episode_0034

The sizzling sound of oil tantalizes the ears.

Gradually, the billboard displayed the number on my ticket.

I rose following that cheerful sound.

She stared intently with her chin propped up.

Bitter Americano in one of her hands.

Sipping the black coffee like it was her own thoughts, she peered down at the plate I brought.

“How long has it been since we dined out?”

I adjusted my appetite and picked up the fork and knife.

Then, aligning the fork and knife meticulously, I sliced the meat.

“Not a fan of greasy stuff, huh,” I remarked cynically, noticing she didn’t seem to fancy the donkatsu much.

“It’s odd; there hasn’t been anyone around me who dislikes donkatsu.”

I savored a piece of meat on one cheek.

Observing my action, the killer beside me chuckled lightly.

“Not even a guy like you…”

She cynically mocked me.

Perhaps she hadn’t tasted delicious donkatsu in her life.

I decided to show her the “world of taste.”

Cooking is similar to cocktails.

Even with the same ingredients, the taste varies greatly depending on how you eat it.

Especially with donkatsu.

I pierced the second piece from the edge with my fork.

The crispy outer layer was too crunchy, while the center was tender.

In my experience, this piece was the most delicious.

Now, I lightly drizzle demi-glace sauce over this piece with a spoon.

If you dunk the sauce recklessly, it becomes too salty, masking the true flavor of the meat.

Each of these meticulous touches determines the taste.

And when you pick up some salad with your chopsticks and place it on top of the meat…

Rating: ★★★☆ (Epic)

Effect: Delicious. Feeling good when it tastes good.

Information: The combination of proper meat, fried coating, sauce, and vegetables is impressive.

“Here, try it.”

I confidently offer her a forkful.

To which she responds quizzically, “Why put so much effort into wrapping just one donkatsu?”

She looks amusingly ridiculous poking at a small piece of meat.

“Ah, if you haven’t tried it, hold your tongue…”

I look at her reassuringly.

Then I push the fork towards her lips.

She seems taken aback, probably thinking I’m going to feed her directly.

As expected of a seasoned killer, she hit the mark precisely.

She squints her eyes and makes a sound like an airplane drawing a curve.

At that sound, she quickly turns her head.

“If you don’t eat quickly, the salad on top will fall off.”

I say as if a disaster alarm sounded on the plane.

Soon enough, the killer sighs deeply.

She quietly surveys her surroundings.

Though there were other customers in the restaurant, none sat near us.

Thanks to that, the killer could gaze at me undisturbed once again.

And hesitantly opens her mouth.

The donkatsu safely lands on her lips.

Gradually, the crispy sound starts coming from her mouth.

I observe her closely.

With narrowed eyes, I ask eagerly, “How is it? Tasty, right?”

I keep asking out of curiosity about the killer’s reaction.

This method was often used by me in the military; it couldn’t taste bad.

The enduring tradition of being able to enjoy tasteless military donkatsu.

With hopeful eyes, I clench both hands tightly.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

The killer inside glances down at the girl smiling bashfully at herself.

Then, she casually brushes off the crumbs from her lips with her hand.

“…”

Perhaps due to that sensation, my face flushed.

Unconsciously, my body shrank for a moment thanks to her fingers that I inadvertently allowed.

“Did you act like this with Anna too?”

“W-What are you talking about… I only met her once.”

I was taken aback by her sensual face and sudden question.

Thanks to that, I instinctively ended up telling a lie.

No need to mention the wanted criminal, even if you’re determined.

Moreover, Jucksah has experience losing a teammate, so their relationship is likely strained.

“Is that so.”

She listened to my response and then picked up her coffee again.

And she emptied the coffee she had barely touched.

“—.”

The plate was clean.

Before, even if I ate a whole piece, I still felt empty, but now, just a bite makes me full.

Economically speaking, it seems like her body is mine.

Of course, only in an economic sense.

I wipe my lips with a tissue and observe Jucksah’s reaction.

She patiently waited while I ate.

Then, as if bored, she suddenly asked me a question.

“But how old are you?”

“Why suddenly ask about my age…”

“It seemed like you were trying to be respectful. When we first met.”

Jucksah looks down at me with her arms crossed.

I almost blurt out twenty-eight reflexively but stop myself.

That was my age when I was a man before I died.

“T-Twenty-one…”

“I see.”

Jucksah chuckles upon hearing my age.

Turns out, she was twenty-five.

