Episode 114 — Flag of Valor - Kitchen Remix
Episode 114 — Flag of Valor - Kitchen Remix
Fifteenth Day in the Month of Deutzia Flower (July 15) in the Year of the Griffon
Thorn Island — Floor 61 — Front Line Floor 65
"I swear, it's like Konpeito bleeds experience to all of us," Ithilian said to the group of cooks around the kitchen island.
"I know," Suiginto said with a nod. "Plus, we get to work on her cooking projects. As long as she starts it, it works off her maxed cooking level. That’s not normal. When we cooked in our old house, one cook had to stay with their dish, no one else could switch in, yet we now can, even if she’s not here."
"But that's Konpeito," Reisenki said. "Apparently in real life too, but certainly in Aincrad. You were not there when we got our first, unified image — beyond shared capes — and she came back a day or two later with her Viking look, ruining all of the plans that she had readily agreed with. It was a costly upgrade too. Or plenty of other things that are not normal about her." Reisenki shrugged to his fellow cooks. "But that's what makes her fun. She can laugh at almost anything, is either way more focused than you realize or totally off in her own world, and she does some game bending weird things that just make life interesting. You all haven't been around it too long. You will learn to not question it. I certainly did. It’s her kitchen, so it always plays by her rules."
"I have seen a lot of that," Jade stated. "Some of us have been around the Wondercolts long before the merger was even a concept. That I can deal with and understand, but what I still can't comprehend is how she pumps her skill experience into us. I can handle the weird things; like us finishing her projects, or sharing since it’s her kitchen, but it's the bleeding over that I can't grasp."
"It's like a transfusion," Delton stated. "Just with experience, not blood."
"That's exactly what it is," Konpeito said as she entered the kitchen. She leaned onto the counter as they all, minus Reisenki, stiffened up. "I remember it like it was yesterday!"
"And she is in her own world," Jade said, rolling her eyes. "Reliving whatever she meant. That I get is the normal her. That I can handle."
"And there starts the drool," Reisenki added with a sigh. "It's going to drip onto the counter."
"What's going on?" Shintai asked as she came into the kitchen. "What's up with Konpeito Itamae? She looks…"
"Sugar coma," Reisenki said as he slid a towel under Konpeito, just in time to catch the first drop of drool. "She is remembering some memory we just triggered in our conversation, but doesn't realize she's not talking to us. Like we can see her thoughts, except we can’t. It's best to ignore it, at least from my experience."
"How is that a sugar coma?" Shintai asked. "You didn't say she ate something."
"Because whatever she is dreaming about, it always includes sugar," Reisenki stated. "Copious amounts of sugar. Significantly high levels to make her drool like she is."
"Ewe," Jade said, backing up as more drool slid off Konpeito's face. "That's gross. I know it's Aincrad, but this is still the kitchen."
"Yeah," Reisenki said with a sigh. "She will snap out of it soon and not even realize she wasn’t talking with us, but until then, we just have to go along for the ride."
Konpeito entered the shop in Dier Vista on Floor Thirteen. It was a bakery and sweets shop, the best Aincrad had to offer! She was looking for rare ingredients, the final two items on her list. The NPC shop owner came out of the back.
"What can I do for you, lass?" He asked.
"I'm here for Ultra Refined Sugar," Konpeito explained. "Oh, and Mastadge Milk. As much as you've got!"
"Those are some rare ingredients," he stated. "I'm surprised you know how to work with them."
"Sprinkles must be conquered!" Konpeito dramatically exclaimed. "Besides, as rare as they are, they are easy to use." Konpeito laughed. "Well, easy enough for me. I'm not sure about you, or other players, but to me it is. I mean they are!"
"Take a look around," he said. "See all that I make and their glorious splendor. If you can match me, I'll let you buy those items. If you can surpass what I can do, I'll reward you."
Konpeito looked around the shop. There were pastries; for breakfast and tea. Other things were doughnuts, flour based desserts, and an assortment of candies. Most of the candies were hard candies, but softer ones, like taffy and bonbons, were also on his shelves.
"Deal!" Konpeito exclaimed. "I can make these in my sleep. Aincrad or the walking world, it's all easy for me."
"Then use my kitchen," he said. "So I can keep an eye on you, ensuring you don't cheat. Not that I don't trust you."
