《Chef of the Infinite Realms》 1. Divine Recipe System "Just a few minutes more and my perfect dish will be ready." Paul glanced at the time and tapped his feet anxiously. The final round of the Country''s Best Young Chef competition was scheduled the next day. If he won the title, his future would be limitless. Paul had spent many sleepless nights to reach this phase and he couldn''t give up now. He had to create the best dish, impress the judges, and grab the trophy. His life would be settled. ''Who said a culinary school dropout couldn''t become an excellent chef?'' Paul scoffed, recalling the words of ridicule and abuse he had faced when he had to quit school due to his inability to pay the ginormous fees. "I''ll show them tomorrow what I''m capable of," he vowed, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. But before he could compose himself, his sight turned blurry and a wave of dizziness hit him. "Woah!" Paul held the counter edge to stabilize himself while he shook his head to clear his mind. However, things only turned worse and he ended up losing strength. His head turned heavy and his ears buzzed. He couldn''t hear anything properly and broke into a sweat instantly until his shirt was drenched. A strong sense of uneasiness washed over him and his legs turned jelly, his body weighing him down. Paul couldn''t hold onto anything. His body collapsed faster than he could comprehend and he ended up hitting his head hard against the counter edge. A hot, thick liquid trickled down his neck and Paul hissed when he registered the pain. Sucking in a deep breath, he tried to stand up. But in vain. He had no strength to move. His limbs felt as heavy as lead blocks while dark spots filled his sight. In the end, the darkness consumed him, pulling him with it until he lost his consciousness completely. "Where is Paul? Is that bastard still lazing around? I am going to kill him today. The customers are waiting. Ask him to prepare the dishes soon." "But Master Thomas, it has been only a few minutes since Paul went on a break." "A few minutes is enough to finish eating lunch. Ask him to return to work or get lost. I will not allow wastrels to work in my shop. All they do is waste time and expect to be paid on time. I am not here to do charity." ''Which idiot is cursing like a loose man? His tongue needs to be sanitized,'' Paul thought as he squeezed his eyes. His body was in utter discomfort and the strong smell of onions and garlic assaulted him from everywhere. "What the heck! Why do I stink?" Paul wondered, squinting his eyes for a moment before opening them wide. "Why do..." He stopped suddenly when he noticed the foreign place. It didn''t look like his kitchen or any kitchen he had worked in.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. It seemed more like a run-down place where the rats would party. Paul felt suffocated and being a clean freak, he felt his skin crawl at the mess around him. He wouldn''t dare prepare food in such a filthy place, let alone eat anything from there. "What hell hole is this?" he exclaimed, not noticing an extremely furious, overweight man rushing towards him with a grotesque expression. "You worthless piece of trash. Did I not ask you to return to work?" the man hollered and Paul scrunched his face in dismay. He even leaned back to save himself from the man''s spit. "You mongrel. Return to work and start cooking or else get lost. I am not here to feed you lowly creatures," the man continued, not noticing his expression of disgust. Paul stared at the man who seemed to have walked out of the gutter. His mere presence made him nauseous and he felt repulsive. "Who are you?" he questioned, not bothering to hide his resentment. "You..you.." the man was speechless and looked at him as if he had grown two heads. "And why are you barking like a dog?" "Did you just call me a dog?" The man was baffled by his audacity and glared at him as if he were ready to bite his head off if he were to agree. Paul didn''t give him attention and looked around, trying to find out what was happening and where he was. "You son of a bastard. Get out of my shop." The man pulled Paul, dragging him out of the kitchen. Paul couldn''t escape from his clutches and he was dragged from the kitchen to the entrance before he was hurled out in front of everyone. "You are not allowed to come to this place. Get lost. Scram," the man pointed at him and commanded. Although Paul heard him, his attention was all on the people who were staring at him, especially their attires. They seemed to have come out of historical times and nothing like the world he belonged to. ''What the hell is happening? What is this place?'' He panicked. The unfamiliar setting almost made his heart leap out of his chest. ''How is this possible? How? Where am I?'' All of a sudden, his brain was filled with images and memories that didn''t belong to him. It was as if a movie was being played at 2x speed. Paul was knocked out of his breath by the time he realized what had happened and how he had ended up in a world he didn''t belong to originally. "Oh my God!" he exclaimed and the man who was still hurling profanities stopped for a moment. "Now you realize your mistake. Too bad your apologies will not work. You have no place here." The man looked down at him, his face filled with arrogance. Paul raised his head and looked at the name of the shop.Thomas'' Kitchen.He wasn''t interested in working in such a sordid place either. Untying his apron, he threw it at the man''s feet and sneered. "I am not interested in working here either. You are nothing but a selfish man who doesn''t care about your customers. You serve food prepared using spoilt ingredients and sell them at a high price. I have long wanted to quit this place." "You... How dare you!" the man seethed, his eyes blazing with anger. Paul didn''t stop at that. Since he had decided to make an enemy that day, he went all out, "Your kitchen is worse than a pig sty. People who eat your food will suffer from all kinds of diseases. I can''t work in such a filthy place anymore." Paul didn''t even wait for the man to respond. He turned around and walked away, ignoring the stunned crowd behind him. He didn''t even care when people pointed fingers at him and scolded him for being impudent and ungrateful. Retracing his steps from the host''s memories, he returned home - the very home that seemed to be worse than anything he had seen. The roof was falling apart and the wooden structure with barely any windows seemed to be waiting to collapse anymore. The place didn''t look habitable from any angle. But shockingly, it was where he stayed. Exasperated, Paul entered his ''home'' and studied the place. "What did I land myself into? How the heck did this happen?" All of a sudden, a mechanical voice sounded in his mind and a holographic screen appeared before him