Chapter 111
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111
Yoo Seong-un had been terrified that he might be served a feast of the gods—perhaps Kraken tentacles stir-fried in Phoenix blood and garnished with a Haechi’s head. Contrary to his fears, however, the meal Gio prepared was simple.
‘…No, it’s just ordinary.’
And it was abundant.
A large grilled fish sat in the center of the table, alongside a steaming dish of braised meat in a rich brown sauce. There was a vegetable stir-fry that seemed to contain tomatoes, onions, and bok choy. A bowl of rice was heaped high into a perfect dome, accompanied by a fragrant bone broth soup sprinkled with green onions and seafood.
‘The combination seems a bit odd, like a meal thrown together with whatever was on hand, but…’
For some reason, it was a spread made entirely of creatures that had never been discovered on Earth.
“…”
Yoo Seong-un did not use his Appraisal Skill. It wasn’t a wise decision, per se, but he had a feeling that if he read the exact details and effects of the food, he wouldn’t be able to eat with his sanity intact.
“…It looks delicious.”
“It will be.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
He resigned himself to his fate.
‘Surely Gio won’t lock me up in this cabin.’
It wasn’t that he wasn’t worried. Hadn’t the Hunter named Park Eun-gyeom been forced to pay a price to leave after staying in the ‘Void City’ for just a few days, nearly turning into a complete painting? Strictly speaking, this place was also a painting.
In Greek mythology, Persephone was bound to Hades’s underworld over a few pomegranate seeds. In a world where gods were real, Yoo Seong-un couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of unease.
‘Still, Hunter Cha Ah-ra ate here and she was allowed to go home.’
He’d already heard that Gio had personally invited her over for a meal. The spread didn’t seem much different from this one, so eating it probably wouldn’t cause him any major problems either.
“…You’re really good at cooking.”
However, what Yoo Seong-un truly worried about was whether he could leave this painting in the same state he had entered it. Seeing as his already decent eyesight had become even sharper, it seemed he was already past the point of no return. At this rate, he’d soon be able to observe living cells with his naked eyes.
“You’re quite generous with your portions, too.”
“Is the fish a bit too big?”
“Is the fish the only thing that looks big to you?”
Of course, he was surprised by the fish sitting proudly in the center of the table. For one, it wasn’t an aquatic creature Yoo Seong-un recognized, and its size was comparable to a plump, in-season winter yellowtail.
“The fish is definitely big, but…”
Yoo Seong-un’s gaze shifted to the braised meat.
“…that fellow over there is no joke either.”
“It’s Dongpo Pork.”
“Are we thinking of two completely different versions of Dongpo Pork?”
“I made it while thinking of the Dongpo Pork one often finds in Korea.”
“Just what kind of Korea did you visit?”
Even Chinese restaurants didn’t serve it like that.
“No joke, that’s the size of a wedding cake.”
“A three-tiered Dongpo Pork…”
“That is a phrase I have truly never heard in my entire life.”
He also wondered how Gio had managed to make Dongpo Pork in such a short amount of time.
“To be honest, I don’t know much about cooking, but doesn’t Dongpo Pork take a long time to make?”
Simply put, Dongpo Pork was a Chinese dish made by braising pork belly for hours. It was usually cut into cubes and simmered slowly in a soy-based sauce, renowned for a texture so tender it could be chewed with just one’s gums.
“When I asked for it at a Chinese restaurant before, they told me I’d have to wait a day.”
“They must not have made it in advance. It would have been fresh and warm Dongpo Pork.”
“We can go together next time if you want. But no, seriously, what is this…?”
“Thanks to the help of Honey and Father, the preparation time was shortened.”
“Ah, I see. I understand perfectly. So… you’re saying it’s safe for me to eat this?”
‘This really doesn’t seem like something a human should eat, does it?’
‘A three-tiered Dongpo Pork created by the joint efforts of a Child of the Origin and the Sun God?’
Whatever it was, he felt like eating it would require him to forfeit his humanity.
“…By the way, when Hunter Cha Ah-ra stopped by…”
“Yes, she did.”
“Back then, did the elders help out like this? With the meal prep?”
“At that time, I handled it entirely on my own.”
“Then why for me?”
“Pardon?”
“No, I misspoke.”
‘Why on earth are you doing this to me?’
‘I can’t put my mind at ease if you do this.’
