A sharp knock at the door pulled Night-Rain from her dreamless sleep.
She groaned, burying her face in the pillow for a few seconds, hoping—praying—that whoever it was would just go away.
Another knock.
"Ughhh… fine, fine, I'm coming."
With great reluctance, she dragged herself out of the warm embrace of her bed, rubbing the sleep from her half-lidded eyes. Her legs felt stiff, her body still not quite used to this virtual yet very real-feeling existence.
Barefoot and still half-asleep, she shuffled to the door and swung it open.
Standing there, cradling a large tray of food, was a young girl—probably no older than ten or eleven.
Her dirty blonde hair was slightly messy, tied back into a loose braid, and her big brown eyes shined with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. She wore the inn's work uniform, a simple apron over a faded brown dress, and looked adorable standing there, barely managing to balance the tray of steaming food in her small hands.
But it wasn't the kid that truly caught Night-Rain's attention.
It was the glorious sight of actual, edible food.
A thick roll of bread, lightly toasted.
A bowl of steaming meat stew, rich and hearty-looking.
A dark orange-colored drink, served in a wooden cup.
Her sleepy brain processed only one thing.
Food.
The little girl fidgeted under her gaze, shifting her grip on the tray.
"Um… hello?" she mumbled. "Pa said you asked for food?"
Night-Rain blinked slowly, still fighting off her drowsiness.
"Aaaah… yeah, right. Food."
The girl's tiny nervous fidgeting was almost too much to handle. Why was she so cute?
Still in mid-yawn, Night-Rain reached out and took the tray, holding back a contented sigh as the warmth of the food spread through her fingers.
"Thanks, cutie," she murmured sleepily.
Then, after thinking for a moment, she swiped open her inventory and pulled out a single col, pressing it into the little girl's palm.
"Here. For the hard work."
The girl stared at the coin, her eyes going wide with shock, like she'd never been given a tip before.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Night-Rain had to physically hold back a chuckle at the sheer adorable surprise on the kid's face before gently closing the door.
Night-Rain plopped down on the bed, setting the tray on her lap and taking a moment to admire the meal.
It looked good. The bread was golden brown, the stew steaming invitingly, and the drink had a sweet, citrusy aroma.
Her stomach rumbled in approval.
She grabbed the spoon, scooped up a generous bite of meat, broth, and vegetables, and eagerly popped it into her mouth.
Then—
Her expression immediately fell.
"Oh no."
It didn't taste bad, per se.
It just… didn't taste like anything.
There was no salt, no spices, no depth of flavor—just the barest hint of something vaguely meaty, like a dish that had been boiled in water and called soup.
She swallowed, her heart breaking a little.
"Oh come on."
Taking a bite of the bread, she found the same problem—it was warm, soft, but bland.
Even the juice, which she had been hoping would be sweet and refreshing, tasted like watered-down fruit with no sugar.
She stared at her tray, feeling a deep, profound sense of betrayal.
"This is worse than instant ramen without seasoning."
She took another hesitant bite, hoping—praying—that maybe her taste buds were just playing tricks on her.
Nope. Still bland.
Night-Rain let out a long, tired sigh, staring at the offending spoon in her hand like it had personally betrayed her.
Her stomach was full, but her soul was empty.
"Alright," she muttered to herself, dropping the spoon back into the now-empty bowl, glaring at it with mild disdain. "I know what I'm doing tomorrow—finding a way to get the cooking profession."
If she was going to be stuck in this game for who-knew-how-long, she refused to suffer through bland, joyless meals.
That was simply unacceptable.
Still, her body was heavy with exhaustion, and despite her culinary disappointment, sleep called to her once again.
Pulling the blanket over herself, she shut her eyes and drifted off.
*💎*
When Night-Rain woke up the next morning, she was on a mission.
Step One: Find someone who could teach her how to cook.
Step Two: Learn how to cook.
Step Three: Never suffer through a flavorless meal again.
After washing up and strapping her sword belt to her hip, she left the Rusty Anvil Inn, stepping onto the sunlit streets of the Town of Beginnings.
The city was as lively as ever—players moved in groups, some heading toward the grassy fields beyond the gates, others stopping at weapon shops or armor stalls.
Night-Rain, however, had one goal in mind.
She needed to find a tavern.
Or, more specifically, the tavern the little girl's father had mentioned this morning.
Just thinking about that conversation made her chuckle to herself.
An hour ago,
After Night-Rain had suffered through her breakfast, she had gone to the front counter, casually asking about cooking as a profession.
The moment she mentioned it, the innkeeper—a burly man in his late fifties—let out a hearty laugh.
"Huh? You wanna learn how to cook?" he had chortled, scratching his graying beard. "Haha! Was my cooking that bad?"
Before Night-Rain could answer, a tiny, exasperated voice cut in.
"I told you, Pa, your cooking wouldn't taste good!"
