Breathing was easier than I''d expected after dying.  I even felt good too, like my body was being pillowed by soft grass.  A familiar smokey campfire scent filled the air.  My eyes snapped open.  I was in a small clearing surrounded by fog on three sides and a mountain on the other.  A table full of very familiar-looking weapons stood nearby, along with monster pens.


    This was the starting area!


    I jerked up.  How did I get here?  The last thing I remembered was that little goat searching my pockets for treats.  Wait, no, something came after that.  I think I fell...off a cliff?


    "Seriously, Hazel?  Floor 38??" Dave''s irritation was clear even from across the clearing.  I flopped back onto the grass, closing my eyes as he walked closer.  "You''re only level 5.  How''d you even get to that floor?"


    "Some weird guy took me."  I winced; that sounded ridiculous even to me.  I put a hand over my eyes, the feeling of falling off that cliff still fresh in my mind.  "Did I...die?"


    "Almost, but you were transported back here the moment before you would have hit the ground."  The fabric of Dave''s clothes rustled as he knelt by my side.  "Do you think that maybe it''s time to take this dungeon seriously?  I''ll admit, I''ve been impressed by how far you''ve gotten with cookies and kindness, but you can''t win over every monster like that.  You''ll need to fight if you really want to get out of the dungeon."


    A few hours ago, I''d have been confident in the baking-my-way-through-the-dungeon plan, but Heliandor''s power had been overwhelming.  How could I ever win over a monster like that just with food?


    Dave patted me on the shoulder.  "Let''s start with your stats and use the time we''ve got to make a plan."


    "Wait, I can''t just go back to the cafe?" I opened my eyes, sitting up so quickly that I almost bumped into him.  "How long am I stuck here?"


    "You''re not stuck here," Dave snapped, standing up to pace.  "Why do adventurers always say that when I''m offering to help them?  They die, I try to help them not die again, and they complain.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Why do I even bother?"


    Oof.  Looks like I''d hit a nerve there.  Going through my stats wasn''t a terrible idea, honestly, especially if he could give me some pointers.


    "Sorry, Dave.  I''d love any help you can give me."  I smiled, sitting cross-legged and opening my menu.  "Where do you want to start?"


    He scratched his horns, studying me.  After sitting patiently for a while, he sighed.  "Fine, show me your stat screen."


    "And how do I do that?" I asked.  "I thought only I could see my menu."


    "Just think about showing it to me and I''ll see it."  Dave sat down next to me as I did just that, his eyes skimming my stats.


    [Culinary Mage: Level 5]


    [Agility: 1]


    [Charisma: 3]


    [Endurance: 4]


    [Intelligence: 1]


    [Mana: 7]


    [Strength: 1]


    [Available Stat Points: 2]


    [Available Skill Points: 0]


    "Well, you''re set for mana and okay on endurance, but what''s with this single strength and agility?" Dave laughed, eying me sideways.  "No wonder you lost to a baby goat."


    I crossed my arms.  "I did not lose to a goat.  I lost to a cliff."


    "Riiiight.  You know what would help with that?" Dave raised an eyebrow.  "Agility."


    I did have extra stat points I hadn''t used yet, but agility felt like a waste.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "That won''t really help with baking though," I said softly.


    "I''m sure it can still help."  Dave tapped his thigh.  "Haven''t you ever dropped a tray of cookies before?  Or bumped against a hot stove and burnt yourself?"


    "Wait, agility can fix my clumsiness??" I tapped the agility button to up it by one.  "Sold."


    He laughed.  "And what about strength?  I bet those big bags of flour get annoying to carry sometimes."


    "True, but shouldn''t I put more into mana or charisma?"


    "Charisma''s nice," he said slowly, "but do you even know how to use it?"


    "Haven''t I been charming you this whole time?"


    Dave snorted.  "Hardly.  You''ve actually been giving me a headache since you got here."


    "Fine, then I''ll use some charisma now."  I cleared my throat, sitting up straighter.  "Oh wise and wonderful Dave, please give me more stat points so I can level everything you tell me to all at once."


    "Yeah, I''m not feeling it."  He might have said that, but he was smiling just a bit.  "Charisma isn''t something you can force.  Sure, the stat helps, but it''s more like it boosts your sincerity.  Those moments where people would be more likely to side with you in the first place become stronger.  It''s almost like people can feel your intentions, your heart."


