n

n

n“Hu…”

nIn the kitchen of Duke Trapin’s castle.

nHarin was sweating as she cooked something.

n“Have I succeeded this time?!”

nIn front of her, there was a bowl of steamy cream soup.

nThe soup was a luxurious meal, with lobster in it.

nFinally, she saw the system message she’d been waiting for.

n– You succeeded in cooking the lobster cream soup.

n– You succeeded in cooking a luxurious dish for the first time. Your Reputation increases by 1200.

n“Yes!”

nHarin smiled while showing her white teeth.

nShe wiped off a drop of sweat running down her forehead and checked the information of the dish.

nLobster Cream Soup

nCategory: soup

nRank: Luxury

nDish Score: 275

nDish Value: 9235 Gold

nSatiety: 80

nA luxurious dish with cream and lobster in harmony.

nMade by a great Cook whose Cooking Proficiency has reached Advanced.

nUnique Abilities

nLife increases by 500 for 3 hours, Attack Force increases by 20%.

n…

nHarin was proud of herself, she had made a satisfying dish.

n‘I will be able to make dishes that are worth more than 10,000 Gold if I try just a little more!’

nThe Dish Value was the price that would be set when opening a restaurant and selling that dish.

nThe Lobster cream soup was worth 9,235 Gold.

nIt was a little less than 20,000 Won in real money.

nIt was almost as expensive as high-quality dishes in the real world.

nAnd ingredients to make lobster cream soup were worth less than 4000 Gold, so from now on, she

ncould make a living just by opening a restaurant and cooking in Kailan.

n“Let’s get some rest!”

nHarin was feeling thirsty, she sat at one corner of the kitchen and gulped down some cold water.

n‘Cooking Proficiency certainly rises fast here.’

nHarin smiled with satisfaction. She then naturally recalled Ian who had done the Campsite quest with

nher.

n‘I wonder what he is doing right now.’

nRight then, a message came up in front of her.

n– Ian: Harin, what are you doing now? Are you busy?

nHarin was a little surprised to see a message from Ian at that exact moment, but she answered

nquickly.

n– Harin: I’ve been cooking in the Dutch castle’s kitchen. I just finished!

n– Ian: Umm… you mean Dutch Trapin’s castle?

n– Harin: Yes, right. I’m in Trapin.

nAnd a little while later, Ian carefully sent a message.

n– Ian: Harin… may I ask you a favor?

n– Harin: Of course! What kind of favor?

n– Ian: I am going to the North Continent… and I want to take some food cooked from you…

nHarin’s face brightened.

nDishes couldn’t be sold on auction, so Cooks had to open a restaurant or sell it personally to users

nand she had cooked a lot of dishes to raise her Proficiency.

n‘It’s not because I want to see him.’

nHarin tried to ignore the ‘unfamiliar’ feelings and replied.

n– Harin: Great! I have cooked a lot of dishes. Where should we meet?

nShe hurried to tidy the kitchen.

n…

nThey met at the square of the Dutch’s castle. Ian was forced to buy every dish Harin had cooked for

nthe last two days.

n“I only made you pay for the cost of the ingredients.”

nIan smiled awkwardly at this.

n“Haha… I can pay you the full price…”

n“No, I passed the quest and got the necklace thanks to you. It’s the least I can do for you.”

nIan was surprised to see the dishes he got from Harin.

nHe had never seen dishes that were worth thousands of Golds.

nIn total, they were worth at least 200,000 Gold.

nThey were great, both in quality and quantity.

nHe was sorry because the 30,000 Gold he had paid Harin was too small.

n“Thank you Harin. How can I ever repay you?”

nHarin’s eyes twinkled at this.

n“Then can you do me some favors in return?”

nIan didn’t see that coming, so he was surprised.

n‘Of course… she wouldn’t give away these expensive dishes for nothing.’

nIan blamed his mouth, but he couldn’t take back what he said.

n“Of-of course. Anything, just tell me.”

nHarin thought Ian’s pupils slightly shook but decided to ignore it. She then continued to talk, “Um, wait

na second.”

nHarin took out a small piece of paper.

n“…?”

nHarin gave the note to Ian.

n“You said you are going to the North Continent. The ingredients written here can be found only there.

nGather them for me when you see them.”

nOn the note, there were various cooking ingredients.

nIt wasn’t a hard thing to do. Ian nodded, “Well, I can do that…”

n“And my second favor is…”

nIan was startled, ‘What, there’s a second one?!’

nHe got nervous as Harin’s tone was quite suspicious.

n‘What? What favor is she going to ask? Does she want me to help her with another quest? Or is she

ngoing to make me her cooking assistant?’

nIan feared only one thing.

nThat was losing time he should spend in leveling-up!

nIan had not hunted for two days to get new pets, so he felt bad about it.

nThen Harin spoke to Ian who was shuddering with ‘anxiety’.

nIt was something he couldn’t even imagine.

n“Help me with my school task later!”

n“What?”

