Chapter 13
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13
“……”
The first words out of Gio’s mouth when he woke up were simple.
“…Fruit tea…”
He craved a warm, sweet fruit tea.
“Let’s make some fruit syrup.”
And just like that, his plan for the day was set.
Making fruit syrup wasn’t particularly difficult. All you needed were sterilized tools, fruit grown with care, and an equal amount of sugar.
‘In other words, you need so much sugar that it makes you think, “Ah, so this is how people get diabetes.”’
Almost any fruit could be turned into syrup. As long as the flavors paired well, using two or more types was perfectly fine.
“……”
The first fruit Gio settled on was the Mangdung fruit.
“But if I only use this, it’ll be far too sweet.”
To successfully make a good fruit syrup—which was essentially fruit-infused sugar water—the most crucial element was sourness, followed by bitterness. The sugar alone made it sweet enough to sting the tongue, so adding another purely sweet fruit would just result in something closer to canned fruit. Gio had learned that lesson the hard way after once trying to make syrup with overripe, sugary tangerines.
“Well, that has its own charm, I suppose.”
But what Gio wanted right now was a fruit tea with a sweet base, complemented by a sour and slightly bitter kick. It wasn’t a particularly difficult combination to achieve.
“I’ll need a sour and bitter fruit to pair with the Mangdung fruit.”
Back in the real world, his go-to combination had been strawberry and lemon. While strawberries had a hint of tartness, they were mostly soft and sweet. In contrast, the sour flesh and bitter rind of a lemon added a wonderful depth to the strawberry’s one-dimensional sweetness.
This time would be no different.
“Even though it has some tartness, the Mangdung fruit is definitely on the sweeter side.”
And since that sweetness was so intense, it would be best to pair it with something sour like a lemon or astringent like a yuzu. A fruit syrup with such a complex flavor profile was especially satisfying when enjoyed as a warm tea.
“Honey.”
“Coo-roo-roo.”
“Let’s go.”
With the golden waterbird perched on his shoulder, Gio set off proudly. He spoke to Honey, who had already snuggled into the basket he carried.
“I could just draw a lemon or a yuzu, but things I create that way always taste mediocre… It’s much better to harvest them myself.”
“Coo-roo-rook?”
“It’s more satisfying for me, and it’s better for the syrup. Besides, instead of some bland fruit, I’d rather find a unique one native to this forest.”
Gio could create food just by drawing it. Strangely, however, ingredients or dishes made that way always turned out somewhat bland. They were fine for a quick snack when he was bored, but he refused to use them for a proper recipe. Staking the honor of his grandmother, a culinary legend in their village, Gio vowed to create a truly fantasy-grade fruit syrup.
“You know, farming might actually be a pretty good option here.”
“Kook.”
“As a true Gangwon-do potato myself, I can tell this soil is perfect for farming. The weather is always a mild spring, but there’s still a breeze. It never rains, yet the soil is constantly moist, and streams are everywhere. It’s a great environment for watering crops.”
“Coo-oo-ook…”
“We don’t have seeds or saplings, but I think I can get some help from Mr. Yoo Seong-un with that. I’ll have to offer something in return to receive items through the paintings, but I can easily afford that much…”
A life with endless possibilities had a certain charm, like an onion. Just when it seemed like there was nothing left to do, if you squeezed it, a new activity would always pop up.
“Nice.”
Excellent. This kind of freedom was surely the greatest joy of the unemployed life.
“Crops grown by my own hands—hands filled with the energy of the Gangwon-do mountains—couldn’t possibly taste bad. Right?”
“Coo-roo-roo-roo-roo.”
“I really feel like I’m living the country life now. It’s like I’ve returned to farming. I should have been living this kind of peaceful, warm life a long time ago…”
For Gio, who was born and raised in a mountain village in Gangwon-do, this felt like a homecoming.
“Ever since I was a kid, I liked helping out with chores. The elders were always starting some new project, so I got to try beekeeping, dig up wild ginseng, and even run into wild boars…”
“Coo-rook?”
