It was now a vivid memory. But a certain adjutant turned ambushed instructor could only recall the battle that had earlier ensued.
"HAA-YA!"
He could have sworn it was an epic clash if not for the obvious sizzling in the background and the so-called learners counting down like this was some kind of military launch.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"I did it!" screamed the giant teen, hauling the deep fryer basket up with triumphant glory just as the alarm rang.
No wonder his little mop insisted that everyone wear full-body gear.
Just in case.
Just in case those two ended up face-to-face with culinary dangers.
The entire time, both the eager giant and the supposedly mature streamer wanted to get closer, to lean right over the bubbling fryer, all because of that smell.
Yes. The nutty, golden, and far too inviting smell of freshly fried potato fries.
"..."
Maybe the ovens really were the safer path.
But then again... what about the other things?
Kyle felt torn, but when he saw the awe glowing in his little star’s eyes as he tried his best to teach them how to cook, he sighed and decided to see it through.
"Excuse me, Sir. You mean... like the drinks, I’m supposed to demonstrate these too?" Streamer Dylan asked cautiously, fiddling with the disguise ring on his finger.
They had all been outfitted with those disguise rings. Combined with non-disclosure agreements, it was the safest way to let Owen participate. After all, he was still a minor, and Luca insisted it would be unfair to bind him to a spiritual contract that could impact his future.
So instead, they had set up a secret studio in the capital where the two could work under the protection of both the Mylor and Kyros families.
"In a sense, yes," came the calm reply. "But considering everything, you might be better off pre-recording instructional videos, then premiering them during your streams."
Dylan exhaled in relief, clutching his hands together. Thank the stars. Doing all this live would have been a disaster.
He could already picture the barrage of questions:
Exactly what brand of fryer was he using? What angle should his hands be at? Which way should the oil be bubbling?
And worse, how many fries should go into each basket? How hot is hot enough? And could he demonstrate the precise moment a fry was fully cooked?
Knowing his viewers, someone would absolutely demand he count each fry, measure its length, and describe in full detail the emotional impact of watching it shrink in the oil.
He was almost certain another would ask to see the dial on the fryer.
Every. Single. Time.
And worst of all, he would have to answer these questions while the goods were cooking.
What if he didn’t make it through the live stream alive?
What if he couldn’t even find the words to describe the taste of something so far beyond him?
Because that was exactly how he felt when he saw today’s agenda. And again, when the golden strips were pulled up from the fryer, steaming and shining, smelling like they had descended from the heavens themselves.
When Kyle instructed him to season them, Dylan froze. His first thought? How many shakes exactly?
Only to be told that seasoning depended on the quantity. That there was no set rule.
"!!!"
The world tilted.
But then his new giant companion just winged it with reckless confidence, and Dylan—too far gone to resist—closed his eyes, prayed to every known deity, and copied him.
And what do you know.
It tasted like life itself.
The exact same feeling he had the first time he realized he’d found something that would prolong his existence. Only this time, he discovered there were countless ways to prepare it.
Countless ways to live.
"Whoa!" Dylan gasped, barely staying on his feet when the instructors pulled out the next set of ingredients.
"What?! All of those?!" he croaked, staring at an intimidating collection of items he couldn’t even identify.
Holy hell.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]