Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Lavish Feast
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Is it really okay to eat this?
Awakens Then Leaves Gallery took me to a fancy restaurant in Seoul, over an hour away from my place.
The restaurant was called Morse Code. Even the sign looked incredibly upscale—it sure didn't seem like your average spot.
"Y-You sure it's okay to go in here?"
"Yeah, no problem. It's a private restaurant, usually reservation-only, but someone like me can just call ahead."
Someone like her...? For some reason, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery was starting to look different to me now.
She'd seemed clueless about Tower Floor 1 before, but earning 10 billion won a month and waltzing into places like this without a reservation? That was impressive.
"These days, there are even fancier spots than this, so no need to feel overwhelmed."
"Y-Yes, got it."
"Besides, Eunha, you've got some insane abilities. You'll probably outshine me as an Awakener in no time."
"Heh. Heuhehe."
We climbed a wide staircase, and the restaurant's interior came into full view.
One thing that caught my eye was how different it was from that Chinese place I'd splurged on once—the kitchen here was completely open.
The kitchen was fascinating.
A fire ability Awakener was handling the flames, while a telekinesis user floated dishes and utensils around.
Seeing all sorts of Awakeners at work really drove home that this was the age of Awakeners.
As I gawked at the kitchen with my mouth hanging open, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery explained from beside me.
"That's called an open kitchen. They set it up like that so customers can watch the cooking process."
"What's good about watching...?"
"Hmm? Well, you can check the hygiene and stuff, I guess."
"I see."
Soon, a man who'd been waiting at the entrance approached us.
"Ah, Awakener Im Ji-won? Right this way, please."
"Yes, thank you."
"Whoa...."
Even seat guides did it personally at places like this. I followed Awakens Then Leaves Gallery to a window table.
Sitting down, I noticed the huge floor-to-ceiling window next to us. Beyond it was a garden-like view—the scenery was amazing.
Eating in a place like this? Awakeners really live in a different world.
The chair was super plush and comfy, too. Then it hit me—there was no menu on the table.
"Huh?"
"What's up, Eunha?"
"W-Well, we need to order food, right? But I don't see a menu."
As I scanned around for the menu, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery, sitting across from me, let out a little "Pfft."
I wondered what was so funny about looking for a menu and shot her a look. She said,
"They have a fixed menu here, so just eat whatever comes out. You hungry?"
"Oh, n-no. Not that hungry."
I never imagined a place that brings food without you ordering. Tense and sipping water, the first dish arrived soon after, rolling in on a cart.
"Amuse-bouche to whet your appetite. Hanwoo beef tartare smoked with oak wood, topped with Ossetra caviar."
The server lifted the lid, and steam billowed out, revealing the dish inside.
"Eek! A-Amuse? A...?"
I yelped at the puff of steam but quickly blinked at the food on the plate.
A tiny pastry topped with meat and black caviar beads, small enough to fit in my palm.
It looks tasty, but why so small? This won't fill me up.
Even if I ate less these days, this seemed way too little.
As I stared blankly at the amuse-bouche, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery propped her chin on her hand with a smile.
"Eunha, this is just a little bite to stimulate your appetite before the main meal. The course starts now, so think of it as a taste test and dig in."
"O-Oh, r-right."
Honestly, I barely followed what she said, but since she said it was fine, I picked up my fork.
Cautiously spearing the tart, I popped it into my mouth.
"Mmmph."
A few chews, and it melted smoothly in my mouth. A flavor I'd never tasted before.
"How is it?"
"It's a hundred times tastier than the grilled pork belly the director at the orphanage baked!"
"Huh? Oh, uh... I see. Glad it's tasty."
Awakens Then Leaves Gallery seemed a bit flustered for some reason, but whatever—the delicious food put me in a great mood.
The next dishes shattered my sense of normalcy, too.
Velvety triple? Mushroom soup dusted with actual gold flakes, scallop? Scallop-something? Roast garnished with pretty flowers.
"Can you eat the flowers too?"
"Huh? Yeah, you can. But if you don't want to, skip 'em."
"O-Okay, I'll try one."
Did they really want me eating flowers? Like sucking honey from them as a kid? Nah, seemed not.
I ate the flower, and realized even the flowers in a fancy restaurant were delicious.
Next time, I gotta bring Blackie and Juju. Feels bad eating this alone.
Eating all this pricey, tasty stuff by myself made me think of Blackie and Juju waiting alone in the empty room.
Earlier, Juju seemed scared of Blackie, so I'd forced it onto my lap. Were they playing nicely by now?
I'd save half the best beef steak later and sneak it out.
Fiddling with the hygiene bag in my pocket, I waited for more dishes.
That's when Awakens Then Leaves Gallery glanced at me and spoke up.
"Eunha. Mind if I ask how you've been living until now? You mentioned an orphanage earlier—what happened there?"
I blinked at the question, then answered without hesitation.
My past wasn't anything special or secret anyway.
