Last time Daisuke and Cecily embarked on their very first Quest. Helping a Farmer by the name of Joseph prevent his Cabbage crop from flying away. Daisuke manages to strike a deal with Joseph after creating the first Dish on his menu! However his adventure to achieve his dream is only beginning!

It had been two days since Daisuke and Cecily had helped Joseph with his Cabbage crop. Daisuke in that time used a portion of his share of the Quest Reward Money to purchase a notebook and pencil. Daisuke filled out the first page with his recipe for Soaring Cabbage Rolls. It was another day at the Adventurer Guild as Daisuke and Cecily sat at one of the tables, planning their next move.

Cecily: You did better than expected on that first Quest. For a guy with only a week's worth of training you handled yourself pretty well out there.

Daisuke: My parents always said I was a fast learner, I guess when I put my mind to something I just sort of become laser focused.

Cecily simply nodded her head as that explained why he adapted so fast to the situation.

Cecily: Regardless, our next move should be taking on a tougher Quest. You might still be Level One, but the only way you'll gain more XP is if you take on tougher jobs.

Daisuke rested his elbows on the table as he knit his fingers together in front of his face as he contemplated what exactly they could do that would be more difficult, but not so difficult that it could get them seriously hurt or worse.

Daisuke: Should we check the Quest Board?

Cecily: Might as well, Luna mentioned a new batch of Quests just got posted.

Daisuke and Cecily both got up from their seats and walked over to a large board where multiple Quest Papers had been posted.

Daisuke: Seems we got a decent selection, what do you think we should go for?

Cecily scanned the board, looking over each Quest Poster, reading what each one entailed. Cecily's eyes eventually landed on one Quest Poster and particular as a smile spread across her face. The Priest removed the Quest Poster from the board before holding it up for Daisuke to see.

Cecily: I think we should accept this Quest.

Daisuke: TOADally Terrible? Are we collecting toads or something? I mean 95,000 Eris is nothing to sneeze at but it seems less difficult than the last Quest.

Cecily giggled before shaking her head in denial of Daisuke's question as he was only slightly correct.

Cecily: Sort of, it's mating season for the Giant Toads. That means they're out terrorizing the areas surrounding Axel in search of prey.

Daisuke: Giant Toads? Isn't that a pretty big step up from fighting flying Cabbages? I thought the idea was to take on progressively harder Quests.

Cecily once again giggled and shook her head as Daisuke still had a lot to learn about their world and how the creatures here work.

Cecily: Not quite, Giant Toads have one glaring weakness that is pretty easy to exploit. As long as we play on that weakness taking them down won't be much trouble.

Daisuke remained silent for a moment, contemplating what Cecily had just explained to him. The Combat Cook ultimately nodded his head in agreement.

Daisuke: Alrighty then, let's go Toad Hunting!

Cecily smiled and nodded before she and Daisuke walked up to the front desk of the Guild to accept the Quest so they could head out to take care of the Giant Toads.

Grassy Field
Daisuke and Cecily were standing in an open grassy field on the outskirts of Axel's walls. It was a mostly empty grassy field that seemingly went on for miles. However the most notable thing were the giant green toads that sat around, each of them looking like they could easily swallow a human whole.

Daisuke: When you said these things were giant, you weren't kidding.

Cecily: Don't get intimidated now! These big lugs aren't the smartest creatures around. They should make us some easy Eris.

Daisuke shot the Priest a confused look, not exactly sure how these monsters would be easy targets. The Combat Cook pulled out the Quest Poster and checked the conditions for the job.

Daisuke: So we have to slay four of them, but it says here we'll get an additional 15,000 Eris if we slay a pink Giant Toad with a scar over its right eye. Apparently it ate the farmer who submitted this quest's prized cow.

Cecily: See? Easy Eris! Besides these big guys aren't that smart. They stay completely still once they catch their prey to digest it. You can wail on them to your heart's content and they won't budge even a little to stop you!

Daisuke's eyes widened in shock as he couldn't believe that a creature would just let itself be attacked while digesting food.

Daisuke: I find it hard to believe they are that oblivious.....

Cecily: Would I lie to you?

Cecily then raised her staff as water molecules in the air gathered around the gemstone of the staff. Cecily fired a jet of water at the side of the Toad closest to them. The water harmlessly splashed against the Toad's body as it turned its head to look at them.

Daisuke: Wouldn't react at all huh?

Cecily: Guess this one hasn't eaten yet.....

The Giant Toad opened its mouth as its tongue shot out and wrapped around Cecily's body before she was reeled into the creature's mouth, her head poking out.

Cecily: DAISUKE HELP ME!!!

Daisuke watched as Cecily flailed around in the Giant Toad's mouth helplessly as he readied his Fork Spear.

