[SP-F1] The sizzle of the Grill <<Earning a Living>> (Complete)

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom had spent some time on the first floor, he was skimming through his HUD menu in the middle of the fields. "Man, I really hate the trek it takes to continuously walk back to town to eat. I feel like I gotta over eat so I don't get an appetite while I'm material farming." He put away his HUD in an annoyed manner, if only there were some way he could feed himself in the wild without having to worry. After a brief second he facepalmed at himself, "I could just simply become a cook and IMMEDIATELY take care of it... You know Ssendom, sometimes you're simply a moron." He insults himself then thinks about that for a brief second, "It's not strange to talk to yourself, it is only strange if you answer yourself Right?" After a brief second of waiting after saying that he was too compelled not to, "Right." He chuckled for a moment before standing up and dusting his town clothing off, "I haven't even needed the Boar Hide when coming out here now. The Dusk Raver is just shredding these things into bacon." He chuckled a final time before hopping once then walking toward the Town of Beginnings, "Well time to get to it. I wanna make something delicious for her in the near future." He began to hum in his head a joyous tune during the walk.

[Ssendom 0]

Shortly after arriving to the Town of beginnings he immediately drops his Menu HUD and takes it over to the map since it updated the information and now showed the the shops and area's in the town. This was his own map he had edited to create when he traveled about the city to make sure he knew where everything was at any point. He zoomed the map in and looked around for where he noted the cooking trainer was. After a few seconds of searching he pressed on it giving him an auto guide path heading straight from his location to the shop, "Man I love that feature after you've made notes about every spot on it. This auto-guide path is too legit." He gloated and was fairly impressed with what he learned about the system's HUD menu. He waited to further time to follow a shiny-starry like path that was glowing on his HUD view, he began running at an un-alarming speed as to not bring any attention to himself. After he reached the store he stopped for a moment and took a deep breath, "This, is for my Princess." He got himself pumped up with that motivational statement and swung the door wide to start his new profession.

[Ssendom 0]

As Ssendom walked up to the counter the small slightly older woman running the stand looked up at him, "My you're a tall one, what do they put in children's food these day to make giants like yourself?" She bowed to him for a slight second after covering her mouth to giggle for a minute before clearing her voice, "So how might I be of assistance to one such as yourself adventurer?" She asked him knowing the difference from herself as a normal person (NPC) and him.

 

Ssendom scratched the back of his neck chuckling slightly, he hadn't had any gear equipped except his overly large Scarf that seemed to float in air as it's particles seemed to fair in this game world and his gloves which were both merely for style, "Heh, they put something in there for sure."  After another moment of chuckling he cleared his voice as she asked him what she could help with, "I wish to gain tutelage from you so I can prepare meals while I am out in the fields hunting monsters." He exclaims, but for some reason a slight blush appeared on his cheeks.

 

The woman opened one eye more open than the other looking at him, "I don't think that's the entire reason behind it here child. What's the real reason you want to cook?" He interrogated him completely knowledgeable that he was attempting to be somewhat sly about the real reason he wished to be a Cook.

 

It didn't take long for him to crack, "To be fully honest that is somewhat the reason, the main reason is I'd like to cook for someone I truly care about for doing something she shouldn't have to for me." He gabbed for a second with the blush becoming a decent amount larger.

 

The older lady smiled, "I'd be glad to teach you Sunny Boy." her smile seemed somewhat radiant causing Ssendom to relax and give a relieved smile.

[Ssendom 0]

The old lady escorted him behind the counter and into the Kitchen called 'The Rookie Cuisine' When he got up to her he realized she was standing on a box to reach up to his shoulders. He looked at her wide eyed, 'They make people this small!?' His jaw was dropped she couldn't have been taller than 130 or 132 centimeters tall max, it finally dawned on him when she was mentioning giants when he noticed his height was 189 centimeters tall.

 

She started off by putting a tomato infront of Ssendom after standing on a box to reach the ledge comfortably. "Okay, now use your hands to specifically cut the tomato. None of the glowing stuff now." He thought it strange how she wouldn't let the system which she shouldn't realize worked, nevertheless he complied it was very slow and steady with the knife trying to cut tomato.

