Quest Failed: A Meal Worthy for a Queen!

  [Status: Incomplete. Recalculating...]

  The message lingered in the air for a long time before fading away. The kitchen had gone still, its warmth replaced by a faint, hollow chill. The runes on the walls flickered weakly, like they were losing interest in keeping the place alive. James stood by the counter, eyes empty, face calm, hands motionless. But Nyindnir knew that silence. He’d seen it in men who had lost wars, not games.

  The dwarf broke the quiet first. “The queen not choosing your dish doesn’t mean it was bad, human chef. In my life, I’ve never tasted food as good as yours.”

  James didn’t look at him. His reflection on the marble counter barely moved, his lips pressed tight. Everyone liked my food. Everyone but the one person I wanted to. He laughed quietly, though it sounded more like air leaving a broken pipe. Perfect.

  The door opened. Boots tapped against the stone floor. Maestcar?m stepped in, arms crossed, voice cool as ice. “Of course he thinks your food is good. Years of drinking dulls the tongue.”

  Nyindnir’s jaw twitched. “Sharp ears, dull soul. Admit it, Maestcar?m. His dishes were better.”

  The elf smirked faintly. “What I think doesn’t change the result. This human started a contest he couldn’t win. He lost his own game.”

  “Come on now,” the dwarf began.

  “Save it,” Maestcar?m snapped, cutting him off. “Humans lose because they think they’re above the rest. That arrogance never fades. I haven’t forgotten what their kind did, and neither should you.”

  “Enough.”

  The word struck the room like thunder. Both turned.

  “Sir Villen,” they said almost in unison.

  Villen’s gaze was firm but calm. “Leave us. Both of you.”

  Neither argued. Maestcar?m left first, his cloak sweeping behind him. Nyindnir followed after a brief, worried glance at James.

  When the door closed, only the faint hum of the runes remained.

  James spoke without turning. “Maestcar?m was right.”

  Villen stepped closer. “James, the meals you made tonight were—”

  “Good. Yes. Delicious.” James looked up, meeting his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

  His voice was calm, but every word carried weight. “He was right about humans. About what we’ve done to you. To Rennalinda.”

  Villen’s expression shifted, the lines around his eyes tightening. “What do you mean?”

  “Nyindnir told me,” James said quietly. “About five centuries ago. About your brother. About her parents.”

  For a moment, the dragon lord didn’t move. His silence filled the room heavier than any sound could.

  James’ hand clenched. “It has nothing to do with me, I know. But it does, doesn’t it? Not who I am, but what I am. I’m human. The same kind that betrayed you. The same kind that killed your family. What the hell was I thinking, trying to—”

  He stopped himself, breath ragged, eyes on the floor. Villen said nothing. There was nothing to say. He understood that sometimes, grief wasn’t for fixing. It was for listening to.

  James let out a bitter laugh. “You told me once, 'my niece would love you.' Guess you were wrong. She can’t even stand to look at me.”

  Villen exhaled slowly. “Ah.”

  “She didn’t even acknowledge what I made. Why, Villen? Why?”

  The dragon’s voice softened. “Because she’s afraid. Rennalinda believes humans only seek peace when they are weak. Once they grow strong, she can’t help seeing the same story repeat. She trusted one once. And when she did, everything she loved burned.”

  Rennalinda’s face flashed in James’ mind, the way her violet eyes had flickered for just a moment before she turned away. His chest tightened.

  James’ gaze fell back to the counter where the silver tray still lay, a ghost of steam rising from what was left of the meal. His reflection stared back at him, tired, small, uncertain.

  Then a sound broke the silence.

  Ting.

  A faint blue shimmer crossed his vision.

  [System Notification]

  [Quest Updating...]

  Quest: A Meal Worthy for a Queen! → A Journey for Redemption

  Objective: Grow stronger, physically and mentally, to challenge the Queen’s heart.

