Chapter 24: Why Bunsik Here of All Places? (1) (24/225)
Ten days had already passed since Jinseo began staying in Colses Castle, the capital of the Doren Kingdom.
Just like always, he was diligently cooking bunsik inside his food truck.
What differed from before was the location. Instead of the central plaza, he was now inside the garden of a marquis's estate.
Trees blanketed in green leaves. Flowers blooming in season.
It was a place so bright and pleasant that simply standing there felt cleansing to the soul, and yet Jinseo wore a troubled expression as he looked at the young man and woman standing before him—all while stirring the tteokbokki cooking on the large iron plate.
"Hmm… as expected, it's delicious."
"It's my father's favorite bunsik. I like it as well."
The young man and woman, the main figures of today's matchmaking meeting, sat facing each other, savoring their ramen.
From Jinseo's perspective, the atmosphere between them seemed fairly good.
The only concern was that the topic of conversation revolved entirely around food.
"Oh my, the umami of the soup with the noodles is remarkable."
"I've never experienced this kind of flavor and texture in my life. It's frustrating that I discovered it so late."
"I thought the same the first time I tried it. Because of that, it unintentionally became bunsik I kept all to myself for quite a while. Hahaha…"
Even the conversation between the marquis and his wife, along with Oswald, remained limited to the ramen they were eating.
Watching a matchmaking meeting that required such a long journey unfold like this made Jinseo's unease grow little by little.
As he observed the scene, Jinseo glanced down at the tteokbokki cooking beautifully and let out a quiet chuckle.
To think I'd end up cooking for a matchmaking meeting…
Last night.
When Oswald first came to see him, Jinseo had never imagined things would turn out this way.
"Bunsik? At such an important occasion?"
The moment he heard the request to prepare bunsik to elevate a matchmaking meeting, Jinseo had reacted in disbelief. But in the end, faced with Oswald's serious expression as he awaited an answer, Jinseo nodded.
Marquis Hasrak had also requested that, in addition to the matchmaking, the guests visiting their household be treated to a bunsik party. As a result, most of the escort members had taken seats throughout the garden, enjoying Jinseo's cooking.
All except one person—Cardinal Fedora.
Claiming she had a prior engagement, she had packed up about five servings of special tteokbokki and left somewhere before the meeting even began, after asking mages to cast preservation magic so it wouldn't cool.
I still can't get used to this. Whatever… I'll just focus on cooking properly.
In a situation like this, the only thing Jinseo could do was put far more care than usual into making his bunsik.
That care meant neatly lining the rice cakes at the bottom of the dish and layering the fish cakes on top. It meant brushing leftover sauce around the rim of the plate in a circular pattern. It meant replacing his usual side plates with more refined dishware and deliberately serving smaller portions, like a full course at a high-end restaurant.
These changes were all made at the request of the marquis's household, who wanted to sample as many kinds of bunsik as possible.
Having never done anything like this before, Jinseo found the atmosphere unfamiliar.Still, since this was a matchmaking between noble families, he had no choice but to do his best.
"Then I'll bring out the next dish."
The maids served the "second bunsik" Jinseo had prepared to the guests.
Only to Karl, the head of Hasrak Marquisate, did Jinseo deliver the dish personally.
"This intense red sauce… is this tteokbokki?"
"Yes, it is."
"Just looking at it makes my mouth feel hot. I'm not good with spicy food, but if this is the taste that captivated the people of the capital, I'm looking forward to it."
Karl couldn't hide his admiration as he looked at the steaming tteokbokki.
"But it's a little different from what I heard. I was told it was entirely red, but this…"
"It's a special day, so I made some adjustments."
The only difference from regular tteokbokki was the addition of a single new ingredient.Yet Jinseo had no doubt that this one change would captivate even more people.
"It's cheese tteokbokki."
The essence of tteokbokki lay in its spiciness. For those who couldn't handle that heat, it became untouchable food.
In truth, Jinseo had planned not to serve tteokbokki at all. He worried it might ruin such an important occasion.
However, after confirming the marquis household's request to taste tteok-twig-sun no matter what, he hesitated.
At first, he considered serving soy-sauce tteokbokki, but opposition quickly shut that idea down.
"Spicy-less tteokbokki isn't tteokbokki!"
Fedora's objection, in particular, had been fierce.
In the end, Jinseo chose cheese tteokbokki—the mildest of tteokbokki variations and one he had never attempted in this world before.
"Compared to regular tteokbokki, the spiciness is reduced, but it's been adjusted so the original heat can be enjoyed more comfortably."
"Then shall I give it a try?"
After swallowing, Karl picked up a piece of tteokbokki with his fork. As the cheese stretched upward, Oswald's and Aston's gazes fixed on him.
"Hmm… I wonder if it'll be alright."
Perhaps conscious of the spice, Karl hesitated, then squeezed his eyes shut and put the cheese tteokbokki into his mouth, chewing slowly.
"Oh… I braced myself for the heat, but it's surprisingly manageable. And this texture—I've never felt anything like it. How intriguing."
Enchanted by the unexpected appeal of the cheese tteokbokki, Karl's fork began to move faster and faster.
But spice always accumulates.
