Chapter 55 : The Gourmet’s Hunt

With the scholarship from Cheonghwa, Shin Jia bought a laptop.

On the desk of Shin’s Convenience Store sat that very laptop, playing a live video stream.

The video content mainly revolved around the Abyss and the Explorers, a program popular even among the general public.

The host displayed a large photo from the archives.

— Honestly, isn’t this awesome?

— How on earth was a scene like this captured?

— One of the explorers had an action cam, and it was recorded during the recent Serpent Subjugation operation.

— I wish there was footage of the full video.

— Haha, even getting this screenshot was barely possible.

— Wow, that shot is so cool.

The guest admired the photo.

The image showed Yuseong.

A serpent baring its ferocious fangs, charging at the Subjugation Party.

And above it, Yuseong stood with his knees covered in frost.

— How on earth did such a scene get captured…

— I only knew Baek Yuseong as a peculiar explorer who eats monsters, but apparently, I was wrong.

— Actually, many skilled explorers participated in this Subjugation Party, but Baek Yuseong contributed the most.

— But isn’t Baek Yuseong still a C-Rank Explorer?

— That’s why the Explorer Federation took unprecedented measures.

The host wore a confident expression.

Since this was the first time the news was being announced on this broadcast.

— They have decided to promote Baek Yuseong, a rare case of an immediate jump from C-Rank to A-Rank.

— Wh-what did you say?

The guest expressed surprise with exaggerated gestures.

— He made the biggest contribution among the A-Rank explorers in the Subjugation Party. Since this Serpent Subjugation was the third worldwide after the United States and Italy, they couldn’t leave Yuseong at C-Rank, and raising him to B-Rank was awkward. So they took this measure.

— Has there been a precedent? Some might say it’s unfair.

— Haha, it’s said to be unprecedented even among the branches of the International Explorer Federation worldwide. Especially for an explorer who obtained a license only a few months ago to be promoted this fast — it’s the first time ever.

— A world record, then?

— Yes! In a way, Baek Yuseong has become Korea’s representative to the entire world.

Behind the host, a cheaply made CG Taegukgi fluttered.

This was a moment where explorers from around the world competed fiercely against each other.

Though it was a production dubbed ‘nationalistic,’ the public was excited about their country’s explorers’ victories.

Because of this, there was no one openly complaining about Yuseong skipping the usual examination procedures to become A-Rank.

Well, there were a few, but few dared to voice it openly.

— Now, I’m curious about what title Yuseong will receive.

— Ah, Baek Yuseong didn’t have a title until now.

Titles.

Among explorers, as their achievements and fame accumulate, they sometimes acquire nicknames or titles.

Seong Jihoo is the White Wolf of the World, Sobaekrang.

Kang Taegun is directly called Iron Fist.

Of course, titles don’t always mean grand Chinese characters.

Before his reincarnation, Zombie Tongue was Yuseong’s title.

Titles aren’t only given to those with high ranks.

They naturally stick as fame grows.

However, there are no A-Rank explorers without a title.

With Yuseong’s promotion this time, people wondered what title would be attached to him.

— What would suit Baek Yuseong, hmm?

— Shall we try giving him one? Maybe what we come up with will become his title someday.

— Hmm, I think—

— How about Dragon Knight!

— That’s too bland. He’s handsome, so maybe the English ‘Dragon Knight’…

At the moment that phrase was uttered, Yuseong covered the laptop.

“Ah, don’t handle it so roughly or it’ll break.”

“I can’t bear to listen to that nonsense.”

“Pfft, Dragon Knight…”

“Crazy guys.”

“How about Dragon Food Fighter instead? Because he eats so well…”

As Yuseong grimaced, Shin Jia asked earnestly.

“I just wish you’d give me a normal one.”

Personally, Yuseong liked his previous title, Zombie Tongue.

Some get titles like ‘Spear of Death so-and-so,’ or ‘God of Death so-and-so,’ but those can be embarrassingly grim.

Yuseong ordered Shin Jia, who was bustling about nearby.

“Bring a bowl of warm water to the table.”

He was preparing the serpent’s eggs.

The corpse was a treasure to explorers, so it was completely dismantled and distributed.

A bit disappointing was that because it had been brooding eggs, the meat was slightly dry.

But the most delicious part, the fatty belly, was still excellent.

The fat looked thick and glossy, as if congealed.

