As Toki and his trusty mud-familiar, Clay, ventured out of the kingdom's lively streets and into the wilderness, the noise of the bustling kingdom faded into a tranquil stillness. Before them stretched an arched bridge that led to a sprawling bamboo forest, the dense green stalks swaying gently in the wind, casting cool shadows across their path. Clay perched comfortably on Toki's shoulder, chirping occasionally as if to cheer him on, his tiny mud claws gripping onto Toki's tunic for balance.
"Alright, buddy," Toki said, adjusting the strap of his Endless Satchel, "we're looking for some Rage Boars. They should be around here somewhere. Keep your eyes peeled."
Clay let out a soft squeak of agreement, eyes already scanning the bamboo thickets. As they crossed the bridge and stepped into the forest, Toki's focus sharpened. He crouched low, watching the shadows, until he spotted the first boar—a hulking beast, its eyes burning with an angry red hue. Its tusks were sharp, and every movement it made sent a ripple of tension through its massive body. Toki took a deep breath, then approached stealthily, gripping his pan tightly.
With a swift, calculated motion, he raised his pan and brought it down hard on the boar's head. The creature staggered, snorting in shock. Toki didn't let up, landing blow after blow until the beast collapsed, dazed. Behind him, Clay kept vigilant watch, occasionally firing off precise shots of mud at other boars that approached, temporarily blinding them as Toki worked.
"That's it, Clay! Nice shot!" Toki grinned, glancing back at his little companion.
The two continued their methodical hunt, each Rage Boar that crossed their path meeting the same fate as the first. After each takedown, Toki would reach into his satchel, pull out a hunting knife, and chip off a tusk as proof for his quest.
"Eight tusks down. Just two more to go!" Toki murmured, stretching his arms as he scanned the area for more.
Just then, Clay let out a quick squeak and pointed his tiny claw toward a clearing to their left. Toki squinted in that direction and saw something unexpected. There, a dwarven girl wielding a greathammer was barely managing to fend off an enormous Rage Boar, her movements sluggish and unsteady. Her clothes were torn and her breaths were coming in sharp, labored gasps. She managed a desperate swing of her hammer, but the boar was undeterred, its eyes locked on her.
"Oh no, she's in trouble!" Toki gasped. Without hesitation, he charged forward, leaving Clay perched on his shoulder as they closed the distance.
The dwarven girl stumbled, her knees hitting the ground as exhaustion took over. Her free hand clutched her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. Seeing his chance, the boar scraped its hooves, lowered its head, and charged straight toward her.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" Toki shouted, drawing the boar's attention, but it was too late—the creature was already on a collision course with the girl.
Thinking fast, Toki launched himself forward, intercepting the boar with a powerful swing of his pan, slamming it square across its face. The beast skidded to a halt, its head jerking back from the blow, eyes blinking in confusion. Toki quickly positioned himself between the dwarven girl and the boar, pan raised, ready for the creature's next move.
"Are you okay?" he called over his shoulder to the girl.
The girl looked up, her face a mixture of shock and relief. "Y-Yeah… I think so…" She winced, clutching her side. "Thanks for that. Thought that might be the end of me!"
The boar shook its head, letting out a furious snort as it prepared to charge again. Toki didn't give it the chance. With a sharp whistle, he called out to Clay, who responded with a determined squeak and fired a Mud Shot right into the creature's eyes, temporarily blinding it.
"Now's our chance, Clay! Let's finish this!"
As the boar stumbled, Toki sprinted forward, landing another series of powerful pan smacks, each one driving the beast backward until, with a final blow, it collapsed to the ground.
The girl let out a breath she'd been holding, then managed a grin. "I've seen a lot of weapons, but I've never seen anyone fight like that with a pan before!"
Toki chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Not the usual hero weapon, huh? But it gets the job done!"
The girl struggled to her feet, leaning slightly on her hammer. "I'm Darya Ironforge, by the way. I thought I could handle a few Rage Boars on my own… turns out they're a bit tougher than I expected."
"Toki Kaguyama," he replied with a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you, Darya. And don't worry; they're tougher than they look!"
Darya's eyes flicked to Clay, who chirped and wiggled his little mud wings proudly from Toki's shoulder. "And that… little guy is?"
"This is Clay! He's my familiar—kind of a loyal partner in all this madness," Toki said, patting the tiny mud dragon on the head.
"Clay, huh?" Darya's eyes softened as she smiled at the creature. "Well, thanks, Clay. And Toki. I owe you one. I'm not sure how much longer I could've lasted against that one."
"No worries!" Toki replied with a shrug. "Say, are you in the guild too?"
Darya nodded, wincing slightly. "Just joined a few days ago. I'm still F Rank, though. Guess I bit off more than I could chew with this quest."
Toki chuckled. "F Rank here too! And hey, looks like we have more in common than we thought. How about I help you with your quest? I still need two more tusks to finish mine, so we can work together. Safety in numbers, right?"
Darya's face brightened. "You'd do that? Well, I'd be glad to join you!"
"Great!" Toki offered a hand, and she shook it firmly.
