Dandelion Tea and Naru Barbecue
"No way it's missing?"
I filled a dented pot with stream water and stepped inside the tent. In the corner stood a small brazier for boiling tea, which doubled as a makeshift fireplace in winter. I lit the fire and tossed in some well-dried dandelion flowers. A few minutes of simmering, and I'd have dandelion flower tea that conquered both health and flavor. It was as nutty and delicious as green tea. I wondered if the girl would like the tea I'd brewed. Staring anxiously at the bubbling pot, I suddenly snapped out of it.
There was no reason for me to worry about her judgment.
If it tastes bad, I'll just drink it all myself.
Anyone who refused something good for them just because it wasn't tasty was the one missing out. I poured the finished dandelion tea into cups and stood there blankly. When would the girl show up? Just as the tea started cooling in real time, a familiar set of footsteps approached from outside the tent.
"Gyeowol, come out for a sec?"
"Y-Yes!"
I grabbed the two cups of tea and stepped outside. The girl facing me was loaded down with unfamiliar items.
"Check this out—Unnie bought a ton of barbecue gear!"
"B-Barbecue?"
"Yeah. I thought it'd be nice to grill meat while listening to the stream."
"Ah..."
Her personality was quirky, but she had a romantic side. I'd been worried about how expensive the gear looked, but if it was just for her own satisfaction, I had nothing to say.
"Unnie will set it up by the stream, so can you help, Gyeowol?"
"Sure, but the tea's getting cold..."
"Oh. Right! Let's drink first."
She took one of the cups from my hands. She downed the hot tea without even blowing on it—pure adventurer style.
"H-How is it...?"
I looked up at her, lips barely touching the rim of my cup. It was the first time anyone had tried tea I'd made, so excitement and anxiety swirled inside me.
"Mm... It's nutty and a little sweet. You brewed it perfectly."
"R-Really?"
I'd pegged her as a brute of a witch, but she had taste in tea? A strange sense of relief washed over me as I blew on my own cup.
"Mm."
Dandelion tea really was the best. As I savored it with my eyes closed, the girl suddenly let out an odd exclamation.
"Huh? Gyeowol, this..."
"Yes?"
Her eyes snapped open like a Horn Rabbit's, and she flexed her hand experimentally. She even patted herself down, checking for issues.
"Why does this have a doping effect...?"
Doping? Like the secret shots athletes took before competitions? As I tilted my head in confusion, I sensed someone approaching from the nearby woods.
Thud, thud—
My sharpened ears picked up the heavy footfalls of a four-legged beast, punctuated by occasional grunts. It had to be that monster that had tormented me for years. I had to run—fast. But what about the girl?
In a panic, I stomped my feet and shouted at her.
"P-Pig! It's a pig!"
"A pig?! Unnie's pretty slim, though...?!"
"N-No, not that pig! A super vicious wild boar...!"
My explanation must've been too vague; her mouth fell open. She even glanced down and rubbed her belly.
"W-Well, Unnie's strong, but not wild boar level..."
Was this woman joking in a crisis? Furious but desperate, I grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the emergency shelter inside the tent.
This is bad.
The shelter fit only one person. One of us would have to stay out. In the chaos, I flung open the lid and shoved her head inside.
"Q-Quick, get in!"
"Uh, okay?"
She slipped in without resistance. As I slammed the lid shut, her head popped back out, banging against it.
Thonk!
Despite the loud crack, she just blinked innocently.
"Gyeowol, what's going on?"
"A wild boar's coming!"
The boar's presence grew closer. I couldn't pinpoint the distance, but maybe three hundred meters. As it closed in, my whole body shuddered.
"Wild boar? Unnie doesn't sense anything."
"I hear footsteps from about three hundred meters that way."
"Th-Three hundred meters?"
Her eyes flicked to the ears atop my head. They twitched involuntarily under her gaze.
"Your ears are amazing now, Gyeowol...?"
Even in an emergency, she was analyzing my changed body. Definitely a crazy witch. A bit annoyed, I pressed down on her head with my whole body.
"Hide here until the boar's gone. I'll climb a tree."
"Wait, Gyeowol."
Ignoring my push, she stood up abruptly. The massive rubber drum shelter was big enough that only her upper body emerged.
