I blinked, staring at the glowing system window hovering above the pan. Kaelthar had vanished into the trees, leaving me alone with the lingering scent of my first legendary dish.
"…Alright," I muttered. "Step one: don't get eaten. Step two: figure out what the hell this world wants for dinner."
> [Quest Updated: Explore the World and Learn Its Secrets]
The forest around me wasn't quiet. Branches whispered, strange flowers shimmered with blue light, and distant roars echoed from unknown beasts. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten either. Great, apparently cooking for gods also made me hungry.
I flipped through my glowing cookbook. Each page had recipes I didn't recognize: Dragon Bone Broth, Phoenix Egg Omelet, Silverwolf Meat Stew. Next to each was a tiny difficulty meter — most were labeled "God-Tier."
> [System Notification: Low-level recipe available: Mystic Mushroom Salad]
[Required Ingredients: 1 Mystic Mushroom]
Perfect. Small and simple. My first step into this world's cooking ecosystem. I scanned the forest floor. Blue mushrooms glimmered faintly under the shade of giant violet ferns.
"Easy enough," I said, plucking one carefully. The moment I touched it, a small creature leapt from the shadows — a tiny fox-like spirit, glowing with golden light, tail waving frantically.
"Hey! You're taking my mushroom!" it squeaked.
I froze. "Uh… sorry? I didn't know—"
> [System Message: Creature Detected — Level 3 Mythical Beast]
The fox blinked at me, its voice now serious. "You smell… powerful. And… tasty?"
My brain froze. Powerful… tasty? Did that mean it wanted to eat me or my food? Before I could think, the fox sniffed the air around my pan.
> [System Alert: Creature Hungry — Feeding Recommended]
"Alright… calm down," I said, tossing the Mystic Mushroom into the pan. Sparks flew, and a faint golden aura surrounded the salad as it cooked perfectly. The fox's eyes widened.
"Oh… that smell…" It cautiously stepped closer and sniffed the dish. "Exquisite… I've never… tasted anything like this!"
> [System Message: First Companion Acquired — Fox Spirit 'Lumina']
[EXP +300]
[Passive Ability Unlocked: Ingredient Detection — Lumina]
I blinked. "Companion? I didn't ask for a pet."
"You did feed me. That makes you… my master, yes?" Lumina wagged its glowing tail proudly.
> [System Notification: Companion abilities active. Lumina can now locate rare ingredients within a 1km radius.]
With Lumina by my side, we walked deeper into the forest. Its tail glowed, lighting up paths I couldn't see. Strange plants, glowing fruits, and tiny elemental spirits hovered everywhere.
Suddenly, a deep growl rolled through the trees — low, heavy, and chilling. My heart thumped violently. "Alright… that's bigger than a fox."
From the shadows emerged Finrir, the legendary wolf. Its massive body was covered in dark silver fur that shimmered like starlight, eyes burning icy blue. Steam hissed from its jaws, and every step it took made the ground tremble.
> [System Alert: Legendary Creature Detected — 'Finrir']
[Feeding Recommended — EXP +1500]
"Uh… hi?" I squeaked. "I… uh… brought salad?"
Finrir sniffed the Mystic Mushroom dish. Golden sparks danced around its paws. Its eyes narrowed, then widened. "…Absurd…" it rumbled, voice deep enough to make the trees shake. "Your scent… is… divine…"
> [System Message: Finrir Feeds — EXP +1500]
[Level Up! Class Advancement Available]
[New Skill Unlocked: Multi-Creature Cooking Boost]
I stumbled backward. Multi-creature cooking boost? That sounded… terrifyingly useful.
Lumina jumped onto my shoulder. "See? I told you. Your food attracts more powerful beings. Cook well, survive well."
I wiped my sweat. "Yeah… survival through cooking… my life is officially insane."
Finrir circled me once, sniffed the air, and then let out a howl that shook the forest. It turned, disappearing into the shadows, leaving a faint trail of starlight in its wake.
> [Quest Update: Survive and Feed Mythical Beasts Completed]
I exhaled, looking at my glowing cookbook. "Okay… step one of surviving this world: feed beasts. Step two: don't die while doing it. Got it."
Lumina purred, tail flicking. "Step three: explore. I sense more ingredients and creatures ahead."
I tightened my coat. "Alright… Riku, welcome to your new life. You don't know this world. You don't know your limits. But… at least now, you're not alone."
And with that, I stepped forward into the forest, a magical pan in hand, a glowing fox on my shoulder, and the lingering smell of destiny in the air.
> "Let's make the gods drool… again."