"But it's wisest," Konpeito said, heading into the back.
He had plenty of ovens, including ones specifically for the pastries.
"Easy peasy lemon squeezy," Konpeito said to herself as she grabbed the tools she needed. At least the NPC kept everything well organized and easy to find.
The taffy was easy, but took time. Butter, water, salt, oil, sugar, and flavoring was all she needed. She had orange and strawberry extracts with her. She chose orange. Once it was combined, it was put onto the stretching machine to really mix it up and stretch it; to taffy the taffy.
The danish pastries were second because they were the next longest. She preheated the pastry oven and then got to work mixing everything together. She used a nice apple filling made from scratch, and a buttermilk cream to top it off. Then those went into the oven.
Konpeito continued onto the bonbons. She had to side step halfway through to pull the taffy out of the stretcher and then went back to the bonbons. As those were finished, she pulled the pastries out of the oven. Then she finished the bonbons and cut the taffy while the pastries let off their steam. They were angry at her for being baked, except that is what they needed to mature and grow up to be real danishes. Once they cooled down, they would be old enough to eat.
Licorice Wheels, sour drops, chocolate chip cookies, Pie Family Secret Aincrad Recipe Brownies, breakfast muffins with sugar crusting, honeyed sweet buns, cinnamon rolls, tartlets, galaktoboureko, mille-feuille, apfelstrudel, baklava, churros, cannolis, éclairs, turkish delight, and pocky sticks were among the fury of items Konpeito quickly threw together in his kitchen.
It took her very little time to do most of them. She often had a line waiting for the pastry ovens, which gave her time to work on the rock candy. The rock candy, both the sugar crystal version and Japanese konpeito, took time to craft and soak. Plus they had to be rotated. She bounced back and forth between the rock candies and whatever pastry or candy was faster to make in between their steps.
"You know," the NPC candy chef said. "I close in an hour."
Konpeito rotated the rock candy and looked at the clock. She couldn't help but laugh. She had, once again, baked the day away. Hopefully her friends didn't need her to do something or be with them. She wasn't even sure what her plans for the day even started as. Fighting with her axe was fun, but fighting with a frosting knife was even funner.
As she started to respond, the timer dinged and Konpeito rushed off to the last oven in use. She pulled out the cupcakes, slapped some creamed frosting on them, and presented one to the NPC. "Fresh from the oven, my own secret recipe!" She exclaimed as she offered it to him. "It's just missing the sprinkles, which is why I need that special sugar!"
The NPC took a bite and thought as he chewed. He didn't say anything as he went on to sample everything else she had made. Usually it was just a bite or two so he didn't fill up.
"I chose to replace your boring, plain donuts with rosquillas," she explained as he got to them. He simply nodded and took a bite.
When he was done sampling her day of fun, he shook his head at her. She had not tried any of his stuff, but she had been confident in her abilities and brought the best she could muster. Her heart skipped a beat in defeat. Maybe if she had tried harder and not forgotten her real task for the day, she could have won.
She really needed that special sugar and the rare milk. There was no way for her to take sugar and turn it into Ultra Refined Sugar, nor could she powder it. She had to buy the four types of sugars in Aincrad from NPCs. Mastadge Milk came from mastadges, big beasts of burden that only were seen on a handful of NPC farms and none of them could be milked by a player.
"I have never tasted some of these before," the NPC stated. "Simply a marvel. I never thought anyone could beat my culinary skills with sugar and sweets, yet you blew my expectations!"
Now Konpeito understood why he shook his head. He was in defeat! Her heart skipped two beats as her smile grew. He was another satisfied customer who enjoyed what she made! That always put a smile on her face! It was impossible not to.
"I was just getting started!" Konpeito said with a bounce. "I always lose track of the time when I go on a baking spree. I can absolutely teach you anything I made, if you want me to?"
"I appreciate the offer, but the people in this town cannot afford what you make," he said. "I sell my sweets lower than I should so they can buy them. I want to brighten their days with a little sweetness. I could not make ends meet if I replicated what you did today in my kitchen. I'm sure I could learn quite easily, but for now, I'll leave the sweets level above mine to you."
"I'll take all the Ultra Refined Sugar and Mastadge Milk you can sell me!" Konpeito exclaimed. "Before you have to close for the day."