"Huh? They just told me to leave the orphanage. Said I couldn't stay anymore."
"They didn't say why?"
"Um, not really. Something about my age, maybe?"
"Your age...?"
I told her everything: getting kicked out of a factory dorm because I had nowhere else to go, living around the train station until the cops picked me up.
Then getting help from my landlady sister to live in this one-room now, and so on.
Awakens Then Leaves Gallery frowned at my stories, then looked shocked, her lower lip trembling at times.
"And the landlady sister?"
"Yeah! I was sleeping on cardboard in an alley when she said a room was empty and I could move in. She let me pay rent later, so I worked at a convenience store to settle it."
"I see. Who's she, anyway?"
"Um...."
I closed my eyes for a moment, picturing my landlady sister's face.
We didn't meet often, but she always wore yellow? Golden? Clothes, and she was super tall.
Her face was oddly fuzzy in my memory.
Did she wrap her head in yellow cloth? She had a strangely nice scent? Anyway, she felt more like a painting than a person—that was my impression.
"Still, lucky you met a good person. Why call her 'sister,' though?"
"Huh? She told me to just call her sis."
"Really? Hmm...."
While Awakens Then Leaves Gallery pondered, the main course arrived.
This time, a thick slab of meat beautifully plated on a white dish.
"Today's main: premium two-horned Hanwoo tenderloin steak. Garnished with truffle mashed potatoes and charcoal-grilled asparagus. The sauce is a long-simmered red wine black garlic reduction."
The server explained at length, but all I heard was "premium beef."
The outside was crispy dark brown, the cut surface a pretty red.
Glossy sauce drizzled over the meat, yellow mashed potatoes neatly spread beside it.
A nutty butter scent and smoky char wafted from the steak—I swallowed hard without thinking.
As I instinctively reached for my fork, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery suddenly asked the server,
"Red wine?"
"Yes. Ah...."
The server caught on and glanced at us before nodding.
"No need to worry. The red wine in the sauce is simmered over fire for hours— all the alcohol evaporates."
"Aha."
Huh. Even if it didn't, I'm an adult, so couldn't I just eat it?
Sheesh. My body's smaller now, but my mind's still that of a tough guy.
"Eunha, go ahead and eat."
"Yes!"
I gulped and picked up my knife.
The meat was so tender, a light slice cut through smoothly.
I cut a big piece, dunked it in sauce, loaded on the mash, and shoved it in.
"Mmph...?"
One chew, and hot, savory juices burst in my mouth.
The meat was so soft, even toothless I could've gummed it down—it melted away after a few chews.
Right, gotta save some for Juju and Blackie. Can't hog this deliciousness alone.
I glanced at Awakens Then Leaves Gallery. Since our chat, she'd seemed preoccupied, gazing out the window.
N-Now?
I slyly pulled out the hygiene bag from my pocket and unfolded it under the table.
Whenever she looked away, I snuck pieces of meat into the bag.
My share shrank a ton, but imagining Blackie and Juju's joy made me feel full enough.
"Huh? Eunha, you ate that much already? I could've asked the kitchen for... ."
"N-No, I'm good! Super full."
I puffed out my belly with air and patted it convincingly. She nodded, convinced.
Now she wouldn't suspect if I tucked the bag against my stomach.
I slipped it into my pants' elastic waistband.
By the time we finished eating, lunchtime had long passed into afternoon.
As we left and headed to the car, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery eyed my stomach.
I sucked it in hard to hide the beef-stuffed bag, even breaking a light sweat in case I got caught.
"Looks like you're stuffed too, Eunha."
"Y-Yeah? Oh, yep! About to burst."
Good, she didn't notice. Phew. If she had, I'd have crawled into a hole.
"Can't have you bursting. Oh, hey, Eunha—wanna walk a bit to digest?"
"Huh...?"
What to do? Walking with the bag might rustle and give me away.
But with all the street noise, maybe it'd be fine.
As I pursed my lips in thought, she added,
"Just a short stroll. We can look at clothes too."
"Clothes?"
"Yeah. You're wearing the same as yesterday. Can't keep wearing just that."
Come to think of it, this was the only wearable outfit at home.
The rest were way too big.
I did need clothes, but shouldn't I save today's 1.9 million won for rent?
"Well, clothes can wait...."
That's when it happened.
Weeeeeeerrrr—!
Sirens blared suddenly across the city. Just like when I'd first used Call of the Origin—deafening alarms.
Awakens Then Leaves Gallery's eyes widened in shock.
Makes sense.
"Th-This is...."
"Eunha. Sorry, no shopping today."
These sirens meant monsters from Towers had appeared in the city.
Rumble rumble.
I looked up toward the noise. It came from the sky.
At that moment, Awakens Then Leaves Gallery looked up too and voiced her confusion.
"Wh-What's that? A portal in the sky...?"
I saw what she saw.
A blue portal emerging from a rift in the sky.
"Gobul!"
A goblin poked its head out.