Episode 83. Do Half-Elves Eat Meat?
Episode 83. Do Half-Elves Eat Meat?
[50-Year-Old Original Grandma's Potato Stew (24 Hours)]
"......"
Yoon Hyejin, the Director of the Research Institute who stood at the pinnacle of Shinrim Limited Research Hospital, considered the best in South Korea, remained slightly dumbfounded even after arriving at their destination.
The food Yubin said she wanted to eat was a spicy (she actually said it like that) potato stew. It wasn't something extremely strange, but Hyejin couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh since she never expected such a menu choice from a girl like Yubin.
After entering the potato stew restaurant and settling into their seats, Yubin naturally opened the utensil container, set out spoons and chopsticks, and in an instant, poured water for Hyejin's portion as well.
Hyejin tapped the table with her well-manicured nails and looked at Yubin. She didn't miss how Yubin instantly flinched at that moment.
"Do you usually like this kind of food?"
"Huh?"
"Food with broth like this. Soup-based menu items."
"Yes, I like it. Um, yes, I used to eat it often before. Hehe......"
Yubin kept fidgeting with her fingers and stammering her words. Then she giggled shyly again. Her appearance was quite cute, so Hyejin found herself smiling unknowingly. Yet, she also paid attention to that anxious and restless attitude.
Since the food hadn't arrived yet, Hyejin began to ponder for a moment. She had only met Yubin twice, but through the test with the solution and their private consultation, Hyejin had come to understand a fair amount about Yubin and the circumstances surrounding her.
First, Yubin had no parents. This wasn't Hyejin's assumption but a fact Yubin had stated herself. When Hyejin rephrased the question into a gentler tone, asking 'Has it been like that since you were born?', Yubin replied that she didn't know, that she couldn't remember.
She was also poor. There was likely a significant connection to her parents' absence.
Furthermore, she seemed awkward in social interactions. She often stammered and avoided eye contact. During the consultation, Hyejin had consistently leaned slightly towards Yubin and tried to make eye contact, but it didn't work well because Yubin kept tilting her head to the side or looking away. Just like moments ago, she couldn't keep her fingers still and often bit her lower lip.
That behavior was definitely related to Yubin's family circumstances.
Among these, Hyejin could roughly guess the biggest cause that had driven Yubin to this state. The questionnaire had an item asking about recent memorable events or incidents that evoked strong emotions, and Yubin had written that she fought with a friend.
When Hyejin asked how they specifically fought, Yubin only gave very vague answers. That her feelings were hurt, that they had an argument, that she was disappointed in the other person... She just repeated those obvious, common statements.
If it were just a simple acquaintance, Hyejin would have let it slide with an 'I see,' but she needed to understand Yubin well, so she pressed a bit more persistently. Carefully, so as not to hurt Yubin's feelings.
But to the question of what had happened, Yubin answered like this:
"You know, Director-nim."
"Hmm?"
"I don't really know."
"......"
"I don't know why we're fighting, or why I'm acting like this. It's just, just... I feel like I'm acting without any thought."
"......"
"Actually, I want to get along without fighting too, I want to let it all go, but it just doesn't work out. I think there's still something left in my heart."
"......"
"I'm sorry. I'm talking weirdly, aren't I?"
"No. Don't worry about that, you can pour out everything you want to say, Yubin-ah. Don't organize it, just spit it out however you want."
...Hyejin had coaxed her like that, but Yubin didn't say anything more.
"Director-nim...?"
Suddenly, Yubin's trembling voice faintly reached her. Startled, Hyejin flinched slightly and looked at Yubin.
"Oh, hmm? What's wrong?"
"It's just, um, I thought maybe you don't really like it. Meat."
"Ah......"
Hyejin pressed slightly on her temple. She must have made a stiff expression from thinking too deeply.
'I made her misunderstand for no reason.'
Excluding only the shape of her ears, Hyejin's appearance was exactly like an elf from a fantasy genre. She was even incredibly beautiful, just the same.
So Yubin had made a slightly species-discriminatory misunderstanding that elves adhere to vegetarianism......
Making that worry utterly pointless, Hyejin was just a Korean with elf blood mixed in. She was the kind of person who, for company dinners, ate grilled pork belly with kimchi, drank soju, had soup for hangover the next day while drinking soju, and the day after that met friends to eat together while drinking soju.
So this potato stew place was right up Hyejin's alley. She was desperately holding back from ordering soju right now, all because of Yubin and because she was driving.
"No. This auntie eats everything well. It's just that my appearance is similar."
