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HC: Handyman | Ch. 133 - Meat
🕑 Added 2024-12-16 16:52:16 +0000 UTCHorace had put Riku to work. What had once been an open stretch was now a sprawling minefield of traps—a chaotic patchwork of caltrops, stakes, bear traps, and nooses. Little colorful flags fluttered in the wind, marking the narrow, safe paths through the hazards. Jack couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “Horace took Marie’s advice to heart,” he muttered.
The sheer number of beasts attacking now made subtlety irrelevant. Horace wasn’t worried about hiding the traps anymore. It didn’t matter; the creatures were so numerous they’d likely shove each other into the hazards.
Carefully navigating the flagged path, Jack made his way to his old workstation. Hauling himself onto the carriage, he paused to take in the battlefield.
The remnants of the last wave painted a grim picture. Whereas before, the roach carcasses had fallen mostly beyond the trap field, now several lay alarmingly close to the carriage. More than a few had reached Marie’s position before falling, likely surviving her bombs with only a sliver of HP left. The caltrops had finished them off, but the proximity was unsettling.
Jack scowled. “Yeah, we’re definitely going to need someone else here with Marie from now on,” he muttered. The leisurely pace of the early breach waves was over.
The shift in the enemy composition didn’t go unnoticed, either. The familiar hordes of black roaches were gone, replaced entirely by purple, furry roaches. Larger and far more aggressive, they now dominated the battlefield. Their sheer size and numbers left little doubt in Jack’s mind: the breach was escalating.
“What’s the boss going to be like?” Jack wondered aloud, the question sending a shiver down his spine.
With careful steps, he descended into the field and began his work. Navigating the caltrops, Jack harvested carcass after carcass. As he reached for another, a notification appeared.
Congratulations! You’ve reached level 4 in [Butchering].
You’ve learned a new skill: [Meat Carving].
Meat Carving (Common)
Skill level: 1
Skill description: Whereas amateurs might miss cuts of meat that are less obvious in the carcass, you leave nothing behind and make the most of nature’s bounty.
Skill effects: You can now harvest meat from creatures that wouldn’t normally drop it. For creatures that already drop meat, you’ll extract larger yields.
“Finally!” Jack muttered, his voice brimming with triumph. “Meat on the menu, at last.”
He barely had time to process the news when a second notification appeared.
Synergy detected between [Bard] and [Butchering].
You’ve learned a new melody: [Tenderizing Repercussions].
“Cool,” he said, excitement sparking in his chest. Another melody to add to his bardic arsenal.
Thank goodness I found Esther to help me. I’ll need a lot of time to rehearse this one.
With his spirits lifted, Jack turned his attention back to the task at hand. He approached one of the giant roaches, its glossy, purple-furred shell glinting faintly in the fading light. As he worked, his new butchering skill kicked in.
You picked up 2x[Roach Meat].
Roach Meat (Common)
A hunk of meat harvested from a roach, surprisingly dense and slightly oily. It has a faint earthy aroma and a toughness that suggests it’s best cooked thoroughly.
Durability: 16
Jack recoiled slightly, holding the slimy, dark slabs of meat in his hand. “That’s gross,” he muttered, his nose wrinkling. The smell was earthy and faintly acidic, not entirely pleasant. He forced himself to look past it.
A wicked grin crept across his face as a thought struck him. “Weren’t they complaining about wanting something they could chew in their stew?” he said, chuckling darkly. He stuffed the roach meat into his pack.
As he moved from one carcass to the next, the field began to feel less like a battlefield and more like a harvest. Notifications trickled in, his butchering XP creeping upward at a snail’s pace.
By the time Jack finished scavenging, the battlefield was picked clean. He stood, wiping his hands on his rope overalls, his pack noticeably heavier now, stuffed with meat and fat. As he trudged back toward the fortress, the low hum of conversation reached his ears. The team was still gathered around the fire, their shadows flickering against the fortress walls. To his surprise, Amari was already there.
“Hello, Jack!” Amari greeted, raising a hand in his usual unbothered manner.
"Hi, Amari! How did you get here? I didn’t see you on the road," Jack asked, genuinely curious.
"Climbed the southern slope," Amari replied with a casual shrug, as if scaling a mountain was another Tuesday.
“Really?” Jack’s eyes widened. “That’s… impressive!”
“I could use a meal,” Amari said, his tone as nonchalant as his entrance.
At the mention of food, Esther froze mid-stir, her hands hovering over the honey mixture. Beside her, Riku perked up like a startled meerkat, clutching his empty bowl tightly in both hands. Their synchronized reactions were so perfectly timed that Jack had to bite back a laugh.
