Culinary System: Transmigrated to Game World

The girl tied a knot in the middle of the rope and gave Kai a knowing look. He stared back at her, confused. She nodded, offering him an encouraging smile. He watched her expectantly, silently hoping whatever she was planning would work. But when nothing happened, he sighed in frustration. "So what are we supposed to do?" he asked irritably. He was growing tired of being trapped in this strange cave. The whole experience was becoming too much for him.

The girl shrugged, tossed the rope aside, and sat down. Kai did the same, leaning back against the rock wall with his arms crossed. A small, nervous smile formed on his lips as he stared at her. The silence between them felt heavy, each waiting for the other to speak first. Kai shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore how the small space was starting to feel suffocating. Finally, he looked at the girl, concern etched on his face. At least they had each other. That was more than most people ever got. "What are you planning?" he asked quietly. "Is there any way we can get out of here?"

She looked at him for a few seconds before turning her gaze to the other side of the cave. She didn't answer. Kai waited, growing more worried as he watched her face. She seemed lost in thought, deep in concentration. Eventually, she gave him a reassuring smile and began examining their surroundings again.

Kai's heart raced as the girl studied the cave. The jagged walls glistened with moisture, and the faint glow of luminescent fungi barely lit up the rocky space. She pulled a strange device from her bag—a small, handheld orb that hummed softly. She pressed a few symbols on its surface, and a translucent map flickered to life above it. Kai's eyes widened as he watched the holographic display, showing a network of tunnels stretching far beyond where they were.

"What is that?" he asked, pointing to the orb, even though he knew she wouldn't understand him. His voice echoed sharply in the cave. She glanced at him, her expression unreadable, then turned back to the map.

"Ska'vala1," she murmured under her breath, her tone urgent. Kai frowned. The word meant nothing to him, but her voice made it clear she was planning something.

Frustration bubbled up inside Kai. They'd been stuck in this situation for hours, every attempt to communicate ending in confusion. He couldn't help but think of his father. Why had it always been so easy to understand him, but not her?

She motioned for him to follow, her movements quick and precise. Kai hesitated but eventually followed her. They moved deeper into the cave, the air growing colder and the silence heavier. His grip tightened on the hilt of his knife. Whatever was waiting in the shadows, he wouldn't face it unprepared.

After what felt like forever, they reached a narrow passage that split into two tunnels. The girl paused, studying the holographic map. She pointed to the left, then looked back at Kai, as if asking for his opinion. He shrugged, unsure what to do. With a nod, she led the way.

The tunnel's ceiling dipped lower, forcing them to crouch as they moved. The ground was uneven, covered in loose stones that threatened to trip them with every step. Kai's patience was wearing thin. Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore.

"Do you even know where you're going?" he snapped, his voice echoing off the walls. The girl stopped abruptly and turned to face him. Her piercing blue eyes met his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, to his surprise, she spoke.

"Rakta Shila1." Her tone was calm but firm, as if she were trying to explain something important. She gestured to the map, then to the tunnel ahead. Kai sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. Whatever she was saying, it wasn't getting through.

"This is pointless," he muttered under his breath, but he kept following her. As much as he hated to admit it, she seemed to know more about their surroundings than he did.

The tunnel opened into a massive cavern, and Kai's breath caught in his throat. The chamber was enormous, its ceiling disappearing into darkness. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth, and a glowing blue river cut through the center. But what really caught his attention was the huge stone door at the far end, covered in intricate carvings.

The girl's eyes lit up as she approached the door, her steps quickening. She ran her fingers over the carvings, tracing the patterns with a kind of reverence. Kai followed cautiously, his gaze darting between the door and the shadows that seemed to move at the edges of the cavern.

"What is this?" he asked, though he didn't expect an answer. The girl glanced at him, then back at the door. She pressed her palm against its surface, and a low rumble filled the air. The carvings began to glow, their light spreading across the door like veins of molten lava.

