Chapter 9: Garden Frontier #2

Chapter 9: Garden Frontier #2

「Long-sleeved Shirt

-Armor Item

-Durability 8/10

-Increases physical defense when equipped

-A light blue shirt suitable for spring and autumn. It has a simple design that suits everyone, regardless of age or gender.

-Additional Option: “Size Adjustment”」

「Shorts

-Armor Item

-Durability 7/11

-Increases physical defense when equipped

-Shorts for healthy children who play outdoors. Of course, adults with small physiques can also wear them.

-Additional Option: “Size Adjustment”」

「Sturdy Boots

-Armor Item

-Durability 19(+12)/21(+12)

-Increases physical defense when equipped

-High-quality leather boots that protect the feet without any gaps.

-Additional Option: “Durability Enhancement” “Size Adjustment”

-Durability Enhancement: Increases durability by 12」

I hid in an alley where people’s gazes couldn’t reach and changed my clothes.

Ooh-

I feel like my dignity as a human has been restored.

Until now, I had been walking around with my bare skin exposed under the cloak, like a barbarian girl.

But now, I’m no longer a perverted girl with exhibitionism.

I looked at my reflection in a broken mirror leaning against the wall.

‘Oh?’

This is quite…

I tilted my head and checked again, changing my posture.

‘Cute.’

Clothes make the man, as they say.

Unlike when I was just wearing rags, my appearance has brightened.

The overall impression is sporty. Especially the combination of shorts and boots, which evokes the image of a lively, spirited girl.

‘I remember there were tons of outfits for female characters in the big cities.’

I wasn’t interested in dressing up female characters until now.

Unless it was forced by the game, like a jungle warrior or a saintess, I always chose to play as a male character.

But looking at it again, maybe raising a female character has its own unexpected fun?

As I was engrossed in my newfound appearance.

‘What am I doing?’

Suddenly, a wave of self-awareness hit me.

Cute-is bullshit.

This isn’t right.

Let’s say I’m possessed by Estel. It wasn’t my will.

But enjoying this situation is a different story.

I guess I’m afraid that my fundamental identity might change.

I averted my gaze from my reflection in the mirror and hurried my steps.

…I tried to hurry.

…

…

But before that, just one more time.

I returned to the mirror, walking backward like Michael Jackson.

I lifted the hem of my cloak with both hands and slightly lifted one foot backward.

Then I spun around once.

“…”

A complex mix of emotions, too difficult to describe in words, surged within me.

My face in the mirror was flushed bright red.

I pulled my hood down low and quickly left the spot.

***

I went to find two merchant NPCs I knew, but the timing was bad.

Both the NPC responsible for magic stone leveling and the NPC who handled magic books were out of place.

This is the problem with merchants in the Garden Frontier.

They only do business when they feel like it.

‘Could they have died somewhere?’

I had that thought for a moment, but…

‘If I wait, they’ll eventually show up.’

It wasn’t an urgent matter that required immediate attention, so I decided not to worry too much.

I changed my plans and headed to my next destination.

「Garden Adventurer’s Rest Area」.

This is a resting place operated by the empire.

Inside, there are several large square tents, and haggard adventurers wander around like zombies.

The atmosphere makes it look more like a refugee camp than an adventurer’s rest area…

However, the appeal is that you can secure lodging and meals at a low cost.

It’s a godsend for me, who doesn’t have a lot of money.

“500 gold per day. Includes one meal, paid in advance.”

After checking in, I inspected the tents and wandered around the rest area.

The inside of the tent, which could accommodate about ten people, was dark and damp.

-Snore, snore…

Some tents had loud snoring sounds.

-Snore, snore…

-Snore, snore…

-Snore- Snore… Snore- Snore…

As I listened, someone else’s snoring joined in, creating a harmony.

Damn it all.

I absolutely have to avoid this tent…

I looked for another tent that seemed okay, but it seems I can’t avoid the unpleasant smell of sweat anywhere.

‘In the game, you just entered the tent, the screen went dark for a moment, and then it was the next morning.’

