Chapter 67
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Sweet Chocolate Cookies
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1.
"First, ask her what she meant by that. If possible, invite her here."
I nodded at my sister's advice. I immediately sent a message to Yura.
[Me: What do you mean? You know what I did last summer?]
I was in another world last summer? She knows about that? No way.
"Sis. Did you ever tell Yura... that I came back from another world?"
I asked my sister, just in case.
"Do I look crazy enough to tell her that? And even if I did, who'd believe it straight up?"
"Yeah... you're right."
My sister shot me a glare, but I ignored it and checked the messenger.
[Yura: It's exactly what it sounds like! Yura knows Hayul's secret!]
[Yura: (Rabbit glaring sharply emoji)]
[Me: You know my secret? What secret? Can you tell me?]
The '1' next to the message disappeared, but no reply came from Yura.
『'Yura' has sent a participation request!』
I had no idea what she was getting at when the request came right in. I accepted, and a portal opened as Yura hopped through.
I could feel a slight tension in her stance. Her shoulders were straight, but her fists were clenched tight. When our eyes met, her pupils trembled faintly.
"Hey, Yura."
My sister waved with a smile. Yura's rabbit ears twitched.
"H-Hi!"
Her voice shook a little.
"Come sit over here."
"Th-Thank you!"
She shuffled over hesitantly and sat next to my sister. Yura's body huddled slightly.
"Y-Yura wants to eat cookies... i-is that possible?"
"Cookies? Out of nowhere?"
"Th-The truth is, Yura lied because she really wanted the cookies Hayul made back then... Yura's really sorry..."
She bowed her head deeply as she spoke.
"Is that it? You should've just said so. Why lie? I would've made some if you wanted, even without it. Right?"
My sister winked at me. I knew she was fibbing, but it seemed like she meant we should play along for now.
'Yura's not the type to do anything bad.'
I nodded slightly and linked Flavor Link to my room. The wall on the right crumbled away, revealing a cooking studio.
"Wait a sec. You two chat."
"O-Okay!"
I tied on an apron and headed into the shop to buy ingredients for the cookies.
'What kind should I make?'
The classic chocolate chip cookies—basic but the most delicious—seemed perfect.
Unsalted butter, white sugar, brown sugar. Eggs and vanilla extract. Salt and baking soda. Flour and chocolate chips. That was all.
"Let's get started."
I cut the unsalted butter into small pieces and put them in a pan. On medium-low heat, it melted and started bubbling.
The milk solids settle to the bottom, turning brown from the Maillard reaction. That's browned butter.
'This'll add so much flavor to the cookies.'
I transferred the browned butter to a mixing bowl to cool before adding other ingredients. Too hot, and the cookies get greasy.
'Good.'
Once cooled, I added 100g each of white and brown sugar and mixed. The butter and sugar fully combined, fluffing up nicely. Perfect.
I added room-temperature eggs and mixed. It thickened into a lava-like texture. Exactly what I wanted.
'Like slime.'
Vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt went in next, mixed again. Finally, flour and chocolate chips together.
"Mm."
I mixed until no flour was visible. Once the color was right, I lined a baking sheet on the oven tray.
I scooped large dollops with the cookie scoop, spacing them 5cm apart on the sheet.
'They'll spread when baking, so this is just right.'
Last, I sprinkled a bit of salt on top. That'll give the sweet-salty balance.
Into the 180°C preheated oven for 13 minutes. The delicious aroma started seeping through the cracks. I accelerated the timer.
Ding-
The alarm rang, and I opened the door right away. The rich, nutty scent of butter and sugar made my lips curl up.
The deep, nutty aroma from the melted butter and sugar enveloped my nose. Layered with soft vanilla, then thick chocolate sweetness on top.
'This is the best...'
Freshly baked cookies smell beyond sweet—they evoke some nostalgic comfort. Like a sunlit living room on a lazy afternoon?
'The tower master loved these.'
I grabbed three glasses of milk and the cookies, heading back to where Yura sat.
From afar, Yura was chattering away, and my sister watched with a fond smile.
"What were you talking about?"
I asked as I set the plates and milk on the table. Yura's eyes sparkled.
"After the collab ended, Yura went straight to Japan, right? She was telling me what happened."
"What happened?"