Just moments ago, he had been comforting himself with the thought, ‘Well, Hunter Cha Ah-ra was fine, so I’ll be fine too.’ But hearing that the preparation process was different this time, he couldn’t help but worry.
‘This is exactly why these so-called gods have absolutely no consideration for humans.’
Yoo Seong-un barely managed to swallow his sigh.
“…I’ll eat well.”
“I hope you enjoy it.”
“I don’t know why, but I think I see greed in your eyes.”
‘So you’re capable of showing greed, too.’
“I’m learning a lot about you today.”
Considering Gio’s nature, it was likely just him mimicking a human emotion to better fit the situation, but still.
“Just what kind of greed is that?”
“I know this might sound rude, but I really wish you would gain some weight…”
“I don’t know if it’s rude, but are you trying to turn me into a pig before I leave?”
“…”
“Gio?”
Just as the meal was about to begin, a sudden interruption occurred.
“Hyaaaaaaaaah—!”
“Oh dear.”
The Anti-Cat, Dana, hissed fiercely at the human, Yoo Seong-un.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. Our little one is very shy around strangers, so she was rude. I’ll make sure she reflects on her behavior.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s only natural for a monster to dislike humans. Besides, seeing an Anti-Cat—which usually runs away at the mere sight of a person—hiss like that is a rare experience…”
Yoo Seong-un actually welcomed it. The hiss from that Jewel Cat was proof that he was, in fact, still human.
At any rate, the meal truly began.
“…Oh.”
It was delicious.
“This is truly a heavenly feast.”
“You flatter me.”
“I was being quite objective.”
Although he was still slightly worried about the aftereffects, the food Gio had prepared was truly, unbelievably delicious. Without a shred of exaggeration, he felt his tongue rejoicing from the rice alone.
“The color of the rice is unusual.”
“I cooked it with vegetable broth.”
“Ah, you can cook rice that way?”
“It’s also delicious when cooked with bone broth or seafood broth.”
“Fascinating.”
He had always assumed rice was only ever cooked with water. It was a strange thing to think about an existence like the Origin, but Gio was indeed multi-talented.
“…”
Even this strangely friendly demeanor was likely a kind of camouflage, meant to help him blend in with humans.
‘…Then again, there’s no better way to lower a creature’s guard than a meal. Cooking it yourself builds a high level of intimacy.’
He wondered if this was why Gio enjoyed cooking and giving gifts, especially since his true form was so terrifying and overwhelming.
‘It certainly worked. These days, quite a few of the people searching for the Black Cloak are just wandering around hoping to get a taste of the snacks he hands out.’
In that sense, this culinary skill could be considered bait to lure humans. Yoo Seong-un nodded to himself.
“It’s so perfectly fluffy. Not a single grain is squished.”
“I cooked it with great care. I’m glad you like it.”
“I really have no idea how you cook rice like this.”
The texture, firm and distinct like rice prepared by a renowned sushi master, yet retaining a pleasant stickiness just short of being mushy, was a joy in itself.
“The umami is incredible, too.”
Even though it didn’t seem heavily seasoned, the subtle, unique bitterness of the vegetables, the umami that flowed from them, and a deep, rich aroma reminiscent of sipping hot fish cake broth on a winter day were all absolutely fantastic.
“What did you brew the vegetable broth with?”
“A bit of this and that.”
“…”
He had barely begun to enjoy the food before a sense of foreboding washed over him again. He realized once more that it was impossible to enjoy a peaceful meal inside the belly of the Origin.
“…Is it just my imagination? Why do I feel like my body is getting healthier right now?”
“I’m glad the herbs paid off.”
“Herbs? What kind of herbs?”
No, wait.
Herbs from the Origin?
“You used that to cook rice?”
“Isn’t it delicious?”
“Do people usually use medicinal herbs just to make food taste good?”
“There’s no reason not to.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Yoo Seong-un accepted it.
“There really is no reason…”
At least, not for Gio, who was the Origin itself.
‘I feel like I’m eating bread baked with a 500-year-old elixir.’
While there was certainly no reason it couldn’t be done, that didn’t stop him from thinking it was absurdly extravagant. If Earth’s apothecaries found out about this, they would weep tears of blood.
“…I guess I can just think of it as taking medicine in a delicious way.”
“I don’t think medicine that’s good for the body necessarily has to be bitter.”
“Yeah, that’s a good way to look at it.”