Daisuke: This works out perfectly! With it busy eating you, to fight back! I should have you out in a moment!

Cecily: DON'T ACT LIKE ME GETTING EATEN IS A GOOD THING!!!

Cecily's head that disappeared into the Giant Toad's mouth before Cecily quickly poked her head back out of its lips, squealing in fear. Daisuke lunged towards the Giant Toad before performing five swift thrusting attacks, stabbing the creature multiple times in the stomach. Puncture wounds littered the Giant Toad's stomach, but the creature seemed mostly unfazed by the attacks.

Daisuke: I certainly injured it, but it looks like it'll take more than a few stab wounds to the gut to finish it off.

Cecily: HURRY! I DON'T WANNA BE TOAD FOOD!!!

Cecily then disappeared once again into the Giant Toad's mouth as Daisuke studied the creature closely. The Combat Cook did his best to formulate some kind of plan.

Daisuke's Thoughts: If it's completely oblivious while eating, then I should be able to....

Daisuke nodded his head before he quickly ran around to the backside of the Giant Toad. The Combat Cook began climbing up the oversized amphibian's back eventually reaching its head. Daisuke stood up as he raised his Fork Spear above his head before thrusting the weapon downwards, piercing the Giant Toad's skull. The oversized amphibian stiffened before it collapsed to the ground, dead. Daisuke removed his Fork Spear from the creature's head before leaping off it. Daisuke then pried the dead Giant Toad's mouth open before using his spear to keep it propped open. The Combat Cook reached inside the creature's mouth before dragging a saliva covered Cecily out of it.

Daisuke: Are you alright?

Cecily sat up on her knees as she whimpered and desperately tried to wipe the saliva off her clothes.

Cecily: It was icky and warm! This is going to take forever to wash out!

Daisuke: Calm down, we only gotta slay three more of them.

Cecily whimpered as she didn't want to do this anymore after her unpleasant encounter with the first Giant Toad. However a loud thud was heard as a shadow was cast over Cecily. The Priest nervously turned around to see another Giant Toad looking over her. Cecily whimpered as the Giant Toad opened its mouth and shot its tongue out at her. Cecily desperately tried to run away only for the tongue to wrap around her waist before quickly yanking her into the monster's mouth.

Cecily: DAISUKE!!!

Daisuke let out a frustrated groan before readying his Fork Spear once again. Daisuke ran to the Giant Toad's left side before stabbing it four times in the side as he ran around to backside of the amphibian. Daisuke ran up the Toad's back before leaping into the air and stabbing the amphibian through the skull. The Giant Toad stiffened before its body collapsed dead. The Combat Cook leaped off the dead monster before he pried its mouth open and dragged Cecily out again.

Cecily: C-Can we take a break? I don't wanna be Toad food for like five minutes!

Daisuke: Yeah, let's take a lunch break. I still have some of those Soaring Cabbage Rolls I cooked the other day. It should only take me half an hour to reheat them.

Cecily's eyes turned into stars as she nodded her head happily. Daisuke helped Cecily back onto her feet before the duo went off to take a lunch break. However Daisuke stopped when he noticed something. Where the two dead Giant Toads once were the skinned thighs of the giant amphibians. Daisuke ran up to the pieces of meat before looking them over.

Daisuke: The Toads dropped meat!

Cecily: It must be one of those two Skills the Guild Attendant mentioned you started with. I guess monsters will drop ingredients for you when you slay them.

Cecily looked over at Daisuke only to see his eyes were glowing red and that large toothy grin was plastered across his face.

Daisuke: This could make for a good entree, maybe a Toad Chop?

Cecily: Great he's in his own little world again....

Cecily grabbed Daisuke by the ear before dragging him off so they could eat lunch before continuing their Quest.

One Hour Later
Daisuke and Cecily set down their now empty plates as they had just finished eating the Soaring Cabbage Rolls that Daisuke brought with him as they both let out a content sigh.

Cecily: Okay I think we're ready to finish up the last two Toads and return to the Guild and get our reward.

Daisuke nodded as they both stood up from their seats and stretched. However a loud thudding could be heard as they both turned to see a Giant Toad hopping towards them.

Cecily: Not again!

The Toad shot its tongue at Cecily who quickly ran in an attempt to escape. The Toad's tongue missed as it hit the ground. Daisuke and Cecily both looked completely dumbfounded as the Priest had manage to run an entire thirty feet away in a matter of seconds.

Daisuke: Since when are you so fast?!

Cecily however was thinking over how she could've possibly moved that fast.

Cecily's Thoughts: I don't know any speed boosting spells, I didn't buy a potion for it either. That can only mean one thing.....

Cecily's eyes widened in realization before she turned to look at Daisuke.

Cecily: Daisuke! Your dishes! They can give people buffs! The Cabbage Rolls must grant a temporary speed buff!

