Putting Aside Nationalistic Bias, It’s Really Delicious

15 – Crossing the Line with Three Points on One Chopstick

The unwelcome guest disrupting the joyful meal couldn’t be dismissed outright. Therefore, the ongoing meal was briefly halted, and I headed towards the restaurant hall alone.

“Who are you?”

Waiting in the hall was a man of gentle demeanor in his middle age.

“Oh, you’re here. I thought you closed for the day because only the kitchen lights were on.”

If you thought it was closed, couldn’t you have just stayed out? I pondered, but I didn’t want to press the issue.

In the local business, even a single customer deserved kindness.

Of course, whether to consider this person who came after the business had closed as a customer was another matter.

I carefully examined the man who had suddenly appeared.

He was a middle-aged man with a soft impression, with thick brown hair and a stylishly grown mustache, but his body was completely different from his impression.

His rather broad and wide shoulders, which seemed to have gone through quite intense exercise, and his spread-out back, exuded discipline in both his posture and movements.

Despite being stained with dirt and grime, he wore armor that appeared to be made of good-quality iron, proving his worth.

‘He’s skilled.’

I could tell from the knight’s training I had received for seven years.

This man was as skilled as Luke, the captain of the Imperial Knight Order I used to belong to.

Was there such a skilled knight here?

I didn’t know because, in the novel, it was only a region that wasn’t even properly named.

I had heard that there were only five knights.

Suddenly, I realized that there were only four knights, including Heimer, who had visited earlier today.

‘This guy must be the remaining one.’

He’s probably the real knight protecting the Lord’s residence.

The other four knights, including Heimer, were probably more like apprentices learning from this man.

That meant

He was the one I should be most wary of.

A skilled knight.

If I show any ill-will to this man, I’ll be taken.

To where?

The capital.

For now, I’m not going to the capital.

‘You, do you have any plans to join our knight order?’

He might try to recruit me like this, then something will happen that takes us to the capital, and my outstanding skills will catch the attention of the other knights….

‘How about coming to the Royal Knight Order?’

I’d likely be scouted in a similar manner.

Then, Luke, seeing me in this state, would–

“It seems like you had a condition not to join any other Knight Orders?”

And grab me by the collar?

I might be swept back into the Imperial Princess’s Knight Order again.

So, this man was the most dangerous mine I should avoid.

“Originally, I was just passing by, but the delicious smell lured me in unknowingly.”

“The business is over. You should leave.”

“But doesn’t it smell so good?”

“I have no food to serve those who came without making a reservation.”

“Hmm, is this restaurant originally rude to its customers?”

I didn’t even realize my tone was harsh.

I’m sorry.

I can be a bit rough if you’re not a customer.

“It’s because it’s not our business hours.”

“Isn’t the food smell there? It’s so sad that a place with such a delicious smell has closed its doors. I just came back from an expedition, and I’m very hungry. Won’t you understand my situation?”

He didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.

“I heard from Heimer that this place is a knight’s restaurant. Is it okay to kick out a knight who has come with so much difficulty?”

Even during this argument, the pork belly was getting cold.

Damn.

Time was not on my side.

At this rate, after sending him away, I might have to eat cold pork belly and lukewarm soju.

That cannot happen.

I’ve waited for this day for too long.

Nothing is better than grilled pork belly and soju after finishing a hard day’s work.

Even as I rambled on, the pork belly lay cold on the grill, embracing the slowly cooling grease, waiting for me.

Why isn’t it coming?

It’s tasteless when it’s cold.

When the fat and meat get cold and harden like this, I cannot offer the best taste.

Ah, it’s gradually becoming chewy.

“No, I can’t.”

That must never happen.

Isn’t this how a detective negotiating with a bank robber holding a hostage would feel?

Time is running out, and everyone is getting tired…

That’s exactly my situation right now.

Detective, I finally understand.

How did you manage?

I have no choice.

It’s my loss, and I have a lot to lose.

“I don’t have any food to serve our guest, but I do have what I’ve been eating. If that’s okay…”

“That’s fine. A true knight does not choose his food.”

That’s not a knight, but a glutton…

I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.

I hadn’t lost my mind enough to insult a knight, especially one who looked as knightly as Captain Luke.

“Oh, so there was a space like this. It’s a great place to see the whole view.”

