Chapter 220 – Let’s Make Tofu

“Cuengi, Dad did not eat something delicious alone. Right, Vice Chairman Theo?”

Se-jun hurriedly requested an explanation from Theo to clear Cuengi’s misunderstanding, but

“What are you talking about, meow?! Chairman Park had a happy expression after eating what I gave him, meow! And did you not also do the ‘kya’ that you only do when you eat something delicious, meow?!”

Theo, who was focused on Se-jun’s reaction to eating the golden bead. Thinking that Se-jun was trying to erase his credit, Theo explained in detail what he had seen. ‘Puhuhut. You cannot fool me, meow!’

“Huh?! That is true.”

Come to think of it, since he had consumed something with an orange soda taste… it was true he had eaten something delicious. But still! Tch! Theo, this fellow does not help even once.

‘Then it cannot be helped.’

Rub rub.

Se-jun hurriedly rubbed both palms together diligently while looking at Cuengi.

Kkueng?!

[Is Dad admitting that he ate it alone right now…]

When Cuengi asked at Se-jun’s behavior,

“Cuengi, look at this.”

As Se-jun pulled his palms apart,

Zap.

Red sparks were visible between his palms.

“Hehehe. How is it? Fascinating, right?”

Since it looked cool even to himself, Se-jun said with swagger, but

Kkueng? Kkueng?

[What is it-da-yo? Did you want to show that-da-yo?]

Cuengi reacted half-heartedly.

Kkueng!

[Cuengi can do that too-da-yo!]

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Cuengi diligently rubbed both front paws together following Se-jun. An unusual sound came from Cuengi.

‘No way. Surely not.’

As an ominous feeling arose, Se-jun tried hard to deny it. He thought that since he had the electricity-attribute talent and Cuengi did not, sparks could not be created so easily.

However,

“Huh?!”

The fur all over Cuengi’s body stood up, and

Crackle. Crackle.

Dazzling white sparks formed on Cuengi’s front paws. It was electricity of an unusual power at a glance.

Kkueng!

[Mom told me not to do this because my fur gets tangled-da-yo!]

Thump.

Cuengi spoke as if warning Se-jun, letting the electricity gathered on his front paws flow into the ground. ‘If I get caught doing this, I get smacked on the back by Mom-da-yo!’

Lick. Lick.

Cuengi diligently licked his body to tidy up the fur sticking out in all directions before getting caught by Pink Fur.

“I will help you, meow!”

Theo helped groom Cuengi from the side.

“To think the reason for getting scolded is not because it is dangerous, but because the fur

gets tangled…”

Looking at the two, Se-jun was surprised anew at Cuengi’s strength, and

Brush. Brush.

Se-jun also helped tidy up the fur by brushing Cuengi’s fur with a brush.

After a while, as Cuengi’s fur grooming was nearly finished,

Growl.

Cuengi’s belly clock rang, having consumed a lot of energy to groom himself.

And,

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Because only Dad ate something delicious, Cuengi is angry and hungry-da-yo! Cuengi wants to eat Garaetteok dipped in honey-da-yo!]

Cuengi, recalling that Se-jun had eaten something delicious alone earlier. The ferocious beast demanded Garaetteok. He thought it had passed over well, but…

“Just wait a moment!”

As Se-jun hurriedly ran toward the kitchen,

Munch.

[You have consumed Aileen’s Healthy Fist Meat Piece.]

[The effect is displayed only when you eat all the food.]

[62 pieces remaining.]

Since a lot of Garaetteok was needed to seal the ferocious beast, Se-jun made do for breakfast with the meat Aileen had given him.

Like that, Se-jun continued making Garaetteok without rest, and

Kkuhehehe. Kkueng!

[Hehehe. Garaetteok and kudzu honey was the best combination-da-yo!]

Cuengi sat with his bottom pressed against Se-jun’s bottom, dipping the Garaetteok in kudzu honey and eating it deliciously. The ferocious beast was safely sealed.

After a while,

Kkueng!

[Cuengi will go check on the medicinal herbs-da-yo!]

Cuengi, who had eaten his fill of Garaetteok, filled his snack pouch with Garaetteok and honey and left for the west forest.

“Phew. So hectic.”

Sip.

Se-jun, who had made a massive amount of Garaetteok since morning, sat down for a moment and had coffee time.

At that moment,

“That’s right, meow! I have more to give to Chairman Park, meow!”

Theo, who had been lounging beside Se-jun, jumped up. He had suddenly remembered the items he had packed for Se-jun.

“Oh! What is it?!”

“Puhuhut. Look forward to it, meow!”

Thud. Thud.

