NOVEL NEXT chapter 13
13 – Tonkatsu vs. Bulgogi. What is the best knight’s restaurant dish?
“…So, did they bet on which menu, bulgogi or tonkatsu, is better and put their respective budgets on it?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes.”
I scratched my head as I saw Liana and Heimer offering money.
This is tough.
Why is it tough?
“We have both concluded that each other’s food is a better dish.”
“The total votes were tied at 4 to 4.”
“So, we’d like you to make the final choice.”
They want me to decide the outcome of their bet using their own budgets.
“Which dish is more delicious for the president to eat?”
“Please choose the knightly dish that suits the Knight’s restaurant better!”
“….”
Why suddenly put me through this ordeal?
Especially with those two menus.
Choose between pork cutlet and bulgogi?
It’s a tough question.
This is entirely on the level of which parent do you like better.
“Um….”
After hesitating for a moment, I took the money from Heimer’s hand.
“It’s my defeat, after all… It’s frustrating, but I have no choice but to accept it.”
In that moment, Heimer seemed to accept the result, nodding his head submissively.
“But the pork cutlet is clearly sufficient without any other combination….”
“No, it’s because it was a dish made only with meat that it was possible. It’s true that it’s lacking compared to bulgogi.”
I took only the cost of the pork cutlet, 48 silver, from Heimer and handed him the change.
“Senior?”
And soon, I took 56 silvers from the money in Riana’s hand.
“Uh, boss?”
I spoke to them, who seemed to be puzzled.
“I can’t tell you that a specific menu is better from my perspective. Both of you said that the other’s menu was more delicious than the ones you each recommended.”
Bulgogi Set Meal and Western-style Pork Cutlet.
Both were representative menus that come to mind when thinking of a knight’s diner.
There were also dishes like Pollack Set Meal, soybean paste, kimchi, and soft tofu stew, but those two menus were all that were being sold at the moment.
It was hard to decide which was better, as both menus were my favorite.
So, I only received the price of the menu that each of them claimed to be delicious.
That was the conclusion I came up with.
“I see what you mean. Just like you taught me with the Bulgogi Set Meal, you’re saying that we should pursue harmony not only on the battlefield but also in everyday life.”
That’s not exactly it.
It seemed like an excessive interpretation, but I didn’t bother to correct it.
“…Was that it?”
Riana opened her eyes wide and asked.
I winked at her and made a gesture secretly denying it to Heimer.
I’m not sure if she understood it.
“One thing is for sure, though. It was an unnecessary fight, right?”
“Similar. In the end, isn’t it enough if the taste is good?”
“You’re right. That seems to be the point. Does the menu matter? It’s enough if the taste is good. I guess we should calculate with our own budgets. Hahaha.”
Heimer murmured, having listened to the conversation.
“In the end, a knight must prove their worth with their abilities. I understand.”
I don’t think he understood it properly.
He seems to be crazy about knighthood.
Anyway, I successfully served my first customer.
“I’ll come often. I’m recommending it to everyone, so it’ll become popular soon!”
Riana exclaimed excitedly.
“Don’t forget about us when your business succeeds, alright?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t treat the customers who wrote the first reviews poorly.”
As Riana was about to leave after paying, she noticed a bulletin board near the entrance.
“Huh? Golden Wagon Commercial Association? Senior Manager? Sir, did Golden Wagon’s Kobi visit here? Why? Why? Why?”
Only now did she discover Kobi’s review, her eyes sparkling.
It was a review filled with the smell of alcohol, but she didn’t seem to care at all.
Instead, a sense of admiration for Kobi welled up inside her.
The Golden Wagon Commercial Association was one of the most famous associations in the Empire.
Kobi was known to be one of the core forces behind the Association, alongside its owner.
At least among those who deal with money and engage with practices like penmanship, there would be no one who doesn’t know about Kobi.
Yet, I wondered if she should react to that extent.
To me, he was just a heavy drinker and an uncomfortable gnome to deal with.
“I admire him! Just like how he played a big role in the current success of the Golden Wagon Commercial Association, someday I would love to make the Brighstone Estate even stronger with my own hands!”
Riana was an ambitious woman.
“But, sir, what are the items called ‘Coco-ddongjip’ and ‘soju’ mentioned in this review? I didn’t see them on the menu. Are they secret items for important customers only?”
“Oh, we don’t sell those at lunchtime.”
“Then when?”
