37
Since the inn was located in a rural area with poor plumbing, they had to use the well water they had prepared in advance. As Yeon Ji-ho rinsed the Galus meat, the original light pink flesh returned.
He neatly placed it into the pot that had been filled with an appropriate amount of water over the stove. However, since he was not familiar with using the stove, he looked at Set, who immediately came over.
“For the fire, use this.”
Set picked up two flint stones that were next to the stove and rubbed them together lightly. Sparks flew, and the fire transferred to the stove.
As Yeon Ji-ho busily moved around, the kitchen soon began to fill with a delicious aroma along with the steam. Isquis, clutching his growling stomach, swallowed hard and asked,
“What’s this… what’s it called?”
“Oh, it’s steamed chicken.”
“Steamed chicken?”
“I thought I could make it with the seasonings I have. Plus, there’s enough for all of us to eat.”
The Galus was larger than Yeon Ji-ho had anticipated. With this size, Set, Apophis, and Isquis, who all had hearty appetites, would surely have enough to eat.
Just as he was about to pour the boiling water again, Yeon Ji-ho lifted the pot. The pot was so heavy that Yeon Ji-ho, whose legs were not in good shape, wobbled, and Isquis helped him.
As the second pot of water began to boil, Yeon Ji-ho rummaged through his bag that he had set down in one corner of the kitchen. After adding the necessary seasonings, from sugar to soy sauce, the mixture took on a rather appealing color.
“Now, here’s the most important thing.”
“The most important thing?”
Set, who had already finished preparing the vegetables, stood next to Isquis, watching Yeon Ji-ho’s actions. Curious, Yeon Ji-ho smiled and reached deep into his bag.
When he pulled his hand out again, he was holding garlic that he had brought in a ziplock bag. He poured all the garlic from the ziplock bag onto the cutting board.
“This much garlic is the amount for a Korean.”
“I don’t know what this is, but does it really go in that much…?”
Isquis gaped at the heap of garlic piled on the cutting board. Meanwhile, Set was now quite accustomed to the task and was using a Chinese cleaver to crush the garlic.
While it was fine to use the local vegetables and ingredients, garlic was not one of them. Yeon Ji-ho poured in the garlic without holding back.
After that, the bag that had been full when he first arrived here became quite empty. Still, he didn’t feel it was a waste. Yeon Ji-ho slowly stirred the pot that had begun to boil vigorously with a ladle.
“Oh, but what about Apophis?”
“Apophis went outside for a bit because he had something to do. He’ll be back soon.”
When Isquis saw the food Yeon Ji-ho had made, he openly drooled, while Apophis pretended not to be interested, swallowing his saliva and preparing the utensils.
As the cooking was nearing completion and Apophis was still nowhere to be seen, Yeon Ji-ho felt a sense of emptiness. He thought for a moment and then said to Isquis and Set,
“Shall we take the pot outside? Since we made it, we can share it with the innkeeper too.”
“I’ll carry the pot!”
As soon as Isquis heard that the cooking was done, he rushed towards the pot. Then he wrapped the handle with an old cloth and lifted it high. At the same time, his black wings flapped and he flew out the window.
As a result, black feathers fell like rain in the kitchen. Set hurriedly brushed off a few dusty feathers that were about to stick to Yeon Ji-ho.
“…There’s no need to indulge Isquis’s tantrums, Ji-ho.”
“Hmm, is that so? I’ve never thought of it as a tantrum. How old is Isquis?”
“Sixteen.”
At that, Yeon Ji-ho covered his mouth. He had assumed that Isquis, being much taller than him, was an adult, but he was only sixteen. It made a bit more sense why he was always hungry.
“At sixteen… he can still throw tantrums.”
“The beasts of Gorgon are not bound by age. Even at just sixteen, he has been to countless battlefields.”
Hearing that, Yeon Ji-ho smiled bitterly. Set himself had become accustomed to battle, having witnessed someone die as soon as he turned ten, so it was understandable that he might not appreciate Isquis’s childish behavior.
However, to Yeon Ji-ho, both of them seemed pitiable. If they had been born in Korea… they might have complained about not wanting to go to school or not liking the school lunch that day.
“Really, Ji-ho. There’s no need to look at him so pitifully.”
On the other hand, Set felt uncomfortable seeing Yeon Ji-ho pity Isquis. It was amusing that he was even feeling jealous of Isquis, but it was unavoidable.