  Reward: Final Mishlin Sage Star

  Notice: Without completing this quest, you will never reach the full 5-star rank.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Failure: Your love will remain unreturned forever.

  “A way to a Queen’s heart is still through her stomach.”

  James read it once. Then again. Then one more time. His lips parted slightly. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  He closed the panel slowly, the glow fading from his eyes. The silence of the kitchen returned, heavier this time, pressing against his chest.

  Villen tilted his head. “What happened?”

  James exhaled a shaky breath and laughed, though it sounded more like defeat than humor. “The system just gave me a new quest.”

  He leaned back against the counter, eyes on the ceiling. “It wants me to win her heart.”

  The laugh that followed was dry, almost hollow. “Guess even the system’s romantic now.”

  He fell quiet again. The embers flickered once before dying out completely, and the kitchen was left in shadow. He didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or start cooking again.

  Villen said nothing. The silence between them stretched, soft but unbroken. James lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry, Villen. I just need to think for a while. Alone.”

  “As you wish,” Villen replied quietly.

  James turned toward the door, his steps light, his thoughts heavy. Before he left, Villen spoke again, his tone gentle, almost fond. “And James, the dishes you made tonight were every bit as good as your pizza and that ridiculous owlbear burger, if not better.”

  James paused in the doorway, eyes half-lidded. “And yet, I still lost.”

  Villen didn’t argue. There was nothing to say. The human’s footsteps faded down the marble hall, swallowed by the hum of the runes.

  When James entered his chamber, the air was different from before. The same grand bed waited beneath the soft glow of the carved runes, but the light seemed dimmer now, the false sun outside long gone. Curtains of pale silk drifted faintly in the mountain breeze, whispering against the stone. The scent of iron and blooming stone still lingered, but it carried no warmth this time, only the quiet echo of solitude.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, then lay back, one arm resting across his forehead. His mind refused to rest.

  “So, I have to grow stronger. Physically and mentally.” The words came out in a whisper, almost to himself.

  He stared at the ceiling, tracing invisible patterns on the marble lines above. I still don’t know much about this world.

  But I level up. I grow stronger. I gain new skills. Infinite possibilities, endless systems.

  His eyes drifted toward the faint glow of the runes etched near the walls. If that’s what it takes, then I’ll accept this quest. I’ll get stronger. I’ll cook better. And I’ll prove to her that even if I surpass her in strength, I’ll never betray her. That not every human is the same.

  His breathing slowed. The hum of the runes dimmed further until only the sound of the wind remained.

  The light in the room flickered once, then softened, as if the mountain itself exhaled.

  Somewhere in the silence, the system stirred.

  [Quest Accepted: A Journey for Redemption]

  And with that faint whisper, James finally closed his eyes.

  The wind from the mountain brushed against his cheek, cool and clean.

  Morning came too quickly for James. It always did when you finally had a goal. The light from the mountain’s false sun spilled softly across the chamber, turning the marble floor from silver to gold. The runes along the walls pulsed faintly, alive again after a night of stillness.

  He was already sitting at the edge of his bed, dressed, awake, and waiting.

  When the door opened, Villen and Nyindnir paused on the threshold, surprised to find him alert.

  “Finally,” James said with a half-smile. “I was starting to think you forgot about me after yesterday’s disaster.”

  Nyindnir crossed his arms, beard twitching. “So, you’ve recovered then?”

  “Better than ever.”

  Villen’s gaze narrowed. “I hope you’re not planning something foolish.”

  James gave him a sideways grin. “Villen, when have I ever done anything smart?”

  The dragon sighed. “Then who is it you plan to challenge this time?”

  “The road,” James answered.

  Nyindnir raised a brow. “The road?”

  “Yeah. I’m heading for Min City. From there, who knows.”

  Villen folded his hands behind his back. “I spoke with Rennalinda. She’s granted you permission to stay here.”

  James shook his head slowly. “Thank you, Villen. Really. For everything. And… sorry for calling you a dragon with homicide issues.”

