Chapter 135
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135
Regaining his senses didn’t suddenly make Ju-hyeon terrified of the Black Cloak.
"Since you’ve just woken up after a long sleep, I prepared some porridge for your first meal."
"You know how to make porridge?"
"I may not look like it, but I can cook most dishes."
"It smells wonderful. Thank you."
Ju-hyeon, who had recovered some strength while asleep, offered a bright, polite smile as he expressed his gratitude.
A monster cooking porridge?!
Internally, however, it was a completely different story. Ju-hyeon broke into a cold sweat, utterly bewildered by the sheer absurdity of the situation.
An Evil God had cooked with his own hands, served it to a human, and was now taking pride in his work. The main reason Ju-hyeon wasn’t terrified was simply because the whole thing was too ridiculous to process.
No, even for an Evil God, this is… actually, calling him an Evil God just makes it weirder.
The Association had reported the Black Cloak as a monster, but Ju-hyeon, who had accumulated his share of experience, knew the truth of such matters. The Association often hid the facts for various purposes, all under the guise of the greater good. This seemed to be another one of those cases.
Yet, it still made no sense. While there were extremely rare instances of a god serving a meal to a mere human, they would never actually cook it themselves.
Besides, if you think of this place as a type of dungeon, it becomes even harder to explain. Only monsters that meet certain qualifications can create their own dungeons. But a god… a god shouldn’t have a personal domain that could be called a dungeon, right?
Ju-hyeon’s train of thought came to a screeching halt.
"...Is it delicious?"
It was because the porridge was incredibly tasty.
"This is the best porridge I’ve ever had in my life."
"It warms my heart to see you enjoy it so much."
"Why is this porridge so good? Is this even allowed?"
This wasn’t cheap flattery; it was genuine shock and astonishment.
Ju-hyeon didn’t even like porridge that much. To him, it was usually a way to stretch a meager amount of rice or something you only ate when you were sick. But the porridge the Black Cloak had served was so delicious it made his brain tingle.
"I didn’t know porridge could taste this good."
"As someone who cooks, that is the greatest compliment I could receive."
"You’re amazing. This flavor and texture… I could eat this every day and never get tired of it."
For the first time in a long while, his words weren’t a calculated social maneuver but pure, unadulterated admiration.
"It’s really delicious."
Uncharacteristically, he kept repeating himself like a fool.
The grains of rice in the porridge were so soft they practically melted, almost like a thin gruel. Yet, traces of the tender grains remained, offering a texture that crumbled softly—reminiscent of the well-cooked rice in sikhye, simmered warm like a restorative health food.
With every bite, the distinct nutty and sweet flavor of the rice spread gently across his palate. The interspersed vegetables had a soft, warm bite, and the generous portion of meat added a satisfying heartiness.
It’s surprisingly filling…
Bone broth?
"...Did you use bone broth?"
"Spot on. You have a discerning palate."
"I-I wouldn’t go that far…"
"Thank you for savoring it so deeply."
A bright smile bloomed across the Black Cloak’s pale face. For some reason, he looked genuinely happy.
"I gave you a small portion to start with. Would you like some more?"
"Ah…"
When Ju-hyeon snapped out of his daze, he saw his bowl was completely empty.
"...If it’s not too much trouble, yes, please."
He felt incredibly embarrassed, as if he were imposing on none other than an Evil God, but he swallowed his pride and accepted another serving.
"Would you like more side dishes as well?"
"Yes, if you don’t mind…"
"It’s wonderful to see you eating so well."
Even though it was just porridge, it was an incredibly filling dish. Regardless, the Black Cloak seemed genuinely pleased to see him eating heartily, returning with a much larger bowl filled to the brim.
"I thought the first portion was too small, so I increased the amount."
"Th-thank you."
"I made it as easy to digest as possible, but it’s still best not to overeat."
"Yes… I’ll keep that in mind."
The porridge served by the Black Cloak melted in his mouth like cotton candy. While the shape of the rice grains could still be felt, the texture dissolved on his tongue, making it obvious how much care had gone into its preparation.
And it really feels like some kind of health food.
There was a faint hint of medicinal herbs…
"..."
Medicinal herbs?
"...Excuse me, Mr.… Black Cloak?"
"You may call me Gio, Ju-hyeon."
"Ah, yes, Gio. Is there perhaps some kind of medicine in this?"
"...? I didn’t add any medicine."
"I see."
"Aside from the rice, all the ingredients were sourced right here."