making him jump. [System Activation Initiated] [Scanning Host Complete] [Welcome to Divine Recipe System] 2. Vital Leaves Paul stared at the holographic screen in shock, too stunned to speak a word. What kind of magic trick was this? [Welcome to Divine Recipe System] [Chef Profile] User: Paul Keller Realm: Core Realm Level: 1 Recipe Mastery Level: Unknown Realm Affinity: Unknown Chef Rank: Novice Magical Affinity: None Culinary Affinity: None [Basic Stats] Health: 89/100 Mana: 15/15 Stamina: 50/50 Attack Power: -Physical Attack: 20/20 -Magical Attack: None Speed: 35/35 Strength: 20/20 [Core Stats] Cooking Skills: 10/100 Magic Control: 5/100 Creativity: 30/100 [Additional Stats] Luck: 5/100 Reputation: 0/100 [Recipe Book] Level 1 Recipes [Ingredients Available] None [Quest and Mission Tracking] Locked. [Inventory] Empty [Creature Summoning Panel] Active Companions: None Creature Stats: Locked [System Points (SP): 0] Initially petrified, Paul''s eyes gleamed with interest by the time he finished reading everything on the screen. [Your Basic Stats will increase over time as you level up and complete more quests] ''What is this? What''s happening?'' Paul thought, unable to discern the sudden turn of events. He kept gawking at the screen as if it''d give him all the answers he was looking for. "Why are my cooking skills so low?" A frown marred his face when he saw the points. He was a brilliant chef, alright. How could his score be so low?If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. [Host, your skills have been assessed according to this world] "Oh," Paul didn''t understand. But he didn''t question more. Instead, his focus shifted to something that had him fascinated since the beginning. "Magical affinity? Do you mean to say that magic prevails in this world?" [Yes, Host] "Awesome." Paul was over the moon. He couldn''t help but be pleased with the unexpected pot of luck he had stumbled up. Magic? Would he soon be hurling fireballs and summoning thunderstorms? He hoped so. "May I check the recipe book?" Paul was interested in the recipes the system had for him. ''Level 1? What could Level 1 recipes mean? Are they categorized based on the difficulty of preparation?'' The screen shifted and Paul''s eyes almost popped out of his sockets when he saw the dish names. [Healing Soup] [Strength Boosting Chicken] ''Healing soup is at least fine. What the hell is strength-boosting chicken?'' Paul was dumbstruck and he picked the recipe for the chicken. Paul''s surprise was unaffected when he saw the recipe. He was familiar with the ingredients and the cooking style. The only difference was that he had to infuse his mana into the dish while preparing it. What baffled him was the effect the dish had on the body. True to its name, the Strength Boosting Chicken had the to ability increase one''s physical strength and stamina. "What the fuck!" Paul was overwhelmed and he could barely manage to speak in his excitement. "Is this true?" [You may test it out if you want, Host] The system answered for him as the holographic screen vanished and Paul couldn''t wait to do so. But he didn''t have any ingredients to cook the chicken or the soup except for a few potatoes, oil, salt, and pepper. How could he prepare the dishes? "How do I get the ingredients? Can you provide them for me?" Paul asked the system hopefully. But the system''s response crashed all his hopes. [You will have to look for the ingredients on your own, Host] "Damn it! What do I do now?" Paul thought for a moment and recalled the mountain behind their village. From the host''s memories, he realized he could find at least a few ingredients. "At least this man has a hoe," Paul picked up the tool lying in the kitchen and smiled in satisfaction. Without dilly-dallying, he left in search of the ingredients. On his way, Paul found a few villagers murmuring to themselves as they pointed fingers at him. He ignored them until a woman who seemed to be in her fifties stopped him. Aunt Mary. The big mouth of the village. "Paul, why did you quit your job?" Her nosy expression made him curse under his breath. He hated it the most when people were overly interested in his life. Didn''t they have better work to do? "I didn''t like the shop owner," Paul replied half-heartedly. "You should endure it. He might have a bad temper, but he''s a good man." Good man? And he? Paul was speechless. The woman''s definition of good was messed up. Not noticing his strange expression, she asked again, "How will you survive then? Winter is approaching and it will be hard to find a job then." "I''ll find something by then. It''s not a big deal. I have some work. So..." Paul nodded at her and left under the woman''s scrutinizing gaze. Although he wanted to have a moment of peace, it was short-lived when he was stopped again, this time by the man he had worked with in Thomas'' kitchen. "Paul, why did you quit your job? You should have apologized. Master Thomas would have forgiven you," the man, who Paul remembered to be Simon asked him. Although his tone was heavy with concern, Paul didn''t miss the wickedness and joy flashing in his eyes. His brows contorted thoughtfully, not understanding why the man was hostile towards the host. ''What beef did these two have? Why does he seem like he can''t wait for me to die?'' Paul thought, his mind spinning stories of all kinds, each more dramatic than the other. "I just didn''t want to work there anymore." Paul shrugged lightly. "What are you going to do then? It''ll be difficult to find another job." "I''ll think of something. Listen, Simon," Paul interrupted when he noticed the man was about to continue. "I have something important to handle. I''ll talk to you later." Simon didn''t reply. But Paul didn''t wait for him and walked away. This time, he didn''t stop even once until he reached the mountain. From the host''s memories, he was certain he could find the root vegetables. However, before he could even start looking, the system went berserk in his mind while the floating screen appeared before him as though it was scanning something. [Scanning started] [Scanning complete] [Ingredient: Vital Leaves] [Effect: Replenishes lost energy and improves stamina] [Level 5] Paul was intrigued and started studying the leaves that resembled a lot like arugula leaves but not quite at the same time. ''Since the system believes these are useful, I must get them.'' Paul didn''t doubt it and squatted to harvest it. [Host, pull it out from the roots] "Why?" [You didn''t check the Inventory. Otherwise, you''d understand that you can cultivate crops once you reach higher levels] "Holy fuck! You aren''t serious, are you?" Paul almost destroyed the Vital Leaves in his astonishment. [I am, Host] "What will happen to the ingredients until then?" Paul realized he hadn''t explored the system''s features in detail. In his hurry to test