It's another day in City Z, but I'm feeling sick today—dizzy and struggling to move. The munchies are still asleep. My mind keeps going back to those monsters in the guild's facilities. It's bothering me how they're treated like mere test subjects. 

I know monsters can be fierce and aggressive. Yet, if we keep seeing them as enemies, nothing will change. The cycle of hatred will keep going, leading to no good. It might even lead to the extinction of either humans or monsters.

Some monsters, like Insecta Scale, show they can live peacefully with humans. But sadly, in the end, both sides seem to choose fighting instead of understanding. It's a shame, Maybe it's time for me to quit.

Suddenly, a loud noise bursts through my window, startling the munchies from their slumber and causing them to transform into lion-like beasts.

I draw back the curtain and peer out the window, spotting a large humanoid bird that's heavily wounded. It enters my apartment, and with great effort, it manages to speak.

-- W..e ni.d ..th..e.. K...n..gts --

Though I can barely make out the words, the bird loses consciousness and collapses onto my apartment floor. Then the munchies revert to their original forms.

I quickly prepared something to eat while tending to the bird's wounds. Suddenly, the bird awakens and starts to panic slightly. I do my best to calm it down, and after a while, it finally settles.

The bird gazes at me and begins to speak,

-- We need the knights --

Curiously, I respond,

- What knights? -

-- The royal guard of the heavens. The previous king transferred the royal guards to you before he died --

A realization dawns upon me as I remember the white crow I had summoned twice before, once when I was tormented by the heroes, and another time when we fought with Thomas.

-- The Sky Kingdom is under attack by outsiders who call themselves the True Sky Folk. Their leader has proclaimed himself as the Sky King. With the crow soldiers wiped out and no Sky King to summon the royal guards, the Sky Kingdom is in great danger. We need you to summon the royal guards to defend the Sky Kingdom --

- I'm not quite sure how to summon them, but I can certainly try.

I immediately stood up and attempted to summon the royal guards.

- I summon you, Royal Guards of the Heavens -

However, nothing happened. But then, I caught a whiff of something... Oh no! I had forgotten to turn off the stove...

The food I cooked was a little overcooked, but with no more ingredients, I served the hot soup to the humanoid bird.

He seemed confused since they usually preferred hard food over soup, but he decided to take a sip.

-- WAAAAAAH, What kind of food is this? I can feel my strength multiplied a hundred times. I think I can defeat that false king. By the way, my name is Yeudis, though humans often call me Birdman! --

He immediately jumped through the window, attempting to fly. However, due to his injuries, he couldn't fly and instead fell to the ground.

I quickly rushed downstairs to help him back to my apartment.

- Don't overdo it.

-- Sorry. However, can you try summoning the royal guards again?

- Sure, why not. I summon you, Royal Guards of Heaven -

Once again, nothing happened, and I could see the disappointment on his face.

- Is this self-proclaimed Sky King quite strong?

-- To be honest, yes. Usually, Sky Folk rely on physical strength and speed when fighting. However, this outsider is capable of releasing a strong energy through his mouth. We suspect that this Sky Folk has been contacted by the god. --

- God!? -

-- Yes, we call it the God of Adversary. Our ancient literature proclaims that there is a god who often brings catastrophe to this world. --

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed through my apartment from the roof, causing the munchies to transform into lion-like beasts once again.

I looked out of the window to find the source of the noise, and there I saw three humanoid birds attacking. BirdMan struggled to stand, clearly in no condition to fight. The roof of my apartment was torn apart.

--- So, here's where you are hiding, Yeudis --- one of the humanoid birds taunted.

- Who are those? - I asked BirdMan.

-- Those three are Harrier, Vulture, and Buzzards. They are the royal guards of the self-proclaimed king -- BirdMan explained.

The three birds started firing energy from their beaks, causing my apartment to crumble. Thankfully, the munchies transformed and carried me and BirdMan outside before the energy exploded. The three birds flew in a coordinated pattern, firing energy balls from their mouths. Then, suddenly, a burning spear struck Buzzards in the neck, and a man jumped onto Buzzards' body.

