The Cooking Boom in Genesis Village
Genesis Village, the beginners' village. This was one of the spots the developers had poured the most effort into, designed to give players a great first impression of the fantasy world.
Perfectly temperate weather—warm when still, cool when the breeze picked up. Cute, storybook houses. Friendly NPCs. A safe, cozy vibe. Players milling about the job change halls, happily debating which class to pick. At least in Genesis Village, it was hard to spot a single frowning face.
Ring ring—
Ring ring—
But one female player on a call looked deadly serious, hand cupped to her ear.
—...Hello?
The call finally connected.
"Jaehong-ssi. Jaehong-ssi."
—What is it?
A voice laced with faint irritation. It belonged to Min Jaehong, the Fantasy Games planner who'd just been half-assedly guiding Dahyun moments ago.
Time flowed differently between the Fantasy World and reality. To take Dahyun's call, Jaehong had to log back in, interrupting his fun of browsing chicken menus. No wonder his tone was grumpy.
"Jaehong-ssi, check the cooking job change hall in Genesis Village right now."
—...Why?
"It's overflowing with people!"
Cooking had always ranked dead last in job popularity. This was absurd—maybe a major bug. If so, quick action was key to survival.
—Oh, that. Jaehong brushed it off.
—It's probably that player Hura blowing it up lately.
"...Pardon?"
—That cooking player everyone's talking about. Word is, he's sparked a cooking boom.
"Huh? Really?"
Come to think of it, the line at the cooking job hall was chanting Hura's name nonstop.
—Isn't he the one you tutored, Dahyun-ssi? I saw your report on a new hidden cooking class.
"Oh, right. Yeah."
—Happens all the time. Figure skating boomed after Kim Yuna, soccer after Park Ji-sung. Just a fad.
"...That big?"
But even that didn't explain it fully. A fad wouldn't pack the hall like this—not with the job changer being such an asshole, handing out impossible tests. Who'd pick cooking?
—So, we're good?
Jaehong yawned lazily.
—I'm gonna—
"No, hold on."
—...Tch.
"Did you just go 'tch'?"
—No way. Anything else?
Dahyun peeked around the door into the cooking hall.
"What about the job changer? Did he change? This crowd makes no sense otherwise."
—Uh... one sec. Checking.
While Jaehong dug around, Dahyun craned her neck, but the crowd blocked the view.
—Ugh, hate this...
"...Jaehong-ssi, I can hear you."
—Ah. That was to myself.
"Keep mutters internal."
—Found it. Current cooking job changer is Matt Vizsly.
"Wait, the guy from the cooking sub-job hall?"
—Yeah... yep.
As Dahyun recalled, unlike Gordon, he was warm and gentle—one reason cooking as a sub-job had fans.
"What about the original, Gordon?"
—Gordon... one sec. So annoying.
"...I hear everything, Jaehong-ssi."
—Gordon left the hall months ago. Sudden resignation. Matt Vizsly from sub-jobs filled in.
"When exactly?"
—Lemme see... Pangwol Year 1032, March 2nd.
'Hold up. Pangwol 1032, March 2nd...'
Dahyun did quick math.
'The day after Customer-nim failed the cooking job change test stage 10?'
Her face hardened as she touched her lips.
'Resigned the day after flunking Customer-nim? Why?'
NPCs thought and acted by their own principles, under the ultra-high-performance AI Simus running quadrillions of calculations per second. They were virtually real people living in the Fantasy World.
'Linked to Customer-nim getting his hidden class?'
"Jaehong-ssi, what's Gordon's backstory?"
—...Dahyun-ssi. You know we can't meddle, right?
"Just one NPC's history. Pull it up quick."
—...Thug much?
"What was that?"
Her tone sharpened.
—Ahem. Says here Gordon was a famous master chef wandering adventures, cooking everywhere.
"And?"
—Settled in Genesis Village late in life. Someone recognized him, recommended to town hall for cooking job changer. They offered, he accepted. That's it.
"Hm... No clue where he went after quitting?"
—Nope.
"I see..."
The more she thought, the more it felt like Gordon had deliberately failed Hura at stage 10. Flunking over a smudged print? And that mysterious old man Hura mentioned—the hidden class Demonic Chef job changer. Was failing stage 10 a code between Gordon and the old man? A signal they'd found the right person for Demonic Chef?
'What did Gordon see in Customer-nim?'
But pondering yielded nothing—just more grumbling from her colleague.
—So, Dahyun-ssi, no more questions? For real? Can I go?
"Hey, Jaehong-ssi. I'm still working. Supporting me is your job today. Keep griping, and I'll hold you all day."
—...Any other questions? I'll answer kindly and in detail.
His tone finally softened.
"One more, then you're free."
—What's that?
"Forgot to ask—can I pick any job? Or does the department prefer something?"
—Best if it doesn't overlap other testers. Sending their job list—pick from that.
"Got it. Send it, then rest up, Jaehong-ssi."
Dahyun shook her head at her suddenly polite coworker.
—Yep. Sending now. Good luck, Dahyun-ssi~
"Sure~ You too."
