Even though it was a bit disappointing to have plenty of bean sprouts piled on top of the monkfish, the bean sprouts were still essential to the steamed monkfish dish.
Minhyuk quietly lifted some bean sprouts off of the bowl. The bean sprouts were completely covered in red as if it was soaked thoroughly in spices. Then, he slowly placed it in his mouth and chewed.
Crunch, crunch━
He could hear the pleasant crunch of the fresh bean sprouts as the spicy flavor of the sauce slowly spreaded in his mouth.
Minhyuk smiled happily as he picked up a piece of monkfish. The monkfish was so plump and white that it looked like he picked up a piece of chicken. It was like he picked up a piece of meat from a spicy stir fried chicken dish instead of a steamed monkfish dish. Then, he placed the piece of fish in his mouth… the taste was light, fragrant and spicy. Chewing on it felt like he was chewing on a softer piece of chicken meat.
"Kghhhhk! It's really delicious!"
Locke exclaimed as if he was trying to convey both his and Minhyuk's feelings about the dish. Kongie, who was sitting right next to them and was also eating steamed monkfish, also exclaimed as if he was agreeing with his words.
"Oink, oink, oink!"
Then, Minhyuk picked up a piece of monkfish as he topped it off with some bean sprouts and water parsley.
The steamed monkfish with vegetables entered Minhyuk's mouth!
Crunch, crunch━
He could feel the fresh and lingering fragrance of the water parsley as he chewed carefully.
Water parsley was truly a mysterious ingredient. If you added this ingredient to a spicy soup or any seafood dish, it's taste would definitely change.
The flavor of the steamed monkfish after chewing on the water parsley and the bean sprouts was truly divine.
"Huwaaa!"
He unknowingly gave off a breath of satisfaction.
"Kongie-yah, let's try to eat it evenly this time. Look at how I do it and try to copy it."
"Oink?"
Kongie tilted his head as if he was confused with what Minhyuk told him. Kongie liked to eat meat but he still added water parsley and bean sprouts on his chopsticks before chomping on it. Once he placed the food in his mouth and tasted it, Kongie's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ooooink..."
Tears welled up in Kongie's eyes. It seemed like it was the first time that he has ever tasted such a delicacy.
"Oink, oink!"
Today's meal is a success, oink!
Khan and Genie just stared at Locke, Minhyuk and Kongie who were all eating the dish deliciously.
"Sluuuurp!"
Genie wiped the drool off of her mouth as she turned to look at Khan.
"D, do you want to go and get some steamed monkfish later?"
"C, call...!"
Minhyuk even used the remaining red sauce to make some fried rice before finally putting down his chopsticks. After they have finished eating, Kongie climbed on Minhyuk's shoulders and laid down. He must have felt so satisfied with the meal that they just had that Kongie ended up falling asleep after laying his head down.
"Wow. He fell asleep in a second as soon as he laid down...!"
"So jealous... It's best to lie down after eating!"
Minhyuk sent Kongie back to the summoning room to let him sleep peacefully.
On the other hand, Locke jumped up after finishing his meal. It looked like he was filled to the brim with energy.
"Let's go! Quickly!"
"Where?"
"To attack the dungeon!"
Genie and Khan were both brought back to their senses.
Right now, Locke could act as two people. He could be both a healer and a dealer. Thanks to Minhyuk's incredible buffing ability, they would be able to take down the dungeon even if Genie and Khan did not eat any buffed dish.
"We'll see you later, Minhyuk-ah!"
"We'll be back soon!"
"I'll pay you back later for the steamed monkfish!"
As soon as they disappeared, Minhyuk pulled out an ice cream out of his inventory.
"Hehehe...!"
Eating ice cream after eating something spicy is the best! Melon flavored ice cream, Meluna!
At that moment…
The priests and the knights approached Minhyuk.
Chomp, chomp!
Minhyuk quickly took a bite of his delicious Meluna as he tilted his head at the approaching knights and priests.
"We're really sorry but I think you should come with us."
The chief priest Eidni's expression was incomprehensible.
Behind him, Minhyuk was walking as he enjoyed his Meluna while the knights were whispering.
"Th, that's the 100th piece...!"
"You'll definitely catch a cold...!"
Minhyuk looked at the knight with confusion when he heard his words.
"Eyyy. I tried it a few days ago. I'll still be fine even if I eat 300 of this."
"Keok?!"
"OMG?!"
Eidni had no choice but to support his forehead in defeat.
In fact, the priest Eidni had a title that was on the same level as a chief of the royal court and he was a man of great faith. But he still couldn't understand the situation at all.
'You want this guy to make a meal for God Juis on behalf of Rald?'
That's impossible.
It was also impossible for him to know the reason why King Varen trusted and believed this person so much. He clearly believed that something would definitely go wrong.
Then, at that moment…
Plop!
"A, aaaack! M, my Meluna...!"
