Moonflowers by New Moonlight and the Great Banchan Controversy
Please respect my tastes! Moonflower lives up to its name as a mystical plant that only blooms under the moonlight, renowned for restoring mana—which makes it the second most beloved crop among mages after mandrake. Unlike mandrake, which demands mana-rich soil and has absurdly picky growth conditions, moonflowers thrive even in the harshest, barren land, allowing for mass cultivation. But they have one absolute requirement: the lunar cycle. As long as you have seeds, soil to cover them, and the right phase of the moon, you can grow them anywhere.
I dragged Na Hyun and Yoon Ra-yoon outside and got straight to planting the moonflower seeds.
"Sis, the sun's already setting—why plant now? Can't we do it tomorrow...?"
Yoon Ra-yoon, who'd been half-forced into coming, looked utterly puzzled.
"No way. Miss today, and you're waiting a whole month."
"But sis, what even are you planting? Is there a crop that needs such an exact date...?"
Na Hyun had a point—normal crops care about seasons, not precise days. But moonflowers were picky about timing.
"Moonflowers. Gotta plant before tomorrow's new moon rises."
"Moon...flower? Not sunflower?"
"Yeah, you guys don't know moonflowers?"
"First time hearing it."
"Ra-yoon, you know?"
"Nope, me too."
Na Hyun and Yoon Ra-yoon exchanged glances and tilted their heads. Huh? Do they call it something else here?
"Anyway, it's a weird plant that grows by absorbing moonlight, so we have to plant tonight. Sow during moonlight, and it'll wither midway."
Moonflowers take 15 days to mature. Plant on the night of the dark moon when it's fully gone, and they grow with the waxing phases, fully blooming on the full moon by soaking up every ray. They need uninterrupted moonlight every single night until then—no exceptions. Plant even a day late, and growth stalls, followed by withering. Only on the true dark moon.
"Whoa... what a unique plant."
Na Hyun's innocent face, perfectly matching her pure expression, lit up in awe. I stepped into the charred field, picked a spot they could see, squatted down, and demonstrated.
"Grab a seed and just set it on the dirt. Then... press it in with your finger to about a knuckle deep. Done."
"What? Super simple?"
"Right? Easier than it sounds. Field's big, so space 'em like your normal walking stride. Ready to start?"
I handed them each a few seeds, and we dove in.
"But sis, why plant these moonflowers anyway?"
Three minutes in, Yoon Ra-yoon piped up right beside me.
"To use 'em, duh. Remember that juice from when you collapsed from mana exhaustion?"
"The sweet-bitter one?"
Classic Ra-yoon review. That was century-old mandrake—rare enough that most top leaders couldn't touch it—and she sums it up as sweet-bitter... I almost felt bad for the village chief who'd given it.
Anyway, planting moonflowers was insurance.
"Main ingredient in that juice isn't common. Moonflower's the substitute."
"Sweet, more juice then?"
"Yeah... probably?"
Raw works fine, but mixing like last time might make it tastier. Still, potions are most efficient. Moonflower's the easiest crop for potions: grind whole, strain, simmer. No boiling over, no fails.
"Pretty enough for ornamental—call you before full moon. Na Hyun, wanna see?"
I glanced the other way. While Ra-yoon and I chatted, Na Hyun had zipped far ahead. Fast. Her short stature let her crouch easily, hands flying to the soil—perfect advantage.
Couldn't say that outright, though.
"Whoa, Na Hyun-sis is speedy! ...Short reach or something?"
"Ra-yoon, I heard that."
...Yeah, height was her complex.
# Thankfully, we finished all the moonflower seeds before sunset and headed inside. More hands made it quick. I offered dinner to my helpers, but Ra-yoon had school prep tomorrow, and Na Hyun had to head back for streaming.
Left alone, I...
"I'm here."
Viewers broke 50 fast—pre-heat from day 1, my aggressive greeting, or first stream in a week? Chats exploded with mixed reactions. Hunter registration wiped me out this week, but I'd committed. Plus, Na Hyun streaming fired me up. Gotta grind to escape 'hakko' life.
"Today's pig stew soup. Know it."
"Yup, takeout. Got it packed from a market spot recently— hearty pig stew Seoulites can't handle."
Sensitive topic—chats ignited. My bad for poking.
"Okay okay! Next time blood sausage takeout too—no fighting!"
Cam down, showed prepped soup, mukbang time. Thick pork slices, milky broth. Angled to avoid steam on lens.
"What can I do? Biggest bowl at home."
Viewers hated it. Note to self: mukbang bowl next time. I eat like this normally, but whatever. Slurp—
First sip broth only. Beef bone heat swelled my salivary glands. Cooking's care; bone broth's time's essence. Rich stock hit deep again.
"Grrraaah...! Broth's insane...!"
Brows furrowed, groan escaped.
"Slurp... gulp... slurp... gulp... ugh... slurp."
Spoon nonstop. This is why stew. Deep flavor pre-add-ins. But pace myself—pot bottom soon. Rice time.
Scoop rice in; grains spread perfectly. ~3 bowls full, pot brimming. Oh... smart accident. Balanced broth level.
"Haaulp... munch munch, gulp."
...No wonder stew addicts exist. So filling. Wait, chat...
Got lost in eating.
Chats blazing again. Tastes clash.
"Yup, boss packed sides. Singles for ease—gotta eat 'em."
Felt empty for a reason. Reached into void storage, pulled packed radish and stir-fried fish cake.
"No need for kimchi? Radish enough, right?"
Hehe, kimchi for next ramen. Good I didn't buy extra.
Just as I geared up to eat...
Question spam.
"Huh? What's up?"
Mad over no kimchi? Ugh... respect tastes!!
"Whatever. Radish and fish cake for me. Deal."
Cut viewers off, back to eating.
# That night, a community buzzed over a newbie streamer's antics.
How'd she do that? lol
The inventory banchan debate raged late into the night.