Chapter 111

Yu Seongun was terrified that he might be served a feast of the gods—Kraken tentacles stir-fried in phoenix blood and garnished with a haechi's head—but contrary to his worries, the meal Jio set out was simple.

'... No, it's normal.'

And abundant.

In the center of the table sat a large grilled fish, braised meat in a brown sauce that steamed gently, stir-fried vegetables that seemed to contain tomatoes, onions, and bok choy, a heaping mound of rice rising above its bowl, and bone broth soup with green onions and seafood.

'The combination looks a little odd, like a table loaded with everything he knew how to make, but...'

For some reason, the table was made up of creatures that had never been discovered on Earth.

"..."

Yu Seongun did not use his appraisal skill.

It could not exactly be called a wise decision, but he felt that once he read the exact contents and effects, he would no longer be able to eat with a sane mind.

"... It looks delicious."

"It should be delicious."

"Yeah, I think so."

He resigned himself.

'Surely Jio won't trap me in this cabin.'

It was not as though he had no worries.

Hadn't Hunter Park Eun-gyeom also stayed in the City of Emptiness for several days and had to pay a price to leave after becoming a complete painting?

Strictly speaking, this place was a painting too.

In Greek mythology, Persephone had been tied to the underworld where Hades dwelled over just a few pomegranate seeds.

In a world where gods truly existed, Yu Seongun had no choice but to feel even more uneasy.

'Still, Hunter Cha A-ra ate here and wasn't kept from going home.'

He had already heard that Jio had personally invited her and even fed her.

The table did not look all that different from now, so it did not seem as though anything major would happen just because Yu Seongun ate.

"... You really are good at cooking."

However, what Yu Seongun was worried about was whether he could leave this painting in the same state he had entered it.

Seeing as his already decent eyesight had grown even sharper, it already seemed too late.

At this rate, he might soon be able to observe living cells with the naked eye.

"And you cook in huge portions."

"Is the fish a little big?"

"Does only the fish look big to you?"

Of course, he had been surprised by the fish sitting boldly in the middle of the table.

For one thing, it was not any aquatic creature Yu Seongun knew, and it was almost as large as a plump winter yellowtail in season.

"Of course the fish is a little big."

Yu Seongun looked at the braised meat.

"But that guy is no joke either."

"It's Dongpo pork."

"Are we thinking of different Dongpo porks right now?"

"I made it while thinking of the Dongpo pork one can sometimes find in Korea."

"What kind of Korea did you visit?"

Even Chinese restaurants did not serve it like that.

"I'm not even exaggerating, it's the size of a wedding cake."

"Three-tier Dongpo pork..."

"That's genuinely a phrase I've never encountered in my life."

He also wondered how Dongpo pork had been made in such a short time.

"Honestly, I don't know much about cooking, but doesn't Dongpo pork take a long time to make?"

Simply put, Dongpo pork was a Chinese dish made by simmering pork for a long time.

It was usually cut into cubes and boiled thoroughly in a soy sauce-based sauce, and its defining feature was a texture soft enough to chew with one's gums.

"When I asked for it at a Chinese restaurant before, they told me I had to wait a day."

"If they did not make it ahead of time, it must have been fresh and warm Dongpo pork."

"If you want, let's go together next time. No, anyway, what on earth is this..."

"The time was shortened thanks to Honey and Father helping me."

"Aha, I see. I understood that perfectly. So I'm allowed to eat this?"

Apparently this was not something humans could eat, was it?

'Three-tier Dongpo pork made by joining the strength of a child of the Root and the Sun God?'

He did not know what it was, but he felt as though eating it would make him stop being human.

"... When Hunter Cha A-ra stopped by, by any chance."

"Yes, there was such a time."

"Back then too... did the elder help you? Prepare the meal, I mean?"

"At the time, I handled everything myself."

"Why me?"

"Excuse me?"

"No, I misspoke."

Why the hell are you doing this to me?

'This means I can't relax at all.'

Until just now, he had been reassuring himself by thinking, "Hey, Hunter Cha A-ra was fine, so I'll be fine too."

But now that he had heard the meal preparation process had been different then, he could not help but worry.

'This is exactly why those things called gods have no consideration for humans.'