And most importantly, there were many large eggs clumped together.

When Yuseong cut open the serpent’s belly, eggs spilled out, making his smile stretch ear to ear.

Serpents have long snake-like bodies and protuberances like polyps.

But despite their appearance, their body structure was more similar to fish.

Their eggs were also typical fish eggs, not amphibian spawn.

They resembled salmon roe.

Though golden in color, slightly different from red salmon roe.

“Well, I’ll know once I taste it.”

Whether they tasted as good as they looked, he would find out soon enough.

At that moment, Shin Jia brought the bowl of warm water.

“Here you go.”

“Good timing.”

Yuseong dipped a cluster of eggs into the water.

As the eggs submerged in warm salted water, the sticky substance holding the eggs together began to slowly dissolve.

The melted membrane had to be carefully removed one by one.

A tedious but essential step in egg preparation.

Perfectly prepared serpent eggs looked like precious jewels.

Like transparent golden pearls.

“Wow, so pretty…”

Shin Jia, watching nearby, quickly took a few eggs.

“What are you going to do with those?”

“Just wait a moment.”

“Okay, fine.”

Yuseong sprinkled salt and vinegar dressing on the eggs, ignoring her.

When he finished seasoning, Shin Jia raised her wrist.

With a proud smile, she said,

“Pearl bracelet playtime.”

It wasn’t really a bracelet — she just placed the eggs in a flower shape on her wrist.

Yuseong grabbed Shin Jia’s wrist.

“Ah!”

She was momentarily startled.

Yuseong shook the serpent eggs on her wrist and returned them to the bowl.

Waving his fingers to scatter the eggs, he said,

“Don’t play with food!”

“… Seriously.”

Shin Jia grumbled at Yuseong’s strict, serious face.

“Yuseong! You just grabbed a girl’s wrist like that!”

At that moment, Shin Elder sitting by the stove scolded them.

“Ah, eh.”

“Our Jia isn’t just an explorer; she should be a doctor or judge. Don’t even think about messing with her.”

“Oh no, I wasn’t thinking that at all, don’t worry.”

Shin Jia snapped back, clearly annoyed.

“Grandpa, why are you like this? I’m a college student now, you know? And I don’t care, okay? No respect!”

“You’ve been nagging me a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“Can’t live like this…”

Shin Jia sighed heavily, feigning exhaustion.

“So, what are you going to make with these, oppa?”

“Gunkan sushi.”

Similar to serpent eggs, there are salmon roe.

Salmon roe is a high-end ingredient, especially common in Japanese cuisine.

Yuseong had tried salmon roe gunkan sushi only once, on an island.

The melt-in-your-mouth taste still remained vivid in his memory.

“The rice is ready, little one.”

Saying so, Shin Elder brought a pot with rice.

Opening the lid revealed perfectly cooked rice glistening beautifully.

“Hehe, I’ve had more experience making rice than you, after all.”

Seeing Yuseong’s smile, Shin Elder said with pride.

The rice was scooped onto a wooden plate to cool slightly.

Sushi rice isn’t made with plain rice.

Vinegar, sugar, and salt mixed in a ratio of 3:2:1 make the vinegar dressing, which is then blended into the rice.

Seasoned seaweed is cut into long strips.

The seasoned rice is shaped into bite-sized balls, then wrapped with a strip of seaweed.

The seaweed is cut wider than the height of the rice, creating a rim-like space on top.

Into this, a teaspoon of serpent eggs was placed.

“Hmm, no, make that two spoons.”

Since it’s better to be generous.

Adding one more spoonful of eggs, Yuseong continued forming the sushi.

Soon, a full plate of sushi was completed.

Although they didn’t have wasabi, raw fish roe sushi is delicious even without it.

“I should get some wasabi in advance.”

The main menu item, the serpent’s fatty belly, was still being prepared and aged.

Yuseong planned to get fresh wasabi before tasting it in perfect condition.

He swallowed his saliva and called Shin Jia over.

“Here, try it.”

“Oh, so plump and bouncy. Can food really be this beautiful?”

Both Shin Jia and Shin Elder marveled at the brilliance of the serpent eggs.

They examined the sushi from every angle.

Yuseong carefully instructed Shin Jia, who was about to take a bite.

“Don’t bite it—eat it in one mouthful.”

“Ah, okay!”

She hesitated, as the sushi was a bit big for one bite.