I handed the middle-aged knight sitting in a chair under the tree a pair of chopsticks.

“Oh. So this is the famous dish from the capital…”

“Please take your time. There’s not much to eat.”

“It’s pork belly used for bacon.”

“It’s called samgyeopsal. It’s much tastier than bacon.”

Still, there were times when it was better to eat together than alone.

Especially when it came to pork belly.

It was more delicious to eat together while tilting the soju glasses, rather than eating it all alone.

You could share stories with the sound of meat grilling on the pan as a backdrop.

And if you add soju to that mix?

You’re bound to board the memory train, forgetting about going to work the next day.

It’s also great to vent about unpleasant people while eating.

– That bastard manager, always nagging at me… Damn, life sucks. Ugh.

I’m reminded of the soju I drank with my coworkers after work.

Fortunately, I picked up a piece of meat that hadn’t cooled yet.

Sizzle.

As soon as I put the fire on the pan, the meat cooked quickly again.

Place it on a lettuce wrap with ssamjang in one bite.

And add a shot of soju to that.

Yum.

“Oh, now I see how to eat it.”

Then the driver picked up two pieces of meat at once.

Well.

It’s because the drivers have a good appetite.

My chopsticks became faster too.

Stuffing my mouth full of pork belly and drinking a shot of soju.

Isn’t this moment, when the meat fills your mouth, the reason for eating pork belly?

“Oh, this is really delicious! It’s called pork belly, right? I didn’t know the belly of a pig could taste so good. The meat melts in your mouth while the deep flavor of the fat lingers. And the chewiness of the lean meat is still alive. It’s a completely different taste from steak. Fascinating. Was it always this tasty part?”

The driver, who laughed heartily, played with his chopsticks again.

He eats quite well.

When he had eaten about half of it, raw meat was added.

Sizzle!

“Oh, so you’re not marinating it separately and just grilling it?”

“Yes, grilling is all it takes. The taste depends on how delicious the meat is. Most of the time, it’s a part that can’t fail because it’s so delicious.”

“Hehe, this is quite an eye-opening experience.”

The knight chuckled and picked up three pieces this time.

This person, upon closer observation, had been continuously eating two or three pieces since earlier.

Up to two pieces can be understood.

That’s possible.

Knights do have a good appetite after all.

But three pieces are a different story.

That’s crossing the line.

From a recipient’s perspective, taking three pieces in one bite is unheard of!

It’s a violation of etiquette.

If this were Korea, they would’ve been sent to prison for some crime.

A crime for eating too much meat?

“Isn’t your gluttony a bit extreme, sir?”

“Haha, the chef’s cooking is so delicious, I couldn’t help but commit a breach of etiquette.”

“My food is indeed delicious, but this is not for the guests, so please eat moderately.”

Usually, I didn’t like making a fuss over my cooking.

It’s a bit petty.

But taking three pieces in one go is just too much.

This isn’t basketball.

“I understand. I’ll eat moderately.”

But, regardless of the uninvited knight’s presence, the pork belly was incredibly delicious.

With every bite, one could savor the exquisite taste of the fork-tender meat.

Perhaps it was because the meat had been fed with mana, or maybe it was because it was sliced with mana-infused cuts.

The flavor was deeper, and the texture was more alive.

Firm and tender, chewy yet soft.

And the fat would just melt in one’s mouth.

A perfect balance had been achieved.

And then, another shot of soju.

The anger towards the knight subsided.

Ah, happiness.

“Is that alcohol? I can smell the alcohol scent.”

“It’s soju. It’s the alcohol we sell at our store.”

“Ho-ho… Can I have a taste?”

“Well, go ahead. How can I stop you when you’ve already eaten like this?”

Unfortunately, there was no extra glass, so I emptied and cleaned mine before handing it to him.

“Sharing a glass. A method befitting a knight more than anyone else.”

“Please, just drink and don’t mention it. That’s not the intended meaning.”

The alcohol pleasantly went down, dispelling any unnecessary misunderstandings.

“Is that so…?”

However, I was not sure what the knight was thinking, he received my glass expressionlessly.

“It’s delicious. The bitter aftertaste suits a knight.”

He finished the glass and offered it back to me.

“Here, have it. I would like to have a drink too.”

“Thank you.”

