The Eleventh Calls For Us To Wait

I really don't understand. They talk as if climbing the Tower is easy...oh. Right. They have already done it, why would it be hard to do it again?

But, I am here in the kitchen. Hi. Hello. It's time for Cooking with Ardin! No, seriously. Why are all these big shots still here?

"You need ingredients? Try these."

"Take mine as well!"

"I want something delicious with these."

[Steak]

[Beef]

[Milk]

[Cheese]

[Butter]

[Orange]

[Lemon]

[Lime]

[Coconut]

[Pineapple]

[Crab]

[Fish]

[Shrimp]

[Alligator]

[Oyster]

What am I supposed to do with all of these?! I have to give some of them back. I only plan on making certain things. If I have too much variety, I may contaminate the food.

[You have strengthened your Second Creed!]

[Treating the ingredients correctly and safely is key!]

[Stats are increased by 5 for 15 minutes!]

Hah...whatever. For now, I shall make burgers. Simple hamburgers. Browning the meat is simple, but adding seasoning to it brings out a lot of the flavor. Now then, while that is cooking, let us take a look at the toppings.

Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions...oh, I don't have pickles. Drat. Nor do I have ketchup, mayo, or mustard. Those are like the most important part of a burger!

Oh well...

I guess I just make it by hand. We have alcohol, so maybe that is good. However...the cider they sell here is rather...

Bad. If I want to make my own, I will need to brew it nearly 2 months in advance. And even then, to get the desired flavor, I would need to spend several more months experimenting.

So I guess...never mind on the condiments. Those all require so much stuff to mix together. For now, a nice juicy burger will be good, even if it is a little bland.

Now then, it seems it is time to make the bread. It is probably going to be a little off, but at least Jim has some yeast.

Jim has an entire cabinet of alcohol. Apparently it was made by a Brewer player from before the fighting, and he kept that player's stuff as a memento.

The yeast causes the bread to rise, so I can probably use this in other things like my pastries if I so need to.

The part about this requires flour, the yeast, sugar (or honey in this case), water, and salt. If I had vinegar, this would go faster, but I should be fine.

Mixing it all up, I occasionally heat up the dough to get the yeast to start working its magic. Getting my Dutch Oven Lars made for me, I placed a ball of it inside and began heating it up from all sides.

Back to the meat, I stirred it up and added my onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stirring it and making sure no large clumps remained, I made sure to brown the meat evenly.

The bread cooks quick this way, but it can be a little powdery. I take out the first one and am glad to see that golden brown color. I set it up for the next bun when I notice my mitten has...the magic gems?

"Lars. What are these doing on here?"

"Oh, haha. I made it to where you can get resistances. As it is the only Battle Chef armor I made, I made it the most functional. I guess an Apron is needed, too, huh? Hmm...how am I going to make it battle worthy?"

Ah, I'm going to ignore him. He seems to be saying nonsense. Why would I need to be battle ready when Gary is helping us to the top?

He is going to help us...right?

Ah, my meat! Okay, focus. Now that I can see the meat is all cooked, I drain the grease into a separate pot and add some butter. This will make it creamier.

Still working on the many buns, I started some more. Just focusing on these few things has me all preoccupied. However, now I need to shape the beef. Mixing in some cheese and melting it all together, I roll a ball together and mash it somewhat flat. Then, time to take it to the grill.

To make my grill, Lars must have needed a lot of metal. I place the flat tray on some Solid Stones above the fire outside and then brush some butter onto it with the tools Lars made.

I have to say he made a lot.

Anyways, I place several of these patties onto the grill and make sure they toast well. I don't like grilling too much, as it isn't that healthy, so I did it this way. The cheese will cause the meat to stick together and char up a bit. I only need to cook them for a couple minutes.

As for the bread, they are all coming out nicer than expected. I really hope people enjoy what I make.

[You have created your Third Creed!] [3/3]

[A Chef's job is to cook! And for whom does a Chef cook? For the customers! Pleasing the customers is another important necessity for Chefs! Don't be lazy!]

[You have completed a Class Chain Quest!]

I still need to complete my third Quest...perhaps I should just spend tomorrow making all sorts of meals?

I probably should. And one of the first things I am doing is making a snack for traveling! Chocolate and salty nuts. Jerky and cheese. Actual sandwiches. Yeah, I will make those tomorrow morning, along with an actual breakfast scramble.

Wait, I need to worry about my food.

Well, actually, this is really easy compared to spinning the chicken yesterday. I just mixed it all up and shaped it before toasting it a bit.

Simple.

Now to get the vegetables and put them together.

[You have made Cheesy Burger]

[Stamina +5 for 15 minutes upon consumption]

[Recipes 4/10]

I need to make some bacon, too. Oh, that would be fantastic.

Why does it feel like whenever I get some really good ingredients, I still find more that I need to make actually good food?!

Hmm...I should make some potato chips, I guess. Or fries? Meh, I will make both.

