..."
"You just need to trust the Wind."
We were supposed to be training...
I was supposed to be training. What is this?
"Grasp it harder, kid. I'll check on you tomorrow," he called out mid-yawn.
Then, without another word, he slammed the door shut—just like that.
I stood there, alone. No answers. No guidance.
Before the panic could sink its claws into me, I exhaled deeply and forced my mind to focus.
Grasp it harder...?
My mind began to quiet, the whirlwind of thoughts slowly fading.
My body, however, locked in—focused entirely on what I was about to do.
I shut my eyes.
And in the silence, I recited his words.
Never question yourself.
Trust the wind.
I whispered it again and again, like a prayer. The breeze wrapped around me, growing stronger, until I felt like it was about to swallow me whole. I gripped my sword tighter.
…
I stopped speaking.
And then—just as the wind surged, releasing its fiercest howl—I opened my eyes.
With no hesitation, I began to swing.
Up and down. Again. And again. And again.
Each swing driven by sheer will, my grip
unwavering.
"Overwhelm me more, wind," I muttered, teeth clenched.
"Is that all you've got?"
I kept going.
Letting it carry me.
Letting it forge me.
A figure stood at the window.
I couldn't tell who it was—not in the dark, not from here.
It just stood there. Silent. Watching.
Then, without a sound... it turned and walked away.
Leaving me alone.