"The moment Yura got home, she said she'd cook dinner, but her family tried to stop her! But Yura bought all the ingredients, so they let her!"
"How'd the cooking go? Good?"
"The reviews were great! Especially Mom—she cried after eating it! Said it tasted just like Grandma's!"
Yura beamed.
"Guess she did well with what I taught."
"Yeah! Then relatives and Grandma's friends kept coming over asking for food, so Yura cooked every day!"
"Nice."
I smiled warmly and patted Yura's head. Teaching her paid off.
"You wanted cookies, right? Dig in."
"O-Okay!"
At my urging, she tensed up a bit. With shaky hands, she picked up a cookie and broke it in half. Melted chocolate oozed slowly from inside.
"Itadakimasu!"
I grabbed one too and popped it in my mouth.
Crispy edges. Soft, buttery nuttiness. The chocolate chips were bittersweet and sweet.
"Whoa. This is seriously good!"
My sister exclaimed, hand over her mouth. Her wide eyes made me chuckle.
I took another, dunked it in milk. The milk soaked in, blending with the chips to soften the sweetness.
"Mmm~"
My sister and Yura followed, dipping theirs. Smiles spread naturally across their faces.
"This is the best... and no calorie worries!"
"Really!"
We ate in happy silence. Eventually, only one piece remained on the plate.
"Last cookie, Yura. Want it?"
"R-Really?"
"Of course. I can make more later if I want. You eat it."
"You won't make more?"
I teased at my sister's words.
"What? Make more next time!"
"We'll see. Anyway, Yura, eat up before Sis snatches it."
"Eek, okay!"
Yura snatched it quickly. But as she went to eat, she froze. Her face said 'oh no!'
"What's wrong, Yura?"
"If there's not enough cookies, Yura can copy them and share! This is virtual reality!"
She copied the cookie, holding one in each hand, and fed them to us.
Crunch crunch-
Much weaker flavor than mine. It tasted off.
"How's it taste?"
My sister chewed, glancing at me questioningly.
"Yura, so that's the secret you found out?"
"Y-Yes! Only food touched by Hayul's hands tastes right! Sensory adjustments don't matter!"
Her eyes widened, determination shining through the tremble.
"How is this possible! Explain!"
"One question first."
"What!"
"What're you gonna do with this info? Blackmail me?"
"B-Blackmail? Yura would never! How could Yura blackmail Hayul!"
Yura waved her hands frantically.
"Then why ask?"
"J-Just curious..."
She huddled, trailing off.
"If it bothers Hayul, Yura won't ask anymore... Sorry for saying weird stuff..."
"Hm."
I stared silently, and she bowed her head. She peeked up occasionally but averted when our eyes met.
'Can I trust Yura?'
Honestly, not sure yet. We haven't spent that much time together. But trust isn't just about time, I think.
"I'll tell you. But never tell anyone else. Got it?"
My sister quietly took my hand. Worry in her eyes. I just nodded.
"O-Okay! Yura promises!"
"Here's what happened..."
I told her everything up to now. Except the gender swap.
That was my last line I didn't want to cross with anyone. I still hadn't fully accepted it.
"H-Hayul defeated the Demon King in another world and became the Hero!?"
"Not the Hero. Just the porter for the Hero party."
"Still amazing! Defeating the Demon King with the Hero! I knew Hayul was cool, but not this cool!"
Her over-the-top praise embarrassed me. But I felt a bit proud too.
"Nah, not that big a deal. How'd you figure out the taste difference?"
"Hayul left Yura once. Yura copied cookies because she wanted more, but they tasted different. That's how!"
"Ah. That time."
"You should've been careful!"
My sister swatted my arm.
"Didn't expect this."
I'd never thought about food copying before, but now I'd be cautious.
'Lucky it was Yura who found out.'
If someone else, who knows. But I could've handled it before it blew up.
"Yura sometimes imagines going to another world to be a Hero. Having someone who actually did it nearby is so cool!"
"Like I said, don't tell anyone. Or..."
"No more cookies!"
Yura's goofy joke made me chuckle. My sister laughed too.
For some reason, my heart felt at ease. Like I gained another ally in this world besides family who believed in me.
'Still, gotta be careful from now on.'
Though probably no need for a while. Grand Chef starts soon.
Time for the competition.