While people are beginning to eat the burgers, I soak some potatoes in a pot and then dry them out. I peel them as well, making sure to keep the skins. Those taste good fried as well, with bacon and cheese.

Mm!

Slicing the potatoes carefully, I make many thin chips. I also chop some others into sticks, but rather thin, as I want them to cook fast. Normally, I would let them sit overnight to dry out, but I feel I can use Fry to adjust the heat and dry them out quicker.

Also, sometimes refrying the fries will work, too. Though, you run the risk of burning the fries. But using all this grease, I wonder if I will ever run out? I do throw away used grease, but all the meat I cook now seems to a lot of grease. Oh well, I guess this means I can Fry more things.

By now, everyone seems to have eaten their burgers and noticed I was still cooking. I drain the grease and dry out the chips and fries, taking a gander at my own creation. Oh, right. I need to add the onion, garlic, and salt.

[Seasoned Potato Sticks]

[+2 Speed for 5 minutes upon consumption]

[Seasoned Potato Crisps]

[+2 Attack for 5 minutes upon consumption]

[Recipes 6/10]

Not bad! I place them both on separate plates and begin to clean up. Oh, I made sure to keep a serving of fries and chips for myself.

Hehehe, and with tomorrow's snacks and breakfast, I should hit my Quest. I just wonder what the fifth part looks like.

"Ardin! Can I have some more?! Please!!!"

And here comes the glutton. Hehe, Drew still looks rather cute to me, but now I don't seem to care all that much about...being with her, you know?

Just thinking about this whole mess just depresses me. And then I went to cook like I did before. It is actually frustrating trying to deal with this constantly shifting focus. It is like my brain is actively trying to not think about anything but living simply while eating good food or playing games.

I guess since I don't get to go home, I just lost interest in living the rest of my life with Drew. I mean...we don't age. I...

I don't know.

"Ardin? Are you okay?"

"No, not really."

"...I'm sorry."

Silly...

"It's not your fault, Drew. You don't have to apologize."

"Oh...well...are you thinking about home, then?"

"...yeah. And you?"

I wonder. I know I said if she wants to talk about it or not, that is up to her, but I won't know if I don't ask.

"...I...I was away from my family for a while. And when I went back home, I just wanted to eat and eat. I was...I was very fat, but...when I came here, I looked like I did before I left for college."

Wait, that is right. Though I am chubby, I don't feel exhausted or in pain like I normally would. It is almost like the time I was still in highschool or something. I mean, I was more active during that time.

I too came back home from college and decided to indulge myself. I stayed in bed playing games or just ate food.

But I think the difference between me and Drew lies in not our personality, but our habits.

At my house, I cooked for everyone. If I was hungry, I cooked. I bet if Drew wanted to eat, she would need to work for her food. But I can't really see her as fat.I mean, she is just so active and bubbly and...well...cute?

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"Ah, Gary. Ardin and I were wondering why my appearance wasn't the same as my last memory."

"Well, that is because this is our peak self. I am actually currently older than I would normally be."

Eh? But Gary looks like he is our age. Are you saying you are underage?

"Does Lars know you're underage?"

"Hush, you silly goose. Or I will chop you up."

"Try me, you fairy."

"Oookay, I see how it is. You get a boyfriend and now you think you are hot stuff. Well listen here, sister, you don't want to catch these hands."

Haha, alright. I think I am tired. I should head to bed soon. Wait...did I hear something...did Gary say Drew had a boyfriend? Who!? Oh...of course. How can a cute girl be single?

I...I think I am going to bed.

>>>><<<<

"You little weasel! Let go of my hair!"

"Apologise for the fairy comment! If anything, I would rather be called a queen!"

"You moron! The only thing you can be is the Dancing Queen!"

"Exactly!"

The two bickered rather refreshingly for the rest of the players to see, but they just drank beer and ate chips. Normally, the Inn was empty of players, but if there was good food like this, perhaps they would come more often.

However, the robed Demon Tamer approached the NPCs, or the Changelings, and took off his hood. He was a black man with a small fuzzy head of hair. He looked young, though he was tall. He spoke to them using his ability to command, Order.

(You guys...as long as you don't get yourselves in trouble, I guess you can interact freely as long as I am here. I need to make sure you won't kill any of the newbies, is all.)

Beth walked up, but Jim was holding her shoulder with a scared expression. However, she smiled at him and turned back to the Demon Tamer.

"We know. But we also know that if anything happens, the one known as Ardin will be the one to protect first. Just to let you know."

"Wait, what?"

"We like to eat, too."

That was all Beth said as she took Jim and sat down at a table with the rest of the Changelings. They altered their appearance and revealed their true selves, to beings of darkness. They appeared to be black solid masses of smoke in human shape.

It would have been scary had they not pulled out a deck of cards and started gambling over the last plate of fries.

They were just as much a part of this city as the players were. Though they could be hunted down like monsters or beasts, they had their own thoughts and personalities. It would seem that these Changelings would also participate if anything were to happen in the city.

Just why was this world so strange?