 

ID: 19719

CD: 5 (Bad)

 

He was doing alright for a small moment then squeezed it a little too hard partially ruining the middle of the tomato. She overlooks him and swats him with a wooden spoon, "You have to be gentle! It's not like fighting in the real world where you need grit. This is a deft talent not something to beat up." She scolds him, he frantically apologizes, but he does notice that he could potentially save the back half of the tomato. So he set the tomato to the side try try and save it later.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom took a short breath to relax his mind and let go the nervousness, to which the old lady smacked him again, "This is cooking, not martial arts. Just do it already!" She seemed rather impatient but wanted quality results, but she was the master and he was the apprentice so he kept his opinions to himself and devoted himself to listening to her directions. He tried to be more deft with his cutting this time, making sure to maintain a speed with the knife in his hand.

 

ID: 19725

LD: 19 (Successfully saved training mat)

 

He decided not to give up on the tomato he made a mistake he went straight back to slicing away and getting good slices out of it, she nodded as his technique improved a slight bit. "So, what am I going to make as my test toward the start of my cooking career sempai?" He asked her with curious opinion, she shifted for a minute to think about what he should make to conclude his test and let him out into the world with a cafe.

 

After a moment an idea popped into her head. "We shall make spaghetti, we're going to use all fresh ingredients as well." She continued to nod very impressed with the idea she chose. In which he chuckled with a relieved ton and set the failed tomato to the side grabbing another and placing it in front of him to cut into again.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19732

CD: 5 (Bad)

 

She handed him another tomato, "We'll make 3 tomatoes. and then we'll start heating the water in a pot afterwords." She mentioned as she kept slicing tomatoes in case they were going to be needed in what the next portion of the test needed. She was very meticulous and incredibly quick with her cuts, every single one was very precise making perfect slices in comparison to Ssendom's slices. "No worries child, you'll eventually be as swift and efficient as I am one day. But now, focus on quality not quantity. It will come to you in due time." He reassured him as he prepared food right next to him.

 

He nodded then turned his attention back to the tomato, he almost nicks himself on the hand causing him to accidentally squeezing the tomato a little bit. But not enough to prevent it from being salvage able, "I'll set it aside for a moment and try another." He tells himself as he reaches for another tomato before the short cooking teacher could do or say anything, she seemed to be relieved by his determination to get perfection. He stretched his fingers to loosen them up then places them gently on the tomato but firm enough to hold it in place as he prepares the knife to cut.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19736

CD: 11 (Rare Quality slicing)

 

Ssendom seemed to be in the zone now, he watched how she did it a few times then implemented how she sliced the tomatoes and replicated it almost perfectly as she had done. Her eyes widened as he seemed to be doing near flawless work and speed, he sliced the tomato at impressive speed and accuracy he tapped his knife against the cutting board then flipping it into the air catching it back in cutting form all the while sliding another tomato into place and went straight to slicing it again that he had done the last one. She blinked for a second and Ssendom chuckled for a second, "Is there something the matter Sempai?"

 

She immediately took the wooden spoon and thwapped him on the shoulder for being cocky, "Yes that was impressive, but there is no use in showboating about it child!" She scolds him again causing him to bow and apologize to her once again. "Now I've prepared a bunch of tomatoes just incase you messed up and over blended it, now why don't you be a deary and start the pot for the noodles." she coached him as he began to do everything she asked of him. He was so eager he felt slightly accomplished with the tomatos he had a fierce determination to complete this now more than ever.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19740

CD: 4 (Fail)

 

Ssendom placed the tomatoes that he had sliced into the grinder and was too excited to pay attention to the lid not being on, just as the teacher noticed, "No-!" She got interrupted by him pressing the button and the food going all over ceiling and over his arms. She opened her eyes with a blank look at some got on her face, he gave that embarrassed awkward smile that just screamed the words 'I done made a booboo.' After a second she took the wooden spoon and swatted him over the head with it, causing him to place his hands on the hit spot. "Clean this up quickly before the pot boils boy!" She yelled as he immediately got to cleaning with the towel that was right next to the cutting space, including her forehead where some of the unchopped bits had landed.