“Not poaching. We literally just crossed paths and parted ways peacefully. No one got hurt. I probably only ran into it because I was with someone who used to roam the mountains foraging for mushrooms and ginseng.”
Back then, everyone had a vegetable garden, and some raised chickens, ducks, or quail on the side. He fondly remembered making cheese with fresh milk from a neighbor’s ranch, or just drinking the milk raw with a spoonful of honey. Gio was someone who had done almost everything a person could do on the land.
“There’s no way someone like me can’t handle a little farming.”
Grandmother, please watch over me.
“I will prove my talent in the name of our village.”
“Coo-rung?”
“I was taught never to stake your own name on things like this.”
His grandmother’s philosophy was that if you thought you couldn’t pull something off, you should invoke the name of a family elder instead.
“Though I don’t think she meant for me to use her advice in this exact situation.”
Interpretation was a matter of personal freedom.
“So, what kind of seeds should I ask for…”
“Coo-roo?”
“…First, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn are absolute musts.”
Gio was on a roll now.
“They aren’t world-famous famine-relief crops for nothing; it’s best to grow them just in case. And I’d also like to grow radishes. Harvesting those tender radish greens to mix with rice, gochujang, and sesame oil—that is incredibly delicious.”
“Coo-rook, coo-roo-roo.”
“Pumpkins? Pumpkins are great. Large, mature pumpkins are perfect for porridge; small, sweet kabocha squash is delicious when simply steamed and drizzled with honey; and long, plump zucchini adds a savory depth to soups that really fills you up. You really know your stuff.”
A dozen other ideas came to mind.
“Maybe lettuce?”
“Kkoong-kkoong-kkoong…”
“It’s surprisingly good. It’s easy to grow, and you can make a meal out of just wrapping rice and ssamjang in a freshly plucked leaf. Or bok choy, which is great for boiling in clear broths.”
“Coo-roo-rook.”
“Peas would be nice too. Oh, cherry tomatoes… I like that idea. After all, any proper vegetable garden needs at least one tomato plant.”
Having said all that, Gio finally looked down at the basket in his hand.
“……”
“Coo-roo.”
“Ah.”
Inside the basket, Honey was spread out like a puddle of spilled slime.
“Right.”
He was cute, so it was fine.
Honey was a bird that primarily gathered gems. The sight of the basket filled with jewels, sloshing in a golden liquid that resembled rich honey-water, was quite a feast for the eyes. It seemed Gio wouldn’t get bored with him around.
Chatting about his future farming plans, Gio soon came to a halt in front of a certain tree.
“Ah…”
A pitch-black tree.
It was a tree made of obsidian.
“I ended up finding this first.”
Star Flower Tree
A living obsidian tree that grows by absorbing starlight. The flowers of the Star Flower Tree bloom at dawn, using the absorbed light and obsidian residue. They are highly effective in treating burns and frostbite. The tree’s sap and bark are primarily used as materials for artistic works.
Alchemy Method: Buds are good for frostbite, while fully bloomed flowers are good for burns. Boil in water until soft, then soak in the sap of Dorong-dorong leaves for ten days. Note: Consuming the flowers without this process will cause burns and frostbite.
“……”
Staring at the description that had automatically appeared, Gio blinked twice.
“Did I use too much obsidian paint last time?”
A significant amount of obsidian powder had been used when creating the waterbirds’ habitat. It was a material he frequently used to produce transparent textures like water or glass, so it would be a good idea to harvest some now.
Gio rummaged through his basket for a chisel and hammer. Though they were tools that hardly fit the image of “foraging,” there was no better way to harvest from the Star Flower Tree.
“Wake up, little guy. Your laziness is cute, but Dad has to work.”
“Coo-roo-roo-rook.”
“These aren’t for you. Give them here. Good boy.”
Gently coaxing Honey, who was playing with the tools, Gio set the basket on the ground and approached the obsidian tree. He touched one of its branches, checking its temperature and moisture. He felt a faint warmth, proof that it was alive, and the sap flowing through it like blood.
“Probably…”
Gio searched for a dead branch among them.
“This one?”
