Chapter 11: A Different Step (2)

A review posted by <Bangbaedong Gourmet>.

Everyone checked the post with a strange sense of anticipation.

Some were curious if the potatoes and sweet potatoes were truly special.

Others were hoping they’d been ripped off.

So, what was the result?

……….

Content: Exquisite taste. I never imagined potatoes and sweet potatoes could taste like this. The buffs are real too. They boost stamina recovery speed and stamina for 45 minutes and 25 minutes, respectively.

These are potatoes and sweet potatoes unlike anything before. Truly a revolution in the industry.

…..

A short but powerful review.

…..

[Jackal]: Are you saying that the buff really works? Honestly, I can’t belive it.

[BuldakPpokkumMyun]: That person doesn’t lie. ᄃᄃ.

[Carbonara]: Yeah, seems legit;;

[Espy]: Wow, isn’t this from again? Everything that person grows or sells has a different vibe.

[MatTangSamTang]: Honestly, I can’t believe it lol. Just words without proper proof—how do you trust that?

……….

Many trusted Bangbaedong’s words.

But there were also plenty who didn’t.

The debate went back and forth.

Watching it all, Bangbaedong Gourmet posted something new.

……….

Username: Bangbaedong Gourmet

Title: Recruiting a tasting team for verification.

Content: I’ll select three people from the commenters to verify.

[BuldakPpokkumMyun]: Wow! As expected from Bangmi-nim. Clean and clear. Count me in for the tasting team!

[Jackal]: Hmm, I’ll apply for the tasting team too.

[Carbonara]: Hand up, hand up! I really want to try it!

[MatTangSamTang]: There are actually people falling for this lol. Be careful not to get scammed.

[Seorae]: Ugh, the person above is just trolling everywhere. Anyway, Bangmi-nim! I’m lining up too.

……….

Comments poured in one after another.

“Hmm.”

Bangbaedong Gourmet, Ahn Jaeseong, carefully reviewed the comments, pondering who to choose.

There were only nine potatoes and nine sweet potatoes left.

Giving them all away would be too much.

The plan was to divide one of each into three portions for tasting.

‘BuldakPpokkumMyun and Carbonara. I’ll pick these two first.’

Both were very active users.

If they joined the tasting team, others would be convinced.

‘Who should I pick for the last one?’

Jackal and MatTangSamTang.

Both were haters.

No need to consider them—disqualified!

No way he’d let them taste this exquisite flavor.

‘Hm?’

Then, one comment caught his eye.

……….

[Rainbow Potion]: Hello, Bangbaedong Gourmet-nim. I run an orphanage. I always want to feed the kids good food, but circumstances don’t always allow it, leaving me with regrets. After seeing your post, I thought I’d love for the kids, who especially love potatoes and sweet potatoes, to try your food, so I’m leaving this comment.

[Seorae]: Oh, right. Rainbow Potion-nim. They really run an orphanage. They do good work.

[Pamaep]: Bangmi, if you’re reading this, pick this person.

[HamheungMyun]: If they’ve got any sense, they’ll choose wisely.

……….

The comment from Rainbow Potion.

It got a good response.

And for good reason.

They were someone doing good work.

‘This is the one.’

…..

[Bangbaedong Gourmet]: The tasting team will be <BuldakPpokkumMyun>, <Carbonara>, <Rainbow Potion>.

…..

After announcing the selected names in the comments,

He sent private messages to each.

His real address and name.

BuldakPpokkumMyun and Carbonara already knew who he was.

That was only natural.

His identity was already quite exposed.

If you were active on SuperNet, you’d know.

But Rainbow Potion?

…..

[Rainbow Potion]: Oh… You’re a famous person. It’s an honor.

…..

Some superhumans who weren’t very active on SuperNet didn’t know.

…..

[Rainbow Potion]: You live nearby. Can I visit right away?

…..

No problem with that.

…..

[Bangbaedong Gourmet]: Yes, that’s fine.

…..

The meeting was quickly arranged.

He’d verify with Rainbow Potion first.

The food?

‘Even raw, it’s delicious.’

He hadn’t tried other dishes yet.

But if they wanted something specific?

He’d make it.

I was 100% certain that any dish would be delicious.

The intuition of the nation’s only Michelin 3-star chef.

It couldn’t possibly be wrong.

After a while.

“Hello, I’m Kim Jeonghwan from Rainbow Potion.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ahn Jaeseong.”

Rainbow Potion arrived promptly.

Behind him, two young children peeked out.

A boy and a girl, roughly 6 to 8 years old.

