Chapter 53
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Big Spender
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1.
Wait, is this for real???
Whoa, I'm totally floored...
Why would someone of your stature visit this humble stream...?
???????????????????????????
What???????????
The chat exploded upward at a breakneck pace. It was scrolling so fast that it was getting a bit hard for me to keep up.
"W-Wow..."
Sis stared at the chat window in awe. Kang Taehyun next to her looked a little surprised too.
In just moments, the viewer count had jumped by 8,000. And the surge showed no signs of slowing.
🪙 Donated 30,000G!
💬 Wait, why is Chef Kang Taeyeon appearing on a stream like this???
"What do you mean 'a stream like this'? What's wrong with our broadcast?!"
Sis protested, planting both hands on her hips.
But honestly, it's kinda surprising ;;;
Michelin 3-star vs. VR cooking stream—which one's better? lol
Where'd all those guys go who were mocking us saying it's not Chef Kang Taeyeon just now???
They're all gone...? What happened???
Why don't you try the same crap again???
The viewers started mocking the people who had ridiculed us earlier.
🪙 Donated 30,000G!
💬 All the bug-like trolls vanished lolololol Where's that guy who said "If you're Chef Kang Taeyeon, I'm the president" earlier?????
"Alright, everyone, let's drop it now."
I raised my hand to calm the mood. If this kept going, it could turn into unnecessary drama.
It didn't matter to me, but image was everything for a chef. This was something I needed to handle.
"This collab is meant to clear up the controversy, not to fight with anyone. And those people are already gone anyway. No point punching at air. Let's leave it there."
"Exactly. Let's all cool down."
Chef Kang Taeyeon chimed in from the side.
OK;
Yeah, fair point
What? Was she always this mature???
If she says stop, we stop~
Screw that lololol
Most viewers agreed with us, but some trolls kept at it. I perma-banned those accounts without hesitation.
"Now that the mood has settled, let's get the broadcast properly started."
I glanced at Chef Kang Taeyeon beside me. Seeing him nod, I continued.
"First off, thank you so much for joining our stream."
"No, no. I've been enjoying Hayul's cooking streams too."
"I see."
I nodded calmly.
Check that reaction lololol
That "of course" attitude is pissing me off;
Ugh, look at her face...
"What made you decide to appear on our stream?"
"You know that nostalgic dish recreation you did with Yura before? Seeing that convinced me to join."
"So Chef Kang Taeyeon has a dish you'd like to taste again too?"
"Yes."
O? Is it that one???
Chef Kang Taeyeon's "want to eat again" dish is pretty famous
Saw it in an interview—he came to request that one????
Think it's possible...?
As expected from such a famous person, the viewers seemed to already know. Still, for anyone who might not, I asked deliberately.
"What dish is it?"
"Back when I was an apprentice cook. There's one dish my master made for me at dawn. That flavor... I still can't forget it. I want to taste it one more time."
"And your master...?"
"He passed away in a car accident."
In an instant, a heavy silence settled over the studio. Talking about someone's death always weighs down the air.
I nodded silently. No words could offer real comfort. Empty consolation is just that—empty.
"So you came here to recreate the dish from your late master."
"That's right."
"But I bet what the viewers are most curious about right now is this."
Sis smoothly took the lead in the conversation.
"Chef Kang Taeyeon graduated from the CIA and is currently the head chef at a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Your skills and senses are top-tier..."
She paused, tilting her head.
"So why come all the way here instead of recreating it yourself?"
Yeah, true
Michelin 3-star is basically the peak for chefs; coming to some cooking stream instead is weird
For real, why'd he even come???
The viewers voiced their agreement. It was a situation anyone would question.
"I've tried my best. But no matter what I did, I couldn't recreate that taste."
"Isn't it because the situation back then was different?"
I offered my opinion cautiously.
The loneliness of living alone abroad. The desperation to succeed as a chef. The exhaustion from working till dawn.
