Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 112: Banana x Spice - I'll Whip up Something Tasty!

Alex climbs the massive tree, its size and lushness dwarfing any banana plant he's ever seen on Earth. The bananas themselves are larger, their vibrant yellow skin making them look almost unnaturally tasty.

He picks a large bunch, only to feel a bit of disappointment as the system fails to recognize them as items. Still, he collects as much as he can carry, figuring they'll come in handy, and carefully descends back to the ground.

Linus, climbing a separate section of the tree, manages to gather just as much, his movements quick and practiced.

Once back on the ground, Alex stashes most of the bananas into his inventory for later, while putting a smaller portion into his backpack for immediate use during cooking.

"I guess it's time to go back then?" Alex asks the group, looking at the others.

"Yes, we can go back," Eirini agrees, holding up several large banana leaves she's collected.

"What the hell are those leaves for?" Linus asks, clearly puzzled.

Eirini responds, "We can use them for wrapping food and maybe even cooking if we simmer something. They add a bit of variety and can work as decoration too. Good plating is highly valued by chefs, so it's worth having extra options."

Patricia grins, patting Eirini on the head. "You're so smart, Eirini. Good thinking." She grabs one of Linus's bananas, peels it, and tries a bite. "Not bad!" she says, smiling. "It's quite sweet. Maybe we can pair it with that sweet spice we found earlier. If we had some milk, we could even make a dessert!"

Alex offers another idea. "What about a curry? We could use the buffalo meat, the sauces, and spices, then throw in some bananas. People usually add apples for that sweet-and-spicy balance. We can substitute bananas for something a bit more tropical."

"It's not a bad idea, Alex," Eirini nods approvingly.

Linus, however, interrupts with an annoyed tone. "Guys, I don't want to ruin your cooking class, but let's move back already! Shalnark is probably getting pissed."

Alex shakes his head, smiling. "Don't worry, Linus. We still have over two hours if we leave now, plus an additional two hours for cooking. Shalnark's smart—he probably saw our movements and knows we went to the final spot. He won't be mad. Besides, with four hours to prepare, that's more than enough time to whip up three solid dishes. I just hope Shal managed to grab something good too."

He can't help but add, "You know, if you took out the life-and-death part of this, it's actually kind of fun."

"I guess so," Patricia agrees. "It's fun discovering ingredients, working with a time limit, and then competing. This exam is really well-made. It tests fighting, exploring, decision-making, and cooking—it's challenging but interesting."

"MOVE. NOW!" Linus barks, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Alex, Eirini, and Patricia exchange glances before nodding to one another. "One last thing," Eirini says, making Alex imagine the sound of something snapping in Linus's head.