Then cautiously, she put the entire sushi in her mouth.

“…!”

Shin Jia’s eyes widened.

She thought it was a bit too large for one bite.

In that moment, she realized how wrong she was.

Snap.

The thin, dry, high-quality seaweed shattered into pieces in her mouth, mixing with her saliva.

Yuseong’s precise grip meant the rice crumbled softly inside her mouth.

The texture of every grain of rice was felt clearly.

And the main star—the eggs.

Pop.

The plump serpent eggs burst in her mouth, releasing the essence of umami.

Unlike tiny flying fish roe, these eggs were filled with rich, savory juice inside.

For first-timers, it might seem fishy, but not at all.

Lightly salted and with a slight viscosity, the essence of umami spread across her mouth.

Each grain of rice was coated with that delicious juice, and before she knew it, the sushi had slipped down her throat.

“Wow.”

Only admiration escaped her lips.

Beside her, Shin Jangho was equally impressed.

“The taste reminds me of the sushi my mother bought me for my middle school graduation…”

His eyes glistened as if about to cry.

“Grandpa was like that too when he ate kongguksu last time.”

Shin Elder recalled that moment, saying it was the taste of kongguksu his mother made, and he shed tears.

“How can such a young one have such skill with flavors… oh my.”

Though Shin Elder muttered that, Yuseong was satisfied.

The serpent egg sushi was unexpectedly delicious.

Not quite at the level of ambergris, but a delicacy incomparable to salmon roe.

At that moment, Shin Jia suddenly asked.

“But oppa, didn’t you say you sold food to the explorers this time?”

“Yeah, that’s right. How did you find out?”

“It got leaked on the internet. At first, people complained it was too expensive, but then those who ate the food testified, and the attitude of others changed.”

“…How so?”

“They said it was worth the price and that they wanted to try it themselves.”

“Got it.”

During this Subjugation, Yuseong revealed his ability for the first time.

Not everyone may have understood the full effect of Tamyun, but dozens of explorers knew that eating Yuseong’s food gave them buffs.

Naturally, the rumor spread.

And that was Yuseong’s intention all along.

“The more the rumors spread, the more people will want my food.”

He did not disclose his special stats or buffs like Armored Giant’s Protection.

But once it became known that his food granted buffs, his value would rise.

In fact, not only explorers but also idle wealthy people wanted to eat Yuseong’s food.

Shin Jia, hesitantly, asked quietly.

“Um, but is it okay to give this to us for free like this?”

That question caught Yuseong off guard.

“What?”

“Well… I was thinking, since you can sell this to explorers and make money…”

Shin Jia’s point sounded reasonable.

Now that there were people wanting Yuseong’s food, he could sell sushi to them instead of sharing freely.

He could make quite a lot of money that way.

“Haha, then you can at least pay for your pocket money.”

“…My pocket money isn’t even 30,000 won a week yet.”

Yuseong laughed it off.

“If that’s the case, I should have just sold food from the start.”

Selling food could indeed bring in money.

If Yuseong had revealed his ability from the beginning and started trading with the world’s top guilds, he would probably have made far more money by now.

But Yuseong chose not to take that path.

He wanted to catch creatures from the Abyss himself, find delicious ingredients, create new dishes.

Then enjoy those flavors and share them with people close to him.

His deep desire to clear the Abyss ultimately came from wanting to eat and cook good food.

That was why he didn’t act solely for money.

“Making meals for you and Grandpa—I do it because I want to. No need to worry.”

“Y-yes.”

Suddenly, Yuseong recalled words from his late grandfather.

“The people who truly love my cooking are more precious than caviar or gold.”

Feeding Shin Jia and Shin Elder delicious food was for his own personal satisfaction.

[The Vitality of the Sea within the Eggs!]

[Cold Resistance greatly increased.]

[Muscle Strength greatly increased.]

And of course, the benefits gained from Tamyun were not to be overlooked.

Ding.

At that moment, Yuseong’s phone vibrated.

“Is it a call?”

“Hold on.”

Yuseong answered.

Shin Jia watched him eat sushi while observing his expression.

“…Ah, it’s from Old Daily.”

Old Daily was where Yul Hee was.

But judging from Yuseong’s words, the caller was not Yul Hee.

“…What?”

Yuseong’s reaction was unusual; his face darkened with anger.

“Get lost.”

He said that and abruptly hung up.

Clearly, a problem had arisen.