Minhyuk accidentally dropped his Meluna. Then, he started to blame himself.
"This stupid idiot, sea cucumber, sea squirt and sea anemone! How can you drop your own food...!"
Then, he plopped down on the floor as tears started to gush out from his eyes. He tearfully reached out to his fallen Meluna.
"W, won't I be able to eat it if I just dust it off?"
Minhyuk was the only foreigner who would say such weird things! Then, he stood up. When he looked up at the rest of the people with him, they could see his tears and snot running down his face.
'Sigh...'
Eidni let out a sigh.
The future of our kingdom will be in his hands?
Not long after, Eidni brought Minhyuk to the temple's waiting room where Varen was staying. When they opened the door, they could see Varen pacing back and forth as he waited for them anxiously.
"Come in."
Minhyuk quietly entered the room as the door closed behind him. Eidni shook his head when he saw him enter the room.
"How can we let such a crude and vulgar person cook for the God Juis! And we're even betting the future of the kingdom on a man who will cry when he runs out of ice cream!"
"...Even if you're just looking at him superficially you should at least know his cooking skills before judging him like that. And even his highness said it himself that he had seen his skills."
"Sir Perle."
Perle was the head of the knights of Valkyrie Kingdom. He was one of the most powerful men and he could easily compete with Rumad. The only reason why Perle did not accompany King Varen on his journey to Eivelis Empire was because he was tasked to obtain the ingredients needed for the ritual.
At Eidni's call, Perle tilted his head.
"You seem to be believing in His Highness' choice right now but I still think that we should all be careful."
Eidni looked inside for a bit before continuing his words.
"God Juis was mad because her food had been poisoned but you're still putting up with someone ridiculous to make her food?"
"...Hmmmm. Yes. That's what I heard."
What if God Juis was angered once more?
At that time, perhaps, Valkyrie Kingdom would have no future at all.
"But we'll never know. Perhaps this foreigner is as good as Rald."
"Ha...!"
Eidni clicked his tongue.
Perle might be a good swordsman but he still did not know. Rald was literally a legendary chef. He was a man who was hailed to be even better than the top craftsman in cooking!
How dare you compare him to that vulgar guy inside?!
"I'm telling you, we'll just be wasting all of our ingredients. Even if he used all the ingredients, it would still be lucky if that guy created a rare dish!"
"What would happen if he served a rare dish?"
Then, Eidni continued to talk confidently.
"I'll take off my underwear and dance in front of him if he ever did that!"
"...I suggest that you don't talk carelessly."
Perle sighed lightly.
In fact, he was also a bit doubtful of the king's choice.
His Highness also said that he had been starved for days when they were outside of the kingdom.
But Varen had told them clearly and confidently about the power that Minhyuk's dish had given him.
'If he ate it because he was hungry, then he might have thought that it was really the best dish.'
He was also quite worried.
At that moment.
"You two. Come in."
"Yes? Ah. Yes, Your Highness."
Varen poked his head out as he invited them inside.
Varen smiled softly at Minhyuk.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes. It's really, really delicious!"
He smiled at him kindly as he nodded his head.
This was not the first time that he thought that he was someone unreliable. But he still saved him from his enemies and even fed him delicious food. In return, he promised to give him the best sushi. However, everything was postponed because of the ritual and God Juis.
"I'm sorry."
Minhyuk looked at him in confusion.
"I'm supposed to feed you the best sushi but Rald is not feeling well and is almost at the verge of death."
Minhyuk nodded his head in understanding. He knew about it since he had heard the people talk about it.
"And there's something else that I want to ask you."
Varen explained the entirety of the story to him.
"Legendary dish?"
"That's right. But I'll make sure to give you plenty of rewards. And if God Juis' catastrophe and anger is lifted then Chef Rald will also be able to recover! At that time, I'll be able to feed you delicious food!"
Minhyuk pondered over his words carefully.
A legendary dish! The royal court even said that they will support me and provide me all of the ingredients that I need
This was what mattered the most.
'They're saying that they'll keep on supplying me with the ingredients until I make a legendary dish, right?'
There should be only one food prepared for the ritual. That meant that Minhyuk needed to repeat the process until he could make a satisfactory dish.
The meaning of this is....?
'I can eat anything that's not legendary, right?'
It was a fact that his Create a Recipe Skill could only be made for a single person. However, it did not mean that others wouldn't be able to eat it. It just said that if someone else ate it then they would not be able to feel the buff effects!
"But before that happens... I think you need to prove your skills in cooking to my subjects?"
"My cooking?"
"I told them that your cooking was comparable to Rald's…. But my subjects won't trust you with just that. So please cook just one dish for them."
"Well, it's not that difficult. But I have a condition."
"Condition?"
Minhyuk was not a person who would do something for you just because you asked him to do it and the quest window had not yet opened at all so he could definitely add something to the list of the rewards.
"Please let me have a more special sushi if I succeed."
