3. French Fries = Healing Potion. Astonishing.
French fries equaled a healing potion. Astonishing. I'd thought the wood splinter hadn't lodged too deeply, so it'd heal in two or three weeks. But for the wound to vanish overnight like this? Could it really be the power of potatoes? Did french fries actually equal a healing potion?! A perfect worldview.
But to prove it, I needed to test if potatoes truly had healing properties one more time. So, steeling myself with tears in my eyes, I picked up the kitchen knife.
"Urgh…."
I lightly sliced the back of my hand, and blood welled up. I immediately munched on the last of the remaining fries.
"…Huh?"
But nothing happened. Was it just my imagination after all? Just as depression started to set in,
the wound vanished in the blink of an eye.
"…Looks like it takes a little time to heal."
But this potato was the real deal. Healing effects on humans? It might be powerful enough to resolve the entire apocalypse crisis. After all, awakeners were rare, and healers even rarer.
So what effects did other plants have? Would changing the cooking method produce different results? Since I still had potatoes left,
I decided to try another recipe. I boiled some, mashed them, and topped with mayonnaise. Potato salad complete!
I immediately stabbed my hand hard.
"Urgh…!"
Tears welled up. Even as an awakener, pain was pain. If I'd been a true combat class, this would've been brutal. Chomp chomp. Munching the potato salad right away, the wound healed.
This confirmed one thing. As long as potatoes were an ingredient, the healing effect applied regardless of the cooking method.
"…Alright."
The very first plant was a jackpot. No more worrying about dying from injuries from now on.
"Now, what about the others…."
Onions, carrots, green onions, perilla leaves, and more. My heart raced with anticipation over their powers. But growing a bunch right now would be foolish. Stockpiling these potatoes took priority.
Fill up on healing potions first, then grab attack buffs, defense buffs—that was the meta. Motivation surged.
So I headed straight to the front yard. Today's goal: one full box of potatoes. Plus, I'd test if growing plants filled the experience bar.
"One box should get me a level up at least."
I hauled seed potatoes from the shed and buried them one by one. I fetched plenty of water from the tank and poured it over. It was getting low, but it'd work out somehow. Sitting down, I clasped my hands and focused.
"High-Speed Growth…."
Mana drained in an instant, sinking into the soil. The potatoes began sprouting bit by bit. Since I was growing multiple at once, not just one, sprouts emerged, leaves unfurled, stems extended—but stopped there.
"Phew—no more."
Mana hit rock bottom. I couldn't move a muscle.
"Uwaaa… kitty!!"
But no matter how I called, the White Tiger didn't come. I shouted louder.
"Nyangnyang!! Save me!!"
Then, a cat slinked out from the house.
"Overdid it again, nyang. What a hassle of a butler, nyang."
Nyangnyang grew into the White Tiger, gently picked me up in its mouth, and carried me inside.
"Shake off the dirt!!"
"Got it, nyang."
Shake shake shake—like riding an amusement park ride, floating in the air as it tossed me around. Surprisingly fun. I should ask occasionally.
The White Tiger set me on the sofa, shrank back down, and snuggled into my arms. Hugging Nyangnyang, I closed my eyes. With mana depleted, I'd rest a bit, recover, then grow more potatoes. Spot-on decision.
I fell asleep on the sofa in under a minute.
"Alright…!"
After several hours of deep sleep, I headed back to the front yard. High-Speed Growth again. The potatoes were nearly grown. Fatigue crashed in once more. I hugged Nyangnyang and dozed off again.
The next day. Out to the front yard for another High-Speed Growth. The potatoes fully matured into plump spuds.
"…Three or four times, huh."
To fill the front yard, it took three or four times my mana pool. Leveling up would expand it, of course.
"…Wow, way more than one box."
For a 1-night, 2-day investment, the yield was insane. Over two boxes of potatoes.
"Gonna take two or three months to eat all this."
Producing enough food for an adult to gorge on for that long in just 1.5 days? At level 1? This was Druid (EX-rank) power.
But there was a downside.
"…No level up in the meantime. I grew a ton, though."
Awakeners leveled faster at low levels, slower at high. At level 1, I should've leveled ages ago. EX-rank didn't mean a massive experience bar.
"Growing plants isn't the experience condition, huh."
Did it require killing monsters like for warriors? But I should've leveled right after the wyvern. Unless the bar was razor-thin.
So.
"…Need to test it."
Depending on the level-up condition, I'd know what to do next.
"Nyangnyang, wake up."
"What's up, nyang?"
"Let's scout around the house."
"Got it, nyang. I'll protect you, nyang."
Just in case, I packed plenty of french fries and sliced some raw potatoes into sticks.
"Kinda weird leaving the house like this."
"It'll be fine for a bit, nyang."
No humans had come by since the apocalypse anyway. Short trip was okay.
"Adventure time!!"
"Hop on my back, nyang."
"Can I?"
I tried climbing the massive White Tiger's back. Grunt grunt. Too high.
"……Can't make it."
