Cooking
The village, known as a haven for pirates, was anything but a lawless den of violent seafarers. In fact, there were almost no one who could truly be called a pirate here.
Instead, various people who made their living on the sea dotted the village everywhere. And at the entrance, the most eye-catching sight was a single massive ship.
It was a submarine made of enormous metal structures. The ship, anchored heavily as it swayed with the sea breeze, seemed to symbolize the village itself. Traces of long years were etched on its surface, suggesting it had been docked here for ages. Around it, small wooden boats were lined up neatly.
Although there were no pirates in the village, there were plenty of sailors and fishermen. Merchants who plied the seas came and went, and adventurers passing through the village were not few in number.
People bustled around the dock. Fishermen were happily chatting while gutting freshly caught fish, and merchants were shouting to sell fresh squid and octopus at cheap prices.
“Fresh fish!”
“Brand new seafood! Cheap!”
Cheerful voices echoed from all around, carried by the sea breeze. Above, seagulls soared lazily in the blue sky, their white feathers sparkling in the sunlight. They circled over the sea, watching for small fish swimming below.
Salty winds blew through the village, and sunlight reflected off the wet dock, creating a soft glow. On the beach, some travelers leisurely gazed at the sea.
In the midst of it all, Rumiel sat before a small stove.
Crackle, sizzle.
On the red charcoal, the squid skewers were roasting to a perfect golden brown. The savory aroma spread with the sea breeze.
Rumiel nodded in satisfaction, then opened her inventory.
Several items appeared in the list.
Among them, she took out two: honey and salt.
Rumiel picked up the skewer and carefully drizzled the honey.
The sticky golden liquid seeped over the skewer.
She sprinkled a bit of salt to season it.
A combination that balanced sweet and savory.
In truth, it wasn't a particularly grand process for cooking.
It was simply following the recipe seen in the game.
After all, Rumiel was a complete novice when it came to cooking.
But she knew every cooking recipe in the game.
To make food here, it wasn't skill but item combinations that mattered.
As long as you knew the 'cooking method' provided by the game, you could succeed regardless of real-world cooking ability.
Rumiel placed the skewer back on the stove.
The flames flared, and the honey seeped into the octopus meat.
The sweet aroma and savory scent combined to create even deeper flavors.
That should be enough.
Rumiel lifted the skewer slightly and looked at it.
The perfectly roasted squid skewer glistened with a shiny finish.
She nodded quietly.
Her babo-teol wiggled.
◈ Made from chewy Big Octopus.
◈ To prevent any unfortunate incidents where your tongue sticks to the palate from eating too quickly, chew it slowly and thoroughly!
◈ Restores 10% of HP per second for 30 seconds.
◈ Can be used even in combat.
◈ Master Chef's Effect: Restores a certain amount of fatigue, all stats +10%, EXP +30% for 1 hour after 30 seconds.
⋯⋯.
Rumiel quietly held the skewer and blinked.
It was a perfectly made dish as seen in the game.
But this was the first time she had actually made one herself.
Rumiel held the skewer in one hand and took a slow bite.
Crisp.
A soft shell cracked slightly in her mouth.
The surface was slightly charred, giving a light crispness.
But inside, tender yet chewy octopus meat waited.
Chewy.
With each chew, the octopus resisted elastically before melting smoothly.
The texture of the chewed octopus was fully felt in her mouth.
And,
The savory salt and sweet honey.
The umami of the salt elevated the natural flavor of the octopus.
The sea salt and juicy essence wrapped around her tongue, with a faint sweetness of honey spreading over it.
With each bite, a deep, rich umami filled her mouth.
The honey-infused octopus meat was soft and chewy, with an even more unique texture in the chewy part.
The right amount of elasticity and moist flesh gave a sense of it bouncing in her mouth.
And the deeper the umami with each chew.
The sweet-salty honey combination captivated her mouth.
The savory taste spread first, followed by a subtle sweetness that finished cleanly.
While emphasizing the octopus's unique flavor, the honey provided a balanced, non-burdening harmony.
Rumiel's lips curved into a slow smile.
She chewed quietly, then took another bite of the skewer.
Nom.
Outside crisp, inside chewy.
Again, the savory and sweet honey aroma filled her mouth.
Each chew brought back the chewy texture of the octopus.
Really, it was delicious.
Rumiel chewed it down with a calm expression.
And took another bite.
Half-closing her eyes, she chewed slowly.
This skewer was undoubtedly just a simple game item.