Kai stepped back, his hand tightening on his knife. "Is that supposed to happen?" he asked, his voice uneasy. The girl didn't respond, her focus entirely on the door.

Suddenly, the rumbling stopped, and the door began to slide open. A rush of cold air spilled out, carrying the faint smell of something ancient and decayed. The girl took a cautious step forward, but Kai grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Wait," he said firmly. She turned to him, her expression questioning. He pointed to the door, then to his knife, trying to show his concern. She seemed to understand, nodding slowly. Together, they stepped through the doorway.

The room beyond was unlike anything Kai had ever seen. The walls were lined with shelves filled with strange, glowing artifacts. In the center stood a pedestal, and on it rested a crystalline orb that pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light.

The girl approached the pedestal cautiously, her eyes fixed on the orb. Kai stayed close behind her, his gaze darting around the room. Something about this place felt wrong, like they were being watched.

As the girl reached for the orb, a low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows. Kai's heart raced as he turned toward the sound, his knife ready. From the darkness emerged a massive creature, its skin a slick, obsidian black that seemed to absorb the light. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of jagged teeth.

Kai's grip on his knife tightened. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. The girl stepped in front of him, her stance defensive. She pulled a small, metallic rod from her belt, and with a flick of her wrist, it extended into a staff. She glanced back at him, her eyes filled with determination.

"Vash'tir1," she said firmly. Kai looked at her, unsure what to do. He didn't move, fear giving way to resolve. But he knew one thing: whatever this thing was, they'd face it together. The creature let out a loud roar and charged.

It crashed into the wall next to the girl, sending dust flying. Its claws scraped across the stone, leaving deep cracks. The sound alone made Kai's blood run cold. The creature reared back for another attack, claws ready to strike.

Without warning, the girl swung her staff in a wide arc. A bright flash erupted from the tip, and with a loud cry, the creature was flung backward, crashing into the opposite wall. Before it could recover, the girl leapt forward, driving the butt of her staff into the beast's head. It screamed in pain, stumbling back. She raised her weapon again and brought it down, burying it deep into the creature's neck.

With a wet gurgle, it collapsed to the ground, a thick, dark liquid pooling around it. She glanced back at Kai.

"Tesh... shor'an velith1," she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Kai stared at her, his heart still pounding. He couldn't help but chuckle, despite the tension.

"I...I think that was easy for her, maybe," he thought, shaking his head. "What even was that thing?"

The girl shrugged, her expression unreadable. She turned back to the pedestal and carefully picked up the crystalline orb. It pulsed softly in her hands, casting a gentle glow across her face. Kai watched her, still trying to catch his breath.

"So, what now?" he asked, his voice quieter now. The girl looked at him, then pointed to the orb and gestured toward the door they had come through. Kai nodded, understanding her meaning. They needed to get out of here—fast.

As they turned to leave, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. Kai's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. The girl grabbed his arm, her grip firm, and pulled him toward the exit. They ran through the doorway, the cavern shaking behind them. The sound of collapsing stone echoed through the tunnels as they sprinted back the way they had come.

Kai's legs burned, but he didn't dare slow down. The girl stayed close, her movements swift and sure. They reached the narrow passage and squeezed through, the walls closing in around them. The tremors grew stronger, and Kai could hear the cave collapsing behind them.

"Faster!" he shouted, though he wasn't sure if she could understand him. She didn't need to. They burst out of the tunnel and into the larger cavern, the glowing river still cutting through the center. The girl didn't stop, leading him toward the exit.

Finally, they reached the cave's entrance, the cool night air hitting them like a relief. They stumbled out, collapsing onto the grass as the cave behind them rumbled and collapsed in on itself. Dust and debris spilled out, but they were safe.

Kai lay on his back, staring up at the stars, his chest heaving. The girl sat beside him, the orb still glowing softly in her hands. She looked at him, her expression calm but tired.

"Well," Kai said between breaths, "that was... something."