Chapter 220: Let's Make Tofu!

“No, Cuengi, Dad didn’t eat something delicious by himself. Right, Vice Chairman Theo?”

Sejun hurriedly asked Theo to clarify to Cuengi, who seemed to have misunderstood, but

“What are you talking about? Chairman Park was happily eating what I gave him! And didn’t he also make that ‘Keuh’ sound that he only makes when he eats something delicious?!”

Theo, who had been focusing on Sejun’s reaction to eating the golden inner core closely, thought that Sejun was trying to deny his achievement for bringing the golden core and described in detail what he saw. Puhuhut. you can’t fool me, meow!

“Ah?! That’s right.”

Thinking about it, Sejun had eaten something with an orange soda flavor... so he did indeed eat something tasty. Still! Darn! Theo, you’re not helping me at all this time.

“Well, it can’t be helped then.”

Shashasha.

Sejun rubbed his palms together hurriedly as Cuengi watched.

Krueng?!

[Dad, you’re admitting that you ate by yourself...]

As Cuengi questioned Sejun’s actions,

“Look at this, Cuengi.”

As Sejun spread the distance between his palms,

Crackle.

A red spark appeared between his palms.

“Hehehe. How is it? Amazing, isn’t it?”

Sejun proudly boasted, pleased with himself, but

Krueng? Krueng?

[What’s that? You did all this to show me only that?]

Cuengi responded nonchalantly.

Krueng!

[Cuengi can do that too!]

Shushushush.

Cuengi rubbed its front paws together vigorously, imitating Sejun. An ominous noise emanated from Cuengi.

‘Nah, that can’t be right?’

An uneasy feeling washed over Sejun, who tried to deny the possibility. Still, he thought it couldn’t be that easy to create a spark since he had the electricity talent and Cuengi did not.

However,

“Huh?!”

Cuengi’s fur stood on end, and

Crackle. Crack.

A blinding white spark formed on Cuengi’s front paws, visibly a powerful electric charge.

Krueng!

[Mom told me not to do this because it tangles my fur!]

Click.

Cuengi discharged the electricity from its paws to the ground as if to warn Sejun. If I get caught doing this, mom will smack me on the back!

Lick, lick.

Cuengi quickly licked his fur, trying to tidy up the hairs that had spread out in all directions to avoid getting caught and scolded by Pink-fur.

“I’ll help you!”

Theo came over to assist Cuengi with his grooming.

“It’s not because it’s dangerous, but because it tangles the fur...”

Watching the two, Sejun was surprised anew by Cuengi’s strength and

Swoosh, swoosh.

Sejun helped straighten out Cuengi’s fur with a comb.

Soon, as Cuengi’s grooming was nearly finished,

Grrrrumble.

Having spent a lot of energy grooming, Cuengi’s hunger clock sounded.

And then,

Krueng! Krueng!

[Cuengi’s angry and hungry because Dad ate something tasty alone! Cuengi wants to eat honey-dipped garaetteok (TL: aka rice cakes).]

Remembering that Sejun had eaten something delicious by himself, the fierce Cuengi demanded honey-dipped garaetteok. Just when Sejun thought he had gotten away with it...

“Just wait a moment!”

Sejun ran to the kitchen area and

Gulp.

[You have consumed a piece of Aileen’s Healthy Meatball.]

[You must eat all the food to get the effect.]

[62 pieces remaining.]

Sejun had to seal away the fierce beast with lots of honey-dipped garaetteok, so Sejun used the meat given by Aileen for breakfast.

Thus, Sejun kept on making Garaetteok non-stop, and

Kuehehehe. Krueng!

[Hehehe. Garaetteok dipped in kudzu honey are the best!]

Cuengi sat down, pressing his back against Sejun’s, dipping the Garaetteok into honey and eating them. And that way the fierce beast was safely sealed away.

After a while,

Krueng!

[Cuengi will go check on the herbs!]

Having eaten his fill of Garaetteok, Cuengi packed his snack pouch full of Garaetteok and honey and headed off to the western forest.

“Phew. That was exhausting.”

Slurp.

After making an enormous amount of Garaetteok since morning, Sejun sat down for a coffee break.

That’s when

“That’s right, meow! I have more things to give to Chairman Park, meow!”

