IGPB 09

Chapter 9

“Hehehe, grow well, my little food supplies.”
After finishing the harvest, I poured water generously over the new seeds I had just planted.
Thanks to the farmer skill buff, my previous worries seemed ridiculous now — this was already my third harvest.

In other words, I no longer had to worry about starving to death.

It’s been about a month since I was transported into this game world, and honestly? I’ve adapted way too well.
“…Time really flies.”

Through lots of trial and error, I discovered that the Aqua Mystica had multiple functions.
Not only could it tame monsters, but it could also absorb magical energy and let me use the absorbed monster’s abilities.

And there was a distinction between monsters:

• Those who naturally followed me, like Ruby and the Golem, were marked as “Tamed.”

• Those whose power I neutralized using Aqua Mystica’s skill, like the Giant Slime, were marked as “Subjugated.”

It seemed like I was destined to walk the overpowered path with a legendary weapon, but of course, I had my own headache of a problem.

To get water, I had to fetch it manually from the “Everflowing Spring” near the forest.
sigh… Walking that long distance back and forth every time was so inefficient.

So while thinking of solutions, an idea hit me.
“If it can absorb magic, can’t it absorb water too?”

My muscles ached every night from the constant trips, so I decided to test it immediately.
“Athica, absorb the water!”

Shooaa—

I decided to call Aqua Mystica “Athica” for short. Why? Because the full name was just too long.

“How… how is this possible?! This spring has never dried up before…! That’s incredible, Lady Zoe!”
“That crazy human is draining the whole spring!!”

Athica didn’t stop absorbing until the once-everflowing springbed was nearly dry.
Because of that, I had to endure a lot of glares from the monsters living nearby.

Luckily, the spring eventually refilled on its own — otherwise, I’d have gone down in history as an eco-terrorist.

Drip drip drip…

“And that’s the last of it!”
As I watered the garden row by row, the seedlings from the first row began to poke their heads up, shimmering in the noon sunlight.

“Kyuuu~!”
“Ruby…”

sigh I just bathed you…

I frowned as Ruby rolled all over the dirt, covering her freshly cleaned fur in mud.

“Kyuuuung!”
…Oh, are you smiling? You little rascal.

“Ruby, bath time.”
“Kyuuuuu!”
“Oh no, don’t you dare run!”

With a pale face, Ruby tried to bolt, but I caught her mid-leap and dragged her into the bath. I scrubbed her until not a speck of grime remained — no mercy.

Sniff sniff. “Ah, my Ruby smells so good now.”
“Whimper…”

Once I poured a little perfume into the bathwater, her fur gave off a sweet lavender scent.
Now’s my chance!

I buried my face into her fur and took a deep sniff.
Ruby immediately pushed my face away with her fluffy paw.
“Kyuu!”

Oh dear, she’s sulking.

But I have a magic spell that always works.
“Ruby~ Want a snack?”
“Kyuuu~!”

Just like that, Ruby’s face brightened up.
Heh. Whether it’s animals or monsters, no one can resist snacks.

“Hmm… how about apple pie today?”

At first, I treated Ruby like a regular dog and restricted her diet, but it turned out she was an omnivorous magical beast.
So now, we often share the snacks I make.

“Kyuu~!”
“Alright, Ruby. Can you light the oven for me?”
“Kyuu!”

Whoosh! Fwoosh!

Ruby’s fireball hit the oven perfectly, igniting it to just the right temperature.
Perfect. Let’s start with the filling—thinly slice the apples…

“Tada! Apple pie complete!”

After enduring the long baking time, the golden, glossy apple pie was finally done.
I sliced off a warm piece, and as I took a bite, the sweetness of the apple and the buttery crust melted together perfectly.

Jesus Christ, I was born for this.

At that moment, the system message appeared:

[System] Congratulations! Your title has evolved from “Peep Peep! Chick Chef” to “Kitchen Assistant Chef.”

• New cooking skills unlocked!

• “Cooking Completion = MSG”: Add magical seasoning to maximize flavor.

• “Mother’s Touch”: Cooked food restores health and mana.

• “Chef’s Eye”: Analyze ingredient quality and identify the ideal cooking method.

“…Holy crap, these are amazing skills.”

I glanced down at my apple pie.
It already tasted Michelin-star level, but now a skill that maximizes flavor?
It had to be divine.

“Activate skill: Cooking Completion = MSG!”

A pink grinder with glowing runes appeared in my hand. The top was studded with tiny jewels, and the bottom was made of transparent crystal.

“…Why does it look so unnecessarily pretty? Hmm, do I just turn this?”

Rattle rattle—

As I twisted the handle, sparkling dust sprinkled magically over the apple pie.

I then activated “Mother’s Touch” as well.
The name was self-explanatory — a giant ethereal hand appeared and started kneading the pie lovingly.
The pie’s shape became flawless, though for some reason I worried it might now taste… salty.

“…Wow. Holy sh*t.”

One bite of the enhanced apple pie, and my soul ascended briefly to heaven.
It was that good.

I decided right then that I had to share this flavor with my monster friends in the forest.
Something this divine had to be shared.

“Ruby, let’s go give snacks to our friends!”

I stuffed a mountain of apple pies into a big wooden basket — baker-style — and set off toward the woods.

“Mr. Golem! I’m here!”
“Lady Zoe? What brings you here today?”
“Oh-ho, so you’re the famous Lady Zoe I’ve heard about? A pleasure to meet you.”

When I arrived at Golem’s house, someone sitting at the round wooden table greeted me.
I turned toward the voice.

“…It’s a white cotton candy.”
“Cotton candy? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ah, Lady Zoe. This is Master Sompara, a Great Monster.”

I blinked at him.

Sompara had a small, round body like a ball of white cotton candy, with stubby arms and legs. Two antennae poked out of his head, and tiny fairy-like wings fluttered on his back. He looked so cute it was hard to believe he wasn’t some kind of fairy.

“…That’s a Great Monster? Really?”

Great Monsters were said to be ancient beings who had spiritually evolved over countless years — intelligent, majestic, and powerful.
So this… fluffy marshmallow? Didn’t fit the image at all.

“Ahem! That’s quite a rude question, Lady Zoe!”

Sompara pounded the table indignantly with his tiny hands.
Why did he sound like a pompous noble from an old drama?

I told myself not to judge by appearances, but honestly, this was testing me.

“…You’re really a monster? Not a fairy?”
“Lady Zoe! Apologize at once! I may possess fairy-like beauty, but I am the proud leader of the Sompara clan!”
“Haha, that’s right. Master Sompara is one of the most skilled craftsmen among his kind. Everything the Sompara clan makes is top-quality,” Golem explained.

“M-my apologies, Sompara. I didn’t know.”
“Well… very well. As a higher life-form, I shall forgive you.”

…So I’m a lower life-form now? This guy…

Golem once told me that monsters see short-lived humans as lesser beings.
Apparently, humans can’t understand monster speech, but monsters can understand human language — not because of words, but by reading natural energy or wavelengths.
…Yeah, maybe I am the lower life-form here.

So, as the humble human I was, I smiled politely and asked,
“So you’re a craftsman, huh? What exactly do you make?”

“Hmph. Curious, are you? Then, Lady Zoe… please, come a little closer.”