Chapter 13
In Korea, there is a cup noodle called ‘Volcano Fried Noodles.’
It features a mind-numbing spiciness and a subtle umami flavor, making it a sensational hit among Koreans who love spicy food.
It’s so spicy that it’s nicknamed ‘Korean Language Injector’ because it makes you involuntarily curse in Korean.
There’s a well-known story of a foreigner who ate the Volcano Fried Noodles and exclaimed while breathing fire, “Don’t Koreans know moderation?”
With such extreme spiciness, it’s no wonder that Volcano Fried Noodles ranks number one in noodle sales in Korea, demonstrating the Korean love for spiciness without needing to say more.
Of course, there are many who dislike it.
Among these Koreans, some expressed their dissatisfaction while playing Silia Online.
— “Why is there no spicy food in this game?”
This was a complaint about the food.
— “If it’s a game made in Korea, shouldn’t there be spicy food in it?”
— “Real. It should be spicy enough that you can’t get out of the bathroom the next day to enjoy it properly.”
— “Oh, that’s a bit much.”
While there were spicy foods in the Ardina continent, they were lacking to satisfy Korean palates.
— “Grrr…! I need spiciness, I need spiciness…!”
— “Give me capsaicin!”
— “Yikes!”
These spice addicts, suffering from withdrawal, were so fixated on intense flavors that they started acting like spice zombies, their eyes wild and crazed, scaring both players and NPCs.
As the world of Silia faced a potential downfall due to spicy-zombie outbreaks, one of the zombies came up with a brilliant idea.
— “If there’s none, let’s just make it ourselves!”
Thus began the project to recreate the spicy taste.
This attempt to replicate flavors from Earth was not the first of its kind. Many players who had their sights set not on combat but on food had already tried, with both successful and failed outcomes in abundance.
The common point among the unsuccessful attempts was that many were heavily influenced by modern food science.
While they could recreate it, the effort was either too great, or it was simply impossible.
The taste sought by the spicy-zombies fell into this category.
Recreating the unique umami-spicy flavor of Volcano Fried Noodles using only natural ingredients was no easy task, and thus their attempts repeatedly ended in failure.
However, after persistent trials, one zombie’s efforts finally bore fruit.
— “Wha, what is this flavor?! It feels like my tongue is burning!”
— “Ah, you don’t know… This is what spiciness is!”
— “Water, give me water!”
— “Don’t be foolish! Don’t you know drinking water after eating spicy food makes it feel even spicier? Drink milk instead!”
— “You… you did it…!”
With immense effort, the restaurant ‘Burning Phoenix’ was established.
The dishes served were two items that Koreans referred to as ‘Phoenix Fried Noodles’ and ‘Phoenix Fried Rice,’ alongside milk to soothe the burning mouths.
Despite that, Burning Phoenix became immensely popular among many Koreans, foreign spicy food lovers, and even NPCs.
The dish Joanie brought today was none other than the Volcano… Phoenix Fried Rice.
“And right now, it’s my lunch.”
The fried rice, a vivid red that made one’s mouth water just by looking at it.
Joanie preferred fried noodles over fried rice, but bringing noodles up to the mountain where the gravekeeper lived would surely result in the noodles swelling and turning into fried rice.
“…But is it okay to give this?”
As Joanie sniffed the spicy aroma wafting from the fried rice and grinned deviously, her rationality kicked back in.
“What if I get yelled at for bringing something like this? If all the rapport I built crumbles…?”
— “Worried about that now?”
— “Let’s go~~~”
— “Honestly, aren’t you curious about the leader too?”
— “For real, my mouth is watering, haha!”
“These dopamine addicts!”
Of course, Joanie was curious too.
Could someone eat this fried rice and show no reaction at all?
Despite the effort put into preparing this dish with her stubbornness, she found herself hesitating and unable to move as the moment to serve it approached.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t bring it today…”
—???
—??????
—I…..
—Abandon!!!
—…..
“Isn’t it your responsibility if my favorability goes down?!”
—Why us??
—Our favorability is negative, you know?
—Starting from zero might not be a bad idea.
“Ugh!”
Joanie trembled with frustration.
She had forgotten. These guys were obsessed with teasing her.
“What if I said I brought it because it’s a trendy food? That wouldn’t be a lie, right?”
Hesitating, Joanie eventually opened her inventory to put the fried rice back in.
“Thinking it over, I really don’t think this is right. Let’s just not give it today—”
[Mission Received! – Give Fried Rice]
—Upon completion: 500,000 won
“Oh, five hundred thousand?!”
Are they trying to buy me with money?!
It was too much money to just dismiss.
Seeing the mission funds ballooning as if it were a good catch, Joanie’s eyes trembled slightly.
It wasn’t the money itself she coveted, but the implications of that money were terrifying.
The fact that the mission fund had grown this large meant that the stakes had also risen significantly.
If she gave up and canceled the mission, the chat would likely explode beyond a fire level.
