The Genius Developer's Barbecue Dilemma
"Ahhh." I open my mouth and chew, savoring the piece of Hanwoo beef Sia has just fed me. With everyone's eyes locked onto me, I can barely taste the food—or so I tell myself. In reality, the moment the beef hits my tongue, it melts away like a dream. It’s savory, tender, and rich. I’m genuinely shocked; it’s as if every piece of beef I’ve eaten in my life was a lie. How can meat be this delicious?
"Wow." The exclamation escapes me before I can stop it. I’ve never thought of beef as bad, but the difference is so stark that I find myself wondering how I’m supposed to eat regular beef ever again.
"Haha, is it that good?"
"Umm... ha, no, I mean, yes. It’s delicious."
Just as I’m feeling a pang of regret as the Hanwoo vanishes from my mouth, Sia drops another piece onto my plate. I flinch. Come to think of it, I’m not the only one eating here. I’d been so focused on the meat that I’d completely forgotten I was being watched. Feeling embarrassed, I purse my lips and look down. If everyone else were just focused on their own food, I wouldn't mind, but the constant staring is making me shy.
"Ugh. Aren't you all going to eat?"
"Hey, we're going to eat too, so don't worry about us and just keep eating."
"That's right. Keep going."
"Watching you eat is just so cute!"
I blink at their comments, slowly picking up another piece of Hanwoo. I get the feeling that if I don't eat, they’ll just keep staring at me forever. "I-it's delicious. Yes, s-so... can we just eat comfortably now?"
Please, stop staring and let's just eat. It’s tasty, but at this rate, I’m going to get indigestion. I just want them to treat me like a normal person! Stop paying attention to me and pay attention to that delicious beef! Seriously!
An hour has passed since we started eating. Back when I was a man, this amount wouldn't have been nearly enough, but it’s a bit sad that I’m already full without having eaten that many pieces.
"Haa..."
"Hm? What's wrong? Are you full already?"
"Ah... y-yes."
Sia, who has been taking care of me from the side, looks at me with curiosity, making me shrink back into my seat. Honestly, I want to eat more, but my stomach is practically screaming that it can’t take any more. It’s such a waste! I want to eat more because it’s so good! To think I’m already full—I wonder if this body is just too specialized for development. Come to think of it, ever since I became a woman, I’ve often skipped meals to focus on ideas that popped into my head, and I never really felt hungry. It’s a great trait, but also a bit of a downside.
I want to eat a little more... but with a sigh, I set down my chopsticks. I’m the type of person who knows when to stop if it’s not for development, and I don't want to overdo it for no reason. Right now is perfect. I’m full enough to be satisfied but not so full that I’ll fall into a food coma—which is ideal for a developer.
"That's a shame. I wanted to feed you more."
"I was able to enjoy it, though. I'll wait, so please, eat comfortably."
I give a sheepish smile at Seong-eun, who looks disappointed. Since the other members are still eating, I can't just get up and leave. Hmm... I think it would be better if I grilled the rest for them. I reach out, grab the tongs and scissors, and look at the Hanwoo. My mouth waters at the sight of it sizzling on the charcoal, but I feel a bit bloated inside. I’m glad I stopped when I did. I carefully pick up the cooked meat and cut it.
"Oh. We can do that, you know."
"No, it's fine. I'm already full, so I'll do it."
When Seong-eun and Sia try to take the tongs and scissors back, I shake my head and stretch my arms high above my head to keep them out of reach. As someone who is being treated to a meal, I don't think it’s right to just sit there like a statue. I might be the "boss" in some sense, but I don't think I’ve reached that level yet. When I look at them with a firm expression that says I won't give them up, they reluctantly pull back their hands, and I slowly lower mine.
"So please, just eat comfortably. Besides, I like watching you all eat."
"Wow, Ha-yun Mama has a unique taste, doesn't she?"
"...It's not unique. Just think of it like watching a mukbang."
"Yeah, yeah. If you say so~"
I don't know what she understood, but Yura just smiles as if she's happy, and I let out a small sigh. She really isn't an easy person to deal with. She’s so bright and energetic—wait, she’s suddenly getting up and coming over to my side... Eh? Wait a second.
I panic as Yura moves next to me and look at Sia for help. Sia just shrugs as if she doesn't know what's going on, so I reach out a hand, silently begging for assistance. That girl is a disaster I can't handle alone. Please don't abandon me, Sia... or Momo-na! But no lifeline is thrown my way. I gulp as Yura sits down softly beside me. Why? Why did she come over here... What on earth are you planning to do to me?!
