Challenging to a cook-off

As Hunter studied the menu and waited for the head cook to arrive, the morning sun slowly climbed higher in the sky. However, the kitchen was located deep within the inn and had no windows, so the only indication of the outside world came from the muffled sounds of people and animals passing by on the streets outside.

The air was thick with the fragrant aromas of fresh herbs and vegetables that were neatly arranged on the counter. Hunter marveled at the colorful array of produce before him. He couldn't wait to experiment with them and create something truly spectacular.

With the minutes ticked by, Hunter grew increasingly impatient for the head cook to arrive so they could begin their preparations for the evening's meal. But for now, he contented himself with studying the menu and taking mental notes on the ingredients at his disposal. He was determined to create a meal that would not only impress the Duke's daughter but also earn him the respect and admiration of his kitchen colleagues before poisoning the Duke's daughter, Marina.

Finally, after a few more minutes, Hunter's ears perked up as he heard the heavy footsteps approaching the kitchen. He turned to face the entrance, his heart pounding with anticipation. To his shock, a stout dwarf with a thick beard and piercing blue eyes entered the kitchen, flanked by two half-elves as guards.

The dwarf was dressed in a fine velvet tunic and a matching cap, his belt adorned with an impressive array of cooking utensils. He surveyed the kitchen with a keen eye, his gaze settling on Hunter with a large wooden spoon, which he used to gesture as he spoke.

The dwarf's eyes swept over the kitchen crew, and he fixed his gaze on Hunter. "Who are you?" he demanded in a gruff voice, his hand reaching for the hilt of a small knife at his belt.

Hunter met the dwarf's gaze with a calm and collected expression. "Jason Conroy," he said evenly, his voice unwavering despite the dwarf's intimidating presence. "I'm the helper you hired from the capital."

The dwarf's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to Hunter, towering over him with his stout frame. "And I am the Head Cook," he growled, his voice thick with authority. "The great Dwalin Ironbelly, the culinary magician of this kitchen."

Hunter couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the dwarf's arrogance. But he kept his cool and stood his ground. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Head Cook," he said with a polite nod, though there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

The dwarf's lips twisted into a scowl, but before he could say anything more, the young woman who had led Hunter to the kitchen stepped forward. "We need to get started on the preparations for Lady Marina's dinner," she said in a calm tone, diffusing the tension in the room.

Dwalin Ironbelly grunted in agreement and turned to address the kitchen crew. "Alright, listen up. We have a lot of work to do. Jason, you'll be working under me tonight. I expect you to follow my lead and keep up with the pace."

Hunter raised an eyebrow at the dwarf's tone, but he simply nodded and got ready to get to work. Dwalin then turned his attention to the menu. "Right, let's get started," he said, his voice authoritative. "We've got a lot of work to do before the Duke's daughter arrives. We'll be serving a vegetarian menu tonight, so pay attention."

Dwalin proceeded to explain the dishes on the menu in detail, highlighting the ingredients and the preparation methods required for each one. Hunter listened intently, making mental notes of the ingredients and which dish should be poisoned.

As Dwalin finished explaining the menu, he turned to his crew. "Alright, let's get to work. Bungo, I need you to start on the bread. Tom, Finn, you two will work on the appetizers. Jason," he said, turning to Hunter. "You'll be in charge of the main course,"

After Dwalin finished explaining the menu, Hunter couldn't help but feel let down by the simplistic and unimaginative dishes on the menu. It was clear to him that the culinary arts in this world were not as advanced as they were in his previous life. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for the lack of creativity and innovation in the kitchen.

He looked around the kitchen and saw that their ingredients and cooking techniques were primitive and limited, despite the abundance of produce and resources at their disposal. It was clear that they had yet to explore the full potential of their ingredients and lacked knowledge about the art of cooking.

But Hunter was determined to change that. He resolved to infuse his own creativity into the dishes and elevate them to the best of his ability, regardless of the limitations of the culinary culture in this world. The produce and ingredients were too good to be used in such bland and primitive dishes.

He would not only be the badass in battle but also in this very kitchen. He was confident that he could show this puny dwarf what a real cook could do. Hunter knew that he had the talent and skills to make a mark on the culinary world in this world, and he was determined to prove it. He would turn these simplistic and uninspired dishes into something extraordinary and in doing so, earn the respect of his fellow cooks and an abundance of badass points.

"This menu sucks," He looked at the menu and then threw it on the table with a thud, shocking everyone in the kitchen. The sudden outburst of disrespect stunned the crew, but Hunter remained unfazed.

