Translator: Nox
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The True Taste of Ramen
Cheon Dowoon poured water into the pot. Just that alone made Nam Ki-seok’s eyebrow twitch.
‘He’s putting that much water in?’
It looked like he was trying to boil bone broth. Nam Ki-seok’s jaw dropped at the absurd amount of water.
He hoped some would be poured out, but Cheon Dowoon placed the pot on the gas burner just like that.
“Mister, let’s try eating the fish whole this time.”
“Whole? That’ll be bitter. There’s poison in the guts. I’m fine, but… what about you and Guu?”
—I have no problem.
“Me neither. I have a detoxification function for poisons.”
Kim Nari responded cheerfully. Unlike Cheon Dowoon, who tried to keep his identity under wraps, she disclosed everything openly.
It was because she believed human physiology was similar to hers.
Cheon Dowoon simply smiled at her clueless honesty without correcting her.
“I’ve tried fish meat ramen before. So this time I wanted to try it whole—oh.”
Kim Nari paused mid-sentence. She had eaten that ramen when she was in her poodle form.
Cheon Dowoon didn’t know that poodle was her. Embarrassed, she quickly covered it up.
“Um, I had it at the place I used to live.”
“You mean with the Coconut Tribe?”
“Y-yeah, with the Coconut Tribe.”
The sudden reappearance of the forgotten Coconut Tribe caught Kim Nari off guard. Still, she nodded without hesitation.
What would she do if she found out the Coconut Tribe never existed? Cheon Dowoon held back a laugh and asked,
“How did it taste?”
“It was delicious!”
She raised both arms and answered brightly. Remembering the taste brought a big smile to her face.
“Fish ramen is the best!”
What kind of ramen is the best? Nam Ki-seok, overhearing, doubted his ears. What were they even talking about—fish ramen? Coconut Tribe?
While he was confused, Cheon Dowoon chuckled at her enthusiasm.
“Alright. Then let’s put this one in whole.”
As Cheon Dowoon reached toward the pot with the fish, Nam Ki-seok couldn’t take it anymore.
“Wait—No! Don’t put that in!”
He didn’t know the story behind the Coconut Tribe, but he knew what would happen if that fish touched boiling water. The stench would spread for 500 meters.
Was this some kind of torture?
Unable to even plug his nose, he was desperate to stop that fish from going in.
“Who puts fish in ramen? And—just throw out some water! That’s way too much! Are you trying to swim in it?”
He forgot he was dangling off a cliff and shouted out. Cheon Dowoon looked at the pot.
He’d used the same amount as last time. Was something wrong?
“I’ll cook it! Just let me down!”
“You? You’re good at cooking ramen?”
“Uh… y-yes! I’m great at it!”
Survival depended on saying yes. Nam Ki-seok nodded instinctively.
“I even have a cooking license!”
He’d only made kimchi fried rice and ramen before, but now was the time to fake a license if needed.
Cheon Dowoon looked intrigued. So did Kim Nari.
“Mister, I think he’s scared enough. Maybe we can let him down now?”
“What about you, Guu?”
—I agree. Let’s bring him down.
Everyone was in agreement when food was involved.
They nodded at each other. In the Demon Realm, they had secured a chef.
Nam Ki-seok’s first act was to toss the flopping fish back into the waterfall pond.
Then, eyeing the pot and ramen, he swallowed hard. He’d never taken ramen this seriously in his life.
‘Three packets of ramen. That means… this much water!’
He theatrically poured out the excess water like a possessed chef.
‘If it tastes bad, they might hang me up again…’
His life depended on this bowl of ramen. He set the pot on the gas burner and waited for the water to boil.
He opened the ramen packets and prepared the noodles and soup base for quick action.
As bubbles began forming, he picked up the noodles.
“Now!”
His voice echoed like the protagonist of a third-rate action flick.
“Oooh.”
“Ooh!”
Their reactions were oddly admiring. Their eyes sparkled with expectation.
Is this how a licensed chef adds noodles? Nam Ki-seok broke into a cold sweat under their gazes.
“N-now to add the soup base… oops!”
Overdoing it from nerves, he tore open the packet too forcefully. Like a bag of chips gone wrong, the packet exploded.
‘Nooo…!’
He looked horrified as the powder flew through the air.
By some miracle, the seasoning landed perfectly inside the pot.
Shhhhh. The seasoning spread evenly, and Kim Nari clapped in delight.
“Amazing!”
“Incredible. The hand of a true certified chef is no joke.”
Nam Ki-seok couldn’t respond. If they realized it was a fluke, he’d be dead.
His back was drenched with sweat.
“A-and now the final step. How do you like your noodles?”
“Style?”
“Uh, like soft or slightly undercooked? It’s surprisingly divisive.”
Cheon Dowoon and Kim Nari looked at each other. They’d only ever had fish ramen, so they didn’t know.
Cheon Dowoon pondered as if making a momentous decision. Last time he had it overcooked, so now he wanted to try something different.
“I’ll go with firm noodles.”
“I want the same as Mister.”
—I’m fine with anything. I just want to try it.
Nam Ki-seok nodded.
Even if Guu’s words sounded like pigeon coos, his experience in society helped him read the room.
“Understood. Slightly firm noodles it is. If only we had eggs and green onions… that would’ve been perfect.”
“Eggs? Green onions?”
