SWNOVELXO Chapter 364
“The Adventurer Guild is bustling most of the time.”
This is almost a universally accepted truth in the city of Astram, known for its adventurers.
However, today, the Adventurer Guild was bustling for a different reason right from lunchtime.
Normally, it would be lively with requests and parties seeking adventurers, but today the commotion was caused by an unexpected dumpling party.
Why would there be a party featuring exotic dumplings, of all things, at the Adventurer Guild, rather than a restaurant, especially when it’s not even a local dish from Astram?
“So, what’s the occasion today? Suddenly calling all my acquaintances… Ah, this is delicious.”
Yuri, who found herself invited to the meal without knowing why, munched on a dumpling, looking puzzled.
Engaging in conversation while eating was something that would have raised eyebrows at her noble home, the Blossom Count’s family. They sent her to the academy to learn proper etiquette and become a proper lady, but here she was, suddenly aspiring to be an adventurer and acting rougher by the day.
Not only was she chatting with food in her mouth, but she was also holding one of each type of dumpling in both hands. It was a miracle her family had no idea about this sight!
“Well, it’s not new that Kurt has big hands… Ah, this is really good.”
Wendy, who responded to Yuri’s question with a somewhat unhelpful answer, picked up a dumpling that Yuri had recommended as tasty.
Wendy was the receptionist who handled Kurt’s registration as an adventurer, and after that, she developed a rapport with him. After trying one of his dishes, she became completely hooked on his cooking.
Normally, her work as a receptionist kept her busy, but today she was off, so she felt free to accept Kurt’s invitation and enjoy his cooking.
Surprisingly, she had also grown close with Yuri, bonding over various pieces of advice Yuri sought regarding the qualifications and skills needed to become an adventurer.
The two of them chose steamed dumplings, perfectly crafted in a steamer woven from dried bamboo.
These dumplings, steamed without any oil, were soft and moist, embodying the original essence of dumplings.
The filling was a simple meat dumpling made of finely chopped meat and chives. While they didn’t have the strong personalities of kimchi or shrimp dumplings, they stayed true to their basics. The exquisite melding with the steaming process created an irresistible allure that made one forget how many they had eaten once they started.
Moreover, these dumplings were not just any steam; they were steamed in a bamboo steamer, lending a subtle bamboo fragrance that enhanced their luxurious and rich flavors. There was no escape from the enchantment of those dumplings for the two of them.
In fact, while they engaged in various conversations and munched on dumplings, they were blissfully unaware that they had consumed more than one serving.
“Hey, mister. Is that skull helmet for real?”
“Ha! This little one has a good eye. Yes, it’s made from a basilisk skull.”
“Wow… amazing…”
“Lakia, show us your magic again! Just once more!”
“It’s not magic; it’s witchcraft…”
Meanwhile, on another side, Lakia and Kirsh were having a meal with Jungwoo and Elsee.
Surprisingly, the two got along well with Jungwoo and Elsee. This was largely due to Kirsh’s unexpected fondness for children and Jungwoo’s sociable nature, free from any prejudices against lizardmen.
The four were enjoying deep-fried dumplings, crispy and fried whole—sweetened with fresh lard, not just any ordinary oil.
Even when fried in regular oil, dumplings are delicious, but fried in fresh lard made the dough absorb a rich, meaty aroma that made one think meat had been mixed in.
And the crispy coating crackled delightfully as one bit into it, offering a refreshing crunch unheard of in steamed dumplings, presenting a petite catharsis.
While the fried crust was oily and crisp, the interior retained enough moisture that it could still be described as juicy, even if it wasn’t as moist as the steamed dumplings.
With the fried exterior that was immensely crispy and the succulent filling keeping moisture, this was the very definition of “crispy outside, juicy inside.”
Of course, with such rich and oily flavor, fried dumplings have the downside of becoming quickly overwhelming, but for two kids at their growing age and two lizardmen who enjoyed food for its texture rather than taste, it didn’t seem much of a problem.
“So, when casting fire magic, unlike when using other elemental spells, you should…”
“But I have to drink to use magic, and that locks the method of refining mana…”
Serena and Liche debated magic with each other. Considering their respective skill levels, it was more of Liche giving one-sided advice to Serena, but they shared many conversations about magic as the only spell casters in Kurt’s and Arisa’s parties.
As they seriously discussed magic while eating dumplings, they were enjoying fried dumplings.
Fried dumplings were the first variation in the lineage of dumplings stemming from steamed dumplings and had surpassed the original to become the crown jewel of dumplings.
The rich flavors of the crispy, oily dumpling skin and the stimulating taste of the pepper in the filling demonstrated just why fried dumplings had won the hearts of so many.
Like typical dishes in Chinese cuisine, these were fried to a perfect crisp, radiating a regal presence, especially the ends of the dumpling skin that were so delicious they could easily be collected as a snack on their own.
Although they weren’t as heavy in taste versus texture as fried dumplings, the perfect balance of flavors meant they were still intense yet less overwhelming compared to fried dumplings.
Serena would eat fried dumplings until she felt it was too oily, followed by a big gulp of chilled beer to reset her palate, creating an infinite loop of alternating scorching-hot fried dumplings with ice-cold beer.
Liche didn’t drink beer like Serena but refreshed her palate with a simple salad she made.
While they each battled the richness of the fried dumplings, they diligently maneuvered their forks between bites of conversation.
