The Return of the Great Chef

"Try it."

It was a collection of the world’s most worthless scraps: poisonous weeds that everyone detested, fish discarded by fishermen, and the roots of green onions that had already been used. Jang-geum held her knife and lit the fire, listening to the voices of those ingredients that others deemed useless. And finally, she found the answer.

"Hah, this is... it’s hard to even lift the spoon just by looking at it. Though the fragrance is truly wonderful."

"I’ve never seen food this bright red before. Are you sure it’s safe to eat?"

"I tasted it myself while preparing it. Fortunately, my sense of taste has fully returned. Please, trust me and try it."

"...Very well."

White Hawk and Jin Gwang-ryeol picked up their spoons with somewhat skeptical expressions. Was this really food? Or rather, was it even edible? The blood of the patients they had tended to recently had been this exact color. Still, they had been on this journey together for so long—surely nothing terrible would happen. With a thousand thoughts racing through their minds, they scooped up a large portion of the dish Jang-geum had prepared with trembling hands and brought it to their mouths. Simultaneously, exclamations erupted.

"No, this is...!!"

"How can a taste be this stimulating?!"

"Hoo, haa, her-er, I feel heat rising in my body. It’s as if a hot flame is rising from within, warming me up. To think such a flavor exists... truly, the world is vast, and there is no end to learning."

"I feel the same. But it’s not bad. It feels as if a divine fire is searing my body, purifying it. It feels as if even the poison that wasn't there is being washed away."

The two of them devoured the meal Jang-geum had prepared in a trance. They only came to their senses after scraping the bowls clean, downing the refreshing sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) placed beside them, and picking their teeth in the wake of their overwhelming satiety.

"Great Chef Jang-geum, you have finally done it."

"It reminds me of the Hwangol-gye (Golden Bone Chicken) you made when we were crafting the soap. No, to me, this dish is even greater than that."

"What kind of food could it possibly be?"

The comparison was Hwangol-gye, and it was even better than that? A dish that was red, stimulating, and induced a heat that purified the body? Seonjo searched his memory for the hundreds and thousands of flavors that had graced the royal table, but none of them fit the description. Suppressing the urge to send a messenger to the royal kitchen to have this dish made immediately, Seonjo turned the page.

"I intend to go to Beijing now. If this dish becomes widely known and people start eating it, won't this chaos end soon?"

"Then I shall gather the ingredients and chefs you have found. If everyone in Beijing is to eat, we will need a significant amount of supplies and manpower."

"I will take these poisonous weeds to the Royal Infirmary and try to cultivate them. If a poisonous weed can be used as medicine, it is no different from a medicinal herb."

Thus, the three of them scattered, each with their own purpose. Jang-geum to Beijing, Jin Gwang-ryeol to the Royal Infirmary, and White Hawk to the eight provinces of the nation. After months of crossing mountains and rivers, the Beijing that Jang-geum reached was a living hell, a Jigok-do (Path of Hell) on earth.

"Mom, I'm hungry..."

"I boiled some tree bark with Mi-won in it, so eat that."

"...I'm still hungry no matter how much I eat of that."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, the taste is the same no matter what you put in it, so why do you keep pestering me? I don't even have the strength to stand up, so eat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it or don't."

A child, so thin that their ribs were clearly visible, whined to their mother, but the reply was truly heartless. Yet, Jang-geum could not bring herself to be angry at the cruel mother. The child's mother, too, had hair turned white as snow and a body so emaciated that she truly had no strength to rise.

"So this is the side effect Jin Gwang-ryeol spoke of."

It was the same everywhere she went. The vibrant, bustling metropolis of the Middle Kingdom, where lights never dimmed day or night, had vanished. The streets of Beijing were filled only with desolation, and the people looked like patients in a ward, all skin and bone, waiting for the day they would die. "Since everything tastes the same no matter what you make, there is no reason to cook other food." At first, people had added Mi-won to their dishes, but they had gradually become addicted, pushing aside real food to seek the Mi-won first. The master had become the servant, leading them to cut off their intake of grain, and eventually, even abandoning all nourishment. Just as Jin Gwang-ryeol had said, it was a poison that ate people from the inside out.

After spending a night touring Beijing to grasp the situation, Jang-geum sought out Dae-i-da-ra early the next morning. With a resolute expression, she threw down her apron and said:

"Dae-i-da-ra. I challenge you to a Shik-geuk (Cooking Battle)."