“Alright! I can do this… I just have to…”
With a fluttering heart, Joanie set off to settle the debts brought on by her fried Phoenix noodles.
“Th-this is…”
-“…”
“Today, I’ll give you a meal.”
Joanie, stumbling through the newly learned Granic, uttered her words.
The Gravekeeper glanced silently at the food Joanie offered, then looked back at her.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The gaze felt painful.
She knew very well that a stare couldn’t physically hurt, yet for some reason, she felt like someone was poking her with a needle.
Or maybe it was a rusty old sword instead.
‘You want me to eat this? Are you out of your mind?’
It seemed the Gravekeeper’s gaze asked that.
‘Y-you know, maybe I should just give up on this whole thing…’
As frightening as falling into the abyss was, could it be scarier than death?
Joanie, feeling like her gaze was turning her into a pin cushion, wished for the Gravekeeper to refuse her offer outright.
Even if they rejected it, that would be fine! They could throw it away without even a complaint!
If that happened, she wouldn’t have to worry about losing favor or facing the wrath of an angry Gravekeeper.
She could have her cake and eat it too; what a joy that would be.
As her pounding heart transitioned from a thud to a clamor and regret surged to the top of her mind, the Gravekeeper finally reached out a hand hidden beneath their cape.
Thud.
“Eh?”
Simultaneously, Joanie’s hopes shattered.
What had once looked appetizing turned into something that seemed like it could only be consumed by demons of hell in the Gravekeeper’s hand.
The hot, flowing lava and the pitiful screams echoed in hell.
The demon, who had been making fried rice in a gigantic pot, suddenly looked up and beckoned Joanie.
“Come on in. It’s your first time in hell, right?”
“…Gah!”
Joanie’s face turned pale as she instinctively realized that if she didn’t intervene now, what would end up in that pot wasn’t rice but herself.
“Wait—”
But regret always comes too late.
Gulp.
In the moment she momentarily lost focus, the Gravekeeper had already taken a spoonful of the red fried rice and popped it into his mouth.
‘Please, please….’
Maybe the Gravekeeper could handle spicy food well.
It might even suit his taste.
…What the hell was that stubbornness that led to such a foolish act?
A flurry of useless hopes and self-reflection clashed violently in Joanie’s mind.
Since it was already too late to turn back, she fervently prayed that the goodwill she had carefully built wouldn’t vanish.
-“…Cough.”
“…!”
-“Cough! Cough! Ha, ha….”
Well, I’m done for.
Seeing the Gravekeeper react in a way she had long desired, Joanie let out a rueful laugh.
“At least I hope you didn’t die in pain…”
The demons that beckoned to her had already multiplied to three.
Joanie opened the settings and dragged the pain ratio slider all the way to the left.
“Cough, cough…!”
The Gravekeeper’s cough seemed particularly severe, refusing to let up.
As his delicate voice erupted into violent coughs, the chat filled with voices condemning Joanie.
—Ugh, trash…
—I’ve reported this as child abuse.
—Thank you for using Joanie up until now.
—LOLLLLLLLLLLL
“You all told me to do it! And besides, he might not even be a child?!”
—?? : Seriously, she actually did what we said, LOL.
—Huh? We never said that!
—If he’s about to die from the spiciness, shouldn’t we give him something?
—This is how you achieve a first clear.
“Ah, right…!”
Joanie hurriedly pulled milk out of her inventory.
It was something she had bought together with the fried rice from the flaming phoenix.
“This…”
Whoosh!
Gulp, gulp!
The Gravekeeper, who had never shown such a speed before, downed the milk as if it was the last thing he’d ever do.
With each gulp, his body, which had been trembling like a reed, gradually began to calm.
The heavy breaths he had been struggling to release also started to settle.
Sigh, ha….
Though it seemed the spiciness hadn’t completely faded, he was definitely looking better.
Which meant Joanie’s punishment was drawing near.
She immediately bowed her head.
“I-I’m sorry!”
-“…”
The Gravekeeper didn’t say a word.
A suffocating silence.
Am I going to drown in this silence?
While the notorious sinner Joanie nervously awaited his response, the Gravekeeper finally opened his mouth.
-“I’m sorry, no, I should say I apologize, hey.”
“…Huh?”
Contrary to Joanie’s expectations, the words that came out weren’t filled with rage.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if he had drawn his sword and declared he would kill her right there.
—He’s forgiving us?????
—The true person of character, the Gravekeeper-sensei…
The unexpected gentle response stirred up both Joanie and the viewers.
However, their shock didn’t end there.
“Kana.”
“Yes?”
“My name, Kana.”
In a voice that felt somewhat faint, the Gravekeeper spoke.
“It’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone.”
—??????
—??????????????
—Is this the correct answer????
—❓❓❓
Amidst a flurry of question marks, one particular chat comment flitted past.
Seeing it, Joanie silently agreed.
No idea why this happened, but for now, let’s just be thankful that she survived….
The Gravekeeper likes spicy food. Note that down….
—
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