"Ah, thank you for explaining."
Ju-hyeon expressed his gratitude with a genial expression, but his mind was anything but peaceful.
Sourced right here?
That single piece of information made him break out in a cold sweat. His smiling lips tensed.
Ju-hyeon recalled the fairy-tale-like scenery he had beheld the moment he woke up—that dreamlike landscape that shook a person’s soul just by looking at it.
What are the odds that ingredients harvested from the mystical domain of a divine being are just ordinary food?
In an era overflowing with anomalies and mysteries, Ju-hyeon had studied extensively to be of use to the world. Because of that, he was well aware of the profound influence the act of 'eating' held within the realm of the mystical.
Am I… right now… boldly stuffing my face with a mystery in the form of porridge?
But the porridge was delicious.
"..."
Nom.
The food was innocent.
...My body is already forfeit anyway.
Ju-hyeon was someone who had once surrendered to his impulses and even contemplated becoming a sacrifice for Sankalut. At this point, even if he ended up turning into something non-human in the embrace of some unknown mystery, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.
As he finished his meal with a strangely bittersweet feeling, the Black Cloak asked, "For tea after your meal, would you prefer a mild or a sweet one?"
"...A mild tea?"
"Do you not enjoy sweet things?"
"It’s not that, but I prefer my tea to have a nuttier flavor…"
"A nutty tea."
The Black Cloak blinked twice, appearing to ponder the request.
"Teas brewed from grains usually have a strong, nutty flavor."
"That’s true."
"I will keep that in mind for your next meal."
"...Thank you?"
Seeing his host’s determination to improve his hospitality suddenly filled Ju-hyeon with dread. Even now, he was wondering, Did I just ingest something from a domain humans are never meant to consume?
Soon after, the Black Cloak brought out a cup of tea that glowed with a warm, bluish hue.
"This tea is excellent for restoring immunity."
"Ah, I see. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
For a split second, he doubted whether it just restored immunity, but half-resigned to his ruined body and half-captivated by the enchanting aroma, Ju-hyeon took a sip. The scent was as sweet as cream, but the taste itself was clean and light.
"...It’s lovely."
"It is brewed from dried flowers harvested in this forest."
"I saw the forest you mentioned from the terrace of the room you gave me."
"Is it not peaceful and beautiful?"
"Yes, looking at it brought peace to my mind."
The moment the tea warmed his body, Ju-hyeon felt his mind growing increasingly clear.
"...?"
Was it just his imagination?
No, calling this my imagination would be a flat-out lie.
What on earth am I drinking?
I’m getting anxious. If only I were an Awakened with an Appraisal Skill, I could check.
Ju-hyeon, who was a Non-Awakened, had no way of knowing, but on a normal human body, Baibamunil flower tea restructured cells to grant permanent immunity to minor illnesses.
There was no way a mere human’s brain could remain sluggish while consuming an elixir of the Origin. It wasn’t for nothing that the previous visitor, Yoo Seong-un, had feared he might 'die young in a different sense' if he stayed.
Ignorant of this reality, Ju-hyeon simply sipped the delicious tea.
"Mmm…"
Now that his head was clear, he finally felt like he could breathe.
"Am I not drinking something far too precious?"
"How can food be precious? In the end, it all just goes into a person’s mouth."
"I suppose that’s true."
The human society where people risked their lives for a single elixir came to mind, but Ju-hyeon, a master of social tact, didn’t bother to counter the Black Cloak’s words by bringing up human greed and desperation.
Only then did he find the motivation to gradually assess his situation.
"I was very rude when we first met. I was in such a chaotic state of mind that I must have caused you a lot of trouble. Thanks to your care, I think I’ve recovered a great deal."
When he had been swept up in destructive impulses, he had literally given up on everything. But now that he had a relatively clear head, Ju-hyeon began to calculate his circumstances.
It wasn’t for any particular reason; it was simply the habit of a tactician who had spent his entire life measuring and weighing everything. It was the very habit that had allowed him to endure through every disadvantageous position.
"May I introduce myself properly?"
"By all means."
"I am Ju-hyeon. I don’t have a surname, and I turn thirty-six this year."
"I am Gio. I have various names, but currently, I am twenty-nine."
"To receive help from someone so young… I’ve completely lost face."
He spoke in a playful, self-deprecating tone, but his mind was in utter chaos.