Daisuke's eyes widened in realization as his cooking could provide benefits beyond simply feeding people. However his revelation was interrupted by a tongue wrapping around his waist. Daisuke looked over his shoulder to see the Giant Toad had set its sights on him after Cecily had escaped it. Daisuke was then yanked towards the Giant amphibian's mouth.

Cecily: DAISUKE!

Daisuke however reached for one of the spice bottles around his neck. The one he grabbed was filled with pepper. As the Combat Cook's legs and waist were trapped in the Toad's mouth, Daisuke pulled the cork off the Pepper bottle. The Combat Cook then shook the pepper into the Giant Toad's nostrils. The oversized amphibian snorted in discomfort before it let out a violent sneeze, this sent Daisuke flying out of its mouth and roughly rolling across the ground. Daisuke let out a groan of pain as he sat up and placed the pepper bottle back on the necklace with the other spice bottles.

Cecily: Daisuke! Are you alright?!

Cecily ran up to her party member before helping him back onto his feet.

Daisuke: I'm fine, let's just hurry before that thing gets the chance to grab one of us again!

Cecily nodded before they both ran at the oversized amphibian with their increased speed. Cecily fired a jet of water at the Toad, grabbing its attention as it shot its tongue at the Priest. Cecily leaped over the tongue before continuing to run. Daisuke ran around to the Giant Toad's backside before running up its back as it desperately tried to shake him off. Daisuke quickly raised his Fork Spear before stabbing the Giant Amphibian through the head, causing it to collapse to the ground dead.

Cecily: Can we find a Toad that's busy eating? This becoming food thing is getting old....

Daisuke: Agreed, there should be a few nearby, let me just collect the meat this one will drop.

Cecily nodded as Daisuke collected the Toad Meat their most recent foe dropped. The duo then walked over the hill and found a Giant Toad sitting completely still.

Daisuke: Alright you go off on its left side, I'm going to climb onto its back and stab it through the head.

Cecily nodded as she ran onto the left side of the Giant Toad, it was completely oblivious due to it eating a cow it caught moments ago. Daisuke then quickly dashed up the amphibian's back before raising his Fork Spear and swiftly stabbing it through the head. The Toad stiffened and collapsed to the ground dead as Daisuke and Cecily both let out a sigh of relief.

Cecily: Thank goodness that's over, we can head back to the Guild and collect our reward.

Daisuke: Yeah, plus I think I have a Dish in mind for this To-

A tongue suddenly wrapped around Daisuke's waist as he was yanked forward. The Combat Cook grabbed the pepper bottle off his necklace of spice bottles, only to drop it by accident. Cecily's eyes widened in shock as Daisuke had been nabbed by a Pink Giant Toad with a scar over its right eye.

Cecily: It's the Toad that ate that Farmer's prized cow!

Daisuke; Cecily, a little help here!

Cecily then refocused as she noticed that Daisuke was desperately keeping the Giant Toad's mouth pried open with his hands. The Priest looked over and noticed that Daisuke's spear was still embedded in the dead Toad's head.

Cecily: What do I do? My water magic is worthless against these things!

Cecily began to panic until she spotted the pepper bottle on the ground. Cecily's eyes widened as she quickly ran forward and grabbed the Pepper Bottle before running behind the Pink Giant Toad. The Priest clumsily climbed up the Toad's back before removing the cork from the pepper bottle.

Cecily: Take a whiff of this!

Cecily sprinkled the pepper into the Pink Giant Toad's nostrils, causing the monster to snort in discomfort. Daisuke felt its jaw loosen as he grabbed his Knife from his belt with his left hand. Daisuke pulled himself up and out as he quickly stabbed the Giant Toad through the head with his  knife. The Pink amphibian collapsed to the ground, dead as the duo let out a relieved groan.

Cecily: Can we go back to the Guild now?

Daisuke nodded his head in agreement before he pulled himself out of the dead Toad's mouth. The Combat Cook collected his Fork Spear and the meat dropped by the two dead monsters before they began their journey back to the Guild.

Adventurer Guild
Daisuke and Cecily returned to the Adventurer Guild where they not only collected the reward for the main objective, but optional objective as well. Earning them a grand total of 110,000 Eris. Daisuke was currently in the kitchen of the Guild as Luna and a group of girls in waitress outfits watched him in confusion next to Cecily.

Luna: Why did Daisuke want to cook Dinner tonight?

Cecily: We discovered something on our Quest today. Dishes Daisuke cooks grain temporary buffs! It must be some kind of ability of his unique class!

Luna and the waitresses looked at Cecily in shock as they had never heard of such a thing being possible.

Luna: So he can increase a person's abilities temporarily through cooking?

