I was at the kitchen's depot. A large square room linked to the kitchen by a small hallway.
Once inside you would see all the different types and kinds of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Most of them I had already seen back on Earth, but some spices and other ingredients were new to me.
Gustave sent me here to peel potatoes. Shitloads of them, I had absolutely no idea why he would need such a large amount, but I still kept on doing the same thing over and over again.
I stopped counting when I reached one hundred potatoes, and soon after, I received this
Cooking proficiency increased.
Level 2/10
It seems that it is easier to gain skills related to something that you already know.
As for a matter of fact, I have told Gustave of this, and he was astonished at the sudden and fast increase in class level.
One more thing I got to discover that each class has ten levels. Some of the rarer ones have more.
These ten levels are checkpoints that everyone goes through. With each level up, a person receives increased bonuses related to the said class.
For me, it was just cooking proficiency. Meaning I can make anything taste better or just a better handling of the overall cooking process.
As for how I know cooking, Mom died when I was young and my father was rarely at home. So I had to learn to cook that since before I could remember.
I kept on peeling potatoes for a long time, but to level up, I need to do something else.
So I gave up soon after and went to see Gustave who was just done with the final touches of his service.
The party that went dungeon exploring three days ago will be back today. Information had arrived earlier that stated that all of them had turned back safe. No deaths no injuries, I mean why would they be injured if one of the cardinal's best healers went with them.
I was not thrilled to see them or anything, as a matter of fact, I was hoping that they would forget my existence and would just carry on with their lives. Like the random people you meet on the street, a passing memory.
After watching the chef doing the final touches, I somehow received another level up of the cooking class
Cooking proficiency increased
3/10
I gasped in surprise as that was fast and almost began contemplating how my life would be if I fully fledged my life to cooking.
Three levels already and I have yet to touch a pot or a pan.
Gustave turned to look at me. Normally I would never interrupt, so the chef looked perplexed, and I instantly explained to him
"I am sorry chef Gustave, it is just that I received yet another level up in the cooking class just from watching you. It seems weird, isn't it? I think the system is bugged."
"Bugged? I have no such thing in my kitchen!" proudly claimed the chef.
I think he got that wrong somehow.
"But watching is too, a part of learning. That is why you leveled up the cooking skill. However, you are leveling up quite fast young man. It took me three years to reach level three while it took you three hours…I think this comes with the gimmick of you being one of the summoned heroes."
"Very well!" said Gustave in a manner that woke me from my pointless contemplation.
"We will be serving the tables my dear apprentice!" said the chef and gently and elegantly carried three plates in each arm and walked forward.
I did not try to mimic him because I knew that would end in a disaster. So I carried one in each hand and followed behind the chef.
"You see my child," said Gustave "Although I am one of the best cooks in the kingdom, I still fall short of the tenth and final level of my class. And by the way, you are progressing, and if you truly put your heart into this matter, I believe that you could be the one to make it to the final level."
Said the chef while walking in front of me.
I really don't need that though.
"But once you do, don't forget that it was Gustave Sublini that was your mentor!" laughed the man.
Once we were downstairs, the table was already set.
I find it weird for a chef to be serving his own food, but this cook likes it. He said that it was pointless to do all this work and have another man bringing it to the table.
One more thing, although the food was served before the guys showed up, the plates had some sort of magic that would keep it in its exact temperature and freshness as long as the plates are still uncovered.
After four more trips, the table was finally served and at the exact same moment that I was placing the last plate the big door leading to the dining room opened up.
The guys from the expedition just got back looking joyous and energetic like never.
I tried to hurry up and leave before they would notice me but I was too late.
"Hey loser!" said the irritating and despicable Yuji. "So you are now the chef's hand?! Look at you with all those clothes looking like a real housewife."
Said the blond Yuji who was wearing a strange set of metallic armor.
It was similar to the ones worn by the knights outside, only this one had a strange golden hue to it. Almost divine.
I did not want to reply the guy, so I just ignored him and walked away.
However, the moment I took another step the guy showed up in front of me.
How did he do that?
"I bet you are surprised!" said the blond guy "It is a new skill that I learned when I went to that dungeon. And one more thing."
Once he said the words, he punched me in my stomach strong enough that I thought I was gonna throw up my innards.
Critical hit!
-54Hp
You have lost more than fifty percent of your life points with one hit.
You have been stunned
I dropped to my knees, unable to breathe, gasping for air that refuses to enter my lungs.
Agonizing seconds passed like days. Before I finally regained my hastened and irregular breathing, I heard the guy say.
"I don't like being ignored, it makes me look like a fool," said the blond guy with a devilish smile on his face.
I saw Gustave approaching Yuji, menacingly but I don't think the cook can handle this guy.
So I raised my hand to spare to the old man the same fate.
"What is going on!" said a knight, this one I knew. He was Jarve Rionheart. The one that was responsible for the party of warriors.
Yuji raised both his hands and his expressions turned docile and meek
"Oh, it was just an accident, Captain Rionheart. Nothing serious, after all, it was not me who got hurt. It is just this loser, so fear not for my safety."
The fuck is going on with this guy
The knight took another look at me and instantly walked away. Probably I was so insignificant that being trashed by the 'hero' is something that even he can just look the other way.
I got back up, avoiding eye contact and left the scene. Letting them eat but not before I heard Yuji saying
"Oh, I don't think I can eat anything that the loser had his hand over, I am sorry, but I would like another plate. Something that he had not touched. To be more precise."
Once he said so the others had even dared to agree with him and refused the already placed food.
Once we were up in the kitchen a man from the cardinal' own came up. He was a priest of sorts that wore similar clothes to the Cardinal only lesser toned from the golden embroidery and without the hat.
He spoke to Gustave, words that I understood fully the meaning of. Gustave however still argued and reasoned with the man to no avail.
The priest spoke to me saying.
"Lad, you have been assigned here without the consent of the cardinal. You will be sent back to the sewers, you have your job to do there."
I didn't argue nor did I try to do what Gustave did. I just placed my working gown and walked down the stairs after bidding the chef farewell.