Chapter 89

Chapter 89
Chapter 89: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

What qualifies as comfort food for someone living by themselves?

Naturally, a few options spring to mind.

An assortment of delivery meals, canned goods or seasoned seaweed stacked high like totem poles, alongside quick white rice packets.

Followed closely by instant ramen and soju.

None of these choices fall into the category of wholesome nutrition.

The unfortunate reality of a solitary lifestyle lies in the sheer difficulty of maintaining proper wellness.

Funds run scarce, while the kitchen area remains cramped.

Does it end there? Factor in the expenses, and despair is never far away.

Given these prices, buying an entire roasted chicken to devour feels far more appealing!

Such a notion arises instinctively.

Baek Yi-hyun, known as Lion, who had navigated solo living from a very tender age, shared this exact sentiment.

Yet, relying exclusively on processed foods inevitably invites indigestion and acid reflux.

Weight gain follows as an ordinary consequence.

Crafting meals entirely from scratch was a short-lived habit.

Time simply did not permit it.

The distress experienced by Baek Yi-hyun stemmed purely from the burdens of his early twenties.

Seeking even a rudimentary form of self-care, he discovered an alternative to conventional noodles: Fusilli Lunghi pasta strands.

Ramen prepared using pasta instead of standard wheat noodles!

This substitute aimed to minimize the oil intake entering the body, though factoring in the high sodium content of the ramen broth, it functioned primarily as a guilt-relieving measure.

Standard fusilli pasta pieces are short and stubby like macaroni, but this variant differed entirely.

These noodles possessed sufficient length for a traditional ramen experience, complete with the characteristic slurping sound alongside the soup.

Pasta strands that fit seamlessly into a ramen dish!

‘Naturally, the flavor did not match regular ramen.’

The core distinction between pasta and ramen rests upon whether they undergo oil-frying during production.

Pasta undergoes simple shaping and drying processes, lacking the punchy stimulation characteristic of ramen.

Consequently, Baek Yi-hyun found his meals lacking complete satisfaction.

The instant gratification of oily richness was absent.

Even so, having purchased the ingredients, he recalls compelling himself to finish them.

However.

“For now, as long as the shape and texture are roughly correct.”

Lion held a specific vision.

『Fusilli Lunghi (★)』

-These pasta noodles are characterized by their curly, yarn-like shape.

-Kneaded and extruded with a head chef’s special recipe, they are much chewier than ordinary noodles!

Furthermore, they far exceeded store-bought alternatives in quality.

These constituted handmade noodles crafted by a master chef hailing from the Byrdentis Family!

Lion initiated the cooking process by dropping the pasta into boiling water.

These required an extended boiling time compared to standard pasta varieties.

While the noodles softened on the stove, Lion accessed the Shilling Shop interface.

『Welcome, customer.』

『Would you like to check the products?』

“Show me all the seasoning types. In order of lowest price.”

『Displaying all types including ‘Seasoning’ in ascending order of price.』

Lion examined the initial seasoning option that materialized.

『Magic Seasoning A』

-Randomly yields a memory powder.

-30,000 Shillings

『Magic Seasoning B』

-Allows you to select and add a flavor of memory.

-50,000 Shillings (MD Recommended!)

“Yes. This is the one.”

A grin spread across Lion’s face as his gaze rested upon Magic Seasoning B.

The ability to actively select the desired memory flavor for inclusion!

This implied a viable method to recreate the exact flavor profile of kimbap-franchise ramen.

Nevertheless, the fifty thousand Shilling price tag represented a heavy burden.

‘Still, no alternative exists.’

Although his skill set included the creation of memory dishes, the concentrated flavor profile of modern industrial manufacturing, such as packaged ramen soup base, proved exceptionally difficult to emulate even with the buff active.

‘Besides, ramen is fundamentally about the excitement of tearing open the seasoning packet.’

Growl!

His stomach emitted a loud protest.

Lion had diligently traded and negotiated for any items of value uncovered during his explorations within the labyrinth.

The total Shillings accumulated from these ventures approached nearly two hundred fifty thousand.

Naturally, this constituted a substantial expense, consuming one-fifth of his entire capital.

