The Unwavering Flame of the Final Trial
In the underground Flame Palace of Harten, a majestic red throne sat proudly atop a few steps. Perched awkwardly on that ornate seat was a pale ghost.
“……”
That woman's name was Vesta. Once the Red Witch who had made the entire world tremble in fear.
“…Molrangkau?”
Vesta, who had been huddled there for ages, finally stirred and stood up. Her legs were numb, but more than that, she was bored out of her mind.
“Hmm… where'd everyone go?”
She poked around curiously and spotted two people sitting on the steps.
“Oh? There they are.”
Delighted, she started to dash over, but then she noticed more figures in the corner.
“…Huh?”
It was Hura's Cooking Summons, Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i. They were hiding behind a pillar, peeking at Molrangkau and Hura on the steps.
“Can you hear what they're saying?”
“Shh. Be quiet for a sec.”
Vesta sneaked up behind them.
“…Hear anything?”
“I can't make out exactly what she's saying, but she keeps repeating something about legs.”
“Legs? What legs?”
“Uh… dunno.”
Vesta stared at the pair for a moment before speaking up.
“What are you two doing?”
The duo froze like statues at the voice behind them. With a creak, they turned their heads.
“V-Vesta?”
“I asked what you're doing here.”
At Vesta's question, they quickly pressed their index fingers to their lips.
“Shh. Keep it down.”
“Come back here.”
Vesta, puzzled but compliant, followed them.
“What's going on?”
“Well, you see…”
Tteoksoon-i hesitated, glancing at the two sitting side by side on the steps.
“Oh ho~”
They sat close, chatting amiably and sweetly. Vesta's lips curved into a crescent moon smile.
“Ah ha~ So that's the friend Molrangkau's been yapping about nonstop?”
“Pardon? Molrangkau talked about our master?”
Geum Taeyang asked with wide eyes.
“Of course. Every day, she'd go on about her 'friend' till my ears were numb.”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i exchanged surprised looks.
“I wondered who it was, but it's him? Sulis's successor.”
Vesta nodded slightly.
“She did say he was an amazing cook. How did I not realize?”
Vesta gazed at the pair with warm eyes.
“How wonderful. Truly wonderful.”
She clapped silently with her fingertips.
“What a perfect match. Don't you think?”
“Yes, a match made in heaven.”
“They look so good together.”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i chimed in.
“Hmm… Honestly, our Molrangkau deserves a bit better, but…”
They tensed at her words, staring at her.
“Ptah said it, you know? That this era's successor resembles Sulis more than anyone.”
“…Really?”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i beamed with pride, as if it were praise for themselves.
“Yes. That's high praise coming from Ptah, who trusted and followed Sulis above all.”
Vesta looked down at the two Cooking Summons again.
“So, what are you doing back here?”
“Oh, we slipped away so they could talk in peace.”
“Ah ha~ So you're spying from here?”
“Uh… w-well…”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i trailed off, gauging Vesta's reaction.
Just as Hura was Sulis's successor, Molrangkau was Vesta's precious heir. Spying on her like this was…
“You idiots. I can't hear a thing from here.”
“…Pardon?”
The tense Cooking Summons blinked dumbly.
“We need to get closer, no?”
“But… we might get caught…”
“Tch. Why didn't you call me sooner?”
Vesta snapped her fingers, and suddenly their voices came through crystal clear.
“Ooh…”
“Better now, right?”
“Yes! Much clearer!”
“Heh…”
Vesta puffed up like a kid praised for good work. The three illicit eavesdroppers listened intently.
The pair soon mentioned a test and stood up.
“They're moving.”
“…Huh? They're going! Follow them!”
Vesta bounced after them like an excited rabbit, with the two Cooking Summons trailing behind.
They followed all the way to the surface, hiding behind a tree to spy.
“Kimchi stew? She's making kimchi stew?”
“V-Vesta, calm down a bit—”
“Kimchi stew's my favorite! My absolute fave!”
“Shh! She'll hear!”
“Let go. Let's get a bit closer.”
“P-Please calm down, Vesta! We can't get caught!”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i whispered, grabbing at Vesta as she tried to bolt.
By then, the kimchi stew was done, its spicy aroma sweeping the area.
“……”
“……”
“……”
All three poked their heads out from behind the tree in unison. It was irresistible.
The illicit spies stared openly at Hura ladling the stew, saliva pooling involuntarily.
Hura sensed their gazes and looked over.
“……”
“……”
Blink blink. Three seconds of staring.
“What are you doing over there?”
“Ack.”
Whoosh—they ducked back behind the tree.
“…I saw you all anyway.”
Hura said, exasperated.
“Come out, Vesta.”
“……”
“Geum Taeyang, Tteoksoon-i too.”
“……”
Finally, they slunk out sheepishly. Well, one former person and two people, technically.
“Heh heh… the smell was just too good.”
Vesta scratched her cheek awkwardly. They'd emerged but hung back, embarrassed at being caught spying.
Hura sighed at them.
“I'll ladle you each a bowl, so come here.”
“Oh, if you're sure…”
They crept forward. Vesta quickly scanned Hura's face.
‘Good, Sulis's successor doesn't seem to mind.’
Her gaze shifted to Molrangkau.
‘Molrangkau might be the issue… what'll she say?’
