Chapter 48

Chapter 48
Chapter 48: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Goodness, is there truly meat this tender anywhere on earth?”

“It is exquisite! I cannot imagine eating anything else from this moment onward!”

Without exception, everyone enthusiastically agreed on the remarkable flavor.

A resounding success!

Alex, whose palate had been refined through years of practice, flushed bright red from his collar all the way to the crown of his head.

“Th-thank you, everyone.”

It appeared he had rarely, if ever, received such widespread and genuine praise.

Lion watched him with a contented smile, then sliced into the steak, which glistened with rosy juices. He dipped it into the rich brown sauce and slipped it into his mouth.

“Mmm.”

Just as expected, it was truly magnificent meat.

The wave of satisfaction upon the first bite existed on an entirely different plane.

Chewing the thick cut released a torrent of savory juices that mingled with the sauce, endlessly awakening the taste buds.

The crisp, savory crust harmonized flawlessly with the tender interior.

To deliver such a profound impression with a single mouthful was astonishing!

It felt almost tragic that Rikschel was missing out.

Still chewing, Lion offered Alex a cheerful thumbs-up.

“……! My thanks, Young Master!”

“Though I must ask, is it truly all right for you to share this treasure with us?”

Swallowing his food completely, Lion spoke up.

“Are you familiar with the old adage, ‘Be wary of those who buy you beef’?”

“Pardon?”

“I have heard it before. It signifies that one should never accept noble or expensive provisions without suspicion, correct?”

“Precisely. And this dish is, in fact, beef.”

“I see… Ah?”

The servants went pale.

Even ordinary grilled meat would have been difficult to decline from such a figure, but this was a creation of Alex, the greatest cook in the Empire—a delicacy unattainable even with a fortune.

He was, after all, the head chef of the Asteri household.

What manner of favor could the young master possibly be asking in return?

“As you are all well aware, Rikschel neglects his own well-being.”

“Th-that is the absolute truth.”

Not only does he fail to care for himself, but he routinely refuses meals altogether.

He has yet to undergo his Coming-of-Age Ceremony and desperately needs proper nourishment, yet he pushes onward until every task is completed, remaining a constant source of worry for the household staff.

Other servants, absent at the moment, often struggled with his capricious and selective eating habits.

“It may prove troublesome, and you may not entirely understand my motives, but… I ask that you look after him.”

“Of-of course. We shall dedicate ourselves to caring for the Young Master. It is the core duty of those who serve within these walls.”

“I am well aware of that. Yet I realize I have never thanked you directly. I am deeply grateful that you watch over him without requiring my constant reminders.”

“Young Master… sob!”

The servants’ chests swelled with powerful emotion.

To show such profound concern for his brother, even going so far as to procure such exquisite food.

‘He must surely harbor resentment over being edged out of the succession race…!’

‘How truly admirable that he refuses to dwell on such grievances.’

‘Truthfully, had I been in his position, I would hold no shortage of complaints.’

They felt a sudden wave of shame for their earlier doubts.

『Those who dined together realized the warmth of the food!』

『Cooking experience increases by 30 percent.』

『Cooking Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv.7.』

『A new recipe has been unlocked.』

『You can now make ‘A Dish of Memories’.』

Simultaneously with the level advancement, a rush of information flooded Lion’s consciousness.

However… this particular ability differed somewhat from the recipes he had mastered previously.

‘A Dish of Memories.’

This function granted the power to recreate dishes Lion had consumed during significant or unusual experiences.

In other words, the special sirloin set he had just shared could now be replicated to a degree, anchored by the fond recollections of sharing it with Head Chef Alex and the loyal servants.

Naturally, he could not hope to match Alex’s master-level execution on his first attempt.

It was akin to young adults living independently trying to recreate the distinct flavors of their parents’ cooking without success.

Yet.

If he prepared it, studied it, and practiced persistently?

The perfection of the taste would steadily climb.