Yu Seongun forced down a sigh.

"... Thank you for the meal."

"I hope you enjoy it."

"I don't know why I can see greed in your eyes."

So you were the kind of guy who could show greed too.

"I'm learning a lot about you today."

Given Jio's habits, it was probably closer to him mimicking the human emotion that suited the situation very closely in order to communicate, but still.

"What exactly are you being greedy about?"

"I know this may sound rude, but I do wish you would gain a little weight..."

"I don't know about rude, but am I really going to walk out of here as a pig?"

"..."

"Jio?"

Anyway, around the time the meal began.

HISSSSSSSSSSS—

"Oh, dear."

An incident occurred in which Dana the anti-cat hissed at Yu Seongun, a human.

"I apologize, Mr. Yu Seongun. Our child is very shy around strangers, so she was rude. I will make her reflect."

"It's fine. It's only natural for monsters to dislike humans. Getting to see an anti-cat hiss when they're usually busy running away at the sight of people is a rare experience, and..."

Yu Seongun actually liked it.

Through that jewel cat's hiss, Yu Seongun could prove that he was still human.

In any case, the meal truly began now.

"... Oh."

It was delicious.

"This is what they call a heavenly table."

"You flatter me."

"I was being fairly objective."

Although he was a little worried about the aftereffects after eating, the meal Jio had prepared was genuinely delicious.

With not a single lie added, it was to the point that he could feel his tongue rejoicing just from eating the rice.

"The color of the rice is unusual."

"I cooked it with vegetable stock."

"Ah, you can cook rice that way too?"

"It is also delicious if cooked with bone broth or seafood stock."

"That's fascinating."

He had thought rice was only cooked with water.

It was a strange thing to say to the Root, but Jio really was versatile.

"..."

Even this subtly approachable side of him was likely all close to a disguise for getting along with humans.

'... Well, there really is no method that lowers a creature's guard as easily as a meal. Especially when he cooks it himself, that raises the sense of intimacy.'

He wondered if this was why Jio enjoyed cooking and giving gifts.

After all, Jio had an especially frightening and ostentatious appearance.

'It certainly had an effect. These days, quite a few of the citizens searching for Black Cloak are wandering around to taste the snacks this guy hands out.'

In that sense, these cooking skills could also be called bait to lure humans in.

Yu Seongun inwardly nodded.

"It's really fluffy. Not a single grain is mushy."

"I paid attention when cooking it. It feels good to be praised."

"I really don't know how you make rice like this."

The texture was similar to the firm rice made by a famous sushi master, yet sticky right up to the limit where it was not unpleasant, and honestly, that alone was enjoyable.

"The umami is good too."

It did not seem particularly seasoned, yet the faint bitterness unique to vegetables, the umami that seemed to have flowed out from them, and a deeply steeped aroma like drinking hot fish cake broth on a winter day were fantastic.

"What did you make the vegetable stock with?"

"This and that went in."

"..."

It had not been long since he started enjoying the taste of the food, yet Yu Seongun soon felt ominous.

He realized anew that it was impossible to enjoy a meal in peace inside the Root's stomach.

"... Is it just me? Why do I feel like my body is getting healthier right now?"

"It was worth adding medicinal herbs."

"Medicinal herbs? What medicinal herbs?"

No, wait.

Medicinal herbs grown from the Root?

"You used that to cook rice?"

"Is it not delicious?"

"Do people usually use medicinal herbs to make food taste good?"

"There is no reason not to."

"That... is true."

Yu Seongun accepted it.

"There really is no reason not to..."

For Jio, the Root, that is.

'It feels like eating bread baked with a five-hundred-year-old elixir.'

It was certainly true that there was no reason it could not be done, but that did not erase the sense of luxury apart from it.

If Earth's pharmacists learned of this, they would shed tears of blood.

"... Should I think of it as taking medicine in a tastier way?"

"I do not think medicine that is good for the body has to be bitter."

"Right. If I think of it that way, it should be fine."

If he thought of it not as making delicious rice with medicine, but as making delicious medicine with rice.

'... Even so, I feel like something is sitting heavy in my stomach. I have just learned that even a meal can leave the realm of humanity...'