"Alright. I'll order my knights to bring in only S-ranked ingredients for your sushi."
"S-ranked ingredients? Kghk!"
His so-called course meal had been upgraded to the more expensive C-course! This was already enough for Minhyuk.
Then, Varen opened the door and called for the others outside.
"The two of you. Come in."
"Yes? Ah. Yes, Your Highness."
Eidni and Perle came inside the waiting room. Both of them had confused looks on their faces, especially the priest, Eidni.
"I'll just make a dish for Priest-nim."
Minhyuk quickly used his Create a Recipe skill to find out the dish for him.
"Be honored. This friend is making a dish for you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Eidni was dumbfounded.
'I'm afraid that I will lose my appetite if I eat this guy's cooking.'
"Is it fine with the ingredients that I have?"
"Of course."
At his words, Eidni thought…
'Without using any special ingredients? Just the regular ingredients?'
Then, Minhyuk began cooking his dish.
The recipe that he had checked was none other than toast!
The priest, Eidni, was a very busy person and because of that the only thing that he could grab to eat was toast. However, over the times, he had grown fond of it.
Minhyuk covered the pan in butter as he placed bread on it. Then, he beat the eggs, baked the ham and chopped the cabbages.
'His cooking form looks quite good.'
But it wasn't easy for anyone to have a good ranked dish with normal ingredients.
Not long after, the steaming toast was completed. The first person to check the dish was King Varen. After checking the dish, he looked at Minhyuk speechlessly.
'As expected... I wasn't wrong with my judgement.'
He was caught in surprise once more.
Then, Eidni went ahead and checked the toast.
(Toast)
Material Grade: D
Rank: Rare
Restrictions: Only Eidni can have the buff effects.
Storage Time: 7 days
Preservation Time: 6 days
Special Effects:
━ 7% increase in your Holy Power
━ +4% in all of your stats
Description: A toast made specifically for Eidni. It is made of simple ingredients but the chef who made it is not someone to be taken lightly.
'Keok?!'
Eidni was shocked stiff.
Are you telling me that a rare dish came out in one try even though he only used normal ingredients?!
It was something completely unbelievable.
Then… Varen reached out for his toast.
"Eidni, can I eat this?"
"Ah. O, of course."
Eidni wanted to eat it so badly but he couldn't just slap His Highness' hands and not let him take it away, could he?
Not long after, Minhyuk's Joy of Eating Together skill was triggered and he was also able to enjoy the food. Of course, the buff did not take effect.
"Hooo. Boy, your dishes are truly delicious."
"Hehe. Toast is delicious!"
The combination of the crunchy cabbage, eggs, cheese and sweet apple sauce was superb. It almost tasted like Crunch Toast.
When Varen went out to go to the bathroom, Eidni fought hard to not let his tears fall.
'I, I also want to eat...!'
Then, Perle approached him and whispered to him quietly.
"Didn't you promise something earlier?"
Eidni was so shocked that he couldn't help but cough vehemently.
"N, no. That was just a joke."
"That wasn't a joke though."
Perle was a man who was quite sensitive when it was about 'promises'. And he also clearly stated his stance on this matter.
"If you don't keep your promise then I'll tell this to His Highness."
"T, that...!"
He made such a declaration against the foreigner that His Highness had specifically chosen. Once he knew it, he would definitely be angry. But Eidnie was still able to make a feint and avoid this ending.
"I, I don't think he would like that if I just did it so suddenly. Why don't I ask him first?"
"Hmm. You're right."
Then, Eidni went and approached Minhyuk to explain himself.
"...I had misgivings about you so I did not believe in your skills. However, right now I believe that you're truly a great chef. Taking off my underwear and dancing naked.... Cough. Instead of dancing, should I just give you a blessing? How's that?"
Minhyuk was quite shocked when he heard about the promise that they were talking about.
Eidni was already an old man. With his priest's white uniform, if he took off his underwear and danced in front of him...
"Keok?! J, just imagining it...! Don't ever do that! I'll kill you if you do it. I'm begging you not to. If you danced naked like that, your fur... Ugh!"
Minhyuk covered his mouth as he imagined the sight.
Eidni was quite happy with this outcome.
"Thank you. Really, thank you so much. Hahahahahahahaha! You're not only good at cooking but you're also magnanimous. I'll give you a blessing instead!"
He was really relieved.
But then, a thought suddenly flashed in his head.
Huh? But why do I feel bad...?
Then, Minhyuk once again opened his mouth.
"I'll kill you if you do it!"
He got out of the tricky situation but he strangely felt bad about himself.
Footnotes
[Meluna] So it's a parody of Melona. It's a KR brand for popsicle ice cream. I really like the melon flavor of this ice cream but strawberry is also running for the 1st position in my heart. Back.
[Crunch Toast] A French cereal that tastes like apple and french toast. I have never tasted this but it strangely sounds delicious. Back.