—Have fun in Fantasy World. Enjoy the game!
"Total mess!"
Doing it on purpose, huh. What a disaster!
As Dahyun grumbled, a document arrived: a neat list of other game testers' jobs.
"...Damn, fast. Really itching to clock out, huh?"
Confirming once more the office worker superpower: speed surges right before quitting time.
"Lemme see... What to pick?"
A happy smile spread across Dahyun's face as she scanned the doc—one only the blissfully undecided could wear.
A massive tree loomed before us. No blizzard now, but thick white snow blanketed it. Snowflowers bloomed lush on every branch.
But Molrangkau glared at them with near-hatred. Pure fed-up exhaustion.
"Okay, watch. Seeing this?"
"Yeah. Watching."
"Watch close."
Molrangkau personally demoed Red Witch Vesta's final trial.
Fwoosh—
Scarlet flames ignited in her palms. Her red hair began to flutter. Eyes closed.
Flash—
A glowing red magic circle bloomed around the tree—not one, not two, but dozens, intricate as hell.
Flick—
She snapped her eyes open. Ruby irises blazed crimson.
Fwoosh—
Fwoosh—
Flames from the circles danced like living things under her delicate gestures. She conducted them fluidly, and they swooped at the tree from all angles.
Starting at the outermost branches, erasing snowflowers with tender care—like handling a baby.
Sweat beaded on her brow as she juggled dozens flawlessly.
The flames crept inward along bigger limbs, finally clearing every last snowflower.
"Hoo..."
She lowered her hands with a sigh. Flames vanished; her eyes dimmed.
Clap clap clap!
"Whoa—insane!"
I applauded the jaw-dropping display. Each flame felt alive. Controlling dozens like that? Magic newbie or not, I could tell the insane effort behind it.
No wonder Rank 5.
But Molrangkau just shook her head.
"Fail."
"Huh? That's a fail?"
"Yep. Fail."
Her sweat cooled in the chill breeze.
"Why?"
"Can't scorch or even singe. Not a trace."
"Singe?"
"Yeah."
She pointed calmly.
"Look there. Singed. There too. And there."
"...That tiny bit?"
"Yeah. Only melt the snow."
"......"
Insane difficulty. Melt snow off wildly sprawling branches without a single scorch mark?
"...How?"
"Right?! Makes me wanna scream!"
She stomped in frustration.
"Is it even possible? Tell Vesta to try."
"She... nailed it."
"...She did?"
"Yeah..."
No argument there.
"No tips from Vesta?"
"She gave some... but tough..."
"Like what?"
"Fire magic amps with rage."
"...Yeah?"
This game even ties emotions to skills? Wild.
"So no need for finesse before... now control it."
"Control how?"
"Recall sadness, anger... joy, happiness at once. Hold the balance."
"Oh..."
Makes sense. Like that hero movie line.
"Tch. Easy to say. How?!"
She kicked a rock, sending it flying with a thud.
—Ow.
"Hear that?"
"Huh? What?"
"Nah, misheard."
Gurgle—
That one was clear.
"...Hungry?"
"......"
"Kimchi stew?"
...Nod.
She nodded, cheeks pink.
"...With bean sprouts."
"Won't forget. Promise."
"I'll light the fire."
"Sure."
From the strongest fire mage? No doubt.
I handled ingredients: monster meat from the road. Trimmed it, chopped kimchi and green onion. For sprouts...
Out came a basin. Filled with water from Crested Dragon's Horn, added Desert Rose.
Stroked the sand shedding free, envisioned bean sprouts.
Flash—
Lush sprouts burst forth.
◈ Bean sprouts created from the mana of great nature—the purest in the world.
◈ They look incredibly tasty.
◈ Perfect for curing hangovers.
"Whoa...!"
Molrangkau gasped beside me.
"Quick stew incoming. Light the fire."
"Got it!"
She sparked flames with twigs. Pot on, ingredients in order: kimchi stew bubbled.
Not tteokbokki-level, but familiar enough to cook blindfolded.
Bubble bubble—
Delicious aroma rose. Magic Ladle's 30% faster cooking sped it up.
Stirred with it, sipped.
"Mmm—perfect."
Added green onions, done.
◈ Kimchi stew blending Nature's Bean Sprouts and Gray Wolf meat.
◈ Fully clears hangovers, soothes upset stomachs.
◈ Grants cold resistance for a time.
◈ Major stamina recovery.
◈ Magic Ladle boosted flavor by 10%.
"Ooh!"
Second 3-star dish after Nature's Crab Fried Rice. Desert Rose + Gray Wolf meat + Magic Ladle + Yudin Lake water = 3 stars. Wolf meat must be premium.
Heh... Look at those plump sprouts and soaked meat, glistening slickly. Irresistible.
Sprinkled white powder delicately—like snow on sea.
"Whoa..."
Molrangkau drooled already.
"Sit. I'll serve."
"Yes!"
As I ladled a bowl, three heads poked from behind the tree. Drooling in unison.
Eye contact.
"...What're you doing there?"
"Ack."