Knock, Knock.

Kai knocked on the wooden door, waiting as silence hung in the air. For a while, there's no answer, eventually, the door creaked open, revealing the old tower keeper, looking much the same as he had the night they first encountered him while lost in the woods.

He was still the same elderly figure, his wild, unkempt white hair framing a face lined with age. His frail, slightly hunched frame moved with the stiffness of someone well beyond his prime. Yet, despite his apparent fragility, there was a keen sharpness in his eyes, a look that spoke of hard-won experience yet maintained an enthusiasm the chief lacked.

But unlike their first meeting, his expression now was warm, his rough edges softened by familiarity.

"Well, well, well. Look who remembered to come back! Haha, I've heard a lot about you, Kaiser. It hasn't even been a week, yet already making a name for yourself, I expect nothing less from a Prayer!" Garba chuckled, giving Kaiser a hearty slap on the shoulder.

Garba’s gaze shifted behind Kaiser, his smile widening at the sight of Kai’s companions.

“Ah, can’t bear to leave them alone, can you?” He chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“Though I must say, you’ve got quite the taste in company, lad.”

Without waiting for a response, Garba turned and beckoned them inside.

“Well, don’t just stand there. Come in, come in! Make yourselves at home—can’t remember the last time I had visitors. We’re the only ones here, so drop the shyness, eh?” His eyes landed on the bird he was holding. “Oh, and by the way, have you three eaten yet?”

“No.” Kai answered. They’d left after breakfast and hadn’t stopped since. Now, it was nearing noon.

Garba’s eyes gleamed as he shamelessly eyed the bird. He laughed.

“I haven’t either. That bird looks tasty! Best to cook it soon—shame to let it lose its freshness.”

Kai stifled a smile. 'This old man...,'

He lifted the bird slightly. “It’s yours, anyway. Chief said to give it to you.”

“Is that so?” Garba’s expression softened. “Well, thank him for me when you head back. But first, let’s have a meal. Wait for me here.” He paused, then added, “Or would you three care to see my humble garden out back?”

Kaiser was ordinarily curious to see the old man's garden, but Ariella was already eagerly following Garba toward the garden. He had a hunch Garba would probably put them to work gathering vegetables, but he didn’t mind as he decided to follow, too.

In the makeshift garden, mostly made of woods without sophisticated gardening materials. Simply compassing plants and soils supported by woods, Kai eyed the unfamiliar vegetables with skepticism, wondering if they were even safe to eat. As expected, the sly old man made them help in picking vegetables weather because his lazy or just wants to enjoy their rare company to the fullest. But that's fine, Kai didn't mind the simple task of picking edible leafs and veggies. Rather, it was relaxing.

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After going through battles after battles - Unfortunate encounter with the bandits, freeing a female beast, causing the entire mischievous gang's downfall. Followed by days of being Lost in the wilderness, guided by a single light before finding themselves in the village, where peace is still far. Even with his reserve presence in the settlement, Kaiser still landed himself in trouble with the Hunters, brawling with multiple men that led him to unwillingly join their dreadful hunt for a frightening monstrosity. Even then, fortune didn't favor him because that devil itself developed interest for his one and only goddess. Sadly for that beast, targeting Ariella turns out to be the biggest mistake it ever made, resulting in its cruel demise. Burned to ashes and never to return again.

And let's not forget the nerve rattling secret he came to know unintentionally... Well, his own greed for power did bring it into himself, so he can't blame anyone. Still, that's the heaviest knowledge he ever knew. Able to make authorities chase behind his back and ruin an ordinary person's life. Thankfully, his not. If not, he would have long died out there, stabbed by a bandit's blade through his heart.

But truth be told, although it brought excitement to his life, the constant dangers and grimness exhausted him mentally. Kaiser needs reprieve, some peace and silence instead of more violence. Of course, Kaiser doubted his fate would bless him such a luxury.

Removing a round vegetable from a crawling plant, he studied it for a few moments, feeling the quiet breeze of the forest accompanied by occasional humming of birds. For the first time in a while, he felt at peace. Comfortable, even.