But no need to worry. Molrangkau was drooling, entranced by the kimchi stew.
“Phew…”
Vesta sighed in relief and took a seat, along with the Cooking Summons.
“Here, one bowl each~”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i dove in ravenously the moment they got theirs, but Vesta held back.
As Sulis's old friend, she inspected Hura's kimchi stew carefully.
‘Hmm… aroma and looks are perfect. But the taste?’
She sipped the broth.
‘Mm?’
She took a big bite of the tender meat.
‘Ooh?’
She wrapped bean sprouts and meat in kimchi and popped it in.
‘Ooooh!’
It was just like back then. Eating Sulis's kimchi stew.
How long had it been since she'd tasted something like this?
‘Hey. Hey. Hey hey. Hey hey hey hey.’
Poke poke. Poke poke. Pokepokepokepoke—
Vesta prodded Sulis's side.
‘What?’
Sulis turned with an irritated grunt.
‘Make kimchi stew.’
‘Again?’
‘Yeah. Yours is the best.’
‘Make it yourself. Too much hassle.’
‘C'mooon~ You know I can't cook~’
Poke poke. Pokepokepoke—
She jabbed his side again.
‘Pretty pleeease~ O Demonic Chef~’
‘Ugh, fine…’
Sulis grumbled but got up anyway.
“Ha ha… ha… that damn Sulis…”
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
“If only you'd made kimchi stew one more time before you left…”
Vesta squeezed her eyes shut. Lost in some distant memory, her tears suddenly poured out.
The chef who had slipped away like the wind without a word had made her cry again—through his successor.
“……!”
Hura, who had been watching Vesta anxiously, widened his eyes at her tears but soon felt a twinge of disappointment.
The Cooking Charm hadn't activated.
‘Figures. A three-star dish won't work on someone who's tasted Sulis's cooking…’
Hura sighed, propping his chin on his hand.
‘The path to Demonic Chef is still far.’
But a faint smile tugged at his lips, and he clenched his fist.
‘Means there's room to grow even more.’
As Hura steeled himself, another person shed tears over his cooking besides Vesta.
Molrangkau, quietly eating her portion, suddenly shot to her feet.
“Whoa!”
Hura startled.
‘What's her deal now?’
He looked up at her face and froze. Her expression was bizarre.
“H-Hey, you okay?”
Molrangkau was crying and smiling at the same time.
The owner of that contradictory expression spoke.
“…Vesta.”
“Yes?”
“I think I get what you meant now.”
With that, she trudged off somewhere.
“Hey! Where you going mid-meal?!”
“Wait!”
Vesta stopped Hura from grabbing her.
To his questioning look, she simply said,
“Follow quietly.”
Molrangkau trudged to a stop before a passage in the Flame Palace. There stood a colossal tree, dwarfing the one from earlier, reaching as if to hold up the sky. Blossoming on it were flowers more radiant than any Hura had seen.
“Vesta, is this tree…”
“Yup. The tree of the final trial.”
Vesta answered, spooning kimchi stew. Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i had brought their whole bowls too.
Molrangkau closed her eyes gently.
Sadness and rage welled up: painful school days, jealousy and envy poured on her. Admiration and scorn. Hatred and fear. The hot kimchi stew dumped on her head. The sticky disgust soaking her clothes and trickling down her neck. The monstrous stares. The bean sprouts dangling from her hair, staring piercingly.
Then joy and happy memories: camping with parents, boiling bean sprout kimchi stew. ‘Cheolsu! It’s Cheolsu!’ ‘Jihyun! Pack the tent!’ ‘Waaah!’ Funny memories of rushing about in the storm to fold the tent.
And meeting Hura first at Minare's Villa. That kimchi stew. Pretending to be fake Molrangkau heading to Shin-dong Village. It was fun. Free. She could laugh easily. And, and… meeting Hura in real life. Still vivid when she closed her eyes.
‘…Molrangkau?’
That dumbstruck face. It still made her chuckle. This bean sprout kimchi stew would join those moments.
Molrangkau slowly closed her eyes. Rage and joy. Sorrow and happiness. Embracing those contradictions, she smiled serenely. Like edelweiss swaying calmly in a storm's eye. Like morning dew on a grass blade. Like the sea's calm depths amid raging waves.
Scarlet heat flickered in her hands; her red hair swayed.
Scraaaape—
Dozens, no, hundreds of magic circles unfolded around the tree. Hundreds of flames burst forth, racing unhesitatingly toward it.
“Whoa? Isn't that too fast?”
“No. Perfect.”
Vesta replied to Hura's worried words with a smile.
It looked wild at a glance, but to her, it was exquisitely precise. Like a master's casual moves hiding perfect accuracy, Molrangkau's flames darted through branches, wilting the snowflowers in an instant.
It was like a tiny, splendid fireworks show on the tree. As if the night sky's brilliant bursts had been compressed onto it.
“Wow…”
Hura and the Cooking Summons watched the magical spectacle, entranced.
The flames faded quietly like wind. Molrangkau opened her eyes and looked at Vesta.
“Did I pass?”
In her eyes burned a flame that had reached a profound realm—unshaken by blizzards, storms, or thunder. Vesta smiled broadly. No need to check the scorched tree.
“Yes. You passed.”