FRAP 02

Chapter 02

Why Can’t I Eat the Sundae Soup I Bought?

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was a slightly yellowed ceiling.

There was a faint musty smell, a dim, old fluorescent light, a simple wardrobe, and a single bed.

A sparse, shabby room that smelled like a widower’s dwelling—but to me now, it was heaven.

No, compared to Arkeia, it truly was heaven.

“W-wow…”

My chest swelled with emotion.

There were no sharp stones scattered on the floor, no dust drifting in the air. No disgusting, sticky clumps of mud or rot anywhere.

A flat floor with blankets and pillows, a ceiling to keep out the rain, walls to block the wind… so this is how wonderful a home can feel.

“I’m back!”

I jumped up, raising both arms as if shouting “Hooray!”

Then, like someone who had been suffering in the midsummer heat and finally plunged into a cool mountain stream, I dove onto the bed.

“Ugh…”

The feeling of bouncing on the resilient mattress, the soft embrace of the microfiber blanket… tears began to flow without my realizing it.

“I’m back! Damn it, I’m back!”

I indulged in the cloud-like softness of the bedding for a few minutes…

“Food!”

Tears dried in my eyes, replaced by saliva in my mouth…

Ah, backward!

Tears dried, but saliva began to gush from my mouth.

“Ssshh…”

Wiping the tears and saliva from my face, I sprang up like a spring.

Then, as if possessed, I flung open the fridge.

“C-cola… it’s cola…”

The carbonated drink I had dreamed of—even chilled.

“Sniff…”

Why was this making me cry again?

Tears streamed down my face once more, and

“Heh, heh heh heh…”

An uncontrollable laugh escaped my mouth like I had lost my mind.

The moment that black liquid entered my mouth, it felt like lightning struck my brain.

“Ah… ahh…”

Even being struck by lightning in another world didn’t feel this thrilling!

Then the fizzy, tingly sensation of carbonation spread throughout my body.

The miraculous taste I hadn’t experienced in 200 years let me briefly glimpse the steps to heaven.

“Haah…”

I let out a long sigh and drained the can of soda in one gulp.

As soon as the carbonation hit my stomach, my appetite exploded like water hitting hot oil.

I devoured the Spam in the fridge as if possessed.

“Ah, ahhh…!”

Is this ecstasy?

The salty, greasy flavor!

Once my appetite ignited, I couldn’t stop myself.

Three packs of ramen, one tray of ready-to-eat rice, a can of tuna, a block of fresh Spam, a pack of stir-fried kimchi, five hot bars, and three cans of soda.

That was the wreckage left after my fierce eating session.

“Ugh…”

Maybe because I overate, my stomach threatened to reject the food.

“No, no!”

I reflexively clamped my mouth shut.

There was no way I would let this precious feast return to the world.

If I died, fine—but I would not spit out what I ate.

Then it happened.

[ Satiety has exceeded 100. ]

The result of 200 years of desperate struggle flashed before my eyes.

“Alright, shall we begin?”

There’s still so much food in the world waiting for me.

Now my plan was to convert money into food until my bank account was empty.

I would not stop until every last penny vanished!

“Traits, view craftable list.”

[ Blacksmith (Lv1) ]
[ Skill level too low to craft. ]
[ Currently available abilities ]
[ Form Alteration: Can alter the form of a target within certain limits. ]
[ Trait Enhancement: Can enhance the traits or material of a target. ]

My skill level was still too low to craft anything…

“Even better.”

Eating until I was about to puke, using abilities to level up my skills, and then eating again—this dream of infinite energy lay before me.

“Let’s make something for starters.”

Excited, I grabbed a kitchen knife from the sink.

[ Ability activated. ]
[ The kitchen knife becomes stronger. ]
[ Satiety decreases by 30. ]

As my satiety decreased, my overly bloated stomach calmed down.

The side effect of this ability was also extremely satisfying.

“No need for natural digestives anymore.”

I would never have to suffer from indigestion again. No matter how much I ate, I had nothing to worry about.

I immediately grabbed another kitchen knife from the kitchen and clashed the two blades together with all my strength.

• Clang!

Comparing the two knives afterward…

“Yes!”

The enhanced knife had no scratches, while the ordinary one chipped instantly.

“If I bought a few knives from Dicer and enhanced them, they’d sell like crazy.”

Perfect. This is magic! Put in instant noodles, and it comes out as pork belly!