    "Is that how I managed to win over tough monsters even with lower level food?  Like the slime boss?"


    Dave nodded.  "Yup, the monster could probably sense your desire to protect it."


    "Well that''s awesome.  I should put even more into charisma then."


    "Wait!" He grabbed my arm before I could touch anything.  "Honestly, you really should have at least a little bit of strength.  As is, you''d be a goner if a monster sneezed on you."


    I laughed.  "Well thankfully that hasn''t happened yet, but I see your point.  I''ll up my strength for now and work on my charisma later.  You know, you''re honestly a really good teacher.  I''m sorry so many people treat you like a hassle or a tutorial they want to skip over.  You deserve better than that."


    He dropped his hands, eyes wide.  "Thank you.  That''s so kind–wait, no, you''re trying to use charisma right now, aren''t you?"


    "Guilty," I held my hands up, grinning.  "This training thing is kind of fun.  I appreciate your help."


    Dave shook his head, sighing.  "At least you''re a fast learner.  I don''t agree with your non-violent approach, but if you''re determined to keep doing it, try to balance your stats a bit better.  That way you won''t be completely useless if you need to run away or defend yourself."


    "Yes, sir."  I mock saluted.  "I''ll be more careful, honestly.  Anything else we should go over?"


    "Not right now, no.  Just keep working hard and leveling up."  He paused, frowning.  "Actually, let''s go back to the whole goat fiasco.  You said a strange adventurer brought you to floor 38?  Skipping floors like that shouldn''t be possible."


    I shrugged.  "He just opened a door and poof, we were there.  I think you know him actually.  His name''s Cole and he said he works with you."


    Dave''s eyebrows shot up. "With me?  I''ve never heard of him before."


    "Long black hair, dark clothes, crazy high level."  I tilted my head.  "I actually couldn''t see his level now that I think about it.  It was just question marks."


    "Was he, by any chance, super excited to try your cooking?" Dave asked, sighing when I nodded, muttering something about a damn core.  "I think I know who you''re talking about.  Though I didn''t think he''d ever be quite that irresponsible.  I''m really sorry he put you in harm''s way."


    "I don''t think he meant to.  He seemed to think the Solhorns would be friendly towards him, but then Heliandor headbutted him into a bush and that all kind of fell apart."


    Dave barked out a laugh, then slapped a hand over his mouth.  "Sorry, that image is just too hilarious.  A goat headbutted him?"


    "Yup, he flew right through the air too, but got back up like it was nothing."


    "I guess he''s already been punished then," Dave said, still laughing.  "But why don''t we head back to your cafe so I can have a little chat with him anyway?"


    I raised an eyebrow.  "You want to come to my cafe?"


    "Well, yeah?  You do still owe me lunch..."  His gaze dropped to the ground.  "Unless you were just being polite when you offered that?  Or maybe trying to use me?"


    "Of course not!"  Man, what kind of life did this satyr live?  If that''s how people usually treated him, then I''d have to show him what actual kindness looked like.  "Let''s go.  I''ll make you the best sandwich ever.  One worthy of such a good teacher."


    "I mean, you did steal my sandwich, so I guess it makes sense to make a new one.  Thank you."  His voice was soft and heartfelt, as if nobody had ever offered him something like that before.  It made my heart hurt.


    "Why do you keep working here if nobody seems to appreciate you?"


    His hands clenched.  I''d asked the question without really thinking about it, but it was probably something I had no business asking. I had caused nothing but trouble for him, so what gave me the right to dig into his personal life?


    "Nevermind, I''m sure everyone''s worried about me so we should get back."  I pulled out the cafe''s key and summoned a door, looping my arm through Dave''s.  "You''re welcome to stay as long as you want."


    His eyes widened as I tugged him through the door.  If my cafe could give him even a little bit of joy, then I''d gladly bake all the food he wanted.  He''d given me good advice and I needed to take it seriously. I couldn''t keep hoping I''d get out of here on sheer optimism.  I had to focus and level up.  Make that cafe of mine a true training ground to improve my skills so that one day I''d be strong enough to befriend that Solhorn goat and get out of here.


    Plus, the slimes would love all the treats I''d have to bake in the name of training.  Things were about to get a whole lot tastier.