“Junho, Sua, say hello to the chef.”

At Kim Jeonghwan ’s words, the children stepped forward hesitantly.

The boy came first.

Glancing at the girl beside him, he spoke softly.

“Um… hello… I’m… I’m Kim Junho. I’m 8 years old…”

He bowed slightly, speaking in a small voice.

He seemed intimidated by the unfamiliar Ahn Jaeseong.

“Hi… hello… I’m Han Sua… I’m 7 years old…”

Fidgeting with her hands, she glanced up at Ahn Jaeseong.

“Oh! Junho and Sua! Nice to meet you! You two are so adorable!”

Ahn Jaeseong smiled brightly, giving the kids a reassuring grin.

“Um… nice to meet you…”

“Yeah… me too…!”

Junho nodded slightly, seeming a bit more at ease.

Following his lead, Sua shyly nodded and responded.

A smile spread across Ahn Jaeseong’s face.

Junho and Sua were just too cute.

The pure light that radiated from children was always so heartwarming.

“Come on in.”

Potatoes, sweet potatoes.

Originally, he planned to give a third to each.

But since two kids came along, dividing it further would mean a sixth each.

However, he changed his mind.

Why?

How could he give them so little after seeing those kids?

He handed each child a whole potato and a sweet potato.

As he placed them in their hands, he said,

“These are delicious raw, but I’m pretty good at cooking. Is there any dish you’d like to try with these potatoes or sweet potatoes?”

At Ahn Jaeseong’s question, the kids didn’t answer right away.

“…It’s okay.”

Junho spoke up belatedly.

He nudged Sua gently with his elbow.

“Um, me too…”

Their eyes never left the potato and sweet potato in their hands.

“How about trying a bite raw first?”

“Okay…”

He sliced small pieces for them to try.

Munch munch.

The kids eagerly took a bite.

Then.

“…!!”

Their bodies trembled as if struck by lightning.

For kids with little resistance to such flavors, the taste must have been utterly divine.

“Ah…”

“It’s… delicious…!”

Their eyes gleamed as if dripping with honey, fixed on the potato and sweet potato.

But.

With superhuman restraint, they held back from eating more.

“Why? Why not eat more?”

“We’ll… eat it at home.”

“Me too…”

Ahn Jaeseong tilted his head at their reactions.

They clearly loved the taste.

Forgetting his initial goal of proving the extraordinary flavor of the potatoes and sweet potatoes, he pondered why the kids were acting this way.

“Junho, Sua, the chef prepared these for you to enjoy. You should eat them here together.”

“Ugh. It’s okay…”

“Soo, Sua too.”

Despite Kim Jeonghwan’s words, they remained unmoved.

A troubled expression began to form on his face.

Then, suddenly.

A thought flashed through Ahn Jaeseong’s mind.

The reason why these two kids were acting this way.

“Director Kim, are there many children waiting at the orphanage?”

“Huh? Why do you ask… Oh!”

Realizing the situation belatedly, Kim Jeonghwan let out an exclamation.

That was it.

These two kids right now.

Even though they desperately wanted to eat the potato and sweet potato in their hands.

They were holding back with all their might to share them with the other friends waiting at the orphanage.

Their hands were trembling as they did so.

‘That’s why they refused to cook earlier.’

Because if they cooked, it would be hard to take the food back whole.

“Oh, kids, this uncle is sorry.”

Realizing the situation, Kim Jeonghwan wore a heavy expression.

Lately, due to financial difficulties, the thing they had neglected the most was snacks.

They had always made sure to keep snacks stocked on schedule.

But recently, they had been so focused on potion research that they hadn’t kept up with the snack schedule properly.

“By the way, you said the orphanage is nearby, right? Would it be okay if I visited now?”

Ahn Jaeseong.

What started as a tasting session to verify the special qualities of ‘s potatoes and sweet potatoes.

It began to take a different direction from his initial thoughts.

***

At that moment.

I was having a private conversation with Hong Seolhwa.

…..

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: Hello, Emperor Arcmage.

[Archmage Emperor]: Yes, hello. What’s up?

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: I’m contacting you because I owe you a lot thanks to the Lunadria you sold me last time. Thank you so much.

[Archmage Emperor]: Sounds like things worked out well for you. Congratulations.

…..

As expected!

Level 99 Lunadria.

I knew I could count on it.

Hearing that they benefited from the Lunadria I sold gave me an inexplicable sense of pride.

…..

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: I’d like to take more Lunadria. Do you have any left?

…..

Oh!

But it seems it wasn’t a complete cure.

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: Yes, I have more.