At the very least, he refused to compromise when it came to nourishment.

“Magic Seasoning B.”

『Would you like to purchase?』

『Once opened, this item cannot be canceled, transferred, or gifted.』

“Confirm purchase.”

『Item purchased!』

『Lost 50,000 Shillings.』

『Current funds: 198,400 Shillings.』

Currency vanished from his inventory space, and a seasoning packet, slightly larger than a standard ramen flavor pouch, dropped directly into Lion’s open palm.

“Let’s see. Instructions for use…”

『Magic Seasoning B』

-Open while recalling the flavor of memory!

-The more detailed your imagination, the more precise the taste!

Fortunately, the procedure appeared straightforward.

Lion set a fresh pot of water to boil, tore open the packet without hesitation, and emptied the contents entirely.

“KimX Heaven Ramen!!”

Conscious effort was unnecessary to picture that specific taste.

It materialized instantly in his mind!

Bubble, bubble-

The introduction of the seasoning produced no dramatic supernatural phenomena.

Even so, Lion understood the outcome.

“Success.”

As the multicolored powder dissolved into the liquid, the broth assumed a familiar crimson hue, and a potent aroma capable of awakening any appetite rushed through the kitchen space!

That was not the extent of it.

The dehydrated vegetable garnishes typical of instant ramen packets materialized as well!

“Incredible…”

Lion let out a brief breath of awe.

The fragrance proved genuinely torturous.

“No time to waste.”

Scooping out the thoroughly softened pasta noodles, Lion transferred them directly into the boiling pot of broth.

At this stage, remaining steps required only waiting for the ingredients to meld completely.

Lion cracked a fresh egg directly into the simmering ramen without disturbing the yolk, following it with a generous handful of finely diced scallions.

The fresh green pieces cooked gradually, absorbing the red tint of the soup.

The egg whites underwent the same transformation.

Gulp.

Presented with a sight that forced an involuntary physical reaction, Lion swallowed hard and drew out his handmade wooden dining chopsticks from storage.

This meal demanded chopsticks above all else.

Extinguishing the stove flame, Lion transferred the pot onto a trivet and gazed down at the prepared dish with profound appreciation.

『■■■’s Ramen (★★★)』

-A nostalgic noodle dish containing mysterious ingredients not found in this world!

-The flavor of memory has been perfectly reproduced. How is it so perfect?

An extraordinary culinary creation had materialized.

A three-star rating guaranteed exceptional flavor.

‘High expectations are entirely justified here!’

The decisive factor remained how effectively the pasta noodles had absorbed the essence of the broth…

Without delay, Lion plucked a single strand of noodles and blew gently to cool the surface.

While still retaining considerable heat, he drew it into his mouth with a sharp slurp!

Slurp!

“…!”

As he chewed the noodles, Lion’s expression shifted into one of absolute astonishment, akin to receiving a sudden strike to the skull.

This Magic Seasoning B defied ordinary expectations.

Despite the total absence of added cooking oil, the distinct oily richness characteristic of authentic ramen registered clearly on his palate!

‘Even that aspect was successfully replicated?’

What of the broth itself, then…?

Lion scooped a spoonful of the liquid, cooled it with a few breaths, and swallowed.

A sharp, intensely savory, and biting sensation cascaded across his taste buds.

The complex umami of black pepper and assorted spices.

Coupled with this…

‘Bean sprouts?’

A distinct refreshing undertone, reminiscent of a hangover cure, surfaced beneath the initial wave of umami.

The flavor clung to his mouth as though satisfying a deep sodium craving before vanishing smoothly down his throat.

“Ahhh…”

This represented perfection!

Lion closed his eyes tightly, a shiver running through his frame.

At this late hour, following his exertion in the water, no royal banquet could possibly rival this bowl of noodles.

Describing it as the pinnacle of flavor would be entirely accurate.

Lion commenced eating in earnest.

He consumed the noodles alongside the green onions while drinking the broth straight from the cooking vessel.

When a mild burning sensation began to build, he ruptured the soft-boiled egg yolk and coated the noodles liberally within its richness.

The spicy backdrop served to elevate the deep flavor of the yolk to its maximum potential.

