---
Prologue: The Last Recipe
The kitchen felt too quiet without her grandmother's humming.
A single warm light glowed above the counter where Kleila stood, her hands resting on an old, leather-bound recipe book—worn, stained, and precious. It was the last gift her grandmother had left behind. The cover was cracked, the corners softened by years of use, and when Kleila opened it, a familiar scent of herbs and aged paper wrapped around her heart.
Her eyes landed on a handwritten recipe.
"Grandma's Heartwarming Stew."
A simple dish, but one filled with memories—of laughter, of warmth, of love.
She swallowed hard.
"Let's make it one last time… together," she whispered.
Step 1: Prepare the base.
Kleila chopped onions with shaky hands. Each slice blurred behind the tears she refused to shed. The kitchen filled with the sweet, sharp scent of onions and nostalgia.
Step 2: Sauté with patience.
She heated the pan, added oil, and listened to the soft sizzle as the onions turned golden.
"Don't rush, Kleila," her grandmother's voice echoed in her memory.
"Food tastes your heart. Cook with calm, not fear."
Tonight, though, her heart was anything but calm.
Step 3: Add broth. Let it simmer.
She poured in the broth, and steam rose like a gentle fog.
She stirred slowly, the wooden spoon her grandmother carved for her gliding along the pot.
Step 4: Season with love.
Salt. Pepper. A pinch of dried basil.
The same way Grandma always did.
Her tears finally fell.
"This is my… last recipe for you," she choked out.
She lifted a spoonful to taste—
Warm. Familiar. Soft.
It tasted like home… for the last time.
But the peaceful moment shattered instantly.
BANG.
The front door crashed open.
Kleila froze. Her spoon clattered onto the floor.
Footsteps thundered in—heavy, violent.
Men in dark clothes.
The same ones who had been following her the past week.
The ones who thought she saw something she shouldn't have.
"Found her," one growled.
"Don't let her escape this time."
Her blood ran cold.
Without another thought, she grabbed the recipe book, shoved it into her bag, and sprinted toward the back window. The stew simmered behind her, forgotten. She could hear their boots pounding closer.
She forced the window open and squeezed out just as a thug lunged for her.
"GET BACK HERE!"
She hit the alley ground hard but scrambled to her feet.
Her hands fumbled for her phone—
"9…1…1… please—someone—!"
But she had no time to finish.
Footsteps. Shouts. Closing in.
She ran.
Through the rain-drenched alleyway.
Past flickering street lamps.
Heart screaming in her chest.
She burst onto the main road—
Just in time to see blinding headlights.
A truck.
Skidding.
Swerving.
Out of control.
She tried to step back—
But her foot slipped.
The impact was instant.
Cold.
Final.
Her body hit the pavement, her senses fading.
The world's noise melted into silence.
She lay there, breath slipping away, raindrops tapping her cheeks like gentle fingers.
"…Grandma… I tried…"
Her eyes closed.
Darkness swallowed her.
---
But death was not the end.
A soft chime echoed in the void.
Ding!
Initializing…
[Chef's System Online]
Warm light enveloped her like a warm kitchen after a long day.
Skill unlocked:
[Infinite Ingredient Storage]
[Recipe Archive Transfer]
[Ingredient Appraisal]
Special Title Granted: Grandma's Successor
Another soft chime.
Transferring soul to new world…
Please cook sincerely.
Please grow strong.
Please live happily.
Her vision brightened.
She opened her eyes.
A blue sky stretched above.
Strange creatures grazed in a meadow.
And a floating menu hovered in front of her, glowing softly.
Welcome, Chef Kleila.
Your new adventure begins now.
---