 

Without wasting any moment he tossed the towel into a bucket and started stacking up the tomatoes that needed to be shoved into the blender after having done so he quickly looked for the lid to it then found it and held it up, "I think this maybe a slight bit useful huh?" He chuckled and sounded it out in a comical way getting her to chuckle at it as well, he smiled and grabbed the first stack of tomatoes since none stayed in the blender after his amusing mishap.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19743

CD: 9 (Successful, Good)

 

Ssendom placed the lid on properly, and on the first try when doing things once after his very amusing mishap he had, he was able to perform was another impressive scenario. He blended the tomatoes to the correct consistency, she gets on the counter to reach a cabinet that has a bunch of ingredients in spices and herbs. She sets quite a few of them down to see what he does. He reaches over for the salt dashes a little bit and sprinkles more pepper than salt he reaches for the garlic powder then thinks for a moment and retracts his arm. He walks back over to the cutting board and grabs the attention of the teacher. He pulls out 2 onions and 2 garlic cloves, he proceeds to dice them up and pour them into the blender he placed the lid back on it and blended it again. After a minute he takes a taste testing spoon to try it, he seemed to be doing a decent job in his mind the teacher smiling the whole way. He tosses the spoon away and goes back to the blender and sprinkles sweet basil on top of it finishing it with one last spin to get a nice consistency.

 

After the water began to boil he grabbed spaghetti noodles and broke them all in half in a single powerful rip. He dropped them in then died down the fire under the pot a bit to keep the water a slow simmer with the noodles inside. He pulled off the blender and poured it out into a bowl he obtains from the cabinet above them. "I think I am starting to get hang of this Sempai." He says confidently towards her. She begins to nod in completely agreeing to his confident notion.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19749

CD: 3 (Fail)

 

She grabbed the meat from the freezer and placed it on the countertop for Ssendom to make, "This is where the true skill will come out. Properly grill the spaghetti meat before mixing it with the sauce." She glared at him with a stern look to see how he would handle the situation. He continued to hold that relieving smile that he had when he started this whole venture with the lady which forced her to give up the stern look at smile at the boys dedication. He heated up the grill and waited for it to heat up while stirring the noodles in the pot so they didn't get stuck to the sides of the walls.

 

"Alright, grilling. This was the main point to why I wanted to take cooking specifically... To cook all the rare meats I can possibly come across." His eyes lightened up and his determination became more fierce than it had started before. He grabbed the meat when the grill was a optimal heat levels, he rubbed in the same ingredients into the spaghetti meat including some diced garlic and onion that the teacher had prepared so he had the necessary materials for cooking the meat on his first run. After a short while he gets the spatula under the meat and accidentally uses to much force to get under it he shoves it off the grill and it plops on the floor. He looked at it as he got whacked by a wooden spoon which he had expected to strike his shoulder. He didn't hesitate he did the exact same thing as before with the meat and slapped it on the grill.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19749

CD: 3 (Fail)

 

She grabbed the meat from the freezer and placed it on the countertop for Ssendom to make, "This is where the true skill will come out. Properly grill the spaghetti meat before mixing it with the sauce." She glared at him with a stern look to see how he would handle the situation. He continued to hold that relieving smile that he had when he started this whole venture with the lady which forced her to give up the stern look at smile at the boys dedication. He heated up the grill and waited for it to heat up while stirring the noodles in the pot so they didn't get stuck to the sides of the walls.

