6:30 AM.
Vash opened his eyes.
The first thing he thought about wasn't rehabilitation.
It wasn't school.
It wasn't even the mysterious recipe book.
It was egg noodles.
He smiled.
Yesterday, he had learned that reading about cooking could improve his Cooking Skill.
But there was something he wanted to know.
Could he actually cook?
Vash opened the system.
---
[ORDINARY SYSTEM]
Host: Vash
Age: 14
Level: 1
Physical Attributes
Strength: 6.0 / 10
Agility: 5.0 / 10
Endurance: 4.0 / 10
Reaction: 5.0 / 10
Recovery Data
Rehabilitation Progress: 1.1 / 10
Walking Stability: 0.9 / 10
Balance: 1.0 / 10
Skills
Cooking — Basic
Cooking Proficiency: 24.8
Mathematics — Basic
English — Basic
Observation — Basic
Physical Rehabilitation — Beginner
Business Sense — Beginner
System Points: 41 / 100
---
Vash looked at the Cooking section.
"System."
[Yes.]
"Can I earn System Points by cooking?"
[Yes.]
Vash's eyes widened.
"Really?"
[System Points may be awarded when the host demonstrates sufficient practical mastery.]
"So if I cook something well..."
[Passing the required standard may result in a reward.]
Vash smiled.
"How many points?"
[Depends on the task.]
Vash immediately got out of bed.
Today was going to be different.
---
When Vash entered the kitchen, Grandma was already preparing breakfast.
"Grandma."
She looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Teach me how to make egg noodles."
Grandma blinked.
"Egg noodles?"
"Yes."
"You've never cooked them before."
"I know."
"Why suddenly?"
Vash smiled.
"I want to learn."
Grandma looked at him for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"All right."
She moved aside.
"But I'm not going to do it for you."
Vash looked surprised.
"You'll explain?"
"I'll explain."
"And I'll cook?"
"Exactly."
Vash smiled.
"Deal."
---
First Attempt
Grandma showed him the ingredients.
Noodles.
Eggs.
Vegetables.
Seasoning.
Oil.
Sauce.
Vash carefully prepared everything.
He remembered what he had read in the recipe book.
Heat.
Timing.
Preparation.
Flame control.
He turned on the stove.
The oil heated.
Vash added the ingredients.
Then he added the noodles.
A few seconds later—
Grandma frowned.
"Too much heat."
Vash immediately lowered the flame.
But it was already too late.
The noodles became slightly overcooked.
Then Vash added the seasoning.
Too much.
He tasted it.
His face changed.
"That's..."
"Salty," Grandma said.
Vash sighed.
"Very salty."
Grandma laughed.
"First attempt."
Vash looked at the bowl.
The system appeared.
---
[Practical Cooking Attempt Detected]
Recipe: Egg Noodles
Result: Below Beginner Standard
Cooking Proficiency: 24.8 → 24.9
System Points: +0
Reason: Required standard not achieved.
---
Vash stared at the screen.
"No points?"
[Correct.]
He looked at the bowl.
Then at Grandma.
Grandma smiled.
"Don't worry."
Vash nodded.
"I'll do it again."
---
Second Attempt
This time, Vash controlled the flame more carefully.
He watched the oil.
He added the egg.
Then the vegetables.
Then the noodles.
The texture was much better.
But he added the sauce too early.
Grandma pointed it out.
"You added that before the noodles were ready."
Vash looked at the pan.
"Right."
He nodded.
"I won't make that mistake again."
The system appeared.
---
[Practical Learning Detected]
Cooking Proficiency: 24.9 → 25.1
System Points: +0
---
Vash smiled.
No points.
But he was improving.
And he remembered the mistake.
---
Third Attempt
Vash started again.
This time, he controlled the flame.
He timed the noodles properly.
He added the sauce at the correct moment.
He tasted the dish.
Better.
Much better.
Grandma tasted it.
"Hmm."
Vash waited.
"Not bad."
Vash's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But?"
Grandma pointed at the noodles.
"The seasoning is still uneven."
Vash looked carefully.
Some parts were more flavorful than others.
He nodded.
"How do I fix that?"