Once he reached that stage, he would cultivate a palate capable of identifying missing ingredients and necessary spices…

‘Wait, if that is the case—’

Would it not mean he could recreate the beloved meals he had enjoyed so thoroughly before his transmigration?

Korean cuisine!

‘If I master this, perhaps I might even prepare them for my family here!’

While Lion examined the fresh interface with a pleased smile, the servants scraped every remaining smear of sauce from their porcelain plates and forged a resolute pact.

“Young Master. There is still a portion reserved for the Young Master. Would it not be wiser to coax him out to dine rather than letting him eat in solitude within his chambers?”

“Indeed! It has cooled somewhat, but a brief turn in the oven will restore its warmth.”

“I shall go fetch him immediately!”

“Pardon?”

Caught off guard by their sudden surge of momentum, Lion blinked in surprise.

Where had this fierce determination suddenly spawned from?

Ah, right—the meat had worked its magic.

“Then, might I leave that task in your hands? I shall busy myself with something here.”

“Yes!”

“Leave it to us! We shall certainly repay the debt of this beef!”

The servants clenched their fists with glowing determination.

Emboldened by their fierce energy, Alex abruptly rose to his feet as well.

“Young Master! I shall labor with even greater diligence from this day forward! Summon me whenever you require assistance; I shall happily exhaust myself in your service—”

“Ah, the timing couldn’t be better. Alex, might I borrow your kitchen?”

“Pardon? Me—ah, you mean the culinary workspace?”

“Yes. I intend to prepare a dessert for Rikschel.”

“……”

Alex fixed his gaze squarely on Lion.

Though the young master possessed genuine intuition regarding food and preparation, he occasionally made the most bewildering pronouncements.

‘Surely he understands that desserts are not conjured out of thin air?’

Astonishingly, confections typically demanded considerable labor and precise timing.

Even standard baked goods like cakes required kneading the batter, baking it to precision, and whipping fresh cream.

While components could be prepared in advance, the overarching structure remained rigid.

Whether utilizing chocolate or fresh fruit, the foundational form of a cake persisted.

The same rule applied to nearly everything else.

“Do not worry. This is a confection that can be assembled swiftly.”

Lion waved a dismissive hand, as if brushing away invisible concerns.

“There is no need for blades, so there is no danger involved.”

“I see… Then how might I be of assistance?”

“You have already labored tirelessly over the main meal; please take your rest.”

“……Understood.”

He was simultaneously so gentle and yet completely immovable.

Alex had no choice but to step backward.

“…Though I must wonder what manner of dessert you intend to conjure.”

—

“A novel function indeed; I ought to test its limits.”

The moment the meal concluded, Lion stepped directly into the culinary workspace.

He slipped a neatly pressed apron over his shoulders and gathered the ingredients he had envisioned.

Fine flour, glutinous rice flour, granulated sugar, active yeast, cinnamon powder, and a selection of nuts.

And finally, cooking oil.

“It is difficult for anyone to resist this.”

The confection Lion had chosen to create was none other than…

Hotteok.

Yes. Piping hot, freshly pressed sweet pancakes straight from a winter street vendor’s cart.

The delightfully chewy pastry consumed while holding a paper cup folded in half, blowing carefully to escape the heat.

A sweet, chewy delicacy universally adored by young and old alike.

Though it might prove slightly unfamiliar to this realm, given how well the young master had taken to sweet potatoes, he would undoubtedly approve.

Lion dove straight into preparing the dough.

Two and a half cups of standard flour. Half a cup of glutinous rice flour. And finally, the yeast.

‘Though omitting the yeast is technically possible…’

Should he include it anyway for the sake of superior texture?

In any case, convincing Rikschel to leave his room and make his way to the dining hall would consume a fair amount of time.

Lion’s hands moved with practiced assurance.

He blended the sifted flour and glutinous rice flour with yeast dissolved in lukewarm water.

