For a moment, I thought I was seeing things.  

Just to be sure, I checked the status window again.  

[Strength attribute has increased by 5]  

“It wasn’t a mistake?”  

Upon opening the status window to confirm, I saw that my strength attribute had indeed increased by 5 points.  

What is this?  

“The squad members clearly said it would increase randomly between 1 to 3 points…”  

It seems the other members just had bad luck and the attribute could actually increase up to 5.  

“No, that can’t be it.”  

There was only one reason that came to mind.  

[Absolute Palate]  

[Effect 1 (Passive) – User Exclusive, the positive effect obtained through cooking increases significantly and positively]  

“…Wait, does that mean potions are a type of food or considered as a food?”  

A potion.  

In other words, it’s medicine.  

Could this really be true?  

I asked about this to Sa Uijun, our unit’s medic.  

And the reply,  

“Well, I did major in physical therapy, so I’m not an expert, but…”  

“Well, it depends on the type, but… it’s not impossible.”  

His response that it’s not impossible gave me a pause.  

“What do you mean it’s not impossible?”  

“Well, attribute potions don’t cure diseases or anything like that. They just make you stronger when you consume them, right?”  

“Right.”  

“So, technically, they’re not really medicine. They’re more like tonic drinks. It makes more sense to classify them as functional beverages.”  

“Functional beverages?”  

“You know, the digestive aids, hangover cures, vitamin drinks, and tonics you can buy at convenience stores.”  

“Oh, yeah, right.”  

“Those are technically a type of medicine too, but you don’t only get them at pharmacies. They’re sold at convenience stores too. Such medical products that aren’t restricted to pharmacies are called quasi-drugs. In the case of beverages, they’re classified as functional drinks. And as you know, beverages…”  

Beverages.  

Liquid foods that are meant to be consumed.  

“So, they’re considered food. Is that it?”  

“It’s a very generous interpretation, but you could see it that way.”  

“Got it.”  

Tonics are commonly consumed to improve health or increase energy.  

Potions to increase attributes.  

Still, can these really be grouped together?  

Well, it doesn’t even matter if I find it strange.  

What’s important is that the system recognizes it this way.  

Attribute-increasing potions are beverages.  

In other words, they are food.  

Thus, my [Absolute Palate] effect was applied.  

The potion, which should have increased my attribute by 1 to 3 points, boosted it by 5 points instead.  

‘That means…’  

An absurd idea popped into my head.  

An idea so ridiculous that I couldn’t shake it off, no matter how impossible it seemed.  

If it’s food.  

Then there must be a cooking process involved in making that food.  

And coincidentally enough, my profession is also that of a chef.  

“So, can I make it too?”  

Since I’m a chef I should be able to do it, right?  

 If I could just figure out the ingredients and the recipe for the potion…  

[1,000 points have been deducted]  

[Remaining points – 6,182 points]  

Back in my room, I bought another potion.  

And used my ingredient identification trait on it.  

[Attribute Enhancement Potion (Agility) Identification Result]  

[Unknown Ingredient ??%, Unknown Liquid ??%, Unknown Sweetener ??%…]  

[The trait level is too low to identify the ingredients]  

“Damn.”  

It’s not going to be that easy, huh?  

The detection results were filled with unknowns.  

If only I knew the ingredients, I could experiment to figure out the recipe.   

But even with an enhanced trait, it’s still at a low level.   

Identifying all the ingredients is difficult.  

Even if I did identify them, obtaining those ingredients at this stage would likely be impossible.  

Then, suddenly,  

“Huh?”  

Amid the string of unknowns, I noticed something different.  

[Dragon Heart 10%]  

“This is…”  

The Dragon Heart.  

Just the name alone sounds like an extraordinary ingredient.  

It’s the only identified ingredient in the attribute potion.  

It’s not like this ingredient is low-grade enough for my trait to identify it.  

In fact,  

‘I feel like I’ve heard of this before.’  

I quickly stood up and rummaged through my military backpack, pulling out a wooden box.  

Inside that box was…  

[Dragon Heart]  

[This is a Heart of a Dragon]  

In the past, after I managed to subdue Lieutenant Kim by feeding him my dishes, I achieved the achievement ‘Irresistible Taste’.  

The reward for that achievement was this.  

[Top Quality Ingredient: Dragon Heart]  

Due to my lack of cooking skills, I couldn’t handle it and just carried it around in my backpack, adding unnecessary weight.  

‘Who would’ve thought this would be one of the ingredients in the attribute potion?’  

Since I had it in my possession, my detection skill succeeded.  

Although it’s impossible right now, if I eventually gather all the ingredients like this heart…  

‘I can cook an attribute potion…!’  

***  

After experimenting with potions as much as I could,  

[6,000 points have been deducted]  

[Remaining points – 182 points]  

I converted all my remaining points into potions.  

I considered buying a new skill, but I had just acquired a new skill recently.  

With the new skill enhancing the efficiency of the potions, I couldn’t resist the temptation.  

[…Your attribute has increased by 5 points]  

“Sweet.”  

Thinking back, the timing couldn’t have been better.  

A skill book obtained by chance through a quest, and the points I had been saving.  

These two factors created a synergy that allowed me to maximize my attributes.  

As a result of consuming all 8 potions,  

[Attributes]  

[Strength: 19 → 29]  

[Agility: 30 → 45]  

[Magic: 18 → 33]  

[Luck: 24]  

In total, my attributes increased by 40 points.  

‘I wasn’t lacking in stats to begin with… but this…’  

I was the first to awaken and have been steadily gaining experience through cooking.  

When it comes to levels, I’m the highest among the squad members and currently on the verge of reaching level 20,  

My stats were already on par with the warriors.  

With this much of an additional attribute boost, I subtly moved my body to test it.  

‘Hmm. It’s not quite like when I fought that gluttonous guy.’  

Nevertheless, I felt incredibly light.  

If I play my cards right, I might even be able to take on Gwang-il.  

He has that ridiculously overpowered berserk skill, but with the increased buff efficiency from my [Absolute Palate] skill, I should be able to hold my ground against him.  

‘I always thought it was a useless skill.’  

But  

Unintentionally, I have achieved such tremendous growth.  

Even if it just boosts raw stats, I have finally obtained a skill that’s genuinely helpful for combat.  

‘I was worried that my lack of combat strength would cause my squad members to look down on me.’  

With this, I might not get ignored after all.  

As I was thinking that a notification popped up before my eyes.