 

"Alright, grilling. This was the main point to why I wanted to take cooking specifically... To cook all the rare meats I can possibly come across." His eyes lightened up and his determination became more fierce than it had started before. He grabbed the meat when the grill was a optimal heat levels, he rubbed in the same ingredients into the spaghetti meat including some diced garlic and onion that the teacher had prepared so he had the necessary materials for cooking the meat on his first run. After a short while he gets the spatula under the meat and accidentally uses to much force to get under it he shoves it off the grill and it plops on the floor. He looked at it as he got whacked by a wooden spoon which he had expected to strike his shoulder. He didn't hesitate he did the exact same thing as before with the meat and slapped it on the grill.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19753

CD: 1 (Critical Failure)

 

After preparing the meat he placed it on the grill then went over to the pot to check on the noodles progress. They were starting to get the perfect point of tenderness perfect for using in spaghetti. He pulls the pot out of the fire and moves it over to the table, though it is still hot enough that it simmers and continues to tenderize the noodles. He walks over to the meat and gets the meat under the spatula then flips it, as he moves his spatula he realizes he completely burned the bottom side of the meat. He gets the meat back on the spatula and flings it in the trash in a disgruntled manner, but his determination didn't quit on him now. He was going to see this work and go through even if it were the last thing he ever did. He washed his hand real fast and got straight to prepping the meat.

 

She stood overseeing him, she figured out that he worked better when not directed on how to do things. He seemed to be completely in the zone, and it was strange to see that the man already had a strong knowledge of how to cook. He was doing everything and performing as if it were something he had done for years. He began to prepare more meats just in case for failure he could get another on the grill and get straight to cooking it the appropriate way. He slowly began to systematize everything down to almost an art form.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19755

CD: 3 (Fail)

 

He brought up another meat and slapped it on the grill and kept his eye on it as best he could. He got into flipping it, he seemed to be doing a bit better at getting the meat to grill properly. But just when he thought he was doing good he got a bit careless and all the meat broke up and slid in between the crevasses of the grill burning directly in the fire. His frustration grew, but not in a furious sort of way... It built his determination more wanting him to get it right for sure. He took a second to take a quick breath "You can do this Ssendom, I will prepare Meo-chan a delicious homemade steak dinner, one that she hasn't had the chance to have yet. I will treat her if I get this right." He paused for a second on that statement then his eyes narrowed back on the grill his intensity spiked up, he was fully pumped for making this meal, "I will treat her WHEN I make this!" He exclaimed to himself as he grabbed another thing of meat and slapped it on the grill.

 

The teacher was taken aback for a moment, she remembered a time when she had just given up on the meal when it was all going wrong. But yet she was watching this man who had an understanding for the skill and was doing everything in his power to develop the art to perform making food. A smile bore on her face, a sweet yet radiant smile as the young man that she was teaching had the fierce fighting spirit applied to his desire to be a better chef, "It's times like these that make me proud to be alive. He'll make one fine chef some day." He said in a genuine tone.

[Ssendom 0]

ID: 19756

CD: 9 (Successful, Good)

 

He comes up to his fifth thing of meat, he stares at it for a moment for a moment with a sort of intensity he felt it was time. He threw the meat on the grill, "I will get this right. For my Princess I shall succeed!" He cheered himself on more and more, his mind becoming more clear on the cooking times and everything. He slowly seemed to focus more and more on the meat, he flipped it precisely on a timed clock that seemed to reside in his head. After he did a flip he got a stovetop ready to heat up with a pan placed he dropped some butter in the pan and sprinkled the ingredients that were used in the meat and sauce. He flipped the meat when the timer in his head went off, knowing that he had to make sure to flip it more now than before so as to not burn it. He poured the sauce into the pan then once the meat was ready he moved the meat over into the pan, since the meat was beginning to fall apart he mixed the sauce and the meat together to create a nice thick sauce. He did a small victory cheer with his arm, then turned to her, "Alright while that simmers what do I do now?" he asked curiously.

 

She smirked at him, "Now we take the extra ingredients and put them away. After that we clean up the station, make this a habit so you don't have to clean things when they get nasty and you should always strive to keep a clean work station so when you please you can get straight to the fun part and that's crafting your masterpieces." He listened to her explain while nodding, agreeing with every statement and notion she made. When she finished he clapped his hands and immediately began to bag the excess food so they wouldn't spoil. He placed them away in the fridge and freezer to preserve them for the next person to train with her.