The people of Beijing headed one by one to the place where the battle was to be held. There sat Jang-geum, Dae-i-da-ra, and the former association head of the Gourmet Forest, Park Su-son Han-su.

"...The Shik-geuk begins."

With sunken cheeks and eyes, hollow pupils, and a limp neck—Han-su, who had lost all traces of his former self to Mi-won addiction, raised his hand with great difficulty to signal the start. "It’s finally beginning." Let’s see how she makes it. It was time to confirm just how great this dish was to warrant such high praise. Seonjo turned the page immediately.

"Chwaaaak!"

Pork fat placed on a hot, inverted cauldron lid emitted a savory fragrance. As Jang-geum seared the fat until the oil soaked the lid, she placed her prepared ingredients onto it.

Finely chopped green onions, minced garlic, and high-quality pork with streaks of bright red and milky white.

Seeing this, Dae-i-da-ra sneered at Jang-geum. "How ridiculous."

"I wondered what you were doing, but it’s just Jeo-yuk-cho (Stir-fried Pork), something only the barbarians of Joseon eat."

Jang-geum ignored the mockery and silently continued her cooking. Her dish was only just beginning. Confirming that the meat was sufficiently cooked, she took out the white powder and red powder she had prepared in her pouch.

"It must not be lacking, nor can it be excessive. It must be exactly enough to bring out the flavor of the food." Awakening the senses she had honed for decades, she measured the perfect amount and began to stir with her spatula.

The sizzling pork, the savory and pungent green onions and garlic, and the mysterious red powder mixed in the oil, releasing a unique aroma. Carried by the wind, the scent of the dish reached the spectators, stimulating their olfactory senses.

"Wow, that smells delicious. Huh? What did I just say?"

"What is this smell? I want to taste it? Wait, taste it?"

"Mom, I want to eat that, not the tree bark."

"...Wait ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a little longer. I'll make sure to do it for you when we get home after watching this."

"The poison is being cured by the scent alone." That’s right. In the end, the heretics will fall, and Jang-geum will emerge victorious. It is a truly righteous story. Seeing the aura of victory finally beginning to show, Seonjo turned the page.

Dae-i-da-ra doubted his own ears at the praise from the addicts who wouldn't even look at anything other than Mi-won. What on earth was that red powder to dare challenge the throne of Mi-won?

"What on earth have you done!! What is that dish!!"

"This is a dish that returns the flesh [肉] of those addicted to Mi-won back to its original state [再]. The name is... yes, returning the flesh. Jae-yuk (Re-flesh) sounds good. The name of this dish is Jae-yuk-bokkeum (Stir-fried Re-flesh)."

"Jae-yuk-bokkeum?! Hmph!! I possess Mi-won, the legendary ingredient passed down through the ages!!"

After a round of verbal sparring, both of their dishes were completed. Jang-geum walked straight up to Han-su and presented the dish she had made.

"Great Chef Jang-geum... what is this fragrance? Such a unique and stimulating scent. Just by smelling it, I feel as if my lost sense of taste is returning."

"Association Head, please, try it."

"...I will eat well."

Han-su, holding his spoon with trembling hands, swallowed a mouthful of the Jae-yuk-bokkeum.

Heat rose. A hot flame began to rise from within, warming his body. The stimulating flavor created by the garlic, green onions, and the mysterious red powder awakened Han-su’s dormant tongue, and the poison of the red powder, transmitted from his internal organs to his blood vessels and then to his skin, collided and perished with the poison of the Mi-won according to the principle of fighting poison with poison.

"Three years. It was such a long time."

Han-su clapped his hands together with all his might, pouring out the resentment he had suppressed all this time.

Clap! Clap-clap-clap!

"Han-su is clapping!!"

"Park Su-son Han-su has clapped for the first time in three years!"

"It is the best dish, Great Chef Jang-geum!! It is your victory!! It is the victory of the Gourmet Forest!!"

"Don't make me laugh! Han-su, you haven't even tasted my dish yet. Who gave you the right to declare victory!"

"Watch your tongue. Just as I declared your victory with my own mouth three years ago, I do not play with the taste of food. The reason I haven't eaten your dish is because it is not worth eating compared to Great Chef Jang-geum's. If you don't believe me, try eating it yourself."

