"Nn... morning already?"
The sun's rays hit my face, pulling me from sleep. I slowly sat up and looked at my hands.
"So, it wasn't a dream."
Seeing the body of my Yggdrasil avatar—Chef Kawasaki the Cookman—I had to accept that yesterday's events were real.
"Still, I never knew the sun could be this beautiful."
Basking in the warmth, I realized I had never seen a blue sky this clear back in the Arcology. I might have turned into a Cookman, but I had a bottomless supply of fresh ingredients and beautiful nature all around me. All things considered, this wasn't a bad life.
"And she... has zero awareness that she's a woman, does she?"
The lady I'd shared a meal with last night had kicked her blanket away and was currently scratching her stomach in her sleep. For such a beauty, her sleeping habits were a disaster. I sighed and draped the blanket back over her.
"Time to get breakfast started."
No matter what happens, food comes first. You have to eat to survive. If you want to live, eat. That was my golden rule.
"Now, what should I make?"
My item box was packed with ingredients. I briefly considered a traditional Japanese breakfast—white rice, pickles, miso soup, and grilled fish—but...
"Nah, probably not."
Thinking of her, a Western-style breakfast made more sense. Soup and bread. That was the safest bet. I moved a little further away so I wouldn't wake her and began my preparations.
"What kind of soup...?"
I closed my eyes and searched the item box. This was a chance to cook things I only knew from textbooks. It was more fun to reach in and see what I grabbed than to search for something specific.
"Alright, this is the one."
My hand brushed against an ingredient, and I pulled it out. It was long, wrapped in green husks...
"Corn, huh? It's huge."
The corn I knew back home was shriveled and tiny, but this was massive and heavy. This must be what real corn looked like. I decided then and there: corn soup.
"I'll need a pot... and a blender. A blender, a blender..."
I pulled a blender from the item box, but I paused.
"Is this thing safe?"
It was oversized and looked slightly ominous, but it was labeled as a blender. It would probably be fine. Probably. I gathered the rest: salt, pepper, milk, onions, and bouillon cubes.
Since I had a specialized cooking class, my Yggdrasil ingredient database was incredibly diverse. I pulled out a frying pan, washed my hands with the Pitcher of Endless Water, and began.
"First, peel the onion and slice it thin."
Even though I'd eventually pulverize it, I needed to sauté it first. I tossed the slices into the pan with some butter. Next, I husked the corn and scraped the kernels off with a spoon.
"Wow, this is easy."
In my real body, scraping raw corn kernels was a tedious chore, but with the strength of a Cookman, it was effortless. I stripped three ears of corn and added them to the pan with the onions.
"Fire!"
I used the low-tier spell to light the kindling. I almost started sautéing, but I stopped myself.
"Wait, wait. Gotta dissolve the bouillon first."
I grabbed a cup, tossed in the cube with a bit of water, and let it melt.
"There we go."
Now the bouillon would be ready by the time the onions and corn were done. I sautéed them carefully, making sure they didn't burn. Once the onions turned translucent, I coated everything in butter.
"And... now."
I poured more water from the Pitcher of Endless Water into the pan, added the bouillon, and let it simmer for about three minutes.
"Magic really is a lifesaver."
Normally, you'd have to wait for the mixture to cool down naturally, but I used a spell to chill it instantly before pouring it into the blender. The corn and onions were turned to a smooth paste in a split second. I couldn't help but grin at the efficiency.
"Finally, add the milk... and season with salt and pepper."
I transferred the paste back to the pot, added the milk to thin it into a proper soup, and heated it gently, making sure it didn't reach a boil. I took a taste. The savory depth of the bouillon mixed with the natural sweetness of the corn and onions flooded my mouth.
"Yeah, that's the stuff."
The sweetness was incredible. I put the lid on the pot and spoke over my shoulder.
"Morning. Breakfast is almost ready. You joining?"
"How... how do you always know?"
I chuckled at the woman who had been trying to sneak up on me. "Trade secret," I said. I reached back into the item box for bread and bacon.
***
Clementine woke as the sun hit her face and immediately sprang into a crouch, scanning her surroundings.
"He's gone..."
The strange being called Kawasaki—she still wasn't sure if he was a monster or a demi-human—was nowhere to be seen. However, she heard the sound of frying nearby. He must have moved away so the noise wouldn't wake her.