Jio himself probably considered himself an ordinary human, but for Yu Seongun, who was experiencing this table firsthand, it was nothing but burdensome.

But it was so damn delicious that he did not want to put down his spoon.

"Ha..."

He knew perfectly well that this was bait to bewitch humans and all sorts of creatures, but still, Jio could stand to be a little worse at cooking.

Humanity was in danger.

"This would be delicious as rice balls."

"It is delicious in practice as well. If you ever have to go on a business trip later, I will pack some for you."

"No, well... right. Thank you."

It was delicious, so he would not refuse.

'It doesn't feel as though my body is changing dramatically just because I ate it.'

Compared to the eyesight-improving tea he had drunk at first, this rice, which made his body feel somewhat refreshed, was ordinary.

At this level, it was merely enough to sweep away the fatigue he had accumulated from several days of overtime.

'Actually, that is impressive too, but I've been through so much that I can keep my composure.'

Honestly, the rice alone was quite frightening, but since the Root who had prepared the table was plainly observing him, he could not stay still forever.

Yu Seongun slowly turned his eyes to the fish.

"..."

"Shall I debone it for you?"

"No, I'm fine."

He had only been surprised once again by its imposing form.

"What kind of fish is this...?"

"It is a fish that inhabits the country of the deep sea."

"I see. That can happen."

There were quite a few guilds that used a dungeon as something like a fish farm or plantation.

Thinking of that, he could understand Jio procuring ingredients from the country of the deep sea.

"It's a species I've never seen before..."

"In Earth terms, it is a fish that combines salmon and flounder."

"What kind of fish is that supposed to be?"

"A fish with a flounder texture and a strong salmon flavor."

"The universe really is vast."

Yu Seongun took a piece of the crispy grilled fish.

"... It really does have that oily orange color."

That said, it did not look as fatty as salmon.

"Oh, it's moist."

"I tried changing the firewood for the oven. How is the aroma?"

"So this was roasted in an oven. It's amazing."

He had wondered how this huge fish had been cooked, and it seemed a wood-fired oven had been used.

As Jio said, a faintly bitter smoky aroma rose from it, covering the fishy smell unique to seafood.

He had no idea what had been done to the fish, but the texture was also extremely soft.

The skin, which made it very clear that it had been roasted in an oven, was crisp like a thin cracker, while the flesh inside crumbled softly, like eating thick flakes of well-cooked cutlassfish.

"It's a little tart? And there's a spicy aroma too. You didn't just grill it plain, did you?"

"I grilled fish marinated in green mandarin, lemongrass, and chili juice."

"Are you a chef?"

He did not know how many humans Jio intended to lure in with these cooking skills.

No, this seemed manageable because the subject was a meal, but it was no joke—it was truly dangerous.

'Humans who do not even know the existence of the Root yet should not come to feel close to this guy.'

Whether Yu Seongun thought that or not, Jio continued explaining the dish.

"Lemon is good too, but I thought this kind of oily fish needed a bitter flavor..."

"..."

An excited air settled over the calm face of the young man as he spoke.

He looked rather pleased.

Yu Seongun understood very well that Jio himself had ambition when it came to cooking.

He also understood that it was pure goodwill, but goodwill from such an immense Root could become poison to humans.

'Even I can barely handle this goodwill right now...'

What on earth should he do about this?

"... I have so much to say about your expertise, but anyway, what is that sauce bowl beside the fish?"

"It is a sauce specifically for fish, made with lemon, soy sauce, and chili as a base."

"How can it be this serious?"

Even now, while he was worrying about how to prepare for Jio's goodwill, it suited him so absurdly well that Yu Seongun could only chuckle.

The Root's disguise was likely not meant to harm humans.

At the same time, calling it a "disguise" would also be contradictory, so it did not seem right to condemn Jio, who liked cooking and enjoyed sharing gifts, as false.

"Good grief..."

Yu Seongun forced down a sigh and spoke with that uniquely calm smile of his.

"It was delicious on its own, so I thought I could just eat it like this."

"Is there a problem?"

"I feel like I lost out by eating it without dipping it in the sauce."

"Thank you for the enthusiastic praise."

