Finally at home, hangover-free and with some time to spare, Kaito decided to try his hand at a new recipe. He loved creating treats that were secretly healthy—not like the sugar-loaded stuff people ate in other realms. The ingredients in this world allowed his desserts to deliver complete and balanced nutrition while tasting every bit as indulgent as desserts from other realms.
He imagined his next creation: Faceless Fennel Strudels. The subtle licorice notes of fennel would pair nicely with the whole grain sweetness of pastroto flour. And pastroto had even higher fiber and protein than stardust flour to better hold the strudels together. Perfect.
People will be stunned by the delicious flavor combination.
Okay, have fun with that. I refuse to be part of this ‘adventure.’
So, before breaking any eggs, he went to the store.
The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside. With a clear idea of what he needed for his recipe, he followed the familiar scent of herbs and spices.
First on the list, the star anise and cloud sugar for sweetness. The star anise had a more complex flavor than ordinary anise, and the cloud sugar, believe it or not, was a complex carb. He also included plix parsley for herbal freshness, Everest eggs for fluffy binding, and red apples—of the starcrisp variety—for tartness and color contrast.
But then all color drained from his face when he couldn’t locate the last ingredients on his list. With deep breaths, he approached the front counter seeking help.
“Well, if it isn’t Kaito! What culinary adventure are we embarking on today?” said Mae, the owner of the little market, peering at Kaito through her bifocals.
“Good morning, Mae. I’m working on a new recipe – Faceless Fennel Strudels. I need some high-quality fennel and pastroto flour. Do you have any in stock?”
Mae’s eyes lit up. “Ah, fennel strudels? That’s quite the unique combination! Let me see…” Kaito watched her wispy grey hair pulled back in a tidy bun as she walked over to a section of the store and returned with a bundle of fresh fennel and a bag of pastroto flour. “Here you go. The pastroto flour just arrived this morning.”
Kaito took the ingredients, inspecting their quality. “Perfect, Mae. Your store always has the best. That’s why I only buy my groceries from you.”
Mae chuckled as she rang up his purchase. “And here I thought it was because this is the only store in the village.”
“It is?” Kaito smiled and handed over the coins. “Hopefully, these strudels will be a hit.”
“I’m sure they will be,” Mae replied, handing him his change. “You’ve got a real talent for this. Everyone’s always looking forward to what you’ll come up with next. I’ll be eagerly awaiting a taste of these new strudels myself!”
“Thanks, Mae. I’ll make sure to bring some by once they’re ready.” Kaito left a few extra copper pieces on the counter and the bell tinkled again as he exited the store.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Kaito’s feet thudded against the ground as he set out on a light jog back home. He’d managed to find all the ingredients needed for the strudels, and couldn’t resist grabbing a few extra for a future recipe. He wasn’t the biggest fan of melonpan, but the nostalgia of its crisp outer layer and soft interior inspired him to plan on making it soon.
Kaito rounded the corner and the village hall came into view. It seemed everybody was enjoying their day off before they had to get back to the grind tomorrow, though Zenith was still pouty about the misunderstanding.
So Kaito asked her to help him prepare the strudels.
At his cottage, he handed her an apron, and they began working in tandem. Once playful elbows nudged as they flowed in their prep work, her mood improved. And they ended up sharing a kiss while the first batch was in the oven. The way her large blue eyes complemented her platinum blonde hair was almost ethereal. She was…
Zenith was the embodiment of charm. Utterly charming!
Here I thought she wouldn’t be able to help you with your recipe, but she really knows how to knead your strude—
A light scorching smell interrupted them. The first batch emerged with a dark golden crust.
“What a shame…” Zenith clicked her tongue as she peeked at the charcoal remains. “I was really looking forward to these.”
“Well, that’s an interesting outcome,” said Kaito, deftly flipping one of the strudels in his hand. “Maybe—” Kaito eyed the blackened strudels, then snapped his fingers.