the recipe, he had overlooked everything else. [The Inventory will store the ingredients for you to use in the future] "Will they not get spoilt over time?" [No, Host. The Inventory is not time-bound. Everything will be as it was when you stored it] "What kind of a magical thing did I activate? System, you are awesome." [Hehe, thank you, Host] 3. Ingredients shopping Paul handled the Vital Leaves with fragility and care as if tending to a baby. He was careful when he pulled them by their roots and even made sure to check them from time to time. The task which would at most take ten minutes lasted up to thirty minutes. By the time he pulled the last bunch of Vital Leaves, he was sweating profusely, the sun shining directly overhead adding more to his misery. However, Paul was unperturbed. He was ecstatic. The bundle of Vital Leaves was as thick as his palms and they smelled divine. He felt invigorated just by inhaling the smell. He wondered how amazing they''d taste. ''Umm... what do I do with them now?'' Paul thought, silently asking the system for help. Barely had he finished when the bunch of Vital Leaves in his hands vanished, leaving his palms empty. "What..." [Item detected: Vital Leaves] [Adding Vital Leaves to the Inventory] [Item Added Successfully] Paul noticed that the Inventory section which had previously been empty now held the Vital Leaves. His mind was frozen, and the sudden disappearance of the bunch of leaves from his hands rendered him utterly stumped. "Wow," that was all he could manage to stutter. Paul walked into the mountain searching for root vegetables. Although he could buy them at the market directly or from one of the villagers, he wasn''t that keen on choosing either option. From the host''s memories, Paul knew not many people were kind to him. They looked down on him for being poor, especially the ones who could wield magic or elemental power. He was after all a mere human who no power or money. The host didn''t know who his parents were and Paul wasn''t interested in finding out either. He had lived on his own once, he could do it again. The mountain was a treasure trove. Although he had to venture deep to find the vegetables he was looking for, by the time he was done, he had harvested quite a lot of potatoes and turnips and some wild berries. Even though he hadn''t found all the vegetables required to prepare the Healing Soup, it was an incredible harvest and Paul couldn''t stop grinning. He was over the moon, but he didn''t forget to place all the vegetables in the Inventory leaving only a few potatoes in the basket. This time, no one stopped him on his way back and he too didn''t waste time on insignificant people. Walking inside his shabby house directly, he studied the recipe to prepare the Healing Soup and the Strength Boosting Chicken.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ''I still need some carrots, mint leaves, chicken and garlic. Do I have to buy them?'' Paul sighed recalling the host''s pathetic state. "Does he have any money? Can I buy the ingredients?" he pondered as he rummaged through the broken house. Paul was surprised to see that the inside was far from what he had expected. It was a one-bedroom wooden house and he had previously only looked at the kitchen and the small living room. He was entering the bedroom for the first time. Although it was far from what he was used to, it was still habitable now that he examined the place thoroughly. It was clean and livable. There was even a window, through which the warm sunlight entered. "It''s not as terrible as I thought," Paul mumbled to himself as he rummaged through the host''s belongings to find money. After searching for a long time, he found fifty-two copper coins, and his eyes lit up with joy. Paul didn''t know how things worked in the world he was in currently. But he didn''t hesitate to give it a try. The market was half an hour''s walk from his house, two lanes adjacent to Thomas'' Kitchen. The market was bustling with excitement and Pau looked around for a while, not jumping into action right away. In his previous life, he was a chef who aimed for perfection and only cooked food using the best ingredients. So, he continued to explore, looking for fresh vegetables. Paul stopped suddenly when he noticed a deserted stall. The vegetables the old man was selling were fresh and tender. However, they were priced one copper coin higher than the others, making the customers flee away. Paul''s eyes lit up and he approached the old man who was looking around anxiously. "I would like one kilogram of carrots, a bundle of mint leaves, two garlic, and half a kilogram of radish." The old man''s eyes lit up on seeing his first customer. Jubilant, he started measuring all the items one by one. "That would be twelve copper coins." The man placed all the items in Paul''s straw basket. Paul didn''t hesitate to pay him and flashed him a smile before moving to buy the remaining ingredients. The old man waved at him happily and even told him to visit again. Paul next headed towards the meat shop. The array of meat dazzled him and he, instantly, imagined himself cooking all sorts of dishes from fried chicken to roasted lamb and grilled pork chops. Paul was tempted. Even though he didn''t have much money, he was lured into buying a whole chicken and four boneless pork chops. Meat was almost a luxury to him, considering his current state and he had to part with twenty-six coins at once after haggling with the meat butcher for two coins. He now had all the ingredients he needed to prepare the two dishes. With that thought, he hurried home instantly. Paul was careful. When no one was watching, he hid all the items he had bought in the Inventory. It was only when his basket was clear he sighed in relief and hastened his footsteps. "What an ungrateful person he is!" Paul heard a familiar voice even before he entered the lane that led him to his house. "He did not even listen to my advice," Mary complained and Paul knew at once that she was talking about him. "I was only wishing well." Paul rolled his eyes as he entered the lane and gave Mary one cryptic look. His sudden appearance startled the gang of ladies, and they averted their eyes in guilt. It was already bad that they were talking about him behind his back. It was even more embarrassing to have been caught red-handed. Paul didn''t give a damn about them. Sneering at them in disgust, he returned to his house and closed the door. Anyway, those people didn''t matter to him. He wouldn''t be staying in the village for a long time. Paul''s eyes gleamed and he entered the kitchen, ready to cook his first dish after he gained the Divine Recipe System. 