Secret Ingredient: Haru Juice! Blade Anchovy Broth Complete

A few days ago, after buying various anchovies from the dried fish market and testing them one type at a time, she finally produced an A-rank broth.

Large or medium-sized anchovies (called mid-size or large anchovies) are used for broth. The one that succeeded was Jeju large anchovies from Mosulpo in Jeju—known locally as "Jeju Mosulpo Mel" (Jeju dialect for anchovy). They were enormous, about the size of a person's finger, similar in scale to the monster Blade Anchovies. Out of dozens of types, using Jeju anchovies as a substitute for Blade Anchovies worked.

[Now that monster corpses don't vanish when they die, we could just analyze Blade Anchovy components on-site.]

"Comparing that analysis to other anchovy components would let us find substitutes faster, right??"

[Exactly.]

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner???"

[I lacked the insight...]

Though Lee Haru was currently the Awakener Association's top watchlist target, this was top-secret Level 1 info neither knew.

"Amazing. To think such a nutty aroma comes from those fishy anchovies..."

"No MSG, yet it's not bland at all."

"Exactly. When I tried it after watching YouTube, it didn't taste like this, so I gave up and used MSG..."

Haru, Ha-seong, Sun-ja, and Aji surrounded the broth pot, each taking a spoonful and showering it with praise.

"Can I use this for my cheonggukjang?"

"Do as you like, ma'am. But it's still... never mind."

This was just Phase 1 of the experiment; the real test lay ahead.

[Now add Haru juice with God's Droplets effect, and it'll be hotel kitchen quality!]

She poured some broth into a small pot and headed to the rooftop where Elmu was, for the experiment.

Elmu, the Crimson Parrot who hatched after coming to Earth with Haru from her otherworld chef days—pocketed as an egg—grew to adulthood instantly after eating concentrated Haru juice. It flapped excitedly, flap flap!, as its owner entered the shed.

She found four square containers from the shed to serve as bowls, poured broth into each, and planned to test Haru's four bodily fluids to see the differences.

"Tashy, momma!!!!!"

"Yeah?? How 'bout this one???"

"Thith one tathy too, momma!!!"

"No, tell me how the tastes differ?"

"Huh???? Tath different????"

"Aigoo... You still can't tell flavors apart."

She decided to train it later with single-flavor foods and gave up for now.

"Then who can I feed my fluids to... Kinda gross, but no choice."

Back at the restaurant, Haru used Bang Aji's teleport skill to move a few broth pots home with her.

Aji, Haru, and the pots settled inside the house.

"So this is Haru-nim's nest."

Aji itched to peek into Haru's room right away, but they weren't that close yet.

[Hope that gift for Haru-nim arrives soon...]

"Aji-nim. We're using secret recipes now, so mind heading elsewhere? My room has good Wi-Fi; rest there."

"U-Understood!"

Haru's room had a big bed, shopping bags of clothes, and an old computer—nothing girly about it.

But the bed sheets with mysterious stains ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gave off a body-heating fruity scent.

"Nngh... Hoo. Haru-nim's scent everywhere..."

She sprawled prone, peeking at the door to avoid detection, imprinting her target's aroma like a beast.

Snapping out of it, she scanned the room and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spotted odd items in a black bag in the corner.

"Tteokbokki???"

Colorful snacks that looked like animal hides from afar.

[Makes ultra-premium broth yet loves junk like this...]

"Haa... Haa..."

As she spun fantasies alone, a childish moan came from the living room.

"Ha... Haru-nim???"

"Nothing! Don't mind!"

[Nngh??]

After five push-ups, exhausted Haru wiped the sweat beading on her body with her hand and added it to a pot.

The four pots now held "Blade Anchovy Broth" with traces of saliva, blood, sweat, and urine respectively.

Other fluids existed, but urine was Haru's line in the sand for humanity.

[No bad smell anyway, so it's fine? You're adding it secretly...]

'Shut up. You don't get human feelings.'

Not knowing the exact potency of God's Droplets, she added just a teaspoon.

Interestingly, each fluid granted different special effects.

Just from broth, no less.

"Wish this worked on me too..."

That'd break balance completely.

"Aji-nim. Come out and taste now???"

Feeding saliva or urine to others embarrassed her, but Aji was just a short-term handler.

'Test subject, that's all.'

Self-consoling, she had Aji sample the four broths.

"Please give a brutally honest review."

"Yes! Let's see..."

Starting with the saliva one.

"Did you add cabbage?? Tastes different."

"This one's too sour... Color's the same, though. Weird."

"Fermented scent with a spicy kick—like kimchi, but overdone."

Aji, who saw Haru like a little sister, turned cool and critical as requested, hitting hard.

'Fluids intensify flavors, but toss 'em anywhere and balance crumbles.'

"Wha... This one!!!!!!!!!"

Aji's spoon spun like 2x video speed on the last broth.

The sweat-infused pot was the final winner.

"The 2% lacking broth now has premium salty depth. Peppery aroma with truffle notes... This flavor dimension dwarfs MSG. Stimulating yet soothing inside."

'Guess my sweat pairs best with this broth.'

"Hoo~~~ Haa~~~~"

Aji suddenly deep-breathed like atop a mountain peak.

Her chest ballooned and deflated with each cycle.

"Why the sudden...?"

"Post-awakening, my sensitive nose caused esophagitis, gastritis, respiratory issues. This erased the heartburn."

[Stamina/Mana recovery speed +100% for 6 hours]

Indeed, sweat pot had the recovery buff.

