The Glorious Residents Who Will Assist Our Elves
Three people were gathered before me. They were the judges for this cooking competition: Lin, Genie, and Hylen.
‘I’m curious about the food.’
At my words, Genie leaned her body against my trunk and said, -Sorry for being the only ones to eat it...
‘It’s fine. Eat well and let me know how it was.’
Lin clenched her fist and shouted, -I’ll describe the taste as best as I can!
“I shall also do my utmost!” Hylen added, steeling his resolve. In the meantime, other residents had gathered around, and soon, Khan and Tori brought out their dishes.
“Kieeee!!”
-Uwaaang!
“Kkung! Kkung-kung!”
Everyone was horrified by their cooking. And with good reason. Their dishes were truly astonishing. Of course... not in a positive way.
First, Khan’s dish was incredibly flashy. Sweet potatoes were arranged around a World Tree made of carrots, carved into tentacle shapes like sea anemones. A thick, red substance was poured over the top. It was certainly well-crafted, but the red sauce looked so much like blood that it was strangely terrifying.
‘It looks like Halloween.’
Khan said proudly, “I modeled it after the appearance of my master, in whom the blood of a warrior flows.”
Ah? I paused for a moment. ‘That was me?’ Then, by any chance, were those tentacle-like things my roots? ‘My roots look like that?’ That’s a bit repulsive. It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking that, as Riri scrunched up her face and shouted, “Mama doesn’t look like that! You liar!”
Genie was also uncharacteristically furious. -My friend is as pretty as the moonlight on a midsummer night! It doesn’t look like a monster like this!
“What? Are you saying my masterpiece is a monster?” Before Khan could say anything more, Lin blurted out, -Khan, that’s an additional charge of insult! Minus 10 points!
“That’s unfair!”
-Then minus 20 points for obstructing the judges?
“I accept...”
After that brief commotion passed, Tori brought out his dish. But.
“Uh... Tori. This... is right, isn't it?”
What Tori brought was a soup. To be precise, a pitch-black soup of unknown origin. Bubbles were rising to the surface inside the bowl. It looked unappetizing at first glance. Everyone was murmuring, and I was flustered, muttering to myself, ‘Is that... safe to eat?’
Tori said very proudly, “Kkung-kung!”
Lin opened her eyes hazily and said, -Uh-huh... this is the best one you made...?
Genie tilted her head and said, -That is...?
Lin poked Genie in the side. -Shh.
Genie finally closed her mouth. However, Tori still looked confident. Lin, Genie, and Hylen exchanged glances. *Is this right? Aren't both of them bad? We won't die from eating this, will we?*
Eventually, Hylen cleared his throat first and said, “Ahem. Then... let us begin the tasting.”
At Hylen’s words, Khan brought the dish over first and set it down in front of them. Seeing it up close, it was even more spectacular. Shredded lettuce was visible here and there in the thick tomato sauce, and the tentacle-shaped—no, root-shaped—sweet potatoes were incredibly dynamic. It was so creepy it felt like they might move at any moment. Why did he even carve out the fine root hairs...
“A-amazing. It’s artistic.” When Hylen said this with an awkward smile, Khan nodded and replied, “If you are a goblin, you do at least this much. It is the very basic of basics.”
The expressions of Lin and Genie as they heard that were subtle. -Uh... -Hmm... It was certain that they didn't want to eat it.
“Uh... s-shall we start with the tasting? I feel like it might actually be good once we eat it... Hahaha...” Hylen said, trying to salvage the situation somehow. Of course, he was so flustered he didn't even know what he was saying...
I laughed awkwardly to myself, thinking, ‘The kids are having a hard time.’
Next, Hylen cautiously used his knife to cut a piece of the sweet potato tentacle. *Squeak.* It wasn't cooked. No, it was just raw. Raw sweet potato. Hylen’s hand trembled slightly. But he didn't stop; instead, he carefully dipped the sweet potato into the sauce.
Lin and Genie targeted the carrots. *Squeak. Crunch.* Of course. The carrots were also completely raw, not cooked at all. After dipping them in the sauce, the three exchanged glances. *Eat it? We have to eat it. Let's eat..!*
And they all took a bite at the same time. *Crunch. Munch. Snap.* The sound of chewing raw sweet potatoes and carrots echoed.
“How is it? Is it okay?” Khan asked confidently.
Hylen said with an awkward smile, “Ahaha... It’s a dish that highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients...”
Genie muttered as she forced her jaw to chew, -Carrots, tomatoes, lettuce... It feels like I’m just eating raw ingredients... not eating a cooked dish...
At those words, Lin nodded and said in a very cheerful voice, -Yeah! It’s bad!
“What did you say?”
-I’d rather just eat raw carrots and squeeze tomatoes over them than eat this!
“No..!”
-Now it’s Tori’s turn!
“W-wait!”