"Of course, of course," he said with a nod. "That’s the easy part. Except, I promised you a reward if you could beat what I make and these are all marvelous. You certainly have a knack for baking confections."
"And it's fun!" Konpeito exclaimed.
"Yes, well, I shall give you a just reward," the baker stated. "You clearly deserve it."
He handed her a box. Inside was a decorative wooden mixing spoon. The handle was expertly carved, featuring various confectionaries.
"Hang this up in your kitchen and let it do the rest," he advised. "The spoon ties all cooking projects in the kitchen it guards together, based on its owner, which is you. Your cooking is quickly advancing. Soon you will be a master. It's the best I have to offer you for sweetening my day. Even the best confectionary baker needs someone to sweeten his day from time to time."
An information window appeared above the spoon as she took it. It was a static workshop item, like an oven or spice rack. It wasn't able to be used as a regular mixing spoon, but instead could be placed inside a kitchen to assign the space as belonging to her. It wouldn't work with a portable camp cooking set though. Once assigned, she would still get overall experience from cooking, but none of the Skill experience. To counteract that, the spoon would amplify her Skill. Any unused Skill experience would be shifted to anyone else working in the kitchen too. Also, it would allow others to work on any projects she started.
Konpeito bowed as respectfully as she could. "Thank you, sir. I know this will come in handy. I doubt we will stay a small guild for long. Our tiny house in Tolbana is the only place I can easily cook at, at least right now. We, as a guild, have too much to offer and do great work as a guild; too much to let Lind and Kibaou run the show. If Natora wasn't a beater, we could shove them out. I'm not sure what Blade is waiting for, but we could gain a real following, both because of our reputation and the image Diemond is crafting. We are the best looking guild in Aincrad!
"Buuuuut, I guess there is really no one who could meet our standards right now. Maybe a few in the ALS or DKB, but most of them are not kind players, they all are too angry or stressed, and kindness is one of our important building blocks as a guild. I'm sure a new group of amazing adventurers are just waiting for the opportunity to join the front lines. Agil, Asuna, and Kirito would be cool to have join us, but they all want to go their own way. Still, I hope we can get Asuna and Kirito to stop running off on their own and adventure with us instead, at least from time to time. Agil runs a store, but he would join us for anything we threw together.
"I want more people to cook for. A lot more. Except it's up to Blade, Natora, and Knightstar to make those choices. My choices are the kitchen and what comes out of it! They let me run it without question and I let them run the guild without question, even when I don't get their reasoning.
"Reisenki has been talking about also becoming a cook, to help me balance everything I have to do for the guild. Mostly that's just lunches, because we don't have a great permanent home, at least not yet. I'm keeping a lookout for someplace good we can really call home. With a big kitchen and enough rooms where we don't have to share. Eleven players with one cook is a stretch some days, especially since I fight with them, so I welcome Reisenki's assistance with the kitchen duties and he will need the boost this awesome guardian spoon will give him. If others join us, we'll need more hands in the kitchen, especially if we get really, really big, which would be really, really awesome.
"I'll keep this on the wall, so that whoever joins me in my kitchen can benefit from my continued work and its guardianship. There’s no way I'm leaving the guild's future kitchen to anyone else, no matter how capable they are. There’s too much fun to be had in between the ovens and the stoves to leave it. Soon enough, I'll bake in the morning, swing my axe during the day, and cook in the evening. It's the best I can do for my friends. It's my purpose!
"It makes them smile and laugh. I know they appreciate it, even if they forget to say it. I can see it in their eyes and on their faces, especially when we break for lunch. They’re often tired, but perk up more when they realize I made them something scrumptious for lunch. And we usually have another four or five hours to go before the day's work is done. I understand why they forget and there’s no need to forgive them, they’re not harming me in any way. They all have way more to worry about than I do. They can't laugh their worries away like I can."
"Your friends are lucky to have you," he said. "Very lucky to have you looking out for them and feeding them properly. Adventurers are not known for feeding themselves as well as they need to. I hope you get your wish, to be a big guild worthy of eating your great culinary skill. It's no fun when people like us cannot share our love with as many people as possible."
“Thank you," Konpeito said, bowing again. "I really appreciate the gift and the fun time I had in your kitchen today."
She headed back to the front of the shop so she could go home and cook dinner for her friends.