If I kept eating and raising my skill levels, I could become the “Gourmet Alchemist” who completely defied the law of equivalent exchange.

Overly dramatic? Maybe, but for now, enhancement is just the beginning. As crafting skill levels rise, additional features unlock.

You could make tools lighter and stronger than standard ones, or eventually create dream materials that won’t dent even if hit with a sledgehammer—just by eating a few pieces of meat.

“Hahaha!”

Overcome with uncontrollable excitement, I took out all scissors and other tools and enhanced them.

After a while using my abilities, my stomach rumbled.

“Ugh… weak.”

When my satiety hit 0, my whole body felt drained as if I hadn’t eaten for days.

[ Satiety has reached 0. ]
[ Entering hunger state. ]
[ All abilities drastically reduced in hunger state. ]
[ If hunger reaches 100, death will occur. ]

Seeing the warning on my status, I laughed like a madman again.

This is Earth. Food is never scarce. Not a weakness, a blessing.

I grabbed my wallet and phone, threw on whatever clothes and shoes, and left the house.

Everything was ready.

“Soup!”

Satiety at 0, extreme hunger consuming my whole body.

My tongue could savor every grain of salt perfectly.

I was in perfect condition.

But then, an unexpected problem appeared.

“Which way is the soup restaurant?”

Returning to Earth after 200 years, I couldn’t remember the layout around my house.

Still, I moved forward, nostalgic like someone revisiting their childhood home after ages.

Passing people, I felt a strange sense of relief.

No zombies coughing and lunging, no monsters eating people, no infected lunatics.

“Peace is wonderful.”

Walking in this peaceful world for about ten minutes, I finally found the sanctuary from my distant memories.

Bathed in the gentle early winter sun, rising steam like fluffy clouds, the comforting aroma carried by the cool wind made me sigh in delight.

“Ah… ahh…”

Shaky from hunger, I rushed into the soup restaurant.

I looked at the aunt behind the counter and spoke the line I had wanted to say for centuries.

“Auntie! Small set of sundae with head meat…”

“Special soup with extra innards, right?”

She chuckled and answered for me.

Returning after 200 years and having an aunt remember exactly what I eat—what happiness.

“Is something wrong?”

She asked warmly.

“Huh?”

“Well, your hair looks like a bird built a nest on it… slippers don’t match, and you seem… flustered.”

Looking down, I realized my slippers were indeed mismatched.

“Ah…”

Checking the mirror, my hair stuck out as if a bird could nest in it.

Embarrassment flushed my face.

“Ugh, at least fix your hair. I’ll get it ready for you.”

Auntie smiled and went back to the kitchen.

Soon, my embarrassment vanished as if it had never existed.

“Ah…”

The rich smell of sundae, fatty head meat, spicy sauce, and tangy kimchi made my head spin.

The aroma of real food after a hundred years brought tears to my eyes again, blurring my vision.

“Here’s your food.”

While I was lost in emotion, Auntie returned with a tray.

“I’m… I’m going crazy.”

Steam rose from the soup, and sundae with head meat was served on top.

“Thank you for the meal!”

Tears welling, I greeted energetically. Auntie tilted her head in curiosity.

Like a starving person after days, I hastily opened the lid and picked up my spoon.

With trembling hands, I mixed the sauce, threw head meat, sundae, and chives into the special soup in the hot pot.

Awkwardly, I used chopsticks to place the meat on the rice. My hands trembled from excitement and emotion, making picking up the kimchi difficult.

Finally, when the rice topped with sundae, head meat, kimchi, and savory squid sauce entered my mouth…

“Haah…”

A long sigh escaped automatically.

The unique aroma of sundae, the greasy taste of head meat, the spicy, savory broth…

All the trials and suffering of 200 years faded away—it was perfect.

My hands shook with emotion, making it hard to pick up the meat.

“Sniff…”

Wiping my foolish tears, I awkwardly picked up meat for a second bite…

• Crash!

Something broke in a corner of the peaceful restaurant.

But I didn’t care. I took my second spoonful.

“Ugh…”

Whether it was a drunk man being belligerent after work, a fight breaking out, or anything else—it didn’t matter.

In this space, there was only me and my soup.

No one could disturb this sacred meal.

Then…

“Kyaaaa!”

A piercing scream grabbed my attention.

Unlike before, this was impossible to ignore.