The Pure Malice of Children
The young girl was being blatantly ignored. To make matters worse, she looked miserable. Her mouth was puckered into a tight triangle as she forced the food down, making me worry she might get indigestion. I wasn't sure if I should step in and roar, "Halt!" or just pretend I hadn't seen anything.
"..." After a brief moment of hesitation, I turned to Mrs. Na, the cook who would likely know the situation best. "Excuse me, do you happen to know who that student eating alone over there is?"
"Ah, Yeongji?"
"Her name is Yeongji?"
"She's the youngest daughter of that clan. Oh, Chef Yoon, how can you be so clueless about the world?"
"That clan?" When I heard "Sega," the only thing that came to mind was the game company with the blue hedgehog. Mrs. Na lowered her voice to a whisper.
"You know, the one. The man who was branded a traitor and executed a few years ago."
"Ah... was his name Jwa Gyeom?"
"Exactly, exactly. And Jwa Gyeom's wife was from the Gongson Clan, wasn't she?"
Hearing Mrs. Na's words, it finally clicked. It hadn't been a matter of the Murim, but rather the Imperial Court, which was why it hadn't immediately come to mind.
Although the Central Plains was a chaotic, dizzying place spinning round and round, there were always one or two upright officials who carried its destiny on their shoulders. Jwa Gyeom was one of those clean-handed officials, serving as an Imperial Inspector, a post responsible for patrolling and auditing specific provinces. In modern terms, he was like a high-ranking secret royal inspector.
He was a man of unyielding integrity, completely immune to bribes or threats, which naturally made him a thorn in the side of corrupt officials. Consequently, the imperial court was flooded with conspiracies against him. Lacking any allies to back him up, Jwa Gyeom was stripped of his office. I heard he was exiled to some remote region in the Southern Barbarian lands.
The problem was that Jwa Gyeom's wife belonged to the Gongson Clan. The Gongson Clan, which had lived with one foot in the government and the other in the Murim, was thrown into utter chaos by this incident, and their fortunes had been steadily declining ever since. Some might wonder how a single person's downfall could ruin an entire clan, but surprisingly, this was the Central Plains—a land where the zombie of guilt by association still writhed.
"We try to look out for her in our own way, but what can simple cooks like us really do? At most, we call her over in secret and slip her a few snacks."
"That is quite tragic."
"I know. She's such a sweet, polite child. It breaks my heart to see her bullied just because of her family's misfortune. What are we going to do?"
The pure, unadulterated malice of children is always the most terrifying. Watching Mrs. Na shake her head and click her tongue, a bitter aftertaste lingered in my mouth as well.
"Oh my, Head Chef! The broth is getting too hot! It's boiling over!"
"Ah."
I had completely forgotten I was boiling broth. If it became too cloudy, the flavor would be ruined, so I quickly pulled a few logs from the hearth to reduce the heat.
The first ingredient I needed to prep was huatui. Similar to the well-known jamón or prosciutto, it was essentially a Central Plains-style cured pork leg. Since huatui is dried until it becomes hard enough to be wielded as a blunt weapon, it is notoriously difficult to slice, no matter how sharp your knife is.
A heavy, Chinese cleaver-style kitchen knife. I wondered what would happen if I channeled sword qi into it and tried to slice this rock-hard huatui. With that thought, I began to infuse my energy.
Sssss...! As I channeled my qi into the cleaver, a faint, pale orange sword qi began to shimmer along the blade. If I pushed too much energy, the knife wouldn't be able to handle it and would shatter; if I pushed too little, the sword qi wouldn't manifest at all. Finding the sweet spot was the hard part, but having handled fist qi before, I already had a decent feel for it.
Now that it was coated in sword qi, it was potentially more dangerous than an obsidian blade—one of the sharpest edges in the world. I carefully sliced the huatui, determined not to become a chef missing a finger.
Shlick.
"...?" There was so little resistance and almost no sound that I wondered if it had even cut through. But looking at the paper-thin slice of huatui, the result was breathtaking. When I placed the slice on the back of my hand, my skin was clearly visible through it.
"Whoa..."
It was absolutely astonishing. When I tasted the slice from the back of my hand, a sharp, intensely salty flavor hit me first, followed immediately by a rich, savory depth. Did slicing it with sword qi magically boost its flavor? Not exactly. However, the texture on the tip of my tongue was incredibly smooth and velvety. Even the saltiness seemed to bloom a bit slower. How exactly did the mechanism of this qi work? Since I had no way to scientifically analyze the results, I couldn't say for sure.
While I was at it... should I try giving it a proper swing? They say all paths lead to the same destination. Since I had the muscle memory from practicing the Baekyak-gwonkyeol, shouldn't I be able to wield a kitchen knife with some level of proficiency? Aiming at the block of huatui, I unleashed a flurry of strikes using the forms of the Baekyak-gwonkyeol.