"So, Ha-yun Mama. Are you going to be in charge of our junior avatars, too?"
"...Ugh... huh? What?"
I tilt my head at Yura's words, trying to process what she just said. Junior? A junior of Another World...? I hadn't heard anything about that yet. I look at Yura's bright face, then at the other members. Seeing them all go silent and tense, I realize Yura just leaked information without thinking.
Perhaps because everyone went quiet, Yura realizes she made a mistake and looks around. "Uh... did I not mention this yet?"
I sigh as she scratches her cheek. It's a good thing I'm the one making the new avatars for Another World; if it were anyone else, this would have been a massive disaster. I sigh again at the way the others are looking at Yura.
"...It's a good thing it's me. If you had told someone else, it would have been a huge problem."
It’s fortunate that I was planning to make them anyway, even if I wasn't the official modeler for Another World at NeoVerse... "I was planning to make them next time, but what if I wasn't, or what if I had bad intentions? It could have been dangerous."
"Ah, um... I just thought you already knew!"
"Yura, I told you it wasn't officially decided yet."
"Y-yeah. We said we'd look into it more before deciding."
Seeing Yura fidget and look anxious, I put down the tongs and scissors and think. There isn't much I can do to fix this, but there is one thing I can guarantee.
"Well... even so, if I get a request to make avatars for the junior generation, I'll sign the contract."
"Oh! Really? You're not just saying that because I made a mistake, are you?"
"That's not it. The treatment is good, and I want NeoVerse to succeed, too."
With the new avatars coming out, I can see the potential for growth, so there’s no disadvantage for me. At most, it just means I’d be handling multiple avatars, but that’s not a big problem for me. I can create a new avatar for the current Another World members in less than a week, so adding a few more wouldn't be difficult.
"And I love creating them. I want to make as many as I can."
I can also suggest and implement the features and characteristics I want to add while I'm at it. I’m the one who benefits more. Since I’ll be adding innovative and unique features, the company won't have any reason to refuse. I’ve already proven myself this time.
"So..."
"Eek! The meat is burning!"
"Hick, w-wait a second."
I’d left the tongs down for a moment, and the Hanwoo was burning. No, do you know how expensive that is! To think it would burn just because I put the tongs down for a second—the charcoal fire is too strong! I quickly pick up the tongs, flip the meat, and lament the charred Hanwoo. Ugh, I said I’d grill it, and then I make a mistake like this...
"Ugh... anyway! If the topic comes up again, tell them I'm ready to produce them. I'll do as many as they need."
"Okay, got it!"
"But won't that be too much?"
I smile at Sia’s worried question while cutting off the burnt parts with my scissors. "It's fine. I made the ones this time in less than a week. I can do as many as you need."
"Aha... what?"
"Wait, how long did you say it took?"
"...You mean that took less than a week?"
"Ugh, the meat, it's a waste."
I wonder if I said something wrong, given the way the three of them are staring at me in disbelief. But that’s the truth, that’s the reality... there’s nothing else I can say.
"Wow, how have you been hiding such talent until now?"
"What on earth did you go through to become this good at it?"
"Ugh... wow, that's amazing."
I roll my eyes and feel shy under the barrage of praise. It’s still awkward to receive compliments. Besides, I haven't received praise in reality since I was a child, so it’s incredibly embarrassing.
"Um, it just sort of happened? I just grew into it, I guess."
I can't tell them I wished upon the moon and this happened—and how could I ever tell them I became a woman? That’s a secret I can never, ever tell. Except for Minji... and I don't really want anyone else to know.
"Anyway, let's stop talking about this and eat the rest, shall we?"
To change the subject, I cut the cooked meat, put it on everyone’s plates, and put the remaining meat on the grill. Whoosh—the fire starts to flare up again as the fat drips down, and I feel the warmth. I’m not sure if the cozy feeling I have right now is because of the heat of the fire, or... because everyone is admiring and praising me.
"Then I should eat the meat Ha-yun grilled well."
"I fed you earlier, so aren't you going to feed me?"
"Maybe it tastes better because Ha-yun Mama grilled it. And me! Feed me too."
"Thanks for grilling it."
...This isn't easy. I grilled and served the meat just to get a breather. But now I have Sia waiting to be fed, and Yura following suit after seeing that. Seeing Seong-eun smiling warmly at the scene and Seol-ah looking at me with what seems like pity... this is really not easy. Seriously... my energy is being drained. When I get home today, I’m not going to leave the house for a week. Seriously! I’m just going to roll around at home and develop!!