The tension in the inn was thick enough to slice with a knife.
Every pair of eyes turned toward the tall man in black leather armor standing at the doorway. His gaze was cold and sharp, like a blade forged from ice.
Ethan stood behind the counter, wiping his hands with a towel that was far cleaner than the situation he was in.
"So," he said lightly, "you're here for money the previous owner owed?"
The man nodded slowly. "Name's Garron. I lent old Owen a hundred silver to keep this place running. Never got it back."
Ethan frowned inwardly. A hundred silver? He didn't even have one.
The system didn't say anything about inherited debt.
"Listen," Ethan began carefully, "I don't have that kind of money right now, but—"
Garron slammed his hand on the counter. The wooden surface creaked under his palm. "Then I'll take what I can. Furniture. Tools. Maybe that shiny knife of yours."
The entire inn went quiet. The adventurers who'd just finished breakfast froze mid-bite. Someone coughed awkwardly.
Ethan took a slow breath. Then, instead of arguing, he smiled. "How about we make a deal?"
Garron raised an eyebrow. "A deal?"
"One dish," Ethan said. "You eat it. If it doesn't blow your mind, you take everything you want. But if it does—you give me one week to pay the debt back properly."
The silence stretched. Garron stared at him, skeptical. "You're trying to bargain with food?"
"I'm a chef," Ethan replied. "It's what I do."
Garron's eyes flicked to the golden knife on the counter, then back to Ethan's confident face. Finally, he snorted. "Fine. Impress me. But if I don't like it, I'll burn this place to the ground myself."
Ethan's smile didn't waver. "Then I guess I'd better make sure you love it."
A metallic chime echoed softly in his mind.
> [New Quest Accepted: Impress the Debt Collector.]
[Objective: Prepare a dish that satisfies Garron the Enforcer.]
[Reward: Recipe Unlock – "Golden Spirit Fried Rice."]
[Failure: Debt Increases by 200%.]
Ethan's expression froze for a moment. Wait—double the debt? Seriously?!
He inhaled slowly, rolled up his sleeves, and muttered, "Alright, System. You're really putting pressure on me."
He looked through his small stock of ingredients. A few eggs, leftover rice from yesterday, a handful of vegetables, and a small jar of what looked like salt. Not much. Definitely not enough to impress someone like Garron.
Then, as if responding to his thoughts, the system's voice whispered in his ear.
> [Optional Objective: Create your own interpretation of the "Golden Spirit Fried Rice." Ingredient quality will influence results.]
Ethan blinked. "So I don't have the recipe yet—but I can try to make it? You sneaky thing…"
He cracked his knuckles, grabbed the knife, and got to work.
The inn's chatter quieted as everyone watched the mysterious chef move. Ethan's hands were steady, precise. The enchanted knife gleamed as it sliced through vegetables, the rhythm of chopping filling the room like a heartbeat.
Chop. Chop. Chop.
Every cut was clean, every movement confident. The diced vegetables glowed faintly—the system enhancing them with his growing skill.
He poured oil into the iron pan. It hissed as it hit the heat. He tossed in the vegetables, letting the scent rise—onions, carrots, and bits of green peppers sizzling together in a golden swirl. The fragrance spread quickly, wrapping the inn in a warm, savory cloud.
Then he added the rice.
The grains hit the pan with a satisfying crackle. He stirred with quick, controlled movements, letting the rice soak up the aroma. His wrist flicked expertly, tossing the mixture into the air. The golden grains danced, catching the firelight.
He cracked an egg, letting it slide into the mix. The sizzling grew louder, the colors more vivid—golden yellow, bright orange, fresh green.
The smell hit Garron first.
His expression shifted slightly. "That smell…"
Ethan grinned without looking up. "Smells like forgiveness, maybe?"
He kept stirring, adjusting the heat, seasoning with care. Then, for the final touch, he reached for the salt jar—only to realize it was empty.
His heart dropped. "You've gotta be kidding me."
The room went silent. Garron's smirk returned. "Running out of magic, chef?"
Ethan's brain raced. He looked around, desperate, and spotted something glinting under the counter: a small pouch with faint golden dust inside. He grabbed it and sniffed—aromatic, earthy, slightly sweet.
> [Item Detected: Spirit Herb Powder (Rare Ingredient)]
Ethan's eyes lit up. "Perfect."
He sprinkled a pinch over the rice. Instantly, the golden dust melted into the grains, releasing a faint glow. The aroma deepened, richer and almost intoxicating. The entire inn seemed to warm under the scent.
Ethan plated the fried rice carefully, every grain shimmering faintly like sunlight caught in motion. He placed the bowl in front of Garron.
"Go on," he said softly. "One bite."
Garron stared at the dish suspiciously. Then, with slow movements, he scooped a spoonful and took a bite.
The moment the rice touched his tongue, his eyes widened.
Warmth spread through his body. The flavor was complex yet comforting—the richness of egg, the sweetness of vegetables, and an otherworldly freshness from the spirit herb. Each grain burst with subtle flavor, perfectly balanced, perfectly cooked. For a fleeting moment, he wasn't a cold debt collector—he was a boy again, tasting his mother's cooking in a faraway village.
He blinked, realization dawning in his eyes.
Ethan leaned forward slightly. "So?"
Garron set the spoon down slowly. "...This isn't normal food."
"It's fried rice," Ethan said with a shrug. "Just… elevated."
Garron looked at the empty bowl—he hadn't even realized he'd finished it. He sat back, silent for a long moment. Then he laughed—a low, rough sound that startled everyone.
"You've got guts, chef. And skill. I'll give you that."
"So, the deal?" Ethan asked.
Garron grinned. "You've got your week. If you can keep cooking like this, maybe you'll pay me back sooner than you think."
He tossed a single silver coin on the counter. "Consider it a down payment—from me this time."
Ethan caught the coin, smiling. "Pleasure doing business with you."
As Garron left, the adventurers burst into applause. The inn came alive again with chatter.
"Did you see that dish glow?"
"He actually made a debt collector smile!"
"Who is this guy?"
Ethan wiped the counter, trying to hide the grin spreading on his face. "Just a chef doing what he loves."
A familiar chime rang in his mind.
> [Quest Complete: Impress the Debt Collector.]
[Reward: Recipe Unlocked – Golden Spirit Fried Rice (Legendary Tier).]
[Skill Gained: Heat Control Lv.1.]
[Reputation +10 | Rank: D- → D.]
[Bonus Reward: 50 Silver Coins Deposited.]
A pouch of coins materialized beside him, heavy and shining. Ethan whistled. "Well, that solves one problem."
The system chimed again.
> [Notice: Your dish has drawn attention.]
[Rumor spreading: 'A mysterious chef who cooks food that glows!']
[New Event Unlocked: The Merchant's Guild Visit (Tomorrow).]
Ethan froze mid-step. "Wait—what?"
> [Recommended Preparation: Upgrade Menu. Expect important guests.]
He looked at the clean kitchen, the glowing knife, and the quiet flame flickering on the stove. His lips curved into a determined smile.
"Alright then," he murmured, rolling his shoulders. "If they're coming for food, I'll give them something they'll never forget."
The system chimed softly.
> [The journey of the Legendary Chef has begun.]
Ethan exhaled slowly, his eyes bright with resolve.
Tomorrow, he would cook for the first noble guests of this world.
Tomorrow, The Inn of the Legendary Chef would truly open its doors.
To be continued...