As they continued through the forest, the two new companions talked, trading stories about their worlds and their lives before joining the guild. Darya shared tales of growing up in a dwarven mining town, her eyes lighting up as she described the vast, glittering caverns and towering stone fortresses back home. Toki, in turn, told her about his unusual summoning and the bizarre reality of becoming a "Chef Hero."
After a few more successful boar takedowns, each marked by Clay's well-timed Mud Shots and Toki's reliable pan strikes, the two finally collected enough tusks to complete their quests.
"Alright, that's ten!" Toki said, grinning as he slid the final tusk into his Endless Satchel. "Back to the guild?"
"Back to the guild!" Darya agreed, a proud smile on her face as they made their way out of the forest together.
As they walked back toward the kingdom, Toki glanced over at his new friend. For the first time since arriving in this world, he didn't feel so alone.
Toki, Clay, and Darya strolled back into the lively kingdom, their spirits lifted after the successful hunt. As they pushed through the doors of the Adventurer's Guild, Toki couldn't help but smile as they made their way to the reception desk, where he presented their bounty of Rage Boar tusks.
"Well done, Toki, Darya," the receptionist said with an approving nod as she handed over their rewards. "Twenty bronze coins for each of you!"
Toki pocketed his reward with a grin and glanced over at Darya. "Hey, Darya, how about you join my party? You know, make it official."
Darya's eyes brightened as she nodded enthusiastically. "Why not? I'd be glad to. We make a good team!"
With a new sense of camaraderie and a bit of coin in his pocket, Toki decided it was time for the next important step in his adventure—eating. "Alright, now that we're partners, let's celebrate! I need ingredients first, though, so how about I whip up something good?"
The two stopped by a nearby market where Toki bought some fresh dough and high-quality meat. As he stocked up, he felt a strange surge of warmth in his hands—a tingling sensation of new power. Suddenly, a notification appeared in the air before him, glowing faintly:
New Skills Unlocked:
Oil Splash: Toki can now produce cooking oil from his hands or other parts of his body, even controlling the flow like a burst if needed.
Seasoning Punch: A close-range punch that inflicts a random status effect, ranging from Burn to Freeze to Paralyze.
Panform: Toki's pan can now transform into other cookware—a wok for defense, a grill pan for absorbing fire attacks, and even shift materials to adapt to the situation.
Toki clenched his fists, feeling a newfound confidence. He was ready to put these new skills to the test.
Darya's stomach growled, and she rubbed her neck sheepishly. "Guess that hunt really worked up my appetite…"
Toki chuckled. "Perfect timing. How about I cook something to fill us up? With these new skills, I think I can put together something special."
They found a quiet spot near a small outdoor cooking station at the guild's side courtyard. Toki set his Endless Satchel on the table, pulling out the fresh dough and meat he had bought earlier.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, examining the ingredients, "how about…gyoza? You ever had that, Darya?"
Darya tilted her head, curious. "Gyoza? Can't say I have, but I'm ready to try anything at this point."
"Trust me. You're in for a treat," Toki said, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to cook. "Let's get started."
Toki first took the meat and placed it on a board, quickly chopping it into a finer mince. As he mixed it, he added just a bit of oil by summoning it straight from his hand—a quick, controlled splash into the meat, coating it perfectly.
"First, a little oil to keep the meat juicy," he explained to Darya, who watched in fascination.
Next, he added salt and other spices by rubbing his hands together, letting his skill flow naturally as seasoning dusted over the meat. "This is my new skill—makes seasoning a breeze," he said with a grin. Darya looked thoroughly impressed.
He took the dough and flattened it into small, round wrappers. Placing a bit of meat filling in the center of each, he folded the dough carefully, crimping the edges so the gyoza sealed perfectly. He repeated this until he had a neat pile of dumplings.
"Now to cook these little guys up."
He summoned a wok pan, transforming his frying pan with a flash. Toki gave a quick flourish with his hand, releasing a small, controlled flow of oil into the wok as it began to heat.
"This Oil Splash skill really comes in handy," he said, glancing over to Darya, who was practically bouncing on her toes in anticipation.
He placed each gyoza into the hot oil, letting them sear until they turned golden brown on the bottom. Then, with a deft move, he splashed a bit of water into the pan and covered it with a makeshift wooden lid to let the steam cook them through.
Darya's nose wrinkled with pleasure as the aroma filled the air. "That smells incredible!"
Toki grinned, adding a final sprinkle of seasoning over the gyoza as they finished. He transformed his pan back to its usual form and carefully plated the dumplings, making sure each one was perfectly golden and tender.
"Alright, here we go," Toki said, handing the plate to Darya. "Dig in!"
Darya didn't need to be told twice. She picked up a piece, taking a careful bite—and her eyes widened.
"This…this is amazing! The flavors are perfect, and it's so juicy! How'd you do that with just a bit of meat and dough?"
Toki laughed, leaning back as he watched her enjoy the food. "Let's just say it's all about the seasoning. Plus, when you've got skills with passive variants like Oil Splash and Seasoning Punch, cooking's a whole different game."