Theo began to pull out the items brought from Trikera’s workshop from his bundle one by one.

“This is? A stone pot? Huh?! There is a millstone too?”

Se-jun got excited as he saw the items Theo pulled out. He could use the stone pot for cooking rice, and should he grind the Five-Colored Beans with the millstone to make tofu?

“I have decided. Tonight’s dinner is tofu!”

Se-jun put the Five-Colored Beans in a pot and poured water to start soaking them. Thanks to the millstone Theo had brought, the dishes Se-jun could make increased.

Even after that, Theo pleased Se-jun by pulling out porcelain rice bowls and water bottles from the bundle.

“As expected of Vice Chairman Theo!”

“Puhuhut. I knew Chairman Park would like it, meow! Chairman Park, trust only me in the future too, meow!”

At Se-jun’s high praise, Theo lay on Se-jun’s lap and stuck out his belly, sending a gaze that said: ‘Stroke me quickly, meow!’

Stroke. Stroke.

“Vice Chairman Theo, are you sleeping?”

Purr.

Theo answered Se-jun’s question with a snore. With just a few strokes from Se-jun, Theo quickly fell asleep.

Stroke. Stroke.

“I should work now.”

“Meow…”

Having finished his coffee while stroking Theo’s belly, Se-jun equipped the sleeping Theo on his leg and headed toward the brewery.

And,

“Guys, let’s work.”

Ukki!

Along with the monkeys, he poured rice flour into the jars Theo had brought yesterday and began to make the base brew.

Swoosh.

“Wow. The cost of making alcohol is similar to the money spent on making Garaetteok earlier?”

Se-jun said after filling all the jars with rice flour. How much Garaetteok had he made earlier? He realized Cuengi’s phenomenal appetite anew.

“This is not the time.”

Se-jun hurriedly helped the monkeys, taking charge of one jar, pouring hot water inside, and stirring the rice dough.

Only when it became afternoon did the base brew work for the 3,000 jars finish.

***

The office of the President of the Korean Awakened Association.

-A nuclear missile will arrive in Niue in 5 minutes.

Han Tae-jun looked at the video recorded in real time by the satellite with a tense expression.

Han Tae-jun had found clues about the Three-Headed Society from the hunter phone, but thinking it was too much to handle alone, he requested help from the United States, and was able to learn of the situation in Niue with the help of the US military satellite.

However, the situation in Niue recorded by the satellite was serious. There were already no people in Niue, only locusts filled it.

In addition, an ominous altar built in the center of the island. The altar was filled with characters seen for the first time. Although he did not know what they meant, Han Tae-jun felt extreme dread the moment he saw the altar. A feeling of his instinct screaming that it was dangerous.

Fortunately, the United States also felt that the altar was unusual, launched a nuclear missile toward Niue, and was sharing the footage with Han Tae-jun.

When 5 minutes passed, a nuclear missile dropped on Niue, creating a large mushroom cloud.

Just when he thought everything was finished like that,

“Huh?! What is that?”

Han Tae-jun discovered a giant silhouette inside the mushroom cloud.

***

Grind. Grind.

Kkueng! Kkueng?

[Cuengi is back-da-yo! Dad, what is that-da-yo?]

Cuengi, who returned early after taking care of the medicinal herbs, asked while looking at Se-jun turning the millstone.

“Are you back, Cuengi? I am grinding beans right now to make tofu.”

Kkueng? Kkueng?

[What is tofu-da-yo? Is it delicious-da-yo?]

“Yes. It is extremely delicious.”

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Exciting-da-yo! Cuengi will help-da-yo!]

At Se-jun’s words, Cuengi rolled up his sleeves.

“Then Cuengi, squeeze this.”

Se-jun had Cuengi squeeze out the moisture from the beans ground by the millstone.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Understood-da-yo! Cuengi can do it well-da-yo!]

Cuengi, who answered confidently. ‘Yes. I also do not doubt it.’

Se-jun focused on grinding the millstone with relief.

Grinding the beans like that,

“Good.”

Se-jun put the soy milk Cuengi squeezed into a pot and began to make tofu.

But

“Huh?! Why is it not solidifying?”

Se-jun was flustered as he looked at the soy milk that did not solidify. He tried this method and that, but tofu was not created.

Kkueng!

[Dad, Cuengi is hungry-da-yo!]

When food was not produced even after working hard, Cuengi’s expression stiffened.

“Let’s eat this for now.”

Se-jun spoke as he looked at the massive amount of okara Cuengi had squeezed out. He planned to make okara stew. Fortunately, there was salted shrimp made of freshwater shrimp.

Se-jun stir-fried okara with locust meat and green onions, added water, and seasoned it with salted shrimp, quickly completing the okara stew.

