Ren glanced around, to the left, then to the right. The hunting field was far more crowded than he had expected. At first, he had assumed most players would stick to the northern area of this floor, where the terrain was flat and monsters weaker.
But clearly, he had been wrong.
Before him, small groups of players spread across the plains, their shouts and the clash of weapons blending with the wind.
They fought sleek-haired wild bulls, forest wolves, and massive boars as if it were an everyday chore.
Ren squinted, his gaze distant.
He wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light or his imagination, but a strange feeling flickered through his mind. In the higher floors he had been to, he had almost never seen such crowds.
Perhaps most players chose the safe path, hunting in easy areas, following guided quests, moving in large groups. Ren was different.
He had never been good at staying in one place.
Like a deeply ingrained habit, whenever he saw an unexplored path, he stepped forward.
"Ren! What are you thinking? Come help me set up this stove!" Hina's voice rang out from behind, startling him from his thoughts.
"Stove…?" He spun around, just catching sight of Hina fumbling among a pile of strange equipment scattered on the grass.
Before he could ask further, Ren hurried over, grabbing the grilling racks and cast iron pot she was pulling out. He helped her line them neatly around the temporary campfire, still unclear about what was happening.
Then Ren froze.
Because Hina… had not stopped.
One by one, she pulled from her inventory knives, pans, cutting boards, spice containers, ladles, spoons, even a small embroidered kitchen towel. It looked as if she were recreating an entire mini-kitchen outdoors.
'Is she… opening a restaurant?' Ren thought silently, his eyes shifting from surprise to bewilderment.
But it didn't end there, Rowa joined in. He pulled from his inventory a set of cleavers, a folding wooden table, and several detachable wooden chairs, arranging them carefully as if this were a picnic planned a week in advance.
Ren stood and watched everything, completely silent for a few seconds.
Finally, he exhaled, frowning, his voice a mix of suspicion and helplessness: "Wait… what exactly are you two planning to do?"
Both of them looked up at once, tilting their heads at him as if he had asked the most obvious question in the world.
"Isn't it obvious? Cooking," they answered in unison, their tones synchronized to the point of absurdity.
Ren stood frozen. A light breeze swept by, tangling strands of his hair, while Hina began to light the fire and Rowa took out a large knife to sharpen on stone.
Watching the scene, he felt as though he had accidentally stumbled into an armed picnic.
"We'll cook right here," Rowa said, his voice deep and steady, as he gently ran his fingers over the gleaming blade.
Without hesitation, he placed pieces of Wild Tuskar meat on a wooden cutting board, his movements astonishingly practiced.
The knife swung, metal meeting flesh with a soft clang, neatly separating fat and sinew without hesitation.
"That's right," Hina added, still busy arranging utensils and spices, her voice focused but with a hint of delight, "it's rare to cook outdoors like this. You're not planning to skip lunch, are you, Ren?"
Ren stood frozen, as if the sky had fallen above him, his eyes scanning the pile of cooking tools, the pink-red meat, and the small fire beginning to catch.
He let out a soft breath. "…No, but I didn't think 'lunch' would involve setting up an entire kitchen in the hunting field."
Hina laughed, Rowa just shrugged. The fire crackled, thin smoke rising with the wind, the smell of roasting meat beginning to spread across the grassy plains.
"I found quite a few interesting things around here," Rowa said as he returned, still wearing a satisfied smile.
After preparing the meat and seasoning it, he had disappeared into the nearby forest for a while, now returning with a wooden basket brimming full. He placed it in the center for the three of them.
Inside were bright red berries glistening in the sun, mixed with small forest mushrooms of various shapes, some white as milk, some silver-gray, and a few glossy dark brown ones.
Ren leaned down to look, frowning slightly. He recognized a few of them from a previous ingredient-gathering quest.
He was certain they were edible, but… remembering their names was another matter. To Ren, they all simply tasted "like mushrooms."
As if reading that thought in his eyes, Rowa smiled, arranging the ingredients on a board while explaining.
"These berries can be used for dessert or made into a sauce for grilled meat. As for the mushrooms…" He lifted a small one, his voice tinged with excitement, "they're the soul of the dish. Each type has its own texture, aroma, and flavor. Some smell smoky, others rich and slightly sweet."
Raising his gaze, Rowa's eyes sparkled, "When grilled with meat… they create the perfect umami. Trust me, Ren… you'll want to try this."
Ren looked at him, then gave a faint smile, half curious, half resigned. "You really take eating seriously, don't you."
Rowa chuckled softly, not replying immediately, only glancing at Hina with a confident look. "Then today, I'll take the main cooking role, is that alright?"
Hina brushed her hair aside and replied lightly, with a teasing tone, "Sure. After all, you are the master of grilling. I'll handle the sauces."