Lin completely ignored Khan and proceeded. Tori then ladled the soup he had brought into each wooden bowl. The pitch-black liquid filled the bowls. Close up, the surface shone like oil, and mysterious chunks were floating here and there. It was a sight difficult to look at with one's eyes open, but surprisingly, the smell was decent. It was a somewhat sweet and savory scent.
The three exchanged glances. *Shall we try it? Yeah. Let's close our eyes and eat. Good idea.*
Lin, Genie, and Hylen tasted the soup at the same time. But.
“Oh oh oh?” Hylen looked surprised. Lin and Genie were also impressed. -It’s actually pretty good? -It’s moderately sweet and moderately savory...
I was also surprised inwardly. ‘Oh...! It tastes better than it looks!’ Or perhaps it felt relatively delicious because they had just eaten Khan’s dish. Anyway, since the reviews were good, Khan’s expression stiffened slightly. He felt he was going to lose.
Next came the deliberation time, and the three gathered to whisper. They spoke in such small voices that even I couldn't hear them. ‘Why are they judging so secretly?’ I was dumbfounded, but it also felt like this might be more fun.
A moment later, Lin stepped forward and said, -The results are in!
Khan and Tori watched with tense expressions. “Kieeee!” “Kie-et!” The goblins narrowed their eyes and cheered for Khan. “Kkung..!” “Kkung-kung-kung!” The Totori clasped their hands in front of their chests, facing each other, holding their breath. Tabu had his eyes squeezed shut and was muttering. “Kkung... Kkung-kung...” As if he were casting a spell.
Then, Hylen shouted loudly, “The glorious resident who will assist our elves is....”
Drumroll. I stopped and focused as well. ‘Wow... this feels like a TV competition show, I’m so immersed.’
Hylen shouted in a booming voice, “Congratulations! It is the Totori!”
“Kkung-kung!! Kkung-kung-kung!!” “Kkung!! Kkung-kung!!!” The Totori burst into cheers all at once. They held hands and jumped up and down. Tabu ran around with both arms raised high. “Kkung!! Kkung-kung!!” The rest of the Totori danced around him in circles. It was a total party atmosphere.
In contrast, Khan hung his head with a devastated expression. “I am sorry...” At his words, the goblins comforted him. “Kie...” “Kie-et...” *It’s okay. You fought well.* That kind of feeling. Tori also looked at Khan, seemingly concerned. Just then, Hylen opened his mouth.
“And..!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Hylen. Huh? And? ‘What is this. Was there something else left?’
Hylen shouted, “It is the goblins!”
Both the Totori and the goblins stopped in their tracks. With wide, round eyes. Hylen said with a gentle smile, “Of course, Tori’s dish tasted better. But Khan’s precise and clean knife work was also impressive.”
Genie and Lin also nodded. -That is true... Although the finished appearance wasn't great... -Handling tools well is important!
Hylen continued slowly, “The Totori’s flavor expression and the goblins’ precise knife work. I thought that if both residents helped, a much more delicious dish would surely emerge!”
At those words, Khan’s expression brightened. “Yes. Leave all the cutting to us goblins.”
Tori also laughed brightly and shouted, “Kkung-kung! Kkung!” Meaning the Totori would handle all the tasting and seasoning. And so, Khan and Tori high-fived. Watching them, I thought with satisfaction, ‘That’s a relief..’
And. In that noisy situation, I was completely unaware. Of the fact that the state of the fruit was a little strange.
* * *
Inside the hidden space. The golem was sitting in front of the egg. The black-red light of the egg had become deeper than yesterday. The sound of its heartbeat had also become deeper and heavier. The golem piled soft hay-like materials around the egg. Trying to wrap it warmly. And it tried flowing energy from its core onto the surface of the egg. To try and push out even a little bit of the demonic energy.
However. The black-red light of the egg did not diminish.
Sssss...!! Sssss!!!
Rather, the moment the energy the golem flowed reached it, the demonic energy seemed to react even more intensely.
Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep.
The golem lifted its head and scanned its surroundings. Only then did it realize. The fact that this entire space was filled with demonic energy. Since it was not alive, it would be less affected, but. The egg was not. This place was no longer a safe space for the egg. Rather, this space itself was ruining the egg.
The golem looked down at the egg for a long time. Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep. And slowly, it wrapped the egg with both arms. Carefully. It hugged it up very slowly.
Zzzzt-! Zzzzt-!
The demonic energy absorbed into the egg shot out and attacked the golem’s arms. Its stone arms became tattered. Fragments were scattered on the floor, but even so, the golem did not let go of the egg.
Beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep.
The golem took slow steps. And the golem stopped in front of the entrance to the hidden space. Just past here is the outside. The outside. The outside could be dangerous. However, to avoid this demonic energy, it shouldn't stay here any longer.
Beep-beep. It had to protect the egg. That was its destiny. Even if its own life were to fade away.
Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep.
After much deliberation, the golem stretched its foot toward the entrance while holding the egg tightly.