The scent of smoked fish and honey still clung to the walls of Ken's home as he sat by the window, journal open in his lap. He hadn't written in it before his reincarnation—but since arriving in this world, the need to record his journey had become instinctual.
Tonight's entry, though, came slower than usual.
> There were three of them. Travelers, supposedly. But they watched me too closely to be just curious eaters.
Ken tapped the charcoal pencil to his chin.
> The girl—Elira, she said her name was—spoke like someone who expected answers. And she had the kind of posture you only see in people used to command.
He stared out into the star-filled night sky.
> Why me? What do they want?
His hand hovered over the page before writing the last line:
> I'm not ready for whatever they're planning. Not yet. But I will be.
He set the book down and exhaled slowly.
Tomorrow would be a normal day again. Harvesting. Cooking. Tending to traps. Training. Improving.
And waiting.
---
Meanwhile...
Two days' ride northeast, the cobbled streets of Venmere shimmered in the evening lanternlight. The city buzzed as it always did—street vendors peddling fresh bread, nobles in silk cloaks flitting between carriages, and taverns ringing with laughter and lute music.
Inside a tall, ivy-covered building near the artisan's quarter, The Silver Hearth pulsed with quiet prestige. Polished stone floors, wrought iron chandeliers, and staff trained to silence their steps. It was more than a restaurant. It was a name whispered in every noble's ear when they wanted a meal prepared by culinary royalty.
At the head of the kitchen stood Lady Marrow, a sharp-eyed woman in her mid-fifties with a braid of silver and black hair coiled around her crown like a wreath. Her apron was pristine, her blade movements sharper than most swordsmen.
Reya leaned against the entry arch of the kitchen.
"You always look like you're planning a battle," she teased.
Marrow didn't glance up. "That's because I am. Now speak. You didn't come here for the candied parsnips."
Reya tossed a pouch of dried mountain salt onto the prep table.
"I found a boy. In a village you've probably never heard of. Young. Smart. And his hands… they know fire. He cooked for an entire town at a festival, and it wasn't garbage."
Marrow arched one thin eyebrow. "Not garbage is a low bar."
Reya smirked. "He served wild boar skewers with a garlic glaze that actually made me shut up for thirty seconds. He made desserts with local honey and foraged herbs. He even uses clay pots he molds himself for slow-roasted stews."
That caught Marrow's attention. She set down her knife.
"He molds his own pots?"
"Yes."
Marrow walked around the counter, arms crossed. "You want me to bring a child into my kitchen. Risk my name on some wild-born cook."
"He's not wild. He's just… misplaced. But he's got the bones of a real chef. And a story that'll draw crowds."
Marrow stared at Reya for a long moment.
"I'll consider it," she said finally. "But I want to taste something first. Have him send a dish. Something bold. Something he'd feed a king if he only had one shot."
Reya pondered. "I think it would work out best if you could go to him otherwise the dish wouldn't be as fresh."
"You think I can just leave my restaurant to visit some random boy? I'm too busy for that. Just bring him here and I'll see what he's got."
Reya put her hand to her chin. "I'm not sure if his parents will let, since he is only about 10 or 11 years old."
"What?! You think I should bring a 10 year old brat into my restaurant?!"
Reya chuckled. "You know I'm a big foodie. I promise you it's worth it."
Lady Morrow sighed. "Fine, but you let him know I am coming and to have something prepared. I can't spend forever in a little village for him to make something from start to finish."
"I'll make sure he knows."
---
Back in the village…
Ken was already awake before dawn, stretching sore limbs and tying his boots tight. He had traps to check, ingredients to gather, meals to prep.
But beneath the surface, a storm had begun to stir—one that would reach even the quietest corners of his village.
He didn't know it yet, but somewhere in the capital, a door was opening.
One that only a cook with fire in his heart could walk through.
---
> KEN — STATUS (End of Chapter 24)
Level: 6
EXP: 30/120
Unspent Attribute Points: 5
Skills Unlocked:
Ingredient Prep (Lv. 2 – 45%)
Fire Control (Lv. 2 – 35%)
Seasoning Sense (Lv. 2 – 30%)
Ingredient Identification (Lv. 1 – 97%)
Basic Gardening (Lv. 1 – 48%)
Basic Trapping (Lv. 1 – 80%)
Butchering (Lv. 1 – 90%)
Meal Preservation (Lv. 1 – 75%)
Food Packaging (Lv. 1 – 75%)
Clay Crafting (Lv. 1 – 6%)
Basic Archery (Lv. 1 – 65%)
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