How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 013: Ding! [Quest Complete - The Chef's Cooking Utensils]
Ding!
Chef's Cooking Utensils
🎁 Reward:Moonlight Frying Pan of ???
He stared blankly at the frying pan engraved with a silver moon, his face full of awe. It was light yet had a satisfying heft. The handle fit perfectly in his grip, molding to his hand like it was made for him. Even as a total newbie who knew nothing, he could tell this item was broken OP.
No way would anyone, even a beginner like him, see this glowing pan as just a torch substitute.
"Like it?"
The emperor's ghost asked.
"Yes! Of course!"
"Follow in my friend's footsteps well, then."
"I'll do my best!"
Minare nodded slowly.
"For reference, no one's ever reached Demonic Chef to this day. Not a single one."
"Pardon? Not even one?"
"Not a soul. Partly because that guy was freakishly talented beyond compare, but it's a shame no chef has climbed to that height yet. A few came close, but even they failed narrowly."
Minare smacked his lips with deep regret.
"Don't worry. I'll become that Demonic Chef and show you."
"...Tch. Suit yourself."
The emperor eyed him with utter distrust.
"I'm serious! What's so impossible about me becoming like that legendary chef?"
"For starters, he never screamed like a little girl."
"Ugh, come on. I'll work on that."
"Sigh... When will a Demonic Chef finally appear? Another millennium, maybe..."
Hura ignored the muttering emperor, who acted like he wasn't even there. He waved a hand in front of the ghost's eyes.
"Excuse me, Legendary Emperor? Can't you see the Demonic Chef (True) right here?"
"Yeah, yeah. Give it your best shot."
"......"
The ghost's face screamed total disbelief. What was the point of arguing with a skeptical spirit? Time to grab the loot and bounce.
He shone the frying pan around, illuminating the surroundings.
"By the way, any other treasures here?"
Minare shot him a displeased look.
"Greedy, aren't you? Isn't that pan enough?"
"Of course, this frying pan alone is more than enough—way above my pay grade. But I came with a friend."
"A friend?"
One of Minare's eyebrows twitched up.
"Yeah. Can't send them home empty-handed after such a long trip. I'd lose face."
"Ah, that companion who came with you?"
"Haha, yep. The red-haired mage."
The emperor's ghost nodded thoughtfully.
"Hm... Fair enough."
Lie succeeded.
Lie Lv.1 4.63%
"Take that chest full of gold coins, then."
"Yes! My friend will love it."
Haha, score! Humming cheerfully, he skipped over to the spot the emperor indicated.
From behind, Minare's voice drifted over.
"The Red Witch, huh. You've got quite the big shot for a friend. Then again, that guy did too."
Hura froze and whipped around.
"...Pardon? Red Witch?"
"Hm? Didn't know? You called her a friend."
"Haha... Guess she wanted to keep it under wraps."
Minare nodded.
"Makes sense. She's carrying on an ancient legacy too. Can't go blabbing about it."
"Ancient legacy? What does that mean?"
"Never mind. If she didn't tell you, she had her reasons. Ask her yourself. I don't meddle in others' affairs."
"Still—"
"Now grab that treasure chest and get out."
"Yes, sir."
True to his word, there was a hefty treasure chest right there. Peeking inside, the soft moonlight from the frying pan illuminated piles of glittering gold coins.
"Whoa... How much is all this?"
As he gawked, Minare, watching from the side, suddenly pointed at his hand.
"Hm? Isn't that my ring?"
"Ah, yes. Probably."
It was the basic reward from defeating the dungeon boss: his worn ring.
◈ One of the rings worn in life by the legendary ancient emperor, Minare.
◈ So ancient that most functions are lost.
◈ Equip: Luck +1
The ancient emperor gazed at it bitterly and muttered.
"Time... it's worn so much. Mind giving it a look?"
Flash—
◈ One of the rings worn in life by the legendary ancient emperor, Minare.