"Wh-Why? This is super urgent...!"
"It's fine. Unnie's way stronger than any wild boar."
"Huh...?"
Wild boars in this world were elephant-strong. Stunned, I scanned her up and down and realized: she was one of this world's top powerhouses.
Oh no.
Maybe years of boar trauma had rattled me. I'd forgotten who she was in the panic. Embarrassed, I clung to her hem as she hopped lightly out of the shelter.
"When the boar shows, Unnie'll take it down. Don't worry—let's get that barbecue party started."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah. One flick from Unnie, and it's done."
To flick an elephant-level boar to death? How strong was she exactly? The thought of being caught by someone even tougher than my years-long tormentor was terrifying. I nodded weakly.
"O-Okay..."
Right by the babbling stream, we set up the barbecue gear she'd bought. I loaded charcoal into the new grill, lit it, and laid meat on the hot plate.
Sizzle—
Just watching it cook made my mouth water. At minimum, I needed to eat ten thousand won's worth. First, I had to figure out the price.
"Um, what kind of meat is this?"
"This? It's naru meat."
"...What's naru?"
I racked my brain through memories of my past life—no such creature. Maybe a livestock breed unique to this world.
"You've never had naru meat, Gyeowol...?"
She stared down at me in shock. The tongs slipped, dropping a piece onto the coals.
"No. First time since I was born."
"R-Really. Unnie bought tons, so eat your fill today. Got it?"
"Y-Yes..."
What was naru meat that not having tried it made her hands shake? Flustered but unable to ignore the meat, I sat on the barbecue chair she'd bought and waited quietly.
"Here, Gyeowol—this one's good."
She plated some for me. It was so rare the red center gleamed through.
"It's not cooked... Raw meat gives you food poisoning...?"
Was naru like beef? Or was she pranking me? Knowing nothing, I just looked up at her.
"It's fine. Naru meat's safe even rare."
"R-Really...?"
Maybe my inexperience weirded her out; she gave an awkward smile.
"Yeah. Super tasty. Wanna try a bite?"
"Sure."
Spearing it with the fork she'd given me unleashed a flood of juices.
Whoa.
Had I eaten meat this good since coming here? No memories surfaced. Vowing to remember this monumental day, I shoved it in my mouth.
Chew—
One bite, and my eyes went wide. My tail and ears shot straight up in thrill.
"...!"
The pure meaty bliss I'd forgotten for eight years sent convulsions through my body.
"Good, right?"
"D-Delicious...!"
Did I deserve something this amazing? I eyed her warily, ignoring the next piece she offered.
"No need to hold back. It's cheap—eat as much as you want. I bought you a burger last time too."
"R-Right..."
Fair enough. She'd bought burgers and shared my tea. A few more pieces wouldn't hurt. Pushing aside my unease, I devoured the meat nonstop.
"Nom."
Plain, dipped in salt sauce, even in unfamiliar spice pastes—it was overwhelmingly delicious no matter how I ate it.
"Gyeowol, eat some veggies too."
"Sure. Want me to dig up dandelions?"
It'd taste even better with dandelion leaves. As I bolted off to find some, she blocked my path.
"Uh... Let's just stick to meat today."
"Why?"
"Just... wanna focus on the meat."
She shoved the table's veggies far away. Only basics like salt sauce remained. Thanks to that, I could fill up purely on meat.
Nom. As I dipped well-cooked naru into salt sauce, I thought it'd be perfect with ssamjang too.
"Um, should I make ssamjang?"
"Ssamjang? What's that?"
"Uh..."
What did she mean, what's ssamjang? Did this world not have it? I gaped up at her in surprise.
"You don't know ssamjang...?"
"N-No. Some foreign sauce?"
"Guh."
It really didn't exist. Looked like I had to introduce her to my homeland's flavors.
"Wait just a sec!"
"O-Okay!"
Chili paste, salt, soybean paste, sesame oil—after mixing in a few extras, I ran back with it.
"This is ssamjang. You've really never seen it?"
"N-No. First time for Unnie."
Tense about the unfamiliar paste's taste? Totally unnecessary.
"It's delicious."
I handed it over proudly. This might earn me a bit more meat.