Theo, who had been sprawling next to Sejun, suddenly stood up. He had suddenly remembered things he had put aside for Sejun.

Oh! What’s this?!”

“Puhuhut. Look forward to it, meow!”

Sejun called the animals over to share the food and checked the dish.

[Flavorful Five-Colored Bean Residue Stew]

→ This stew is made with ground five-colored beans with their moisture removed, locust meat, and green onions, seasoned with shrimp paste.

→ The strong squeezing brings out the potential of the five-colored beans.

→ Upon consumption, one of the stats—strength, stamina, agility, or magic—increases by an additional 10% for 10 minutes.

→ Chef: Tower Farmer Park Sejun

→ Expiration Date: 30 days

→ Grade: B

“Wow!”

The options were amazing. It seemed like the effects of the Sturdy Strength Yellow Beans, Sturdy Stamina Red Beans, etc., harvested from the five-colored beans, were partially reflected in the dish.

Krueng!

[It’s savory! Delicious!]

Fortunately, Cuengi was also satisfied with the bean residue stew.

Having enjoyed a delicious dinner,

“But why isn’t the tofu setting?”

Sejun pondered why the tofu wasn’t solidifying,

Kuehehehe. Krueng!

[Heheheh. Cuengi’s Grandma is starting to cook!]

Cuengi sat next to Sejun and watched Kim Mi-ran cook through the bronze mirror.

“Ah! Cuengi, that’s tofu.”

Sejun pointed out the tofu in the soybean paste stew.

Krueng? Krueng!

[Is that tofu? It’s so white!]

The sight of the wobbly, pudding-like tofu.

Squeeze.

Excited by the appetizing visual, Cuengi gripped the handle of the bronze mirror tightly.

Then,

-Humming.

“Huh?!

The sound of Kim Mi-ran’s humming began to come from beyond the mirror.

“Mom!”

Sejun exclaimed at the sound of his mother’s voice after a long time.

-Huh?! Where is Sejun’s voice coming from?

Kim Mi-ran also looked around, hearing Sejun’s voice.

And then,

-Eek!

She screamed upon seeing the mirror. Sejun and Cuengi were reflected in the living room mirror.

-So Cute...

“Uh... Mom, calm down,”

As Sejun predicted, Kim Mi-ran couldn’t keep her composure upon seeing the adorable Cuengi.

-How can I calm down?! If you had such a cute baby, you should have come to mom sooner.

Then,

Krueng! Krueng!

[Hello, Cuengi’s Grandma! I’m Daddy’s son, Cuengi!]

Realizing that he was visible to Kim Mi-ran, Cuengi hurriedly stood up and bowed 90 degrees, greeting her as Sejun had taught him.

-Oh my! Such a well-mannered baby...

As expected, mom clutched her heart at Cuengi’s greeting.

“Mom, are you doing well? Is everything okay?”

-Yes! I’m doing fine. Dad went to work since there’s no more danger, and Se-dol went to school. He will be back soon. How are you doing?

“I’m doing well too.”

As they were talking,

Crack.

The bronze mirror began to crack, unable to bear the load. It seemed it wouldn’t last much longer.

Then,

Krueng!

[Daddy, ask how to make tofu!]

Cuengi exclaimed.

“Mom, I have a question.”

-Yes, go ahead.

“I tried making tofu, but it wouldn’t solidify. Why?”

Sejun described the process of how he had made the tofu.

-If you don’t add anything, of course it won’t set. You need to use coagulant. If there’s no coagulant, you could use vinegar and salt...

Clang.

Fortunately, the bronze mirror broke just after Sejun had heard almost all of what Kim Mi-ran had said.

“Aileen, is it possible to...?”

When Sejun asked Aileen if it was possible to repair the broken bronze mirror, she said it was possible.

“Phew. That’s a relief. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

[The tower’s administrator says to leave it to her.]

After entrusting the repair of the bronze mirror to Aileen,

“Alright! Let’s make tofu!”

Sejun began to make tofu as he had learned from Kim Mi-ran, and he managed to make proper tofu.

Krueng!

[It’s delicious! Cuengi’s Grandma is the best!]

Cuengi’s desire to meet Kim Mi-ran grew stronger.

****