If he thought of it not as making delicious rice out of medicine, but as making delicious medicine out of rice…
‘…Still, I feel a bit of indigestion. I’ve just realized that even a meal can transcend the human realm.’
Gio probably considered himself a normal human, but for Yoo Seong-un, who was experiencing this meal firsthand, it was nothing short of overwhelming. Yet, it was so damn delicious that he couldn’t bring himself to put down his spoon.
“Sigh…”
He knew this was bait to bewitch humans, but Gio really needed to be a little less good at cooking. Humanity was in danger.
“This would make amazing rice balls.”
“They are. If you have to go on a business trip later, I’ll pack some for you.”
“No, well… yeah. Thanks.”
Since it was delicious, he wouldn’t refuse.
‘It doesn’t feel like my body is undergoing any drastic changes just from eating this.’
Compared to the tea he drank earlier that had sharpened his eyesight, this rice, which merely made his body feel refreshed, was practically normal. It was just enough to blow away the fatigue accumulated from working overtime for several days.
‘Actually, that’s incredible in its own right, but I’ve been through so much that I can keep my composure.’
Honestly, the rice alone was terrifying, but with the Origin who had prepared it staring intently at him, he couldn’t just sit there. Yoo Seong-un slowly turned his gaze to the fish.
“…”
“Would you like me to debone it for you?”
“No, it’s fine.”
He was just taken aback by its majestic size once again.
“What kind of fish is this?”
“It’s a fish that lives in the ‘Deep Sea Kingdom’.”
“I see. That makes sense.”
Plenty of guilds used dungeons as fisheries or farms. With that in mind, it was understandable that Gio would source ingredients from the ‘Deep Sea Kingdom’.
“It’s a species I’ve never seen before…”
“If you were to compare it to Earth fish, it’s like a mix of salmon and halibut.”
“What on earth does that even mean?”
“It’s a fish with a strong salmon flavor but the texture of halibut.”
“The universe is truly vast.”
Yoo Seong-un flaked off a piece of the crisply grilled fish.
“…It definitely has an oily, orange hue.”
Still, it didn’t look quite as greasy as salmon.
“Oh, it’s so moist.”
“I changed the firewood for the hearth. How is the aroma?”
“Ah, so this was roasted in a hearth. It’s wonderful.”
He had wondered how on earth Gio had cooked such a massive fish, but it seemed he had used a hearth. Just as Gio said, a slightly bitter, smoky aroma wafted up, masking the fishy smell characteristic of seafood.
Whatever he had done, the texture was incredibly tender. The skin, clearly roasted in a hearth, was as crispy as a thin cracker, while the flesh inside flaked away as softly as a thick, well-cooked piece of hairtail.
“It’s slightly tangy? And there’s a hint of spice. You didn’t just grill it plain, did you?”
“I marinated the fish in green tangerine, lemongrass, and chili juice before grilling it.”
“Are you a chef?”
He had no idea how many humans Gio planned to seduce with this culinary talent. No, seriously. Just because the subject was a simple dinner table, it looked harmless, but this was genuinely dangerous.
‘Humans who don’t even know of the Origin’s existence shouldn’t be allowed to feel so close to him.’
Regardless of what Yoo Seong-un was thinking, Gio continued to explain the dish as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Lemons are good, but I thought an oily fish like this needed a touch of bitterness…”
“…”
As the young man spoke, a hint of excitement flickered across his calm face. He looked quite pleased with himself.
It was clear that Gio had a genuine passion for cooking. He knew it was pure goodwill, but the goodwill of such a massive Origin could be poison to humans.
‘Starting with me, this goodwill is already too much to handle…’
He had no idea what to do about this.
“…I have a lot to say about your expertise, but what is this sauce bowl next to the fish?”
“It’s a special sauce for the fish, made with a base of lemon, soy sauce, and chili.”
“You’re such a professional.”
Even as he worried about how to guard against Gio’s goodwill, it suited him so absurdly well that a chuckle escaped his lips.
The Origin’s human persona was likely not meant to cause harm. At the same time, calling it a ‘persona’ felt wrong. It didn’t seem right to condemn Gio—who genuinely loved cooking and sharing gifts—as a fake.
“Good grief…”
Yoo Seong-un suppressed a sigh and spoke with his characteristic, easygoing smile.
“It tasted so good on its own that I thought I was supposed to eat it plain.”
“Is there a problem?”
“I feel like I missed out by not dipping it in the sauce earlier.”
