"Why Not Just Ram Right Into Her?"
"Why not just ram right into her?" Seonwoo Seol said, spitting out those terrifying words after listening to my brief summary of the conversation between On Ban-hui and me.
"Ram into the Sword Queen? Lady Seonwoo, I didn't realize you were such a terrifying person."
"The Sword Queen might be a giant of the Orthodox faction, but Chef Yoon, you didn't do anything wrong, did you?"
"Doing nothing wrong and ramming into her are on two completely different levels."
What a terrifying thought. It's not like 'Socheonma' stands for 'Soviet Heavenly Demon,' yet she casually suggests starting a literal revolution.
Meanwhile, Gongson Yeongji, who had been listening to our conversation, bowed her head deeply. "I'm so sorry, Chef Yoon..."
"Why are you apologizing? The ones in the wrong are the Sword Queen and Lady Yang."
"But still... Chef Yoon, you have nothing to do with this..."
"What do you mean you have nothing to do with this? I went through all that trouble to get you the Great Clarity Elixir and feed it to you. There's no way I'm letting the Sword Pavilion just snatch you away."
It wasn't like I helped Man Hanseok and Gongson Yeongji expecting something in return, but I couldn't just stand by and watch them get poached either. It's not like I could embroider 'Supported by Yoon Gomyung' onto the kids' clothes. Seriously.
Patting the back of Yeongji, who looked absolutely consumed by guilt, Man Hanseok asked, "Have you thought of a dish yet?"
"No, not yet. That's why I asked for a week's time."
I didn't know some ultimate dish that would perfectly satisfy everyone's tastes. I just knew a lot of recipes; it wasn't like I had been a professional chef back in Korea. Still, I wanted to make something that would blow the mind of that cheeky Sword Queen. Ordinary food wouldn't cut it. I needed something that would make her eyes pop. The problem was, if I already had such a dish in mind, I would have used it already instead of agonizing over it like this.
"Ugh." As I crossed my arms and sank into deep, agonizing thought, Seonwoo Seol, unable to watch me suffer any longer, made a suggestion. "Let's go drink some tea."
"Tea? All of a sudden?"
"Do you think a good idea will just pop up while you're groaning in the corner of your room? It might be better to go to a teahouse, take in the wonderful aroma of tea, look at the scenery, and think there."
That actually... made sense. Indeed, what was the point of groaning in my room? It would be better to think while having a bite of some snacks.
Leaving the academy immediately, we headed to a teahouse in Poeun County, where we fell under Seonwoo Seol's command.
"Give me the Duyun Maojian, and give these two the Yunwu tea. And one Baihao Yinzhen, please."
"Yes, my lady. I will bring them right away."
"Oh, and bring some subyeong as well. Three for each person. The ones filled with red bean paste."
Seonwoo Seol seemed to be a regular. A cascade of green tea names I had never heard of rolled off her tongue. Duyun Maojian? Yunwu? What on earth were those? The only green teas I knew were brown rice green tea and that brand that sounded like a famous British detective, Sherlock.
"But three subyeong each? Those sweet things?"
"Do you have any idea how much women love sweet things? Honestly, if I were by myself, I would have ordered five."
"Even so, that seems like it'll be way too sweet."
"Taking a bite of a subyeong filled with smooth, clinging red bean paste, and washing it down with a sip of bitter, fragrant green tea is heaven. I declare green tea and subyeong to be the absolute perfect pairing."
Hmm. Come to think of it, it sounds a lot like the classic pairing of a hot Americano and a donut. Indeed, women tended to love desserts far more than men did.
Soon, the green tea and subyeong were distributed to each of us. I picked up a cup of green tea, from which a deep aroma wafted, and a crispy subyeong.
"Don't eat the subyeong first. You have to drink the green tea first."
"Ah, right." Following Seonwoo Seol's instructions, I took a sip of the green tea. *Gulp.* The first sip was mild and smooth. It wasn't heavy like the typical green tea we usually think of, nor was it very bitter. However, its fragrance was incredibly refreshing.
Now that I had tasted the tea, it was time for the subyeong. I took a bite of the freshly baked, steaming hot pastry. *Crunch.* The crispy outer crust and the warm red bean paste welcomed me. There was no cloying aftertaste, only a bold, rich sweetness that lingered on the palate.
Seonwoo Seol's round eyes darted toward the green tea in front of me. Did she want me to take a sip while the pastry was still in my mouth? I took another sip of the tea.
"Mmm." The sweetness lingering in my mouth vanished, replaced by the subtle fragrance and smooth flavor of the green tea. This was actually excellent.
"How is it? Good, right?"
"As expected, Lady Seonwoo knows her stuff." Seeing Gongson Yeongji's eyes widen, she seemed to love it too. Man Hanseok, on the other hand, downed his green tea in one shot and popped the subyeong—which was smaller than his fist—whole into his mouth.
"This is a good combination, but I think I prefer subyeong filled with meat."
"I figured as much." Men definitely tended to prefer hearty, filling things over light snacks. If only there were lighter desserts besides subyeong...