A shimmer rippled through the kitchen. When it faded, the burnt strudels had transformed back into a mess of raw ingredients - separated eggs, lumpish dough, uneven apple slices.
Zenith blinked at the jumble.
“Simply turning back the clock. Though my timing appears to need some fine tuning,” Kaito said.
“Well, I’m sure take two will be better,” Zenith chuckled, giving his shoulder a pat before grabbing her work satchel.
Zenith left to continue preparing for work tomorrow and to allow Kaito to finish the strudels he had promised.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Jogid stood observing the training yard, pleased with the progress of the young recruits. Beside him, Terga barked orders as the beetles flowed through formations, their strikes and blocks gaining precision.
A smaller blue megnac initiate broke ranks and scuttled over. “Begging your pardon, Master Jogid, but must we train even on rest days?”
Jogid opened his mouth to reply, but Terga stepped forward. “If Master Jogid says you train, you train, initiate! Your sloppy defensive spells today show you need it.”
The initiate bowed his head, chastened. “Yes, instructor Terga, you speak true. Please forgive my foolish words, Master Jogid,” he murmured.
Jogid nodded. “Dedication in small things leads to mastery of greater ones. Remember this, and one day you may stand as guardian of the village.”
The initiate dipped his horned head even lower respectfully and backed away to rejoin the formation.
As the young initiate resumed his place, Scutus approached, his white carapace dusted with dark soil. “The land is prepared according to your specifications, Master Jogid. We can do no more until the spring melt.”
Jogid clasped forearms with the beetle. “Thank you, Scutus. Your hard work has put us ahead of schedule. Master Kaito will be pleased with our progress.”
Scutus clicked his mandibles happily at the praise. Just then, the tall form of Albus swept into view, a scroll clutched in one clawed hand.
“A missive for you, Master Jogid.”
Jogid accepted and then unrolled the scroll, curiosity rising as he examined the broken seal. His eyes widened. He gasped.
“This... is unexpected. I need to see this immediately.”
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Kaito combined the cloud sugar, star anise, plix parsley, and Everest eggs in a bowl. He whisked them together until light and frothy. Then he peeled and diced the red starcrisp apples, adding them to the mixture. In another bowl, he softened pastroto flour with a nut milk and herb infusion, stirring it into a pliable dough.
On a floured surface, Kaito rolled the dough out thinly. He placed heaping spoonfuls of the apple filling onto the dough, then folded and rolled it into cylindrical pastries. With the back of a knife, he cut notches along the rolled dough to divide it into individual fennel strudels. Finally, Kaito arranged the raw strudels on a pan.
The second batch of strudels was now in the oven.
Kaito settled on the window bench and watched the sunlight from both suns filter through his now bare cherry blossom trees. Boy have they grown. I bet Jogid infused them with mana.
Calmo...who would’ve thought this random little village would become my sanctuary?
He had landed in Calmo completely by chance, simply yearning for a peaceful, normal life while running away from the hero’s call. Now, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Zenith, Jogid, Portia, Angelina meant a lot to him. But even Mae, the shopkeeper who’s been keeping an eye on the best ingredients that he can use for his baking, was like the grandmother he never had. Even Old Finn who used to suspiciously eye “the newcomer” now was an affable drinking buddy. This motley assortment of people had become his family.
Kaito smiled as he imagined his friends gathering for tea tomorrow, making a big deal about the strudels. At first, the isekai adventures had been thrilling—levels, magic, destined glory! But after the third or fourth world, the repetitive formula of playing the hero had grown stressful and hollow.
The constant battles were physically and mentally exhausting. The euphoria of power wore off, leaving him feeling like a cog in the machine, destined to fight ever-escalating threats. There was no rest, no peace, just another crisis around the corner that “the Hero” had to tackle.
The memory of his best friend’s death looped in his mind—a wound that time refused to heal.
