Technically, I should be in the Emerald Forest, sying Grimm and leveling up. However, I've decided to focus on raising my other jobs to maximize my stat gains. If I don't do this, I would be wasting my potential, especially since the experience required to level up increases as I progress. So, I've decided to postpone my excursion until next week.

  And just to be clear, it's not because a certain short girl dragged me away from my apartment to entertain her since she was bored.

  I can only let out a long sigh, both mentally and physically.

  But nothing beats a cold Pepsi to wash my problems away. That drink is worth every lien. Conveniently enough, there is a trash can quite close, so inevitably I try my accuracy and shoot.

  Score!

  However, a tap on my shoulder interrupts my minor celebration. I turn around to see Neo with a curious expression on her face as she points towards where I discarded my drink, making me raise an eyebrow.

  "You want one?"

  She nods.

  I rub the back of my head, looking conflicted. "It is kinda expensive and…"

  She rolls her eyes and my scroll rings a text notification.

  'How much?'

  "It costs me three thousands a single one. I'm not scamming you or anything, but there is only one pce to buy, and the prices are fixed."

  It's an… online shop of sorts.

  Neo casually pulls out the exact amount of lien and hands it over.

  [3000 lien has been added to your inventory.]?Since my scroll is at hand, I open the online store and quickly purchase a single Pepsi for my crazy companion.

  [Pepsi has been added to your inventory.]

  I summon the drink and hand it over to my questionable partner, who receives it with curiosity and begins inspecting it from every angle. As she turns the can in her hand, I can see the wonder in her eyes. She's never seen this drink before, and I can't bme her for being so intrigued. Compared to the other options, it looks completely different. The only drink that bears any resembnce to it is called Dr. Piper.

  Neo finally pops open the can and takes a long sip from the carbonated drink. I notice her eyes widen before she gulps down everything, crushing the can in her hand, determined to squeeze out every st drop before throwing it away.

  I chuckle at her reaction. "Pretty good, huh?"

  The fashionista licks her lips before contorting into a daring smile and shaking her head. Her hand snakes up and grabs my cheek, pulling it slightly to tease me. I let her have her fun until she uses more strength than necessary, at which point I put a stop to it. There's a limit to how much she can get away with, after all. Nonetheless, her mischievous grin remains.

  Seconds ter, my scroll rings again.

  'Bring me a six-pack of that Pepsi by Tuesday.'

  I grimace when thinking about the price tag but my features soften when I realize I don't have to buy everything until Tuesday so it won't affect my finances, like at all.

  And how did she write?

  I am literally holding her hand.

  "Just remember to pay. I'm not made of cash." I joke. But I don't think she would try to screw me over.

  Neo shrugs and stands up from our shared bench, her pink umbrel resting on her shoulder. I wave my goodbyes, but in her case, she doesn't settle for just a wave.

  She walks up to me and pats my head, her soft smile gradually giving way to a cocky grin. As she ruffles my hair, she pays extra attention to my ears, and I swat her hand to preserve what little dignity I have left, causing her to giggle and leaving victorious.

  I keep my gaze fixed on Neo until her body shatters into a million pieces. I'm gd that the park is empty, or she would have attracted unwanted attention. It's just like her to make a fshy exit, and I can't help but wonder what kind of mischief she'll get into next.

  However, now I'm pretty sure she is gone and can finally rex by myself.

  Now that I have some free time, I slump onto the bench and watch the clouds drifting slowly overhead. The sun is still up, but I'm not sure what to do with the remaining hours of daylight. I could work on training my skills, but I already devote most of my week to that, and I'm not about to ask my jerk of a boss for a weekend job. He'd see it as an excuse to make me work even more. Even if he will pay well and I am confident in negotiating favorable terms, my free time is that, my FREE time.

  If I remember correctly, I'm close to a breakthrough in my cooking job. Maybe I should use this opportunity to push through that st barrier. And since I have my inventory, it won't be a waste of food.