“Here. Have a strand yourself.”

Lion lifted a single noodle and held it out toward Nature.

Mimicking a fledgling chick accepting food from a parent, Nature pecked at the offering and pulled it inward.

Following a lightning-fast slurp of the lengthy strand.

“Peep!”

More was demanded immediately.

As a spiritual entity, consumption of diverse foods seemed to pose no difficulty at all.

“Delicious, isn’t it?”

“Peep-peep!”

Could this reaction stem from experiencing modern culinary arts for the first time?

Nature hopped about in sheer delight.

Lion offered an additional strand before finishing the remaining portions, including every drop of broth.

“Phew. That was profoundly satisfying.”

Though the financial cost proved heavy, the taste left zero room for regret.

『Yes. This is the taste!』

『Deeply moved by the food I made!』

『Experience bonus applied for using ingredients of unknown origin.』

『Congratulations! You’ve realized that the tastiest dish doubles in flavor when shared!』

『Cooking Proficiency has reached Lv.1 Maturation.』

『Ability: Accelerated Maturation has been unlocked.』

“Oh.”

Advancing in level came as an unexpected development.

Additional experience points likely resulted from utilizing the specialized component designated as ‘Magic Seasoning.’

Under those terms, the investment of fifty thousand Shillings yielded returns far exceeding its cost.

Furthermore…

‘Accelerated Maturation?’

This implied a significant expansion in the variety of recipes he could successfully execute.

Countless meal concepts flashed through Lion’s consciousness.

An endless array of dishes relied upon proper maturation periods for success.

Even traditional stews and braised plates improve remarkably when permitted to rest overnight, correct?

Yet possessing a function to accelerate that process… signifies that profound depth of flavor is imparted instantaneously upon preparation.

Beyond that realization…

‘It means recipes requiring lengthy aging can now be produced on demand.’

Gulp.

Despite a completely filled stomach, his mouth watered spontaneously.

‘Astonishing…’

New culinary experiments awaited his return to home territory.

His personal growth throughout this venture had been substantial.

“First, tidying up.”

Lion restored the area to pristine condition, utilized Nature’s assistance to eliminate lingering aromas, and retreated quietly to his quarters.

Today had been nothing short of extraordinary.

—

Passage of time remained swift, bringing the scheduled departure date for Lion’s return to Asteri Territory.

“Safe travels, and do return whenever you wish.”

“Certainly. I will visit again.”

Lion offered a warm smile while declining Clarentia’s parting gesture with polite firmness.

“Such a cold response after receiving countless provisions.”

“My sincere gratitude for the generous presents.”

Pride flickered in Lion’s gaze as he surveyed the towering pile of medicinal herbs loaded onto the carriage exterior.

That concluded nothing.

The transport interior likewise housed precious Snow Mountain Iron courtesy of the Byrdentis household.

“Consider those a preliminary investment.”

“Thank you kindly for the tribute.”

Yielding gracefully to Lion’s unyielding composure, Clarentia extended her hand forward.

“Until our paths cross again.”

Following a brief handshake, Lion mounted the carriage.

Observing the vehicle pull away, Clarentia turned back toward her private chamber with a quiet chuckle.

‘Does he fully grasp the significance of his actions?’

An alliance bridging a Magical lineage with a Swordsmanship household lacked any precedent within historical archives.

Yet Lion Asteri brought it to fruition.

Moreover, the carriage driver undoubtedly belonged to underworld circles.

Though disguised as a common coachman, his utterly silent footsteps bore the distinct hallmark of professional assassination training—a feat far beyond ordinary capability.

A Swordsmanship House, a Magical Family, and the criminal underworld.

An individual sheltered by all these distinct factions simultaneously.

‘He likely remains unaware of the full scope himself.’

Even with awareness, manipulation of these forces runs contrary to his nature.

‘All the more reason for him to exercise caution.’

When major powers establish formal ties, outside factions invariably begin searching for underlying motives.

“The Imperial Palace and the Temple.”

Attention from external entities will inevitably converge upon the figure known as Lion Asteri.

—

What would you like to explore next in Lion’s journey?