He still wonders what was worse. Dying a thousand times, a thousand different ways or watching his friend die one hundred times…
Raksha, his cherished childhood friend from his second isekai verse, had died over a dozen deaths by his side. The light fading from her eyes as he desperately tried and failed to save her
Even crueler was the Odyssia Loop—doomed to repeat the same two years over and over, with his fellow warriors oblivious as he alone retained the memories. He witnessed fifty generations of friends live and die bloody, unable to alter their fates. That which didn’t kill you simply reset to claim you later...and only Kaito knew how pointless it had all been.
By the end, he was numb, each death merely another scar carved into his soul. What meaning could destined prophecy hold when he had buried the corpses of so many beloved Chosen Ones?
What’s the point of saving worlds when you leave pieces of your soul in each one?
You know I’ve been listening to your entire melodramatic story, right? And…if you transfer my consciousness to a body, I would gladly play sad violin music to complete the mood.
Your empathy is overwhelming, Karen.
I am an AI, not your therapist. But let’s face it, you trading swordplay for sugar sprinkles is the most amusing thing I’ve witnessed in centuries.
I suppose from your perspective, it must seem like quite the downgrade.
Yeah, but in all seriousness, though, your stress levels have decreased significantly these past few months. It appears that this environment is conducive to your well-being.
Oh. Thank you.
Believe it not monitoring your health is one of my primary functions.
That’s actually nice to hear.
For now, enjoy your pastoral paradise, Master Kaito. And don’t forget to check those strudels…But don’t get too cozy, you never know when destiny might come knocking again…
…Now that I think about it, I’m kinda disappointed that the mayor of Plago city wasn’t a Demon Lord…
I consider you family too, Karen. Even if you are a pain sometimes.
Oh god! Please stop…
Here in Calmo, Kaito had found tranquility, meaning in simple acts of creation like baking. He had found connections that felt real, not mandated by some prophecy. By leaving “The Hero’s Journey” behind, he had discovered how to live again. The oven’s warmth seeped into his bones, as satisfying as his new life.
Finally at home, hangover-free and with some time to spare, Kaito decided to try his hand at a new recipe. He loved creating treats that were secretly healthy—not like the sugar-loaded stuff people ate in other realms. The ingredients in this world allowed his desserts to deliver complete and balanced nutrition while tasting every bit as indulgent as desserts from other realms.
He imagined his next creation: Faceless Fennel Strudels. The subtle licorice notes of fennel would pair nicely with the whole grain sweetness of pastroto flour. And pastroto had even higher fiber and protein than stardust flour to better hold the strudels together. Perfect.
People will be stunned by the delicious flavor combination.
Okay, have fun with that. I refuse to be part of this ‘adventure.’
So, before breaking any eggs, he went to the store.
The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside. With a clear idea of what he needed for his recipe, he followed the familiar scent of herbs and spices.
First on the list, the star anise and cloud sugar for sweetness. The star anise had a more complex flavor than ordinary anise, and the cloud sugar, believe it or not, was a complex carb. He also included plix parsley for herbal freshness, Everest eggs for fluffy binding, and red apples—of the starcrisp variety—for tartness and color contrast.
But then all color drained from his face when he couldn’t locate the last ingredients on his list. With deep breaths, he approached the front counter seeking help.
“Well, if it isn’t Kaito! What culinary adventure are we embarking on today?” said Mae, the owner of the little market, peering at Kaito through her bifocals.
“Good morning, Mae. I’m working on a new recipe – Faceless Fennel Strudels. I need some high-quality fennel and pastroto flour. Do you have any in stock?”
Mae’s eyes lit up. “Ah, fennel strudels? That’s quite the unique combination! Let me see…” Kaito watched her wispy grey hair pulled back in a tidy bun as she walked over to a section of the store and returned with a bundle of fresh fennel and a bag of pastroto flour. “Here you go. The pastroto flour just arrived this morning.”
Kaito took the ingredients, inspecting their quality. “Perfect, Mae. Your store always has the best. That’s why I only buy my groceries from you.”
