Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The True Taste of Ramen
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheon Doun filled a pot with water. That alone made Nam Giseok's eyebrow twitch.
'He's adding that much water?'
It was enough water to make a giant pot of bone broth. Nam Giseok's jaw dropped at the absurd amount.
He hoped Cheon Doun would pour some out, but he placed the pot directly onto the gas burner.
“Mister. Let's try putting the whole fish in this time.”
“The whole thing? It'll be bitter. The guts are poisonous. I'll be fine, but... what about you and Guu?”
-I have no problem.
“I'm fine too. I have a detoxification ability.”
Kim Nari said with a bright smile. For someone trying to hide her identity, she was surprisingly open with her information.
This was because she assumed human bodies were similar to her own.
Cheon Doun just smiled at her cluelessness, not bothering to point it out.
“I’ve had fish fillet ramen before. So this time, let's do it whole... Ah.”
Excitedly, Kim Nari stopped mid-sentence. She'd eaten that ramen when she was in her poodle form.
Cheon Doun didn't know that was her. Under this misconception, she glanced around nervously before speaking.
“Uh, I've had that ramen before, where I used to live.”
“Where you used to live? You mean the Coconut Tribe?”
“Y-Yes. I had it when I was with the Coconut Tribe.”
Kim Nari was flustered by the reappearance of the long-forgotten Coconut Tribe. Still, she didn't forget to nod.
What kind of face would she make if she knew the Coconut Tribe didn't actually exist? Cheon Doun suppressed a laugh and asked.
“How was that ramen?”
“It was delicious!”
Kim Nari answered, throwing her hands up in the air. A smile spread across her face as she recalled the taste.
“Fish ramen is the best!”
What ramen is the best? Listening to them, Nam Giseok doubted his own ears. What was fish ramen, and what was this Coconut Tribe?
Unlike the confused man, Cheon Doun smiled at her review.
“Alright. Then let's put this in whole.”
Cheon Doun was about to put the fish into the boiling water. Seeing this, Nam Giseok couldn't hold back and shouted.
“Ah, no, don't put it in!”
He didn't know the details about any Coconut Tribe, but he knew the disaster that would unfold if that thing went into the water. A terrible fishy smell would spread for 500 meters.
Were they trying to torture him?
Tied up and unable to plug his nose, he desperately wanted to stop that fish from going into the boiling water.
“Who puts fish in ramen? No, before that, pour out some of the water! There's way too much! Unless you plan on swimming in there, get rid of it!”
Nam Giseok shouted, forgetting he was hanging from a waterfall. At the command to pour out the water, Cheon Doun looked at the pot.
He'd used about the same amount as last time. Was something wrong?
"Just let me down, I’ll cook it myself!"
“You? Are you good at making ramen?”
“What? Ah... Y-Yes, I am!”
He had to say yes to survive. Nam Giseok nodded, following his instincts.
“I even have a chef's license!”
The only things he'd ever cooked were kimchi fried rice and ramen, but now was the time to invent a license he didn't have.
At the mention of a license, Cheon Doun's expression became intrigued. Kim Nari's did as well.
“Mister. I think that man has been scared enough. We can probably let him down now.”
“Guu, what do you think?”
-I also think it would be best to let him down.
When faced with food, everyone's opinion was unanimous.
The three looked at each other and nodded. They had acquired a chef in the Demon World.
* * *
The first thing Nam Giseok did was return the flapping fish to the waterfall valley.
He looked at the pot and the ramen packets and swallowed dryly. Had he ever been this serious about making ramen in his entire life?
'Three packets of ramen. In that case, the amount of water should be... just about this much!'
With the movements of a possessed chef, he poured out some of the water from the pot.
'If it tastes bad, they might hang me from the waterfall again.'
His life was on the line for this ramen. Nam Giseok placed the pot on the gas burner and waited for the water to boil.
He tore open the ramen packets, preparing the noodles and soup base so they could be added at a moment's notice.
As bubbles formed on the surface, he picked up the noodles.
“Now!”
He was so nervous he sounded like the protagonist of a B-movie.
“Ooh.”
“Mmm!”
