Chapter 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2
“Now then…”
Warm air filled the well-organized kitchen of the Forest Cabin.
“Time for dinner.”
Gio was preparing his meal.
“No work, just eating and sleeping on repeat. I’ve never been happier.”
It was the true bliss of the unemployed.
“Now that I’m officially jobless, I can finally fulfill my duty as a gluttonous potato… I should sit at the dining table for three hours straight.”
Seo Gio was both a gourmet and a glutton. The life of a teacher—which required him to be disciplined, blend in, and navigate social situations with unspoken tact—had been far too harsh for a cultured pig like him.
“I’ve always wanted to enjoy my favorite meals alone, whenever I feel like it.”
Seo Gio nodded with his characteristically deadpan expression.
“This is the true country life…”
Whether this actually counted as “country life” was debatable, but that was how he felt.
Above all, despite looking as though he had been sculpted from an Arctic glacier, Seo Gio was actually from a mountain village in Gangwon-do. Ever since moving to Seoul, he had been looking for the perfect opportunity to return to the countryside.
“To think I’d finally achieve my dream of country living only after losing my job and becoming a portrait. Life really is a whirlwind.”
It was unpredictable and even a little fun—though an actual hurricane wouldn’t be fun at all.
“Well, let’s keep it simple today…”
With a lantern hanging overhead, its candle flickering steadily against the draft, Gio took out his ingredients.
Sweet potatoes.
“...”
Large, plump sweet potatoes.
Gio blinked twice, as if contemplating his daily bread, and quickly came to a decision.
“...Should I make Honey Sweet Potato Stir-fry?”
It was a dish he used to make whenever the village elders sent him sweet potatoes. All he needed was a bit of honey, salt, sweet potatoes, and butter. Nothing else.
Fortunately, all of these ingredients were in the cabin. Just like the wooden spring that had appeared without him ever planning for it, the cabin’s furniture and ingredients had been stocked from the very beginning.
In particular, the ingredients—which always remained in peak condition even after several days, perhaps a unique trait of the Painting World—deeply moved him.
“Hmm…”
Clack.
Gio retrieved a porcelain jar of honey from a cupboard that smelled of hinoki cypress.
“...Are the dairy products in the basement?”
Dairy products like milk, cheese, and butter, along with anything else requiring refrigeration, were kept in the cabin’s basement cellar.
Surrounded on all sides by transparent ice, the cellar maintained a crisp chill, serving as an excellent refrigerator. It was cold enough to see one’s breath, but having evolved into a Haunted Portrait, he didn’t feel the cold.
It just feels pleasantly cool.
Seeing how the other ingredients didn’t freeze either, he wondered why his breath even fogged up in the first place.
“It completely defies the laws of physics… but it’s funny, so whatever.”
Holding a small bowl and a knife, he headed down the stairs to the basement cellar. Before him stood the cellar door, crafted from wood that felt as cool and heavy as metal.
Opening the door, he saw a large shelf and a few small, loosely arranged jars inside the icy cavern.
I remember seeing quite a variety when I checked last time.
He rummaged through the butter displayed on the shelf.
“I hope there’s one with a mild scent.”
Among sweet ingredients, honey had an exceptionally strong aroma. Sweet potatoes and honey were already flavorful enough; if the butter’s scent was too rich, the dish might become overwhelming.
Spotting a pale yellow butter among the selection, Seo Gio sliced off a small piece.
“It’ll be too greasy if I use too much…”
After taking just enough butter for his dish, Gio neatly wrapped the remainder, closed the cellar door securely, and headed back up to the kitchen.
Seo Gio was a pretty good cook. If he weren’t, a gourmet like him would never have dreamed of cooking for himself.
“So fresh.”
Gio washed and prepped the sweet potatoes with practiced hands. He pondered how to cut them.
“...First…”
Blinking twice, he sliced the sweet potatoes into long, rectangular shapes. They were stick-shaped, of a moderate length.
“...Since it’s not that much.”
Gio had prepped seventeen massive sweet potatoes.