Waitress 1: With a skill like that maybe we should hire him as a cook! The Adventurers here could really benefit from it!

Waitress 2: Why did he request to cook dinner though? Seems like an odd request, especially since he has to do all the work by himself.

Cecily: Daisuke said he wanted to do a proper dinner service, he says it's more fun cooking for a large group of people.

Luna and the Waitresses looked surprised as they all turned to look at Daisuke. The Combat Cook already had a large pot of rice cooking in a stock he made from the leftover scraps of toad meat, vegetables, and spices. In front of him was a bowl of Toad meat sliced into strips, two onions chopped into strips as well, a couple dozen eggs, soy sauce, more of the toad stock he made, and scallions.

Daisuke: Alright, let's begin.

Daisuke had the Wok he usually wore as a hat on the stove, next to it a pot of boiling water. The Combat Cook brought the Toad Meat, onions, soy sauce, and eggs over. The Chef poured some oil into the Wok as it started to sizzle, he then dumped the onions into the hot pan as they began to caramelize. Daisuke quickly flicked the wok while stirring the onions with a pair of chopsticks he fashioned for himself. Once the onions started to brown he tossed the strips of Toad meat into the pan alongside a sprinkling of sugar, a few splashes of soy sauce, and some of the Toad Stock he made.

Luna: He looks so calm, the cooks usually agreed out about preparing orders in a timely manner.

Cecily: Daisuke says that cooking is relaxing for him, even when he's trying to be quick it never seems to bother him.

The Toad Meat started to brown as Daisuke turned down the heat, letting the meat and onions simmer as the liquids in the pan began to reduce. Daisuke then set to cracking eggs into the pop of hot water, stopping at around ten as he let them poach. The Combat Cook then turned his attention towards the pop of rice as he grabbed a metal spoon and began scooping out the rice and evenly distributing into bowls. The chef then returned to the wok, which he picked up before evenly distributing the meat and onions into the bowls. Finally he scooped out a poached egg and laid it on top of each bowl before garnishing with chopped scallions.

Waitress 3: What is it?

Daisuke: I call it Hopping Hikidon. It's my version of a classic!

The Waitresses looked at one another before they all nodded and loaded a few bowls onto their trays and took them out to the waiting patrons.

Luna: You don't have to cook all this by yourself you know? We could ask one of the Chefs to help you out.

Daisuke: I'm fine, I've missed working the dinner rush. It'll be good practice for when I open my own place.

Daisuke then grabbed another bowl of Toad Meat and Onions as he set to making the next batch of Hopping Hikidon. While he was busy prepping the next batch, one of the waitresses came bursting back into the kitchen.

Waitress 1: Luna, they love it! I'm telling you we need to hire him as a cook!

Luna looked at the Waitress in surprise as she walked out into the main dining area of the Guild. When the head receptionist surveyed the room the waitress was in fact telling the truth. No matter where she looked people were smiling as they enjoyed their meal.

Waitress 1: See? This could be a golden opportunity! We could offer a special menu of Daisuke's dishes, telling what buffs each meal gives. It could help give the Adventurers an edge on their quests!

Luna: It does sound like a good idea, but Daisuke is an Adventurer as well. Plus Daisuke wants to open his own restaurant someday, it wouldn't be fair to try and pressure him into working for us.

The waitress frowned as that wasn't at all what she meant.

Waitress 1: In not saying we strong arm him into working for the Guild full time. I'm just saying we offer him a cook position on the days he doesn't go out questing! You know give him a way to earn a little extra Eris?

Luna sighed before nodding at the Waitress.

Luna: I'll ask him, but at the end of the day it's his decision alright?

The Waitress nodded her head before going off to take care of the patrons. Luna let a smile spread across her face as she looked out at everyone enjoying themselves. However her smile was replaced with a frown as she turned to look out the window.

Luna: Wally, why did you stop visiting the Guild?

A worried expression spread across the Head Receptionist's face as her mind wandered to her childhood friend. He hadn't stopped by to visit her at the Guild in months. However Luna's expression quickly shifted to a frustrated one.

Luna: Wally, I'm going to figure out what's going on with you. I might not be able to visit with my busy schedule, but that doesn't mean I can't send someone to check on you.

Luna walked off, determined to formulate a plan to get her best friend to come visit the Guild once again. She just needed to figure out who to send to do it.

So Daisuke and Cecily completed their second Quest! This time fighting off the ever dangerous Giant Toads! Daisuke also managed to create the second Dish on his menu! Check the comments for the Dish's info card! As always leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments! What awaits Daisuke and Cecily next as they continue their escapades as Adventurers? Who is the friend that Luna was talking about? Why have they stopped visiting the Guild? Who will the Head Receptionist send to check on them? Find out in the next Dish of Konosuba: A Master Chef in this Wonderful World!