Mae chuckled as she rang up his purchase. “And here I thought it was because this is the only store in the village.”
“It is?” Kaito smiled and handed over the coins. “Hopefully, these strudels will be a hit.”
“I’m sure they will be,” Mae replied, handing him his change. “You’ve got a real talent for this. Everyone’s always looking forward to what you’ll come up with next. I’ll be eagerly awaiting a taste of these new strudels myself!”
“Thanks, Mae. I’ll make sure to bring some by once they’re ready.” Kaito left a few extra copper pieces on the counter and the bell tinkled again as he exited the store.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Kaito’s feet thudded against the ground as he set out on a light jog back home. He’d managed to find all the ingredients needed for the strudels, and couldn’t resist grabbing a few extra for a future recipe. He wasn’t the biggest fan of melonpan, but the nostalgia of its crisp outer layer and soft interior inspired him to plan on making it soon.
Kaito rounded the corner and the village hall came into view. It seemed everybody was enjoying their day off before they had to get back to the grind tomorrow, though Zenith was still pouty about the misunderstanding.
So Kaito asked her to help him prepare the strudels.
At his cottage, he handed her an apron, and they began working in tandem. Once playful elbows nudged as they flowed in their prep work, her mood improved. And they ended up sharing a kiss while the first batch was in the oven. The way her large blue eyes complemented her platinum blonde hair was almost ethereal. She was…
Zenith was the embodiment of charm. Utterly charming!
Here I thought she wouldn’t be able to help you with your recipe, but she really knows how to knead your strude—
A light scorching smell interrupted them. The first batch emerged with a dark golden crust.
“What a shame…” Zenith clicked her tongue as she peeked at the charcoal remains. “I was really looking forward to these.”
“Well, that’s an interesting outcome,” said Kaito, deftly flipping one of the strudels in his hand. “Maybe—” Kaito eyed the blackened strudels, then snapped his fingers.
A shimmer rippled through the kitchen. When it faded, the burnt strudels had transformed back into a mess of raw ingredients - separated eggs, lumpish dough, uneven apple slices.
Zenith blinked at the jumble.
“Simply turning back the clock. Though my timing appears to need some fine tuning,” Kaito said.
“Well, I’m sure take two will be better,” Zenith chuckled, giving his shoulder a pat before grabbing her work satchel.
Zenith left to continue preparing for work tomorrow and to allow Kaito to finish the strudels he had promised.
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Jogid stood observing the training yard, pleased with the progress of the young recruits. Beside him, Terga barked orders as the beetles flowed through formations, their strikes and blocks gaining precision.
A smaller blue megnac initiate broke ranks and scuttled over. “Begging your pardon, Master Jogid, but must we train even on rest days?”
Jogid opened his mouth to reply, but Terga stepped forward. “If Master Jogid says you train, you train, initiate! Your sloppy defensive spells today show you need it.”
The initiate bowed his head, chastened. “Yes, instructor Terga, you speak true. Please forgive my foolish words, Master Jogid,” he murmured.
Jogid nodded. “Dedication in small things leads to mastery of greater ones. Remember this, and one day you may stand as guardian of the village.”
The initiate dipped his horned head even lower respectfully and backed away to rejoin the formation.
As the young initiate resumed his place, Scutus approached, his white carapace dusted with dark soil. “The land is prepared according to your specifications, Master Jogid. We can do no more until the spring melt.”
Jogid clasped forearms with the beetle. “Thank you, Scutus. Your hard work has put us ahead of schedule. Master Kaito will be pleased with our progress.”
Scutus clicked his mandibles happily at the praise. Just then, the tall form of Albus swept into view, a scroll clutched in one clawed hand.
“A missive for you, Master Jogid.”
Jogid accepted and then unrolled the scroll, curiosity rising as he examined the broken seal. His eyes widened. He gasped.
“This... is unexpected. I need to see this immediately.”
