Morning sunlight spilled through the inn's windows, painting everything in soft gold. The air still smelled faintly of roasted pork and herbs from the night before. Ethan stood behind the counter, leaning over the glowing blue System panel floating in front of him.
The System Shop was finally open.
Rows upon rows of items scrolled past his eyes: ingredients from distant lands, skill books, cooking utensils, even furniture for the inn. Each one shimmered faintly, waiting to be bought with either gold or Fame Points.
Ethan rubbed his chin. "Alright… time to invest."
He only had fifty silver coins and fifty-six Fame Points—barely enough to buy one or two useful things. Still, his instincts told him to spend carefully.
He selected the Iron Chef's Pan – 25 Fame Points.
The screen flashed. A metallic sound rang out as a sturdy black pan appeared on the counter, still warm, like it had been waiting to be used.
He grinned. "You and I are going to make history."
Next, he bought Spirit Rice (Tier 2) for 15 Fame Points. The rest he decided to save.
The rice sparkled faintly, each grain translucent like tiny pearls. Just holding it made him feel hungrier.
He set the pan down, cleaned the stove, and prepared to experiment.
But before he could start, the inn door slammed open.
A tall man in a crisp chef's uniform stepped inside. His long blond hair was tied neatly, his expression confident and a little smug. Behind him stood two assistants carrying boxes of ingredients.
Ethan blinked. "And you are…?"
The stranger smirked. "Ronan Devereux. Head chef of the Golden Plate Restaurant—Merchant Guild's top-ranked kitchen." He crossed his arms. "You must be the peasant who impressed Vice Chairman Boris yesterday."
Ethan's eyebrow twitched. "Peasant, huh? You've got quite an introduction."
Ronan ignored the jab and looked around the inn with mild disgust. "I expected more from the rumors. This place looks like it barely passes as a tavern."
"Yet people keep coming back," Ethan said casually. "Maybe it's not about how it looks."
Ronan stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Don't get too comfortable, newcomer. The Guild might have given you an endorsement, but that doesn't mean you can outcook real chefs. You just got lucky."
Ethan's smile widened. "Then why are you here?"
Ronan smirked. "To challenge you. The Guild doesn't like amateurs stealing attention. We'll have a cook-off—right here, right now. Winner gets exclusive rights to serve at the next trade festival."
Ethan's hand froze on the counter. The trade festival was the biggest event in the region—merchants, nobles, and adventurers all in one place. Winning there would skyrocket his fame.
He thought for a second, then nodded. "Fine. But we cook my way. One dish. One hour. The crowd decides."
A few customers inside the inn, already eating breakfast, perked up. Someone cheered, and within minutes, half the street was peeking through the windows. Word of a chef battle spread like wildfire.
Ronan's assistants unpacked rare spices and glowing herbs. Meanwhile, Ethan laid out his humble ingredients—Spirit Rice, a few vegetables, some leftover pork belly, and the new Iron Chef's Pan.
Ronan chuckled. "That's all you've got? How pitiful."
Ethan didn't respond. He simply turned on the stove. Blue flames burst to life.
The timer started.
---
Ronan worked fast, his movements elegant. He diced, seared, and stirred with confidence. The smell of roasted garlic and rare monster meat filled the air. His dish shimmered faintly with mana—he was using enchanted ingredients.
The onlookers murmured in awe.
Ethan didn't rush. He poured oil into the Iron Chef's Pan, feeling its weight. The heat spread evenly, smooth and responsive. He tossed in chopped onions, garlic, and bits of spirit herb. The scent rose slowly, wrapping the room in warmth.
He added the Spirit Rice next. The grains danced in the pan like fireflies, each one absorbing the flavor perfectly. Then came diced pork belly, the meat sizzling with a golden crust.
Steam filled the air, rich and comforting.
The System chimed softly in his head.