As we shared the glass, we waited for the meat to grill.

We didn’t exchange any conversation.

We were too unfamiliar with each other to have such a conversation.

Still, it seemed a bit tastier than eating alone, as there was someone next to me.

After eating like that, the last remaining piece was left.

Sizzling.

Now, only the last piece of pork belly was sizzling on the grill, cooked by the remaining heat.

“There’s one piece of meat left. I still want more…”

“We’ve finished eating. There’s nothing left.”

The knight, whose appetite was revived, picked up the last remaining piece with chopsticks.

What is he doing?

I removed the knight’s chopsticks and held the meat with my own.

“Of course, the last piece belongs to the restaurant owner.”

At this, the knight also stubbornly grabbed the meat with his chopsticks, as if not willing to give in.

“Even so, am I not a guest? Isn’t it right to give the last piece to the guest?”

Are we going to have a chopstick fight?

Isn’t it too tall an order to compete with the chopstick skills of the mainland?

I removed his chopsticks again and held the meat.

“If the guest is uninvited, it’s a different story.”

“Heh heh, are you going to be so cold? You should treat your guests well.”

“In our hometown, it’s said to be like saving someone from drowning and demanding their bundle in return.”

At this, the knight laughed out loud.

“Since it’s come to this, I should take the bundle too.”

“You’re a pure bandit.”

Though he was smiling around his mouth, his eyes were not laughing.

With the last piece held with my chopsticks, the battle of nerves continued.

“This is the first time I’m obsessed with just meat.”

“Just meat? It seems like you haven’t fully realized the beauty of pork belly. I can’t back down for someone like that.”

“I misspoke then. This grilled meat isn’t just meat. It’s a delicacy. Yes, that’s the word for it: a delicacy.”

Sizzle!

Whenever I tried to take a piece of pork belly with my chopsticks, the knight would counter and block my chopsticks, and the fight would continue.

As if the knight was dueling.

We moved our hands back and forth, as if our chopsticks were swords.

Swish swish! Clatter! Tatatatatat!

In a split second, we exchanged ten blows.

“…You’re serious about this.”

“I told you, I’m obsessed.”

“Men’s obsession isn’t usually a good thing.”

“It’s not about you.”

“Do you know who grilled this meat?”

“Didn’t you just say men’s obsession is not a good thing?”

This person has no intention of backing down.

Swish-swish-swish!

It was an intense battle that made sweat bead up on my forehead.

Even a slight slip would mean a loss.

I pushed with all my might, not to lose focus for a moment.

This knight might have more experience, but my mastery over chopsticks was higher.

I couldn’t let my pride from the mainland crumble here.

The knight’s chopsticks were aiming for the piece of meat I was holding.

In an instant, I let go of the meat and quickly struck the knight’s chopsticks.

Thud!

“Huh?”

At that moment, his chopsticks soared into the air.

Surprised, he managed to catch the chopsticks belatedly in mid-air.

“Hmm.”

That moment, the last piece had already entered my mouth.

Ah, the feeling of victory.

This pork belly was not merely the last piece of meat left.

It was the pride of the Koreans, the very origin of chopsticks.

It was the rightful spoils for the person who had cooked the meat.

It was the pride of a knight.

And it was a satisfying revenge against the knight sitting across from me, who had been eating two pieces at a time.

With the meat in my mouth, I took the last swig of the cold soju that remained in my glass.

Ah!

Feels so refreshing!

“Hehe, I’ve lost.”

The middle-aged knight, his face drenched in sweat, looked at me in astonishment.

“Kahaha!”

Then he suddenly burst into laughter.

What’s going on?

Did he go crazy because he couldn’t eat the last piece of pork belly?

“How long has it been since I had such an exciting match?”

A match, he says.

This was a fight for flavor.

A fight to obtain the ultimate taste!

The knight who put down his chopsticks reached out his hand to me.

“What is your name?”

“Isn’t it polite to introduce yourself first when asking someone’s name?”

“Ah, I apologize. I’ve been continuously rude. I am Lancelot, the knight serving the Lord of Britain.”

Lancelot?

I stared at the middle-aged knight reaching out his hand, unable to swallow the meat I was chewing.

Wait a minute.

Why is Lancelot, the mentor of the male protagonist in the novel I read, appearing here?