[You have achieved the accomplishment of making the savory Five-Colored Okara Stew for the first time in the tower.]

[The recipe for Savory Five-Colored Okara Stew is registered in Cooking Lv. 7.]

[The proficiency of Cooking Lv. 7 increases slightly.]

The achievement message that appeared at the same time.

“Guys, eat!”

Se-jun first called the animals to distribute the food and checked the dish.

[Savory Five-Colored Okara Stew]

It is a stew made with okara, which was obtained by grinding Five-Colored Beans and removing moisture, locust meat, and green onions, seasoned with salted shrimp.

By being squeezed tightly with strong power, the potential of the Five-Colored Beans is displayed.

Upon consumption, one of the stats among Strength, Stamina, Agility, and Magic Power increases additionally by 10% for 10 minutes.

Cook: Tower Farmer Park Se-jun

Shelf Life: 30 days

Grade: B

“Oh!”

The options were amazing. It seemed the effects of the Strength-Boosting Yellow Bean and Stamina-Strengthening Red Bean harvested from the Five-Colored Beans were partially projected into the dish.

Kkueng!

[It is savory-da-yo! It is delicious-da-yo!]

Fortunately, Cuengi was also satisfied with the okara stew.

After eating dinner deliciously like that,

“But why is the tofu not solidifying?”

While Se-jun was contemplating the reason why the tofu did not solidify,

Kkuhehehe. Kkueng!

[Hehehe. Cuengi’s grandmother is starting to cook-da-yo!]

Cuengi sat beside Se-jun and watched Kim Mi-ran cooking through the bronze mirror.

“Ah! Cuengi, that is tofu.”

Se-jun spoke, looking at the tofu put in the soybean paste stew.

Kkueng? Kkueng!

[Is that tofu-da-yo? It is extremely white-da-yo!]

The appearance of the tofu, plump like pudding.

Squeeze.

Cuengi, excited by the delicious-looking visual, held the handle of the bronze mirror tightly.

At that moment,

-Hum-hum-hum.

“Huh?!”

From beyond the mirror, Kim Mi-ran’s humming sound began to be heard.

“Mom!”

Se-jun shouted at his mother’s voice, which he was hearing after a long time.

-Huh?! Where is Se-jun’s voice coming from?

Kim Mi-ran also looked around, wondering if she had heard Se-jun’s voice.

And,

-Kyaak!

She screamed while looking at the mirror. It was because Se-jun and Cuengi were visible in the mirror in the living room.

-So… So cute.

“M… Mom, calm down.”

Just as Se-jun had expected, Kim Mi-ran lost her mind upon seeing the cute Cuengi.

-How can I calm down?! If you had such a cute baby, you should have come to Mom quickly.

At that moment,

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Hello, Cuengi’s grandmother-da-yo! Cuengi is Dad’s son, Cuengi-da-yo!]

Cuengi, realizing that he was visible to Kim Mi-ran, stood up in a hurry and bowed 90 degrees as he had learned from Se-jun.

-Oh my! Our baby is so well-behaved…

As expected, his mother clutched her chest at Cuengi’s deep bow.

“Mom, you are doing well, right? There is nothing uncomfortable?”

-Yes! Doing well. Since they said there is no more danger now, Dad went to work and Se-dol went to school. They will be back in a bit. How are you doing?

“I am doing well too.”

While they were talking like that,

Crack.

Cracks began to form on the bronze mirror. It was because a load had been placed on it. It seemed it would not last long.

At that moment,

Kkueng!

[Dad, you must ask how to make tofu-da-yo!]

Cuengi shouted.

“Mom, I have something I’m curious about.”

-Yes. Tell me.

“I made tofu, but why is the tofu not solidifying?”

Se-jun explained the process by which he had made the tofu.

-Of course it doesn’t solidify if you don’t put anything in. You have to use nigari. If there is no nigari, vinegar and salt…

Shatter!

Fortunately, just when he had heard almost all of Kim Mi-ran’s words, the bronze mirror completely shattered.

“Aileen, is this perhaps…”

When Se-jun asked Aileen if it was possible to repair the broken bronze mirror, she said it was.

“Phew. What a relief. Then I will count on you.”

[The tower administrator tells you to leave it to her.]

Having entrusted the repair of the bronze mirror to Aileen like that,

“Good! Let’s make tofu!”

Se-jun began to make tofu as he had learned from Kim Mi-ran, and proper tofu was completed.

Kkueng!

[It is delicious-da-yo! Cuengi’s grandmother is the best-da-yo!]

Cuengi’s desire to meet Kim Mi-ran grew stronger.