Night-Rain turned to see the same little girl from last night—Lina—standing nearby, arms crossed, her small face scrunched up in a pout.
"We really should wait till Ma comes back from Auntie's! You're gonna run the customers away!"
The old man just laughed louder, unbothered.
"Bah! A little bland food never killed anyone!"
Lina looked genuinely concerned.
"Pa…"
Night-Rain, holding back laughter, cleared her throat.
"Anyway… do you know where I could actually learn how to cook?"
She had zero intentions of living off tasteless food for however long she'd be stuck here.
The old man grinned, pointing toward the eastern district of town.
"You'll want to visit The Roasted Boar Tavern. It's run by a lady named Maggie. If anyone can teach ya to cook, it's her."
Present,
And that was how Night-Rain found herself strolling through the Town of Beginnings, scanning the buildings for any sign of The Roasted Boar Tavern.
The thought of finally eating something with actual flavor put a little extra bounce in her step.
*💎*
By the time Night-Rain finally entered the tavern, the sun had shifted high in the sky.
She had detoured to the Plains for a few hours, picking up some extra levels and getting a better feel for combat mechanics. While she wasn't exactly a master swordsman yet, she felt more comfortable with her movements, and her stats had improved slightly.
Now, though, she was on a different kind of mission—one that had nothing to do with battle and everything to do with survival.
Learning to cook.
As soon as she stepped through the wooden door of The Roasted Boar Tavern, a wave of warmth and an intoxicating aroma nearly brought her to her knees.
The smell of sizzling meat, baked bread, and rich, simmering stews filled the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of caramelized onions and the sharp tang of fresh herbs.
For the first time since entering this damned game, Night-Rain felt genuinely hopeful.
"Okay. If I can eat food like this every day, maybe getting trapped here won't be completely terrible."
The tavern was smaller than expected, but cozy.
The floor was polished wood, the walls lined with shelves of spices and hanging dried meats. A few round tables were scattered about, occupied by players enjoying hearty-looking meals, while NPC servers weaved between them effortlessly, refilling drinks and carrying trays of food.
It was clean, tidy, and lively, the kind of place that made you want to settle in and stay a while.
Before Night-Rain could take another step, a cheerful voice called out to her.
"Hi, hun!"
She turned to see a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and kind, warm brown eyes poking her head out from the kitchen door.
A small dusting of flour clung to her apron, and the sleeves of her blouse were rolled up, showing strong, flour-dusted forearms—the mark of someone who had spent years kneading dough and stirring heavy pots.
She smiled brightly.
"We've got a bunch of different meals in the works, so what is it you're hungry for?"
Night-Rain opened her mouth—about to say literally anything that has flavor—but stopped herself.
Instead, she shook her head, flashing a small grin.
"Actually, I'm not here to eat—I'm here to see if you're willing to teach me how to cook."
The woman blinked in surprise, then her entire face lit up.
"Oh my goodness!"
She clapped her hands together in delight, stepping out from the kitchen fully.
"I would love to teach you my favorite recipes!"
Night-Rain was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but—
"Unfortunately…"
The woman gave a sheepish smile, rubbing her hands on her apron.
"Today's lunch rush wiped out most of our ingredients."
Night-Rain held back a groan.
Of course.
There was always a catch.
"If it isn't too much of a bother," the woman continued, tilting her head slightly, "would you mind picking up a few things for me?"
Night-Rain folded her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Let me guess—side quest?"
A soft ding echoed in her ears as a quest prompt appeared in her HUD.
🔹 [Cooking 101: A Chef's First Task]
Objective: Gather fresh ingredients for The Roasted Boar Tavern.
Required Items:
Wild Mushrooms (0/5)
Fresh Herbs (0/3)
Boarlet Meat (0/2)
Rewards:
Basic Cooking Skill Unlocked
Beginner Recipe Set
250 XP & 200 Col
□ Accept
□ Decline
Night-Rain sighed, shaking her head, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Figures. Alright, alright—I'll do it."
She mentally clicked 'Accept', feeling the new quest log update in her menu.
The woman beamed, clasping her hands together.
"Wonderful! Oh, and I didn't introduce myself, did I?"
She wiped her hands on her apron and offered a flour-dusted handshake.
"I'm Maggie Spatulin. Welcome to the kitchen, hun!"
Night-Rain shook her hand, already mentally preparing for another trip into the Plains. "Night-Rain. It's nice to meet you, Maggie."
*💎*
The sun hung high in the sky as Night-Rain ventured beyond the towering stone gates of the Town of Beginnings, stepping onto the vast plains of Floor 1.
The grasslands stretched endlessly, the breeze whispering through the tall blades of wild grass. Small hills rolled gently across the terrain, dotted with clusters of trees and scattered ruins.
The Plains were a popular hunting ground for beginners, filled with low-level monsters perfect for farming experience and collecting materials.
Night-Rain crouched low, running her fingers through the damp soil beneath the shade of a large oak tree.