He found a branch that was strangely cold, reflected light sharply rather than sparkling, and was rock-hard with no hint of moisture. Gio felt around its base to confirm, then positioned the chisel and hammer.
Tap, tap.
“……”
Clink!
“Got it.”
The obsidian branch broke off with a clear, ringing sound. A living branch couldn’t be removed so easily. It would be incredibly tough, and the sticky sap inside would bind it together, preventing it from shattering.
‘Obsidian that hard is also a pain to turn into paint.’
A living branch dripping with sticky sap was difficult to grind into a clean powder. Unless he was trying to make sharp knives, arrowheads, or extract sap, it was best to select the dead branches.
“It’s probably better for the tree, too.”
Even with its glassy structure, this obsidian tree was undeniably alive. Since it bloomed flowers that could become excellent medicine, pruning the dead branches would only help it.
Gio carefully broke the long, weakened branch into smaller pieces to keep them from shattering. The obsidian fragments, carrying the cold energy of the night sky, all ended up in the basket, right in the middle of Honey’s hoard.
“Are you keeping those?”
“Coo-roo-roo-roo-roo!”
“Sure, go ahead.”
He wondered if the bird was already saving up an independence fund, but either way, its obsession with gems was absolute. A literal incarnation of greed, completely belying its pure, innocent face.
‘He absolutely loses his mind over shiny stones.’
Well, he might cause trouble, but at least he won’t let himself get pushed around, Gio thought, looking up at the Star Flower Tree once more.
“……”
The tree was a deep, dark black that reflected the sunlight like a mirror. The obsidian, a black so cold it felt like it belonged on a snowy mountain, blended surprisingly well with the vibrant spring scenery. Perhaps it was because the tree was alive. Occasionally, a forest butterfly—a creature made of pure light—would land on a branch.
After admiring the sharp, sturdy tree for a long moment, Gio set off again.
“…I need to find that fruit.”
“Coo-rook.”
“I hope there’s a decent one around here.”
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Gio to spot a fruit that caught his eye.
Drought Jar
A citrus fruit with a light brown rind, cracked like a parched field. It does not rot for nearly a year after harvest, making it a preserved food source during droughts. It becomes as sweet as honey when exposed to fire or left in the hot sun for three days, but is sour and bitter when eaten raw. Rich in nutrients, it can be made into canned goods or soups that serve as excellent nutritional supplements, capable of reviving someone on the brink of starvation.
Alchemy Method: Process the Drought Jar into an edible form before consuming.
“A nutritional supplement, huh?”
That part was highly intriguing, but…
“…Sour and bitter?”
Gio was drawn to this point above all else.
‘It doesn’t say it’s poisonous, so eating it raw should be fine. But just how sour and bitter must it be for them to provide a separate method just to make it sweet?’
He bravely plucked a fruit.
It was the exact size of a Korean tangerine. Though the rind was slightly harder, the shape was similar. The flesh inside was also identical to a tangerine’s, except for its deep, honey-yellow color.
Sniffing its tart aroma, Gio bit into a piece without hesitation.
“……”
Gulp.
Gio swallowed the fruit, his face a stoic mask.
“……”
“Coo… coo-roo… coo-roo-roo…”
“Indeed.”
At Honey’s tense chirping, Gio nodded with his characteristically deadpan expression. His facial muscles, long since atrophied, would not succumb to a mere trial of the tongue.
“It is sour and bitter.”
It was a taste that made him understand why the Alchemy Method was simply “Process into an edible form before consuming.”
‘Even the execution poisons of history were probably sweeter than this.’
The shock was so intense it made his head spin. Barely clinging to his fading consciousness, he noted that the texture was firmer than a tangerine and had less juice, but compared to that mind-blowing taste, such details hardly mattered. He took a few deep breaths.
“……”
And yet, why did he find himself quite liking it? Gio’s confidence surged.
“With this, it won’t lose to the sweetness of the Mangdung fruit.”
Honey, who was in the basket, scrambled out in sheer disgust. It seemed the taste was far too shocking for a creature as sweet as Honey to handle.