Morning came with a vengeance.
The sun's rays shot through the cracks in the window like arrows, stabbing Ethan right in the face.
He groaned and pulled the thin blanket over his head. "Just five more minutes…"
> [Warning: Kitchen Hygiene Level – DANGEROUS.]
[Immediate cleaning required to avoid health penalties.]
Ethan sighed. "Alright, alright, I'm up, you nagging piece of code."
He swung his legs off the bed and looked around the room. The place was still a mess—dusty floors, peeling paint, and an old chair that looked ready to collapse under its own sadness.
But somehow, the inn didn't feel as lifeless as before. Maybe it was the faint aroma still lingering from last night's potato rice. Or maybe… it was hope.
He hadn't felt that in years.
---
He opened the golden chest from last night again. The kitchen knife inside gleamed faintly in the morning light, almost humming with energy. The wooden cutting board beside it was engraved with delicate patterns of vines and fire.
> [Item: Beginner Chef's Knife]
Rarity: Common → Upgradable
Effect: +5% Cutting Speed | +3% Precision | Bound to Host]
Ethan whistled. "So this is what an enchanted knife looks like. Not bad for a freebie."
He grabbed the handle—it was perfectly balanced. Smooth, solid, like an extension of his arm. He gave it a small spin and smiled. "Feels good to hold a real knife again."
A new blue window popped open.
> [New Skill Unlocked: Knife Precision Lv.1]
Effect: Increases cutting accuracy. Reduces ingredient waste.]
Ethan blinked. "Wait, I just held it and got a skill?"
> [Cooking is an art, Host. The System rewards passion.]
He chuckled. "Then keep rewarding me. I plan to be very passionate."
---
He entered the kitchen. It still looked miserable, but compared to yesterday, it was alive. The stove actually lit without smoke choking him. The air smelled faintly of wood and spice.
> [New Quest: Prepare a Breakfast Menu for 5 Customers.]
[Reward: Kitchen Upgrade Token + Ingredient Crate.]
[Time Limit: 2 hours.]
"Five customers? There's not even one here yet!" Ethan groaned. "How am I supposed to—"
The front door creaked open.
In stumbled three figures: a swordsman, a mage in tattered robes, and a short girl carrying a crossbow half her size. Their clothes were covered in dirt, armor cracked, eyes sunken.
"Excuse me," the swordsman said, voice weak. "Is this the… Crescent Moon Inn?"
Ethan blinked. "You're looking at it."
The mage squinted around the shabby interior. "Looks… abandoned."
"Formerly abandoned," Ethan corrected. "Now open under new management."
The crossbow girl sniffed the air. "Wait—something smells good."
Ethan smiled. "You're just in time for breakfast."
---
He rushed into the kitchen, the trio waiting expectantly outside.
"Five customers, huh?" Ethan muttered. "Three adventurers, one starving chef, and one invisible system voice. That makes five."
> [Counting yourself doesn't count, Host.]
"Buzzkill," Ethan said, cracking his knuckles.
He unrolled one of the parchment recipes from last night:
Traveler's Omelet.
The recipe glowed faintly with golden runes.
> Ingredients:
2 Eggs
Diced vegetables
Salt
Optional: Cheese or herbs
He opened the supply shelf—and to his shock, there were fresh ingredients inside. Eggs, onions, carrots, and even a pinch of salt.
> [Auto-Restock: Recipes provide basic ingredients for initial use.]
Ethan grinned. "Now that's what I call customer support."
He cracked the eggs into a wooden bowl. The yolks gleamed golden, thicker than any he'd seen on Earth. He whisked them with quick, confident strokes, diced vegetables with clean, crisp precision.
Chop. Chop. Chop.
The enchanted knife sang through the air, slicing with supernatural grace. Each cut was smooth and perfect, vegetables lined up like soldiers.
> [Knife Precision Lv.1 Activated.]
[Ingredient Quality Bonus: +10%]
Ethan smirked. "Feels good to be back."
The sizzling of oil filled the kitchen as he poured the mixture into a pan. The aroma that followed was unreal—rich, buttery, slightly sweet from the vegetables.
Outside, the adventurers began whispering.
"...Is that an omelet?"
"Smells too good for a place like this."
"Do you think it's safe to eat?"
Ethan plated the omelet carefully, folding it over with a flick of his wrist, golden and fluffy, then garnished it with herbs that had appeared in the supply box.
"Order up!" he called.
The trio approached the counter cautiously. The swordsman took a bite first.
He froze.
Then his eyes widened.
"This… this tastes like magic."
The mage snatched a forkful. "No way—how is this so soft?! I can feel my mana recovering!"
The girl's expression softened into a smile. "It's warm… like home."
Ethan couldn't help but grin. "Glad you like it."
> [Quest Complete!]
[Reward: Kitchen Upgrade Token + Ingredient Crate Received.]
[Reputation +3 | Inn Rank: E → D-]
[Skill Progress: Knife Precision Lv.1 → Lv.2 (45%)]
A burst of golden light filled the kitchen as a token appeared in his hand. The moment he held it, the entire kitchen shimmered. The cracked counters straightened. The fire pit transformed into a clean iron stove. The shelves refilled with spices and utensils.
> [Kitchen Upgraded: Tier 0 → Tier 1.]
Ethan stared in awe. "Now that's what I call an upgrade."
---
By noon, word had spread. The three adventurers couldn't stop talking about "the miracle breakfast at the Crescent Moon Inn."
Soon, a pair of merchants arrived, followed by a curious villager.
The inn that had been silent for months was suddenly filled with chatter and the clinking of plates.
Ethan worked nonstop, cooking omelets, soups, and roasted bread. Each satisfied smile, each coin on the counter—it was addictive. He hadn't felt this alive since his first year as a chef back on Earth.
But in the midst of the noise, a shadow appeared at the door.
A tall man in black leather armor leaned against the frame, arms crossed, watching quietly. His gaze was sharp, calculating.
Ethan noticed him instantly. "Welcome to the Crescent Moon Inn! You hungry?"
The man didn't answer right away. He stepped forward, eyes scanning the crowd. "You're the new owner?"
"That's right," Ethan said, drying his hands on a towel. "Name's Ethan."
The man smirked faintly. "Funny. The last owner, Owen Crestfall, owed money to a lot of people. Including me."
The room fell silent. The adventurers glanced nervously between the two men.
Ethan frowned. "Let me guess—you're not here for breakfast."
The man dropped a small pouch of coins on the counter with a heavy thud. "You pay what's owed… or I start taking things that can pay."
Ethan's eyes flicked to the pouch. Then he smiled calmly. "You could do that… or you could try my cooking first. One dish. If you still want to collect after that, I'll pay in full."
The man raised an eyebrow. "You think a meal can buy my patience?"
Ethan leaned forward, confidence radiating from his grin. "No. I think it'll change your mind."
> [New Quest: Impress the Debt Collector.]
[Difficulty: C-Rank.]
[Reward: Recipe Unlock – "Golden Spirit Fried Rice."]
Ethan tightened his grip on the knife.
The kitchen fire roared to life.
"Alright," he said softly, eyes glinting. "Let's see if this world's ready for fried rice."
To be continued...