FLAVOUR! FLAVOUR!

As soon as he finish conjuring the spices and butter, Genesis flickered back to life with an audibly exhausted sigh.

[New Title Unlocked: "Insufferable Gourmet"]

[Effect: Any food personally prepared by you will automatically taste better—not because of skill, but because it would be a disgrace to let you suffer through another bland meal.]

He blink. Then scowled. Excuse me? Insufferable Gourmet? Are you calling me a picky eater?!

[Yes.]

He nearly choked on air. What the—! You're supposed to be on my side!

[Incorrect. I am here to observe and manage the system, not coddle an administrator who throws tantrums over seasoning.]

His hands clenched into fists. Mental warfare it is.

You listen here, you glorified notification panel, I am revolutionizing the culinary world! I deserve something more respectful!

[Would you prefer "Whiny Food Critic" instead?]

Christian inhaled sharply through his nose. He was going to fight this system.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the meal continued. Despite his newfound title, the food before him still carried the blandness of a tragically medieval world. As he forced down the last bite, tears welled in his eyes, the taste of lost potential and despair weighing heavy.

Slamming his hands on the table, he stood up. "Alright! Since I apparently have to do everything myself, I'll show you all how to actually cook with these!"

The maids and butlers scrambled to gather with their new notebook and pen, their eyes shining with curiosity as he walked them through the proper way to use seasonings. He explained measurements, balance, why butter made everything better, and most importantly, how baking with yeast actually worked.

Under his guidance, the kitchen became a lively battlefield. The scent of freshly baked bread, now fluffy and rich, filled the air. Roasted meat, now properly seasoned, sizzled under a layer of golden butter. Soup, once as lifeless as boiled water, now carried the depth of real flavor.

The staff stood in awe as they took their first bites, their expressions shifting from hesitation to pure delight.

Then, Genesis chimed in again.

[New Title Unlocked: "Bare Minimum Chef"]

[Effect: Teaching others how to cook results in better-tasting food, but without storage methods, it will still spoil like everything else in this world. Welcome to reality.]

He exhale through my nose, gripping the nearest wooden spoon. 

Genesis, I swear to every god in this world, I will find a way to uninstall you.

Across the kitchen, Mina and one of the senior butlers, Edwin, watched the scene unfold—Christian gripping a wooden spoon like a weapon, glaring furiously at thin air.

Mina leaned in slightly, whispering "Is he... fighting with someone?"

Edwin, an older gentleman with decades of experience under his belt, stroked his chin in deep thought. "Perhaps. Or perhaps this is simply how people with powers behave."

Mina hummed, considering the idea before nodding sagely. 

"That does make sense. People with magic are always a bit... eccentric."

Edwin nodded in agreement, biting into the freshly buttered bread. "Indeed. It is best not to question it."

Meanwhile, Christian, still fuming from his mental war with Genesis, stomped his way back to his room, muttering under his breath.

Genesis flickered in his vision, still smug from their earlier exchange.

[Would you like to file a formal complaint?]

"Oh, I'll do more than that" he growled.

But the moment he entered his room, his steps halted.

Seraphina sitting on his bed, one leg crossed over the other, watching him with a neutral yet intense gaze.

"Do you want to leave this place?" she asked, her voice calm yet firm.

He blink. "What?"

"Do you know where you come from?" she continued.

"Is your amnesia getting better?"

My throat tightened. 

Oh. She had a point. A damn good one.

He had been so caught up in the absurdity of cooking disasters and magical bickering that he hadn't even thought about the bigger picture.

Where was this body originally from? Did he have parents? A hometown? A life before he woke up here?

Overwhelmed, he swallowed hard, unable to answer. "I... I don't know."

His mind raced, and in desperation, he called out to Genesis mentally. 

Who was Christian before I woke up?

For the first time, Genesis hesitated.

[Error. No access to that information.]

Christian's mental form twitched. Excuse me?

[The system does not possess omniscience. That data is either restricted or does not exist.]

His eye twitched harder. 

Restricted?! Are you telling me I woke up in a body with missing memories and even YOU don't know what's going on?!

[That is correct.]

Mental Christian lunged at the floating text, hands outstretched as if to strangle it—not that he could. 

YOU USELESS PIECE OF CODE!

[Attempting physical violence against the system is futile. Also, rude.]

Seraphina sighed, watching him visibly fume at whatever invisible entity he was mentally battling.

"Then let's just have you stay here" she said, her tone shifting to something more thoughtful.

"Maybe it's complicated having someone like you not officially registered into the household, but sending you away might be worse. You could be robbed again—or worse, caught by the kingdom."

Christian swallowed, suddenly grounded back into reality.

She leaned forward slightly. "How do you want to go about this? Do you want to register as a maid? A caretaker? What do you want?"

Christian hesitates. He hadn't considered this at all—what was his place here?

Then, as the memories of training the staff, organizing the kitchen, and dealing with Genesis' antics came back, an idea formed in his mind.

A slow smirk tug at his lips. "I want to be the Head of Household Affairs."

Seraphina raise an eyebrow. "That's… quite the title."

He cross his arms. "I just revolutionized your entire food system. Let's be honest, you need me."

