The System

CH- 80: Lost Plots.

    Chef eyed Tetsu's hand with suspicion. He didn't need a reply, as Tetsu's nervous laugh said it all. "Bert," Chef introduced himself and with a firm grip, almost crushed Tetsu's hand.

"Firm handshake," Tetsu chuckled. "Still, you're... AHHhh..." He winced as Bert tightened his grip. "A level two chef shouldn't have such strength," he exclaimed.

"Well, I never claimed to use knives to carve the beast," Bert's toothy smile pushed his thick beard aside, revealing a mouth hidden beneath the hair. For a moment, Tetsu wondered if Bert manipulated his beard to speak.

"Is that why you offered me yours?" Tetsu mused, examining the small artifact in Bert's hand.

The dagger resembled a kitchen blade, featuring a ten-centimeter curved edge with a shimmering wave pattern separating it from the hilt. The triangular grip of the knife was designed for puncturing bones and showcasing the chef's skill with a deft flip. At a single glance, Tetsu felt a laceration splitting his vision in two. With this formidable blade, he could dispatch the entire group of elites; there was no doubt in his mind.

Bert noticed the gleam in Tetsu's eyes and offered the knife, despite the leader's warnings about being cautious with the youngster. He trusted his gut, which had guided him this far, and he couldn't bear to send a kid—level four or not—into this chaotic world without a weapon.

"No," Tetsu firmly refused.

"Good kid. Remember, this is a present, so I want it back—wait, what? No? Why not?" Bert blurted out in surprise.

"Because I don't like killing," Tetsu frowned at Bert as if it were common knowledge.

"How did you level up, then?"

"Oh, that!" Tetsu scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Lapse of judgment. Before you misjudge me... it, she, or he, were bad creatures, and I warned them not to cross my path—I think."

"Not that, you brat. We all know about the stupendous fight."

"Stories travel fast, huh!"

Bert clutched Tetsu with both hands, pulling him closer. "Are you telling me you killed a beast? No, an intellectual beast without weapons?"

"Yes?"

"Think harder, brat." Bert shook Tetsu like a milkshake, hoping to jog his memory.

"Brat... Bert!" Tetsu chuckled.

Bert let go of Tetsu, concerned that he might have broken him.

"Relax," Tetsu patted Bert's chest, attempting to help him control his erratic breathing. "I'm sure I borrowed their weapons to finish the job," Tetsu consoled Bert, though his own memory seemed hazy and unfamiliar.

The statement only worsened Bert's state as he heaved and gawked at Tetsu in disbelief. Bert was all too familiar with how rumors spread; he had been a target of gossip his entire life. For as long as he could remember, his family had pushed him toward rugby and scorned his dreams of becoming a chef.

In their current predicament, everyone embellished the stranger's story before spreading it around, adding more spice to the tale. Bert, separating the meat from the spices, considered Tetsu a fortunate kid who had found a good dungeon to train in. This was how all their elites reached level three and became adept at scouring the woods filled with delectable meat.

Their acolyte had her own methods, but Bert trusted people more than skills, and his gut leaned in favor of Tetsu until the skinny brat spun a story scarier than any rumor in the base.