  It doesn't take me long to make up my mind. I stand up from the bench and decide to head to the grocery store to stock up on some ingredients.

  On my way out of the park, my ears suddenly perk up at a peculiar sound, more like an echo reverberating from the other side of the area. Initially, I consider ignoring it and continuing on my way, but my curiosity gets the better of me and decide to investigate, thinking that it might make my otherwise uneventful afternoon a bit more interesting.

  As I make my way towards the sound, I step off the stone path and venture further into the park, eventually coming across a wall of bushes that blocks my path. I gnce around but fail to find an entrance, so I take a deep breath and leap over the greenery, nding gracefully on the other side.

  "Hiyaaaah!"

  My ears drums catching such a clear odd shouting only reassures me I am on the right path to find whoever is making such stupid noises.

  "Uwaaaah!"

  I cringe a little. Whoever is… screaming should be thankful there is nobody around or would become a ughingstock. Nevertheless, my curiosity pulls me forward, and I soon spot the source of the commotion - a lone figure on the grass, swinging a sword and shield while cd in an incomplete set of shiny armor.

  Better said.She was filing her arms like wet noodles. Her blond hair is incredibly long, almost reaching down her waist, which is tied into a single braid. And said hair makes far more graceful moves than her own arms that she actually has control of.

  "Haaaah!"

  She takes another swing, using her entire body in the worst possible way, practically sending her shield to her back and twisting her entire body, leaving her head and shoulders exposed.

  I furrow my brows and take a moment to think. It isn't like I'm an expert on fighting or swordsmanship, so I shouldn't criticize her training, but her movements are so atrocious that I see no foundation coming from her.

  It's ughably sad, but I can't bring myself to ugh. Pity overtakes me when I realize that she is around my age.

  I let out a long sigh and watch her finally drop to her knees, gasping for air.

  An idea occurs to me, but I push it to the back of my mind. I don't want to give the first wrong impression even if it would be hirious. Yet the temptation is there with sweet whispers to carry on with the original pn.

  Shaking my head from those thoughts, I finally called her out. "Hey, what's with all the fuss? I thought someone was dying here, or are you hurt?"

  The blonde trainee lifts her gaze, and her eyes widen as she scrambles to get up from the ground and brush off her clothes. "Ummm… sorry if I was bothering you. I was training and stuff." She finishes with an innocent smile.

  I tilt my head to the right. "You train by filing your arms and screaming?"

  "It's a battle cry! Everyone does it!" She snaps angrily.

  I take her decration into consideration for about three seconds. "Well, you aren't wrong in that regard. But I don't think someone has to practice that, it comes naturally. It's weird, and yours sounds more like a moaning hobo."

  The armored girl turns red with embarrassment, but her eyes betray her anger. "If… if you are here just to mock me, then I'm leaving."

  I quickly raise both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay sorry. I went too far with that one. Name's Ma'iq and you?"

  She sighs in relief and offers a handshake, which I accept with a firm grip. "J-Jeanne D'Arc."

  I release her hand after one st squeeze and gesture at my surroundings. "So, Jeanne. Why are you training here? If I recall correctly, there are gyms and training grounds. Heck, even the Emerald forest is a suitable spot to practice and gain firsthand experience."

  Ren and Nora seemed to enjoy going to that grimm infested forest. And I used it exclusively to increase my main css levels.

  Jeanne smiles sheepishly at me, a red tinge of red forming on her cheeks. "I… I don't really have the money to pay for gym membership, and the training grounds are always full. As for the Emerald forest... it's too dangerous."

  You need to buy a subscription to use a gym? That's a new one for me. Although I have never gone to a gym, self-training and Bke's improvised regime have been enough so far.

  I wonder where she is and what she is doing right now.

  However, thinking about my mentor gives me an idea of what to do with this hopeless blonde and takes one page from Bke's terrible first draft for a training regime.

  A bit of tough love.

  "Get in your stance."

  "Uh?"

  "Get your stance ready. I will test your mettle." I reiterate my order with a commanding tone.

