A WEEK LATER
ISABELLA
It had been a week since Welf handed me the dagger. A perfect, balanced piece of work, silver-grey, about the length of my forearm, smooth hilt wrapped in black leather. When I'd first gripped it, the weight sat in my palm like it belonged there. Not too heavy, not too light. A whisper of danger, clean and sharp.
Now, a week later, I was standing in one of the training halls just outside the Guild's main district, the kind used by low-rank adventurers or new recruits. The air smelled of sweat, dust, and oiled leather. Every clang of blade or grunt of effort echoed off the high stone walls. I wasn't in armor. Just my usual work clothes rolled at the sleeves, dagger sheathed at my hip, a few straw targets lined in front of me.
"System." I murmured "Record training session. Objective: precision throws."
"SYSTEM. Logging initiated. Objective: Accuracy improvement and muscle coordination. Progress: 0%."System said.
"Thanks." I said, pulling my hair back into a loose tie. I took my stance the way Welf had shown me, feet apart, shoulders steady, thumb and index gripping the dagger near the hilt, not the blade. The first throw clattered uselessly off the dirt floor.
"Okay." I muttered. "That doesn't count."
"SYSTEM. Result: Miss. Confidence drop: 3%. Recommendation: Breathe before release."System said.
I huffed out a laugh.
"You're sassy today."I grinned.
I tried again, slower this time, breathing through my nose, feeling the weight leave my fingers. The dagger cut through the air with a soft whisssh and struck the target off-center, the wood splintering slightly. My heart skipped.
"Ha! That's progress!"I said happily.
"SYSTEM. Result: 45% accuracy. Improvement logged. Emotional state: satisfaction + mild excitement."System said.
I kept going. Ten throws. Twenty. The hall emptied as the sun began to dip through the open slats above, the light painting everything in orange. My arm ached, sweat running down my spine, but the rhythm of it, throw, breathe, retrieve felt almost meditative. Like cooking. Just faster, sharper, quieter. By the time I stopped, three of the four straw dummies were marked dead center.
"SYSTEM. Analysis: Progress exceptional. Coordination exceeds novice standard. Remark: You are learning faster than predicted."System said.
I wiped my forehead with the back of my wrist, panting softly.
"You sound… impressed."I said.
"SYSTEM. Statement: Affirmative. Strength and adaptability metrics increasing. Unexpected rate of improvement for non-adventurer background."System explained.
A grin tugged at my lips.
"Guess I'm not just a cook anymore."I said.
I sat down on the floor, letting my back hit the cool stone wall. My dagger gleamed faintly in the last stretch of sunlight, the blade catching the glow like fire on glass. I turned it over in my hands, thinking. Bell's face flickered across my mind, that shy smile, the way his eyes lit up when I brought food to his table, how he always stayed just a little longer than necessary to chat.
He didn't even realize it, but he'd inspired me more than once. Seeing him fight, improve, get back up every time he was knocked down, that kind of quiet strength wasn't something you learned in a kitchen.
"System." I said quietly. "You ever think people like him… just see strength differently?"
"SYSTEM. Clarify: Inquiry relates to Bell Cranel?"System asked.
I smiled a little.
"Yeah. He likes strong people, doesn't he? Ais, for one. He looks up to her because she's brave, powerful, unshakable. I get that."I said. I flipped the dagger once, catching it neatly by the hilt. "But strength isn't just sword swings and levels. Sometimes it's standing behind a counter with your head held high after a rough day. Sometimes it's not running away from what scares you."I explained.
"SYSTEM. Processing… Observation logged: subject displays introspection and emotional maturity. Current affinity with Bell Cranel: 5%. Increment potential: rising."System said.
I groaned.
"You really had to add a percentage there?"I asked.
"SYSTEM. Acknowledged. It is my function."System said.
"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes and pushed myself up, grabbing the dagger again. ""Then let's make that function useful. Log another round. I want to beat my best score before sundown."
The blade flew again, sharp, clean, sure, and this time it sank straight through the center of the dummy with a dull, satisfying thunk. I smiled, chest warm with that quiet, hard-earned pride. Cooking had always been my comfort. But this? This was becoming my edge, my way of standing beside the people I admired instead of just serving them food.
"SYSTEM. Update complete. Skill synergy detected: 'Precision Handling' unlocked. Effective for throwing, slicing, and culinary work. Emotional status: confident. Motivation: stable."System said.
"Precision Handling, huh?" I murmured. "Guess that works for knives and vegetables."