“Thank you for the enthusiastic compliment.”
“Why don’t you open a restaurant on Earth? I think it would be incredibly popular.”
“I don’t think running a business suits me.”
“I suppose so.”
The aspects of Gio’s identity revealed so far were mostly painter, priest, doctor, and teacher. He seemed to be either a free spirit or someone who preferred working within an ordered system, so Yoo Seong-un couldn’t exactly push him to run a business.
‘A restaurant run by the Origin would be a spectacle. Every single Gardener on Earth would gather there. The catastrophe triggered by that would certainly be interesting…’
Yoo Seong-un was slowly losing his mind.
‘…Yeah, who cares who made the food as long as it’s delicious.’
It really was delicious.
“This vegetable stir-fry is…”
“It’s stir-fried with tomatoes, bok choy, onions, garlic, and other ingredients.”
“I guess what I’ve been eating until now weren’t real vegetables.”
Tasting the crunchy onion, Yoo Seong-un nodded.
“It’s sweet.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“And slightly sharp.”
“Is it just right?”
“Yeah, it’s perfect.”
The onion retained its characteristic sharp bite, yet having been stir-fried over high heat, it was bursting with sweet juice. It was so juicy and crisp that it felt less like a vegetable and almost like a fruit.
“At this rate, even stir-frying just the onions would be delicious.”
“How is the tomato?”
“…Why is this so sweet?”
If this tomato were exported, the debate between the tomato-as-a-vegetable camp and the tomato-as-a-fruit camp would be instantly settled. The tomato Gio had stir-fried was definitively a fruit. At this point, it felt like eating a warm fruit salad.
“This is also the first time I’ve had a vegetable stir-fry that isn’t greasy.”
“Is there a reason for a vegetable stir-fry to be greasy?”
“Because people usually use a lot of oil.”
“Then it would be greasy, yes.”
“I definitely prefer this style.”
Prepared with minimal oil, the stir-fry was crisp rather than mushy, the smoky flavor of the fire stronger than that of the oil. The crunchy vegetables, carrying a slightly bitter, charred aroma as if hit with a blowtorch, boasted a freshness completely different from typical stir-fries that turned soggy from the heat.
The seasoning wasn’t heavy either. It was a side dish that highlighted the natural flavors of the ingredients, enhanced with just a touch of salt, pepper, and a sophisticated hint of slightly burnt soy sauce.
“It’s really almost like a salad.”
Yoo Seong-un finally picked up the long-awaited Dongpo Pork.
“…”
“Kwoo.”
The teddy bear was looking at Yoo Seong-un with anticipation.
‘…What exactly is he expecting? What kind of reaction should I give, and what must I do to walk out of here as an average human?’
For some reason, Gio looked like an old man who had discovered a talent for cooking late in life, eagerly awaiting a reaction to his first served meal.
Exasperated by his own analogy, Yoo Seong-un dutifully broke off a piece of the Dongpo Pork and placed it on his rice. It was so tender he had to use a spoon instead of chopsticks.
‘This is practically pudding.’
As he took a spoonful of it with the rice…
“…”
Yoo Seong-un briefly contemplated spitting it out.
‘…I don’t think this is food I can handle. What do I do?’
To an outsider, this might sound like a ridiculous exaggeration, but it wasn’t. He was feeling a genuine sense of crisis. For the first time, Yoo Seong-un realized that food being too delicious could actually be a problem.
Fortunately, he didn’t actually spit it out. Not only would that be rude to the one who prepared the meal, but it was also simply too delicious to let go of.
“…They say humans are but beasts, swayed by instinct…”
“Why on earth would you say that in the middle of a meal?”
“I just realized I’m not much different.”
‘So this is why so many humans in legends and myths made such foolish choices.’
‘Because they couldn’t let go of human greed.’
It was a situation that made even a Gardener, who knew the dangers of mystical tales, nod in understanding.
“Mmh…”
In the end, even after finishing the meal, Yoo Seong-un did not become immortal.
“You’re really good at cooking.”
“You’ve been saying that for a while now.”
“I’m saying you’re too good.”
“Thank you?”
“You can just be moderately good.”
“You’re very good at giving compliments, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“…”
‘No, I literally meant you should be less good.’
‘I don’t know if you’re doing this on purpose or not, but your cooking threatens human identity.’
Having enjoyed a wonderfully delicious meal, Yoo Seong-un couldn’t bring himself to say that out loud.