4. Multiple Realm World Paul was more interested in the Strength-Boosting Chicken, so he checked the recipe first and made sure he had everything prepared. Although the host''s kitchen was congested and had no things he was used to in his past life, he could still make do with the menial items stacked against the wall. He had to first roast the chicken with garlic, oil, and a pinch of salt. So, he needed a pan or a pot. Paul didn''t have an oven, so he had to use the host''s clay pot. He didn''t use the whole chicken; since it was his first trial, he used only the legs, leaving the remaining in the Inventory. Now came the biggest problem of his life - lighting the hearth. How was he going to start the fire? He didn''t have a lighter or a matchstick. ''System, can you help me?'' He sought the system, hoping for it to help him out of the predicament. But all he got in return was its silence. "Aren''t you going to help me? How am I going to start the fire?" [I can''t help you, Host. Until you become a fire elemental, I can''t help you start a fire. You''ll have to look for a way yourself] Paul huffed, his blood boiling in frustration. He was close to hurling profanities at the same system he had praised some time ago. "At least, guide me. How do I start a fire?" [You can use flint stones, Host] The system suggested and Paul frowned. Although he knew what flint stones were, he had never seen them before. He had no idea how they looked. "How do they even look? Can you provide me with a picture or something?" This time, the system compromised and an image of flint stones appeared before him for a moment. Keeping the image in his mind, Paul started to look for it. At first, he had no idea where to look. But the kitchen was small and there weren''t many things inside. So, he found the flint stones easily beside the hearth. "You were right here and I was looking everywhere else," he grumbled as he picked up the stones. It wasn''t his fault that he couldn''t locate them soon. The hearth was covered in soot, making it quite difficult to find the stones that happened to be black as well. Recalling the steps, he tried to ignite the fire. But it didn''t work. There wasn''t even a spark. Paul didn''t lose hope and tried repeatedly until he gave up. "This is so difficult. What am I going to do?"The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. [Umm... Host, you may want to put more pressure and keep rubbing the stones repeatedly] Paul almost threw the stones in dismay. Swallowing his anger, he did as the system suggested to him, and on the eighth try, there was a spark. "I did it. I almost did it," he cried, his lips curling in joy. Paul tried again and this time, the dry grass in the hearth caught fire. Shooting to his height, Paul cheered at his small victory and grinned toothily. "I did it. I did it." [Good job, Host] "Thank you, thank you," Paul clasped his fingers and applauded himself. The hearth already had some half-burnt logs, which had slowly started to burn until the fire became bigger. Placing the clay pot over the rim of the hearth, he started preparing the chicken. First, he prepared the seasoning¡ªgarlic and salt¡ªas they were the only two things he had for now. Using one of the clean stones by the kitchen door, which he assumed was a pestle, he crushed the two garlic cloves and mixed them with salt. Once done, Paul rubbed oil and the seasoning paste on the chicken legs before placing them in the pot. To roast them better, he even covered the pot with the lid. "System, can you keep track of the time?" [Yes, Host] "Can you inform me after forty minutes?" [Yes, Host] "Wait a minute!" Paul''s eyes narrowed when a thought hit him. "Can''t you inform me once the chicken is roasted well?" [No, Host. I do not have the power yet. Once you reach higher levels, you can unlock the power] "Ah, fine. Inform me after forty minutes," Paul instructed and leaned against the wall, away from the hearth, and slid down until he was sitting. Now that he had a lot of time, he confronted the reality he had pushed aside in his excitement previously. "System, can you tell me more about the world I am in?" [Yes, Host] The system responded immediately. Even though he knew a few things from the host''s memories, Paul wanted to hear from the system. [The world you are in is called Aeltheris. You are in the Core Realm which mainly consists of humans who possess little to no magic] "Do you mean to say there are multiple realms?" Now, Paul was spooked. The truth was far beyond his imagination and he even felt chills run down his spine. ''What kind of mysterious thing have I triggered?'' he wondered. [Yes, Host. You will be able to visit the other realms once you become powerful] Paul didn''t know how to react for a moment. "What kind of realms are you referring to?" [Forest Realm, Crystal Caverns, Celestial Realm. There are a lot of realms, Host. You will learn as you level up] "How different are these realms from the Core Realm?" [Core Realm is the least powerful and least dangerous, Host. The people in the other realms have mana and are capable of performing magic] "Is it the same mana that I have?" [Not quite, Host. Your mana differs from theirs] Intrigued, Paul quirked his brows in wonder. "How so?" [They were born with the mana, Host. But you...your mana was granted to you] "Whose mana is powerful then" Paul was curious. If someone from another realm and he fought, who''d win the battle? [In your current situation, even the weakest member from other realms can crush you to death] ''Fine. I shouldn''t have asked it. I''ll shut my mouth,'' Paul thought, clearing the bloody image of him squashed to a pulp from his mind. Paul scolded himself for almost missing the most important question. It was how he had ended up in this predicament in the first place. "System, can you tell me how I ended up here?" [That..] Paul was surprised to see the system hesitate. It was a first. [I don''t know, Host] Paul blinked a few times blankly. There was something that the system too didn''t know. It bugged him completely and he broke out into a cold sweat. "Then, why did you choose me?" [Because you are the only one who does not belong to this world] 5. Missions unlocked Paul hadn''t expected the system to choose him because he didn''t belong to Aeltheris. He still had quite a lot of questions to ask. But stopped short, not knowing where to start. "What happened to the host? Is he alright?" Paul dreaded to know the answer. Since he had occupied the host''s body, he hoped the host was fine. However, somewhere he had an inkling that the host was already gone. [The host''s soul was taken away by the Grim Reapers. He is no more] Paul squeezed his eyes shut and breathed heavily. He was glad that he had got a second chance at life. Yet, the thought it happened because someone else died made him miserable. It was as if he had snatched someone else''s life. [You do not have to feel sad, Host. The host''s soul had lost the will to live. It was impossible to save him] That didn''t assure Paul. Instead, it