Kai checked on his companions, Ariella was helping Cia collect vegetables under the guidance of Garda, who had a difficult expression as he teaches the two on how to harvest his crops correctly. After all, Cia is blind and Ariella is presumed deaf, how is he supposed to guide an unseeing and un-hearing? Yet, somehow, the two girls are handling the work fine, which dumbfounded the poor old man.

He chuckled, secretly.

Then realized his strangely calm and collective here, his thoughts aren't jumbled or bothered by the surroundings. After all, there's no voices of crowds outside making him insecure, just the four of them. For some reason, he felt that this kind of condition is where he belongs. Away from dangers and the masses.

Gazing on the lonesome tower, he thought.

'Maybe I should build myself a home like this once I settle down, it's much more comfy here compared to busy cities.'

It would be nice to live in a country side, away from society with a garden like these to feed on. Occasionally, he could go hunting for meat. Though, as a Player, his life here would likely be littered with dangers. But who knows, perhaps a nice, peaceful livelihood isn't that far away.

Collecting veggies didn't take long, before they knew it, they gathered more than enough. However, Garba's shamelessness surpassed his expectations. With a sly grin, he humbly suggested they take charge of cooking. He was eager to try a dish from the world Players had come from, he said.

Garba's requests aren't difficult, so Kai nonchalantly agreed. Furthermore, it was only right to lend a hand while staying in Garba’s home.

However, the only problem is... Cia was blind, and Ariella was, Ariella. In short, Kai was on his own for the cooking. Luckily, as someone who lost his parents at a very young age, Kaiser had no loving mom to cook him delicious meals, therefore, forcing him to learn it himself.

That said, none of Greenland’s ingredients were anything like the foods he was used to from Earth. Still, after some time, Kai managed to serve up “something” under the expectant gazes of Ariella and Garba.

Garba eyed the dish, curiosity in his gaze. “That’s one odd-looking meal,” he remarked. “What do you call it back home?”

Honestly, even the cook himself didn't know either.

Because of the ingredients and spices difference in Earth's cousin's, cooking a certain recipe, simple or not was difficult. He doesn't have the heart to disappoint the old man's anticipation, either. So, Kai resorts to a secret technique!

Freestyle - a technique invented by an orphan who often make do with random or insufficient ingredients for him meals.

It's easy, really. Just fry the bird, put whatever vegetables along some water, as long as the Ingredients are edible, you already have an edible dish, albeit, often tasteless or have strange flavors. Let it boil, solely for the sake of making it appear he cooked it. After that, all that's left is to put whatever spices available until an acceptable taste is achieved.

And thank god it worked. Accidentally producing a dish with a taste he couldn't understand, but undescribably good enough.

Kai thought for a moment, then a moment more but failed to come up with a fitting or fancy name. By then, the three are already beginning to eat, so he spouts whatever comes up in his mind before Garba suspects he served poison.

"...IDK." He shrugged nonchalantly, acting cool as he didn't do anything wrong.

Cia almost spat her food.

Garba, however, didn’t miss a beat, his eyes lighting up. “Aydekey, is it? Definitely sounds otherworldly.” He took a spoonful and grinned. “Tastes otherworldly too!”

A rain of praises dropped on his cooking as he covered his mouth to suppress a gleeful chuckle.

On the other hand, Cia would have given him a strange look asking a thousand questions if she could.

Sitting between Cia and Ariella, even he can't help but praise himself upon tasting his own creation.

'Dang, when did I get so good at this!.'

But midway through their happy meal, Garba suddenly strands up. Then hastily go to the bathroom.

Kaiser briefly wondered why, but got his answer soon after. He looked down, feeling his upset stomach groan and the call of nature surging within him, urging him. He froze, maybe he shouldn't have been so careless, putting whatever there is on what they're supposed to eat.

But it's too late to regret.

A delicate hand touches his shoulder.

"...Kai." Said Cia in a strange tone, her nail biting onto his skin.

For some reason, that harmless grip felt like the cold, clutches of death.

He coughed.

"Uh... Sorry, my bad."