Her lips twitched slightly, amused. "Fair point."

As she stood up and walk away, Christian noticed something odd—her face seemed a bit warmer than usual, the faintest flush on her cheeks. The sight sent a strange, unfamiliar flutter through his chest, making him blush just the slightest bit.

Before he could dwell on it, Genesis flickered in his mind with an all-too-pleased tone.

[Oh? Is the administrator flustered?]

He scoffed, quickly shoving his feelings aside. "Women like that are impossible for me. She's divorced, which means she's probably still hung up on her late husband, missing him in her bed while crying herself to sleep."

The words felt strangely familiar—a little too close to home, paralleling the nights he himself had spent curled up, alone, pretending he didn't care.

Shaking off the thought, he turned his focus back to something actually useful—creating something to preserve food properly.

He closed his eyes and imagined a fridge, meticulously breaking it down in his mind. The cooling mechanisms, the metal casing, the insulation layers, and most importantly, the wiring and how it all connected to generate cold storage.

The sheer complexity of it made his brain ache, but he pushed forward, running through every component and function he could remember from his past life.

Then, Genesis blared in excitement.

[Creation Magic has levelled up! LV 20 Unlocked!]

[New Title Unlocked: Visionary Creator]

[Effect: Your understanding of mechanics and engineering has improved significantly. Complex blueprints are easier to visualize, mana consumption for intricate creations is reduced, and innovations you introduce may influence future technological advancements in this world.]

[New System Function: Missions Enabled!]

Christian blinked at the sudden flood of notifications, but his gaze snapped to the last one.

[Missions must now be completed to advance. Failing or ignoring tasks will result in... consequences.]

He froze.

Genesis, what kind of consequences are we talking about here?

[Wouldn't you like to know?]

[New Missions Assigned:]

Create a Sustainable Storage System – Now that you've thought of refrigeration, it's time to make it a reality. Design and produce a working prototype to store perishable goods.

Develop an Efficient Cooking Tool – Firewood and open flames are inefficient. Construct a safer, more controllable method for heating and cooking food.

Improve Water Purification – Clean drinking water is essential. Invent a way to filter and purify water to prevent disease.

Construct a Basic Sanitation System – Hygiene is lacking in this world. Implement a waste management system to reduce illness and improve quality of life.

[Failure to complete missions within the allotted time will result in penalties. Good luck, Administrator.]

Christian narrowed his eyes.

Can I please know what a penalty even is, you damn system?!

Genesis flickered before him, as if agitated, before responding.

[Fine. Penalty test initiated.]

Before he could react, a new notification popped up.

[Complete 10 pushups in 5 seconds.]

Christian blinked. "Wait, wha—"

He barely managed to lower himself into position before reality shattered around him. The next thing he knew, he was somewhere foul.

The air was thick, humid, and putrid, the stench making him gag instantly. The ground beneath him squelched, the sound enough to churn his stomach. It smelled like rotting flesh, unwashed bodies, and despair.

He vomited immediately.

Genesis' text flickered smugly.

[Penalty active. Enjoy your 10-minute stay.]

Christian barely had time to process before his stomach heaved violently. The stench was unbearable—thick, rotten, and suffocating. A wet, disgusting squelch echoed beneath him as he stumbled, his boots sinking into what he could only hope was mud.

He gagged again, his body rejecting the sheer filth of the place, and before he could stop himself, he vomited onto the ground. The sound was grotesque, echoing in the eerie silence around him.

Desperate, he yanked his shirt up to cover his nose and mouth, trying to block out the revolting air, but it barely helped. His eyes watered as he forced himself to look around.

What he saw made his breath catch.

It was a wasteland—a barren, decaying stretch of land that looked like a battlefield abandoned for years. Collapsed buildings, broken weapons, and scorched earth stretched far into the horizon, the remnants of a war long forgotten.

His mind worked fast.

This place… it's not just filthy. It's a graveyard.

Gritting his teeth, he activated his magic, focusing hard on a solution. If he was going to be stuck here, he needed a way to survive the next ten minutes.

With careful precision, he conjured a mask—cloth-lined with scented herbs, filtering out the worst of the stench. The moment he put it on, his lungs finally got a reprieve.

Genesis flickered smugly. [Smart move, Administrator. Now enjoy your stay.]

Meanwhile, back in the real world, a horrid stench began seeping through the halls of the estate, a vile mix of rot and filth that sent the maids and butlers into a panic.

Mina and Edwin followed the foul odour, their noses wrinkling in disgust as they traced it to Christian's room. Worried something had gone horribly wrong, they hurriedly pushed the door open.

What they found made Edwin instantly retch.

Christian lying on the floor, his shirt covered in muck, his entire body reeking of something ungodly. The sheer strength of the stench hit them like a physical blow, making Mina gag as she quickly covered her nose with a handkerchief.

Edwin, after barely regaining composure, wheezed, "What—what happened to you?!"

Mina, eyes watering, tried her best to remain professional despite the sheer assault on her senses. Clearing her throat, she forced a smile and asked, "Would you like a bath, Christian?"

Christian, utterly defeated, could only lift a single, weak thumbs-up.