…..

Not yesterday, though.

Today, I’ve become a <Elixir Master>.

Lunadria?

Hah.

I’m now someone who can cultivate as much as I want.

As long as they can pay the right price, I can provide as much as they need.

‘Since I now know that Lunadria is level 99, selling it for 50,000 to 100,000 coins like before… feels a bit off.’

Still.

They trusted me and even gave me White Sun Herb.

Thanks to that, I succeeded in cultivating White Sun Herb, so I’ll offer a special discount.

Especially since they’re a patient in need.

…..

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: Are you willing to sell more?

…..

It was just text in a chat.

But I could feel the anxiety in every word.

They must be really unwell.

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: If you need it, I can get you as much as you want.

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: Oh…!! Thank you so much. Really. By the way, do you need White Sun Herb again, like last time?

…..

Hmm.

I have plenty of White Sun Herb.

‘I’d like to get a different elixir.’

How about planting a tree this time?

Something came to mind.

Immortal Peach (Seondo).

Yes, the same Immortal Peach from Journey to the West, the one the Great Sage Equal to Heaven devoured in the heavens.

‘Though its effects don’t even come close to the legend.’

Unlike the legend, perhaps because it grows on the ground?

The Immortal Peaches that come from dungeons or are successfully cultivated on Earth are smaller than a fist and barely contain any magical power as an elixir.

Nowadays, they’re just considered sweet, juicy fruits like peaches.

But their price is outrageously high.

Why?

Because they’re incredibly difficult to cultivate.

Only a few trees have been successfully grown worldwide.

And because of their symbolic connection to Journey to the West, they’re extremely popular among the wealthy.

‘If I plant it in the Dragon’s Lair?’

Maybe I could grow a proper <Leader>.

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: Could you possibly get me an Immortal Peach? It doesn’t have to be the fruit itself. Just the seed inside would do.

[SpicyNuclearPunch]: Just the seed? I think I can manage that! I’ll contact you again once I get it. Thank you.

…..

And so, I ended the conversation with her.

A sudden thought about Hong Seolhwa crossed my mind.

“Wait a sec. If the issue is about the balance of energy, then instead of Lunadria… wouldn’t taking Tai Yin Yang Essence solve the problem?”

A fleeting thought occurred to me that the Tai Yin Yang Essence created might be able to resolve her issue.

“Hmm. I should ask her about it next time.”

For now, I’ll continue the conversation with her later.

“Alright then.”

With the 2,000 coins I earned from selling potatoes and sweet potatoes, it’s time to acquire the Fire skill and try making roasted sweet potatoes and roasted potatoes.

I immediately connected to the marketplace on SuperNet.

[You have acquired <Fire (E)> .]

A 1st-tier magic spell: Fire.

In the end, I bought it for 1,300 coins.

Why 1,300 coins instead of 1,000?

Because 1,000 coins would get you an F-rank Fire spell, which has the worst efficiency relative to mana.

So, I spent an extra 300 coins to buy the higher E-rank version.

“Man, it’s ridiculously expensive.”

The skill price was so steep it made me grumble.

One 1st-tier magic spell is one thing, but when you’re dealing with hundreds of them, it becomes a problem.

And from 2nd-tier spells onward? They’re way more expensive than 1st-tier ones.

Is there no place where I can learn a ton of magic skills all at once?

“Maybe I’ll have to learn the other magic skills from Dania once it hatches.”

Dragons are the masters of magic.

Naturally, as they grow, they’ll master all kinds of magic.

So, I figured it might be able to teach me magic as well.

There are ways to learn magic through skill cards, but there’s also the method of learning directly from someone.

“Well, that’s for later.”

For now, it’s finally time to taste the long-awaited roasted sweet potatoes and roasted potatoes.

“Hehe.”

I wonder what they’ll taste like.

Having also bought dungeon firewood, I covered the potatoes and sweet potatoes with the leaves of the Clearwater Herb I’d squeezed earlier.

These leaves will serve as foil.

“Fire.”

Whoosh!

Flames sparked from my hand.

Using magic made me feel, once again, that I had truly become a superhuman.

With a joyful heart, I lit the firewood and placed the sweet potatoes and potatoes, wrapped in Clearwater Herb leaves, into the fire.

Sniff sniff…

What a delicious aroma.

[Kyunng.. It smells delicious,]

Just then, Dania woke up.

“Aww, is our little lucky charm hungry? Just wait a moment.”

Will Dania be able to enjoy the roasted sweet potatoes and potatoes?

For now, let’s just roast them.

So, cook well!!