"Ah, r-really?"
Whoosh, Yubin's cheeks flushed bright red.
"I'm sorry......"
To Yubin's timid apology, Hyejin waved her hands and said it was okay.
Soon, a well-prepared small portion of potato stew was placed on the table. Not only were there appetizing chunks of meat, but on top were piled almost like a tower: dried radish greens, enoki mushrooms, perilla leaves, bean sprouts, green onions, chili peppers, and more. Even before turning on the heat, Yubin's eyes sparkled as she savored the sight.
After mixing in the chili paste well, the broth turned a clear red. Yubin had been picking at the bland side dishes, but once the stew properly boiled, she immediately grabbed the ladle. Of course, she served Hyejin first before taking her own portion.
Yubin ate the potato stew with a bowl of rice. She took a large bone steaming white smoke, placed it on her small plate, and ate the meat off it. She put rice in her mouth, slurped the cool and spicy broth noisily, popped some radish kimchi into her mouth, and crunched on it. Later, she even held the bone with her hand and tore at it with her teeth. Sweat was already beading and dripping down Yubin's back. Eating hot food naturally made her sweat. Yubin gulped down the ice-cold water in the stainless steel cup as if it were soju.
Hyejin watched Yubin with a peculiar smile. It was cute and admirable that she ate so well, but it felt slightly image-shattering. Her outward appearance was very cool and pretty, but seeing her eat like an ahjussi made it feel like witnessing some strange natural phenomenon.
'...Now that I think about it, I'm the same.'
Hyejin sighed and thought that. After all, based on her appearance alone, it didn't suit her to mix soju with beer and cause drunken scenes (severe ones).
Anyway, having her image shattered wasn't a bad thing. Rather, it felt good, like seeing a new side of Yubin.
"Director-nim."
"Hmm?"
"Shall we get fried rice too?"
"...Hmm, let's do that."
Hyejin looked at Yubin, who spoke as if she were treating, with a pleased expression.
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"Director-nim, thank you for the meal."
"You really, there's no need to thank me. Be careful going in."
"Yes, see you next time."
I smiled brightly and bowed almost 180 degrees to the Director-nim, who had driven me home.
I turned around and entered the villa.
'Wow, crazy.'
Maybe because I ate so much, my stomach feels uncomfortably full with every step up the stairs.
But I don't regret it. Because it was really, really delicious.
Click, I opened the door and entered, and as usual, my impoverished house came into view.
Since I washed up very cleanly at the research institute, I immediately took off my clothes and changed into comfortable sleepwear.
Ah, that slip I was forced to wear last time is isolated deep in a drawer. If my hand so much as touches it, it almost sticks like a magnet and my body tries to put it on by itself, so I even had to force myself to wear it and sleep one more day after that incident......
After brushing my teeth, I lay down on the warm floor. I was in a pretty good mood now. We had a thoughtful conversation and enjoyed a meal, so it was no different from healing.
'I wish that bitch In Seyeon would just do it like this. That stupid girl.'
...Thinking about Seyeon, who suddenly appeared in my mind, makes me suddenly sad.
"I hate myself......"
I muttered, burying my face in the fluffy pillow. If I fall asleep, tomorrow will come, and tomorrow is the day I get fucked like a dog by Seyeon.
Before leaving in the Director's car, I recall the expression and voice of Seyeon, who was looking at me through the car window.
Seyeon, who lowered her voice and said, 'See you tomorrow.'
To me, it sounded like 'Just you wait until tomorrow.'
"Euk......"
Just imagining her voice makes my nape tremble faintly, and my whole body shrivels up.
Seyeon will definitely punish me.
Well, because she's angry, yeah......
That means she'll do something even worse than what she's done so far, and I don't dare imagine what that could be.
'...Surely not something that would truly end my life.'
I shook my head side to side.
At the very least, I don't think Seyeon would do that.
She won't do that. Definitely.
Right?
Yeah, she won't......
'Is there a way to avoid punishment?'
Anyway, rolling over, I lay staring blankly at the ceiling, pondering deeply.
The reason Seyeon is punishing me is, of course, because she's angry.
That means if I can appease Seyeon's anger, I won't have to suffer terrible things......
'How do I do that?'
How can I appease the anger of that wicked, bad, and ill-tempered girl.
"Hmm...................................................................................."
Before I knew it, I sat up, knees drawn together timidly, and thought.
'Ah, maybe.'
I felt a sudden flash of insight in my head and bolted upright from my spot.