"What a weird monster... or is he a demi-human?"
The distinction mattered, but regardless, he was strange. More importantly, her body felt light. Power was surging through her.
"Hah!"
She drew a stiletto and performed a familiar thrust.
"It's... completely different..."
The way she cut through the air, the speed of her footwork—everything had changed. She felt like a different person compared to yesterday.
If I can get this much stronger just by eating...
She had been planning to flee the Theocracy and join the cult of Zurrernorn, but perhaps staying with Kawasaki was a better path. If she could gain this much power without grueling training, the benefits far outweighed going back to the Theocracy or joining the cult. The means to kill that hateful man were right here.
I have to make sure Kawasaki sees me as valuable.
Staying with him would bring her closer to her goals. She had thought her mission was a curse, but now it felt like a blessing. She needed to find out what he wanted and then convince him to let her follow. Nigun was missing; it wouldn't be strange if she "disappeared" too. She wasn't being watched yet, as she hadn't reached her first checkpoint.
She began walking toward the smell of the food.
"Morning. Breakfast is almost ready. You joining?"
"How do you always know?" she asked, surprised that he'd noticed her even while humming and cooking. He claimed it was a trade secret, but she suspected a high-tier detection item.
"Just sit and wait. It's almost done."
He really did act remarkably human for a monster. She sat down nearby and watched him.
"Fufufu~n."
Kawasaki pulled a loaf of high-quality bread out of thin air and sliced four thick pieces. She had seen it yesterday, but was this his innate ability? He placed the bread on the iron griddle to toast, then reached into the void again and pulled out something incredible.
"Wait! Kawasaki, what is that?!"
She stared at the basket of golden, shimmering eggs and screamed. She had never seen eggs made of gold. After a full day, she finally began to truly wonder: What is he?
"These? These are Golden Hen's Eggs. They're made of gold, so they're worth a lot as currency... but if you eat them, they boost your physical abilities. You can wash the shells and trade them for cash later."
He kept producing impossible ingredients one after another, all while humming as he fried thick-cut bacon and the golden eggs. A single word from the lore of the Slane Theocracy flashed through her mind: Player.
"Um... Kawasaki... are you...?"
She tried to ask, but he cut her off.
"Talk later, food first. We eat, then we talk. If you want to live, eat. That's the rule."
She wanted to ask if he was a God, but she couldn't argue with his logic. She settled in for breakfast.
"Here you go. Special corn soup and golden egg bacon-egg toast."
It looked like a simple meal, something you could get even in the Theocracy—if you ignored the fact that the eggs were literally glowing gold.
It's... it's radiant.
The white and the yolk both shimmered with a golden light. Yesterday she'd thought he was just a weird monster, but no mere monster possessed ingredients like this. Kawasaki... no, Lord Kawasaki was surely a Player.
"Eat while it's hot. Toast and soup are best fresh."
At his urging, she bit into the toast and her eyes went wide. Despite the appearance, the golden egg was creamy and incredibly rich. It was more than just delicious.
The more I eat, the more vitality fills my body!
It felt like she was being showered in buff magic. But it wasn't just physical. Her heart felt full too. It was a kind, gentle flavor.
"I was worried since I made this from scratch, but it's not bad. How's the bacon?"
"It's amazing! Seriously delicious!"
He laughed, mentioning he was worried because it was "handmade." He wasn't human, but he possessed a wrapping, protective kindness. He was giving her everything she had ever wanted.
"And this soup? I've never seen anything this yellow...?"
"It's cream of corn. You know corn, right?"
She knew the vegetable, but she couldn't fathom how it became this liquid. It was too smooth, too perfect.
"It's so sweet and good..."
She lacked the words. It was sweet, but deep. The bread was the best she had ever tasted—far superior to the rations given to the elite Black Scripture. The bacon was thick, smoky, and fatty.
"Delicious..."
She realized she'd been saying that since yesterday, but no other word fit.
"I'm glad you like it."
He looked at her with a gentle gaze—the kind of look her parents had only ever given her hateful brother. That look convinced her. He wasn't a monster. He was a Player.
"I am Clementine, the Ninth Seat of the Black Scripture of the Slane Theocracy. My epithet is 'Wind Stride.'"