◈ So ancient that most functions are lost, but Minare's touch has restored some power.
◈ Equip: Luck +10
◈ Skill: Stealth usable
"Not quite like before, but usable now."
"Thank you."
Minare waved it off.
"No big deal. A gift, since I don't trust you much."
"Ah, right..."
Still, beggars can't be choosers. Good thing he'd kept it on.
"Where's the exit?"
He safely stowed the treasure chest in his inventory and asked.
"Climb those stairs."
"Thanks. See you."
"Good luck."
He climbed the stairs, shoved aside the ceiling stone like a manhole cover, and poked his head out.
A warm welcome awaited: in the now-empty stone chamber, a tiny sun blazed, ready to incinerate everything.
"...Holy moly."
Not long after Hura dove into the dark slide for his thrilling adventure.
"Get it now?"
"Yeah. Sort of."
Geum Taeyang and Molrangkau had completed prep, review, practice, theory, application, and advanced stages on "How to Make Friends."
"That's plenty. Don't worry."
"...Really? Will it actually work?"
Molrangkau kept peeking at her notebook, mumbling anxiously.
"Trust me. Last time you followed my advice, the handshake worked. Have confidence."
"Right. I can do this!"
Molrangkau clenched her fists.
"But seriously, no 'From Friends to Lovers: Save Under New Name' course?"
"That's not it!"
Molrangkau snapped. Geum Taeyang smacked his lips regretfully at her firm denial.
"Tch... Tell me if you change your mind."
"Never happening."
Geum Taeyang stood and looked around.
"Huh? Where'd the master go?"
Molrangkau stood too, scanning the area.
"Molrangkau-nim. Seen our master?"
"No. This is the last room—no further. And he's your master. You find him. No clue?"
"Nope."
"...Useless."
"What?"
"I mean, let's hurry and look. You check the entrance for exit traces."
The two rushed to search for Hura.
Moments later.
"No signs of leaving the room!"
"Not inside either. Where'd he go?"
Geum Taeyang snapped his fingers.
"Ah! Last I saw, master was checking that statue."
"Vanished suddenly? Trapped?"
Inspecting the floor, Geum Taeyang yelled.
"Ah! Floor moved here!"
Thud! Thud!
He pounded the floor desperately.
"Master! Masteeer! Can you hear me?!"
"No good. Move."
Molrangkau raised her hand gravely. Red energy swirled around it.
"What are you doing?!"
"Didn't want to brute-force over treasure, but no choice."
Crimson flames erupted from her hand, coalescing.
"Gonna melt the whole floor. Move if you don't wanna die."
"That'll melt master too!"
"No choice. Some traps seal forever without the bypass. Worst case, too late and you're stuck even in logout—especially weak newbies!"
"N-No!"
Geum Taeyang's face fell in despair.
"Got it? Scram!"
"Yes!"
Geum Taeyang bolted.
Rumble—
Molrangkau floated the red orb to the chamber center. Fist-sized, but its heat could melt steel.
"Hup."
She aimed the mini-sun at the floor. Everything in the chamber began melting.
The tiny sun sank toward the dungeon's depths.
"Waaah! The chef's gonna die!"
"Huh?"
From the underground passage, Hura popped out, frantically blocking the heat with his frying pan.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"What else? Desperate struggle for life! Cancel it now!"
Hura shielded his face with the pan and shouted. The stone floor sizzled.
Molrangkau panicked.
"Eek! Idiot! Say something sooner! Can't stop now!"
"What?!"
"Say you're back when you're back!"
"My fault? Is it?!"
Then Geum Taeyang charged in, fried-egg shield raised.
"Master!"
"Taeyang!"
"Your hand!"
Molrangkau squeezed her eyes shut.
"Run, quick!"
BOOM—!
Meanwhile, the dungeon's true master, Minare, checked his hidden treasures in his long-unvisited villa.