“They’re on the evening menu. Soju is a type of alcohol, and Coco-ddongjip is a side dish.”
Hearing that, Riana’s eyes lit up.
“Ah! You’re planning to run a pub at night as well?”
I nodded my head.
“We’ll still focus on the dining menu for now. But if there are customers looking for something else, we should be ready to cater to them as well.”
Liana’s eyes sparkled.
It wasn’t simply the eyes of a woman who loved food and enjoyed fine dining.
I had seen such eyes a few times somewhere else.
‘Kobi used to have those eyes often.’
The eyes of a merchant calculating profit and loss.
“Come back later if you’re curious. I’ll show you the magic in the green bottle.”
As I took out soju from the refrigerator in a green bottle, her eyes sparkled once again.
“So this is the soju. I heard there was a new alcoholic beverage prepared at the Golden Wagon, so this must be that soju.”
Liana asked as she stroked her chin.
“That’s right. It’s the new liquor launched at the Golden Wagon, GW Soju.”
“Sure enough…”
As Liana nodded, her eyes sparkled even more.
She looked at the members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who accompanied her.
“Everyone here is thinking the same thing as me, right?”
“Yes!”
They shared the same look in their eyes as her.
“Mr. Manager, can we come back later with some important guests for our dinner menu?”
Judging by the look in her eyes, it seems like they had made up their minds to come back.
Could it be that they intend to bring the Count along?
If the Count comes, I will firmly refuse to become their personal chef.
As a guest, however, they’re always welcome.
“Of course. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Great. I’m excited to see what it tastes like. Hehe.”
However, Heimer shook his head.
“Alcohol is the worst dish for a knight. I must decline. However, that ‘cocoa dung house’ does pique my curiosity.”
Before Heimer finished speaking, the knights raised their hands.
“We will also try the new menu! We’ll definitely come and eat!”
The sight of their considerable figures raising their hands all at once would have been intimidating to anyone who didn’t know them.
It’s nice that they like my food, but it’s a bit overwhelming.
“Anytime.”
***
Michelle swam back to the Dragon Palace with her beautiful blue tail.
-Princess!
-It’s Princess Michelle!
-How can one be so beautiful…
The voices of the fish echoed in her ears.
Numerous creatures swimming through the sea.
They who were undoubtedly her friends just yesterday.
But now, she couldn’t bring herself to look them in the eyes.
‘Sebastian…’
Because of the sins she committed.
She had committed the sin of eating a friend.
Perhaps it was a sin she had unknowingly carried for some time.
Being ignorant of the crime does not make it disappear.
The guard in front of the Dragon Palace, holding a spear with eight tentacles, greeted Michelle.
-Princess, have you returned? Oh? Where is Sebastian?
At the question of the eight tentacles, Michelle closed her mouth.
Sebastian.
The flatfish who was born destined to become a noble.
The elite of the elites, who had been serving the royal family in the Dragon Palace for hundreds of years.
In the language of the continent, a knight among knights.
Sebastian, the courageous flatfish, was a figure of respect to those living in the Dragon Palace.
“That, that is…”
She couldn’t bring herself to say that such a Sebastian had died at the hands of a human.
She also couldn’t utter the words that she had eaten him.
It was then.
-Ah, Princess! You’ve arrived!
Another flatfish swimming along the bottom approached Michelle while riding the ocean floor.
Hearing the soft voice of the female flatfish, Michelle couldn’t help but look at her.
The moment she looked at the flatfish.
Sizzle!
The sound was like that of a flatfish being fried in oil.
It was such a delicious sound that she could feel her saliva flowing just from the noise.
A very impressive sound to her, as it was her first time eating fried food.
It sounded just like raindrops hitting the surface of the water on a rainy day.
Crunch!
The sound of the crunchy batter added a harmony to the flatfish’s voice.
The swimming tail evoked the texture of a firm but tender flesh that could be chewed softly.
That fried fish also had an impressive resilience.
‘So that’s why their bodies are so soft…’
Smack!
“Oops!”
Michelle accidentally slapped her cheek.
Slap!
The chilly pain on her cheek suddenly brought her back to her senses.
– P, Princess? Are you all right?
The flatfish, startled, approached her.
The deep taste of the spicy soup she had felt was transmitted through the water…
“Ah, no, don’t come any closer!”
-Excuse me? What is…?
“I’m s-sorry. I’m not feeling well today.”
