To eat is to survive.
Whether human, insect, or cat, it is an energy intake method that all ‘animals’ must follow.
Elves were no different.
If there was a slight difference, it was the racial characteristics of elves.
Elves originated from the World Tree, a colossal plant that forms the foundation of their race.
Perhaps because of this, they preferred vegetables over meat.
It was by no means a forced choice. Though it fell within the realm of preference and aversion, most ate a vegetarian diet.
There was no special reason; they simply ate vegetables.
From the elves’ perspective, meat was neither particularly appetizing nor anything more than bothersome flesh to handle.
The only things that stirred their appetites were gorgeously ripened tree fruits, fresh vegetables, and freshly baked bread.
Iseria was no exception.
She too had naturally followed a vegetarian diet while living in Nuareldel, not even glancing at meat.
The only variation to the same bread she ate every day was a different kind of tree fruit.
The potato and vegetable stew she boiled every evening.
Was she not tired of such a diet? She was not.
The concept of ‘getting tired’ only arose when one recognized there were other options.
Therefore, the elves of Nuareldel did not tire of eating the same fixed diet for hundreds of years, because they knew it to be natural.
Iseria had been the same—until she ate that dish called ‘Bibimbap’ last time.
Composed of common vegetable greens found all around, that dish was humble and austere.
Yet it was never crude.
Moreover, the colorful vegetables, the pure white rice, and the red sauce adorning its center.
It was as splendid as a firefly in the deep night, yet never extravagant.
Humble but not crude, splendid but not extravagant.
A dish perfectly suited to elves who revere the balance and beauty of nature—truly, one could say it was the very essence of an elf.
Iseria questioned how a human could have created such a food, but the overwhelming flavor devoured her doubts.
An elf to the bone, Iseria.
The ingredients of the Bibimbap smelled so good that she forgot all dignity and shamelessly raided the refrigerator. Flavor did not lie.
Because of the rudeness she committed in that process, Iseria was eventually kicked out.
However, she accepted that treatment. She was ashamed.
No matter how much she had left Nuareldel in search of stimulation, she had acted like a wild beast blinded by appetite.
It was only natural that the human chef grew angry.
For several days after that, Iseria left ‘gifts’ around the restaurant.
As a sign asking for forgiveness for her mistake.
Perhaps the human chef noticed them; one evening, he called out to Iseria, who had been hiding near the backyard.
Iseria did not miss the opportunity and approached to formally apologize, and the human chef accepted it.
When he finally heard the honorific words, “I’m sorry,” the human chef burst into loud laughter.
Though it was clearly her own fault, Iseria felt somewhat wronged and suppressed her irritation, but brightened when he told her to come into the human’s restaurant.
The reason Iseria accepted that invitation without hesitation was the enchanting aroma wafting all the way to the forest beyond the restaurant.
A fragrance far more mind-shaking than the smell of Bibimbap she had caught when starving after being chased by the wild boar demonic beast.
The harmony of the beans’ unique sweetness and extreme savory richness drove Iseria mad.
Thus, a bowl of soft tofu was placed before her.
It was a lumpy, white food unlike any she had seen in her life, yet she instinctively felt it contained no animal ingredients.
That meant the savory depth she felt now was made entirely of vegetables.
Iseria swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth with a gulp and lifted the spoon with trembling hands.
She was merely eating food; why was she trembling so?
Iseria thought she didn’t know the reason, but in truth, her subconscious did.
The moment she took a single bite of this food, she would never be able to return to how she was before.
Iseria carefully put the food in her mouth.
‘It’s warm…’
The soft and springy soft tofu unleashed its deeply hidden warmth the moment it touched Iseria’s tongue.
But it was not hot. It was a warmth so exquisite that it felt pleasant.
It was as cozy as the gentle breeze blowing beneath the shade of the World Tree.
Following the texture came the savory and rich taste of the soft tofu.
Though it was neither milk nor sesame, it was flavorful enough to rival such ingredients.
Chew, chew—
Iseria did not even put strength in her jaw.
She simply moved her mouth, and the soft tofu gently broke apart and was swallowed.
The spoon was immediately raised again, delivering more soft tofu to her mouth.
She hadn’t noticed it with the first bite because she was too busy feeling the tofu, but with the second bite, it was clear.
A light black seasoning mixed with chopped green onions.
It possessed a deep flavor with the same resonance as the tofu, while seasoning it with a salty touch—a truly fantastical pairing.
If the soft tofu was a pure elf, then this seasoning called soy sauce was a spirit.
The dark red seasoning dyeing the pure white soft tofu.
It perfectly filled the slightly bland gaps of the soft tofu, and its unique savoriness made it impossible to stop lifting the spoon.
‘It’s warm, it’s comforting, and it’s delicious. I want more…!’
To Iseria right now, the secret of this food, its maker, or the location were unimportant.
She was solely focused on getting one more bite of the warm soft tofu into her stomach before it cooled.
“Hah, haah…”
She didn’t feel like she had eaten that much, yet before she knew it, the bowl before Iseria was empty.