“So, Arisa can eat meat, but you also quite like vegetables?”
“Eh… I’m not really fond of vegetables. What on earth do people eat them for? Meat is the best, right?”
“Is that… strange?”
“No, not at all. Just ignore Mari. Back home, every winter, I’d seek warm places and hunt various vegetable trents invading our village, cooking stew with the fresh veggies I gathered from them.”
“Wow! Cooking with fresh veggies collected from trents sounds delicious just hearing about it.”
“Haha! If you ever come to my hometown, I’ll make sure to treat you to tomato stew made from trents’ tomatoes.”
And last, the trio consisted of Mari, Karina, and Arisa.
Mari and Arisa were originally tied to Kurt’s party, so they usually hung out together, but today they welcomed Karina into the mix.
Karina’s aura of endless positivity complemented Arisa well, as the two bonded surprisingly over their shared topic of vegetarianism.
Having traded her carnivore ways after indulging in Kurt’s meat dishes, Mari now seemed like she was leaning towards picking at her veggies. In contrast, Karina, who has always enjoyed vegetable stews like tomato stew back home, and was a dwarf with a strong inclination towards carnivorous tendencies, shared some common ground with Arisa.
The dumplings they chose were bibim-mandu, which stood out even in the world of dumpling variations.
Fresh vegetable salad mixed with a zesty and spicy dressing made of vinegar and gochujang, a rebellious creation in the kingdom of dumplings.
Unlike traditional dumplings, which focus on variations in wrapper, filling, or cooking methods, this dish was something else entirely, using already cooked dumplings as ingredients for a second dish.
And turning the notion that it had to be enjoyed warm on its head, the combination with cool salad presented a surprisingly pleasant experience despite the lukewarm dumplings.
How about that zesty and spicy dressing? If traditional steamed, fried, or pan-fried dumplings were like a boxing match following the rules, then the rich taste of fried dumplings refused to follow those rules—revealing an undeterred level of creativity!
The intense crunchiness of the fresh veggies complemented the dumplings so well that they, quite literally, wiped any calorie guilt away, embodying a flavor psychopath.
Mari, Karina, and Arisa blissfully enjoyed their bibim-mandu, all while trying their best not to think about its calories.
Besides, they reassured themselves that since there were so many veggies, it should be fine.
Everyone invited to the meal bonded over the type of dumplings they loved.
And as I, the one who had spearheaded today’s cuisine and invited everyone, quietly observed them, it felt strange yet quite natural to see them all gathered, sharing food and chatting together—a group that typically wouldn’t gather.
Initially, I had made your average dumplings because I was in a good mood due to some pleasant dreams, and when I invited everyone, I had no wild ideas in mind.
However, seeing so many people who I knew, collecting in one spot made an indescribable feeling emerge in me.
At the center of it all was the food I had prepared.
Once, I thought I would forever be an outsider in this world, but I have come to accept it.
And in turn, this world accepted me as well.
Now, as a resident of this world, the food I made brought people together, creating connections among them…
Watching people savor my cooking always filled me with satisfaction, but the meal today seemed to offer me an even deeper sense of fulfillment.
Was it simply because I made a larger batch today, or was it for another reason? Perhaps it didn’t really matter.
“Today just feels like something good is about to happen.”
“Speaking of which, it’s a pity Daria and Aila aren’t here.”
“Ah…”
“That means…”
My offhand comment made the atmosphere sink in an instant.
Arisa’s face darkened momentarily while Mari shot me a concerned glance.
Oh no.
“I put my foot in my mouth again.”
“Ah, no, your words aren’t wrong, Kurt.”
“It’s true; it would’ve been nice if those two were with us today…”
Daria and Aila had left the Holy Kingdom to report their encounter with the Imperial Master alongside the alchemist Seiri.
They were never a formal party, but even so, we had inadvertently grown quite fond of one another, transforming what was once an unpleasant first meeting into a pleasant memory in hindsight.
“Well, it’s not like we can’t meet again. We could take on a long-distance quest to the Holy Kingdom sometime!”
“Yeah, right! If they don’t come to us, we can go to them.”
Fortunately, thanks to Mari’s words, the atmosphere returned to its original cheerful state.
In fact, perhaps they liked the idea of visiting the Holy Kingdom directly; they soon started exchanging serious ideas about potential long-distance quests.
“That’s a great idea! We should sort out the schedule before taking long-distance requests.”
“When we visit the Holy Kingdom, let’s show them the dumplings they missed today.”
“Absolutely! Then I’ll practice making the dumplings extra pretty so I can impress them next time!”
“That sounds great!”
This time, we spontaneously tossed around dumpling variations, but I found myself wanting to experiment with the filling next time. Maybe I should start by making kimchi dumplings.
With each positive suggestion for taking on a long-distance request to the Holy Kingdom, the atmosphere began to heat up.
Bang!
“Haah… Hah…”
A woman barged in through the Adventurer Guild’s doors, out of breath.
“You….”
The woman’s condition was alarming.
This wasn’t just someone who had run in a hurry—the amount of sweat soaking her clothes, her hair sticking to her face in a wild mess, the dirt caking her sweaty features; it all painted a picture of someone who had been through turmoil.
Furthermore, the armor she wore was dented and damaged, and her body was covered in both large and small wounds, stained with dry blood.
She looked as if she had been attacked.
“Please… help Daria… Daria… she…”
Aila, looking directly at me, pleaded for assistance but then collapsed.