When Jinseo noticed sweat forming on Karl's forehead, he perfectly timed the pour of CoolXes into a wine glass.
"Whew… this drink is sweet and pleasantly cools my overheated tongue. I like it."
Downing the glass in one go, Karl returned to eating the cheese tteokbokki.
The cheese gently enveloped the wild spiciness. The sweetness of CoolXes soothed the heat that pushed through that softness.
As these three flavors alternated, offering a brand-new experience, Karl's face lit up with a broad smile.
Good. Looks like it suits the marquis's tastes. What about the others?
Jinseo turned his gaze to check everyone's reactions.
Oswald and Aston met his eyes, smiled, and nodded silently.
The others responded favorably as well.
Even the maids attending the table swallowed repeatedly as they stared at the cheese tteokbokki.
Unfortunately, Fedora—the one who would have been most delighted by the birth of a new tteokbokki—was not present.
"It's softer than the portion you packed for us last time. That was good too, but today's suits my tastes even more."
"I'm glad you like it."
Jinseo smiled awkwardly at one of the matchmaking participants.
So that customer back then was Aston's match…
Stella, the only daughter of Marquis Hasrak.The woman who had come alone to the food truck on a rainy day to enjoy a scallion pancake was none other than her.
She had truly had her first meeting with a man she'd never met before—and done so in front of a food truck.
Is this really okay?
Watching them sip CoolXes poured into transparent wine glasses, as though dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Jinseo felt a strange, indescribable sensation.
That drama where they held a formal family meeting at a pork-cutlet restaurant because of product placement was ridiculous… but this situation is even more absurd.
Above all, the fact that he himself had created this situation forced a bitter smile onto Jinseo's face.
That aside, he couldn't deny a quiet pride at seeing his bunsik so thoroughly acknowledged.
"This tastes completely different from the drink earlier. Was it called cider?"
"That tingling sensation in the mouth… it's not bad. No, I actually like it! Stella, what do you think?"
"It's too good to enjoy for just one day. Shouldn't we buy in bulk from this chef?"
"Aston, since there's cheese, I'd like to try cheese gimbap again too."
"I learned it from Jinseo, so I'll make it for you next time."
The problem was that despite being a matchmaking meeting, everyone's attention was focused solely on the bunsik and drinks Jinseo served.
The topic of conversation never strayed from his food.
Worse still, Aston seemed more interested in making bunsik than eating it, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his hands while staring at Jinseo—instead of looking at Stella, his match.
At this rate, won't this end as a bunsik tasting event instead of a matchmaking meeting?
Jinseo worried he might be ruining the occasion, but he couldn't intervene recklessly. The only thing he could do was continue cooking and serving delicious bunsik.
Letting out a small sigh, Jinseo took out the jjolmyeon sauce.
"That was a truly satisfying meal."
Karl smiled contentedly as he ate the BuXbocon served as dessert.
Not only was the ice cream cold, smooth, and sweet, but even the cone supporting it was edible—perfectly hitting his preferences.
"I'd love to enjoy a full course all over again, but my stomach won't endure it. Regrettable, but extremely satisfying."
Tteok-twig-sun-ra-gim had only been the beginning.
Jinseo presented the various dishes he had once used as demonstrations for the escort members, one by one, and Karl never stopped marveling at the unfamiliar foods.
"Your name was… Jinseo, was it?" Karl tilted the wine glass filled with cola as he looked at him.
"Yes."
"Are you the Hamilton family's exclusive chef?"
"No."
"Is that so?"
At Jinseo's reply, Karl sipped his cola, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.
"Jinseo, would you consider becoming my family's exclusive chef?"
"…Pardon?"
"What's your current income? I'll pay double—no, triple." Karl made the offer boldly without even asking for specifics.
Me? As an exclusive chef for a marquis family, just because bunsik was well received?
Too stunned to respond, Jinseo could only stand there blankly.
Meanwhile, Karl calmly wiped his lips with a roll of paper towels.
Oswald, a long-time patron of the food truck, stared at Karl with a hardened expression.Aston opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, remaining silent.
The chatter of other guests enjoying ice cream abruptly ceased, and silence settled over the garden.
Those who had enjoyed Jinseo's bunsik for a long time silently prayed in their hearts—that Jinseo would refuse Karl's offer.
"I'm sorry, but I prefer traveling around and doing business like this rather than being tied to one place. I hope you'll understand."
"Even if I pay five times as much?"
"I'm sorry."
"Ten times wouldn't be a waste for your skill… how about reconsidering?"
"…Ten times?"
At the unexpected number, Jinseo's expression changed instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to him.
In particular, the mages from the tower—who had become utterly dependent on Jinseo's ice cream—felt their hearts burn with anxiety.
If it were ten times, I'd accept immediately.
After tasting Jinseo's food, anyone would want him as an exclusive chef. It's a wonder he's kept the food truck running this long.
If he really refuses the marquis… shouldn't we find some way to secure at least the ice cream?
What about taking turns teleporting to buy bunsik and ice cream?
Given the distance between the mage tower and Colses Castle, that'd be impossible with our mana—unless it were the headmaster.
The mages agonized endlessly over how to maintain their relationship with Jinseo.
As for Jinseo himself, he had no intention whatsoever of accepting the marquis's offer.
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