**Chapter Five
{ A Cook!! }**
It didn’t take long before Aliano returned carrying a small rune stone, which he presented to Ian.
“I did not fail you, my lord.”
Profession Rune
Profession Name: Warrior
Profession Grade: Common
(Different profession grades grant different attributes)
Change Attempts: 10 / 10
Ian’s smile widened.
“As expected of our distinguished researcher.”
“Thanks to the lord for placing his trust in me,” Aliano said with pride and joy.
“Just wait until my mastery—and the mastery of the Science and Research Building—rises. When that happens, you will receive research dozens of times more advanced than this.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Ian patted his shoulder and handed the stone to Noa and the other four.
Noa
Age: 27 / 200
Profession: Warrior (Mastery) (Low Level – Progress 0%)
Grade: Common
Title: None
Training Skill: None
Training Level: 0
Combat Skills: None
Equipment: Basic cloth outfit
Loyalty: 85%
Ian inspected them, then gave Aliano his next order.
“Your next task is to search for a training skill.”
“As you command, my lord.” Aliano bowed and hurried off to work.
“He’s an old man, but he runs fast,” Ian joked, making them laugh and easing the tension, drawing them closer to him.
“Let’s get back to work. Chris, take them to the training ground and train while Liu and I head outside to check the area,” Ian said.
Chris was startled. “My lord… the outside is dangerous. You can’t go alone.”
“I’m not alone. Liu is with me.” Ian smiled.
“My lord, listen to General Chris… the outside really is dangerous,” Yora added.
“No need to worry. ”Ian felt their fear for him and smiled even more.
“Everyone has to play their part for all of us to survive. I may be the lord, but I won’t slack off—I’ll work just like all of you.”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“But—” Chris tried to speak.
“Say no more. Train them well. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
“My lord!!!” Yora tried to speak as well, but he placed his hand on her shoulder and laughed.
“I’ll return safely. And you also have a job to do.”
“I’m at your service.”
“I want a detailed map of the village—its blind spots, and the locations best suited for building defensive towers. Also, tell Aliano to search for the archer profession as well, and to create more Warrior profession runes.”
“As you command.” Yora bowed.
“Copy him,” Ian ordered Liu.
Liu obeyed and copied Chris, instantly acquiring his strength.
Liu
General
Level: 1
….
---
Outside the Village
Liu gripped his sword, walking cautiously beside Ian.
His eyes were like a hawk’s—scanning left and right without blinking.
Ian smiled inwardly. What more could a lord ask for than this?
Suddenly, they heard rustling ahead.
A good prey won’t be a problem, Ian thought, signaling Liu to fall back.
Both of them hid behind a cluster of shrubs and observed.
From between the bushes, a small deer emerged—likely separated from its herd.
Ian gestured with his hand to Liu as if saying: Handle it quickly.
Liu nodded.
With Chris’s experience and strength, he was no longer a complete beginner—closer to an elite, or at least someone with decent skill.
The deer glanced around, searching for danger. Finding none, it lowered its head and quietly began eating grass.
Liu crept toward it silently until he stood beside it—then struck with his sword in a single blow.
The strike was powerful enough to decapitate the deer outright, the blade continuing through to carve a deep mark into the tree behind it.
This was the power of Level One.
Impressive, Ian smiled and stepped out to collect the loot.
Beside the deer’s corpse appeared a handful of bronze coins and a single sword.
Good…
In this world, the coins were bronze, silver, and gold—three currencies that moved the world, each a thousand times stronger than the last.
Of course, there was no marketplace Ian could spend them in…
And even if there were, he wouldn’t go.
The main cities… the largest markets for beginners. There, I could buy countless things easily and save myself a lot of trouble…
But I have no money to spend—and no strength to protect myself there. What will I do? Go get myself killed?
Ian scoffed at himself, pocketing the coins and fastening the sword at his waist before lifting the deer to return to the village.
They wanted to continue exploring…
But two problems stopped them:
First: The deer meat would spoil—and the village had no food.
Second: Ian had stumbled upon strange footprints…
Small.
Three-toed.
Goblins? Ian wondered, which pushed him to head back quickly.
Liu carried the deer back into the village.
Its presence immediately drew attention.
Everyone was starving.
The only problem…
There was no cook in the village.
Ian laughed at their expressions—especially the five new soldiers—grabbed the deer, and began cutting it with his sword.
The sword was large and completely unsuitable for such delicate work—but Ian displayed the skill of a master chef with over fifty years of experience.
The villagers watched him with curiosity.
“Lord… were you a cook?” Yora asked.
“Something like that,” Ian laughed.
To prepare for this game, he had studied and learned many skills—including cooking.
He anticipated the worst-case scenario: receiving a common-grade stone… meaning his village wouldn’t have many professions available.
So he learned cooking.
Not just ordinary cooking—he had been a cook for years after his mother passed away.
But he also learned how to cook without artificial fire, and how to preserve meat so it would last longer.
He butchered the meat skillfully, lit a fire, and cooked everything.
There were no spices in the village—only large sacks of salt.
He sprinkled some on the meat they would eat fresh, and cooked the rest thoroughly in a special way to make it cured and long-lasting.
Saliva dripped as the aroma spread—none of them could resist anymore.
Soon, Ian laid out the food and invited the entire village to a grand meal.
Gulp.
Chris, Liu, and the new recruits—led by Noa—began eating as if they were in a war.
Meanwhile, Martin and Aliano took a small portion aside and ate quietly.
And finally, Yora approached Ian, sat beside him, and fed him with her own hands.
“You don’t have to do that,” Ian said.
“It’s an honor, my lord,” she said with a smile, continuing to feed him without accepting his refusal.
Ian simply smiled back and said nothing.
The meal—and the warm moment—came to an end.
Yora pulled out a paper and handed it to Ian.
It contained a general layout of the village and its blind spots.
The location of the battlefield, the research hall, the den, the garden, and the natural wall of trees surrounding the entire northern side of the village—forming a sturdy natural defense.
Ian smiled. “You did well,” he said, keeping the paper. “Now we’ve got some work to do.”
He took Liu and Chris with him this time—along with Noa and the other four recruits.
It was time to inspect the outside area in greater depth.
