Chapter 12.2: Missing
The rubber container of the shelter was so big that her upper body wasn’t fully out.
“Why, why? It’s dangerous…”
“It’s okay. I’m much stronger than a wild boar.”
“Really…?”
Wild boars in this world are as strong as elephants, right?
In surprise, I looked her up and down and realized.
She was one of the strongest beings in this world.
‘Oh no.’
Maybe because I had been troubled by wild boars for so long.
I was so frazzled that I forgot who she was.
Feeling embarrassed, I just clutched at my clothes, while she lightly jumped over the shelter.
“If a wild boar shows up, I’ll catch it. Don’t worry too much and let’s have a barbecue party.”
“Really…?”
“Yep. I can take down a wild boar with just a flick.”
To think she could knock out a wild boar as strong as an elephant like that.
Just how powerful is she?
The fact that I was caught by a being even stronger than the wild boar that had tormented me for years was terrifying.
I could only nod weakly in response.
“Yes…”
Next to the stream where the water flowed, I set up the barbecue equipment the girl had brought.
I put charcoal in the newly bought grill, lit the fire, and placed the meat on the grate.
Sizzle sizzle-
Just watching the meat cook made my mouth water.
I decided to eat only ten thousand won’s worth.
To do that, I needed to find out the price of the meat.
“Excuse me, what kind of meat is this?”
“This? It’s Naru meat.”
“…Naru? What’s that?”
I had never heard of a creature called Naru in my previous life’s memories.
Maybe it was a meat animal exclusive to this world.
“Gyeoul, have you ever eaten Naru meat?”
The girl looked down at me with an expression of astonishment.
The meat she was holding with tongs fell under the grate.
“No. This is my first time eating it.”
“That so? I bought plenty, so let’s eat to our heart’s content today. Okay?”
“Yes…”
Why was she reacting so dramatically to the fact that I hadn’t eaten Naru meat?
Confused, but I couldn’t afford to have such thoughts in front of meat.
I sat quietly on a barbecue chair the girl had brought, waiting for the meat to cook.
“Gyeoul, you can eat this.”
She placed some meat on my plate.
It was undercooked, with red layers still visibly uncooked.
“Isn’t this undercooked…? You can get food poisoning from raw meat…?”
Was Naru meat similar to beef?
Or was the girl just playing a trick on me?
Not knowing anything, I just looked up at her.
“It’s okay. Naru meat can be eaten undercooked.”
“Really…?”
Perhaps surprised that I hadn’t eaten Naru meat before, she offered a forced smile.
“Yeah. It’s going to be really tasty. Want to try a bite?”
“Yes.”
When I poked the meat with the fork she gave me, rich juices flowed out.
‘Wow.’
Had I ever eaten such incredible meat since coming to this world?
I couldn’t recall anything like it as I thought back.
I decided to remember this monumental day and pushed the meat into my mouth.
Munch
After just one bite, my eyes widened in astonishment.
My tail and ears shot up, quivering with excitement.
“!”
My whole body trembled as if convulsing with the pure taste of the meat that I had forgotten for eight years.
“How is it? Tasty, right?”
“It-it’s very good-!”
Could I really be allowed to eat such amazing meat?
I hesitated to eat more meat the girl offered, just watching her cautiously.
“You don’t have to be so cautious. It’s not that expensive, so eat as much as you want. Remember, you bought me a burger before.”
“Yes, yes…”
Well, okay then.
I had bought her a hamburger and made her dandelion tea, so a few more pieces of meat should be fine.
I set aside my worries for a moment and devoured the meat.
“Yum.”
I tried the meat alone, dipped it in salt, and even experimented with an unfamiliar seasoning sauce.
Naru meat was an overwhelmingly delicious meat, no matter how it was prepared.
“Gyeoul, you should eat some vegetables too.”
“Yes. Should I go pick some dandelions?”
Dandelion leaves might taste good with it.
Just as I was about to rush off to pick dandelions, the girl blocked my path.
“Um… Let’s just eat meat today.”
“Why?”
“Just, I want to focus on the meat today.”
She pushed the vegetables on the table far away.
Left were only the basic condiments like salt sauce.
Thanks to that, I could fill up entirely on meat.
Yum.
I thought as I dipped the well-cooked Naru meat in salt sauce.
It would probably taste really good dipped in ssamjang too.
“Excuse me, should I make some ssamjang?”
“Ssamjang? What’s that?”
“Eh…”
She doesn’t know what ssamjang is?
Could it be that this world doesn’t have ssamjang?
I looked up at her in surprise.
“You don’t know ssamjang…?”
“Uh, no. Is it like a seasoning from another country?”
“Cough.”
It really doesn’t exist here.
It seemed I had to introduce her to a taste from my homeland.
“Just wait a moment!”
“Okay!”
Salt, doenjang, sesame oil, garlic, etc.
I mixed a few ingredients and hurried back to her with the mixture.
“This is ssamjang, have you really never seen it before?”
“Uh, no. It’s my first time seeing it.”
Was she nervous that this unfamiliar sauce might not taste good?
Such a needless worry.
“This is really tasty.”
I handed the ssamjang to her with a triumphant expression.
Maybe now it would be okay to eat a bit more meat.