“Yes. For ramen, nothing beats a soft-boiled egg and a sprinkle of chopped scallions.”
They didn’t understand exactly, but guessed it was some elite dish.
Maybe it was a premium recipe only licensed chefs could prepare.
Cheon Dowoon looked intrigued.
“That sounds tasty.”
“Absolutely. Every Korean has had it.”
“Really? I’d love to try it someday.”
Hearing that, Nam Ki-seok’s expression changed.
‘He tried to put fish in ramen. He must’ve never had proper ramen before… Is he a foreign Korean?’
After the gates opened and the world partially collapsed, distant regions formed isolated nations.
If he was from one of those, not knowing ramen made sense.
‘Whatever he is, he took me down in one hit.’
At least an A-Class Hunter. Their relationship started off rocky, but it wouldn’t hurt to get on his good side.
“I know all the best ramen joints. I’ll take you when we get back.”
“No need.”
Cheon Dowoon flatly refused. He had no plans to return to the human world, so the offer meant nothing.
Stung by the curt reply, Nam Ki-seok kept quiet.
Too much enthusiasm could backfire. Now was the time to step back. He checked the noodle texture and served it into bowls.
“All done. This is my specialty—slightly firm noodles with peak chewiness.”
It was just ordinary ramen.
He’d dressed it up with fancy words for survival. He nervously watched their reactions.
‘That chopstick technique is a bit clumsy. Definitely a foreigner. Judging by how naturally he talks though… maybe southern region? A lot of Koreans moved there.’
Slurp. The noodles finally disappeared into their mouths.
Honestly, Cheon Dowoon hadn’t expected much.
It was just instant noodles with packet seasoning. Just boil water and toss it in.
Surely it would taste the same no matter who made it.
They hadn’t even added fish for flavor.
Would it taste too bland?
Then he took a bite.
“Mmm…!”
“Ohh! Mister! This is… wow! It’s delicious!”
—W-what is this flavor? Do humans eat this every day?
Kim Nari jumped up with joy. Guu’s fur fluffed out. Cheon Dowoon sped up his chopsticks in silence.
The rich flavor, the salty broth, the firm bite of noodles—
An indescribable bliss danced across their taste buds.
They drank the broth to the last drop. The hot soup warmed their bellies and filled them with satisfaction.
“Mister. I think that guy should be designated a National Treasure.”
Kim Nari patted her round belly. Cheon Dowoon nodded in agreement.
Nam Ki-seok, who made one bowl of ramen and might now be declared a National Treasure, was drenched in cold sweat.
“Do you know how to make anything else?”
“Well… ch-chicken.”
“Chicken?”
“Yes. My parents run a chicken restaurant.”
Not just any restaurant. Though he never told anyone, his parents were franchise tycoons.
Nam Ki-seok had never fried chicken himself, but he’d seen the “Special Sauce Recipe” written down so many times it was burned into his memory.
“Have you had chicken before?”
“I think I have…”
Cheon Dowoon tried to recall something from twenty years ago, before his final subjugation mission.
The night before, the Hunters on his team had ordered fried chicken and beer. He sat quietly, watching from a corner.
[Hey, is that chimera staring at us? Think it wants some?]
One of the Hunters glanced at the chicken.
[No way. It’s just watching the surroundings. Look—its seven eyes are scanning in different directions.]
Cheon Dowoon’s seven eyes, like a chameleon’s, rolled around 360 degrees.
The Hunters watched in fascination.
Renting a chimera Hunter was expensive, so working with one was rare.
Their curiosity grew.
[Looks like it really does want some. Three eyes are fixed on the chicken.]
[Maybe we should give it a piece?]
One of them tossed over a chunk of fried breast meat.
Cheon Dowoon moved an octopus-like arm and suctioned the chicken mid-air.
They shouted “Nice!” as he caught it.
[Will it eat it?]
[Here, watch me. You eat it like this. Just follow along.]
The Hunters exaggeratedly bit and chewed, then swallowed.
Cheon Dowoon watched, then brought the chicken to his mouth.
Slaaash. His face split eight ways. The Hunters flinched.
The small chicken piece looked laughably tiny compared to his gaping maw.
Nom. Chomp chomp. The monstrous mouth gently nibbled the piece.
The Hunters watched as if witnessing a mukbang.
[Will he like it?]
[Man, why am I so nervous about this?]
Was this how chefs felt waiting for food critics?
They held their breath, waiting for his verdict.
After chewing a while, his throat moved.
[He swallowed it.]
[Guess chimeras don’t just eat frozen raw meat.]
[Right? Though… no reaction.]
Cheon Dowoon stopped moving after swallowing.
He only ate it because it was food. Watching them was pure curiosity.
[Oh yeah, I heard something. Chimeras mixed with monsters can’t taste food.]
[Why?]
[Because monster cells are mixed in. If they could taste, they might crave human flesh. So their taste function is disabled.]
He had lived tastelessly for decades. For him, food had only been fuel.
But now it was different. Regaining his sense of taste taught him the joy of eating.
Recalling the past, he looked at Nam Ki-seok.
“So chicken is frying birds, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then could you make it with… that?”
Cheon Dowoon pointed to the sky. A loud shriek echoed as a giant 8-meter bird-type monster flew by.
‘H-he wants to use THAT?!’
If Nam Ki-seok said yes, he’d probably go catch it immediately. Sweat poured down his back.