Twenty-nine…? Surely he doesn’t mean that literally. Is it some kind of game? Or a role? Considering most Evil Gods enjoy some form of amusement, he might just be immersed in the persona of a twenty-nine-year-old youth named Gio… Does 'various names' refer to how the color of his cloak changes?
He was entirely focused on gathering and organizing as much information about the Black Cloak as possible.
If my memory serves me right, though his hair is black now, there were times when it changed to platinum blonde or red. But even when the color didn’t change, he sometimes acted as if his entire personality had shifted. In human terms, is he an actor? Or perhaps 'changing clothes' is a more fitting description.
Ju-hyeon toyed with the transparent glass teacup, in which the bluish tea rippled.
"You might already know this, but I used to work at the Association’s research institute."
"The Association’s research institute… I hear the working environment there is quite harsh."
"Yes, though after various incidents, I’m currently suspended."
"You must have gone through many exhausting things. You need rest."
Nodding, the Black Cloak asked, "So, what would you like for dessert?"
"..."
Is he even listening to me?
…Since he’s not human, I can’t tell if this is some kind of consideration or if he’s just completely uninterested. He introduced himself as an Evil God, so I tried reciting my misfortunes, but there’s no reaction… Why?
The purpose of an Evil God—or any god, for that matter—approaching a human was usually to use a favored toy for their own amusement. Yet, the Black Cloak didn’t seem to have the slightest interest in Ju-hyeon’s tragic circumstances.
Ju-hyeon, who had thrown out a bait of sorts, was inwardly flustered. As expected, however, he didn’t let it show and replied with a bright smile.
"Hmm, let’s see. What kind of desserts do you have?"
"We have small cakes, fruit pudding, and ice cream."
"In that case, could I trouble you for some pudding?"
"Of course."
The pudding was soon brought out by a fluffy teddy bear.
"..."
"Thank you for your help, Father."
The teddy bear is his father?
"I am always grateful for your help."
"Kkoo-kkoo-kkoo…"
Did it just laugh like 'kkoo-kkoo'? I feel like I had a similar thought before I fell asleep.
Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, Ju-hyeon forced his twitching facial muscles into a neutral expression. As a Non-Awakened, he had no idea that the Sun God resided inside the squishy teddy bear before him, but he knew for sure it was anything but ordinary.
When Gio turned back to him, Ju-hyeon quickly put on a flawless smile.
"Thank you for the pudding."
"Kkoo-kkoo."
The teddy bear nodded, grabbed his own portion of pudding, and headed outside with a large cat. As Ju-hyeon watched the cat’s swaying, jewel-encrusted tail, the Black Cloak offered an explanation.
"There are chairs and a table outside the cabin. Since the sun is rising, I believe he wants to enjoy his snack with Dana while watching it."
"Ah… Dana?"
"That is the name of the long-haired cat you just saw. I brought her back from a dungeon called the 'Vein of Jewels' and started raising her. She has grown quite a bit before I knew it. I raise her like a daughter."
"I see. I can feel your affection for her."
As expected, Ju-hyeon’s mind was in an uproar.
A cat from the Vein of Jewels… jewel fur… long-haired… Is it really an Anti-Cat? But they said the Anti-Cat is a monster as small as a kitten. People thought that was its fully grown state because it never grew any larger. But did it actually have room to grow more?
If reported to the academic society, this was the kind of data that would have people grabbing him by the collar, demanding to know where he had witnessed such a precious thing. But Ju-hyeon soon swallowed a dry laugh. What was the point of worrying about all this when he had already been suspended by the Association?
"As for the pudding…"
"I added a fruit called Mangdung Fruit."
"I didn’t know such a fruit existed. It’s my first time hearing of it."
"It is the most common fruit in this forest, and it has a very sweet flavor."
"It has a wonderful aroma."
"I also added aged Crying Hem fruit to it."
"It seems a lot of care went into making it."
Out of habit, he maintained his genial smile as he took a spoonful of the pudding.
"..."
"Is it delicious?"
"It’s so good that I wonder if I’m even allowed to eat this."
"It doesn’t deserve such high praise."
"No, really…"
The pudding, perhaps made with milk, was rich and nutty yet bursting with the sweet aroma of fruit. It literally melted in his mouth, vanishing as if it were being absorbed directly into his tongue. It was an exquisite pudding with a creamy flavor, leaving behind a faint, pleasant tartness.
"..."
And he felt himself growing healthier.
"...It’s incredibly delicious."
He really couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination anymore.
Why has my eyesight improved?