Notes: Might be a bit info-dumpy on the magic bits but I tried to keep it simple. I apologize. There were also a total of three music links in the last chapter but one got taken down… I can’t remember what it was so if anybody remembers, please tell me.

Also, sorry for lack of consistency in tone or writing style, but it just comes and goes as it please. Don’t lynch me for it.

Here’s the chapter and enjoy. (Leave a comment if you read. It’s not like I read them or anything... baka.)

“Sounds like a plan. So, what are we doing first?”

“Hmm...” That’s a good question. They’re the heroes and were summoned yesterday. Think about what you talked with Bill earlier, Bob. There was something about training, preparing, and food. Ah-hah! I’ve got it.

“Okay, question: Did you eat breakfast yet?”

“Not yet,” all three of them cry in sync again. Man, I wish I could be that in sync with somebody else. If I were, then we could cook twice as much delicious food in the same amount of time.

Since they haven’t eaten yet, I have an excuse to eat a second breakfast, too! Yay! “In that case, let’s go raid the kitchens!”

“For toast!” “For scrambled eggs!” “For fruit!” “Yip-yip!”

I feel a bit left out… “For Noodles!”

…

Unfortunately, all the cooks and food was cleaned up by the time we got to the kitchens. It’s only mid-morning and breakfast is already out of the way. I guess that just goes to show the efficiency of the castle staff.

“It seems that all the cooks are gone until lunch so I’ll make you some food instead. Just wait a bit longer okay?”

Disappointed, Nathan, Serina, and Riley nod in affirmation. Guess it’s time to get cooking!

Looking around the pantry, I wonder what I should make. Last time I got somebody to try my new dish, they cried. Thinking that it was bad, I tried to throw it away but he tackled me to the ground and stuffed it in his face and even proclaimed it was the most delicious dish in the entire kingdom with tears in his eyes… He didn’t have to do that to protect my feelings. If it was bad, I could have just made something else.

Oh, looks like I grabbed a couple pots, dried spagetthi, tomatoes, some cheese, a cut of beef, and an assortment of spices and vegetables. It’s nice how my body knows exactly what to do when I’m thinking. Looks like it’ll be pasta for breakfast.

After setting the pasta to boil, sauce to simmer, and cubed beef to sear, I have a chance to look at my audience waiting expectantly for their food. They must be bored with waiting. I think that Riley is even having a staring contest with Hotdog. Time to be productive as I cook!

“So, you three, what do you wish to do?”

“With what?” Nathan asks while the other two perk up in attention.

“With training of course. I know I may not look or be the most suitable person for the job, but I’m still a Noodle Knight tasked with training you and I take that seriously… or as seriously as I can with such delicious food in front of me.” Actually, I’m just hoping that I can pawn them off onto one of the other guys so that I can go back to enjoying my food with Hotdog.

“Well, if we need to be prepared to fight with some Great Calamity in the future, power would be necessary, of course. So I guess we’ll need to learn how to fight with weapons, learn magic if possible, and learn how to fight if we want to survive. Could you explain each magic and fighting to us, please?” Ahh, surprising me with his insightfulness despite his cute face yet again. I wish he were my little brother again. He’s so cute I could just hug him!

...Ahem. “These are just the main points, but should be good enough until you meet the castle instructors. Magic is powered by something called mana, which is equivalent to your life force. In order to use magic, you have to take individual components and join them together like making food. Magic is simply imposing your will upon mana to achieve a result.” Draining the pasta, I put it into the saucepan to finish cooking.

Riley interjects, “But if controlling mana with your will was so easy, why haven’t we seen very many people using it?”

“Mana is like these noodles. They’re the basis for the dish, I mean spell, but the sauce is what makes it a dish. If the sauce is not done right, the food tastes bad just like how bad spells often fail. Taking into account outside factors, one has to work with outside factors to achieve harmony.” The cubed beef now done, I toss them into the pan with the noodles and sauce, mixing them together.

“When mana, intent, and existing factors are taken into account and properly executed, you have magic.” The food should be done now so I divide it between four plates and a small bowl. One for each of us and the bowl for Hotdog.

“Ahh, here. Breakfast is served. Now let’s dig in!”

Oh how I’ve longed for you, food. I can hardly hold myself back any more. My fork an inch away from my mouth though, Serina interrupts me.

“Wait! You never mentioned fighting!” Can’t a guy just enjoy his food?

“Fighting is fighting? I see no point in going further than that. In a fight, you just bop the other guy on the noggin’ until you win.” Now she’s giving me one of Bill’s signature stares… please don’t tell me that she’s like Bill. Whatever, not my problem. Time to dig in!

"Boooooob!" Before I can enjoy the fruits of my labor, I am interrupted again, this time by a princess bursting through the kitchen doors. "Bob! Hey, Bob! Where's my portion?" It’s none other than Edith. She is only fourteen but eats my food like a glutton. I wonder where she puts it all.

“Good morning Princess Edith. I guess you can have my portion if you really want it.” Farewell my creation. My only regret in your creation is that I never got the chance to enjoy you. Handing her my plate, she frowns at me.

“That won’t do!” Could it be?

“You need to eat too!” Can I really have some too?

“Here, I’ll even feed you.” Oh joy! My creation has come back to me!

“Say ‘Aaah~’ Bob.”

*Aaah* Placing the food in my mouth, it hit me like an anvil drop. This food is delicious! Oooh, the creamy cheese, tangy tomatoes, tender beef, and al dente noodles. I’m in heaven. Something feels off though.

“Huh? Why aren’t you eating? I thought you wanted some?” Edith is sitting there, staring at the fork in a daze so I take it from her hand and put some food on it.

“Say ‘Aaah~’ Edith.” Mechanically, she does as prompted and opens her mouth. After a few moments of chewing, the light comes back to her eyes and her cheeks start reddening. Did I perhaps put too much pepper?

“So, how does it taste?”

“It’s... delicious.”

It’s too silent… looking to the heroes, I find them staring at me and Edith.

“Is there something wrong? Eat up. We’ll be starting training after your meal.” As they start eating, they whisper among themselves. It’s not like I can’t hear them, but it’d be rude to listen in when they’re clearly trying to be discreet about it.

“Does he not realize what she’s doing?”

“Like you’re one to talk, Nathan, you idiot. Don’t you think so Riley?”

“Yeah, so dense that it’s sad, the both of them.”

"Yip-yip!"

…

“Uuh, guys? Why’d you go silent on me. Is it something I did?”

Sooooo….. A/N here. I may have mentioned previously, but none of this is likely to be stable in style or consistency between each chapter. If any of the character traits change drastically, please point it out so that I may improve myself and fix it.

Thanks for reading.

P.s. I’ve added some possible plot ideas to the info/world doc if you’re into shadowy plots and backstories. It’s not much right now, but it’s an idea towards a direction.