Licking her spoon in regret, she rubbed her pure white belly with her other hand.
The aftertaste of the soft tofu had permeated deep into her body, still carrying warm heat and coziness.
That aftertaste was so benevolent that it even melted the sharp, impulsive, and irritable glint in Iseria’s eyes.
“White and warm… feels sho good…”
With a completely slack face, Iseria gently caressed her own belly.
The human chef, Gang Jinwu, watched that behavior with an expression of utter disgust, all his goodwill depleted…
***
The sensibilities of otherworlders… I think I fully understand them now. They seem a bit unusual.
Getting sticky and moist while eating ginseng chicken soup, shedding tears while eating banquet noodles, and while eating soft tofu… phew.
If I had done a mukbang with these reactions in modern times, wouldn’t I have become famous, for better or worse?
Under names like ‘food sex,’ ‘food porn,’ and so on.
I don’t know what elves normally eat to survive, but they don’t seem to have a very diverse food culture.
If they had an evenly developed food culture, there’s no way they wouldn’t know tofu, the very symbol of vegan cuisine.
I had been thinking of traveling to other regions occasionally to expand the item list of the [Mana Market], but now I wanted to visit the elven kingdom if the opportunity arose.
Well, business had just started, so it wasn’t something to plan immediately.
While lost in such thoughts, Iseria, awakened from the lingering aftertaste of the soft tofu, fixed her sharp, cat-like eyes on me once more.
“Hmph. Ahem! The flavor wasn’t bad. It was edible enough, I suppose.”
Arms crossed, Iseria displayed the textbook image of a tsundere.
She had eaten with her face practically buried in the bowl, inhaling it, yet now she claimed it was merely ‘edible enough’…
“Really? If it wasn’t delicious, there’s nothing I can do. I suppose I’ll have to eat the block tofu that’s almost finished all by myself.”
“Huh? Wha? No… there’s no need for that…”
“No. I prepared it as a reconciliation gift, but if it was mediocre, I absolutely can’t give it to you.”
My playful mood triggered, I mentioned the block tofu that was still setting and spoke curtly.
Perhaps because it was unexpected, the flustered Iseria tried to string words together, but I blocked even that chance.
“It was delicious! It was delicious, I said! So that block tofu…? thing, let me eat that too…”
With her words cut short, Iseria opened her eyes wide and spoke her honest feelings.
Perhaps feeling ashamed almost simultaneously, her voice grew quieter and quieter toward the end, but—
‘She’s easy to handle.’
I had felt awkward at the elven appearance, but once I got to know her, she was a truly simple character.
If I added something like, ‘If it was delicious, why did you say it was mediocre at first?’ I might get to see an even more flustered expression, but there was a chance she might get sulky and give up entirely.
Besides, Iseria had shown effort to converse, so I decided not to tease her anymore.
“It’s nice that you honestly said it was delicious. Let’s eat together once it’s all finished.”
“Hmph!”
Though Iseria turned her head away with a whipping motion, she couldn’t hide the slight trembling of her lip corners as they threatened to rise.
Squeeeeal—!
But then, a savage cry came from the direction of the backyard.
So loud and resonant that despite being inside the building, it sounded as if it were roaring right in front of them.
“Wh-what?”
“Could it be that demonic beast from before?”
Unlike me, startled by the roar, Iseria seemed to have an idea.
The two of us immediately looked toward the backyard window.
Boom! Crash!
A wild boar-shaped demonic beast ramming its body mercilessly against the tall wooden fence in the backyard, trying to break through.
Until now, I had never been attacked by a demonic beast while living here.
The fence was still holding out for the moment, but it shook and swayed as if it would break at any second.
If the chest-height wild boar demonic beast broke through the fence and charged into the restaurant, it would only be a matter of time before a gaping hole was punched through the wall.
The only thing remotely useful I had was spirit magic, and even that I had never used for offensive purposes before.
Aside from that, my combat abilities were obviously zero. While I was racking my brain for some kind of countermeasure, Iseria spoke.
“I’ll try to stop it. Human, you stay back.”
“What? How could you handle a demonic beast like that…”
“Because I can, so stay still! I’m not weak like a frail human!”
Was that confidence, or recklessness?
Declaring in a proud voice, Iseria kicked open the back door and went out.
Crack—!
At the same time, the wild boar demonic beast broke through the fence and entered.
In a hair-trigger confrontation, Iseria grinned and shouted.
“Did my hardtack taste good, you pig bastard?!”
“Squeeeeal!!”
Whether stimulated by her triumphant voice, the wild boar demonic beast charged with terrifying momentum.
‘Damn it, what the hell is she trying to do?’
Whether in physique or momentum, I was worried that Iseria wouldn’t be able to withstand that demonic beast.
But at that moment, a whirlwind began to sweep around Iseria.
The sudden whirlwind made the charging wild boar demonic beast hesitate and stop its legs.
Iseria gestured leisurely.
“Tear it to shreds.”
Whoooosh—!
Centered on her ruthless yet elegant hand movements, the whirlwind around Iseria surged toward the wild boar demonic beast.