only made him feel worse. Yet, all he could do was pray for the host''s soul to rest in peace. "Do you know why the host didn''t have the will to live?" Paul questioned, once he had calmed his emotions. From the host''s memories, he couldn''t learn much, other than that he was abused at his workplace and not many people liked him. ''Was there something else he had missed?'' he wondered and tried to recollect the memories. But he came up with a blank. It was as if a lot of memories had been erased. [That... I do not know, Host] "Fine," Paul sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was only then he noticed how lustrous and silky his hair was. Moreover, his hair reached the end of his neck, impressing him all the more. The host didn''t have a mirror. So, he could only seek help from the system. "May I know how I look?" This time, the system didn''t have any qualms with fulfilling his wish and a floating mirror appeared before him. Paul was taken aback to see himself in the mirror. The host looked just like him. The only difference was he had dark brown hair that reached his neck. He looked younger, maybe because he was malnourished and utterly weak. He made it his goal to nourish his body first. In the world he was in, he knew the strong squashed the weak and he couldn''t afford to be weak. "I''m glad I am myself, not someone else," he mumbled. He would freak out completely if he had a face he wasn''t used to. The floating mirror vanished and Paul looked out of the kitchen window. The sun was drifting towards the west and the temperature had dropped subtly. A light breeze blew outside, bringing with it the smell of grass. [Host, forty minutes are up] Paul sprang to his feet instantly and rushed to open the pot lid. The aroma of chicken marinated with garlic filled the air. His stomach rumbled instantly, reminding him that he hadn''t anything for lunch. Holding back his saliva, he started basting the chicken legs. He then chopped two potatoes into quarters and added them to the pot, allowing them to absorb the juices.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "How do I add mana?" Paul asked when everything was prepared. [Host, focus on the mana within you and try to force it out. Think of it as an essence in your mind] Though perplexed, Paul did as he was told and the next instant, a warm sensation spread through his chest. Tentatively, he held his palm over the pot, imagining the energy flowing into it. A faint glow appeared at the tip of his index finger and Paul''s jaw dropped in awe. For a moment, he even wondered if he was visualizing things. Paul''s nose instantly caught the strange fragrance. He couldn''t fathom how to describe the smell, but it was delicious and he licked his lips, yearning to find out how the essence tasted. His eyes almost popped out of his sockets when he saw a clear droplet ooze out of his index finger and fall into the pot. [For Level 1 dishes, only 1 essence of mana is enough, Host] The system reminded him and Paul withdrew his hand immediately. "Was that my mana?" Paul was still flabbergasted and the scene kept repeating in his mind. [Yes, Host. That was your mana essence] "Is that how it is? In the form of a liquid? [No, Host. Within you, it is in the form of magical energy. Whenever you are cooking, it turns into an essence] "Ahh..." Paul nodded in understanding. His attention was soon diverted when an amazing aroma filled the place. It smelt absolutely wonderful, even better than any dish he had ever cooked previously. The aroma wafted out of his house and drifted over a few houses and the people came out instantly, wondering who was having a feast. Using a ladle, Paul tested the potatoes and waited until they had turned soft. After waiting for another five minutes, the dish was finally done. [Ding!] A sound went off in his mind. The floating screen appeared before him and it started to scan the Strength Boosting Chicken. [Dish Complete: Strength Boosting Chicken] [Quality: 62/100] [Effects: Increases the host''s strength for an hour by 6 points] Paul was tempted to try the dish and didn''t waste any time. He lifted the pot using the cloth and placed it on the floor. Picking up the only plate in the house, he carefully picked up a chicken leg and some potato quarters. Paul was drooling. Not only was the dish tempting to look at, it smelt amazing. He had no idea that it wasn''t just him, all the people in the lane too were enticed by the smell. The chicken leg was tender, and the garlic and salt seasoning was perfect. It was the best dish he had ever tasted, even if the quality was subpar according to his standards. Paul moaned in happiness. The chicken was a true delight and he didn''t stop until the pot was clean. Conveniently, Paul had a well behind his house, which he shared with his neighbors. Thus, he didn''t have to waste energy carrying water from the stream, and his dishes were washed quickly. Paul didn''t feel the difference at first. He had ignored it when his body turned warm as soon as he swallowed the first bite of the chicken. However, now that he was done with all the work, he felt a faint warmth in his stomach slowly spreading through his entire body. The warmth differed from when he had infused the mana essence into his food. Paul couldn''t describe it. It was weird but good. He sensed something in him to have changed. [Host analysis started] [Host analysis complete] Paul noticed that there was a change in the stats. Mana: 14/15 Strength: 26/26 [Host, your strength will return to normal in an hour] "How can I increase the strength permanently?" Paul was curious. Although it was already a great deal for him to increase his strength for an hour, he had to find ways to make it last forever. [Missions Unlocked] Choose your mission, Host - Self-improvement Mission - Recipe Improvement Mission Paul''s brows drew together, not understanding where this was going. "Umm... Self-improvement Mission." [Self-improvement Mission Unlocked] [Find the Mana Root to replenish your mana] [No time limit] [Danger: 6/100] Paul was interested in the mission. But the danger level made him antsy. "What about the Recipe Improvement Mission?" [Recipe Improvement Mission Unlocked] [Find the IronWood Bark to ensure the effects of Strenth Boosting Chicken last permanently] [No time limit] [Danger: 14/100] Paul made the decision when he saw the second mission. The danger levels in the two missions had shown which mission should be his priority. 