Once the mixture achieved proper elasticity, he drizzled in a small measure of cooking oil.

‘The vendor back home claimed this specific step ensured perfection.’

The resulting dough would undoubtedly possess a superior chew.

He recalled how remarkably satisfying his own amateur attempts had tasted after receiving that advice.

Though, admittedly, lacking yeast or glutinous rice flour during those early attempts had largely reduced the experiment to a flat flour-and-sugar pancake.

Just as Lion neared the completion of the dough, Alex slipped back into the kitchen.

“Young Master Rikschel has arrived, and the staff are currently reheating his meal.”

“Oh? He actually came?”

“Well… he yielded because the First Young Master made the request directly! Ha ha.”

“Is that so? If I exploit that method too frequently, its effectiveness will wane, so I shall use it sparingly.”

Subtly… or perhaps not so subtly, his perceptive nature meant overusing the tactic would ruin its charm.

“Indeed, I understand. Still… hmm?”

Alex stared fixedly at the rising mound of dough.

It formed a peculiar mass—far too tacky to resemble standard bread dough, yet distinct from anything else he had encountered.

It radiated a strange, springy elasticity, but…

‘…No matter. He successfully fashioned cookies previously, so this should prove acceptable.’

Alex chose to place his faith in Lion.

He reasoned that someone exhibiting such profound devotion to his sibling would never produce something unpalatable.

In truth, the lingering satisfaction from the beef steak had cast a generous filter over Alex’s judgment, though he remained entirely unaware of it as he returned to the dining area with the warmed plate.

Lion immediately set about preparing the sweet filling.

By comparison, the interior mixture proved far simpler than the dough itself.

Brown sugar, cinnamon powder, and a handful of crushed nuts. That completed the list.

“If the cinnamon becomes overly dominant, personal preference might vary…”

He measured roughly six spoonfuls of sugar against half a spoonful of cinnamon powder, adding a coarse grind of the nuts discovered in the pantry.

Once thoroughly blended, the aromatic mixture undeniably mirrored authentic hotteok filling.

“Excellent.”

With the dough’s fermentation complete, it was time to begin in earnest.

Lion pressed down upon the dough to release trapped air, then pinched off a generous handful.

*Swoosh- Plop!*

“The dough consistency appears ideal.”

Now came the delicate task of encasing the filling securely to prevent any ruptures during the cooking process.

Lion carefully formed a pocket within the dough and spooned the filling inside.

An insufficient amount yielded a bland flavor, while excessive greed caused the contents to burst through the seams prematurely, creating a disastrous mess.

“Good.”

Thanks to his steadily increasing culinary proficiency, however, he possessed the precise dexterity to pack the filling safely without structural failure.

After sealing the edges neatly and rolling them into smooth spheres, he lined up a batch…

*Sizzle-*!

He laid the pieces into a skillet coated with a generous layer of oil.

A slightly elevated volume of oil guaranteed a crisper crust and accelerated cooking times.

*Sizzle-sizzle!*

The pastries immediately began to fry, emitting a mouthwatering aroma.

“I must press them flat once the underside hardens slightly.”

Without the proper pressing tool, managing the pliable dough presented a minor hurdle.

‘I shall ask Mudu to forge one for me later.’

Having already commissioned custom cookie molds during his earlier outing, placing an additional request would prove simple enough.

“Regardless, the form is turning out quite respectable, is it not?”

Lion continued to flip and flatten each pastry in turn.

Though the initial attempts looked slightly clumsy, the fourth and fifth pieces emerged as smooth, uniform discs.

Just as Lion transferred the finished batch onto a serving plate…

“Young Master. The Young Master has finished his meal. Has the confection concluded…? Ah.”

Alex, re-entering the kitchen once more, tilted his head in bewilderment as he examined the golden pastries.

“Ah, your timing is impeccable.”

His confusion was entirely justified, given that he had likely never laid eyes on such a creation before in his life.