He'd come for news of a new successor, but admiring his treasures was a bonus joy.
"Heh, my babies. Doing well?"
Minare caressed his stashed gold and jewels, murmuring. The gold he'd given Hura was pocket change compared.
"Hm? What's this?"
Something melted from the ceiling.
"Leak?"
But droplets were ominous black goo.
"What the..."
Soon, a blinding mini-sun pierced the cave ceiling.
"Gaaah! My babies!"
The treasures melted in his hands.
Rumble—
The mini-sun devoured everything in its path.
'Minare's Villa dungeon' became one of the Red Witch's wrecked sites—a Genesis Village tourist spot much later.
In a Genesis Village restaurant.
Two men sat dazed before a feast. Their hair was singed patchy, faces and clothes smeared with soot.
"E-Eat up. My treat."
The red-haired mage across offered wet wipes sheepishly.
They wiped the grime.
"So you did it to save me?"
"Yeah. Some traps kill or trap you permanently if not broken fast—even logout fails..."
Back via Molrangkau's return scroll: Hura, Geum Taeyang, and her.
Hura spoke to the downcast Molrangkau.
"It's fine. Mission accomplished anyway."
"Really? Phew."
"Yeah. Was heading out after finishing."
Hura reached for the feast. Geum Taeyang, eyeing his master, finally ate too.
He signaled Molrangkau, who was sighing in relief.
Now!
Now?
Yes! Now!
"Ahem."
Molrangkau cleared her throat nervously. Her hands shook, sweat beaded.
"Um, H-Hura."
"Hm?"
How long since calling a name? It sounded awkward even to her.
"That... f-first time we met."
"When you nearly killed me and tossed my money?"
Hura smirked, chewing.
Molrangkau gripped her sweaty hands tight. She'd smack past-self if she could. But only one option: sincere apology.
Eyes shut, head bowed.
"I'm really sorry!"
Hura's eyes widened at the unexpected plea.
"If I could turn back time, I'd beat myself senseless. I was so wrong. Won't happen again. F-Forgive me?"
Per Geum Taeyang: apology, honesty, admission, no-recur promise, plea.
She peeked up. Hura nodded slowly.
"Hm. All key elements. I forgive you, Molrangkau."
"R-Really?"
"Yep. C'mon, shake on it."
Her trembling hand met his warm, soft one. Tears welled at the kindness.
"...Hehe. Good."
Relief let her smile faintly after the tension.
"Oh, found treasure below too."
"Really?"
Glancing at Geum Taeyang, he thumbs-upped praise and urged next step.
Right. Real game starts now. Apology was just epilogue.
"Um, H-Hura."
"Yeah?"
"That treasure's yours."
"For real?"
Hura's eyes went wide.
"Totally. You found it."
"You're such a good guy!"
Hura grabbed her hand tight.
"Eep."
Avoiding his eyes suddenly close, she mumbled, averting gaze.
"B-But... w-wanna be f-friends?"
"Huh? Friends?"
"Y-Yeah. N-No big if not."
Hura beamed.
"Friends rock!"
"R-Really?"
"Duh! Add now?"
"Yes!"
Her empty friends list finally gained a name.
⊳ Hura
"...Hehe."
Molrangkau grinned at it. First friend.
Someone to chat casually with her lonely self. No jealousy, no bullying. His warm food promised all would be okay.
The girl walled by layers of barriers—her psychiatrist's knocks futile—saw them melt before him.
She needed no pricey therapy to shatter walls; just a friend to coax her out.
Friend...
The word felt strange yet warm.
"What? Crying?"
"Huh?"
Tears streamed unnoticed.
"Wh-Why tears?"
"Iron deficiency? Eat before it cools."
"Yeah."
She wiped with her sleeve and dug in.
"Hehe. Yours tastes way better."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. Kimchi stew again sometime?"
"Sure."
"With bean sprouts?"
"Maybe."
Geum Taeyang watched with a deep smile.