"Miss," the baker called, prompting Konpeito to stop and turn around to face him. "You still need that sugar and milk, right?"
Konpeito laughed. "Oh! Silly me! Of course I do! Sprinkles must be conquered in order to free us from the confines of this prison of iron and ruby stone!"
Konpeito bought all of the Ultra Refined Sugar and Mastadge Milk he had and left. She went back to the Tolbana house and hung up the spoon. Now she really had a reason to max cooking.
The others didn't notice her absence. Well, Knightstar asked and Konpeito told her that she was distracted with a baking quest. There had been no official quest screen, but she had gotten an awesome reward. Rewards mattered more than an official quest. Knightstar didn’t ask about the reward, which was good because Konpeito was not going to share the true reward. She wanted it to remain a surprise as long as possible.
"And that's why I have the spoon," Konpeito said to those around her. "And why is it important that it stays in the kitchen! I hate to ruin the surprise, but it's the truth, through and through. Now, let's get to making dinner!"
"Dinner is almost ready," Reisenki stated. "You were daydreaming. We made stew, one of your recipes."
"Well then, after we can prepare breakfast!" Konpeito added with a hop. "Good job, everyone! It may be my kitchen, but I never have to worry about it with all of you helping out."
"It's what we're here for," Delton said. "It's our pleasure. We're grateful to be able to stay with the guild."
"And we're grateful to have the three of you joining us and doing so much to make each day extra wonderful!" Konpeito added, bouncing up to sit on the counter. "Maybe one day I'll tell you the real story behind my special spoon and why it needs to stay in the kitchen, hanging on the wall."
BLADESCAPE: Level 92 — Two-Handed Sword — Searching — Weapon Defense — Leather Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Sprint — Blade Throwing — Extended Weight Carry — Acrobatics — Greatsword — Rend
NATORA: Level 86 — Two-Handed Spear — Purchase Negotiations — Sales Negotiation — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Armor Pierce — Sprint — Mugen Yari
MALUS: Level 88 — One-Handed War Hammer — Greatshield — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Extended Weight Carry — Battle Regeneration — Fishing — Search — Martial Arts — Rend — Sprint
THUNDERBORNE: Level 86 — Rapier — Sprint — Acrobatics — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Armor Pierce — Martial Arts — Blade Throwing — Search
KONPEITO: Level 84 — Two-Handed Axe — Cooking — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — Martial Arts — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Music — Blade Throwing — Bard — Extended Weight Carry — Rend
DIEMOND: Level 84 — Mace — Greatshield — Sewing — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Light Metal Armor Forging — Heavy Metal Armor Forging — Extended Weight Carry — Jewelry Creation — Rend
DOOMBUNNY: Level 90 — One-Handed Dagger — Hide — Fighting Spirit — Blade Throwing — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Familiar Cooperation — Mixing — Listen — Reveal — Main-gauche — Search — Sleight of Hand — Armor Pierce
KIEFER: Level 85 — One-Handed Curved Sword — Slash Weapon Forging — Light Metal Armor — Weapon Defense — First Aid — Katana — Battle Regeneration — Slash Weapon Forging — Blade Throwing — Armor Pierce — Martial Arts
SORYUTO: Level 83 — One-Handed Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Music — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Fighting Spirit — Armor Pierce — Acrobatics — Extended Weight Carry
REISENKI: Level 86 — One-Handed Axe — Greatshield — Heavy Metal Armor — Equipment Repair — Metal Equipment Repair — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Cooking — Metal Refining — One-Hand Weapon Creation — Two-Handed Weapon Creation
KNIGHTSTAR: Level 81 — One-Handed Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Equipment Appraisal — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Extended Weight Carry — Armor Pierce — Search
LOBELIA: Level 81 — One-Handed Curved Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Search — Meditation — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Painting — Armor Pierce — Extended Weight Carry
KAMISHI: Level 82 — One-Handed Curved Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Katana — First Aid — Extended Weight Carry — Battle Regeneration — Reveal — Trap Dismantling — Martial Arts — Carpentry
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no matter where, Pinkie will ALWAYS been Pinkie!
12165206
This is one of my favorite chapters and I've got a lot of good ones. I'm thrilled it is finally released.
Absolutely!