  Nyindnir blinked. “A what?”

  Villen’s laugh echoed off the marble walls, deep and genuine.

  “But I can’t stay,” James continued. “Not now. Maybe someday, if I come back, and if you’ll have me again.”

  Villen’s smile faded to something softer. “So you’ll return to Marty and Gerrard?”

  “I’ll see them, but I’m not joining them on the road. There’s a couple I met, Willem and Bree, at a village near the forest’s edge. I promised I’d deliver something to their daughter in Min City.”

  “So you’re leaving to keep your word?” Villen asked.

  James nodded. “I always keep my promises.”

  “If it’s only that, I can send someone with the package,” Villen offered. “You don’t need to risk the journey.”

  “No,” James said quietly. “I need to go. I need to learn, to get stronger. Something in me says I have to.”

  Villen tilted his head. “Because of that system quest you mentioned?”

  James gave a small, tired smile. “It’s part of it, yeah. But mostly… it’s me. I want to see what I can become.”

  Villen looked at him for a long moment. “Nothing I say will change your mind, will it?”

  James shook his head again.

  “Then don’t leave just yet,” Villen said. “Wait until noon.”

  “Why?”

  “Just wait. I’ll return soon.”

  James raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. Not like I can find the exit without one of you anyway.”

  Nyindnir chuckled. “You made it to the ninety-seventh floor once. Surely you can find your way back.”

  They both left, leaving James alone with the sound of the wind.

  He stepped out onto the terrace, the same one he had seen his first morning in this dungeon. The city below glittered under the light of the false sun, veins of mana running through the towers like rivers of gold. Farther down, the valley opened wide, green and alive, a breathtaking reminder of the world waiting beyond the mountain.

  When noon came, the door opened again. Villen entered first, Nyindnir behind him, carrying something long wrapped in dark cloth.

  “All right,” Villen said. “You can go now.”

  James blinked. “You’re coming with me?”

  “If you wish, I’ll escort you to Min City,” Villen said. “But after that, I must return.”

  James frowned. “Then where did you go earlier?”

  Villen opened his inventory, runes flashing briefly in his palm. He began to pull out bundles of fruits, vegetables, rice, flour, jars of butter and cream, even sealed containers of oil and yogurt. The faint scent of herbs filled the air.

  “These took some time to prepare,” he said simply.

  James stared. “That’s a lot of food.”

  “And there’s more.” Villen reached deeper into the glow and drew out a small pile of items: a ring, a necklace, and two thick books bound in leather.

  “What are those?”

  “I thought you might want to keep cooking on your journey,” Villen said. “You won’t have me around to resupply you, so you’ll need to carry your own stock.”

  James frowned. “But why give me all this?”

  Villen’s expression softened. “You may not realize it, but you’ve done much for me already. The coffee, the new seeds, the meals, you’ve given more than you think.”

  “I never expected anything in return.”

  “I know,” Villen said, placing the ring and necklace in his hand. “That’s why I want you to have them. I can’t let you walk out there defenseless.”

  Nyindnir stepped forward, holding the cloth-wrapped object. “And if you ever find yourself in a real fight—” He unwrapped the blade slowly. Polished steel caught the light, gleaming faintly with dwarven runes carved along the hilt, “—this should even the odds.”

  James’ eyes widened. “Ah! Is it just me, or is someone chopping onions in here? My nose is stinging.”

  Nyindnir raised an eyebrow. “I don’t smell anything. Perhaps you’re just crying?”

  “Crying? No way,” James said quickly, sniffling. “Definitely onions.”

  Villen’s quiet laugh filled the room again, low and warm. The kind of sound that carried both farewell and faith.

  And for the first time since arriving in this world, James felt ready to leave it behind, if only to find his way back.

  Author’s Note

  follow and, if you really enjoyed it, add it to your favorites! If you’ve already done both, leaving a rating or review would help me a lot. Thank you so much in advance!

  10 chapters ahead, you can find the advance chapters here: