< 134. No Evil Dragons in the World (6) >
There are no dragons with bad flavor or texture in the world.
This means there are no tasteless dragons.
Whether grilled, boiled, fried, served raw, mixed with plant ingredients and baked, dried and crushed then cooked, marinated in alcohol, steamed, frozen, carbonated, fermented with parasites, extracted only for essence through high-pressure processing, crystallized and inhaled as a membrane, or even melted in gel or oil and solidified, dragons are delicious.
While their quality may decline with age, flavor is another matter. In terms of taste, both ancient dragons and young dragons have their own strengths.
Minjun, conversing with a dragon not yet a hundred years old, felt the taste of the old delights he once enjoyed on his tongue. Although it is typical to wait until a dragon reaches an appropriate age before harvesting due to issues of productivity represented by the Dragon Heart, there are times when capturing a young dragon is necessary. It was a rare delicacy.
'Not that I'm planning to cook him right away.'
Though he had no intention of doing so, the reason he felt a sudden inclination was due to the current situation.
The situation of holding a frying pan (cooking tool) in front of a dragon (ingredient) and showcasing his skills (cooking). It was definitely the first time since awakening his identity as a prisoner.
What had started as a boastful claim had become an unexpected trigger. The moment he had confidently declared his cooking skills, his mind was instantly filled with a vast array of dragon recipes and an immense sense of pride.
It seemed he really was skilled.
When asked if he had been terrible before finding his memories, the answer would be no. Even without using a frying pan, he knew how to cook at a basic level. He was skilled enough that when Cassie once questioned, "Isn't Minjun's cooking similar to mine even without a frying pan?" he had been genuinely angry.
However, it seemed he had possessed even greater skills during his time as a dragon. The swelling memories in his mind engraved that fact into him. He glanced at Kentius.
'I can't catch him right now, but maybe a bit of tail meat...'
He barely managed to suppress the thought before it solidified.
'No, I can't. I shouldn't.'
It was a situation similar to when he saw the Lord's corpse. He suppressed his past mindset from washing over him like a tide.
In that brief moment, Minjun's expression changed several times.
Meanwhile, the young dragon, Kentius, was overwhelmed by a strange sensation.
"······?!"
The dragon didn't know what to call the feeling.
He clearly recognized Minjun as someone he had met a long time ago, but the name was elusive and difficult to recall, like an itch in his mind.
If Minjun had heard his psychology, he would have defined the sensation as 'a chilling sense of danger and unease, similar to déjà vu but rooted in instinct and thus difficult to precisely define,' a feeling Kentius quickly shook off.
'Nonsense. Why would I be intimidated by someone with a frying pan?'
Despite his strong denial, Kentius found himself unconsciously saying,
"Hm, if that's the case, it might be better to call my personal chef who handles meals in polymorph form..."
"Since we're going to be working together, it's only right for me to showcase the finest hospitality I can provide. Besides, I can't eat anything made by anyone else. The exceptional skill has spoiled my taste."
It was a blatant lie.
Minjun spoke in a dry, factual tone.
"By chance, this Earth is the seventh dimension I've been dispatched to."
The dragon looked puzzled at why the prisoner suddenly brought this up.
"In one of my previous postings, Dimension #91-002, I was assigned as the personal guard of the emperor who ruled over all the intelligent beings there."
This was true.
"When security issues arose, instead of bringing in external food, we had to make do with the local ingredients in isolation. The emperor, after tasting my cooking once, appointed me as his personal chef. Until the end of the assignment, he wouldn't eat anything unless it was made by me. I even petitioned the committee to keep me on, but it was rejected."
"...You were the personal chef to the emperor who ruled over the entire dimension?"
There was an intrigued look.
Of course, there were parts Minjun didn't mention.
'I had a hard time secretly poisoning that spoiled brat.'
The emperor had insisted on learning dark magic from Minjun, which Minjun had ignored. When the emperor unilaterally reduced the king's power, Minjun was enraged. Although he received extra Dalants from the committee, he could not tolerate the broken promises.
Afterwards, Minjun devoted himself to developing dark magical drugs that could be effective without being detected by the palace. Unlike the immediately effective Happy Bug, this drug required long-term use. Despite this drawback, it could be used to induce addiction secretly.
As a result, the emperor became a compliant lamb who followed Minjun's every word, and the security duties were smooth until the last day.
"The men of the Belbev tribe die faster than humans, but the women are long-lived, so there are still many maidservants who remember that era. If you find it hard to believe, you can check it yourself."
He thought for a moment. It was similar to the extreme lifespan differences seen in Ober's spiders. Such species were rare among intelligent beings.
"Ah, well... that's enough. Fine. I'll see your skills."
As Minjun had expected.
That dragon's head probably didn't know where Dimension #91-002 was or how to contact them. And the insect-like species that lived there.
Moreover, if it were another species, Kentius might have worried that this could be a plot to poison him. But, intoxicated by his superiority, Kentius didn't consider that possibility.
Even if not poison, he might suspect that there was something sinister about the frying pan or the act of cooking itself. But Kentius trusted his dragon senses for detecting magic. He was confident he would notice any signs immediately.
In fact, he couldn't imagine that Minjun would harm him. The backlash was inevitable according to the Draconic Code.
Leaving him behind, Minjun took out the ingredients from the refrigerator. There was enough to feed a dozen or so people.
"Why did you buy so much? Were you planning to stay in New York for a long time?"
Minjun replied without changing his expression.
"...I stocked up to offer the best hospitality to my guests. Those who come to see me seldom want to eat out."
"Really, are you that good?"
"Unbelievable."
At that, the dragon's mental wavelength carried a complaint from the frying pan, filled with incredulous sentiment.
=Wow... Conscience...=
Sizzle! Crackle!
Minjun's hands moved busily in the kitchen. Kentius sat leisurely at the dining table, waiting to see his skills, arms crossed and legs fidgeting.
As the smell of cooking filled the kitchen, Kentius's expression gradually changed. His gaze became more focused, and he uncrossed his arms and uncrossed his legs. He straightened his slouched posture, sitting upright with his back pressed against the chair.
Minjun noticed this change. Unlike when he prepared dog food in Korea, he was putting considerable effort into the cooking. The menu was steak, with roasted vegetables as a garnish. Instead of mixing everything and frying it together, he was cooking each component separately in the correct order. He thought he should be a bit more careful in front of a dragon, as a visually unappealing dish might break the immersion of brainwashing.
"Alright, it's ready."
As soon as the first plate was set down, the dragon rushed at it hungrily. It was behavior unbecoming of a dragon that should maintain its dignity. Kentius was already so absorbed in eating that he wasn't aware of how he looked.
But this was not enough.
The frying pan's mind spoke up.
=It would be best to use all the ingredients you've prepared safely, if you want to achieve the desired effect.=
'Got it.'
Minjun hadn't prepared an excessive amount of ingredients for nothing. A dragon was a dragon. More investment was needed than when feeding members of parliament.
He focused again on cooking, and as soon as a frying pan's worth was completed, he set it on the table. Kentius devoured it with bloodshot eyes. Seeing this, Minjun felt warmth in his chest and a swell of pride. 'Yes, eat up. You were so thin when I saw you in Hong Kong. Too thin to even sell anywhere.'
After Kentius had devoured dozens of steaks, his expression had completely changed.
The frying pan spoke confidently.
=Now that dragon will have absolute trust and unconditional fondness for you.=
Minjun decided to stick with the title "Agent" for himself, as the previous reaction to being called "Daddy!" had been too unfavorable. The frying pan also judged that it would be unwise to irritate its creator. If it could be made, then many other things could be accomplished as well.
'So, he trusts and follows me?'
=Yes. From now on, even if you point at poop and call it gold, he will believe it, and if you defecate, he will clap his hands!=
'...Why use such an example?'
Though it was a brainwashing meal, hearing such words in front of him was unpleasant. The entity was inherently odd, but it seemed to have become even stranger lately.
'Well then, let's test it.'
Minjun pulled out a chair and sat facing the dragon. The moment he did, Kentius, who had just swallowed the last piece of steak, pleaded.
"More! Please, give me more! I can't stand it. Bring more! Please... more!"
Kentius's voice was hoarse and ragged.
Minjun, staring at him, said firmly.
"Eating too much of this is bad for your health. Please stop."
"······!"
The dragon's expression changed instantly.
The expression of desperation that had been etched on Kentius's face, as if he would die of thirst and hunger if he didn't get even one more piece of meat, vanished.
It was a change as if by magic.
In an instant, Kentius's face returned to a peaceful, indifferent expression.
"Oh, really? If you say so, then that must be right. I'll stop eating."
In reality, it made no sense. Even in a polymorphed state, a dragon could easily digest that amount.
But Kentius accepted it without question. He even showed a response of obedience to Minjun's "orders."
'Quite useful.'
Smiling slightly, Minjun decided to conduct a few more experiments.
"By the way, do you know?"
Minjun placed the frying pan he was holding on the table. Anyone could see it had only one handle.
"This looks like a single-handled pan, doesn't it? But it's not. If you look closely, it actually has two handles."
Kentius was impressed.
"Is that so? I can't see the other handle at all. I didn't know transparent metal that can fool a dragon's eyes existed in this world!"
"And the meat you've been eating, you thought it was beef, but it was actually grilled dragon meat."
"What?! How is it that I haven't noticed any of the rotten meat? You are truly an excellent chef."
When there's a discrepancy between his senses and Minjun's words, he assumes his senses must be wrong. Minjun decided to ramp up the intensity, even resorting to self-deprecating lies to create an extreme scenario.
"One more confession. I am a dragon."
"Red? Black? I thought so. You haven't been nervous around me for no reason."
"You're actually a woman."
"I never felt confused about my identity... I should move soon. The lair is too small for me to lay eggs."
"This world is a dream of the gods. They say when they wake up, all dimensions will be destroyed."
"That's a big problem. Why are the ancient dragons just watching this situation? I need to convene a dragon council immediately. The Dragon Heart isn't the issue right now! We need to take measures to ensure they never wake up again! What if the world ends before I have everything I want!"
"But there's no need to worry. There are those working hard to make sure they don't wake up."
"Oh! Really? That's a relief. If you think it's okay, then it must be."
"······."
Just moments ago, the dragon had been in shock, but upon Minjun's reassurance, he calmed down as if it were a lie.
Minjun saw absolute trust and psychological dependence in him.
It felt like being a cult leader. Kentius accepted everything he said as absolute truth without questioning self-affirmation, scientific basis, feasibility, or logical inquiry.
'The experiment is sufficient.'
Minjun decided to press further.
"From now on, answer all my questions truthfully. No matter what promises you made beforehand or with whom. Even if it was a sworn oath as a dragon, my questions take priority from now on. Understood?"
Minjun's command was interpreted by Kentius as absolute regulation, morality, and truth.
The dragon nodded without any doubt.
"I will."
Minjun asked.
"What's the way to avoid special gift tax? Who told you about it?"
"I don't know the method myself. Inais told me there was a way."
Inais.
All the answers Minjun had been curious about were now revealed.
'That woman?'
Minjun recalled the dragon who had arrived in Hong Kong the latest among the bereaved, crying pitifully.
Inais was the most recent partner who laid eggs with Lord.
< 134. 세상에 나쁜 용은 없다 (6) > End