In those shaky, unstable times, that one carefully prepared meal from his respected master wasn't just food.
"...It was like the lifeline that kept me from breaking. That's why I want to taste it just once more."
Chef Kang Taeyeon stared blankly ahead. A bitter smile played on his lips.
"I've considered the situation too. It probably had a huge impact. The problem is, I couldn't even get close to the flavor."
"Because it was eaten in such a situation, you couldn't objectively replicate the taste?"
"...Exactly. You figured it out?"
Chef Kang Taeyeon nodded in admiration.
"Yes. For someone of your caliber to fail at recreating a taste means either memory distortion or senses not functioning properly."
She's sharp;
She caught that???
Something's off about her...
Is that really Chef Kang Taeyeon??? Why's his avatar like that??? Total Northern Duke lololol
Chef is so cool!
Gradually, word of Chef Kang Taeyeon's appearance spread among regular viewers too, and random comments started popping up in the chat.
'Should I enable follow-only chat?'
I considered it briefly but shook my head. Restricting it now might make the new influx of viewers lose interest and leave.
🪙 Donated 500,000G!
💬 Chef! Always cheering for you! Thanks for the warm welcome last time I visited!
Someone who'd visited Chef Kang Taeyeon's restaurant donated very generously.
"Thank you."
He bowed his head politely.
[Sis: Pause donations? Feels like it'll break the flow we just got going...]
Sis nudged my side and messaged me. She seemed worried about the broadcast itself.
[Me: Leave it for now. Can't avoid this.]
Forcing something here could make the whole stream awkward. Plus, these were donations to Chef Kang Taeyeon.
'Best to let it be.'
🪙 Donated 3,000,000G!
💬 Chef Kang Taeyeon looks perfect in avatar form!!!
🪙 Donated 5,000,000G!
💬 Never thought I'd see Chef Kang Taeyeon on an internet stream lololol Small amount but donating and dipping~
🪙 Donated 10,000,000G!
💬 Had a great meal last time. Will visit again.
Letting it ride, the donations started pouring in one after another. And the amounts were no joke.
"...Thank you."
Chef Kang Taeyeon kept bowing to the steady stream of donations. His expression stayed composed, but his gestures felt genuine.
Whoa; insane;
This the firepower of the rich???
First time seeing this kinda thing on Twitch or whatever
We're screwed;;;
Whoa, total whale;;;
So how do donations work?
I spotted one chat and quickly spoke up.
"All the donations you've made just now will be passed entirely to Chef Kang Taeyeon."
Cool~~~~~~
Thanks a ton~~~
This is the way ㅇㅇ
Has a conscience lolololol
"No, no. We're collabing—how could I take them? Let's share."
"It's fine. They're donating to me, not you, Chef Kang Taeyeon."
"How about this? If you recreate my master's dish, I'll give it all to you then. Sound good?"
"...The amounts are pretty hefty. And the donors might not like it?"
I donated to Chef Kang Taeyeon, but some random girl next to him pockets it? That could rub people the wrong way.
🪙 Donated 10,000,000G!
💬 I'm fine with it. Do whatever you want, Chef.
🪙 Donated 8,000,000G!
💬 Me too~~~ I'd donate even more if you recreate the dish!
Right on cue, the donors started chiming in via donations. The vibe was all about respecting Chef Kang Taeyeon's wishes.
"Viewers all agree too. Will you accept?"
"...Alright. If everyone's saying take it, it'd be rude to refuse. We'll do that."
"Great. Shall we start right away?"
"Got it."
I summoned a recliner-style chair to the center of the studio.
"Make yourself comfortable."
Chef Kang Taeyeon nodded and leaned back into it.
"From now on, recall the dish your master made. Taste, aroma, texture, color, atmosphere... Anything that serves as a clue."
"Understood."
The moment he closed his eyes, I placed my hand on his head and channeled divine power. A golden magic circle floated in the air.
'Feast of Memories.'
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth, and the world fell silent. I quietly sank into his past.