A significant four-year difference.

Although I hadn’t paid much attention to Jucksah’s age difference, it’s quite substantial.

“From now on, call me ‘Unni’.”

Jucksah messes with my bangs.

Thanks to her, my freshly styled short hair gets messed up.

“Why should I!”

I exclaimed in confusion.

Calling her “Unni,” I’ve never used such words in my life.

Besides, considering our past lives, Jucksah and I are the same age.

She laughs lightly upon hearing my protest.

Without a word, she stands up and pays for the meal with her card.

I tried to refuse, but Jucksah insists with a gesture.

“Enough. I have to go fix the shop tomorrow, think of it as compensation for protecting me.”

“That’s because you got into trouble trying to protect me…”

She didn’t even acknowledge my words.

She just waved her hand and left for the first floor alone.

As if she didn’t want to hear any thanks.

I stared at her back intently.

And I think to myself.

Maybe she’s a better person than she appears to be.

Like a tonkatsu.

But comparing her to tonkatsu seems too high-class.

After Jucksah’s silhouette disappears, I leisurely head towards the food section.

The first thing that catches my eye is onions.

Since they need to be stored for a long time, the ones with thick skins are probably better.

Muttering to myself, I pick out an onion bag.

Suddenly, I feel a strange gaze.

I sneak a glance in the direction of the gaze.

There stood a woman who had been standing in front of the onions all day before I arrived at the store.

A common cap and a black mask.

Work pants and a fleece on her long legs.

She looked like a celebrity avoiding public attention to shop.

With that kind of posture, could she be a model?

She was staring at the onions intently, as if they were treasures.

I try not to pay attention to her and continue selecting onions.

Pointy ones are male onions.

Small ones with firm tips are female onions.

Usually, female onions are sweeter and tastier.

I reach out to grab an onion bag.

Suddenly, another hand intrudes into the same bag.

It’s the woman standing next to me.

She starts snatching onions from me and putting them in her basket.

What the…

In no time, her basket is piled high with onions.

She effortlessly carries the weight with one hand.

Before she can snatch more, I quickly grab a bag of onions and move away.

Even as I leave, I can feel her gaze on my back.

She’s really strange.

Having escaped to another aisle, I go to buy some eggs.

“Eggs cost 20,000 won per pack…”

Due to the monster incident, the distribution network was in shambles, and now the price of eggs had skyrocketed.

Among these, I had to choose the cheapest and most delicious one…

I pondered deeply with my hand on my lips.

“…?”

But once again, I felt a familiar gaze.

She’s an onion enthusiast.

Strange.

I’m sure I went ahead of her, so how did she arrive at the shelf before me?

I cleared my throat and picked out some eggs.

And just like that, the woman’s antics began again.

She swiftly swept up the eggs of the brand I chose.

Before long, her hands were filled only with eggs and onions.

It seemed like she wanted to buy everything I picked out.

Her actions subtly felt cute to me.

Like a girl imitating an adult.

Of course, she was much taller than me…

Should I confirm it once?

Whether she really wants to buy everything I buy.

Once I made up my mind, I acted immediately.

I briskly passed by the corner.

And slipped into the cooking oil section.

“As expected…!”

The woman followed the path I took.

Before she arrived, I quickly grabbed olive oil.

And hid the brand among the onions.

I was curious about how she would react when I came out like this.

As expected, she looked flustered.

But soon caught sight of the olives in my basket.

“…”

Eventually, the woman picked up olive oil that looked similar to mine.

But it wasn’t for cooking.

It was salad dressing with a purple label.

If she cooks with that, all the vegetables will burn.

I approach her to inform her of this fact.

But she seems to want to keep her distance and moves away as I get closer.

It’s like not wanting contact but being curious about food like observing a wild animal.

How should I explain in this situation…

I rack my brain.

And there’s only one answer.

“Phew, that was close.”

Inform her through muttering to myself.

I struggle with a despairing performance, mumbling.

“The labels are similar, so I almost bought it for salads-.”

The woman, listening to my clumsy muttering, glances down at her chosen bottle.

“If you use it for salads, everything will burn- thankfully!”

Upon my awkward muttering, the woman quickly switches the olive oil.

I find her actions so amusing that I turn my head.

And chuckle to myself like a madman.

To the point where tears welled up under my eyes.

By the way, what could she possibly be planning to do with so many onions and eggs?

With that amount, the only dish she could make is fried rice.