But there are no more skips. This is the realistic hardship of entering the game world.

Well, if I can avoid the wind and rain for a night with a small amount of money, I guess I have to endure this much.

And now that I realize it, I haven’t washed myself in a long time.

After finishing my tent inspection, I headed to the mess hall.

In fact, the mess hall is the main reason I visited the rest area.

There are various ways to develop characters in the Garden Frontier,

but my preferred efficient method is to start by taking quests at the rest area.

Pushing open the entrance of the tent, hot air rushed towards my face.

“Please, just a little- Can you give me at least one ladleful more?”

“What are you babbling about, you beggar? Eat what you’re given-!”

As soon as I entered, a resounding shout greeted me.

Inside, a giant chef was raging with a ladle.

Despite his massive physique, the dirty apron he wore seemed too small.

It looked as if a single handkerchief was clinging tightly to his belly.

‘That’s him.’

Gordon, the chef in charge of the Adventurer’s Rest Area’s mess hall.

His nickname is ‘Foul-mouthed Gordon’.

I returned to my seat with soup in a dented tin bowl.

Although its name is ‘Rest Area Special Nutritional Soup,’ Koreans would immediately think of a name.

‘It’s pig slop.’

I wonder what ingredients were used.

I narrowed my eyes and examined it carefully…

All I could tell was that it was something overcooked, mushy, and shapeless.

I took a spoonful and tasted it.

The quest “Corruption in the Mess Hall” begins with the player complaining about the taste of this terrible dish.

The story goes that the player and Gordon will have a cooking competition…

‘Huh?’

I frowned.

Another spoonful.

‘It’s not bad.’

This soup is better than I expected.

That’s strange. It wasn’t that good in the game.

‘Maybe it’s because I’m hungry.’

They say hunger is the best seasoning.

A bowl of warm pig slop poured into an empty stomach after a hard day outside. It’s surprisingly good.

When I came to my senses, I had already finished the bowl.

‘Ah, damn.’

I was supposed to complain that it was bad, but I scraped the bottom clean.

My face was reflected in the bottom of the bowl.

Why did you make it so delicious, Gordon? You weren’t like this before.

While I was in a strange mood, feeling angry despite eating well.

“Say that again.”

Gordon’s chilling voice was heard.

“What did you say was in the soup?”

Gordon glared at a girl with a menacing look.

“Th-that’s… it was like a cigarette butt…”

“Cigarette? Ci-ga-rette?”

The girl, whose hair reached her shoulders, couldn’t even look Gordon in the eye and stammered.

“But it might not be… I might have seen it wrong, but just in case… I thought you should check…”

“There’s a cigarette butt in MY soup!”

Eek- The girl hunched her shoulders.

She trembled like a frightened squirrel, looking pitiful.

“N-no. I’m s-sorry!”

Good.

I was wondering how to start the quest, but luckily, an opportunity arose.

I stood up and threw the soup bowl onto the floor.

Clang-

The bowl rolled on the floor and stopped between Gordon and the girl.

All eyes in the mess hall turned to me.

“It’s not nothing. It really is terrible cooking.”

Given this atmosphere, no one will notice that I actually finished the bowl meticulously, despite my words.

“Who are you?”

Gordon glared at me.

“Uh- I’m sorry for interrupting, but she’s right. You’re a trash cook who only makes terrible food.”

“Uh- I didn’t say anything that harsh…”

“You stay out of this.”

The air in the mess hall was tense, as if about to explode.

“You bastards… What do you know, little one? You beg for food and then leave, but you call my cooking terrible?”

“But it’s true.”

There’s no need to be polite.

After all, I came here to pick a fight from the start.

Thick veins bulged on Gordon’s forehead.

“Why? Because you pocketed all the money the empire provides, so how could there be anything left? Even to put in the pot, there needs to be at least a bean left.”

Gordon’s pupils dilated in shock.

Embezzlement of operating funds.

It must be a fatal weakness he wants to hide at all costs.

“Kid. You’d better not speak carelessly just because you have a mouth.”

Unlike before, Gordon’s voice had become much lower.