The reaction to his shout was positive. Voices filled with strange admiration and eyes full of anticipation.
Is that how a man with a chef's license adds noodles? Their gazes seemed to say as much, and a cold sweat ran down Nam Giseok's back.
“N-Now that the noodles are in, it's time for the soup base... Ugh!”
In his nervousness, he used too much force. Like a poorly opened bag of chips, the entire side of the soup packet burst open.
'Ah, no...!'
Is that the face of a man witnessing the end of the world? Nam Giseok stared blankly at the powder that had shot into the air.
The powder, which had flown straight up, fell neatly back into the pot as if guided by a divine hand.
*Swish.* As the powder sprinkled evenly into the pot, Kim Nari clapped her hands.
“Amazing!”
“Splendid. As expected, the handiwork of a licensed professional is no ordinary thing.”
Nam Giseok couldn't answer. What would happen to him if they found out it was a mistake?
The mere thought made his back damp with sweat.
“N-Now for the final step. What style of noodles do you prefer?”
“Style?”
“Ah, I'm asking if you like them fully cooked or slightly undercooked. People's preferences on this vary quite a bit.”
Cheon Doun and Kim Nari looked at each other. Having only ever eaten fish ramen, they had no way to answer.
Cheon Doun fell into thought as if facing a momentous decision. He'd had it boiled thoroughly before, so perhaps it was time to try something new.
The choice was made.
“I'll have them undercooked.”
“I want to have the same thing as Mister.”
-I'm fine with anything, so I just want to try it.
Nam Giseok nodded at their three answers.
Although the monster's voice sounded like the cooing of a pigeon, he used the social skills he'd honed over the years to interpret its meaning.
“Understood. Slightly undercooked noodles it is... Hmm, it would have been even better with an egg and some green onions. A shame we don't have any.”
“Egg? Green onions?”
“Yes. What's ramen without some chopped green onions and a cracked egg?”
They didn't know what he was talking about. But they could tell it was some kind of dish that could be made with ramen.
Judging by the sound of it, it was probably a high-class dish. Perhaps it was an advanced menu item only a licensed chef could prepare.
Cheon Doun's expression grew intrigued.
“That ‘chopped green onions and cracked egg’ thing—is it good?”
“Of course it is. I doubt there's a single Korean who hasn't tried it.”
“Really? I'd like to try it sometime.”
At Cheon Doun's murmur, Nam Giseok's face lit up with realization.
'First he tried to put a fish in the ramen... It seems like he's never had proper ramen before... Could he be a Korean from overseas?'
The world had once collapsed after the Gates opened.
It wouldn't be strange for someone from a remote country formed after the continents split apart to be unfamiliar with ramen.
'Whatever the case, he's the man who subdued me in a single blow.'
At the very least, an A-rank Hunter. Things had gotten off on the wrong foot, but there was no harm in making a good impression.
“I know a great ramen place. I can take you there when we get back.”
“No need.”
Cheon Doun refused immediately. He had no intention of going to the human world right now, so the offer wasn't tempting.
Nam Giseok flinched at the swift rejection but didn't let it show.
Pushing too hard always creates resistance. Now was the time to take a step back. He checked how well the noodles were cooked and then served them into bowls.
“It's ready. This is my secret technique! Slightly undercooked, chewy noodles. Ramen that boasts the ultimate texture.”
It was just ordinary ramen. Having embellished it with all sorts of fancy words to survive, he watched Cheon Doun and Kim Nari's reactions.
'His chopstick skills are strangely clumsy. He must be an overseas Korean. But his pronunciation and speech are so natural... Maybe he's from the south? I heard a lot of Koreans moved over there.'
*Slurp.* Finally, the noodles were sucked into their mouths.
In truth, Cheon Doun wasn't expecting much.
The only seasoning was the included soup packet. It was an instant food that just required boiling noodles in water.
He subconsciously believed it would taste the same no matter who cooked it.
Moreover, they hadn't even added the fish, which would have been the key flavor point.
Wouldn't it taste rather bland? The moment that thought crossed his mind as he put the noodles in his mouth...
“Mmm...!”
“Oh, ooh! Mister, this is... ooooh! This is delicious!”
