How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 037: The Gardener's Secret
In the maze surrounded by towering grass walls, I paced back and forth in place, deep in thought. Lilac sat leaning against the wall, watching me anxiously. How the hell do I catch that gardener? I need to pinpoint her location to snipe her with the Magic Ladle or something.
Stealth? No way. Too risky. Rankers spotted me instantly, and so did those machine lifeforms. Close-range attacks are suicide.
Wait—didn't Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i already get petrified by the gardener too?
Gurgle~
A faint sound snapped me out of my thoughts. I stopped and stared at the source.
"Ah, um... I haven't eaten anything since we got here..."
Lilac's face flushed red as she bowed her head.
Gurgle~
"......"
The persistent rumble was coming from her stomach.
"Hungry?"
"A little."
"Hm. Lucky you."
"Why?"
"I'm a chef."
Lilac's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yup."
"Then... could you maybe make something simple?"
"Hm..."
I crossed my arms, pondering. Should I really take it easy and cook right now? Don't I need to bust out of this maze and find Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i ASAP? But with no real plan against the gardener, is that smart? Hell no. Charging out blindly could get me petrified. The gardener and statues don't seem to enter the maze, so holing up here to strategize makes sense. Plus, if my summons are looking for me, staying put might help them find me.
"Ah, sorry. Of course you can't cook with nothing around..."
Lilac mumbled glumly, clutching her growling belly.
"I'll make you something."
"Huh?"
"I said I'll cook."
"But... there's nothing here."
"Don't worry about that. What do you like?"
"Uh, me? I like cake."
"Cake?"
"Yes! Sweet whipped cream cake. ...Is that no good?"
Lilac peeked at me cautiously.
"...No reason it can't be done."
Not that I'm confident. Never made one, but I've studied the basics. Cake needs butter, cake flour, eggs, sugar. Sift, mix like mad, double boiler, bake... Nah, not doing all that.
No need.
I pulled a wide tray from my inventory and plunked down a pre-made cake base. Traveling chef life means stocking diverse ingredients—just in case. Cake base was one of 'em. Never thought I'd use it like this. Preparedness pays off.
Lilac gawked as I magicked items from my inventory.
"Are you a magician?"
"Chef."
Now for whipped cream. Grab a big bowl, 200ml heavy cream, 20ml milk (10%), 30g sugar. Whisk like hell.
Sounds simple, but it's not. Cream's temperature-sensitive—keep it cold to avoid separation and get stiff peaks. So I fetched a bigger bowl, filled it with icy water from the Water Dragon's Horn, and nested the cream bowl inside.
Now for arm strength. Whisk fast—hand blurring speed.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
"Whoa..."
Lilac watched me huff and puff.
"Can I try?"
"Huff—huff—yeah. Go for it. But whip fast—no separating."
"Okay!"
While Lilac whipped away excitedly, I diced a Cheongmyeong Water Fruit.
Strawberry shortcake? Strawberries'd be nice, but I've got something better.
"Hura oppa, is this good?"
"Ooh, nice. That's perfect."
It peaked stiff on the whisk—spot on.
I sliced the cake layers evenly on the tray. Layer one: fruit chunks between, slather cream. Same for layer two. Top with three, frost all over. Garnish with remaining fruit. Done.
◈ Whipped cream cake made with the legendary Cheongmyeong Water Fruit.
◈ The fruit's refreshing zest pairs perfectly with the cream's sweetness.
◈ Recovers hunger.
◈ Cures all status ailments.
"......!"
My first two-star dish! Tears to my eyes. All those hunts and cooks barely hit one star. Real ingredients are OP.
"Whoa! It's so pretty! Almost too good to eat."
"Duh. Who made it?"
"Can I eat it?"
"Hold up."
I dusted the top with white powder.
"What's that?"
"Sugar."
Not really—just "that white powder." Why? One burning question: Do NPCs fall for Cooking Charm?
Sliced a piece onto her plate with the cake knife.
"Dig in."
"Itadakimasu!"
Lilac forked a bit and popped it in.
Nom nom.
"......!"
Her eyes bulged. She froze, chewing silently.
Drip.
A tear rolled down.
Cooking Charm has taken effect.
Of course! Fist pump.
Users falling for it was weirder—NPCs are system puppets, players aren't. But...