"Why don't you open a restaurant on Earth? I think you'd become popular."

"I do not think I am suited to business by nature."

"That is true too."

The selves of Jio that had been revealed so far were mostly artist, priest, doctor, and teacher.

He seemed either to be a very free spirit or to prefer existing under a certain orderly system, so Yu Seongun could not force him into running a business.

'A restaurant run by the Root. That would be quite enchanting. Every Gardener on Earth would gather. The disaster that broke out from that would be interesting too...'

Yu Seongun was gradually losing his reason.

'... Right, as long as it's delicious, it doesn't matter who made the food.'

It really was delicious.

"These stir-fried vegetables are..."

"I stir-fried tomatoes, bok choy, onions, garlic, and the like."

"So what I have been eating until now were not real vegetables."

After tasting the crunchy onion, Yu Seongun nodded.

"It's sweet."

"It is sweet."

"And a little sharp."

"Is it appropriate?"

"Yes, appropriate."

The onion retained its characteristic sharpness, yet after being stir-fried over a hot flame, it was full of sweet juice.

It was so moist and crunchy that it felt almost like a fruit rather than a vegetable.

"At this level, even just stir-fried onions would be good."

"How are the tomatoes?"

"... Why are these so sweet?"

If these tomatoes were exported, the tomato-is-a-vegetable camp and the tomato-is-a-fruit camp would be unified as one.

The tomatoes Jio had stir-fried were definitely fruit.

At this point, it felt like eating a warm fruit salad.

"This is also the first time stir-fried vegetables haven't felt greasy."

"Is there a reason stir-fried vegetables would be greasy?"

"Because a lot of oil goes in."

"Then they would be greasy."

"I definitely think this kind of feeling is good."

These stir-fried vegetables, which used minimal oil, were crunchy rather than mushy, and they had a stronger smoky flavor than an oily one.

The crisp stir-fried vegetables, with the bitter scent of flame as though their surfaces had been scorched with a torch, boasted a freshness completely different from ordinary stir-fried vegetables that had gone limp from heat.

The seasoning was not strong either.

It was a stir-fried side dish that let the ingredients' original flavors shine, with a bit of salt and pepper and a slightly scorched, refined scent of soy sauce added in.

"It's really almost on the level of a salad."

Yu Seongun picked up the long-awaited Dongpo pork.

"..."

"Squeak."

The teddy bear was looking at Yu Seongun with expectation.

'... What part of this is he looking forward to? What reaction am I supposed to have, and what should I do to survive in the form of an ordinary human?'

For some reason, he looked like an old man who had discovered a talent for cooking late in life and was waiting for the reaction to the first meal he served.

Even as his own comparison drove him mad, Yu Seongun dutifully tore off the Dongpo pork and placed it on his rice bowl.

It was soft enough that he had to use a spoon instead of chopsticks.

'This really is closer to pudding.'

Then, when he scooped it up with rice.

"..."

Yu Seongun briefly wondered if he should spit it out.

'... I don't think this is food I can handle. What do I do?'

If someone heard him wrong, it might sound like some ridiculous bit of gushing, but it was not.

He was feeling a real sense of crisis.

Yu Seongun realized for the first time that something being too delicious could also become a problem.

Fortunately, the catastrophe of Yu Seongun spitting out the food did not occur.

Such an act would have been rude to those who made the food, and beyond that, it was too delicious.

"... They say humans are beasts who can only be swayed by instinct..."

"Why would you say such a thing in the middle of a meal?"

"Because I feel I am not all that different."

So that was why the humans in so many legends and myths had made such foolish choices.

'Because they could not abandon human greed.'

It was a situation that made even a Gardener who knew the dangers of mystical stories nod anew.

"Hm..."

In any case, even after he finished the meal, Yu Seongun did not become immortal.

"You really are good at cooking."

"You have been saying the same thing for some time now."

"You're too good."

"Thank you?"

"You can be moderately good."

"You are very good at giving compliments, Mr. Yu Seongun."

"..."

No, I just meant you should be less good.

'I don't know whether you're doing this knowingly or unknowingly, but your cooking threatens human identity.'

Having been treated to one very delicious meal, Yu Seongun could not bring himself to say that much.