  "Okay…" She gulps loudly and raises her weapons.

  I carefully observe Jeanne's stance and movements as I walk around her in a circle. However, as I approach her, I notice her becoming increasingly uncomfortable and fidgety, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Despite her embarrassment, I continue my analysis, noting several major issues with her posture and technique and confirming my initial thoughts of complete ck of foundation in any sort of martial arts.

  And if that is just her stance, then I can already imagine her actual attacks. "Now, swing your sword again." I tell her.

  She follows my request and repeats the same awful attack from before. This time I have a critical eye on her.

  I furrow my brow, unable to conceal my disappointment. "Who's been teaching you? That was beyond horrible."

  "No one…" she admits weakly.

  "Self-taught?" I cock a brow.

  She scratches her head in clear embarrassment as her gaze drops to the ground. "I read books and watched lots of action movies… so I've tried to mix a little of everything. Make my own style, you know?"

  I open my mouth to reply, but then close it as I think over my words. Although honesty is an excellent trait to have. "That was shit."

  "Hey! I trained hard." She angrily snaps.

  I stare at her with a bored expression. "No offense, but training in a shitty style only creates more shit."

  "As if you know any better!" she points an accusatory finger at me, but the sudden movement and her terrible grip cause her sword to fly from her hand. I step slightly to the left and watch as her bde impales the grass.

  I drag my hand across my face and let out a sigh. "Actually, I do know." Retrieving her shiny sword, I hand it back to her before taking one step back and raising my fists. "Attack me."

  Her eyes widen as she gives one step back. "Uhh?"

  "Attack me and see for yourself." I challenge Jeanne. I've come to the realization that only with actions will I get through her stubbornness.

  The wannabe huntress takes me up on my challenge and pulls back her whole arm, only to deliver the most predictable downward attack ever. It is not even aimed at my head, but at my left shoulder. And just like moments ago, her shield is but a mere shiny, heavy decoration, leaving her entire body exposed.

  With no effort, I give a single step to my right and let the sword pass. Her eyes go wide in surprise, but I don't give her a second to regret her terrible decisions as my knee connects with her chest and sends her crashing onto the ground.

  Aura for the win, because I'm pretty sure my joint would be sore from hitting her white chest pte.

  Despite I held back, she colpsed like a puppet whose strings were cut. That, once again, reaffirms my first impressions. The wannabe knightess has no foundation to rely upon.

  "Owww, what happened?" She clutches her chest with a pained expression. The armor at least protected her from direct damage, but the force behind my strike still reached her.

  And surprisingly, her chest armor didn't bend. At least she has quality equipment with her.

  "You lost, as expected." I deadpan.

  "I know that! I just… I didn't see it coming."

  I shrug nonchantly before extending my hand and help her stand up. An offer she quickly accepts and brushes off the grass from her jeans.

  I walk a couple of steps away and turn around with both fists up and ready to receive another of her attacks. "Come and try again."

  She quickly picks up her sword and shield before taking the same pitiful stance, full of openings.

  Jeanne nods and puffs her chest, causing me to raise an eyebrow in mild curiosity. But that curiosity disappears when she dashes forward again and comes with a predictable and slow thrusting attack. An attack to my stomach as the sole objective.

  I effortlessly spin to my left side and use the momentum to counter the shabby attack with a quick backhand directly to her head. Unsurprisingly, she tries to dodge but our speed difference is abysmal as it is too te for her to dodge my attack, but she tries nevertheless and her nose takes the full hit instead of her head.

  Yet my ears perk up when I hear a cracking sound that I am way too familiar with. One I only hear when my less than legal clients decide to be utter retards.

  "Ow ow ow ow ow…" Jeane groans as she rolls on the ground, both hands grabbing her nose, which may be broken.

  My ears go ft as I understand my terrible mistake and rush to help her in any way I can. "Shit, I didn't mean to!"

  "Ish. ish okai! It's okai…" She holds one hand up in the air to stop me from getting any closer. "Owwww my nose…"

  However, I immediately noticed blood on that hand and more leaking from the gap between her fingers.