Ren quietly observed the two of them, a fleeting feeling passing through him as if he had stepped into a picnic rather than a hunting trip. The atmosphere was unusually peaceful, the smell of smoke, the sound of knives striking cutting boards, and their casual chatter blending together, making him unconsciously smile.
'Is this what Klein and the others meant by a picnic?' Ren thought idly.
The fire began to catch, a few sparks leaping up before vanishing into the wind. Rowa leaned over to check the grill, his eyes reflecting orange from the flames.
The sizzle of fat dripping from the Wild Tuskar meat onto the hot coals popped repeatedly, spreading a tantalizing aroma that seemed to fill the air with the sweet, rich scent of roasted meat.
"Keep the heat at this level...it's perfect," Rowa said, his voice tinged with the pride of a craftsman.
He gently flipped each piece of meat, the surface seared just right, the interior gradually turning a soft pink. "Even a few seconds too long, and it ruins the whole effort."
Hina stirred the sauce in a small pot, a mix of thinly sliced mushrooms, apple wine, and the red berries Rowa had collected earlier. The mild sweetness mingled with the smoky aroma, spreading across the grassy field.
Ren sat to the side, resting his hands on his knees, silently watching.
Perhaps for the first time in weeks… he didn't need to hold a sword. And he could truly enjoy a camping experience.
"…I've never felt an atmosphere like this before," he muttered, his hoarse voice slightly choked by the smoke.
Rowa chuckled softly. "That's right. Don't forget, this game is meant to be enjoyed, not just survived."
Ren didn't reply, only watching the fire slow its burn, then realizing that perhaps, amidst arduous journeys, the greatest luxury wasn't rare gear or items, but a warm meal shared with others.
Finally, the meal was ready.
The aroma wafted through the grass, a mixture of seared meat, sweet-and-sour fruit sauce, and the faint scent of mushrooms mingling in the smoke. Ren just sat quietly, watching, the firelight casting warm orange hues across all three of them in a strangely comforting glow.
"Done. Allow me to present… Rowa's Campfire Feast!"
Rowa stood, holding a skewer of meat still steaming hot, lifting it proudly as if he were a true chef.
Hina giggled, while Ren merely raised an eyebrow. "The name sounds impressive."
"Of course. A skilled chef must know how to name things memorably," Rowa replied, taking a bite.
A soft "sizzle" echoed as the fat melted, the sweet-and-salty flavor spreading across his palate. Hina also tasted it, her eyes lighting up. "Delicious…! The meat is tender, the sauce blends perfectly with the mushrooms… just perfect."
Ren remained silent. He took a small bite, chewing slowly, and unconsciously smiled.
Immediately, a series of pale-blue notifications appeared in his view:
[You have consumed Rowa's Campfire Feast.]
[Damage increased by 25 points.]
[Effect lasts 15 minutes.]
Ren jumped, eyes wide, staring at the floating text before glancing down at the skewer in his hand.
"You saw it too, right, Ren!?" Rowa almost shouted, his face radiant like a child discovering treasure.
He held the skewer high, voice trembling with excitement: "I… I did it! I just created a meal that can buff stats! I only mixed some mushrooms and berries…"
His words burst out in joy. Even Hina's mouth fell open, half surprised, half admiring.
Ren merely exhaled softly, a smile still lingering at the corner of his lips.
"Excuse us, but… could we try that dish?"
A voice called from the other side of the field, breaking the peaceful atmosphere of their small meal.
Ren, Rowa, and Hina looked up.
A group of four players approached, two men, two women.
The one speaking was a young man with a spear, about Ren's age, wearing brown leather armor darkened by road dust. He didn't look threatening, only a little awkward, unsure if what he was about to say was too forward.
"Ah, sorry to bother you…" he said with a forced smile, scratching the back of his neck. "Could we… buy that dish? Just one portion is fine. We'll pay."
He paused mid-sentence, eyes flickering, clearly afraid of being refused.
The smell of roasting meat still lingered, making the three companions behind him, quietly swallowing, look even more embarrassed.
Ren glanced at Rowa, who still held his skewer, his eyes shining with unspent excitement.
Both of them looked toward Hina, seemingly waiting for her decision. Finally, she shot Rowa a glance; after all, he had made the dish. The choice was his.
After a few seconds of silence, Rowa laughed, holding out his hand generously.
"Alright! If you really want to try it," he said, glancing at the skewer in his hand, "consider this the grand opening of Rowa's Campfire Feast."
The players looked at each other, surprised and delighted. They quickly sat around the fire, exchanging a few Cor for the golden-brown grilled meat.
The rich aroma rose, drawing glances even from those further away.
Within minutes, whispers spread across the hunting field:
"Hey, I heard there's a grilled dish that restores stats!"
"No, not just restores, it buffs damage too! Really!"
"Where is it!? Near the southern tree base!"
And so, groups of players began gathering around their campfire. Some pushed forward to buy, others just watched in curiosity. The previously quiet midday space now buzzed like a lively field market.