Michelle, surprised, went into the palace.
I have to get out of here.
If I had stayed a bit longer, I might have done something truly irreversible.
Michelle, who had returned to the palace, swam up to the Sea King, who was working alone.
“Father.”
“Oh, Michelle. Have you come?”
As always, he greeted her with a warm smile.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“About the food we eat… Were they made from other fish?”
Ever since she realized that she had eaten Sebastian.
And since she realized that the taste was all too familiar, she wanted to ask.
As much as the guilt of eating a subject she considered a friend, there was a strong curiosity.
She prayed that it wasn’t true.
She hoped that what she had felt was just a misunderstanding.
That way, she could completely pour her anger onto the humans on the ground.
That’s why she could go up to the surface and take revenge on him.
The Sea King’s eyes changed at her question.
“Where did you hear that story?”
“Please answer. It’s an important question.”
“…Follow me. It’s almost mealtime anyway.”
The Sea King snapped his fingers.
The seawater that had filled the office receded, and fresh air replaced it by his magic.
As the lower halves of the two people, which had appeared fish-like, turned back into human legs, he strode towards the dining hall, with a dark blue beard identical to his hair color trailing behind him.
The girl silently followed the Sea King.
A heavy silence.
The dining hall they reached, cutting through the silence, was already filled with family members.
“My dear, you’re a little late. Oh my? Michelle, when did you come? You should have told us when you arrived.”
“My love, can you take all the other children to their rooms, leaving only Guriel?”
“What’s going on?”
“Michelle is wondering what’s on tonight’s menu.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing that, the queen led Michelle’s siblings out of the dining hall.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“But Mom, why?”
“I’m hungry.”
With the queen leading Michelle’s siblings out, only the Sea King, Michelle, and Guriel remained at the table.
“Please answer me now.”
Michelle couldn’t understand the current situation.
Why did her mother take her siblings away, and why was her father postponing his answer?
“You’ve become an adult, Michelle. Asking about such things.”
“Father.”
“Correct. It’s a dish made of other fish.”
It was an unbelievable statement.
The moment Michelle heard those words that she had wished to be denied from the Sea King’s mouth, she felt as if her world was crumbling.
“…Did brother and mother know about this?”
“Yes. It is customary for all mermaids to hear what they have eaten from their parents when they become adults. That’s the Mermaid’s coming-of-age ceremony. Realizing how they survived.”
Her hands trembled.
All the fish she had thought of as friends and subjects until now…
“Why, why did it have to be like this?”
“Because that’s the only way we can survive. Mermaids cannot survive on just seaweed.”
If only she hadn’t known.
It would have been better if she hadn’t known.
“There’s still a year left until your coming-of-age ceremony… Who told you? If not…”
Michelle averted her eyes from the Sea King.
“You’ve already eaten it. Haha, becoming a mature mermaid before your father tells you… I’m both proud and disappointed.”
The Sea King, looking at the disheartened Michelle, gently grabbed her shoulder.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything. Don’t give them more affection than necessary. They’re different from us, my child.”
The Sea King’s eyes looking at her seemed truly sad.
“How was the taste of that flatfish?”
“Do I have to say it?”
“Yes. Because it’s customary. It’s the ritual to become a true mermaid.”
How did it taste?
She didn’t want to say it.
But in the warm gaze of the Sea King looking at her.
In his words saying that this was an inevitable fate for their kind.
She felt a sense of relief that she was not the only one to suffer this pain.
Although it was truly regretful to Sebastian, the human’s flounder dish was…
“It was delicious.”
It really was delicious.
So delicious that it brought tears to her eyes.
The taste still lingered in her mouth.
“Now, Michelle, you’ve become a proper adult. I’m proud of you. Hehehe.”
The Sea King handed her a plate after speaking.
He pointed to the dish with the steaming seaweed prepared by the palace chefs.
“We should eat this in celebration of becoming an adult.”
“Is that okay?”
“Remember this. Don’t give too much affection to those kids. Mermaids are completely different creatures from fish. We dominate and protect them in exchange for their price.”
With the Sea King’s urging, Michelle reluctantly took a bite of the fish meat with a spoon.
‘Huh?’
The taste was bland, and the texture, which should have been tender, was somewhat rubbery.
The palace food that had been delicious until yesterday…
It had no taste.
‘Why…?’
Michelle couldn’t understand the sensation her tongue experienced.
Why did the food that man made taste good?