Good result, but doing this per dish was impractical.

'Can't you analyze fluid components and suggest optimal uses, Yui?'

'Component analysis?'

'Ugh...'

Disappointing, but better than false hope—straight talk was best.

'Others are easy to collect, but sweat's tricky.'

'Public place, no.'

Yui spouted weird phrasing from who-knows-where.

'Like I have cash. House is tiny already...'

'You didn't taste it yourself??'

Curiosity won; she tested.

"But Aji-nim knows truffles? Must be rich."

"Family... no, friends in high places fed me."

"Heh. Secret foodie, huh? Shredded the others harshly..."

"Eek!! I was just being objective as asked!!!!"

Haru's tease shook Aji's fierce blue eyes wildly.

"Anyway, honest feedback helps; customers'll love it. Thanks."

"No problem."

As talk dried up, Aji's phone rang.

"Haru-nim. Good news."

"What??"

"First... Your settlement support funds are in. 50 million won general aid plus 25 million housing = 75 million total."

"Eh?? That much??"

"High ether test results maxed the general aid."

Sudden windfall hit Haru's hands.

Free cash for nothing? But some East Asian country rumor gave millions to sex workers. Not life-changing then.

"Also... A gift from me and the Center staff."

"What is it??"

"My teleport cooldown's up. Drop the pots at the restaurant and head to the Center."

En route, she bank-checked: funds deposited to yesterday's account.

At the Center, she got the "gift."

"This is..."

"Worried about risky chair-cooking, so custom-made!"

A huge slime shoe like two slimes fused vertically.

"Eww... Sticky and gross-feeling..."

Each step squished like bare feet on wet sounds.

Heel(?) raised height scarily; size added weight like steel panties.

But the satisfying pop pop pop! on lift-off... Fine for kitchen-only.

"Kyaang!!!"

Leg cramp mid-walk.

"You okay?? Bigger than expected... Sorry. Too much."

"No! It's thoughtful; I'll use it."

"Haru-nim..."

Squish squish. Aji massaged Haru's legs, tears of emotion flowing.

Back at the shop during quiet hours with Slime Shoes.

"Huh??"

Through the glass door, brother Ha-seong and wife Hee-yeon sat in serious talk.

'Oh yeah, they fought.'

Unclear vibe deterred entry.

'What?'

'That was it...'

Hee-yeon, former salon owner, lost her pregnancy to overwork amid competition.

Closed shop, rested, then joined Bulpae Pochaa kitchen three months ago.

'Sigh. Pathetic fool...'

In past life, Hee-yeon stuck by through Seong Chan-ho ruining the family.

Homebody then, Haru now saw her as a living Buddha.

Waited till their hug-and-cry ended, then entered.

"Oh. Customers. Welcome... Huh!"

'Customers?? Bro didn't tell her about me??'

"Not customer; part-timer. Lee Haru."

Sun-ja and Ha-seong knew, but admitting to Hee-yeon felt embarrassing. No big deal, but hated saying it.

"Then the pretty lady too??"

"No. I'm a civil servant aiding tower collapse victim Lee Haru."

"Tower collapse?"

Curious how far her backstory sold, Haru acted the part.

Parents died in tower (vague memory)... Years cooking in tower's psych ward/time room, returned.

"Woke up smelling hearty cheonggukjang, came here. Kind treatment, so repaying."

Crude tale—would normals buy it??

"Sniff... Sniff!!!"

Late-20s maternal Hee-yeon over-immersed in Haru.

"...Ah. You made this cheonggukjang. Impressive."

"No. I made broth; ma'am boiled it."

"Made broth yourself??"

"Wanna see?"

Sun-ja too old; Hee-yeon was Haru's reliable kitchen aide.

'Ah, forgot Slime Shoes!'

No stool; Sun-ja cleaned kitchen.

"Haru so short, must be tough. Relax your body?"

"Whoa!!"

Strong-for-a-woman Hee-yeon effortlessly lifted Haru by the waist.

Feeling plush married-mom maternal pouch against her back, Haru taught broth-making.

"Don't over-roast anchovies or fishy. Skim foam while boiling. Fire control key too..."

"Ooh... Yeah. Sneaky complex..."

"Done now; put me down. I got this."

Waiting Aji pulled XXL Haru-exclusive Slime Shoes from box.

Aji grinned at Hee-yeon.

'What???'

Height surged, but 138cm dwarf barely reached tall Aji. Still hit Hee-yeon's chest.

Pop pop pop!

"Cute. So cute... But something missing! Sit here, Haru??"

Ex-stylist Hee-yeon flexed skills on Haru.

"Ooh! Way prettier. Hee-yeon's skills still top-notch~"

"Our... part-timer looks celeb-level??"

Haru's daily frizzy straight hair became twin braids.

"Heop!!"

Onlooking Aji gasped, hand over mouth.

Haru felt fulfillment unlike past life's lazy home-rolling.

Amid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cheery vibes, a young man-woman duo entered with a camera.

Avoiding eye contact, swaggering in, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their gazes locked on freshly styled Haru.

Doll-like girl in apron popped around in Slime Shoes.

The heartwarming sight auto-piously clasped hands over belly.

"Hello. Health Restaurant production team. Here for pre-interview and teaser footage."

'Whoa jackpot.'

Male writer got permission; female fired KakaoTalk at Shin Do-young.

Dusty construction workers, 10 of them, piled in.

"This the place? Ratings tanked..."

"Park boss with shit personality raved, so let's try."