  Wait, bleeding?

  "What happened to your aura?" I ask as I summon a napkin from my inventory and hand it to her. Why did I have napkins? Because for one, I had lots of food stored, and who knew when an emergency could occur? Just like the one I am currently in.

  She quickly pinches her nose with the napkin and takes deep breaths through her mouth.

  It was an accident. I can only repeat that in my head.

  It was a genuine accident.

  Minutes passed, minutes that felt like hours before she finally took off the napkin, revealing that the bleeding had finally stopped. However, she has a lot of dried blood around her nose and mouth.

  Yet something like that shouldn't happen to a huntress in training. And that's the exact moment when it clicks. My eyes widen when I connect the dots.

  "You… you don't have aura. That expins your slow movements and slow reflexes. Even If I shattered your aura, you would have passed out." I point out the obvious, causing her to whip her head to me with wide eyes.

  "I… I just forgot to use it! Yeah, I am a bit on the slow side so I didn't raise it in time… slow reflexes, ha ha!" Jeanne makes up pathetic excuses that wouldn't fool even a kid.

  Not satisfied with her excuses, she straightens her back and starts flexing her arms with a very forced smile, making me break out in ughter.

  "You suck at lying, you know that?"

  She slumps her shoulders, accepting her fate.

  With a flick of my wrist, I call up my inventory and retrieve a chilled drink, root beer, to be exact. She doesn't question my ability, but raises her hand to stop me again. "I don't drink."

  I roll my eyes and toss the can at her. "It's root beer."

  She fumbles with the can, and it falls to the grass with a ctter. However, she is quick to pick it up and carefully open it to avoid the can from exploding in her hands. Finally, she manages to open the can without it exploding in her hands, and she takes a long swig. A look of satisfaction crosses her face as she lets out a contented sigh.

  In my case, I simply sat down on the ground, crossed my legs, and let out a deep sigh. "So care to tell me why are you training to become a huntress despite not having aura or knowing shit about… well, anything?"

  "I… I have to try! It has always been my dream to become a huntress!" She lightly hits her chest. "I want to be just like my grandfather and even surpass him, is my family legacy."

  Family stuff?

  I can't really give my opinion since I'm an orphan, but I guess it has to have some weight or something to have her this… set with her beliefs.

  "Then why do you know shit about fighting? Or no aura?" I pause for a moment to think my words again, causing me to rub the back of my head with a sheepish smile. "Well, the aura part I cannot say much since is a pretty new thing to me, but still…"

  Jeanne's gaze drops again along with her shoulders, looking totally defeated. "I… I just have to train hard and unlock it. That's what everyone says, but I have yet to unlock it by myself."

  I wonder if she knows that other more experienced hunters can unlock it for her.

  "Were you hoping to join Beacon next year?" I ask. Beacon's initiation is pretty close, so it is fair to assume she is preparing for next year.

  "Not hoping. They accepted me!" She excims, making me look at her in utter shock.

  "Excuse me? Accepted you?"

  What sort of standards does Beacon have to let this… unqualified girl go through initiation?

  Unlike Ren and Nora, she is your average city girl. I cannot see anything redeemable besides her above average equipment.

  It's not a maybe, she WILL die.

  "Here's my proof!" Jeanne wastes no time in rummaging through her pockets and pulling out her scroll, which dispys her acceptance letter on the screen. The digital seal with the word "accepted" couldn't be more visible.

  As I read through the letter, I furrow my brow in confusion. It even praises her high marks in combat csses, which couldn't be further from the truth.

  "Did you fake your way in?" I merely comment.

  I know shit about documentation, but the seal and words and all the names, along with their signatures, make it look legit in my eyes.

  My comment elicits a look of horror on her face, instantly wiping away the excitement and confidence she had moments ago. "Ummmm no… yeah no, I didn't. They accepted me without issues because… because they saw how great I can be!"