"Do you want some more?" Jack offered, barely containing his grin.
Riku nodded so vigorously that his hair bounced like a bobblehead. Esther stayed silent, but the hopeful sparkle in her eyes was impossible to miss.
Jack sighed. “Alright, give me a minute.” He rummaged through his supplies, pulled out a jar of oil, and set to work. As the oil began to heat in the pan, the faint smell of frying wafted through the air.
“That’s new. Is that oil?” Horace asked, sidling closer with a suspicious look.
“Yep,” Jack replied simply.
“Where’d you get it?” Horace’s tone carried a pointed edge.
“Found it,” Jack said, waving off the question with a vague gesture. He turned back to the pan, refusing to elaborate.
Horace narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “Found it where?”
“Somewhere… out there,” Jack said, gesturing vaguely toward the battlefield.
Horace looked like he wanted to press further, but Jack swiftly pulled some meat from his inventory, distracting him. The game’s system had pre-diced it, sparing Jack the mess and letting him toss the pieces directly into the sizzling oil. Jack was happy to throw everything he’d collected into the pan. The meat’s durability was dropping by the minute, and if he didn’t use it, it would spoil anyway.
The meat hit the pan with a satisfying hiss, its edges curling and browning almost instantly. The rich, savory aroma filled the courtyard, earning a collective inhale from the group.
"Do you even know what you’re doing?" Horace teased, leaning on a nearby crate.
"I’m not much of a cook, but I’ve fried eggs before," Jack replied, stirring the meat with exaggerated confidence.
"Horace doesn’t even know how to open an egg. He probably eats it raw—shell and all," Marie quipped, her grin as sharp as her words.
"Aha. Very funny," Horace retorted, rolling his eyes. “But seriously, what kind of meat is that?”
Jack shrugged, keeping his movements deliberately casual. “Didn’t you all say you wanted something to chew on?” As he spoke, he cast a fleeting, nervous glance toward one of the carcasses still lying near the fortress walls, its grotesque form half-hidden in the shadows.
Horace followed his gaze, his expression shifting to one of mild understanding. He didn’t say anything, but his slight nod and the way he stepped back told Jack everything he needed to know: Horace assumed he had figured it out.
He totally bought it! Jack thought triumphantly, fighting to keep a grin from spreading across his face as he stirred the stew. Perfect misdirection.
Congratulations! You’ve sautéed the ingredients of your [Survival Stew].
The flavors grow stronger.
+100XP in [Bushcraft]
Good! It’s working!
The meat was cooked to a golden brown, and Jack added water, letting the mixture simmer before seasoning it with salt and pepper. The aroma grew richer, drawing the entire team closer, bowls clutched eagerly in their hands.
“Not bad for a first try,” Jack said, patting himself on the back as a system notification popped up.
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
+150XP in [Bushcraft]
Survival Stew (Common)
Crafting grade: C
Ingredients: [Roach Meat], [Roach Meat], [Roach Meat].
Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal made from ingredients gathered in the wild.
Item effects:
+1 stamina per second for five minutes.
+1HP per second for five minutes.
Bugicidal Fever: +10% damage to bugs, +5 defense near bugs (30 minutes).
“Wow, nice buff,” Jack muttered, reading the effects.
“What’d you get?” Amari asked, leaning in.
“See for yourself.” Jack ladled steaming portions into bowls and passed them around.
“Wow! This is… interesting,” Amari said. “10% damage to bugs for 30 minutes? That’s incredible. This’ll definitely come in handy for the boss.”
“Not bad,” Marie agreed, nodding. “It’s almost at the level of what a professional cook could make—well, almost.”
Horace watched the others warily, his eyes narrowing at Jack’s smug grin. The rich aroma was irresistible, though, and with a reluctant sigh, he finally scooped a spoonful into his mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed. “It is good!”
“Yeah, sautéing the meat made it stronger,” Jack explained, leaning back with obvious pride. “New skill, courtesy of my handyman class.”
“Well done, Jackie,” Marie said.
“What can I say?” Jack replied, beaming. “I aim to please.”
But Horace wasn’t done. He paused, his spoon hovering midair, a frown creeping onto his face.
“What’s wrong, Horace?”
“Nothing. It’s just… this taste is unique. I’ve never had anything quite like this before.”
“Is this your first time eating roach stew?”
Horace froze. His face twisted in horror as he spat out a half-chewed chunk of meat onto the ground.
“You’re kidding me!” he sputtered, wiping his tongue frantically with his sleeve.
