Sulis's Favorite Dishes
“What kind of cooking did Sulis-nim do?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
Gapsu asked with a meaningful smile.
“You know, the dishes he usually enjoyed making. Stuff he cooked for others or for himself.”
“……”
“Like whether he preferred Chinese, Japanese, Western, or Korean cuisine. Grilling, steaming, frying, boiling, that sort of thing. Or his favorite ingredients or sauces. Things like that.”
“……”
Gapsu kept that meaningful smile, staring at me silently.
I furrowed my brow slightly.
“Why?”
“Hura-nim always manages to surprise me.”
“With what?”
“No one's ever asked me that before.”
“… No one's ever asked that?”
“Yes. At least, not in my memory.”
I blinked dumbly.
What the hell? This is the most basic question there is. What else would a chef ask about?
“Then what do people usually ask?”
“Others asked different things. Where Master's cooking tools were kept, where his treasures were hidden, his special recipes, the locations and strategies for ancient dungeons, info on rare ingredients, and so on.”
“……!”
I clapped a hand over my mouth.
…Damn, I should've asked that stuff!
I should've thought harder!
Been more careful!
…No wonder they're called seniors. They've got real life wisdom.
“……”
But no amount of regret would change things. You can't take back spoken words, or catch a train that's left the station. There's nothing uglier than scrambling to do either.
I slowly lowered my hand from my mouth. Straightened my neck, tucked in my chin, and puffed out my chest proudly.
“Ahem. I'm not interested in that crap.”
“Ooh…!”
The four Middle Eastern tycoons flashed their sunglasses in admiration.
“Tch. To think my seniors were so greedy…! I'm utterly shocked. A true chef should steer clear of such things!”
“Oh…!”
“Those things, you get them yourself. Cooking tools are secondary to your own skill, and special recipes are your own recipes!”
“Ooh…!”
“Rare ingredients come from adventures, same with treasures and ancient dungeons!”
“Ooooh…!”
They looked ready to leap to their feet in applause.
“So just answer the damn question.”
Before I pathetically begged to change it.
Gapsu nodded, eyes shining with admiration.
“As expected. Hura-nim is different. You're the vessel to become the true Demonic Chef!”
“Yeah, yeah, just answer.”
“Yes.”
Gapsu cleared his throat and began outlining his response.
“Master loved popular foods.”
“Popular foods?”
“Yes. He didn't care for fancy dishes reserved for nobles. He preferred things like stir-fried cutlassfish in butter, ramen, tteokbokki, dumplings, noodles, kimchi fried rice. Dishes anyone, young or old, could enjoy without worry.”
“Oh ho…”
That's unexpected.
Not stuff with unpronounceable names like escargots à la bordelaise, but everyday eats we all know?
“Why was that?”
“Master said no one truly savors those ‘gourmet’ dishes anyway.”
“What does that mean?”
“The masses won't even taste something expensive and unfamiliar. Nobles just pretend to be picky or worldly about food. They say it's bad even if it's good, good even if it's bad—pure pretense. No point in cooking, he said.”
“……”
‘No one truly enjoys it.’
I nodded slowly. Yeah, that hits home.
I've never tried escargot, caviar, truffles, foie gras, or bird's nest soup. Probably never will.
But I have had shark fin once. Some family event. Afterward, my honest thought?
This… costs 150,000 won?
Tasty, sure. But is a bowlful really worth that? No way.
Not satisfying enough. For that price, I'd rather stuff myself with jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
The adults raved about its ‘refined flavor.’ Refined my ass. Just say if it's tasty or not. What's ‘refined’ supposed to mean?
Even my parents boiled ramen when they got home.
Gapsu continued.
“Master didn't care about cuisine types, methods, ingredients, or sauces. No favorites—he just used whatever. Local ingredients, whatever sauces on hand. Methods? Whatever felt right at the time.”
“……”
“It looked haphazard, like grabbing whatever and cooking on a whim. But somehow, it always turned into something exquisite.”
His eyes misted over, lost in memory.
“Like magic. Saw it every day, but it never failed to amaze.”
“…Yeah. That's plenty.”
I nodded slowly.
True masters make it look casual, but every move hides profound technique. Like the snack bar owner.
Sulis. I think I get the guy now.
Could've raked in fame and fortune, but skipped fancy food just ‘cause he didn't like it.
True heroes don't chase money or glory, huh? Personality a bit odd, but a real man of honor.
Honestly, I'd felt pressure to master those gourmet dishes to grow as a chef. Now that's gone.
Huge win. Just cook what I want.
“Satisfied?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Gapsu shook his head.
“No, thank you.”
Hidden Class Quest: Demonic Chef
Become the Demonic Chef who enchants the entire world!
Travel the continent following his footsteps, gathering clues about the Demonic Chef.
— Acquired keyword ‘Dark Chef’.
— Acquired keyword ‘Demon King’s Revival’.
— Acquired keyword ‘Popular Food’.
* * *
Every meeting has its parting.
The clock's second hand signaled it was time.
Gapsu shook hands with each Middle Eastern tycoon, bidding farewell.
“Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim. Thanks for the clothes.”
“No big deal.”
“They look great. I love ‘em.”
“Hahaha, knew you would.”
Gapsu had ditched his rags for the bizarre outfit Baek Bal Baek Jung gave him.
“……”
The riot of colors assaulted my eyes.
…Traffic light much?
To Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i, he gave senior cooking summon advice.
“…Got it?”
“Yes, Sunbae-nim.”
