6:40 AM.
Vash opened his eyes.
His first thought was simple.
Golden Noodles.
Yesterday, he had failed his first attempt.
The mistake was clear.
He had lowered the flame too late.
Today, he wasn't going to repeat it.
Vash opened the system.
---
[ORDINARY SYSTEM]
Host: Vash
Age: 14
Level: 1
Physical Attributes
Strength: 6.0 / 10
Agility: 5.0 / 10
Endurance: 4.0 / 10
Reaction: 5.0 / 10
Recovery Data
Rehabilitation Progress: 1.2 / 10
Walking Stability: 1.0 / 10
Balance: 1.1 / 10
Skills
Cooking — Basic
Cooking Proficiency: 25.9
Mathematics — Basic
English — Basic
Observation — Basic
Physical Rehabilitation — Beginner
Business Sense — Beginner
System Points: 49 / 100
---
Vash looked at the recovery numbers.
"Still slowly improving."
[Correct.]
He smiled.
"That's fine."
He carefully got out of bed.
This time, he walked across the room without touching the wall.
He still felt some weakness in his legs, but his balance was becoming more reliable.
He took a few more steps.
Then stopped.
"One day at a time."
---
When Vash entered the kitchen, Grandma was already preparing breakfast.
She looked at him.
"Ready?"
Vash nodded.
"Today I'll get it right."
Grandma smiled.
"We'll see."
She placed the ingredients on the counter.
Vash checked his notebook.
Golden Noodles
Mistake 1 — Flame lowered too late.
He read it once.
Then put the notebook aside.
He didn't want to depend on it forever.
---
Second Attempt
Vash prepared the ingredients.
He cleaned everything carefully.
Prepared the noodles.
Measured the ingredients.
Then turned on the stove.
The oil began heating.
Vash watched it closely.
When the moment came, he lowered the flame.
This time—
on time.
Grandma watched silently.
Vash continued.
He added the noodles.
Then the sauce.
Then the spices.
Everything seemed to be going well.
Until he noticed the sauce.
It was becoming too thick.
Vash frowned.
He remembered the recipe.
Then looked at Grandma.
She didn't say anything.
That was intentional.
She wanted him to figure it out.
Vash lowered the flame slightly and adjusted the mixture.
The sauce became smoother.
He continued cooking.
Finally, he turned off the stove.
He looked at Grandma.
She tasted it.
"Hmm."
Vash waited.
"Better."
Vash smiled.
"But?"
Grandma pointed toward the noodles.
"The sauce is still too strong."
Vash looked at the bowl.
He understood.
He had controlled the flame correctly.
But he hadn't controlled the amount of sauce properly.
The system appeared.
---
[Golden Noodles — Practice Attempt]
Attempt: 2
Result: Improved
Recipe Understanding: 18% → 31%
Cooking Proficiency: 25.9 → 26.1
System Points: +0
Reason: Basic Mastery not achieved.
---
Vash stared at the screen.
"No points again."
[Correct.]
He smiled.
"That's okay."
Grandma looked surprised.
"You aren't disappointed?"
"No."
Vash looked at the bowl.
"I know what I did wrong."
Grandma smiled.
"Then you learned something."
---
Third Attempt
The next day, Vash tried again.
This time, he didn't rush.
He prepared the ingredients.
Checked the flame.
Watched the noodles.
And carefully controlled the sauce.
Grandma remained nearby.
But she didn't correct him.
Vash noticed.
She was letting him work it out himself.
He adjusted the flame.
The noodles changed texture.
He added the final ingredient.
Then mixed everything carefully.
When he finished, he placed the noodles in a bowl.
Grandma tasted them.
She nodded.
"Good."
Vash's face brightened.
"Actually good?"
"Yes."
Vash laughed.
Then the system appeared.
---
[Golden Noodles — Practice Attempt]
Attempt: 3
Result: Passed Basic Cooking Standard
Recipe Understanding: 31% → 48%
Cooking Proficiency: 26.1 → 26.4
System Points: +0
Reason: Basic Mastery not achieved.
---
Vash looked at the screen.
"So I passed the basic standard, but I still don't get points."
[Correct.]
"Why?"
[The host has not demonstrated consistent mastery.]
Vash nodded.
"So I need to make it correctly more than once."
[Correct.]
Vash smiled.
"Fair enough."
---
That afternoon, Vash continued his rehabilitation.
Rohan arrived with his usual backpack.
"Ready?"
Vash sighed.
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
They began.
Standing.
Balance.
Walking.
Rest.
Then repeating.
Vash managed more steps than before.
At one point, Rohan moved his hand away.
Vash noticed.
"You didn't catch me."
"You didn't need me to."
Vash smiled.
He took another step.
Then another.
The system appeared.
---
[Rehabilitation Session Complete]
Rehabilitation Progress: 1.2 → 1.4
Walking Stability: 1.0 → 1.1
Balance: 1.1 → 1.3
Increase:
Rehabilitation Progress: +0.2
Walking Stability: +0.1
Balance: +0.2
---
Vash looked at the numbers.
"1.3."
He smiled.
"Slowly getting there."
Rohan nodded.
"That's how recovery works."
Vash looked at his legs.
He still had a long way to go before reaching 10.0.
But he could walk.
And every week, he could do a little more.
That was enough.
---
That evening, Vash returned to the kitchen.
The recipe book was sitting on the table.
He opened it.
The Golden Noodles recipe was still there.
He looked at the old handwriting.
Then at his notebook.
He added two new notes.
Mistake 2 — Too much sauce.
Improvement — Better flame control.
Vash stared at the page.
He realized something.
Every mistake was becoming information.
And every piece of information made the next attempt better.
The system appeared.
---
[Learning Pattern Detected]
Host is adapting through repeated practical experience.
Cooking learning efficiency: Increased slightly.
---
Vash smiled.
"That's useful."
He closed the book.
Tomorrow, he'd try again.
He still hadn't mastered the Golden Noodles.
But he was getting closer.
---
Before bed, Vash opened his system.
---
[DAILY TASKS]
1. Walk 20 steps. ✓
2. Rehabilitation exercises. ✓
3. Drink 500 ml of water. ✓
4. Study for 30 minutes. ✓
5. Help at Grandpa's Noodles. ✓
Tasks Completed: 5 / 5
Reward: +3 System Points
System Points: 52 / 100
---
Vash stared at the number.
"Fifty-two."
He smiled.
Then he remembered the recipe.
"Golden Noodles..."
He closed the system.
"Tomorrow."
The old recipe book sat quietly inside the cupboard.
And Vash was getting closer to mastering the recipe that had been passed down through his family for generations.