"Oh... okay..."
I was taken aback by her sudden, formal self-introduction after the meal.
"Lord Kawasaki... are you a 'Player'?"
When I heard the word Player, I flinched. She nodded as if confirming a suspicion.
"So you are a God. Thank you for your blessings."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! God?! What are you talking about?"
I admitted to being a player, but I didn't want the "Lord" or the "God" title. I asked her to explain, and she told me everything—about the Slane Theocracy and the surrounding nations.
"For real? There were other players here...?"
"Yes. The Slane Theocracy was founded six hundred years ago by the Six Great Gods."
Six hundred years? That didn't make sense. Yggdrasil hadn't existed back then. There must be a time dilation between the real world and this one.
"So... the Six Great Gods... and the Thirteen Heroes..."
"And the Eight Greed Kings, who slew the God of Death, Surshana. They were all Players."
Eight Greed Kings... probably a guild of heteromorph hunters, I thought. The information was overwhelming. If a country was built by players, it might be a good base of operations, but then Clementine's expression darkened.
"My country currently advocates for 'Heteromorph Hunting'... even if you are a Player... I don't know what they would do to you."
"Heteromorph hunting? Why?"
She explained that the leadership believed it was the only way for humanity to survive.
"Ugh... that's disgusting."
"I am truly sorry."
"No, I'm not mad at you, Clementine."
But still, heteromorph hunters? Momonga and I had both been targeted by people like that in the game. I couldn't trust the Slane Theocracy. In fact, they were likely my enemies.
"Are you going to report me?"
"Never! I am tired of the Theocracy. But as long as I am in the Black Scripture, I must follow orders... I was looking for a chance to desert when I met you. I consider myself lucky. If I'm not a burden... please, let me go with you."
She wanted to desert. She probably knew too many of the country's dark secrets to ever be allowed to leave peacefully.
"If you're okay with it, I'd actually appreciate the help. I don't know the roads or the countries. I have my own goal—I'm looking for a friend and benefactor named Momonga. If you'll help me find him, you're more than welcome."
"Then, Lord Kawasaki... from this moment on, may I consider myself your subordinate?"
"Let's go with 'companions' instead. And please, drop the 'Lord' and the formal speech. I'm not anyone special. Just a chef."
Being treated like a god made my skin crawl. Clementine gave me a mischievous, playful grin.
"Kawasaki... is this better?"
Her tone had completely shifted to something bright and casual. I gave her a thumbs-up.
"So, the nearby countries are the Baharuth Empire and the Elf Kingdom... right?"
"And the Re-Estize Kingdom and the Argland Council State. We're currently on the outskirts of Re-Estize. Carne Village is nearby."
I wanted to avoid the Theocracy. The Empire's ruler was called the "Bloody Emperor," which sounded like bad news. The Argland Council State was full of demi-humans, but...
"The Dragon Lords there hate Players, so they might not listen to us..."
"This world is a mess, isn't it?"
Everywhere I looked, there were "heteromorph hunters" or their equivalents. You'd think a place full of demi-humans would be the best base, but it was the most dangerous.
"Should we head to Carne Village? It's a long walk, but from there we can reach the fortress city of E-Rantel. There's more info there, though... they might not let a demi-human inside. Carne is small, so you might have better luck."
Both had pros and cons. Being turned away at the gates of E-Rantel would be a waste of time. I needed a place to organize my item box anyway; it was so full of food that finding other items was a nightmare.
"Let's make Carne Village our destination. We'll decide what to do once we're there."
Since I was a Cookman, I couldn't use Fly or other travel spells. I hoped I could rent a carriage in the village. I had Yggdrasil gold; hopefully, they'd accept it.
"By the way... does this Momonga... look like you?"
As we started walking, I realized I hadn't described him. How could she help if she didn't know who to look for?
How do I explain an 'Overlord' to someone in this world?
"I'll tell you once we get to the village," I said, procrastinating. Maybe I'd think of a good way to put it by then.
"OK~ let's go! It's about a half-day walk."
A half-day... I looked down at my stubby Cookman legs. How many steps was that going to be? I slumped my shoulders, but seeing Clementine smiling—as if a great weight had been lifted from her—I started walking into the deep forest.
Menu 3: Hearty Tonjiru (Pork and Vegetable Miso Soup)