"Mix properly."
Vash laughed.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
He looked at the bowl.
A simple mistake.
But an important one.
---
Fourth Attempt
Vash prepared everything again.
This time, he didn't rush.
He remembered every mistake.
Too much heat.
Too much seasoning.
Wrong timing.
Poor mixing.
He corrected each one.
When the noodles were ready, he placed them into a bowl.
Grandma tasted them.
She didn't say anything immediately.
Vash waited nervously.
Finally, she smiled.
"Good."
Vash blinked.
"Good?"
"Very good."
The system appeared.
---
[Practical Cooking Evaluation]
Recipe: Egg Noodles
Attempts: 4
Beginner Standard: Passed
Cooking Proficiency: 25.1 → 25.4
Recipe Understanding: Increased
Egg Noodles — Basic Mastery: 78%
System Points: +0
---
Vash stared.
"Wait."
He looked at the screen.
"I passed."
[Confirmed.]
"But I didn't get points."
[Basic Mastery has not yet been completed.]
Vash looked at Grandma.
Then at the noodles.
He smiled.
"One more."
Grandma laughed.
"You really want those points, don't you?"
"Very much."
---
Fifth Attempt
Vash started again.
This time, everything felt different.
He didn't need Grandma to tell him what to do.
He prepared the ingredients himself.
He controlled the flame.
He watched the oil.
He timed the noodles.
He added the seasoning carefully.
He mixed everything evenly.
Then he turned off the stove.
He looked at the finished bowl.
Grandma tasted it.
She smiled.
"Now you've learned."
Vash grinned.
The system appeared.
---
[RECIPE MASTERY ACHIEVED]
Recipe: Egg Noodles
Level: Basic Mastery
Cooking Proficiency: 25.4 → 25.6
Recipe Understanding: 100%
Practical Standard: Passed
Reward:
+2 System Points
System Points: 43 / 100
---
Vash's eyes widened.
"Two points!"
He raised his fist.
"Yes!"
Grandma laughed.
"You look happier than when you finished your rehabilitation."
Vash froze.
Then laughed.
"Maybe a little."
The system appeared again.
---
[Notice]
Repeatedly preparing a mastered recipe will not provide the same reward.
Further improvement requires:
• Higher-quality results
• New recipes
• Advanced techniques
• Greater practical understanding
---
Vash nodded.
"So I can't just make egg noodles a hundred times."
[Correct.]
"That's fair."
He looked at the bowl.
He had made it.
Not perfectly at first.
Not even close.
But he had learned from every mistake.
And most importantly—
he hadn't repeated them.
Vash looked at Grandma.
"Thank you."
She smiled.
"You listened."
Vash looked back at the system.
Forty-three points.
He still needed fifty-seven more to reach one hundred.
But now he knew something important.
There were more ways to earn them.
---
That evening, after the restaurant closed, Vash noticed the old recipe book on the table.
He walked toward it.
Grandma was nearby.
"Can I read another page?"
She looked at him.
"You already read five yesterday."
"Just two more."
Grandma hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
Vash opened the book.
Page six.
More basic cooking knowledge.
He read carefully.
Then page seven.
Another section about ingredients and preparation.
Vash finished the page.
He looked toward page eight.
The writing suddenly looked different.
The heading wasn't like the previous pages.
Vash leaned closer.
Family Recipes — First Generation
His eyes widened.
"Grandma..."
Before he could continue, Grandma gently closed the book.
"That's enough for today."
Vash stared at her.
"But—"
"Tomorrow."
She picked up the book.
Vash watched her walk toward the cupboard.
Something was definitely different about those pages.
He didn't know what.
But now he wanted to know more than ever.
That night, Vash opened his system one final time.
---
[DAILY TASKS]
1. Walk 20 steps. ✓
2. Rehabilitation exercises. ✓
3. Drink 500 ml of water. ✓
4. Study for 30 minutes. ✓
5. Help at Grandpa's Noodles. ✓
Tasks Completed: 5 / 5
Reward: +3 System Points
System Points: 46 / 100
---
Vash smiled.
"Forty-six."
Then he remembered the words on the book.
Family Recipes — First Generation
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.