"Is the new kid okay?" One of my co-workers asked. I could hear them as I helped prepare the cook. I could see some errors such as some minced pieces being a millimeter off.

But still, it's hard to believe that 500 years have passed. How?!

"The garnish is ready," I said as I handed them a tray with several bowl holding a lot of the minced, diced, or cut ingredients needed.

"So fast!" One of the only cooks in the kitchen, May if I remember correctly, said as she looked at me.

"Kid! Change to the pasta!"

"Already done!" I said as I finished preparing the pasta.

"The fish dish!"

"Already in the oven!" I replied again as I moved to the grill, brushing them with oil as delicately as I could while moving as fast as possible.

Damn it, my focus is getting thrown off.

"The juice?"

"Already finished," I said, giving her the pitcher of juice filled with ice cubes for one of the customers.

"Are you even human, nya!" One of the other chef that was trying to keep up with me asked as she moved.

"Yes." I replied as I moved back to my station and focused on preparing the ingredients.

Chop Chop Chop

Crack Crack Crack

Mince Mince Mince

Dice Dice Dice

Peel Peel Peel

"The kitchen is becoming a war zone..." I could hear Syr, a.k.a. Freya, tell Ryuu as they entered from behind.

"Your meal is by there," I said, referring to the free meals the staff member had during their breaks.

"Oh! Tasty, Nya!" Anya Frommel, my senior and a very strong young woman cheerfully ate her portion, her tail wagging cutely as she did.

"Ren, we need you to prepare a cabbage salad," Mia said and I moved. Taking out my Imperial-made knife, I took it out and held the cabbage in place.

Focusing as hard as I could, I brought my knife down and the vegetable was now in thin slices. Taking a small bowl as well as the other ingredients that went well with the cabbage, I started to plate the cabbage salad.

"Done!" I said as I put the bowl on the counter much to their surprise. I could see Mia looking at me. "Yes?"

"How did you?"

"No time, tell you later," I said as I went back to cook in the kitchen, unaffected by the heat of the flame, the boiling and popping oils, etc.

Sheesh, kid. You're murdering them.

Shut it, partner. I'm cooking here.

...

Phew, finally!

My four-hour shift is over! It's probably around noon or something.

"Good work, everyone." My shift mates said as we rested in the breakroom. Well, they rested while I cleaned and sharpened my knife.

Hmm, maybe I can still contact lady Froese. But how? She and the others are probably back in her gourmet universe. I could enter there but I have work. Part-time only but it's enough.

"Cruz!" One of my co-workers called out.

"Yes?" I asked as I looked at her. It was Lunoire with Chloe, Syr, and Anya by her side. They were all looking at me.

"You okay?" Chloe asked. The Shotacon could be nice even if I was not her type. Damn it!

"I am. Sorry, been thinking about something," I said as I looked at them.

"It's fine, we were asking what you will do next, you're shift is done for today. Lucky, Nya!" Anya said with a smile as she finished drinking the orange juice I made.

"I'll go to the dungeon," I said as I stored my knife in the suitcase.

"The dungeon?" Ryuu, the elf of our group asked as she looked at me.

"Yeah, I'm planning to be an adventurer. " I said as I remembered the ingredients me and my brothers always hunted. They were amazing and delicious!

"Do you need some help buying your gear?" Ryuu asked as she looked at me. She is a former adventurer, but honestly, most low-level equipment would be a burden for me.

"Thanks, Ryuu. But I already have a weapon." I said as I pressed a hidden compartment on my suitcase and pulled out my weapons. A simple pair of gloves with metal claws on their knuckles.

"Gloves?" Ryuu said as she looked at them.

"They don't look like much but I can use them well," I said as I looked at her. I returned them to their compartment.

"If you need to train just ask me," Lunoire said as she took a sip of her juice.

"I will, I'll see you guys... girls tomorrow," I said as I walked out of the restaurant. I have a four-hour shift with Mia and it was an alternate. Meaning every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have the morning shift from dawn to noon while every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday will be on the evening shift from dusk till closing time.

So this is the guild. It was around a few minutes of walking from the restaurant.

Arriving at the counter, I smiled at the receptionist.

"Excuse me, I would like to register as an adventurer," I told the receptionist who shrugged.

"Good Afternoon, I am Rose Fannett. I will be your advisor, please sign these." A beautiful red-haired woman said as she set some papers on the table.

Reaching for the pen, I read over the papers. I see, just some basic identification huh?

Better conceal some information.

Name: Ren Cruz

Age: 22

Familia: Froese Familia

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

"Here are some guild-issued equipment," Rose said, handing me a belt with a pouch and a simple dagger. Not that I would need it but I can use it for dismantling.

"Thank you," I said with a small smile as I put the belt around my waist.

"Since you are only starting out today, please stay on the first floor until you are ready." My advisor advised.

"I will," I said as I walked to where the descent to the dungeon was located. Holy shit! This place is huge!

Carefully, I made my way to the first floor while pulling out and putting on my gloves. While I am only dressed in a pair of a simple olive green button-up shirt and pants, they were enough. Pulling out the dagger the guild gave me, I checked it.

While it was not the best, it was well-made and suited for beginners

"A bit too dull for my tastes."

Walking down the hall, I could feel the dungeon morph. It was alive and it wanted to keep the others out.

"Out of the way!" A group of people shouted as they ran past me. Behind them, a large number of monsters were present.

They all rushed to the safe spot leaving me in front of hundreds of monsters.

"Why does this always happen to me?" I asked before unbuttoning my shirt, revealing the skintight shirt I wore underneath. Taking several steps, I soon found myself behind the entire monster horde, leaving behind perfectly diced pieces of flesh and the dagger on my hand shattered.

Hundreds of monster crystals dropped to the ground as the monsters dissipated with some leaving their drops.

"This is gonna be a long day," I said as I started to collect the drops and crystals.