He placed the sliced sweet potatoes on an iron pan and slid it straight into the hearth. The preheated hearth quickly seared their exteriors.
Once the intense heat made the outside crispy while leaving the inside completely raw, Gio pulled them out.
The sweet potatoes—crispy on the outside, raw on the inside—slid in a heap into a large wok.
“Now, butter and salt.”
Keeping the heat low so the butter wouldn’t burn, he sprinkled a pinch of salt over them. As the sweet potatoes slowly cooked over the gentle flame, they became coated in butter, releasing a sweet, savory aroma.
“And a drizzle of honey…”
Sizzle—
“Goes in.”
Drizzling a spoonful of honey over the pan, Gio tossed the wok with rapid, practiced motions. Like a chef tossing fried rice at a Chinese restaurant, he vigorously mixed the honey and butter until they clung perfectly to the sweet potatoes.
“...”
Just when he felt it was ready, he declared, “Perfect.”
Gio turned off the heat and tossed the pan a few more times. This helped the butter and honey emulsify smoothly instead of separating.
Without this step, the butter would separate into greasy oil and the honey would turn into an unpleasantly sticky mess—a culinary disaster.
Though even that would probably taste okay…
Still, when it came to cooking, texture was key. Even with the same flavor profile, a single difference in texture could transform a dish entirely.
“...Done.”
Gio plated the finished Honey Sweet Potato Stir-fry and immediately soaked the dirty wok in water.
Humans may be foolish creatures, but I refuse to make the same mistake twice.
Once dried and stuck to the pan, honey mixed with butter possessed a demonic spirit that loved to test the patience of even the gentlest of souls, like Seo Gio.
In any case, this was his dinner for tonight.
“Nice.”
Honey Sweet Potato Stir-fry was easy to make, and it served as both an excellent snack and a satisfying meal.
Sitting at the wooden table, Gio speared a sweet potato stick with his fork. It had a glossy exterior, much like matang (candied sweet potatoes), but the honey coating was far more delicate. With the addition of butter, it gave off a wonderfully complex aroma.
“...”
The fork sank effortlessly into the soft sweet potato, showing it was cooked to perfection. Gio popped it straight into his mouth.
“...”
Chew, chew…
He reached a verdict.
“Delish.”
It was simply, wonderfully delicious.
I’ve always preferred this over matang. Grandmother did too…
Unlike matang, which could sometimes scrape the roof of your mouth with its hard shell, this Honey Sweet Potato Stir-fry had a delicate exterior. The blend of honey and butter merely lent it a smooth, velvety texture.
It offered a completely different kind of pleasure from the crunchy bite of matang.
Sweet potatoes and honey really are a match made in heaven.
And the butter and salt tied it all together beautifully.
The butter added a unique richness to the honey’s aroma, which might otherwise have been too simple, while a pinch of salt balanced out what could have easily become overly sweet or greasy.
“A few herbs on top might have been nice, too.”
Common spices like black pepper, parsley, or rosemary would probably pair well.
“But then the aroma might get too strong. It wouldn’t be as light of a meal.”
Gio liked it just the way it was.
The texture is spot on, too.
Despite being tossed in honey and butter, the surface of the sweet potatoes—which had lost their moisture in the intense heat of the hearth—still retained its crispiness.
Meanwhile, the raw interiors had steamed to a moist, tender finish, sealed in by the honey and butter coating.
The moisture inside must have been trapped by the intense heat. I’m glad I crisped up the outside first.
Eating them in long sticks was fun, and it offered a delightful variety of textures.
It might have been too heavy for some, but for someone with Gio’s massive appetite, this portion made for a perfectly pleasant meal.
“...”
Looking at the plate, which now held only a faint trace of honey-butter sauce, Gio thought:
As expected. I am one awesome potato.
He hadn’t wanted to overeat right before bed, and this had been the perfect choice.
“I like it.”
The lantern on the table cast a soft, warm glow. It had a deeply nostalgic, analog charm; staring at it filled him with a sense of yearning, even though this wasn’t his childhood home.
“This would be perfect for camping.”