Jack burst out laughing, the sound echoing across the camp. Amari and Marie remained unphased. Amari simply raised an eyebrow, continuing to eat without missing a beat. “Protein’s protein,” he said with a shrug.
Marie set her bowl down and actually began defending his unusual choice of ingredients. “What’s with the disgust? Have you never eaten insects before? Fried locusts are a delicacy in some places.”
“Of course not!” Horace snapped.
“Insects are a staple in so many cultures!” Marie said, her eyes lighting up as she launched into her explanation. “I’ve heard there’s this lake where people collect mosquito eggs using buttered pans and turn them into hamburgers. Some people fry crickets and grasshoppers until they’re super crispy and say they taste like roasted nuts. Others roast termites and grind them into flour to make bread, which is supposed to be super nutritious. And I’ve read about people glazing locusts with soy sauce and sugar to make a crunchy, sweet snack. Honestly, I don’t know why we don’t eat more bugs. They’re packed with nutrients, sustainable, and honestly kind of fun!”
Jack blinked, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. Marie, the usually quiet one, suddenly proved herself to be a chatty fountain of obscure culinary trivia.
Is this a weird hobby of hers or something?
As the group finished their meal, Esther and Riku lingered near the pot, their eyes darting to the small amount of stew that remained. Jack chuckled.
“There’s a little left. Feel free to help yourselves,” he said, waving them over.
They didn’t need to be told twice.
As Esther and Riku eagerly helped themselves to another serving, all eyes turned to Amari.
“So, how did the exploration go?” Marie asked.
“Let me show you,” Amari said.
Amari would like to share his world map with you.
Jack accepted, and a 3D projection unfolded in midair, shimmering with light. The map displayed the fortress, its surrounding pathways, and the encircling mountains in crisp, intricate detail.
Amari gestured toward the projection, his voice steady but brimming with satisfaction. “I’ve mapped the entire Breach,” he began. “Most of it is mountainous terrain, but there are a few noteworthy features. For instance, this lake here,” he said, pointing to a sparkling blue patch, “and a small forest. That means wood for you, Horace, and herbs for you, Marie,” he added, nodding to each of them. “And finally, there’s this snowy peak—the tallest mountain on the map and the only place with snow.”
Jack raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. Given how small the fortress was and how vast the mountain range appeared, Amari had covered an extraordinary distance to gather this information. Jack’s admiration wasn’t just for the map; it was good to see Amari back to his usual talkative self.
“So, were you just mapping, or did you find any hidden packages?” Jack asked, tilting his head.
Amari smirked and tapped a few buttons on his interface. Several red pins materialized across the map, scattered like breadcrumbs. “I scouted potential locations for hidden packages and marked them,” he explained.
Jack studied the pins before glancing back at Amari with a skeptical look. “So, you just found suspicious-looking spots, marked them, and moved on?”
“Exactly.”
“Why not just get the packages right away?” Jack pressed.
Amari gave him a familiar smile, the one Jack had come to recognize as his way of savoring a teachable moment for his channel. Turning to Jack—and, by extension, whoever would watch the video later—Amari began explaining, “Hidden packages often require time-consuming quests to unlock. That’s why I focused on fully exploring the map first. Now, we can organize ourselves to hit these locations. Between waves, we’ll target them and try to collect as many packages as possible.”
Jack leaned in closer, his gaze fixed on the glowing red markers. If each one represented something as valuable as Esther and Riku had been, this map was a gold mine. A grin spread across his face as confidence bubbled up inside him. Suddenly, the Breach didn’t seem so terrifying anymore.
Comments
Cássio Ferreira
Thanks for saying that and for your support, Harley.
Cássio Ferreira
True! I have to work on a chapter that features the reactions to the first videos that Amari posts in his channel.
Harley Dalton Jr.
Jack is going to have a lot of fans/followers due to uniqueness. It'll be cool once that starts raking in the money and his parents are shocked.
Harley Dalton Jr.
Except for the meal, I wish I could play this game in real life. Thanks for the story.
Ender419
Great chapter! Would love for Jake to learn a new skill/minor via one of these aid packages that he can only be obtained in the breached and is very rare as well as cane be used outside the breach.
Coleman
I respect the stance on creepy crawlies. Bugs are good for you and a great sustainable source of protein. That said as an American eating bugs is a lot like being a supervillain. It’s all about the presentation. As a quick reminder to everyone who thinks they don’t eat bugs do read the food labels. Cricket flour is getting pretty common among other things. With that out of the way hopefully we can get a more appetizing enemy after the boss bug.