6. Healing Soup "Where will I find the Mana Root?" Paul asked and instantly, the screen was filled with the information. [All about Mana Root] Region: Lumina Forest Specific Terrain: Mystic Glades Markers and Signs: Faint blue glow emanating from the ground Best time to harvest: At dawn or dusk when the mana is the strongest Tools required: Silverroot Spade Challenges and Dangers: - Mana Wisps - Glimmering Stags - Mana Surges - Enchanted Fog Paul read the information about the Mana Root with interest. His eyes gleamed, especially when he learned the roots glowed a faint blue. Fascinating! But his delight diminished and turned into confusion when he noticed the tool he needed to get the mana root. "How do I find the SilverRoot Spade?" [You''ll have to find it, Host. Otherwise, you can use a regular iron spade as well. But its mana-restoring properties will be reduced significantly] Paul felt like cursing under his breath. How was he supposed to find a SilverRoot Spade? He didn''t know anyone in the village. Heck, he didn''t know anyone in Aeltheris who could help him. How was he supposed to accomplish the mission? Before he could dwell on the matter, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Paul, are you there?" Paul heard a woman''s voice. Frowning lightly, he opened the door and stared at the woman who he recognized to be one of his neighbors from the host''s memories. In the entire village, she was one of the few who had provided a helping hand at his lowest times. "Yes, how may I help you?" Paul opened the door and awkwardly greeted her, not knowing how to address her. He knew her name, Julie. Was he supposed to call her by her name or Aunt Julie? He was confused out of his mind. "Paul, were you cooking something? It smelt delicious." "Yes, I was testing out a new dish. I''m sorry I didn''t prepare much. It was the first time I tried to make it," Paul said regretfully. He had no qualms about sharing it with her, considering all the help she had provided the host. It was just that it was his first time and he didn''t intend to share his experiment with others. "I understand, I understand. I harvested some cabbages from my field. I want to give them to you." Lily held out a basket and Paul noticed two fresh and good cabbages. "Uhh..." "Do not reject me. I harvested a lot this time." "Then, I will not stand on ceremony. Thank you."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Paul smiled gratefully and took the two cabbages. "You must be busy. Carrying on with your work. I will return home. I need to go and cook for my husband." Lily sighed in worry. "What''s wrong? What happened?" Paul noticed her weary face and asked in worry. "I have no reason to hide this from you. My husband has caught the flu and it has been a week." Lily pursed his lips and lowered her eyes in concern. "His appetite is terrible. I am worried about him." "Did you visit the doctor?" "Doctor?" Lily''s face scrunched up and she looked at him questioningly. Paul bit his tongue when he realized what he had done. The people here weren''t familiar with the terms from his world. "Physician or the healer. I meant the healer. Did you consult the healer?" "Oh, we did. But the healer could not heal him. His situation is too severe." Lily turned around and walked away as she waved her hand. "I hope he will recover soon. Otherwise, I do not know what I will do." Paul looked at the woman with sympathy and waited until she was out of sight before closing the door. Staring at the cabbages in his hand, an idea sprang to his mind. It was his time to help Lily. Without any delay, he entered the kitchen and filled the pot with water. Igniting the flames in the hearth again, he set the water to boil while he prepared the ingredients. Compared to the Strength Boosting Chicken, the Healing Soup was easier to prepare. Paul frowned when he noticed the flame wasn''t as strong as he wanted. He had to add more logs. Returning to the backyard, he picked a wooden log to chop. But he stopped short when a notion hit him. ''I''m yet to test my strength. Should I give it a try?'' he wondered excitedly. Wrapping his palm with a piece of cloth, he positioned the log and bent forward, testing his angle of impact. After a few mock attempts, when he was ready, Paul mustered all the strength in him and jumped lightly before bringing down his fists at full speed. Although the log didn''t split into two as he had wanted, there was a visible dent. Moreover, his palm wasn''t even hurting. Bewildered, he stared at his palm. Other than a few splinters stuck to the cloth, his palm was intact. His jaw dropped and he marveled at the effect of the Strength Boosting Chicken. It sure had increased his strength. Otherwise, he''d be the one with broken fingers. Humming a song in delight, he used the hammer this time and chopped the log into small pieces. The water was yet to start boiling. The flame was too low. So, he added the wood right away and fanned the flames until they became stronger. Once done, he chopped a carrot, a turnip, and a quarter of a cabbage. He then minced a garlic clove with some mint leaves until they turned into a thick paste. On seeing the water boil, he added the paste first and ladled the broth. Next, he added the vegetables and a pinch of salt. He then stirred the soup a few times before closing the pot. "System, remind me in thirty minutes." [Yes, Host] Now that he had some time, he thought about his mission. How was he going to get a SilverRoot Spade? The system wouldn''t help in this matter. Who could help him? Paul pushed his tongue against his cheek and pursed his lips thoughtfully. ''Should I visit the blacksmith? Would he be able to help me?'' Paul was stuck. He didn''t know how to solve his problem. So, he could only give up for the time being. On seeing that it was getting dark, he lit the lanterns in the house and returned to the kitchen again. A faint aroma from the soup spread the kitchen and Paul sucked in a deep breath, his lips curving up into a satisfied smile. The system notified him when thirty minutes passed and Paul lifted the lid and checked the soup. The vegetables were tender and the broth was getting thicker. Using the back of the ladle, he squashed the vegetables, especially the carrots. He waited for the soup to become thicker before he added his mana essence again, following the steps from earlier. Paul''s heart bled to see his mana reduce. It was more precious than his blood. Since it was Lily who had helped the host a lot in the past, he suppressed his distress and added an essence. Immediately, the fragrance of the soup became richer and Paul was tempted to taste it even though he had had a filling feast some time ago. Stirring the soup a few more times, he checked for salt before he doused the flame. [Ding!] The familiar sound went off in his mind and the floating screen appeared before him. [Dish Complete: Healing Soup] [Quality: 71/100] [Effects: Heals small injuries and minor illnesses] Paul was satisfied with his dish and kept aside less than half of it for himself. He then carried the remaining to Lily''s house. 