Gio sat there for a long time, wrapped in a cozy fullness that gently coaxed him toward sleep. He savored the lazy satisfaction of a clean plate and the quiet, soothing presence of the lantern light softening the air…
Soon, Gio’s gaze drifted out the window, where a gentle spring breeze seemed to whisper a shy greeting.
“...”
Staring out into the darkness that had fallen long ago, Gio finally stood up.
“...I should probably prep the medicinal ingredients beforehand.”
It was to craft the bleeding-related medicine the System had told him about.
For some reason, he doubted he would need to use it anytime soon, but crafting items one by one to build up his portfolio was a pleasure in itself for an Artist. It was like building a collection.
“First, let’s wash the Mangdung Fruits and lay them out. It’ll take quite a while to dry them enough to grind into powder. Given their size, it’ll probably take longer than making raisins…”
He had almost drifted off, but the sugar rush seemed to have jump-started his brain.
“Let’s start with about fifty fruits for later. Even if we only get a little juice from having just three flowers, making plenty of powder means we can use it eventually.”
Having made up his mind, Gio set to work.
He thoroughly washed the fruits using fresh water he had fetched from the stream. The Mangdung Fruit was quite elastic, and when submerged in water, its interior became faintly translucent.
“...It looks a bit like a gooseberry.”
Of course, the Mangdung Fruit, which was completely packed with solid flesh inside, was distinctly different.
Gio washed all the fruits, letting his mind wander.
“...”
Squeak.
“Nice.”
The bright red, bead-like fruits submerged in the crystal-clear stream water made a satisfying, squeaky sound as Gio scrubbed them clean. It was surprisingly therapeutic.
Once they were all washed, he spread the Mangdung Fruits out on a wooden wicker tray.
“I’ll set a few aside to snack on later.”
Since it was already evening, he would leave them for now, but they would dry best if placed outside where there was good ventilation and plenty of sunshine.
Gio placed the tray of fruits right in front of the cabin.
“And next…”
Returning inside, he approached the hearth where firewood was stacked.
Now, I need fire.
Click, clack.
Gio shook a stalk of grass topped with a round bulb.
A soft, dull clicking sound echoed from inside the bulb, and with a whoosh, a flame burst forth. Though small, the flame burned with a fierce blue hue, releasing a subtle, pleasant fragrance.
It was as lovely to look at as a cozy winter campfire.
“...”
Gio tossed it onto the firewood in the hearth.
Bell Flower
A flower that blooms with a black bulb instead of typical petals. It is inedible. If shaken while still in its bulbous state before fully blooming, the pistil and stamen strike each other to produce fire. However, because it requires a vigorous up-and-down motion to spark, accidental ignition is extremely rare.
In other words, it was a substitute for a lighter or matches.
“...It’s lightweight and pretty. If they sold this on Earth, it would have been a massive hit as an aesthetic camping accessory…”
Muttering worldly greed with a deadpan face, Gio rummaged through his basket. He pulled out ten stalks of Baibamunil, which looked similar to orchids.
He gave them a light wash, placed them on a small wicker tray, hung a pot over the hearth, and filled it with water. Then, he waited for it to boil.
“...This should do.”
Once the water was bubbling nicely, Gio dropped the Baibamunil in. A deep, sweet aroma characteristic of vanilla filled the air.
Plop, plop!
“Hmm…”
If he were eating it like a blanched vegetable side dish, a quick dip would suffice, but this flower was no vegetable. In fact, if it wasn’t blanched properly, toxins would remain.
It takes exactly ten minutes for the toxins to drain out.
Gio followed the System’s instructions to the letter. He snacked on the Mangdung Fruits he had set aside earlier while waiting for the toxins to drain from the flowers.
“Is it done?”
Checking the time via the System, Gio stood before the pot again ten minutes later.
Using long chopsticks, he lifted the limp flowers onto a wicker tray. Despite being boiled for quite some time, they had kept their shape perfectly. He rinsed the blanched flowers once with clean water and left them to rest.