Mushrooms tended to grow in cool, shaded places with rich soil, so she had been checking near tree roots and fallen logs.
"C'mon, mushrooms… where are you hiding?"
A small glint of red caught her eye beneath a rotting stump.
Bingo.
Pushing aside some of the leaf debris, she spotted a cluster of plump, crimson-capped mushrooms nestled in the shadows.
[Wild Mushroom - Common Ingredient]
"Nice."
Carefully, she plucked the mushrooms one by one, watching as they vanished into her inventory with a soft ding.
Wild Mushrooms (3/5)
Not bad, but she still needed more.
She turned her attention to the patch of tall grass nearby, scanning for any sign of herbs.
Her fingers brushed against a slender green stalk, its jagged leaves giving off a faint, peppery scent.
[Fresh Herb - Common Ingredient]
Fresh Herbs (1/3)
Night-Rain's lips curled into a smirk.
"Alright, this isn't so bad—"
A sharp rustling noise behind her made her freeze.
Her hand hovered over the hilt of her sword.
Something was watching her.
A low, guttural growl rumbled through the grass.
Night-Rain turned just in time to see a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring at her from the brush.
Then—
A Feral Wolf lunged out of the undergrowth!
[Enemy Identified: Feral Wolf]
HP: 35/35 | DMG: 7 | EVA: 2
Night-Rain reacted instantly, rolling to the side as the wolf's sharp fangs snapped inches from her arm.
She drew her Tealeaf Blade, its dull green edge flashing in the sunlight.
"You guys couldn't have waited till after I finished? So impatient."
Another growl—
A second wolf emerged from the grass, circling her with predatory focus.
[Enemy Identified: Feral Wolf]
HP: 40/40 | DMG: 9 | EVA: 3
Two wolves.
Not impossible, but definitely not easy.
The first wolf lunged again, claws extended—
Night-Rain sidestepped, using her momentum to swing her sword in a clean horizontal arc.
CRITICAL HIT!
-12 HP
The wolf yelped, pixels bursting from its side, but it wasn't down yet.
The second wolf seized the opening, darting forward with deadly speed—
Night-Rain barely had time to twist away, feeling sharp claws graze across her shoulder.
-5 HP
She hissed but didn't hesitate, using the moment to activate her first sword skill—
[Vertical Arc]!
Her blade glowed blue, energy vibrating along its edge as she slashed downward, cleaving into the first wolf's back.
CRITICAL STRIKE!
-18 HP
The wolf dissolved into blue pixels, its howl cut short as it shattered into data.
[Feral Wolf Defeated!]
Only one left.
The remaining wolf growled, lowering itself into a pouncing stance.
Night-Rain tightened her grip on her sword, watching its movements carefully.
Then—
The wolf leapt at her, aiming for her throat.
"Not today!"
Night-Rain ducked low, bringing her sword up in a sharp thrusting motion—
Her blade pierced clean through its chest, the wolf's glowing yellow eyes widening before its body burst into data.
[Feral Wolf Defeated!]
She exhaled sharply, lowering her sword.
[+120 XP]
[+90 Col]
[Wolf Fang - Crafting Material]
Not bad.
She rolled her shoulder, shaking off the soreness before returning to her gathering.
Wild Mushrooms (5/5) - Complete
Fresh Herbs (3/3) - Complete
Now for the last item.
Venison.
That meant hunting deer.
The forest edge wasn't far, and deer typically grazed near the tree line where they could bolt into cover at the first sign of danger.
Night-Rain moved carefully, keeping her footsteps light, scanning the area.
Then, she spotted it.
A large stag stood atop a small ridge, its majestic brown coat blending with the shadows of the trees.
[Enemy Identified: Forest Stag]
HP: 50/50 | DMG: 4 | EVA: 5
Night-Rain took a slow breath, gripping her sword.
She needed to be fast.
The moment it saw her, it would run—and if it escaped into the woods, she'd lose her chance.
She crouched, adjusting her stance—
Then sprang forward, sword flashing—
[Ambush Attack – Backstrike!]
Her blade sliced across the stag's flank, sending a burst of blue pixels into the air.
-20 HP
The stag let out a strangled cry, stumbling forward—but before it could escape, she lunged again, delivering a swift follow-up slash.
-15 HP
With one last shudder, the stag collapsed, its body bursting into data.
[Forest Stag Defeated!]
[Venison Meat +2] - Quest Item Acquired
Mission Complete
Night-Rain wiped her forehead, exhaling.
"Finally."
Wild Mushrooms (5/5) - Complete
Fresh Herbs (3/3) - Complete
Venison Meat (2/2) - Complete
Her quest log updated, confirming all objectives met.
She stretched her sore limbs, grinning.
"Time to head back. Let's learn to cook some actual food."
With her inventory full and quest complete, she turned toward town, ready to return to The Roasted Boar Tavern.