At that moment, a loud noise erupted from the direction Isquis had gone with the pot.
“Ugh!”
“Isquis, fold your wings!”
The voice belonged not only to Isquis but also to Apophis. When Yeon Ji-ho’s eyes met Set’s, he hurriedly went outside.
In the backyard of the inn, there was a rough wooden table and chairs set up in a wide open space, where three people could be seen. One was Isquis, who had half-folded his wings, another was Apophis, who stood in front of him, and the last was…
“Shango.”
Set whispered the name of the man softly. The black man, who was holding an axe high in the air, turned around.
The man was literally pitch black. Yeon Ji-ho, who had grown up as a native Korean in a rural area, had never had the chance to see a black person up close, and the one called Shango had the same skin color as the black people Yeon Ji-ho had read about in novels.
This pitch-black man was someone Yeon Ji-ho had read about in stories. He was the only black person born in the Asterra Empire, where only white and yellow people were born.
“…Your Excellency.”
As soon as Shango spotted Set, he threw down the axe and knelt in place. Unlike Apophis and Isquis, who treated Set relatively casually, his demeanor was filled with unconditional reverence and respect.
“…I believed you would return…”
Shango was taller than Isquis and seemed to be at eye level with Set. However, his dark, muscular build made him appear even more intimidating.
“Yeah. I’ve survived without dying.”
“…”
Shango did not respond carelessly to Set’s words. Unlike Apophis and Isquis, who treated Set with relative ease, he remained silent, bowing his head as he knelt there.
“Get up.”
“Yes.”
“Apophis, is the meal ready?”
Set slowly approached the table, holding onto Yeon Ji-ho’s waist. He wanted to carry him since his legs were injured, but since Yeon Ji-ho was so shy, he could only manage to hold his waist.
“It’s ready… Damn it, Isquis! Your feathers fell into the pot!”
“That crazy bear tried to tear my wings off as soon as he saw me!”
Shango, who was getting up from his seat, frowned at Isquis’s loud voice. Then he spoke softly.
“I told you not to take them out in front of me.”
“Ugh! Does it make sense to hate everything just because it’s black?! You’re the blackest one here!”
Ah.
Seeing the two bickering reminded Yeon Ji-ho of something. The completely black Shango had a pathological hatred for the color black, which was why he would try to tear off Isquis’s wings every time he saw them.
Still, it was strange that they would immediately start fighting over wings when they hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
Yeon Ji-ho carefully took a seat next to Set, across from Shango. He quietly observed Shango’s reactions.
“…”
“…Huh.”
He had only intended to glance, but Shango was staring intently at Yeon Ji-ho, who was sitting in front of him. Suddenly making eye contact, Yeon Ji-ho’s eyes widened.
Without saying a word, Shango simply gazed at Yeon Ji-ho.
Then Yeon Ji-ho realized that what Shango was looking at was not exactly ‘him’ but rather his ‘black hair’… Could it be that he wanted to pluck his hair like Isquis’s wings?
“Shango. Don’t stare at him carelessly.”
“…”
“…Shango.”
If there was anyone among the beasts of Gorgon who was most submissive to Set, it was Shango. Born with the rare black skin, he had once lived a slave-like life, locked behind bars in his childhood, and since then, he had unconditionally obeyed Set as his master.
However, even at Set’s command to look away, Shango could not take his eyes off Yeon Ji-ho. Just as Set was about to frown and change Yeon Ji-ho’s seat,
“…He’s beautiful.”
A small voice, almost a whisper, came from Shango. Yeon Ji-ho, who was about to stand up, accidentally made eye contact with Shango again.
“What?”
“Of all the dark things I’ve encountered… the most…”
He thought Shango was glaring at him, but that wasn’t the case. Shango was simply staring blankly. Perhaps he was looking at Yeon Ji-ho’s black hair and black eyes.
“Ah! Your Excellency, the table is going to collapse!”
“Your Excellency, Your Excellency! Please calm down! Shango didn’t mean it like that… Ugh!”
At the same time, Set jumped up from his seat. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and aimed it at Shango’s neck. Even amidst the chaos, Shango kept repeating,
“It’s just… like the night sky…”
The darkest hand of Gorgon.
It was said that his black skin was soaked in too much blood, which had changed it. He sometimes hated his own color so much that he would break mirrors.
Yet amusingly, he fell in love with Yeon Ji-ho’s black hair, which resembled the night sky. It was a pity.