nIan asked back instantly. Harin blinked with her big eyes and laughed.

n‘School task? It’s not something inside the game!’

nHarin continued to talk.

n“I asked Kawin and he told me you go to Korea University.”

nIan nodded.

n“Yes. I am a freshman.”

n“I am a student of Korea University as well. I am a sophomore in the Culinary Arts department.”

nIan was confused now.

n“Oh…”

n“You like to eat delicious things, right?”

nIan nodded again.

n“I-I guess.”

n“I have an assignment to do during summer vacation and I need you to help me with that.”

nIan was now feeling sad, ‘I have to go out of my home?’

nIt felt ominous, he thought he would lose enough time that could be spent to raise one level.

n“What… is the assignment?”

nHarin smiled innocently.

n“I have to make my own recipe.”

nThat was an assignment that fit Culinary Arts student.

nHowever, Ian was confused.

n“Will I… be any of help? I know nothing about cooking…”

nHowever, Ian had nothing to worry about.

nHarin didn’t expect Ian to be related to cooking in the first place.

n“Don’ worry. All you have to do is to eat.”

n“What?”

n“Your job is to eat every dish I make and pick the most delicious one.”

nIan was dumbfounded. Harin then added, “You have to help me. Okay?”

nIan said goodbye to Harin and moved toward the auction house.

n‘Uh… what was that? Why did Harin ask me to help her with something like that?’

nIan started to guess the reason why Harin asked him to help her with the school task.

n‘Maybe she doesn’t have any friend to eat her dishes… she is a little weird, so it makes sense that

nshe has no friends…’

nIan, who believed himself to be extremely normal, thought hard.

n‘But it’s good. Tasting a few dishes wouldn’t take long. She will probably ask me to come to school.’

nIan calculated hard on how much time he would have to spend on it.

n‘If I run out of my studio, 30 minutes would be enough to get there and come back.’

nIan’s head was spinning.

nHe hadn’t dated anyone for 7125 days straight, so he couldn’t even guess Harin’s feelings!

nBut when he arrived at the auction house, he forgot everything Harin said. He started to change his

nitems passionately.

nHe had been alone for 20 years for a reason.

nIan was concentrating so hard that he was about to get sucked into the list of items on auction.

n‘Where I am going is quite dangerous and I don’t have much information about it. I must get the best

ngears.’

nIan spent a huge 400,000 Gold to get new gears for all parts and he started to search for a weapon.

nIan had to make a living without his parents’ help, so he normally didn’t spend money easily.

nHowever, to get items for hunting, he invested a lot of money even before he reset his character.

nIn the real world, he was reluctant to spend even 10,000 Won on clothes, but he bought items that

nwere worth hundred thousand Won.

n‘Isn’t there a bow that has options like those of the Mother Nature Set items?’

nIan had realized that he couldn’t fight well with a staff, so he wanted to use a bow again.

nBut he couldn’t find a bow with the enhancing pets options.

n‘Let’s widen the search range.’

nIan searched for all weapons with the enhancing pets option. Quite a lot of items were then found.

nAnd Ian spotted one with an attractive adjective.

n‘Ancient Summoner’s Knuckle?’

nIan quickly clicked on the item.

nAncient Summoner’ Steel Knuckle

nCategory: knuckle

nRank: Hero

nUsage Limit: Lv. 38 or higher

nAttack Force: 205~235

nDurability: 314

/314

nOption: Strength 20

nOption: Speed 15%

nOption: Leadership 40

nHealth of all summoned pets increases by 10%, Attack Force increases by 25%.

nAll pets’ fatal damage capacity increases by 55%.

nWhen inflicting fatal damage to the enemy, one of the summoned pets’ Unique Abilities will be

nactivated randomly.

n(Abilities cannot be activated if physical conditions are not met.)

nWeapon used by a great Summoner of ancient times. It has the power to link you with pets.

n…

nIan had nothing to ponder on, ‘I have to buy it!’

nIan flinched when seeing its price of 900,000 Gold, but his finger was already pushing the ‘buy’

nbutton.

n“Uh… it is a little expensive… but with its stats, I would be able to use it until Lv.50, so…”

nHe was spending quite a lot of money, but the item was worth it.

nThe ‘When inflicting fatal damage to the enemy, one of the summoned pets’ Unique Abilities is

nactivated randomly’ part was especially attracting.

n‘I’m glad it has this activation limit.’

nThe limit was that the abilities would not be activated if the physical conditions were not met.

nIan got goosebumps when recalling Bukbuk’s Unique Abilities.

nIf it hadn’t been for the limit, Bukbuk’s ability to hide inside its shell would have been activated.

n‘If that ability was activated, my neck would get in like a turtle’s neck!’

nOf course, that would never happen, but Ian shuddered just imagining it.

n‘Now, to the Snowy Mountains of Crupia!’

nHe had prepared everything.

nNow infinite hunting was waiting for him.

nIan moved toward the gate at the center of the Village to use the portal to the North Continent.

n