"..." Wait. I haven't made a single dessert since coming to the Central Plains, have I?
"Lady Seonwoo."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Does really every woman love that kind of combination?"
"I'm absolutely sure. Just look at Yeongji's stuffed cheeks."
Just as Seonwoo Seol said, Gongson Yeongji's cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel's. Aigoo, so cute. No, now was not the time to be cooing. I had decided on the dish for the Sword Queen, On Ban-hui. If I gave her a taste of a dessert that didn't even exist in this world yet, she would have no choice but to acknowledge me. Just you wait. I was going to prepare an incredible dessert that not only women but even Korean men had tried at least once.
A few days later. Dressed in my white chef's uniform for the first time in a while, I entered the Student Council Room looking as neat and tidy as possible.
"You said you would give me a taste of your food, so why did you tell me to eat lunch before coming?" Seated at the head of the table, the Sword Queen, On Ban-hui, asked me with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
"That is because this is a dish meant to be eaten when one is already full."
"A dish eaten when full?"
"Usually, it is called dessert."
"Do you truly believe the dessert you prepared can overcome a full stomach?"
"Yes." I answered firmly. I could say with absolute confidence that there were very few people who would dislike this.
"First, please enjoy some tea." *Snap!* With a flick of my fingers, a maid appeared, scurrying in with an empty cup and a teapot.
"The tea prepared for today is a strongly brewed Longjing tea."
"Longjing tea already has a strong flavor on its own, yet you brewed it even stronger?"
"Only then can you truly appreciate the real flavor of this dessert."
As the maid poured the Longjing tea, On Ban-hui took a sip and nodded. "It is indeed brewed quite strong."
It wasn't a tea meant to be drunk so strong, but to pair with today's dish, it had to be bitter enough to bite. On the cart I had brought in, a round bowl sat upside down. As I carefully lifted the bowl, today's dessert revealed itself from underneath.
"Its appearance is highly unusual. It looks like an uncut sweet jelly, yet its texture resembles a cake."
Atop a rectangular, golden-yellow block, a layer of pure white was piled high like a snowfield in the dead of winter. And right in the center of that white expanse sat a plump, red, tart wild raspberry. It was my first time doing food plating and decoration since coming to the Central Plains, but as the saying goes, a good-looking cake tastes good too.
"What is its name?"
"It is called iced Bangdango."
If translated into modern terms, it would be an iced pound cake. True to its name, it was a dessert made by combining exactly one pound each of eggs, sugar, flour, and butter—a treat that had been dearly loved by Europeans for centuries. Of course, using only those ingredients would make it too dry, so I added some tart citron juice, and mixed dried plums into the batter. I didn't just toss them in, either; I soaked them in Sichuan's famous Jabryang-ju beforehand, which created a whole new dimension of flavor. The intense sweetness of the Jabryang-ju combined with the tartness of the dried plums made it a taste perfectly suited for adults. Naturally, one slice contained the dried plums, while the other was a plain pound cake.
As for the icing, I ground up sugar—which I had bought by emptying my own pockets—into a fine powder and mixed it with starch and egg whites. To eliminate any fishy egg odor, I squeezed in some seasonal citron juice. Then, I cut the oven-baked pound cake into neat rectangular blocks, blanketed the top with a thick layer of icing, placed a few wild raspberries on top, and let it set. That was it.
Naturally, it was a dessert she had never seen before in her life. On Ban-hui sat perfectly still, staring at the pound cake, unable to take her eyes off it no matter what I said. *Hehehe.* Yes, this was exactly the reaction I wanted. But it wasn't time yet. The true power of this dish would only reveal itself the moment it entered her mouth.
"How should I eat this?"
"You may use chopsticks, but eating it with your hands is perfectly fine as well." Keeping my expression as nonchalant as possible, I pushed the pound cake toward On Ban-hui. She used her chopsticks to cut the cake into a bite-sized piece, as if slicing tofu. *Crack.* The sound of the hardened icing breaking was incredibly satisfying. On Ban-hui carefully placed the sliced piece into her mouth. And then...
"...!" Her expression was the exact replica of Gongson Yeongji's and Seonwoo Seol's when I had given them a test bite earlier. An ultimate, intense sweetness—completely different from the red bean subyeong of the Central Plains—must be exploding in her mouth.
"It is even better when paired with the tea." At my words, On Ban-hui immediately took a sip of the strongly brewed Longjing tea, then let out a sigh of pure ecstasy. "Haa..."
Since I couldn't serve On Ban-hui something I hadn't even tasted myself, I had used myself as a guinea pig beforehand. The combination of the deep, bitter Longjing tea and the tongue-melting sweetness of the pound cake created the ultimate harmony. Just as people all over the modern world loved dipping donuts in coffee, the people of the Central Plains would fall head over heels for the pairing of strong Longjing tea and pound cake.
On Ban-hui, who had looked as if she were lost in a dream, quickly snapped out of it when she noticed me watching her with a smirk. Her personality might be rotten, but she truly possessed a face beautiful enough to be hailed as the greatest beauty of Zhejiang.