  She puffs out her chest slightly to emphasize her words, but it's clear that my question has rattled her.

  "You really suck at lying."

  She deftes at my words. "I know… please, please, please don't tell anyone."

  I frown slightly, but my features soften soon after, repced by curiosity as I push the main issue to the back of my mind. "Where did you even get these… transcripts, right?"

  I get a nod of confirmation from her.

  "You don't look for the type to do… questionable stuff. Much less forge documents, unless you have been a master of deceit all this time and actually fooled me."

  Jeane lets out a short giggle before she shakes her head. "I… he… someone told me where I could get the papers. He seemed to be pretty cool. However, it was… expensive, but they guaranteed it would be worth every lien, so I had to give them most of my money. And it worked, so I can't really compin… much."

  A pretty cool guy?

  Roman comes to mind, but I highly doubt he would do business with people like her face to face. Then Neo in disguise comes to mind, but the idea is quickly discarded, for obvious reasons.

  Better than fill my head with pointless questions I should just ask them.

  "One moment…" I bring out my scroll and text to my only contact so far.

  'Do you guys also forge documents or anything reted?'

  I wait a moment for her answer.

  'Yup, lots of dumb kids buy from us. Interested in faking your way into Beacon? We can give you a discount.'

  Her reply doesn't surprise me.

  'You guys scammed a blondie, didn't you?'

  '>: )'

  Yup, that's the answer I've been waiting for.

  "You were scammed." I deliver the bad news as I stash my scroll back in my pocket.

  As expected, Jeanne's attitude has a drastic turn. "What?!"

  I raise one hand to stop her from going ballistic. "Let me finish. You were not scammed-scammed. More like you were taken advantage of and overpaid."

  She looks at me, confused at first, until she finally understands and looks away in embarrassment. "How.. How do you know this? They said they were giving me a discount!"

  I can already see how those two got her to spill out her life savings.

  "To answer your first question, I asked… a friend about forging transcripts." I raise a second finger. "And two, it was never a discount, just a way to sell you the idea that you are getting a fair deal."

  Yet my admission doesn't bode well with her as her face contorts into full anger and betrayal. "You told them?!"

  "I didn't rex. It is not like a super secret, to be honest. There are hundreds of applicants that do the same." I quickly defuse the situation, causing her anger to vanish just as quickly.

  "Ah… so I overpaid?"

  "Pretty much. How much did you pay, anyway?" I ask. It comes from a curiosity perspective more than anything.

  The blonde girl opens her mouth but stops herself, fidgeting nervously with her fingers. "Ummmm, I paid around fifty-five thousand…"

  I can feel my jaw drop in disbelief, but I quickly regain my composure and clear my throat. "Where did you even get that much money? You don't look like those snobby guys from the Upper Css District."

  "I borrowed a bit… and my family sent me a bit of money since they think I went to a University."

  "You stole from your family and are in debt… this is getting better and better." I comment with clear sarcasm in my voice. "Who did you borrow from, anyway?"

  Jeanne gives a sheepish smile. "From the same guys… but it's okay! The interest is very low and some economics things that make it pretty fair."

  This girl is fucked.

  "For your sake, I hope the amount is minimal, or you just signed your death sentence." I only know that the asshole sends Neo to collect money from his debtors, and she isn't the type to wait or grant mercy.

  "It was only five thousand lien. I can pay it back after I join Beacon and start doing missions."

  I have a firm belief that she no longer owns that much, but double the amount and after a month it will triple.

  "Do you have any money left?"

  "Yeah, like…" She raises three fingers.

  "Thousands, right?"

  Jeanne meekly nods.

  "You won't survive a month with that money. And you should just pay your debt as soon as possible. That people don't mess around." I comment from experience. Just rent alone takes thousands and food is another enormous expense. But doing a bit of math, my normal job can afford all of that, with some budgeting, of course.

  "I know!" She excims. "But I've found a motel room at a really good price, you know?"

  "And what about food?"

