"What was that sound?" Perry's heart raced, thudding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest. He quickly reached into his backpack, clutching his magic book tightly, ready for any potential danger that might come his way.
"Oh, that sound? It's probably the scream of a Screeching Crow," Fido, appearing much calmer than Perry, responded. Although he'd been startled by the sudden noise, he quickly regained his composure. "Their call is definitely frightening, but really, they scream on purpose to attract nearby beasts."
"Attract beasts? That… sounds like trouble!" Perry grew more vigilant, scanning his surroundings and trying to pinpoint the source of the noise, fearing that a wild beast might leap out of the bushes to attack them at any moment. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on the magic book, ready to cast a spell if needed.
"Relax, don't be so tense," Fido said soothingly when he saw Perry's tense expression. "You've got that silver coin on you, right? As long as you carry it, the creatures here won't come too close. They're all afraid of silver; to them, its scent is like poison."
Perry felt a bit relieved at this, but he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why are they afraid of silver? Does silver have some special effect?" Though his expression had softened slightly, he still held onto his magic book, not completely letting his guard down.
Fido nodded and explained patiently, "Silver has a purifying effect, and all the creatures living in this forest are cursed. They're bound to this land by a curse, unable to leave, and the purifying power of silver feels like a strong irritation, even harm, to them." He pointed to a silver fence nearby. "That's why nothing grows around these silver fences—its purifying power prevents plants and creatures from approaching."
Curious, Perry walked over to the fence and examined each side of it. He noticed that the ground on the inside was bare, with no vegetation, while about a kilometer out, green traces started appearing again. In contrast, the outside of the fence was lush, with thick grass stretching into the distance, creating a stark contrast.
"So, if the creatures here are cursed, then the things inside aren't edible, right?" Perry frowned as he noticed a few dark birds flying out from the depths of the forest, their feathers leaving eerie arcs in the air. The sharp cries rang out again, bringing a sense of unease.
"No worries, creatures purified with silver are as good as any normal ones and even have a bit of a dark attribute." Fido pushed open the fence gate and stepped inside with an air of casual familiarity, as if this place was nothing unusual to him. He showed no signs of fear at all.
"Come on in," he called back to Perry with a lighthearted expression, "We can't let other creatures slip out from here." Fido took Perry's hand, leading him through the gate and quickly closing it behind them.
Perry almost dropped his magic book at the sudden pull but managed to steady himself, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
Under the moonlight, the forest before them looked especially mysterious. Large tree leaves swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows across the ground. The silver-white moonlight pierced through the sparse treetops, illuminating the surroundings, casting a faint, cool glow that almost eliminated the need for any other light source. Despite this, the area retained a hazy, dreamlike quality, as if wrapped in a thin mist, making the forest shift between clarity and blur and creating an ethereal beauty.
"We need to gather five ingredients Chef Oliver requested," Fido said, laying out the plan clearly. "First, we'll catch an electric eel by the lake, then look for Sleepy Mushrooms in the cave, after that, we'll gather Laughing Peppers and Crying Tomatoes, and lastly, we'll find that Shy Chicken, which usually hides underground and needs vegetables to lure it out. Finally, we'll get five Silver Glass Flowers for Martin."
Hearing about the Sleepy Mushrooms, Perry paused for a moment, surprised to find such mushrooms here as well.
Listening to Fido's well-organized plan, Perry couldn't help but admire him. "You really know your way around here."
"Of course," Fido replied with a light laugh, "but we need to get moving quickly. If morning arrives, the path will disappear, and the fog will thicken, making it easy to get lost. So, once we're inside, we need to stick together and not split up."
"Got it, but… you don't need to hold my hand the whole time." Perry tried to pull his hand free, only to be surprised by Fido's unexpected strength. He couldn't quite break free.
Despite his slender appearance, how could Fido be so strong?
"Oh, sorry about that." Realizing he was still holding on, Fido quickly let go, smiling a bit sheepishly. "Alright, follow me along this path. Do you see those yellow smiley faces? I put them up as markers. Any other signs around here weren't made by us, so don't follow them."
Perry looked around carefully and spotted faint glows here and there, with yellow smiley faces clearly marking the trees and branches in the dim forest. They gave him a peculiar sense of safety. Continuing along the marked path, Perry decided to use this opportunity to ask about the "Underground Kitchen" he'd been curious about.
"Hey, let's talk about the Underground Kitchen while we walk," Perry said, brushing a leaf aside and glancing toward Fido, who walked ahead.
Fido paused for a moment, not looking back, then asked in a low voice, "… Why do you want to know about that place?"
"Just curious, that's all," Perry said with a grin. "I heard about the place and wanted to know what it's really about."
Fido's expression grew tense, a hint of displeasure in his tone. "The underground kitchen is actually controlled by the dark underworld. Everything there operates in a gray area. Once you're inside, you can cook anything you want without worrying about the law. But most of the chefs there are forced to stay, cooking for those criminals against their will." His voice was low and firm. "My father was imprisoned there. He finally got his cooking license, only to be targeted because of his skill, and was eventually kidnapped to that place."
Fido angrily snapped a branch blocking the path, his eyes filled with determination. "I decided to become a chef to someday trade myself in to free him. That's why I loathe that place."
Perry was taken aback, realizing the heavy reason behind Fido's goal to become a chef. He couldn't help but say, "I had no idea…"
"Of course," Fido took a deep breath, calming himself before he continued, "If you're just making simple dishes, you can cook there, but for more complex dishes, you need an official cooking license. Plus, the cost is steep—7,000 gold coins per hour, or an SSS-grade ingredient as payment."
"What?! That expensive?" Perry's eyes widened in surprise, shocked by the outrageous fees.
"Yep, that's just the price there," Fido replied with a hint of resignation, though his steps remained steady. He pointed ahead, "Look, we've reached the lake." The lake shimmered with an eerie glow, its rippling surface reflecting what looked like countless tiny stars, as if imbued with some mystical energy. A thin mist rose from the lake, gradually spreading around, giving the whole scene a serene yet haunting quality.
"Alright, let's find some tools to catch fish." Fido quickly scanned the area, focusing on a pile of dry branches scattered on the ground. He walked over, picking out the sturdiest ones, occasionally bending down to gather sharp stones, intending to make a simple spear. Perry joined in, carefully searching the nearby area, watching his steps and keeping an eye out for any suitable materials.
Suddenly, Perry felt a wave of pressure behind him. Before he could fully react, system alert sounded in his mind: [Look out!]
Perry's heart skipped a beat, his pupils contracting as he instinctively spun around. But he was a second too late, catching only a glimpse of a shadowy figure hurtling towards him at a blinding speed. His heart raced, his mind went blank, and, acting on reflex, he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the sudden impact.
In the split second that Perry shut his eyes, he heard the sound of something slicing through the air right by his ear. He felt something blocking the attack, so he opened his eyes carefully. Then, Fido's voice came from the side, with a hint of calmness and sharpness: "Don't be afraid, I'm here." Perry opened his eyes suddenly and saw Fido standing beside him, holding a branch he had just picked up from the ground. The branch was held tightly in his hand, like a weapon that could be stabbed at any time.
"Just step back, leave this to me." Fido used his body to cover Perry behind him to protect him.