[Skill Activation: Precision Stir-Fry Lv.1]
[Flavor Harmony +8%]
Ethan grinned faintly. He poured in a small ladle of his secret broth—the one he'd made by instinct days ago. The rice shimmered brighter, and a faint golden light spread across the dish.
The crowd leaned closer, whispering.
Ronan frowned. "What trick is that?"
Ethan didn't answer. He plated the fried rice neatly, the aroma thick and layered. It wasn't flashy—but it was perfect.
Ronan finished seconds later, placing a glowing steak topped with mana-crystals on his plate. His assistants clapped. "Chef Ronan's masterpiece—Celestial Beast Steak."
Boris Granwell himself had arrived, intrigued by the commotion. "A cooking duel? Well, this I must see."
Both dishes were placed before him.
Ronan's was impressive—every bite released a faint burst of mana, the taste sharp and powerful. Boris nodded appreciatively.
Then he turned to Ethan's dish and took a spoonful.
The room went silent.
Boris's eyes widened. The subtle sweetness of Spirit Rice mixed with the smoky pork and soft herbs. Each grain had its own flavor, yet they blended together in perfect balance. It wasn't just food—it was harmony.
He took another spoonful, then another.
When he finally set down the spoon, he looked at Ronan. "Chef Ronan, your technique is excellent. But…" He smiled at Ethan. "This fried rice feels alive. Every flavor tells a story. My vote goes to Crescent Moon Inn."
The crowd cheered. Ronan's expression darkened. "Impossible! He used basic ingredients!"
Boris chuckled. "Perhaps that's why he won. True chefs don't need fancy tools to create magic."
The System chimed again in Ethan's mind.
[Quest Complete: Defeat the Rival Chef]
[Reward: +50 Fame Points, Skill Upgrade Token x1]
[Hidden Reward: Rival System Fragment detected.]
Ethan blinked. "Rival System Fragment?"
A small, glowing shard appeared in his hand, humming softly. He could feel a strange energy inside it—like a piece of someone else's cooking power.
Ronan scowled, turning away. "You may have won this round, but you won't survive long in this city. The culinary world here is ruled by power, not flavor."
He stormed out, his assistants following. The crowd applauded louder, some tossing coins onto the counter in excitement.
Ethan just sighed, wiping his hands. "Well, that escalated quickly."
He opened the System panel again. The Fame counter jumped.
[Reputation: 106/100]
[Inn Rank: C-]
His heart raced a little. That one victory pushed him to the next tier.
He tapped on the Skill Upgrade Token. A blue light enveloped him.
[Skill Upgraded: Heat Control Lv.1 → Lv.2]
[New Effect: Allows precise temperature zoning across multiple pans.]
He grinned. "Now we're talking."
But the System wasn't done.
[New Feature Unlocked: Recipe Evolution.]
[Combine two dishes to create a higher-grade recipe.]
Ethan's eyes widened. "Combine recipes? So I can… evolve my dishes?"
The panel blinked.
[Suggested Combination: Golden Spirit Fried Rice + Merchant's Feast Special → Evolved Recipe: Radiant Harmony Bowl.]
[Required Ingredients: Spirit Rice (Tier 2), Pork Belly, Herb Broth, Essence of Heat (Unknown).]
He frowned at the last ingredient. "Essence of Heat? Never heard of that."
The System stayed silent, as if teasing him.
He looked out the window, where the evening sun dipped low, turning the streets orange. The inn was bustling with laughter and chatter again. He could feel momentum building—slowly, but surely.
Ethan wiped down the counter and whispered to himself, "Alright, System. If this world wants the best food it's ever tasted… then I'll give it everything I've got."
Outside, far across the city, Ronan entered a dark carriage. Inside sat a man in noble robes, eyes glinting with interest.
"So, he's the one who beat you?" the noble asked softly.
Ronan clenched his fists. "Yes. The chef from Crescent Moon Inn."
The noble smiled faintly. "Good. Then he's worth recruiting—or destroying."
To be continued...