The next morning, Mag opened his eyes almost at the same time as the alarm clock began to ring. He faltered momentarily before silencing the alarm.
Just a second ago, he had obtained approval from the system for his kebabs, and he was back to the real world in the blink of an eye. He had stayed a full 100 days in the test field for the God of Cookery before he mastered the beef kebab. Every step of the procedure had presented its own challenges, and it could be seen that a simple-looking beef kebab was a very complex food item to make.
However, during that time, Mag had also gained many skills. These included superior ingredient-processing, a greater understanding of condiments, better control over flames and heat… In fact, it could be said that he had reached the pinnacle in all of those areas, thereby achieving many small targets that he had had.
I should cook a delicious beef kebab to surprise Amy this morning. Mag got up from his bed. Even though he had technically been resting the entire time that he was in the test field for the God of Cookery, cooking kebabs for 100 consecutive days without a pause was still quite draining mentally. If he were to close his eyes, he’d feel as if beef kebabs had been imprinted onto the back of his eyelids.
“Ding! New mission: hunt down a mature Ironhide Bull within 24 hours and obtain its rib-eye beef as ingredients for the first-ever batch of kebabs to be cooked on the Norland Continent. Punishment for mission failure: deduction of one strength point. Reward for mission completion: access to all of the required ingredients and cooking utensils for making kebabs.”“Holy f*ck! Don’t you get sick of doing this all the time? Don’t you have any original missions? Should a high-quality system like you be recycling missions like this? Also, as a God of Cookery Cultivation System, why are you encouraging me to go hunt every day rather than stay home and cook? Can’t you just let me focus on cooking?” Mag rolled his eyes.
After a brief silence, the system added, “If you can complete the mission within 12 hours, you get the aforementioned reward as well as an additional 0.5 of a strength point and a mooncake recipe.”
“That’s a good system. Only an exemplary system like you can invent such a refreshing and brilliant mission.” Mag immediately had a change of tack.
What were strength points?
They were the light! They presented hope for human evolution! Half a strength point was the equivalent of 25,000 gold coins!
Of course, most importantly, completing the mission within 12 hours would earn him half a strength point. Mag was desperate for progression, so this was a perfect opportunity for him.
The system hadn’t yet released the price for the next strength point. However, judging from its foul personality, since the last strength point had cost him 50,000 gold coins, there was no way the next strength point would cost any less than 100,000 gold coins.Furthermore, aside from that half of a strength point, the system was even promising a mooncake recipe as a bonus reward. Mag had promised Amy to make mooncakes for her, and with a mooncake recipe, he would be able to hold a moon festival celebration and fulfill his promise to Amy.
Mag was instantly invigorated by the reward for this mission. He turned his attention to Amy, who was still sound asleep in her little bed.
“This is a warning from the system: you must complete the mission on your own, and irregular weapons, including your daughter, are strictly prohibited.” The system’s stern voice sounded.
“System, I must refute your statement. Amy is my prized treasure; she’s the most important thing in my life. How can you describe her as an irregular weapon? That is a twisted interpretation of my paternal love and a brutal insult to my pride. As such, I’m going to protest by taking her on a hike with me,” Mag replied in a serious manner.
A line of ellipsis silently hovered through his mind, reflecting the system’s complex feelings.
Mag whistled as he made his way downstairs. He cooked two portions of Yangzhou fried rice before rousing Amy and announcing to her that they were ditching classes to go on a hike.
“Father, do we really not have to go to classes today?” Amy rubbed her bleary eyes with a joyful expression.
“That’s right. We’re going to go on a hike to procure some ingredients. We’re going to capture a big cow, and I’m going to make some delicious roast meat kebabs for you.” Mag nodded with a smile as he fitted Amy into a simple pink and blue floral dress before taking her downstairs.
“Roast meat kebabs? So I’ll get to have a lot of roast meat?” Amy’s eyes were shimmering with anticipation.
“That’s right. You get to have as much roast meat as you like.” Mag nodded with a warm smile.
“You’re the best, Father!” Amy threw her arms around Mag’s leg with an elated expression. She then picked up the sleeping Ugly Duckling and shook it awake before saying, “Ugly Duckling, if you don’t’ get up now, we’re going to leave you at home on your own.”
Ugly Duckling was pretending to be asleep, but it immediately opened its eyes in horror and shook its head vehemently upon hearing that.
“Let’s go together, then.” When they had gone to rescue the elves the night before, Ugly Duckling had already fallen asleep, so they left it at home. When they came back, the little kitten was waiting for them at the restaurant entrance with an extremely pitiable and traumatized look on its little face.
“Meow!” Ugly Duckling immediately sprang up with elation.
“Alright, then we’ll take you with us, but you’ll have to walk on your own; you’re no longer a baby.” Amy’s expression remained firm even at the sight of Ugly Duckling’s pitiable display. She then spread open her arms to Mag, and said, “Father, carry me.”
“Alright, Princess Amy.” Mag smiled as he turned around, revealing his wide back for Amy to clamber onto.
“Thank you.” Amy put down Ugly Duckling before climbing onto Mag’s back. She circled her arms around Mag’s neck and giggled as she said, “Let’s go!”
“Meow~” Ugly Duckling put on an urgent expression as it stood on the bed. Mag picked it up in one hand before going downstairs with Amy on his back.
After breakfast, Mag pulled out that business hiatus slip that he had written last time and amended it slightly before plastering it onto the door. After that, he got onto his bike and rode it toward the mercenary union. He had to find out if there were Ironhide Bulls around Chaos City first.
“Are you serious? Boss Mag has gone to procure ingredients again! I won’t be able to taste the delicious savory tofu pudding today!” Outside Mamy Restaurant, all of the customers sighed in dejection at the sight of the slip on the door.
Who revealed the news to him? That shameless bastard ran away! Ricky squeezed his way to the entrance and glowered at the slip.