"...It is certainly a dessert unlike any I have ever tasted before."
"You still have one more to try. Please taste the one on the right as well."
"What is the one on the right?"
"I added dried plums soaked in alcohol." This time, On Ban-hui sliced it a bit faster and popped it straight into her mouth. She seemed to quite like this one too, as a pleased smile spread across her face before she caught herself looking at me and quickly schooled her expression.
The greatest strength of Jabryang-ju was its sweet flavor profile, which paired exceptionally well with fruit. The sweetness of the liquor reduced the tartness of the soft, chewy dried plums, while adding the distinct, sophisticated bitterness of alcohol, transforming it into a very mature pound cake. Because of this, children wouldn't be able to eat it, but it was the absolute best dessert for adults.
"Older people or men might prefer this flavor." Hearing her say that, it seemed the Sword Queen preferred the plain pound cake topped with wild raspberries, though she had thoroughly enjoyed the one with dried plums as well.
Looking down at the empty plate with a satisfied smile, On Ban-hui couldn't hide her fluster when she saw me smirking. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you seem satisfied." I expected her to look displeased at my words, but the expression On Ban-hui wore was actually closer to one of relief.
Wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, On Ban-hui said plainly, "I thought a chef could only prepare meals, but I did not expect you to be capable of making such an elegant dessert."
Hehehe, yes. It was incredibly delicious, wasn't it? Suppressing my rising smugness, I clasped my hands in a polite bow to show my gratitude for the compliment. "Thank you for the praise."
"However, the Bangdango you prepared this time felt as though it had a bit of an edge to it."
"Excuse me?"
"I felt a certain attitude behind it, as if you were saying, 'Go on, just try and eat this.'" She had undoubtedly read my expression, but that didn't matter. All I had to do was play dumb.
"You must be mistaken."
"Are you sure you don't just want me to believe it was a mistake?"
"If that were the case, I would have sprinkled chili powder on the Bangdango to give you a real shock." At my words, On Ban-hui let out a short laugh—*Ha!*—and stood up from her seat.
"I have clearly witnessed your resolve, Three-Virtue Chef. It felt as though I had been struck by a heavy blow, much like the Gongson Clan's Scattered Halberd Sword Play."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. I was simply glad to have enjoyed a dessert to my liking after such a long time." Yes! I won! It was On Ban-hui's complete declaration of defeat.
Watching On Ban-hui as she prepared to leave the Student Council Room, I asked her about something I had been curious about. "May I ask you one question before you go?"
"Speak."
"How long do you plan to remain as the Chief of Eastern Hall?"
"Do not worry, at least this semester is guaranteed."
"Pardon?"
"It means I will be seeing you for the foreseeable future. I plan to stop by the Inner Dining Hall every single day and eat all three of my meals there, so look forward to it." On Ban-hui smirked as she spoke. It was a charming smile, but to me, it sent a cold shiver down my spine. Why? Because it felt exactly like a division commander announcing that they would be eating at the military mess hall every single day.
"..." Wait. Did she really just provoke me just to get some delicious food? Like, 'I made Chef Yoon angry! I can control Chef Yoon's emotions!' or something. If that was actually what she was thinking, she was a truly terrifying person. In the end, she got exactly what she wanted.
With On Ban-hui—who felt like she was about to dominate my mental state—finally gone, I loaded the empty plate and teacup onto the cart and prepared to leave.
"...Is it over?" Seonwoo Seol suddenly popped out, poking her head into the Student Council Room.
"What brings you here of all places?"
"I was worried you might have gotten scolded again. But seeing how relaxed your face is, I guess that wasn't the case?"
"On the contrary, I gave her a taste of her own medicine," I said with a chuckle. Seonwoo Seol glanced at me sideways and asked.
"But really, nothing else happened besides that?"
"What else could have happened? I'm not a child, and there's no reason for me to fight with the Sword Queen."
"Not that!"
"The tone of your voice is a bit strange..." Wait, is she implying something romantic between a man and a woman? When I stared at Seonwoo Seol to see if my suspicion was correct, she slightly lowered her gaze. Oh, come on. I can understand her being wary of Dang Go-hye, but this is just ridiculous.
"You do know there's an age gap of over twenty years between the Sword Queen and me, right?"
"...But the Sword Queen is beautiful." Who did she take me for? I couldn't let this slide. Unable to hold back, I reached out and pinched Seonwoo Seol's cheek.
"Wh-whad are you doink?!"
"Let's stop playing around, okay?"
"O-okay, I ged it, so led go."
"I can't quite hear you?"
"It hurts, so led goooo!" Her cheek was incredibly soft. I wanted to keep feeling it, but I controlled myself and let go.
"Stop talking nonsense. Why don't we go eat the remaining Bangdango?"
"Huh? There's more left?"
"Of course. We had to save some for ourselves. I made an extra batch of the Bangdango with dried plums, so let's go eat that."
"I'd love to." Now that things had worked out reasonably well, I should relax and enjoy some pound cake. Hopefully, tomorrow would be just as peaceful.