  "I bought a box of instant noodles and cereal bars. If I stretch it and skip some meals, I will definitely make it!"

  I tilt my head to the left. "Will you survive with junk food inside a shitty, cramped room?"

  Her survival pn doesn't sound healthy in the slightest and the debt crawling at her wont make it any better.

  "If I have to." She gives a nod of reassurance, trying to look tough for her future ahead.

  I stare at her with a bnk expression, causing her to lose a bit of her composure. "You know you can find a half-time job, right? You are a human. Finding a job won't be that hard for you."

  Almost instantly, she looks at me with wide eyes, before another blush creeps up on her cheeks. "I… haven't thought about it."

  I facepalm.. hard. "How are you even alive?"

  "HEY!"

  -Later-

  "No, bend those knees a bit more and straighten your back." I help Jeanne with her posture and use my foot to move hers a little more behind.

  She just nods and keeps her shield above her waistline.

  I take one step back and suddenly try to shove her away. She yelps as she is caught completely by surprise, but much to my satisfaction, she stays strong, not moving an inch from her pce.

  Although, this accomplishment is a bit of a mixed bag since it took me a while to get her to understand and keep a proper posture.

  "See? You became a stonewall."

  "Thanks?" She becomes confused by my strange way of praising, making me roll my eyes.

  "Well, at least you got a foundation. Now you should build up from here the rest." A job well done, and a different and interesting way to spend my free time. I did have fun, to say the least, so now I should return home and reach that cooking breakthrough.

  "Hey, can you help me train, please?" Her sudden request catches me off guard. I had only pnned for this to be a one-time thing to relieve my boredom.

  "Train you?" I repeat, my voice ced with skepticism. "I don't really know anything about training someone, especially when it comes to swords and shields. I'm more of a guy who punches things if you haven't noticed." To emphasize my words, I throw a few punches into the air.

  "I know, I know, but I don't know who else to ask or where to start," she pleads. "All fighting styles have something in common, right?"

  Well, she has a point. And she doesn't look like she will give up about going through initiation and in her current state she will likely be eaten alive by those monsters. I shouldn't really care about a stranger's well-being to be honest, but the idea of Jeanne dying doesn't sit well with me for some reason.

  Besides, I could use her to train myself in other things and maybe even discover something about my system as well.

  Ah, the possibilities are opening for me.

  "I have a very busy week, Jeanne." She lowers her gaze as a dark cloud is cast above her. "That's why I am only avaible on weekends."

  Much to my surprise, she leaps and traps me in a vice grip hug, trying to crush my body, and my aura once again comes to save the day. "Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!"

  [Affection with Jeanne d'Arc increased by 7, 07/100]?That's... the most points I've gained but I still fail to understand why now and with her in specific. Yesterday's event was still fresh. In theory, the Machite twins should have given anything, judging by their reactions, but I got nothing out of them.

  So why?

  I pry open her arms and free myself from her bear hug. "Okay, so I guess we need a schedule so next week at… 10 AM? I think that's plenty of time for both of us to be ready."

  She enthusiastically nods. "Noted."

  "And really, try to find a half-time job to pay that debt." I remind her.

  I don't really want Neo to be around while I'm with this clumsy girl that would be asking for a disaster.

  "I-I will try!"

  -Hours ter, at home-And after sprinkling some salt and pepper, my beef stew is finally complete.

  [Journeyman cook level increased by 1, 50/50]

  [Congratutions! Journeyman cook advanced to Adept cook.]?

  I raise my fist in triumph. It took me a couple of hours, but I achieved my goal for the day. The new breakthrough and discovery leave me deep in thought.

  I had been curious about it for some time. I wanted to know if it provided any benefits or if it was just a title. I don't want to downpy my achievement, but a new title as a journeyman only proved to be a slight improvement in taste and speed.

  [Beef stew added to your inventory.]?But on the other side, I won't go hungry for a long time.

  But that is a secondary thought as I'm ready to premier my new tier. I will start with something simple, since my ingredients are dangerous on low supply and I feel too zy to go out to buy some more. A sandwich will have to do for now.