"Wait, nyang."
The White Tiger raised a paw like a step stool. I climbed on.
"Nice."
No wonder ancients rode mounts. No saddle, but the fluffy fur made it perfect.
"Real departure!!"
"Here we go, nyang!!"
We passed the front yard, opened the gate, and followed the road down. Barely wide enough for one car, unpaved and overgrown. But the grass parted for us.
Five minutes down, we hit pavement. A small village appeared—barely ten houses, spaced over 100 meters apart in these remote mountains.
"Come to think of it, no people around, nyang."
"Yeah, when the apocalypse hit, they evacuated. Everyone left."
"Why'd the butler stay, nyang?"
"They only took elders."
"So all abandoned houses around here, nyang?"
"Yep. Till monsters started prowling. Used to grab supplies sometimes."
I eyed a monster on a distant rooftop—a huge wolf-like beast napping in the sun. Pointing it out, the White Tiger gently set me down.
"Wipe 'em all out, nyang?"
"You can?"
"Don't worry, nyang."
The White Tiger leaped, ambushing the wolf. It had crushed the wyvern effortlessly; small fry were trivial.
Wild monsters appeared! Go, Nyangnyang! Body slam!!! One-shotted.
Nothing like how I'd trembled before.
"No more monsters visible, nyang."
"Not much."
We'd killed plenty. Should've leveled, right? I opened my status window expectantly.
Still the same.
"No level up even from monsters."
"Butler's a Druid, makes sense, nyang?"
The White Tiger grumbled, scratching an ear.
"You know the level condition?"
"Nope, nyang."
As useless as ever.
"Well, let's explore more while we're out."
"Got it, nyang!!"
Leaving the village, we hit the main road. Destination: nearby convenience store. Wrecked cars everywhere, like a massive pileup. Bloodstains and battle scars lined the roadside. Unsettling.
"…Ugh."
A bit farther: convenience store, gas station, two eateries clustered. I'd stopped for drinks pre-apocalypse. Now, horrific—human and monster corpses mingled. Crows pecking at flesh chilled me.
We slipped past, rummaging inside. Gas gone, store ransacked—empty fridges, toppled shelves. Nothing salvageable.
"As expected, cleaned out."
Heading out, disappointed,
"…Something's there, nyang."
Crunch—the White Tiger smashed collapsed fridges. Inside: a miracle.
"Coca-Cola…!!!"
A full case hidden in the wreckage. Wouldn't have found it without Nyangnyang. Not cold, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Fries and cola—the dream combo, thought lost forever.
"Good job, Nyangnyang!!!"
"Glad you like it, nyang!!"
"But how to carry it…."
Post-happiness hurdle. But for cola, I'd think.
"Vines it is."
Vines overflowed in apocalypse times. No need to go far—I stepped outside. Closing eyes, feeling nature, vines from the store wall descended to help.
"Thanks!!"
I bound the case tight to the White Tiger's body with vines.
"Won't hinder fighting?"
"Rip it off if needed, nyang!!!"
"Right?"
I could untie it, but no exploding cans en route. Pray for smooth travel.
Prayer lasted seconds.
Boom—like a meteor. Something crashed from the sky into the road.
"What, nyang?!!!"
"What's that?"
We panicked, hiding in the store, peeking out.
"That's…."
"A griffin, nyang!!"
Lion head, wings—powerful monster. Smaller than wyvern, but fire-wreathed, more menacing.
"Using skills—elite or higher, nyang."
"Wh-what's that mean."
Anyway, elite griffin—far stronger than normal. And facing it: one human woman.
Ragged breaths and shouts echoed as she gripped her sword. Covered in wounds and burns from the clash. Griffin hurt too—wing torn, mane half-gone, bleeding profusely.
"Butler might not wanna see, nyang."
The White Tiger blocked my view. I could handle it, but a bit scary—I snuggled in, watching.
"Raaahhh!!!!"
Sword aura slashed out. Griffin spewed fire, but the blade cleaved through, bisecting it. Dead.
"She killed the griffin!"
"But wounds look bad, nyang!"
She collapsed. Injuries grave even from afar. Struggling to rise—pitiful.
Then I remembered my fries. Could heal her? But.
"How strong is she?"
"I'd give her a good fight, nyang."
"Won't attack after healing, right?"
Humans were least trustworthy in apocalypse. No guarantee she was safe. Helping could backfire.
"Butler's call, nyang. I'll follow, nyang."
"……Ugh."
Short deliberation. Decision made. I wasn't cold enough to pass a dying person. White Tiger would protect if needed. Reckless maybe, but necessary—for my peace.
I rode slowly toward her. Spotting us, she startled.
"Urk!!!"
She tensed at the White Tiger, hand to sword. But eyes softened on me atop it. Mistook it for monster at first?
"…Ahem."
What to say first? Dismounting, I pondered. Nothing came.
Should've prepped lines. But time was critical—deep wounds fatal untreated. So I blurted without thinking.
"…Um. Want some french fries?"