-W-What is this taste? Do humans eat this every day?
Kim Nari shot to her feet and exclaimed. Guu's fur stood on end. Cheon Doun's chopsticks moved faster, wordlessly.
The aroma spreading in his mouth, the savory broth, the chewy texture when he bit down.
An ecstasy difficult to describe danced in his mouth.
The three of them drank every last drop of the broth. The warm liquid heated their insides, and a feeling of fullness enveloped them.
“Mister. I think that man should be declared a Living National Treasure.”
Kim Nari said, patting her now-full belly. Cheon Doun nodded in agreement.
Nam Giseok, who was about to become a Living National Treasure for cooking ramen once, broke out in a cold sweat.
“What else can you make besides ramen?”
“Well... ch-chicken.”
“Chicken?”
“Yes. My parents run a chicken restaurant.”
It wasn't just any chicken restaurant. He'd never told anyone, but his parents were the chairmen of a major franchise.
Nam Giseok had never fried a chicken with his own hands, but he'd seen his parents' "Secret Sauce Recipe" so many times he was sick of it.
“Have you ever had chicken before?”
“I think I have.”
Cheon Doun recalled something from twenty years ago, from the depths of his hazy memory. It was the night before they left for a subjugation mission.
The Hunters who had formed a team gathered together and ordered chicken and beer. Cheon Doun sat in a corner, watching them.
[Hey, that chimera keeps staring over here. You think it wants some of this?]
One of the Hunters glanced at the chicken on the table.
[No way. It's not looking at the chicken, it's just surveying the area. Look. Its seven eyes are all looking in different directions.]
The seven eyes on Cheon Doun's body. Like a chameleon's, they roamed around, covering 360 degrees.
The Hunters watched Cheon Doun with fascination.
They had paid to rent him, but the rental fee for a Chimera Hunter was so high that it wasn't easy to work with one.
That only made them more curious.
[I still think it wants some. Three of its eyes are looking at the chicken.]
[Really? Should I give it a piece?]
One of the Hunters tossed a well-fried piece of chicken breast.
Seeing it, Cheon Doun moved his octopus-like arm and snatched the fried chicken with a sucker.
When he caught it mid-air, they shouted, "Nice!"
[Is it gonna eat it?]
[Here, you eat it like this. Copy me.]
The Hunters took a demonstrative bite of their chicken. They even made exaggerated gulping motions. Cheon Doun watched them before bringing the piece he'd caught to his mouth.
*Spleeeet.* The Hunters flinched as his face split open into eight sections.
Compared to the size of his gaping maw, the piece of chicken looked tiny.
*Pop. Nom, nom.* The terrifying monster's mouth took a dainty bite of the small piece of chicken.
The Hunters watched his reaction as if they were watching a food broadcast.
[Will it like it?]
[I know, right? Why am I so nervous over a piece of chicken?]
Is this how a chef feels waiting for a gourmet's review? The Hunters waited tensely for Cheon Doun's reaction.
After chewing for a while, Cheon Doun's throat moved.
[Oh, he swallowed.]
[I thought chimeras only ate frozen raw meat. Guess that's not always the case.]
[Yeah. So, the reaction is... huh, there is no reaction.]
After swallowing the chicken, Cheon Doun stopped moving.
He had simply recognized it as food and swallowed. Watching the Hunters eat had been nothing more than simple curiosity.
[Ah, now that I think about it, I heard something before. Chimeras mixed with monsters can't taste anything.]
[Why?]
[They're mixed with monster cells. If they developed a craving for food, they might start eating people. So apparently, their sense of taste is intentionally removed.]
He had lived without a sense of taste for decades. During that time, food was merely a means to fill his stomach.
Of course, things were different now. His regained sense of taste had taught him the joy of eating.
Recalling the past, he looked at Nam Giseok.
“That chicken thing—it's fried fowl, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then can you make it with that?”
Cheon Doun pointed to the sky. A bird-type monster, eight meters in size, flew past with a deafening screech.
'M-Make something with... that?'
He looked ready to catch it immediately if Nam Giseok said yes. Cold sweat dripped down the man's back.