“Understood.”
Mostly whispers, so I couldn't hear.
…What'd they get? Share with me.
Finally, my turn.
He'd shaken hands with others, but knelt on one knee for me.
“Aww, c'mon, not this again.”
“Ah. My shoelace came undone.”
“……”
“Kidding.”
Like with Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i, he performed a knight's salute.
“Hura-nim will surely become the great Demonic Chef. I have no doubt.”
“Obviously.”
“Please take care.”
“Yeah. You too. Hit me up anytime you crave something.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He stood, rummaging for something.
“It's not much, but please accept this.”
“Hm? This is…”
“Yes. The [Twin Crystals].”
What Baek Bal Baek Jung had given me. Break one, teleport to the other.
“If you ever need me, tap it three times. I'll come running.”
“…You rascal. Thanks.”
“I'm the grateful one.”
We grinned and shook hands.
“…My first free action.”
Gapsu smiled faintly at the crystal he'd given me.
“Plans now?”
“Wander the world for starters. Master's gone, but I won't be lonely.”
“Good. Stay safe.”
I patted his shoulder.
“Then, farewell. I'll head out first.”
He turned and trudged away.
Tap tap tap—
As he got farther, I mindlessly tapped the [Twin Crystals] three times.
He stopped and turned.
“……”
“Ah, just testing if it works.”
“…Hura-nim. That's not a toy.”
“Yeah… sorry.”
I scratched my head sheepishly.
“……”
The tycoons shot me deadpan stares.
What? I was curious. You weren't?
“…Then I'll really go.”
Poof—
A white oval shield like a cutlassfish bone appeared in his hand. He charged the cave wall at insane speed.
Boom!!
“……”
We gawked at the hole he'd punched.
…Real men don't use doors?
“…Cool.”
Geum Taeyang's mutter.
Rumble—
Then the whole cave shook.
Crackle—
Pebbles fell, dust flying.
“W-what!”
“The cave's collapsing!”
“What?!”
No time—Baek Bal Baek Jung scooped me up.
“Call ‘em in!”
“Cooking summons, dismiss!”
Roooar!
Groooan!
As I recalled Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i, the ceiling caved.
The cave crumbled fast, chasing us.
“Waaah!”
Baek Bal Baek Jung sprinted like the wind down the tunnel.
My sunglasses flew off my nose; the collapse swallowed them whole.
“That damn Gapsu!”
“Not his fault! One hole wouldn't collapse the whole thing!”
“Then why?!”
“Probably set to collapse when he leaves!”
“Gapsu, you idiot! Warn us!”
“He probably didn't know.”
Groooan!
Groan!
“Kyaaah!”
* * *
Rumble—
“Hm?”
Baek Bal Baek Jung, mid-sprint, paused and cocked his head.
“Seems safe from here.”
He set me down.
Groan…
The rear had fully collapsed, but true to his word, it stopped chasing.
“Phew! Thought we were goners.”
“Haha! Thrilling, right?”
“Thrilling my ass.”
We were near the secret passage exit. We walked slowly, chatting.
“But y'know, you said being a ranker is brutal.”
“Yep.”
“Yet some strong folks skip rankings on purpose.”
“Right.”
“If it's that tough, why bother ranking?”
He held up two fingers in sequence.
“Wealth and fame.”
“Wealth and fame?”
“Yeah. Rankers get sponsorships, ads, commissions from companies. Good money.”
“And those who skip it?”
“Don't care about that. Or have enough already. Me? Fame's meh, but I keep it for the cash.”
“…Companies hit you up for ads?”
“Oh yeah! Bows with my name still sell hot.”
“You were hiding out, though. Ads dry up?”
“Nah, ‘mysterious’ angle boosted ‘em. Too annoying now, so I pass.”
“……”
We reached the cave's end. A long vertical shaft led up, with an old ladder.
We climbed naturally.
“Oh, Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim.”
“Yes.”
“On the way here, we had a little trouble.”
“What kind?”
“Met someone who seemed to know you well. High ranker vibe…”
He froze mid-climb.
“What'd they look like?”
“Blonde woman. Knightly, full plate armor head to toe.”
“…Big shield on her back?”
“Uh… yeah, think so.”
“Damn!”
He bolted up the ladder.
“W-why?!”
I scrambled after.
“Probably her. Napaladin.”
“Napaladin?”
“Yeah. Current Rank 11.”
“……!”
“Gotta hurry. Leave town now.”
“But we got naengmyeon intel left!”
“Come back later. Bad timing.”
“Okay…”
We climbed silently, fast.
“Huff— huff—”
“We're here.”
Gapsu's secret passage opened at the sand-rock desert border.
Hidden behind bushes between two rock faces.
Rustle—
We pushed through.
Blazing heat and sun hit us.
From dark cave to bright—my eyes burned.
“Ow, blinding. Ugh.”
Squinting, stumbling forward. Heat choked me.
“Whew… leaving ain't a bad idea.”
Groping toward Baek Bal Baek Jung.
But he stood rigid, staring somewhere, face hard.
“Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim?”
I shaded my eyes and looked up.
“……?”
Thought I saw wrong. Blinked a few times.
No change.
“……!”
Blue sky, dazzling sun.
Below, dozens of figures filled my view.
On flanking rock faces, right ahead, even airborne.
Perfect encirclement.
Weapons ready, murderous intent surrounding us.
Each radiated extraordinary power.
“……”
Dozens of top rankers welcoming our return to the surface.
…No need for this.