--- Are you alright, food cart boy? ---

 It was Washuwamido. He pulled out the spear from Buzzard's neck and immediately healed him. Buzzard stood up and became an ally. Harrier and Vulture were surprised by what happened. Buzzard attacked them both, while the munchies joined the fight and ran over the roof of the establishment to catch Harrier and Vulture.

BirdMan, however, couldn't fly due to his injury. He rushed towards my destroyed apartment. Feeling a bit dizzy, I followed him slowly. BirdMan then went to my apartment, sipped down the leftover soup from the pot, and suddenly, his arm muscles began to grow exponentially. His wings expanded like an eagle's, and he took off into the sky. I was left feeling quite confused about what had just happened.

A fierce battle unfolded in the sky between BirdMan and the skyfolks. Washuwamido suddenly jumped down to my apartment from a nearby building's roof.

--- Boy, don't you think your ability is somewhat useless in urgent situations? For example, when we encountered Fat Man, your dishes took a whole 30 minutes to complete. All our allies were defeated by the time your dish was ready. Although I trust your skill, I have to say that you need to find a way to overcome such urgent situations --- Washuwamido commented, Then he jumps again chasing vulture and harrier.

His words made me realize he was right. I felt useless in urgent situations. But how could I serve a dish without actually cooking it.

I watched as they battled, a mix of admiration and envy swirling within me. Their skills and physical prowess were beyond impressive. How could I protect my beliefs and contribute if I couldn't match up with these people? I was just a food cart chef.

Realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. Yes, I was a food cart chef, and I had a duty to fulfill. I sprinted towards the nearby market, gathering all the ingredients I needed, and raced back to my food cart. Passion and responsibility surged through me like never before.

With my heart racing, I ignited the fire beneath the pot, the flames roaring to life as if fueled by my determination. As the fire crackled and danced, I felt an adrenaline-fueled focus taking over me. This was more than just cooking; it was a battle of its own kind.

With a fierce determination, I grabbed the ingredients one by one, my movements precise and fluid. The knife glinted under the firelight as I expertly sliced and diced, each cut executed with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. The scent of fresh vegetables and savory seasonings mingled in the air, creating an intoxicating aroma that seemed to infuse me with renewed energy.

As the ingredients hit the heated pan, a symphony of sizzling and hissing erupted, a harmonious melody of flavors intertwining. I stirred with a controlled urgency, the spatula an extension of my will, coaxing the ingredients to blend and dance in the pan. The flames beneath cast a warm, flickering glow that mirrored the fire within me.

With the final flourish, I added the secret sauce, a concoction I had perfected over time. It hissed as it met the pan, releasing a burst of steam that carried the essence of umami and warmth. The colors swirled and melded, a masterpiece in the making.

Finally, the dish was complete. With trembling hands that bore the weight of my determination, I plated the dish with meticulous care. The vibrant colors and tantalizing aroma seemed to radiate a promise—one that echoed my unwavering commitment to protect what I held dear.

With reverence, I placed the dish inside a bento box, sealing it with a resolute click. This wasn't just food; it was a symbol of my beliefs, a testament to the harmony I yearned to achieve.

Armed with the bento box, I raced back to the battlefield, where chaos and determination clashed in a fierce ballet. My arrival didn't go unnoticed, as the munchies turned their weary gazes towards me, their trust unwavering, exhausted from the chaos. BirdMan and Buzzard landed on my apartment, demonstrating their formidable strength despite their injuries. Vulture and Harrier proved to be equally fierce opponents, their wounds testifying to the intensity of the fight.

Suddenly, Vulture and Harrier aimed their beaks and unleashed a massive energy ball towards us. Trapped within the sphere's expansive radius, there was no escape. Panic gripped me, until Washuwamido jumped in front of the energy ball, using his body as a shield. The impact struck Washuwamido, and the energy ball erupted in a fiery explosion. He fell to the ground, barely conscious, his sacrifice leaving me both stunned and determined.