"Fine. I will judge for myself how great your dish is."

Dae-i-da-ra, who had tasted Jang-geum's Jae-yuk-bokkeum, asked back as if he could not believe it.

"How on earth is such a taste..."

"Do you admit your defeat, Dae-i-da-ra?"

"Dae-i-da-ra, you too must have regained your sense of taste. You must realize it now. The eternal ingredient you possess is not food, but poison."

"..." Dae-i-da-ra could not bring himself to refute her and merely dropped his head. And after some time had passed, he burst into mad laughter toward Jang-geum, as if he had lost his mind.

"Kwahahaha!! Kwahahahaha!!"

"You say I must realize it? Great Chef Jang-geum, I knew from the very beginning that Mi-won was poison. Do you think I wouldn't know when I ended up like this?"

Dae-i-da-ra rolled up his sleeve to reveal his emaciated wrist. He, too, had been addicted.

"If you knew, then why?"

"Because it would be too unfair if only I were eating it, wouldn't it? What did I, what did our Gourmet Forest ever do so wrong?"

"Hah, a true heretic." Did he intend to take all those people with him because he didn't want to die alone? At the pure malice [惡意] that had no reason, Seonjo read the next part with a grim expression.

"Great Chef Jang-geum, I acknowledge it. This battle is your victory. It truly is a magnificent dish. Setting aside the fact that you neutralized the poison of Mi-won, the taste itself was truly incredible."

"Dae-i-da-ra. It is not too late even now. You can repent for your sins and start over from the beginning. Come with me and make this dish for the people of Beijing..."

"No, it's already too late. For me, and for you."

Dae-i-da-ra, who had cut off Jang-geum's words, looked back and forth between his own arms and the people in the stands with eyes filled with remorse. Then, as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his mind were made up, he showed a bright smile. His smile was truly grotesque.

"Look at these arms. Not only I, but the Gourmet Forest will also die soon. So we prepared one final arrangement."

"Arrangement?"

"Yes, an arrangement. We dissolved all the Mi-won we possessed into the wells of Beijing."

"What? What did you say? Dae-i-da-ra, you are truly insane! Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

"You speak pathetic words, Han-su. Because if we die, you won't be able to eat Mi-won anymore."

"Kik-kik, I was just being considerate so you could eat your fill while you can, why?"

"By the way, Great Chef Jang-geum, which do you think is faster: you cooking alone to save those people, or the thirsty people drinking the well water?"

"My god." Dissolving poison in the wells? How on earth was she supposed to handle this? At the runaway development, Seonjo turned the page without even breathing.

"Great Chef Jang-geum, in the end, you won't be able to save anyone. No, if it's those shameless people, they might even curse you and grab you by the collar, demanding you save them first. Just like they did to me."

"How... to do such a thing while wearing the skin of a human..."

"The ones who weren't human were those who pointed fingers at me when I fell! They are just paying the fair price."

"You... devil..."

Jang-geum, frustrated by Dae-i-da-ra's evil deeds, felt the strength leave her legs and slumped to the ground.

"There is no way to handle this. If they don't drink water, they die. If they drink water, they die. There is not enough time, supplies, or personnel to treat all those people in Beijing with Jae-yuk-bokkeum."

At the moment when destruction was right before her eyes.

Light [光明] returned once again.

"Get up, Jang-geum. You are my daughter. Get up, take your knife, and light the fire."

"I knew you would!!"

"...Mother?"

"Jang-geum, are you tired? Do you think you can't win this time either?"

"Mother... I really did my best this time..."

"I know. I have been watching over you from the underworld, wondering if my daughter was sick or if she was hurting herself."

The stepmother who appeared before Jang-geum caressed her cheek warmly once again.

"Mom believes in you. You can do it. So, find your strength and get up."

"Mother... but alone, I can never..."

At Jang-geum's tearful voice, her stepmother smiled while slowly stroking her hair.

"Haha, Jang-geum. You are not alone anymore."

She said:

"Jang-geum, look to your left."

When Jang-geum turned her head to look to the left at her mother's words, she heard a familiar voice that had been with her for the past few years.

"Art of Benevolence: Dimensional Gate!!"

A bright yellow light twinkled like stars in the empty air, and a door opened. One by one, five, ten, twelve, and then countless starlights twinkled as those she had truly missed passed through the door toward Jang-geum.

