Chapter 12: Mana Chef

Max was amazed at his newfound ability to sense and infuse mana into food. It puzzled him because David had never practiced magic or been a mana chef. 

Max found himself perplexed by the way he could instinctively perceive a subtle, warm energy in his hand, almost as if the pores of his skin were open, absorbing something from the environment. 

"System, could you please explain how I've been able to effortlessly infuse mana into food, almost as if it's become a natural instinct, considering that based on David's memories, he had never delved into mana manipulation?" 

Max inquired, seeking an explanation. He was also intrigued by his sudden attainment of the status of a 0th circle mage and was eager to comprehend the reasons behind it. 

[Indeed, Host, to address your inquiries, let's begin with the first aspect. When your soul merged with David's body, a small portion of mana entered David's body through your soul. 

Since you didn't naturally originate in this world, your soul carries some mana to sustain the system. 

Following the merging process, your host body contained a sufficient amount of mana to qualify as a 0th-tier mage. 

Given that the system's purpose is to aid the host, there's no requirement for the host to manually progress through different stages of magic.

In such cases, the system takes charge of advancing the host to the 0th circle of magic.

Now, for your second query regarding how you can sense mana, you should refer to the god-tier skill that you received as part of your day 1 sign-in bonus.]

Max found himself pleasantly surprised. He realized that unlike the individuals in Aiden who needed to undergo arduous training to advance in magic, his progression was seemingly effortless, courtesy of the system.

However, his curiosity persisted. With a furrowed brow, he questioned the system further, 

"System, I have another inquiry. As Edward mentioned earlier, one typically needs to become a magician to become a mana chef. 

But could you clarify whether individuals following other paths, such as swordsmen or spearmen, can also pursue a career as a mana chef?

  After all, swordsmen and other combatants can handle mana to some extent, so it seems plausible that they might have the potential to become mana chefs as well." 

Max was keen to understand if the path to becoming a mana chef was exclusive to magicians or open to a broader range of professions.

[

No, it is not possible to become a mana chef without first becoming a magician. 

Magicians have a unique ability to store and channel mana through their hearts, nurturing their souls in the process. 

In contrast, individuals following other professions primarily nourish their bodies with mana but lack the capacity to naturally emit mana from their bodies without an external medium. 

For example, a swordsman, despite having some control over mana, cannot cast spells independently because they are unable to concentrate mana within their bodies and project it outward, converting it into their desired spells through mental calculations. 

Swordsmen require a medium, such as a sword, to channel their mana effectively. Their focus lies on enhancing their physical abilities and sword skills with mana.

In the case of a mana chef, the host must infuse mana directly into the food. 

This necessitates the ability to channel mana through their body and merge it seamlessly with the food, a process involving intricate calculations akin to casting spells. 

Mana chefs hone their skills over decades of practice, mastering complex calculations required to infuse precise amounts of mana into their culinary creations.

This level of precision is beyond the capabilities of swordsmen and other non-magician professions. 

The path to becoming a mana chef is exceedingly challenging, and only a handful of mana chefs exist in each kingdom, with some kingdoms not having any at all.

  ]

Max found himself initially bewildered by this explanation. 

However, after taking some time to digest the information, he eventually grasped the concept. Mana chefs were essentially a branch of magic, much like fire mages or water mages.

Their craft required a profound understanding of mana and intricate calculations, making it an exceptionally challenging profession to master.

With increasing clarity, Max's admiration for Edward, who had undertaken the challenging journey of becoming a mana chef, grew even stronger.

He now understood the level of commitment and expertise required to excel in this specialized culinary field, and he held great admiration for those who had achieved such mastery.

Curious about his newfound ability to sense and infuse mana into food effortlessly, Max turned to the system for answers.

"System, can you explain how I am able to sense mana and infuse it into the food without conscious effort?"

The system responded with a touch of humor, urging Max to use his own intellect:

[Host, I'm not your nanny. You need to put that piggy brain of yours to work. The system has already provided the answer. You should check the skill 'God of Cooking' for more information.]

Max doesn't know whether to cry or laugh at the system's replies.

'Let leave it for now' Max thought inwardly.

"System, show me the skill 'God of Cooking' " Max commands the system.

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'Ding!'

**'God Of Cooking' (Passive Skill) **

- The mere taste of your handmade dishes leaves people enraptured with delight, as if divine intervention were at play.

- This skill doesn't require mana and can be used at any time, making it a versatile and always accessible ability.

- It bestows the power to transform regular food into mana-infused delicacies, enhancing their flavor, and nutritional value, and even providing mild, temporary boosts to those who consume them.

- With this skill, you can elevate mana-infused dishes into divine culinary creations that possess extraordinary taste, granting unique, temporary effects to those who partake in them, such as increased vitality or heightened senses.

- Your culinary creations become known for their exceptional quality, attracting food enthusiasts, potential allies, and even the occasional critic who may serve as an inspiration for further culinary innovation.

Note- congrats now you're on the path to becoming a culinary god, You can Do it, boy.

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After reading the skill details, Max made a sincere effort to comprehend the power of the skill. 

However, his attempts quickly proved to be in vain. He felt embarrassed about not being able to grasp it and hesitated to ask the system for clarification once more. 

Nevertheless, he gathered the courage to request additional information from the system, saying, "My dear System, could you kindly provide me with further explanation regarding this?, please, I admit that  I have a pig brain, You are so mighty my dear system, please I am requesting you!"