The First Passage (1)
Sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Delicious on their own.
But roasted over fire?
The sweetness intensifies to another level.
"Hoo—!"
I blew gently on it, peeling back the leaves of the Clear Spirit Grass.
A perfectly golden-brown sweet potato emerged.
'Kyaa. That smell is killer.'
Sweet and nutty.
It warmed the surrounding air.
Even without peeling it fully, the sweet aroma of the roasted sweet potato wafted out intensely.
And layered on top? A subtle smoky note.
A rich, savory sweetness teased the nose.
Gulp.
It stimulated my salivary glands with a cozy, profound sweetness—like baked sugar subtly infused into the air.
The earthy scent unique to sweet potatoes lingered, evoking the feeling of roasting them in the wild.
'This is it.'
I swallowed hard once more.
Steam rose lazily from the fluffy interior as I took a big bite.
"······!!"
My eyes widened like saucers.
A slight crispness on the outside.
Inside? Incredibly soft, beyond belief.
Magical sweetness spread through my mouth.
Not overpowering like sugar, but a natural, pure sweetness that filled every corner.
A faint mana aura wrapped around my tongue, drawing out deep flavors that pulled me into a magical world for a moment.
'Insane. This is straight-up insane.'
Wow.
Wow, for real.
So delicious tears welled up.
It melted gently in my mouth. I devoured one roasted sweet potato in seconds.
『Kkyuuung... yummy smell. Dania tummy empty.』
Our Dania.
After waking from sleep, her speech was even clearer.
Good.
Really hungry, huh?
I suppressed the urge to grab another one right away and picked up a roasted sweet potato.
"How should I give this to her?"
She's only tasting liquids so far, right?
I peeled it carefully first and placed it beside Dania.
Once again, the sweet aroma spread faintly.
Ha, driving me crazy.
I want to eat another one so bad.
Slurp!
While waiting for Dania's reaction, I squeezed the Clear Spirit Grass leaves and took a sip of the juice.
Kya—my throat cleared right up.
This place is true paradise!
『Kkyuuung... Dania tummy empty.』
Oh no!
Unfortunately, nothing happened to the roasted sweet potato I'd left beside her.
Looks like Dania can only taste liquids after all.
'In that case.'
I uncapped a mana potion.
Mashed up the sweet potato.
And mixed it in.
Swirl, swirl.
It might not be as good as the original, but...
She should get some flavor this way, right?
Glug glug!
I tilted the potion bottle over Dania, and the mashed sweet potato mixed with mana potion dripped thickly onto her.
『Kkyuuung!! Yummy, so yummy!!!』
Instant reaction!
『Yummy, yummy, yummy!!』
Such an intense response.
The Dragon's Egg even shook slightly.
Dania was completely enchanted by the destructive deliciousness of the roasted sweet potato.
"Heh heh. Tasty, right?"
『Ung. Super yummy.』
She's loving it this much.
Makes me proud.
"Come on out soon. I'll make it even tastier for you."
Roasted sweet potatoes are best when they're warm, after all.
『Dania grow fast. Come out soon! More roasted sweet potato!』
I could feel her strong will to hatch even sooner.
'Her expressiveness has definitely improved.'
The egg had grown larger overnight, showing rapid progress.
'Perfect.'
Grow like bamboo shoots!
'Should've poured some Taeumyangjeong in.'
Mixing it with mana potion was tasty, sure, but it didn't spark explosive growth like yesterday's Taeumyangjeong.
'Still...'
Dania's happy.
That's what matters.
I can give her more Taeumyangjeong tomorrow.
"Alright then..."
Glance.
I hadn't touched the roasted potatoes yet.
Should I try one?
Back outside, dipping roasted potatoes in sugar was a rare treat.
Drool.
Just thinking about it made my mouth water again.
I immediately peeled back the Clear Spirit Grass leaves wrapping the roasted potato.
Sniff sniff.
A harmonious aroma of savoriness and mildness rose up.
The deep, cozy flavor of the potato itself.
Added to the crisp, smoky scent from the fire-roasted skin, it felt like grilling potatoes by a campfire.
The smell brought comforting ease, like sinking into a warm blanket, and anticipation for the soft, warm interior.
'Grooo.'
I thought the sweet potato had filled me up, but the potato's scent had my stomach rumbling again.
Crunch!
I took a big bite right away.
A mild umami exploded in my mouth.
The roasted potato's skin was crisp outside, creamy and soft inside.
A savory depth flowed through, transmitting the energy of nature itself.
Mana's aftertaste lingered, mingling with the potato's subtle sweetness to tingle the tongue with satisfying fullness.
"Haa..."
A meal that warmed body and soul.
A mystical, extraordinary experience unlike any before.
Beyond mere food—it infused mysterious power into heart and body.
Plop!
"Stuffed."
I lay back on the soft fur surrounding Dania.
Full belly, warm back—sleepiness washed over me.
'Lots to do, though...'
Need to brew more Taeumyangjeong.
Plant the remaining spirit herb seeds and cultivate them fully.