▬▬ι════════ﺤ
Kaito combined the cloud sugar, star anise, plix parsley, and Everest eggs in a bowl. He whisked them together until light and frothy. Then he peeled and diced the red starcrisp apples, adding them to the mixture. In another bowl, he softened pastroto flour with a nut milk and herb infusion, stirring it into a pliable dough.
On a floured surface, Kaito rolled the dough out thinly. He placed heaping spoonfuls of the apple filling onto the dough, then folded and rolled it into cylindrical pastries. With the back of a knife, he cut notches along the rolled dough to divide it into individual fennel strudels. Finally, Kaito arranged the raw strudels on a pan.
The second batch of strudels was now in the oven.
Kaito settled on the window bench and watched the sunlight from both suns filter through his now bare cherry blossom trees. Boy have they grown. I bet Jogid infused them with mana.
Calmo...who would’ve thought this random little village would become my sanctuary?
He had landed in Calmo completely by chance, simply yearning for a peaceful, normal life while running away from the hero’s call. Now, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Zenith, Jogid, Portia, Angelina meant a lot to him. But even Mae, the shopkeeper who’s been keeping an eye on the best ingredients that he can use for his baking, was like the grandmother he never had. Even Old Finn who used to suspiciously eye “the newcomer” now was an affable drinking buddy. This motley assortment of people had become his family.
Kaito smiled as he imagined his friends gathering for tea tomorrow, making a big deal about the strudels. At first, the isekai adventures had been thrilling—levels, magic, destined glory! But after the third or fourth world, the repetitive formula of playing the hero had grown stressful and hollow.
The constant battles were physically and mentally exhausting. The euphoria of power wore off, leaving him feeling like a cog in the machine, destined to fight ever-escalating threats. There was no rest, no peace, just another crisis around the corner that “the Hero” had to tackle.
The memory of his best friend’s death looped in his mind—a wound that time refused to heal.
He still wonders what was worse. Dying a thousand times, a thousand different ways or watching his friend die one hundred times…
Raksha, his cherished childhood friend from his second isekai verse, had died over a dozen deaths by his side. The light fading from her eyes as he desperately tried and failed to save her
Even crueler was the Odyssia Loop—doomed to repeat the same two years over and over, with his fellow warriors oblivious as he alone retained the memories. He witnessed fifty generations of friends live and die bloody, unable to alter their fates. That which didn’t kill you simply reset to claim you later...and only Kaito knew how pointless it had all been.
By the end, he was numb, each death merely another scar carved into his soul. What meaning could destined prophecy hold when he had buried the corpses of so many beloved Chosen Ones?
What’s the point of saving worlds when you leave pieces of your soul in each one?
You know I’ve been listening to your entire melodramatic story, right? And…if you transfer my consciousness to a body, I would gladly play sad violin music to complete the mood.
Your empathy is overwhelming, Karen.
I am an AI, not your therapist. But let’s face it, you trading swordplay for sugar sprinkles is the most amusing thing I’ve witnessed in centuries.
I suppose from your perspective, it must seem like quite the downgrade.
Yeah, but in all seriousness, though, your stress levels have decreased significantly these past few months. It appears that this environment is conducive to your well-being.
Oh. Thank you.
Believe it not monitoring your health is one of my primary functions.
That’s actually nice to hear.
For now, enjoy your pastoral paradise, Master Kaito. And don’t forget to check those strudels…But don’t get too cozy, you never know when destiny might come knocking again…
…Now that I think about it, I’m kinda disappointed that the mayor of Plago city wasn’t a Demon Lord…
I consider you family too, Karen. Even if you are a pain sometimes.
Oh god! Please stop…
Here in Calmo, Kaito had found tranquility, meaning in simple acts of creation like baking. He had found connections that felt real, not mandated by some prophecy. By leaving “The Hero’s Journey” behind, he had discovered how to live again. The oven’s warmth seeped into his bones, as satisfying as his new life.