Whoosh, swish! Where the qi-clad cleaver passed, only perfectly even slices of huatui remained... or so I wished I could say. Unfortunately, it seemed I still needed more practice.
"Tsk."
Looking at the cut pieces, the flaws were glaringly obvious. The thickness of the thin slices was completely uneven. To put it in millimeters, some were two millimeters thick while others were five. I'd either have to practice this in my spare time or find a decent dagger technique to adapt for cooking.
After slicing enough huatui for four servings, I shredded them into threads as thin as silk. Using sword qi definitely made a difference. It felt like slicing meat with a razor blade. As I finely shredded the pre-boiled pork tenderloin, chicken breast, and blanched bamboo shoots, Gye-yeong quietly approached. His eyes went wide as he watched me work.
"Whoa, is that sword qi?"
"Does the thickness look even to you?"
"It really does... Wow."
I handed Gye-yeong a pair of chopsticks. He picked up the ingredients, looking utterly fascinated. Rather than making me feel smug, his reaction actually made me a bit embarrassed.
"But Head Chef, with skills like this, why do you work as a cook?"
"Why? Do you think I could make a fortune taking commissions in the Jianghu with this?"
"Well, yeah... and wouldn't it be amazing to go around cutting down bad guys with this kind of strength?"
"And the moment I run into some supreme arch-demon, I'd be dead meat. There are countless martial artists in the Jianghu far stronger than me. I'm perfectly happy just cooking and living a peaceful life like this."
"Then why did you even learn martial arts in the first place instead of just focusing on cooking?"
"I had my reasons."
I wondered how he would react if I told him I learned martial arts just to escape a cave. Though curious, I decided to keep quiet about anything related to old man Yakseon.
I neatly arranged the piled ingredients in a round bowl, placing a premium shiitake mushroom right in the center. Then, I placed it in a steamer to cook for about fifteen minutes.
"Where are Hanseok and Lady Seonwoo?"
"They said they'd be here within seven or eight minutes."
That was plenty of time. Once the ingredients were done steaming, I took them out, poured in a splash of clear chicken broth with a pinch of salt, and the dish was complete.
"Aren't you going to channel your qi into the steamer or anything?"
"This time, I just want to see if ingredients prepped with sword qi taste any different."
Carrying the food, Gye-yeong and I headed to my office in the Outer Dining Hall, only to find the two of them already making themselves right at home.
"You two just walk right in without my permission now, huh?"
"I was going to wait outside, but Lady Socheonma insisted we wait inside..."
As a flustered Man Hanseok blabbed, Seonwoo Seol jabbed him in the ribs.
"You're not supposed to say that out loud!"
"Ah, right."
"You're teaching him wonderful habits. Hanseok, go grab that table over there."
"Yes, sir!"
When I placed the covered bowl on the table Hanseok brought over, Seonwoo Seol's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"So this is the Gusamsa made with ingredients prepped using sword qi?"
"I haven't properly tasted it yet either, so let's all try it together."
To be honest, I was quite excited myself. What would it taste like? As I lifted the lid, the steaming Gusamsa revealed itself.
The thread-thin white bamboo shoots, pale pink huatui, white pork tenderloin, and chicken breast were arranged in a beautiful circular pattern, with a cross-cut shiitake mushroom anchoring the very center.
"Well then..."
With those words, Seonwoo Seol was the first to raise her chopsticks and take a bite of the Gusamsa.
"...Ah."
Seonwoo Seol let out a soft sigh of admiration, lightly cupping her cheek with one hand. Seeing her react like that after barely chewing a few bites, it had to be incredibly delicious. I couldn't let myself fall behind. I picked up a combination of huatui, tenderloin, and bamboo shoots and popped them into my mouth.
"Mmm!"
It exceeded my expectations. Not only had the broth seeped perfectly into every single ingredient, but the flavors felt remarkably gentler than I had anticipated. It wasn't bland; rather, the taste seemed to bloom on the palate with a slight delay. To use a crude analogy, it was like eating wild herb bibimbap at a mountain temple. Even though it had gochujang and was just as savory as any worldly dish, it somehow felt incredibly wholesome and healthy.
"It tastes like something I've had before, yet completely unique," Gye-yeong remarked with a grin.
"Mmh, it's delicious." Next came Man Hanseok's characteristically brief review. I was well used to it by now.
"What do you think, Lady Seonwoo?"
"It's not like it's the most mind-blowingly intense Gusamsa I've ever had. But... it has this gentle, clean taste that I feel like I'll crave again later. Yes, that's the best way to describe it."
Hmm, I understood what she meant. Prepping ingredients with sword qi definitely seemed to mellow out the flavors. Perhaps this would be useful when I needed to tone down spiciness? Once the four of us had finished about half of the Gusamsa, the scene from earlier crossed my mind, prompting me to ask Man Hanseok.
"Hanseok, do you happen to know a fellow student named Gongson Yeongji?"
"The first-year? Of course. You mean that tiny little girl, the youngest daughter of the Gongson Clan, right?"