The dwarf's veins bulged under his skin, clearly showing his anger. No head cook would tolerate such impudence from someone underneath them. In fact, anyone who disrespected the head cook would be fired on the spot in most kitchens. But Hunter knew the dwarf wouldn't do that. They needed all the help they could get to prepare the dinner for the Duke's daughter, and Hunter used their desperation to his advantage.

"This menu sucks," Hunter repeated, his voice calm and steady. "It's boring, unimaginative, and lacks creativity. We can do better than this,"

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 1000 Badass points]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 500 Badass points]

Just as Hunter expected, the system rewarded him with badass points.

The rest of the kitchen crew stood frozen in shock, their bodies trembling with fear and uncertainty. They looked at each other, their eyes conveying their shared disbelief and apprehension. No one dared to speak, fearing the consequences of further provocation. The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited Dwalin's response. Some of the kitchen crew even prepared themselves to defend against any potential outburst from the dwarf, grabbing pans and dishes to use as makeshift shields.

Dwalin's face turned red with anger, his bulging veins showing his sudden outburst of fury. "How dare you insult the menu I have created!" he growled, his thick voice trembling with rage. "You may be from the capital, but that does not give you the right to disrespect me or my creations. You're just a fucking helper, like shit under my boots,"

He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Hunter's. "You think you're so great with your fancy talk and your attitude," he sneered. "But let me tell you something, boy. Culinary arts are not about showmanship and arrogance. It's about skill and technique, something you clearly lack."

The rest of the kitchen crew flinched at Dwalin's words, knowing the wrath that the head cook could unleash. But Hunter remained unfazed, his expression was calm and collected. He knew that he had the skills to back up his words, and he was determined to prove how wrong Dwalin was.

After hearing Dwaling, Hunter couldn't help but chuckle at Dwalin's insult. "You think I'm just a helper?" he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, let me tell you something, my dear head cook. I may be a helper, but I'm a damn good one,"

The rest of the kitchen crew gasped in disbelief, surprised by Hunter's boldness. But Hunter continued, unable to resist the opportunity to earn some badass points. "And as for your culinary skills, well, let's just say every morning I make two cooks like you in the latrine," he quipped, smirking at the dwarf's outraged expression.

Dwalin's face turned a deep shade of red, his fists clenching at his sides. "You insolent little..." he began before being interrupted by a loud laugh from Hunter.

Hunter smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he looked at Dwalin. "Why don't we settle this like real cooks do? Let's have a cook-off," he suggested. "I mean, there's still time before the dinner, and it's not like you can have insubordination in your kitchen, right?"

Dwalin's face twisted into a scowl at the suggestion. "You think you're so great, don't you?" he sneered. "But I'm the head cook here. You're just a helper. I don't have anything to prove to the likes of you."

Hunter's smile only widened at the dwarf's reaction. "Oh, come on. Don't be scared. Are you saying you don't have the balls to go up against me?" he taunted.

Dwalin's face turned red with anger at Hunter's insult, his bulging veins showing his sudden outburst of fury. "I'll show you who has the balls," he growled. "Fine, we'll have a cook-off. But if you lose, I'll have your fingers."

The others were stunned when the other kitchen crew heard Dwalin's threat. The punishment for losing a cook-off in this world could be severe, and cutting off a cook's fingers was equal to killing them. This act alone showed how brutal and unforgiving this world could be. But Hunter didn't even flinch at the suggestion.

"Relax, I'm not going to lose," Hunter said confidently, his gaze steady on Dwalin. "But if you're feeling brave, how about we make a little wager? If I win, we will change the menu. And if you win, you can have my fingers."

Dwalin sneered, "You think you're something special, coming in here and disrespecting my kitchen?"

Hunter shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm not disrespecting anything. I just know that I can do better."

The other kitchen crew members gasped in horror at the brutal wager, but Hunter remained unfazed. "Deal. But when I win, not only will I change the menu, but I'll be the head cook in this kitchen."

Dwalin chuckled darkly, "You just signed your death warrant, boy. But fine, I accept your wager. Let's see if you have what it takes to beat me."

Hunter's grin widened, "Oh, I have what it takes. And more."

The rest of the kitchen crew looked at each other in shock and horror as Dwalin proposed cutting off Hunter's fingers if he lost the cook-off. As they watched the exchange between Dwalin and Hunter, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and tension. They knew that the outcome of this cook-off would determine not only the dinner's fate but also the kitchen crew's future. The stakes were high, and they knew they had to give it their all if they had any chance of success.

Despite their fear, the kitchen crew couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. They had never seen a cook-off before, and the prospect of seeing an arrogant youngster and a veteran cook go head-to-head was exhilarating. They knew that they were in for a treat, regardless of who emerged victorious.