I sheathed the dagger and looked toward the fading sky, Orario glowing gold beyond the hall's open archway. For the first time, I didn't just feel like a background character in someone else's adventure. I felt like someone who could stand, quietly, steadily, in her own story.
The forest was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in warm, uneven streaks. My basket swung gently at my side as I moved between bushes, plucking berries and checking herbs, the system quietly tracking everything.
"System." I murmured, scanning the underbrush. "Log gathering session. Objective: supply prep for Hostess of Fertility."
"Logging initiated. Environmental scan: minor hazards detected. Emotional status: calm."System said.
I smiled faintly, appreciating the peace. For a moment, I could forget about curry, customers, and Bell's stupid shy grin. Then a low, guttural chitter stopped me mid-step. I froze. Three small, ragged shapes burst from behind the nearest trees. Goblins. Green skinned, jagged teeth, crude clubs raised high.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." I hissed under my breath, gripping the dagger at my hip. My fingers flexed instinctively. "System. Combat log: goblin attack detected."
"Confirmed. Threat level: low-tier. Probability of injury: moderate if unprepared."System said.
"Unprepared? Ha!" I muttered, stepping forward. "You little monsters picked the wrong cook to mess with."
The first goblin lunged, jagged club swinging. I sidestepped easily, letting it stumble past me, then flicked my dagger in a precise arc. It sank into the goblin's side with a wet thunk. The creature shrieked, collapsing instantly.
"Oi! You think you can just-ugh!" I cursed under my breath, slicing cleanly through the second goblin as it tried to circle behind me. "You little shits! Do you have no sense?"
The third tried to back off, but I didn't give it the chance. A sharp throw, and the blade landed squarely between its shoulders. It crumpled, eyes wide in disbelief.
"System. Combat log: goblins eliminated. Efficiency: 100%. Rage channel: moderate. Bloodlust… contained."System said.
I wiped the blade on the grass, cursing softly under my breath.
"…Idiots… attacking a woman gathering berries. Couldn't even pick someone your own size."I groaned. "I know I supposed to care since I part like them but I don't."
By the time I collected the bodies to carry them back basket balanced carefully alongside a few untouched herbs and berries I could feel my heart still racing. The forest smelled of iron and earth, and my hands were streaked in red. When I reached the cafe, the door swung open before I could knock. Mama Mia was standing there, and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of me, basket in one hand, dagger in the other, stained red with gore.
"ISABELLA!" She bellowed, her voice reverberating off the walls. "What in the hell happened?!"
I ignored her panic for a moment, setting the goblin bodies down.
"Goblins attacked me in the forest. Three of them. All dead."I said.
Her face paled further, and she clutched her apron.
"All dead… covered in… you're… bloody…"She whispered.
From behind the counter, Bell stepped forward, his eyes wide, ears twitching, cheeks pink but a different shade this time half shock, half concern.
"…Isabella… are you… okay?"He asked.
I waved a hand at him, brushing off the question.
"I'm fine. Just… tired. And a little irritated."I said.
Syr peeked from behind the counter, her jaw dropping.
"…You… you actually killed three goblins in one go? With… a dagger?"She asked.
I shrugged, sheathing the blade.
"…They're idiots. Didn't expect someone gathering berries in my path to be dangerous, did they?"I said.
Mama Mia groaned audibly, running a hand down her face.
"…Isabella. You can't just stroll into the forest like this covered in blood! You have to think of… everything!"Mama Mia groaned.
I rolled my eyes.
"…Yeah, yeah, I know. But look, the herbs and berries are safe. Nothing wasted. I'm fine. They're gone. End of story."I said.
Bell shuffled slightly closer, still hovering near the doorway, clearly nervous but… proud, somehow. His gaze flicked from my face to my bloodstained hands, then down at the goblins.
"That… that was… impressive…"He said.
I sighed, brushing my hair back.
"…Don't get used to it. I'm not trying to impress anyone. But if idiots like that want to die attacking a cook… it's on them."I said.
"SYSTEM. Combat report: completed. Goblin elimination: successful. Efficiency: 100%. Rage channeling: high. Observers impressed: Bell +1%, Syr +1%, Mama Mia +1%. Optional objective: survival and defensive skill demonstration – success."System said.
Even as Mama Mia fretted, and Bell fidgeted, I couldn't help the tiny thrill coursing through me. I wasn't just a cook anymore. Not in the kitchen, not outside it. I was dangerous. And maybe… maybe that scared people, but it also made me feel alive.