7. Crowd on the road Paul had barely stepped out of his house when he sensed curious gazes on him. None of them seemed malicious. Yet, he was scared out of his mind. It was as if an audience was scrutinizing him while he stood naked before them. The odd feeling made him halt in his place and when he looked around, his face scrunched up in confusion. ''Why are so many people looking at me? Is there a circus show going on here?'' he wondered, completely forgetting how tantalizing his food smelt. Paul was oblivious to how everyone in the crowd was salivating as they eyed the pot in his hand. They were waiting for a moment to snatch it from him. They had never smelt anything that delicious before and wanted to test if the food tasted as wonderful as it smelt. Frowning lightly, Paul ignored them and quickened his footsteps as he hurried to the house beside his. Knocking at the door lightly, he glanced at the people who had now moved closer to him to take a good look. It was then he noticed that their eyes were lingering more on the pot in his hand than him. Confused, Paul couldn''t decipher what was happening. Before he could dwell more about it, the door opened and Lily appeared before him. "Paul, what happened? Is something wrong?" Lily couldn''t make out why the lad had come to her when it had only been some time ago she had spoken to him. Her mind started to run wild and she imagined the worst case scenario. "No, no. I was here to see Hugo. I couldn''t control myself when you told me he was sick," Paul explained his visit, masking his confusion behind his concern. "Also, I prepared some soup for him." Lily sighed heavily and opened the door for him to enter. "Paul, I do not know what to do. He has not left his bed since he caught the flu. I am scared." Paul entered the house which was no different than his, only that the kitchen was in the opposite direction. "He will recover soon. Do not worry." Paul didn''t know how else to comfort her. He wasn''t lying. It was the truth. He believed in the soup he had prepared. Hugo was bound to recover soon. "Thank you. Please come in." Lily kept the door open as she led him inside. "I prepared some soup for you two." Paul lifted the pot and smiled faintly. Lily sighed heavily and shook her head. "Thank you, Paul. His appetite has been poor lately and I am uncertain if he wants to eat anything. He barely eats anything. I had to force him and he barely ate two spoonfuls of congee today." Paul heard a violent cough from the room and pursed his lips in worry. "May I see him?" He didn''t know why he wanted to see Hugo. He had intended to hand over the pot of soup and return home. But now, he couldn''t bear to leave just like that. "I do not know." Lily hesitated. "I do not want you to get infected."A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "It is fine. Do not worry," Paul assured her and once he got her acceptance, he entered the room. Paul was taken aback to see Hugo''s condition. He hadn''t expected it to be this bad. The man had been reduced to just skin and bones and looked unsightly. He kept coughing and Paul had an inkling that he''d cough himself to death if this continued. "When was the last time he ate anything well?" Paul questioned, his brows narrowing into an anxious frown. Like Lily, Hugo too was a good man. It was he who had helped the host to build his house and even find a job. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for Paul who had no kin nor friends to survive by himself. "Yesterday noon. I had to force him to eat." "Can you bring me a bowl and a spoon?" Paul didn''t know when Hugo would recover after having the Healing Soup. He just hoped it''d at least reduce some of his discomfort. Lily didn''t hesitate. Although unsure how effective the soup would be, she was willing to try anything. As soon as Paul opened the pot lid, Lily who was closer to it felt her exhaustion dwindle. The mild headache she had started to develop after having not slept well for the last few days gradually faded away and she felt energized instantly. Lily licked her lips. The aroma of the food made her salivate and she was just short of pouncing on Paul to snatch the pot from him. Not just Lily, even Hugo who hadn''t opened his eyes when Paul entered woke up when the mouthwatering aroma hit him. His stomach growled loudly, loud enough for Lily and Paul to hear. While Paul smiled to himself, Lily was shocked. Her eyes rounded as she stared at her husband in wonder. Paul poured some soup into the bowl and handed it to Lily, gesturing her to feed her husband. It took a minute or two for the woman to react. When she finally did, she held back her desire to have a taste and fed her husband instead. Hugo''s appetite was ignited and he drank the soup with relish. He finished two bowls without stopping and licked his lips once he was done. He would have continued if Paul hadn''t stopped him. "Thank you, Paul. Thank you so much," Lily cried tears of joy and gratitude as she looked at the man who was a head taller than her. "It has been a long time since he ate anything with such relish. I cannot thank you enough." "Not a problem. I am sure he will recover soon." Paul patted her hand, sending her warm smiles. "There is some soup left in the pot. You must be tired. Have it first and rest for some time." "Yes, yes. Thank you." Lily poured the leftover soup into a bowl and washed the pot. After wiping it dry, she handed it over to Paul. When Paul returned home, the sun had already set. Although the crowd had lessened, the remaining people continued to gawk at him, making him wary. ''What''s wrong with them? Why are they looking at me as if they want to loot me?'' he thought as he closed the door. Paul shook his head when he opened the pot lid. Lily hadn''t returned an empty pot. Instead, she had filled it with uncooked rice. He smiled at her warm gesture and placed the pot aside, focusing on the soup he had kept for himself. Although the soup had turned cold, he didn''t mind it and finished it in no time. It was the best soup he had ever eaten and he licked his lips in satisfaction. [Host analysis started] [Host analysis complete] Paul noticed that there was a change in the stats again. Health: 93/100 Mana: 13/15 Strength: 20/20 Paul hadn''t noticed it before. All the ingredients he had bought previously were listed in the Ingredients sections while the Vital Leaves were in the Inventory. Moreover, the Quest and Mission Tracking section too was unlocked, with his two new missions yet to be completed. Paul ran a hand through his hair. Although he wanted to plan how to accomplish his mission, the day''s exhaustion was getting in on him. Cleaning the kitchen quickly, he retired for the night. Although the bedding was thin, he had to make do with it, and in no time, he was out. Paul pulled the blanket over his head and cursed the person disturbing his sleep. Rolling to his right, he covered his head, hoping for them to leave on their own. However, the knocks only became louder and Paul gnashed his teeth and kicked his blanket in anger. ''I am going to kill you. Why are you disturbing my sleep?'' Paul grumbled as he dragged his body to the door. But the moment he saw the man on the other side, all his sleep vanished and his eyes widened in shock. 