[Ssendom 0]

After Ssendom put away all the food in the fridge and freezer he immediately got over to the counter top he kept an eye on the sauce as he knew the meat was already browned, but he didn't want to burn it. He waited for it to start to bubble up meaning it was hot enough, during the wait he made sure to scrub and polish everything. As the sauce began to bubble he pulled it off the stove and disabled the fire that was heating it, he moved it over to the prep table. From there he picked up the big pot of water that had cooled down a little bit and pour out the noodles into a strainer, he bounced the noodles in strainer before moving them into a large clean bowl to be used for serving. He put the strainer away to be cleaned appropriately and washed his hands of any dirt grime or nastiness that may had gotten on them. After his hands were cleaned and dried again, he walked over to the noodles and pulled one out the tenderness consistency was perfect for the meal they were about to test out for him.

 

The teacher cleaned her hands too and pulled out a noodle to test the consistency and the tenderness as well. When it felt like it was nice and loose the placed it back, "Well then shall we complete the meal?" She asked to which he nodded. He sprinkled chopped sweet basil leaves over the noodles and dropped a small bit of butter, due to it's heat the butter melted quickly and was stirred throughout the noodles with a pinch of salt and a little bit of pepper. After he felt it was properly stirred he pulled out a noodle and tried it, and it was exactly what he was after.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom grabbed a plate and began to use a noodle scooper to grab onto some of the noodles to put it on the plate, he wanted to go for making it look as best he could so he tried his hardest to get the spaghetti to spin in a near perfect circle. The took the sauce and scooped out some and layered it on one side like one would with curry in Japan, he also drizzled in a helix pattern design on the plate right at the edge of where the noodles ended. After he finished the design he placed it infront of his teacher the two chopsticks perfectly placed to stay on the clean noodle side but not touch the pattern he created with the sauce to make an pretty looking plate. to top it off he grabbed two full Sweet Basil leaves and placed them right in the dead center of the saucy part to add a nice appealing look to the dish.

 

She looked it over and spun the plate ever so slightly as to not disturb the chop sticks from moving, after looking it all over, "This is absolutely exquisite, this looks like a professional made dish for royalty to eat." She compliments him on the look, design, and layout of how he prepared the meal. As she picks up the chop sticks she places them sideways inbetween her palms and thumbs as her puts her hands together to recite a customary term, "Itadakimatsu!" She exclaimed as she put in the chopsticks to pull out a little of the noodles half with the sauce and half without.

[Ssendom 0]

She she placed the food in her mouth, she moved it around biting into each part of it and taste testing all of it as a whole. "Well, this is actually very well made for a beginner, you have surpassed what I expected you to learn after this much time spent learning boy. You have been one of my best students I've ever had." She knew if she said best that would be a highly subjective thought, which they both quickly realized that would only start an argument had anyone heard it, but being claimed as one of her best made Ssendom feel very accomplished.

 

She placed the chop sticks down and bowed, "Thank you very much for giving me the chance to teach you, by the way what is my pupil's name anyways?" She asks humorously but curiously at the same time, she had just realized she never claimed the name of the man she just taught to cook.

 

Ssendom bowed, "I am very sorry for not introducing myself appropriately. The name is Ssendom, The Dreadnaught. I appreciate everything you have done for me as of this day." Ssendom went to attempt to say her name and realized that he never had obtained it from her. "I am sorry for also not properly asking for my sempai's name as well." He smirked finding it nearly as humorous as her pointing it out.

 

She chuckled following immediately with her clearing her voice, "You may call me Ms. Youkou, of the Sunshine Cafe." She smiles happily and radiantly again during the time he had spent with her.

[Ssendom 0]

He bows once again, "Thank you Ms. Sunshine of the Sunshine cafe, I appreciate everything you have done for me today." He says with the happiest tone has had this whole time. He knew he had completed the quest, he was ready to show the person who had captured his heart the glories of cooking in this world. He wanted to bring back the joyous foods of the outside world into this one, he couldn't stop thinking about the Bento's he would make Meokka before she went out to the fields. He was infatuated with the idea of cooking he almost couldn't hear his teacher talking to him again.