12165209
it wouldnt surprise me if she returend to that bakery often just to chat with the baker while buying supplies. And if we saw him trying to replicate Pinkie's work with easy to afford stuff lol
Flag of Valor now the cooking of Valor what's next???
12165221
I don't think we will ever see it again, but it is the only place to get the special sugar and milk, which are used several more times or referenced. Getting the correct story from her and what the spoon does is another thing entirely. Lol.
12165235
I enjoy naming chapters. Reprise and remix are fun ways to reuse the chapter title when they are intentionally similar. I have a "Pink Edition" coming up, set on Floor 76. "The Boys Are Back Reprise (Shipping up to Boston)" is another, featuring Fuurinkazan, like the original one does. Layer is a "Diemond Remix" as well, for a Chapter y'all haven't seen yet.
Episode 121, A very Unexpected Visitor, is probably the best answer to "what's next?"
12165245
fair enough lol
"It's PInkie Pie, don't question it," is the quote that comes to mind when reading this chapter.
12165295
It was absolutely inspired (at least in structure) by the CMC learning about the Main 6 getting their cutie marks! In that one, Sweetie Belle says "oh come on. She's just being Pinkie Pie."
Yep, something that never changes about her.
Yep...
Now I think I'm drooling!
I hope she doesn't regret it later.
How have I strangely never heard of a few these desserts/food?
At least she had fun baking, right?
I'm not even gonna ask why a player can't milk them.
She did well.
Huh.
any projects she started.*
Is she saying their castle/headquarters on floor 61 isn't permanent until they defeat SAO?
I doubt that'll play a role in helping you guys escape.
Nevermind, this was was particularly a flashback chapter.
......* What!? It´s over? Ugh, I allways zoneout on Pinke chapters. Can´t comprihend her head.
A day in the life of Pinkie. Not only does she operate on random logic, she makes delicious desserts and brings joy to everyone, even NPCs.
12165474
Well, you haven't heard of some of them because I chose a very diverse spread from across the globe. Europe really took things in a different direction once they had cheap access to sugarcane in large quantities, so many of them come from Europe. What America does for sweets is insane compared to almost everywhere else. Unless you know Greek food, and several other Mediterranean food cultures, you won't know baklava.
Haha, the no milking is just a setting. Nothing nefarious or sketchy. It restricts the access to the milk and the amount people know about it. Some things will always need to be bought.
Dang, another errant quotation mark! lol. Thanks. Fixed it.
So, the headquarters comment is still in her flashback. They only have the Tolbana house. That is how far back this goes.
12165717
noted, thx.
Only Pinkie can find a unlisted quest, complete it, and never once twig any info brokers to her shenanigans.
12165541
Hahaha. I totally understand. Pinkie's POV is not easy for me to write. I can't just will myself to do it. The idea has to be grounded enough to write and for most readers to understand her logic and thinking (which is not her default). It is a fun challenge for me to write, she brings a levity to the story with a different spin, but I use it sparingly for a reason. It usually is more effective to come at her personality/POV from outside, getting her to say or explain stuff, which may or may not make sense. Looking back, this was only the second time I used her POV in Ruby Palace.
Looking forward, my count looks like 5 more with her POV, plus a short entry in a snapshot episode on Floor 89. I don't plan on adding any more, but I can't guarantee it. It won't be heavy on her POV, that I am certain of. Spoilers used just to be safe.
157's "Pinke Edition" chapter should be pretty well grounded. The same for 186. "Replacing Victory," on Floor 88 was designed to be extremely grounded. I do have one planned on Floor 92 which is her... I experimented (still undergoing testing) and I wrote it like Steve Irwin was narrating her "adventure". Not easy at all. It is a different writing technique entirely. I think it is pretty grounded since she is narrating everything in her head as if the reader is watching Crocodile Hunter or another similar nature show. "Konpeito's Final Request" is right at the end, hence the use of "final" and is also well grounded.
12165589
That sums up the chapter and very well. lol.
12165729
And also leave her friends and guildmates completely clueless about it too.
12165736
Not that she hasn't tried, but sometimes her mind sabotaged her efforts with tangents leading elsewhere.
12165972
i.imgflip.com/4aph5w.jpg
12165732
YOU PLAN WHAT!??! ON FLOOR 92?
I await whit dreadfull antisipation.
12166627
I know! It will be interesting.