Vulture and harrier landed on the ground, their anger palpable as they sought to end Washuwamido's life. Buzzard, while attempting to defend him, was swiftly overpowered by the combined might of the two furious skyfolk. As the chaotic battle raged on, I stepped forward with a resolve burning deep within me, my heart pulsating with unwavering determination.

 BirdMan attempted to halt my advance, but with the munchies by my side, ready to protect if needed, I remained steadfast.

With a steady hand, I opened the bento box I had prepared earlier, the aroma of the dish mingling with the tension in the air. Vulture's eyes widened, mistaking it for a weapon, and in a split second, his beak opened to unleash a deadly energy ball. However, my swift action caught him off guard, and I expertly maneuvered the situation to my advantage.

In one fluid motion, I offered the delectable dish to Vulture, his energy ball abruptly silenced as he tasted the unexpected treat. The flavors exploded on his tongue, a tantalizing blend of tastes that seemed to defy the chaos surrounding us. The incredulous expression on his face mirrored his disbelief at this unexpected turn of events.

My message was clear: this was a different kind of battle, one fought not with fists or energy blasts, but with the power of unity and understanding. As the flavors melted in his mouth, an intricate dance of taste and texture, a profound realization began to take hold. The munchies stood vigilant beside me, poised to defend against any sudden aggression.

This was my stand, my declaration that there was another way—a way to bridge the gap between humans and monsters, to prove that even in the midst of conflict, harmony could prevail.

Vulture suddenly kneeled, he closed his eyes and bent down in the ground like a new hatch bird, Vulture's abrupt change in posture left Harrier baffled, mistaking my dish for poison. However, Harrier's confusion quickly turned to aggression as he launched an attack, only to be thwarted by the munchies' swift countermove. Recognizing the pattern, I immediately fetched another bento box and offered it to Harrier.

As Harrier hesitated, the munchies' vigilant stance conveyed a clear message: cooperation, not combat. Harrier's transformation was swift as he consumed the food, his aggression replaced by a calm demeanor. With both skyfolk now under the influence of the gourmet dishes, I handed them individual bento boxes, watching as they eagerly savored each bite.

BirdMan's voice cut through the tension, curiosity lacing his words, 

-- What is your goal? Why have you attacked our peaceful kingdom? --

--- We've been forced into this by our leader, who was contacted by a powerful being. In exchange for the ability to breathe energy, we were tasked with eradicating humans who defied the gods. To achieve this, we needed the power to summon the royal guards, a power held within the sky kingdom. When our leader realized the king was no longer present, he devised a plan to attack the Hero Association HQ in City A. By eliminating the greatest threat first, he aimed to pave the way for the annihilation of all humans. --- Vulture response..

- Do you truly believe it's necessary to wipe out humanity? What would such destruction bring you? - I inquired, my voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.

---- Your words have sparked something within me --- Vulture replied, his tone reflective. 

--- As the flavors of your gourmet offering danced on my palate, a realization unfurled like a gust of wind. The notion of eradicating humans now seems hollow and devoid of purpose. How can I turn against someone who has nourished not just my body, but also my soul? Memories of my childhood, the tender care of my mother, surged back. You've woven tranquility into my heart today, young human. I shan't forget this. Harrier, let's stop the king ---

With newfound determination, the two humanoid birds, Harrier and Vulture, soared into the heavens. BirdMan, a glint of gratitude in his eyes, thanked me, then followed vulture and harrier. Then suddenly despite being heavily wounded washuwamido stood up.

-- Impressive work, food cart boy!!. But ponder the wisdom I shared earlier. Delve into your thoughts!! --

And with those words hanging in the air, Washuwamido leaped onto Buzzard's back.

--- FLY BIRD!!, FLY!! ---

Buzzard immediately flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Dizziness overcame me, and I fell to the ground. The munchies swiftly positioned themselves to catch me. Then, a car pulled up and its window rolled down, revealing Alice's face with a puzzled expression.

-- "Is lying on the street your new hobby?" she asked.

I smiled weakly as consciousness slowly faded away...