"It looks like she's being bullied."
"What? Bullied?"
"I was watching the first-years eat earlier, and she was sitting far away from everyone else on purpose. And some kids were bumping into her as they walked past."
At my words, Man Hanseok's expression turned awkward. Why was he acting like that?
"Uh, Chef Yoon?"
"What is it?"
"Well, that's... kind of what happens to me all the time, so it's a bit awkward for me to step in."
"Ah." Right. Man Hanseok was also dealing with his own share of bullying due to his weight. As I wondered what to do, Seonwoo Seol, who was dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief, spoke up quietly.
"Her name is Gongson Yeongji, right? Since she's from the Gongson Clan, she must use a sword, which means she's in the Eastern Pavilion?"
"That is correct."
"If Young Master Man finds it difficult to step in, why don't I do it?"
Seonwoo Seol suggested nonchalantly. It was a nice offer, but wouldn't having the Little Heavenly Demon step in be like using a cheat code?
"But wouldn't it be a bit difficult for you to approach her, Lady Socheonma?"
"Because I'm from the Sacred Cult?"
"Yes. She's already being ostracized. If she gets help from the Sacred Cult, the orthodox students might target her even more, accusing her of associating with the Demonic Cult."
"...I've never experienced any discrimination while attending the academy, though."
Oh, Lady Seonwoo. Who on earth would dare cross the daughter of the Heavenly Demon? Seeing her like this, she really did seem like a sheltered princess sometimes.
"Can't Young Master Man just step in and handle it decisively?"
"Well, maybe not decisively... but I do have a few friends. If I talk to some of my close classmates, we might be able to sort things out to some extent. Though, of course, there's no guarantee."
Man Hanseok replied to Gye-yeong with a conflicted look. Then again, having gone through similar struggles himself, it wasn't like he couldn't empathize with Gongson Yeongji's plight.
"Still, I don't understand how first-years are already ostracizing someone like this."
"Are you already at the age where you say, 'Back in my day, things weren't like this'? Besides, when has there ever been a time without bullying at the academy?"
"But there really wasn't any back when we were first-years!"
While Seonwoo Seol flatly denied my claim, Man Hanseok offered his own awkward testimony.
"I actually heard stories from back when Lady Socheonma was a student. Apparently, whenever there was even a hint of bullying, the students from the Sacred Cult would immediately shut it down."
"No way, that's a lie!"
"It's true. The Sacred Cult senior who was three years above you and the one a year above you handled everything behind the scenes."
"Three years above... would be the First Division Leader, and one year above would be the Fourth Squad Leader...?"
"Ah, yes. Those are the ones."
Ha, haha. So the only reason the Little Heavenly Demon had such a peaceful academy life was because of her seniors' backing? And there was no way they did that out of the goodness of their hearts; a high-ranking figure in the Demonic Cult must have pulled some strings. Which meant the Heavenly Demon himself definitely knew about it. Ah, I could see exactly how this had played out.
"It seems the Cult Leader cherishes you deeply, Lady Seonwoo."
"My father...?"
"Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense. Why else would the Sacred Cult, which already has a terrible reputation, go out of their way to keep the other students in line?"
"T-that can't be..."
Realizing that the utopian Mutual Righteousness Academy she believed in had never actually existed, Seonwoo Seol slumped in despair. Since Man Hanseok and I had essentially forced her to take the red pill, I felt a little guilty.
As Gye-yeong cleared the dishes, our little gathering naturally came to an end. Man Hanseok stood up and spoke.
"For now, I'll ask around and see what I can find out."
"Thanks. It broke my heart to see such a tiny girl getting pushed around by the other kids. Keep an eye on her."
With that, a dejected Seonwoo Seol also took her leave, and I headed back to the Inner Dining Hall. I thought that would be the end of it, and nothing major would happen.
But later that evening, while I was checking the inventory in the Inner Dining Hall's pantry...
"H-Head Chef!"
I couldn't help but frown as Gye-yeong came bursting in, completely out of breath. What could possibly be so urgent?
"Did they tell you the dining hall has to stay open twenty-four hours a day starting today? If not, take a breath and slow down."
"Oh, come on! I'm running because something terrible has happened!"
"What is it?"
"Young Master Man has been dragged to the Discipline Hall!"
"So what? He could have business there."
"They say he used a lethal strike during a spar and completely pulverized someone! That's why he was taken to the Discipline Hall!"
"Huh?"
I had told him to help that little girl from the Gongson Clan, so why on earth was Man Hanseok the one being summoned to the Discipline Hall? Besides, the idea of that gentle giant using a lethal strike was about as believable as the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple visiting a brothel to drink with women. Putting aside the sheer absurdity of these two conflicting facts, I needed to get to the bottom of this.
"Gye-yeong, finish up the inventory check here. I'm going to go check it out."
I needed to see this for myself. Activating my still unrefined Mad Dog Avoiding Steps, I dashed toward the academy headquarters.