Gio kept the hearth’s low flame alive and swapped out the pot. The water used to boil the Baibamunil would still contain toxins.
“I should dry these too.”
Gio picked up the tray of flowers and headed back outside.
As he opened the door, a gentle spring breeze brushed past.
“...”
Whoosh…
“...So refreshing.”
The texture and temperature felt as if a lukewarm cloud were softly cradling his face.
It was a lovely breeze.
Soft and cool.
The hazy breeze, which carried a hint of drowsiness and made his heart flutter in a strange way, made Gio blink slowly.
It would be perfect to fall asleep just like this.
The wind, neither hot nor cold, was as soft as fine mulberry paper or silk, tickling his fingertips.
“...”
Savoring this unexpected moment of quiet happiness, Gio finally moved.
“...I hope they dry well.”
Placing the trays of Mangdung Fruits and flowers side by side, Gio returned inside. Although two baskets already sat in front of the cabin, he still had more ingredients to prep.
This time, Gio picked up a transparent flower called Lulupu.
“...”
How was he supposed to prep this again? His mind was a bit foggy from the oncoming sleepiness. After a moment of hesitation, Gio called upon the System for help.
“Alchemy Method.”
Alchemy Method: Place the petals in warm, potable water and wait for them to dissolve into juice. Do not touch them during this process under any circumstances. The resulting juice can be used in combination with various medicinal ingredients.
Applicable Alchemy Method: Blood Dumpling using Mangdung Fruit and Lulupu juice.
“Thank you.”
Expressing his gratitude to the System, Gio poured water into the newly swapped pot.
The cold water hit the heated pot, quickly warming to a lukewarm temperature. Hovering his hand just above the water, he saw faint wisps of steam rising. It felt pleasantly warm.
Since it specified warm water rather than hot, this temperature should be just right.
With that thought, Gio held the flower he had gathered from the spring.
The Lulupu flower, which looked as if it were made of water yet was woven as strong as silk, gave off a clear, sweet fragrance reminiscent of honeyed dewdrops.
As he gently placed it into the pot…
“...”
A shimmer like the Milky Way spread from the petals throughout the water.
“...The Lulupu’s shimmer is supposed to be from scattering sunlight or artificial light.”
Had it trapped the bright sunlight or vivid lantern light inside its body? It felt like watching ice made of glitter melt away in warm water.
“...Oh.”
Soon, the shimmering subsided, and the water in the pot released a more distinct fragrance.
A capitalist thought crossed his mind—that this would sell incredibly well if made into a perfume—but Gio quickly ladled out the liquid before the water could boil.
That was close.
He poured the extracted flower water into a pre-prepared glass jar.
“It doesn’t look like much at first glance, but this is supposed to make medicine.”
Even though it was merely dissolved in water, the Lulupu juice glowed with an enchanting hue, like paint crafted from an artist’s very soul. He couldn’t help but wonder if this could truly be turned into medicine.
“...”
Then again, there was nothing he couldn’t do if he tried. That was just how life went.
“If a perfectly normal human can become a Haunted Portrait, there’s no reason I can’t make a strangely colored medicine.”
Having finished all his prep work, Gio headed up to the cabin’s second floor. The drowsiness that had been tickling his eyelids since earlier was practically begging him to sleep.
The wooden stairs felt warm beneath his bare feet. Though they were clearly solid hardwood, they had a strangely soft, yielding texture, and the high-quality timber released a soothing scent that put his mind at ease.
The bed in the upstairs bedroom was as soft as if it were made of water.
“Haa…”
Plop.
He buried himself in the bed.
“...”
His eyes blinked a couple of times as if wrapping up the day, then soon closed gently, like a child being cradled in a parent’s arms.
Through the wide-open window, a breeze carrying the scent of the forest drifted in. The delicate wind brushed over his body with a shy, gentle touch—once on his forehead, once on his fingertips, and once on his knees…
In the pitch-black darkness of his vision, the calls of nocturnal birds faded into the distance.
“...”
With the soft, gentle song of the grass insects serving as his lullaby, Gio fell asleep.