Profound Kneading and Yura's Massive Wreath

Hoping to get along well with Cheon Yura, I headed home after parting ways with her and immediately flung myself onto the bed.

"Haa... home really is the best..."

I hugged the gold bar enshrined on my bed tightly to my chest.

The feel of the cold metal was surprisingly comforting...

I could feel my tense body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠melting into a pleasant languor.

While rolling around on the bed clutching the gold bar, I suddenly remembered something I'd forgotten and opened my skill window.

"Finally leveled up."

Does using kneading on people give way more experience? Makes sense.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at the skill window.

I had no idea how much proficiency it needed, but using it on Cheon Yura earlier must've given a ton.

Does the proficiency gain vary by target?

"Hmm... At level 3, it should finally give a proper description, right?"

I mean, come on—even if it just said you could knead more things, that felt half-assed.

At least tell me what buffs different breads give, or what kinds of targets qualify for kneading...

Anything more than this vague crap.

Brimming with anticipation, I tapped the detailed description for the Kneading skill.

"...?"

I rubbed my eyes with my tail and read the description again.

The text hadn't changed.

"That's it...?"

Are you kidding me?

Even more profound kneading?

What the hell does "profound" even mean for kneading?!

It's just something you do 'cause it feels good! Do roadside cats philosophize before they knead or what?!

"Haa... I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. What kind of skill description is this lazy?"

I glared at the skill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠window with utter disappointment.

Expectations that high meant the letdown hit even harder.

While I was at it, I checked the other skill sitting right above Kneading.

"Still the same crap."

Even after baking all that bread, it was stubbornly holding at level 1.

No description either.

"...Whatever, too annoying to think about."

I swiped the skill window away and buried my face in the bed pillow.

Clutching the gold bar tight, I drifted off to sleep just like that.

The next morning, I woke up sprawled on the bed and grabbed my smartphone.

With desperate fervor, I searched away.

Even with all this money, I couldn't properly enjoy good food... it was honestly frustrating.

No, beyond frustrating—it was soul-crushingly infuriating.

I'm a tiger beastkin, in the prime of my growth spurt, and all I can manage is two chicken legs?!

At least let me eat a proper single serving once.

With utmost seriousness, I pored over the search results one by one.

"...Don't drink too much water before meals... eat small amounts frequently... hire a grandma?? What the hell?"

The further I scrolled, the more my tail thwacked the bed.

"No, I wanna expand my stomach—telling me to just eat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more is like saying 'add more wood to stoke the fire'! What's the difference?!"

All of it was obvious, generic advice.

One site even said, "It'll grow if you keep eating! Tiny-stomach gang, fighting!"

"Why are all the comments secret... haa, totally useless."

Irritated, I closed the browser and opened the delivery app.

Fine... let's build it up slowly.

"Today... something I can finish in two meals..."

I didn't want to keep fridge-hoarding like it was a raid boss.

Using my tail to swipe through categories, I carefully picked a menu.

Noodles like jjajangmyeon or jjamppong are hard to save, so nope.

A burger? I could probably force down one if I tried.

Nah... hold off for now.

"Rice it is."

Rice and sides hold up fine for a day without losing much flavor.

Flipping through Korean food, my tail stopped on one spot.

"This is it."

The glossy red spicy pork photo made my mouth water instantly.

This should let me eat more than chicken, at least.

Without hesitation, I ordered the single-serving spicy pork set.

Ding-dong.

"It's here!"

Moments later, when delivery arrived, I bolted up from bed.

I opened the door, peeked to make sure no one was nearby, grabbed the bag, and hustled inside.

Even unopened, the vibrating savory aroma had my tail wagging wildly with excitement.

I quickly set the spicy pork on the table.

Unwrap the plastic, and a spicy-sweet smoky scent whooshed past my nose.

"Hyah... this smell."

Thin pork slices coated in vibrant red sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

I ripped open wooden chopsticks, piled on a huge scoop of pork, and shoved it straight in.

"Hahb... nyam."

Spicy pepper kick exploding in my mouth, fiery smokiness.

Chewy meat, fatty bliss from the bits of fat, all wrapped in sweet-spicy sauce coating my tongue.

"Grr... so damn good!"

I could feel the happiest grin spreading across my face.

My tail swished rapidly.

When the meat felt a tad salty, I crammed in a huge mouthful of glossy white rice.

Savory pork meeting fluffy grains—dopamine overload.

"...So good..."

I alternated meat and rice mindlessly.

Going down easy today.

"Huh...? Stomach's not full yet?"

I gently rubbed my belly.

Already past two chicken legs' worth, but I could eat more.

"Nice... pork and I get along."

Praying to my resilient gut, I went bold.

Spread a lettuce leaf wide on my palm.

A bit of rice, heap of pork, dab of ssamjang on garlic.

Wrap it round, stretch my mouth max, cram it in.

"Oob... nyam."

Cheeks ballooned like a chipmunk.

Bigger than expected—felt like my jaw might crack—but every chew unleashed layered flavors, smile inevitable.

"Tasty..."

And with that, I set down the chopsticks.

...Still, ate a lot today.

Leaning back in my chair, I eyed the leftovers.

Half bowl rice, half the pork.

"Can't eat more..."

Staring at the remains, I felt quietly proud.

At this rate... full single serving soon.

Rice is best for building volume... Korean food for a while.

Satisfied, I patted my belly and cleaned the table spotless.

Putting off cleanup makes it worse.

Stashed leftover pork and rice in airtight containers in the fridge.

Lunch or dinner today, finish it.

Dishes done, back to bed, leaning against the wall.

Digest while scrolling NewTube shorts on my phone—full of junk info, time flew.

Shifting positions, one news video caught my eye.

The anchor in the video had a super grave expression, yapping away.

"Currently... one of America's S-rank hunters has suffered... a critical injury along with..."

I skimmed past, getting the gist.

"Whoa... even S-ranks get wrecked like that..."

Swiped to the next before the anchor finished.

While rolling around glued to NewTube, my phone suddenly rang.

Caller ID blared: Cha Eunwol Guild Leader.

"Why's she calling outta nowhere?"

No reason she'd contact me.

Tilting my head, I hit accept.

"Yes, Guild Leader? What's up..."

"Ack... you scared me!"

The second I picked up, her voice blasted through the speaker, nearly making me yeet my phone.

"Ah, why are you yelling?! My ears hurt!"

Her voice dripped with bafflement and a hint of rage, making me shrink instinctively.

"Huh? Cheon Yura Guild Leader...?"

How'd she know I met Yura...?

As I shot back innocently aggrieved, Cha Eunwol let out a deep, earth-shaking sigh.

"A wreath? Like for grand openings?"

Sent a wreath...? What?

It was Korean, but I wasn't getting it.

"Uh... isn't that good...? It's a gift, at least..."

Cha Eunwol sounded like she was clutching her neck, gasping as she yelled.

"Yes...?"

Yesterday... I said let's get along, and this is her response?

I clutched my spinning head.

Why... are all S-ranks so utterly unhinged...