Wait, how do players fall for it?
......
Eh, it's just making them like me as a "friendly chef boss," so not that weird.
Hold up...
"......!"
Lightning struck from crown to toe.
Does Cooking Charm work in the real world too?!
"Ma... mmmph..."
Lilac's sniffle yanked me back.
"Eh? That good?"
"Yeth... Tastes like the cake Mom made for my birthday... long ago."
I dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
"Long ago? You're a kid. Plenty left—eat up."
"Okaaaay..."
I sliced a piece for myself, stored it, and dug in.
"Mmm."
Status description nailed it—fruit's freshness and cream's sweetness in perfect harmony. Juicy cake base soaked just right. This is two stars.
Munching cake, I checked my skill window. Hunting gardener countermeasures.
Crunch crunch. One line jumped out.
"Hm? What's this?"
Squinted, reread. Eyes popped, fork clattered.
Clang!
"Hm? Hura oppa? What's wrong?"
I stared at innocent Lilac in disbelief.
Her name was on the Cooking Charm list.
With her job.
* * *
"Master!"
Tteoksoon-i had fled into the maze from the statues too. Scattered like everyone else.
"Maaaster! Answer if you hear me!"
She wandered, calling desperately. Then—a distant sound.
"Hm? What's that?"
It grew closer, louder.
Thud—thud—thud—
Something breaking through.
"...No way?"
Louder, closer—then someone burst through the front wall, grass flying. Fried-egg shield first, brute-forcing ahead. Tteoksoon-i knew him.
"Senior!"
Geum Taeyang screeched to a halt, turning.
Shield, clothes, hair—caked in twigs and leaves.
"Tteoksoon-i!"
"Senior!"
They rushed together, swapping intel.
"Found Master?"
"No. Been yelling my throat raw—no reply."
"Trouble. No time. Stick behind me."
"Yes!"
Geum Taeyang raised his shield, charged the wall.
"Raaagh!!"
"Raaagh!!"
Thud—thud—thud—
Screaming at the top of their lungs, they bulldozed through flimsy twig-and-grass barriers.
* * *
"...Hura oppa?"
Lilac tilted her head at me.
"Ah, uh, it's..."
Calm down. Calm. If she catches on, game over. Breathe in, out.
"Ahem. Even I made it, but damn it's good. Haha!"
Lilac smiled sweetly, buying it.
"Hahaha! Yeah? Totally get it. Dunno the fruit, but it goes perfect with cake!"
"Ha, haha! Right? Thanks."
"Thank you, hehe."
Back to devouring cake.
Phew—
Crisis averted. But now the real problem.
What to do? What to do?
Hands shaking, back sweaty. No. Fine. Stay sharp—even in a tiger's den. And she's charmed—won't hurt me.
Nom nom.
Munching, I racked my brain. Recalled everything she said about the gardener.
'Necklace glowing green!'
Turns people to statues, controls them.
Nom nom.
Hand shoveling cake, eyes on her neck. Yup—glimpse of necklace tucked in her clothes. Medal glowed green when she leaned for cake.
That's it! Bingo!
She looked up.
...Gulp.
Busted?
She beamed.
"Hahaha! Oppa, cake all over your mouth!"
"Ha! Hahaha! Yeah! Too good, lost control!"
"Hahaha! You're hilarious."
"I get that a lot, hahaha!"
"Hehe, one more piece okay?"
"Go wild! Ate it all for you."
"Just one more then."
I nommed my share, eyeing her slice another piece. Cake going in mouth or nose? Who knows.
Oh yeah—green overalls. Behind her squat spot: giant gardener shears and straw hat against the wall.
"......!"
How'd I miss that? Idiot.
Fine. Calm. She hasn't noticed.
Eyes locked on the green-gemmed necklace.
She dove back in, head deep—perfect distraction, vision blocked. Necklace dangled free.
Now!
Snag it quick, yank.
Slowly, carefully... Almost... Almooost...
Fingers brushed—
One piercing doubt: She gave the kill quest. Spilled powers, weaknesses. Why?
Hand froze.
She started lifting her head.
Doubt too long. Hesitation fatal.
Her head rose in slow-mo.
Couldn't move. Froze solid.
Finally, her clear brown eyes met mine.