As they ate, Toki shared more about his life back in his own world, describing late nights at his job and all the times he'd dreamed of something more exciting. Darya listened with interest, even sharing some of her own adventures and mishaps.
After a while, Darya sighed, wiping her mouth with a satisfied grin. "That was the best meal I've had in ages. I feel like my health, stamina, and mana have been rejuvinated, you are a natural, Toki."
He shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. "Guess I found my calling, huh?"
"More like you're making your own path, and it's a pretty tasty one," Darya replied with a grin. "If we ever get into a tough spot, I can count on you to cook up something to lift our spirits."
"Deal. And hey," he added with a smirk, "don't forget, I can also punch enemies with a dash of seasoning if we're in a pinch."
They laughed together as Toki tossed a Gyoza to Clay as Clay chews on the Gyoza adorably, and Toki couldn't shake the feeling that, in this strange world, he might finally have found something worth fighting for. With a new friend by his side and a skillet full of potential, he was ready for whatever adventures came next.
With the sun setting and the kingdom bathed in a warm, amber glow, Toki and Darya finished their meal, Toki's confidence had grown after cooking for Darya and Clay, and he felt energized in a way he hadn't since arriving in this world. Clay chirped happily on his shoulder, looking content and well-rested after the day's events.
"So, where to next?" Darya asked, her arms resting casually behind her head. "You planning on sleeping under the stars tonight, or are we looking for an inn?"
Toki chuckled. "Actually, I didn't think that far ahead. Do you have any recommendations?"
"There's an inn near the marketplace—The Silver Kettle. It's run by a kind elf named Mirea. She's got a soft spot for adventurers and makes a mean stew, though I think your gyoza might give her a run for her money."
Toki felt his cheeks warm. "Alright, let's check it out! After today's hunt, we've got enough coins to cover the stay."
As they headed through the crowded marketplace, Toki's eyes wandered over the various stalls, taking in the sights and smells. Vendors called out, offering everything from fresh produce to enchanted trinkets, magical charms, and finely crafted weapons. He marveled at the eclectic mix of people—elves with braided hair and long robes, dwarves with finely-wrought armor, and demi-humans with animal-like features.
When they reached the inn, The Silver Kettle lived up to its name. The place was cozy, with soft candlelight spilling out from the windows, casting an inviting glow over the cobbled street. Inside, the inn was bustling but welcoming, with travelers laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying a meal together.
An elf with silver hair and kind, warming eyes spotted them from behind the counter. She smiled warmly. "Welcome to The Silver Kettle! You two adventurers?"
Toki nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Just looking for a place to rest after a day of boar-slaying."
"Well, you've come to the right place! And for your friend," Mirea said, her gaze landing on Clay, "we've got a little perch by the fireplace for familiars if he'd like a warm spot for the night."
Clay chirped, clearly pleased by the attention.
After they checked in and set their things in the small but comfortable room, Darya stretched her arms and let out a long yawn. "We start early tomorrow, right? Might as well make the most of a good night's rest.", Toki agreed with a positive nod.
The Next Morning dawned
Toki and Darya rose early and geared up, ready to face the day. They decided to take on a slightly tougher quest—a goblin hunt near the kingdom's outer forests. It promised a decent payout and would be a good way to test their new teamwork.
When they arrived at the forest edge, the sound of chattering and shuffling greeted them. Toki could see flashes of green darting between the trees.
"Alright, here's the plan," Darya whispered. "I'll lure them out and keep their attention on me. You take care of them from behind with that magical pan of yours, and Clay can keep them disoriented. Think you can handle that?"
Toki grinned. "Piece of cake. Let's do this."
As Darya dashed forward, hammer in hand, Toki and Clay slipped through the brush. The goblins spotted Darya, snarling as they drew crude weapons and charged toward her. She swung her hammer in a wide arc, scattering them with ease, but she was clearly outnumbered.
"Clay, hit 'em with a Mud Shot!" Toki whispered.
With a gleeful chirp, Clay launched a blob of mud right into a goblin's eyes, blinding it and sending it flailing. Toki darted forward, swinging his pan with precision, knocking the goblins back with resounding smacks. With each strike, he poured just a bit of his mana into the pan, amplifying its force.
As one of the goblins lunged at him, Toki reacted instinctively. His hand warmed, and with a quick flick, he released an Oil Splash onto the ground. The goblin skidded, slipping uncontrollably as it tumbled into the dirt as Toki finished it off with a pan smack to the face.
Darya burst out laughing as she dispatched the remaining goblins. "Not bad for a Chef Hero! Think you're giving them something to chew on!"
After the last goblin fled, Toki stood, breathing hard but grinning. "Looks like I'm not as helpless as they thought."
Darya clapped him on the back. "Nope. In fact, I'd say the Chef class might be the most unique one I've seen, haha!"
Together, they headed back to the guild, chatting and joking as they went. Toki had the feeling he was finally beginning to understand his place in this world—doing things his own way, forging his own path, with the help of new friends... and his trusty frying pan.