Chapter 9 Ingredients - Biting Cabbage

Allen only took a glance and noticed that a new light spot called [Basic Magic Mastery] had appeared next to the original [Constitution Enhancement] and [Nerve Reflex Enhancement] in the trunk of the skill tree.

This enhancement was not yet activated, and the system prompt indicated that it would take 5 enhancement points to unlock it.

After considering it briefly, Allen decided to spend the 5 enhancement points to activate the new ability.

As soon as the light spot was lit, Allen's basic enhancement gained [Basic Magic Mastery E-], and his hunting level instantly jumped from level 1 to level 11.

At the same time, Allen immediately felt a change in his body.

It felt as though he could sense some sort of gas flowing inside him. The sensation was very subtle, even making him slightly uncomfortable at first. But it didn't take long before Allen realized he had complete control over this power. The freedom he felt was exhilarating.

He raised his hand, and immediately, a cyclone formed around it. The magic power, though invisible to the naked eye, gathered there with ease.

"Basic Magic Mastery... This isn't just a quantitative improvement—it's a huge boost in control too." Allen stared at the swirling magical energy in his palm for a while, but suddenly, a wave of mental fatigue washed over him.

The magic cyclone dissipated, and Allen clutched his head, feeling a bit dizzy.

"No way, is it really this exhausting to use magic?" It didn't seem logical. Then, a thought struck him, and he quickly pulled out a book from the pile of items he had purchased earlier.

"Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration"—an introductory book for novice transfiguration spellcasters.

Allen casually flipped through the book and was instantly shocked. His brain, like a dry sponge, absorbed knowledge at an incredible rate. In just a few minutes, he fully understood the content.

"Am I… a genius?" Allen muttered while shaking his head at the once-cryptic text.

Due to spending much of this life in the wild, Allen never received formal education. All of his English was self-taught, mainly through spoken conversations with British friends from his previous life. His reading and writing skills had been pitiful, practically illiterate.

"Can Basic Magic Mastery really do this? Make someone who can barely read suddenly understand magic books?" Allen pondered the thought for a while but eventually chose to suppress the confusion for now.

Next, he picked up "Standard Spells" and "Magic Theory", flipping through their pages rapidly. A few hours later, Allen looked up from the books, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

He had not only managed to grasp the basics of these magic theories without a teacher but also significantly improved his English reading and writing skills.

Now, he no longer needed to feel like an illiterate person.

Of course, Allen had also made great strides in magic.

He now knew how to cast basic spells like Transfiguration, Luminescence, and Repair. This meant that his strength had truly improved—his hunting level had increased by one more, reaching level 12.

Simultaneously, these three spells had appeared as special enhancements:

[Transfiguration E-]

[Luminescence E-]

[Repair E-]

All three could be upgraded using enhancement points. To enhance an E- level spell to E level required 50 enhancement points.

Using enhancement points on these basic spells—ones that could be improved with practice—seemed a bit wasteful. Besides, Allen didn't have enough enhancement points at the moment, so he set that idea aside.

Having now reached Hunting Level 12, Allen didn't spend too much time marveling at his magical abilities. Under curious gaze, the excited Allen took out his wand to begin casting spells for the first time.

The first spell he chose was the most difficult one—Transfiguration. The reason was simple: Allen needed a cooking tool.

Whether it was due to his [Basic Magic Mastery E-], the unique wand, or a combination of both, Allen's spell successfully transformed his crucible into a frying pan.

He tapped the pan and smiled with satisfaction at the crisp metallic ring it gave off.

Not only had the shape changed, but the material as well. The original pewter crucible had become a solid iron frying pan.

The transformation was incredibly smooth. Allen didn't know if it was because of the wand—crafted from unicorn hair—or his general proficiency in magic.

Because he wasn't yet skilled in Transfiguration, the frying pan lacked common enchantments like anti-scalding protection. But that didn't bother him. Allen planned to wear dragon-hide gloves while cooking.

"Chopping board, kitchen knife, fire source, ingredients—ready." Allen joyfully transformed more random items into kitchen tools. He used the small stove, originally meant for burning the crucible, as his fire source. Before long, a makeshift kitchen stood ready.

Then, Allen turned his attention to today's ingredients: biting cabbage.

These vegetables clearly had no awareness of their predicament. Or perhaps they simply lacked the brainpower to understand. They continued to thrash and snap their leafy jaws despite being bound tightly with rope.

There were three biting cabbages in the pot, each the size of an adult's fist. One was more than enough for a meal.

Allen stared at the ferocious vegetables, but he wasn't the least bit afraid. Compared to wild dogs in the forest, these magical plants were nothing. They might be terrifying to ordinary folks due to their appearance and magical nature, but their mobility was pathetic—and they were tightly restrained.

Cooking them would be easy.

Allen reached out with his bare hands and grabbed one biting cabbage, lifting it from the rope. Then, he activated the Eye of Analysis.

The active Eye of Analysis revealed far more detailed information than the passive one.

The information Allen received was as follows:

[Biting Cabbage]

Hunting Level: 5

Special Ability: None

Features: Bitter, Half-Plant, Magic Activity

The Eye of Analysis ended its report, and Allen examined the cabbage with interest.

While its hunting level was higher than some basic wild beasts, the biting cabbage lacked special abilities. That made it much easier to deal with in practice. Its bitterness, Allen figured, could be handled with the right spices or cooking technique.

"Half-plant, huh?" Allen muttered, looking at its wriggling leaves and fanged mouth.

He moved quickly, preparing the pan and heating the stove. The cabbage kept twitching, but its movements were weak. It opened its leafy jaws as if to bite him, but Allen simply knocked it unconscious with a swift tap from the knife handle.

With practiced efficiency, he chopped off the aggressive leafy head, sliced the remaining body, and tossed it into the frying pan.

A burst of greenish juice sizzled as it hit the hot iron, releasing a sharp, almost peppery aroma. Allen reached for the nearby bottle of spice blend he had prepared earlier—something mixed with dried peppers, salt, and ground herbs—and sprinkled it over the cabbage slices.

The leaves quickly turned a dark green under the heat, and the originally twitching bits settled down.

Allen flipped the pieces with a small spatula, ensuring both sides were evenly cooked. The biting cabbage, now tender and aromatic, no longer looked so menacing.

After a few more minutes, the meal was ready. Allen plated it carefully, added a bit of garnish, and nodded with satisfaction.

From a dangerous magical plant to a delicious stir-fry—magic and skill had made it happen.

As Allen sat down to enjoy his meal, he reflected on how far he had come in just one day. He had gained magical power, advanced his reading skills, crafted his own cooking gear with Transfiguration, and even prepared a meal from an aggressive plant.

And this was only the beginning.

Tomorrow, he would try out Luminescence and Repair—perhaps even practice some combinations.

For now, though, it was time to enjoy some well-earned food.