8. Seeking help "Hugo?" Paul rubbed his eyes to check if he was dreaming. Wasn''t he sick? Why was he here? Wait a minute! How was he even here? Paul''s eyes widened and he looked at the man as if he was a ghost. "How did you...What... When... Oh my God!" His mind was a mess and he didn''t know what he was even saying. "Paul, thank you so much. Thank you," Hugo held his palms in his hands and expressed his gratitude, his eyes brimming with tears. Even though he looked sickly and weak, he looked better as if he had inhaled loads and loads of vitamins and sick-relieving pills. "Huh?" Paul couldn''t discern what was happening and he looked at him blankly. "Your soup is wonderful, magical. I was not able to eat anything for days. Everything tasted bland, like wax. The medicines the healer had prescribed were not working on me. It was all your soup. Your soup healed me." Hugo took a breath while his eyes sparkled with tears. "It has to be your soup. Otherwise, I would still be lying in bed and counting my days." "No, no...." Paul shook his head, too flummoxed to make sense of anything. "I will be eternally indebted to you. Thank you for saving me." Hugo patted Paul''s hand and turned around to look behind him. Thankfully, it was still early in the morning, and not many people were on the road. So, no one heard him. "Paul, I will not ask you how you did it. But I hope you will remain low until you are capable of handling all dangers." "What?" Now, Paul was completely taken aback and he became wary at once. Did he find out something? "Shall we talk inside? My words could be..." Hugo looked behind him again and Paul bit his lower lip before he opened the door wide, allowing him to enter. Hugo gestured for Paul to move back and once he did, the man closed the door. "You must have your own secrets. I will not probe more into how you were able to cure me. But I hope you will remain low-key until you are capable of defending yourself from all danger," Hugo warned him while Paul looked on silently. "The people here could be quite evil and I do not want you to fall into any kind of danger." "How do you know all of this?" Paul narrowed his eyes and observed him, studying him carefully as if he were seeing through his soul. "I happened to meet someone who did not seem like a human once. So, I know there are forces that are beyond my imagination." "Where did you meet them?"This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "In the capital. You might find quite a few of their kind in the capital. In the towns and the villages, no. But in the capital, you will come across a lot of powerful and capable people." "Why do you feel it was my soup that cured you? It might be the medicine you took." Hugo smiled and shook his head. "I know my condition, Paul. Do you think it would have been possible for me to stand on my feet when I could not even move the night before if it was just some measly medicines? "Your soup did not taste how it usually does," Hugo continued. "It tasted different, like a miracle." Paul remained silent as he tried to analyze him. "I mean you no harm, Paul. All I wish for is for you to be safe. Just be cautious of the people around you. You are the first person I know in our village and maybe in all the villages nearby who might not be a normal human," Hugo cautioned him and Paul nodded once he was sure the man wasn''t of any threat to him. "Lily is waiting for me. I need to return home. Although I have recovered, I am still weak," Hugo stated and took his leave and Paul closed the door after him before leaning against it. "What is happening? How did Hugo recover this soon?" [Host, I think it was your mana essence. It healed him this quickly] Paul was tongue-tied. Was something so bizarre possible? [Host, I forgot to tell you something] "Oh, what is it?" Paul rubbed his face, still unable to believe how quickly the man had recovered. [All the recipes you create will have different effects on you and other people] Paul sprang to his feet instantly, his eyes rounding in shock. "Why didn''t you tell me sooner?" [Umm...I forgot] "So, you mean to say the recipes I create will have varying effects on different people?" [More or less. The effects may be the same when it comes to all people but will be vastly different if we compare the people and you, Host] Paul sighed defeatedly and leaned forward, his shoulders dropping tiredly. "What do I do now? Should I continue following your recipes or..." The system went silent for a moment and Paul bit his lip while he too thought of a solution. Following the recipe would only push him to the limelight sooner and he wasn''t prepared to face the world in his current circumstances. He was far from capable and would be squashed to death by evil hands before he even adapted to the world he was in. [Host, here is a solution. You can dilute the mana essence when you are cooking for somebody else] "Will that work?" [Yes, Host. It will. You will have to dilute your mana with clear, pure spring water. I am not sure of the ratio though] "Fine, I''ll give it a try. Now, my priority is to find SilverRoot Spade." [Why don''t you ask Hugo, Host? He seems to have some knowledge. Maybe he can guide you] Paul too had the same thought. Among the people he knew, Hugo seemed to be the only one who had some knowledge about people who possessed magical abilities. Maybe he could help him with his mission. Paul didn''t waste time dilly-dallying. After freshening up, he retraced the same path he had taken the previous evening. It was Hugo who opened the door for him. Lily was nowhere in sight. "Paul, what''s the matter?" "I have something to ask you." Hugo realized the matter was important. Paul''s serious expression said it all. "Do you know any blacksmith?" Paul had an inkling that Hugo wouldn''t know much about SilverRoot Spade. So, he didn''t even bring it up. "Blacksmith? Yeah, I do know someone. Why do you ask? Do you want to get something forged?" "Yes. But it is not the kind you are thinking. It is not a normal tool. I need..." Paul hesitated. But Hugo was quick to understand and his lips parted in realization. "I may know someone." Paul''s eyes lit up instantly and he looked at him expectantly. "But it has been a long time since I met him. I do not know if he is still living in the same place I previously found him." "Not a problem. You can give me the address. I''ll look for him." "Sure. But be careful. He could be quite eccentric," Hugo cautioned. "I''ll be careful." Paul didn''t care how whimsical the man was. If he was willing to help, he didn''t mind enduring his temper tantrums.