This means that this commotion is no longer something he can easily overlook.

“Alright, show me your ledger.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why should I do as you say?”

“Why? Do you have something to hide? If you have nothing to hide, what’s the harm in showing me the ledger?”

“You little brat, I’m warning you.”

Actually, Gordon is right.

My claim has no evidence yet. Gordon can simply ignore my provocation and stick to his guns.

So, I offer him a sweet bait.

“You, who only make terrible food. I could make better than this.”

A mouth-watering bait that he can’t resist biting.

Come on, what are you doing.

Even a cook working in a beggar’s mess hall must have some pride.

Can you stand it?

“Kid, are you confident you won’t take back what you just said?”

Gordon’s lips curled into a smirk.

Snap-

He took the bait.

***

Thus, the quest “Corruption in the Mess Hall” officially began.

The content is simple.

Each person prepares their dinner, and the one who makes the more delicious dish wins.

Adventurers taste the dishes and vote for the one they like best, and the one who gets more votes wins.

If I win, I can not only see Gordon’s ledger but also investigate any corruption as much as I want.

If I lose?

Then I’m screwed.

The ill-tempered Gordon is determined to make the insolent kid pay.

I will have to work as an unpaid slave for 10 years.

In addition, I have to walk around the village 100 times naked with a sign that says “Liar” around my neck.

“Excuse me, is this okay?”

The girl looked at me with a worried expression.

Somehow, she’s been lumped in with me and is participating in this competition.

“You don’t have to go through this competition because of me-“

It’s not because of you.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m doing it because I want to. More importantly, help me prepare the ingredients.”

“Ah, yes!”

The girl ran off and dragged a sack with her.

Looking at the ingredients in the sack, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.

“This is too much…”

The girl pouted.

Potatoes, carrots, and onions on the verge of spoiling. A few leftover pieces of meat.

The ingredients Gordon provided were in the worst condition.

“To have a competition with these ingredients… it’s unfair! I’m bound to lose.”

Is that really so?

It’s not quite like that.

Gordon certainly played a dirty trick.

He probably hoarded all the fresh ingredients for himself.

However, if you have a high “Cooking” skill, you can compete fairly even with bad ingredients and beat Gordon.

It’s possible to make a royal feast with just potatoes and carrots and make Gordon’s jaw drop.

How can you make such a grand dish with just potatoes and carrots?

I don’t know either.

A max-level “Cooking” skill is like alchemy. Anyway, it worked in the game.

“What’s your name?”

“M-me? Flora.”

“Flora, take this first.”

I handed Flora gloves and a kitchen knife.

“From now on, you’ll prepare the ingredients. Peel them all, wash them, chop them, and gather them here. Can you do it?”

“I-I’m not very good, but… I’ll do my best. Just leave it to me!”

I hadn’t planned for Flora’s help, but since she offered, there was no reason to refuse.

After entrusting Flora with the ingredient preparation.

I went into the storage room.

‘I said that, but Gordon’s pig slop was edible.’

If he could bring out that much flavor with such poor ingredients, it’s likely due to the “Cooking” skill bonus.

On the other hand, I haven’t learned the “Cooking” skill yet.

If I competed honestly without a trump card, I would definitely lose.

‘Of course, I have no intention of fighting like that.’

Why would I challenge the competition without anything to rely on?

The quest “Corruption in the Mess Hall” has a hidden strategy designed so that you can win even without the “Cooking” skill.

After all, players who just started in the Garden Western Frontier wouldn’t spend all their time training only their “Cooking” skill.

Who would restart their character? It’s not like this is a game about raising a wandering chef.

Potatoes, carrots, onions…

The ingredients themselves already provided a hint.

While searching the storage room.

‘Found it.’

In a box covered in thick dust under the shelf, I finally found what I was looking for.

Gordon probably never dreamed that such ingredients were hidden in the storage room.

「Curry Powder

-Food Ingredient Item

-A powder made by mixing foreign spices with additives and lard, then drying and solidifying it. Its beautiful bright yellow color is striking.」

Found a cheat key.

You’re screwed.