  I have a loaf of bread, meat leftovers and vegetables.

  An improvised ham sandwich.

  But that would be too painfully simple. It should have mayonnaise, some tuna. Make a side sad to add more fvor. Then I should put one yer of butter on the bread before toasting it on my frying pan and...

  And that's too complex for a mere sandwich.

  I didn't used to think like that before, but now I do. Just the thought of putting a single yer of anything between two pieces of bread and calling it food not only sounds wrong but also mediocre compared to what I can accomplish.

  I furrow my brow and pick up a tomato and a sharp knife. Pcing the bde against the vegetable, I take a deep breath before making a precise, symmetrical cut. I widen my eyes in surprise at my own skill.

  To test it, I grab a half-used head of lettuce and slice it into perfect, even pieces.

  I set aside the vegetables and survey my selection of spices. My mind races with ideas for fvor combinations. Salt and pepper alone won't cut it. Maybe rosemary or cumin? Heck, even garlic powder would work.

  I sprinkle a bit of each spice onto the chopped vegetables, taking a small taste of each to ensure the fvors complement each other and…

  And I'm overcomplicating myself.

  Let's just make the sandwich before I end up making anything but a sandwich.

  My mind goes into autopilot for a few minutes, but I don't put any thought. I just wanted to see my idea finished.

  I stare at my not-so-simple triple ham sandwich and poke it with my finger. I can't help but compare it to my past creations and see how superior it looks in every way. By theory, the taste should be exquisite. I take a deep breath and pick up the sandwich, taking a rather big bite.

  As I chew, my mouth explodes with fvor, and fireworks go off inside as my taste buds experience bliss. My brain takes control subconsciously, and I devour the rest of the sandwich in two rge bites before swallowing without chewing correctly. The sandwich goes down my throat, causing a slight pain as it reaches my stomach. I rub my chest and cough a little, trying to ease my mistake.

  Yet, something inmeditaly feels off.

  I look at my right hand and clench it into a fist and punch the air.

  A frown fshes across my face, and try with another punch. I know my own strength quite well, so I know something is off with my strength behind those punches.

  'Status'

  Ma'iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Css: The pugilistLevel–6 (83%)Mentor – Bke BeldonnaApprentice– Jeanne d'ArcHP – 440/440 [45 regen per minute]MP – 1730/1730 [350 regen per minute]SP – 1950/1950 [200 regen per minute]STR–28(+1)END–34(+1)DEX–33INT–31WIS–26CHA–26LCK–10Status: [Well Fed, 59:11 minutes remaining]

  This is one of those moments when your heart stops beating for a second. My brain takes long seconds to understand what I've just read and what it is explicitly written in my status box.

  But the message is clear: I've gained a temporary boost.

  A +1 bonus for eating.

  My reaction is immediate as I run towards the fruit basket and grab the first thing within reach - a big red apple. I don't waste any time devouring it in its entirety before calling out my status after swallowing.

  However, my focus is forcefully shifted as I accidentally choke on the apple due to my hasty actions. I start hitting my chest with a closed fist to try and dislodge the apple.

  When the danger is gone, I take one deep breath and exhale. Only then do I call out my status again to check it out. Disappointingly, my stats remain exactly the same, except the timer, which keeps decreasing.

  But this answers my doubt. This temporary bonus only works with whatever food I prepare from now on. It makes perfect sense. I reached the Adept tier after all.

  This tier breakthrough is so much more than a title, the possibilities of this discovery. And what if the bonus varies on the complexity of my next dish? I got a simple +1 with a sandwich, a more eborated one, but a sandwich nonetheless.

  I didn't want to leave my home to buy more ingredients at first, but testing that hypothesis is a priority.

  And would this newly gained advantage also affect others?

  I guess there is only one way to find out.

  I work in a kitchen after all.

  And I haven't forgotten that now I have the clumsy Jeanne d'Arc as an apprentice.

  How does that even work?