 

He raised his head and put aside his thoughts to listen, "Now since you finished this I can give you this Voucher which will allow you take control of a building for profession purposes. You can use it as your residence for the time being as long as you uphold your craft." He explained to him, letting him know he could start his restaurant right off the bat. But listening to this made him think, he needed the perfect place to get the most possible business. As she handed him the Voucher and some extra materials for the road ahead for him, "Stay safe out there, the road is long but with that innate talent. It will lead very far my boy." She encouraged him as he left her shop.

 

As he left the Sunshine cafe and the Rookie Cafe which only happened to be kitchen named as such, he placed the food items in his inventory to perfectly preserve them as well as putting the voucher in there. He clinched his hand into a fist, he was determined to get a great spot for his restaurant. But the more he thought about it the harder it was to choose a shop location, he didn't want to pick the fourth floor and feel like he was too clingy and be near the person he cared about twenty four seven. He knew that some space was good, and he hated the cold zones as well anyways he'd only tolerate it for her. Pulled out the information broker's book and began researching cities that would make good locations for business for his craft.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom looked through the information brokers book about each and every city, "I don't want to do the town of beginnings... It's too safe for my blood, I'd be far too bored to do feel motivated to do anything." He crossed out town of beginnings and everything upon the first floor, it just wasn't suited for him. "Urbus... Hmmm, I don't quite enjoy the high altitudes, it makes the ears pop too much and altars cooking speeds. I think I'll steer clear of floor two practically all together, don't much care for it anyhow." He crossed out all of floor two as well as floor three, "Simply no interest there."

 

He immediately crossed out four and five, "Floor four is just too cold, and again I don't want to seem clingy... And I am not looking to serve food with a side of sand, so that immediately clears the fifth floor as well. Man, the entire first five arn't even a viable option. And Floor six is only amazonian women... I am no perv or anything, plus I don't really feel like dealing with the hassle of a man getting a shop on that floor any who." He continued his critical analysis of each floor, individual piece by individual piece up to this point.

 

He looked over Floors seven through ten, "I am fairly certain I don't want to have to deal with darkness being a frustrating issue. So I'll strike off 10, and again with mountain ranges and the ear popping. So that strikes out floor seven, and what is it with this game about freaking forests? I don't particularly care for forests all that much... Many creatures tend to be hide behind the unlimited amount of cover. Because they like to be panzy pieces of worthless crap." He continually mocks the creatures that stand petrified in fear to him.

 

He over looked the ninth floor, "Well cooking steaks in probably the hottest zone possible would be awesome to do. But I don't really like the idea of being near a teleportation gate, if I chose to get sleep in my restaurant and used it as a home. I would have to deal with the constant shining blue light of teleportation." He slowly looked over to Phoenix Town, "It's a perfect zone, it's close to the Lava Pits and the Core Hounds are a great way to farm, they're big and oafish so I can material farm like crazy not to farm from my abode... I like this plan." He smirked as he chose his destination, "Here I come Pker's I hope you enjoy food!"

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom equipped his gear immediately knowing he was going into a town with far more risks than rewards, but he enjoyed the competition and he thoroughly liked the dangerous feeling he'd get when leaving his home to go on a material farm. He was getting giddier and giddier the more he thought about it. He couldn't wait to let Meokka know everything that had happened. He was ready to give her the greatest of dishes she had ever had in her life. He was honestly excited about how much fun he was going to have creating food idea's, feeding his fellow adventurers, and the stories he would hear from the excellent adventures he'd listen to when serving customers. He was prepped and ready as he walked up to the Teleportation gate he took a long deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Lets do this. Teleport! Vulcan Village!" He shouted out loud which triggered the teleportation gate and sent him to Vulcan village. With everything in line to travel to Phoenix Village, he immediately left the safe zone and trudged to it.