Yet, it would be this tasty?
It felt like eating something made and eaten in reality, not a game recipe.
Rumiel quietly wiggled her babo-teol and nodded in satisfaction.
And took another bite.
With a good feeling, slowly.
A warm sea breeze blew from Rumiel's fingertips.
Satisfied, satisfied.
Completely satisfied.
Just as she was quietly savoring and chewing the skewer,
⋯⋯.
Someone from beside her was sending a hot gaze.
Curious about the strange gaze, she turned her head.
There stood an adventurer.
Without realizing, he swallowed hard and rubbed his hands anxiously.
[Lv.19 Adventurer – Jeron]
A normal male adventurer with sea-blue hair.
He stared at the squid skewer Rumiel was cooking, fidgeted with his lips for a while, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't hold back and spoke.
“Um… Could you sell me one of those?”
Rumiel quietly looked at Jeron.
His expression looked desperate.
Like he was witnessing the most delicious food in the world right in front of him.
It was understandable.
The Big Octopus Skewers she had just made had a golden-brown exterior,
and the honey and salt combined created a strong savory-sweet aroma.
Mixed with the salty sea breeze, the appetizing scent spread even stronger.
Plus, the crisp and chewy sounds every time Rumiel took a bite.
It seemed to have perfectly stimulated Jeron's appetite.
⋯⋯.
Rumiel stared at the skewer for a moment.
In the game, it was normal to buy cooked food from NPCs.
But selling something she made herself like this was the first time.
Hmm.
What to do?
The Big Octopus Skewers had more quantity than expected.
With Rumiel's small stomach, there was no way she could eat it all.
So, giving one away wouldn't be a big deal.
Eventually, Rumiel silently picked up one skewer.
And quietly offered it to Jeron.
⋯⋯.
Jeron was startled for a moment, eyes wide open.
“Really? You're just giving it to me?”
Rumiel slowly nodded.
Jeron, moved, reached out and carefully took the skewer.
“T-thank you⋯⋯!”
He gazed at the skewer with an emotional face, then slowly took a bite.
Crisp.
And,
Chewy.
A perfect harmony of taste.
At that moment, Jeron's expression brightened.
“T-this is⋯⋯ incredibly delicious!!”
His eyes widened in disbelief.
The umami spreading in his mouth, the savory flavor, the soft sweetness.
The chewy texture blended with each chew.
This wasn't just a simple monster dish.
“Wow, wow⋯⋯ really, amazing.”
Jeron held the skewer with both hands, admiring it.
Like holding a valuable gem.
Rumiel quietly watched the scene, then slowly took another bite of her own skewer.
Nom.
And, without saying a word, started chewing again.
Jeron enjoyed the skewer bite by bite with an emotional expression.
At that moment, another adventurer approached from beside.
“Um… Can I buy one too?”
Soon another adventurer.
“Me too! Please give me just one!”
“The smell of the skewer is too good, I couldn't just pass by!”
People started gathering one by one.
They all swallowed hard, sending fervent gazes at the squid skewer made by Rumiel.
Rumiel stopped chewing the skewer in her hand and looked at the remaining skewer on the stove.
Rumiel slowly stopped the hand that was chewing the skewer.
Because her stomach was starting to feel full.
With her small body, no matter how delicious the food, it seemed she couldn't keep eating.
It was a pity.
⋯⋯.
Rumiel looked at the gathered people for a moment.
The fervent gazes of the adventurers looking at the skewer grew hotter and hotter.
Well, she had eaten enough⋯⋯, anyway, she probably couldn't eat it all by herself.
Eventually, Rumiel quietly nodded.
“Please.”
In Rumiel's small voice, the adventurers' eyes widened in surprise.
“Eh, all of them?”
“Just… just giving it to me?”
After all, there were plenty of skewers left.
And, it would be a waste to eat something this delicious alone.
Thinking that, she nodded again, and smiles bloomed on the faces of the adventurers standing around.
“Wow, thank you so much!”
“Enjoy your meal!”
The adventurers approached one by one, carefully picking up the skewers.
With happy expressions, they took a bite of the skewer.
Nom.
Happy cheers erupted from around in an instant.
“Wow, this is really incredibly delicious!”
“How on earth did you make this⋯⋯?”
The adventurers looked at each other with incredulous expressions.
Words like “delicious” were insufficient.
This squid skewer had something beyond its taste.
Rumiel watched the scene with a quiet smile.