"Si-woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"To me, cooking is murder."

"The meat is not cooked evenly."

Si-woo, Dang Hwa-rin, Ahn Seung-jae, and the chefs of the Ming Dynasty who had been scattered far and wide.

"Great Chef Jang-geum, you are still rolling in the mud like a flounder. It is a truly correct choice."

"Ho-ho, I’ve lived a long life and seen all sorts of things. By the way, I only know how to make Gukbap (soup and rice), will that be of any help?"

"It must be braised. I will braise everything."

Park Chang-gi, Kim Jeom-rye, and the Joseon chefs who had participated in the Blue-White Cooking Competition while training together.

"There are many patients. Set up the wards and handle the situation quickly."

"Yes, Royal Physician. All medical officers of the Royal Infirmary, follow the orders of Minister Jin Gwang-ryeol!"

"I, No Min-guk, will perform surgery on this patient."

The medicinal herbs and Joseon physicians brought by Jin Gwang-ryeol.

"Great Chef Jang-geum, are you alright?"

"My husband!!"

"I tried to find you as soon as I heard the news, but it seems our paths crossed. I don't know how much I have searched for you over the past three years."

Even Min Jeong-ho, whom she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠missed in her dreams.

The starlight that had twinkled slowly faded.

Watching the fading starlight, her mother smiled brightly.

"Our daughter, you have to get up now, right?"

"Yes... Mother."

Jang-geum stood up once again, took her knife, and lit the fire. And she shouted to everyone.

"Gourmet Forest!! Assemble!!"

"Waaaaaaaah!!!"

"Taa-heuk!!" It was dizzying emotion. This was it. The grand epic spanning five volumes, from Jang-geum of the Shik-geuk to the Little Prince and Jin Gwang-ryeol, was created solely for this scene. To confront the heretics eating away at the nation, everyone must join forces. Heo Gyun, you have written so many books just to tell me this story. Seonjo wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes with his sleeve and read the next part.

The Gourmet Forest, with everyone joined, quickly handled the situation in Beijing.

Jin Gwang-ryeol, the Joseon physicians, and the Ming Dynasty physicians who had rushed over upon hearing the news set up wards and categorized the patients.

The chefs fed the Jae-yuk-bokkeum to the urgent patients identified by the physicians in order, and those who regained their sense of taste no longer sought Mi-won.

Because White Hawk had supplied ingredients and water from other villages through his Art of Benevolence, Beijing regained peace without a single person dying.

Dae-i-da-ra and the Gourmet Forest were captured by the constables and dragged to prison, so justice had finally been realized.

"Haa, it turned out truly well." It was a truly good conclusion to complete the grand epic. Of course, there was also a sense of regret. If everything had been poured into it like this, there would be no more stories to tell. Thinking that the Shik-geuk of Jang-geum, which he had cried and laughed with for the past three years, was ending, Seonjo turned the page, unable to hide his disappointment.

However.

There were those who were watching this situation from afar.

The man standing at their lead said as if it were interesting.

"Interesting. I unsealed the Storm Dragon, brought down the Smallpox God, and even threw the legendary ingredient as bait, yet they still survived like cockroaches."

"I apologize, Elder. It seems this happened because I was incompetent."

"No. I just said it, so it’s fine. Besides, hasn't the blood sacrifice been completed through the 100 years of the void?"

Only.

The man watching the wards of Beijing said bluntly, as if something didn't please him.

"That girl is a bit annoying. Did she say her name was Great Chef Jang-geum?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"Right... Kill that girl. As miserably as possible."

"I will obey your command."

"?" What kind of insane development was this? Was there a mastermind controlling everything? That he had unsealed the Storm Dragon for White Hawk, brought down the Smallpox God for Jin Gwang-ryeol, and told the Gourmet Forest about the legendary ingredient—was all of that the work of the mastermind? Furthermore, what was the 100 years of the void, and what was the blood sacrifice!! And what? Kill Jang-geum? What on earth is this? No matter how much he chewed on it, Seonjo turned the page in a hurry at the runaway development where not even a single prediction was possible. As always, a truly empty sentence greeted Seonjo.

"To be continued in the next chapter..."

Seonjo shouted again, his voice cracking.

"THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!"