Check which passages I can enter now.
But I'm too sleepy.
Just a quick nap... just a bit.
Right as I was drifting off—
"······!"
Superhuman Net private message.
People who can reach me directly.
I'd set notifications to alert me instantly.
Someone was urgently trying to contact me.
***
"Here we are."
An Jaeseong.
The place he and Kim Jeonghwan had arrived at.
This orphanage, run by Kim Jeonghwan, housed 130 children.
"The director's here!"
"Yay!"
As Kim Jeonghwan entered, kids peeked out like meerkats and swarmed over.
A couple of high school-aged ones were the oldest.
A few middle schoolers below them.
The rest were all around 10 years old.
"Director, who's the uncle next to you?"
130 kids.
An Jaeseong felt their eyes mixing curiosity and wariness.
He caught his breath and smiled warmly.
"Hi, I'm chef An Jaeseong. I'm here today to make you all something really delicious."
To ease their guard,
he smiled comfortably, met each gaze, and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Chef uncle!"
"Ooh."
"Can we eat lots of yummy stuff?"
"Dunno... We have so many mouths, might have to share a little..."
The kids whispered cautiously.
Some eyes sparkled at "chef,"
but they figured they couldn't eat much.
Hearing that, something hot surged in An Jaeseong's chest.
"Today, everyone can eat till you're full. You like potatoes and sweet potatoes, right? Uncle's gonna make you unimaginable potato and sweet potato dishes. Once you taste them, you'll never forget."
He bent down to eye level with the kids.
"Potatoes and sweet potatoes!"
"Oom! Want potatoes..."
"I want sweet potatoes."
"Sounds yummy."
A few kids smiled shyly at his words.
Tension easing bit by bit.
'Ah.'
Seeing their innocent, expectant eyes made his chest tighten again.
'Yeah. Let's do it.'
Tasting event canceled.
He decided to use all remaining potatoes and sweet potatoes for the kids.
He messaged Karbona privately, explaining the situation.
They happily agreed, praising it as a noble act.
He posted on Superhuman Net too.
Announced the tasting verification was off due to circumstances.
Would serve all the orphanage kids instead.
This might draw flak.
Might even get called a liar.
Claims of dodging verification since buffs can't be tested.
Didn't matter.
Right now, the kids came first.
"Truth is, I loved potatoes and sweet potatoes as a kid too. So today, I'll make 'em special, my favorite way. No one here really hates them, right?"
He said it playfully, more relaxed.
A few kids giggled cautiously.
Overall wariness melting away.
"Director Kim. Mind if I show off my cooking for the kids today?"
"I'd be honored. But the tasting—"
"No worries. Focusing only on the kids' meal today."
"Chef An..."
Kim's face mixed awe, gratitude, guilt.
An Jaeseong replied with a refreshing smile, as if understanding fully.
"The most important ingredient in cooking is love. Today, I'll pour my heart into food for all of you. Just wait a bit. Let's make yummy memories together."
The kids' faces brightened.
Wariness fully gone, replaced by smiles and excitement.
'Alright.'
First, secure more potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Would be great if Madoje sold more.
Might have stock, might sell to him specifically.
If not? He'd make do with regular ones, give his best.
He messaged Madoje privately right away.
Thankfully, Madoje replied instantly.
He hadn't expected much.
Madoje—from what he'd seen—wasn't the emotional type.
Even with extras, he'd only sell if the deal made sense...
...Huh?
This easily?
An Jaeseong replied quickly, a bit excited.
150 each. Total 300.
Might be more than Madoje expected.
Did he even have that much?
Even if so, might not send all if too many.
?.?
??.
?????.
200 each? Total 400?
My god.
No way.
Madoje. A man with a warm heart.
An Jaeseong gratefully accepted the support.
Soon, he started cooking with the total 400 potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Today.
He'd prepare the best meal these kids would never forget.
His eyes burned with passion like never before.
***
Private trade completed.
The message popped up before my eyes.
"Never imagined Bangbaedong Gourmet would head to Uncle Kim's orphanage."
Who'd have thought selling those potatoes and sweet potatoes led to this.
I checked Superhuman Net late to see what happened.
Most of the orphanage kids were ones I knew.
Of course I'd support cooking for them.
"The potato and sweet potato fields are a mess now."
Pulled about a hundred stalks, and they looked barren instantly.
Two-thirds gone.
But it's fine. Can replant potatoes and sweet potatoes.
"Eat up tasty, kids."
Especially Junho and Sua. Those potato and sweet potato ghosts.
They'll love it.
Imagining them eating happily brought a smile.
"Well then..."
I stood up lightly.
What I'd been meaning to check.
Now at level 10, was there a passage I could enter?
I stepped into the leftmost one.
Felt like the lowest level one.
"Oh!"
It let me in!
Last time, it blocked and bounced me back.
A thin air membrane parted, and I entered the passage.
I ventured a bit further cautiously.
"······!"
I saw it right away with my own eyes.
A sight beyond imagination.