Dark Fantasy Guide for the Summoner - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 40.
Chef Haitan III
“When you say animal, you mean a pet, yes?”
Haitan’s tone shifted.
That alone was enough to set off alarm bells.
I hadn’t stepped on a mine, exactly—but I was tap-dancing across a minefield.
“Guest. Surely you’re not thinking of feeding my food to a pet.”
The address had demoted from “Master” to “Guest.” The air itself seemed to have chilled, and given this man’s skills and nature, it wasn’t mere imagination.
…….
My nerve faltered, but it was far too late to back down now. I forced my clamped mouth open.
“Is that not allowed?”
“……Guest, your etiquette is severely lacking.”
There it was. That obsession with etiquette.
Haitan stood motionless for a moment—as though steadying his breath, or perhaps composing himself.
He exhaled a trembling breath, then spoke from behind a mask of perfect blankness.
“……I genuinely cannot fathom it. Why are you people so disrespectful? Washing one’s hands before a meal. Refraining from unnecessary noise during dinner. Offering a word of respect to the chef after finishing. These are basic courtesies, are they not? Why can no one grasp something so elementary?”
“Do you mean bringing an animal into a restaurant violates etiquette?”
“Of course it does.”
Well, ordinarily, yes—that’s true.
But this place isn’t ordinary. Since entering this wretched Game, one truth has become abundantly clear to me……
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
In other words: sophistry begets sophistry.
“What criteria do you use to distinguish a guest from an animal?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When I say animal, I don’t mean a pet in the conventional sense. That individual and I stand as equals. They possess intellect, dignity, and propriety of their own. They’re perfectly capable of evaluating your cooking with accuracy.”
“That’s……”
Haitan’s eyes widened slightly as he struck at the heart of the matter.
“You’re speaking of a Demonic Beast, aren’t you?”
I answered with silence.
……Hmm.
I could sense Haitan wrestling with the thought. The frozen air seemed to thaw ever so slightly.
After a moment, he spoke.
“A true epicure must be well-versed.”
……
“Think about it—even after tasting food, if the limit of their vocabulary is ‘delicious,’ ‘sweet,’ ‘a bit salty’……if that’s all they can muster, what’s the point? None. Absolutely none. The awe felt upon eating, the harmony that unfolds across the tongue, the vivid texture and the inner transformation it awakens……one must possess the cultivation to articulate all of it.”
Haitan spoke with passionate intensity, yet absolute sincerity.
“Rich vocabulary itself carries weight in speech. That weight becomes persuasiveness. Words from such a mouth—even harsh criticism—compel the chef to accept them. Yes, to receive the evaluation in full. Through that process, a chef ascends to greater heights.”
It’s difficult to understand the ramblings of a madman.
I feigned attentive listening as Haitan spiraled on, but grasping his true intent wasn’t easy.
Mercifully, he reached the point.
“I understand what you’re saying. In fact, I’ve served various dishes to Demonic Beasts before—entities with sufficient intellectual capacity. However—”
Haitan exhaled and shook his head.
“The responses I received amounted to ‘delicious,’ ‘I’m full,’ ‘Any more?’ Nothing more. Regrettably, for them, food is merely a means to sate hunger.”
……
“Though their intellect rivals humanity, as you said, one cannot equate them with people. Those who haven’t learned simply cannot articulate inner wonder through language.”
He was hedging, but the essence was clear.
Can a Demonic Beast truly render judgment equal to a human’s?
“It’s possible.”
Yes. Entirely possible.
Not other Demonic Beasts—but the one I’m about to summon.
That creature occupies a rank akin to nobility among its kind.
It can speak, possesses superior bloodline, and likely has its own sense of propriety. Its manner of speech is unnecessarily archaic.
Hmm.
Haitan fell silent.
A moment of deliberation……I waited, concealing my impatience, like a condemned prisoner awaiting the executioner’s verdict.
And then—
“If you insist on it.”
Haitan accepted my proposal with reluctant acquiescence.
“But tell me—what species is this Demonic Beast guest of yours?”
“A lizard.”
“A lizard…. So it’s a lizard.”
Haitan, who had paused to consider for a moment, spoke to me.
“……Then, if I may, sir, would you entrust the selection of the menu to me?”
In modern terms, that would be omakase, wouldn’t it?
Since it wasn’t going into my mouth anyway, and looking at a menu was inconvenient, I nodded my head.
“Thank you for your consideration. I shall prepare it at once, so please wait just a moment.”
The madman left the hall. His retreating figure disappearing into the kitchen seemed somehow a bit exhilarated, if I had to say.
‘……That lunatic.’
I sighed and poured cold water into my mouth.
* * *
Just as I sensed the food was about to arrive, I summoned Alto from my Sanctuary.
Whoosh.
His characteristic ashen flames flickered, and from within them the lizard’s face emerged.
His bright yellow eyes turned toward me, and then that gruff voice came tumbling out.
“What?”
Every time we met, I was struck by how little this creature regarded me as his master.
“You complained about the food last time, didn’t you?”
“So what?”
“You said it yourself. That next time I’d treat you to a proper meal.”
“A meal?”
It was the moment Alto glanced around with newfound interest.
“I apologize for the wait.”
Haitan appeared. Holding a plate with one hand in an elegant manner. A proper food cover was draped over the dish.
The instant Haitan noticed Alto’s presence, he turned his gaze that way and smiled knowingly.
“A guest smaller than I anticipated, it seems.”
Alto said nothing in response. Meanwhile, Haitan placed the plate on the table and gracefully lifted the cover.
At the sight of the dish thus revealed, I barely managed to choke back a curse. ……What in the world was this supposed to be?
Ah… ah….
The first thing to catch my eye was a writhing plant—its ginseng-root-like body sprouted eyes and a mouth.
I was beginning to understand what this plant was.
‘It’s a mandragora.’
Was it still alive?
It twisted its roots with a pitiful cry. Submerged in a blood-red sauce, it looked as though it had been drenched in gore itself…….
But what was even more revolting were the other living things writhing beneath the sauce.
‘Larvae.’
The pale, squirming things resembled silkworms—insect larvae, that is.
Remarkably, these too were alive.
Annoyed by the clinging sauce, they were crawling slowly across the cramped plate.
“…….”
The visuals far exceeded my expectations.
Come to think of it, the Game had never rendered food with such visceral realism.
‘Could this even be eaten?’
I’d thought that as a Demonic Beast, I could stomach something visually violent, but honestly, I wasn’t sure.
I personally had no confidence I could eat this. Not unless I’d been starving for a month.
“A mandragora ragout stew.”
“…….”
“A dish prepared with particular attention to freshness. Of course, proper stewing requires prolonged simmering. Once you’ve simmered ingredients in boiling water for hours at a gentle heat, even the finest ingredients lose all claim to ‘freshness.'”
Haitan’s smile deepened.
“The mandragora is an exception. This miraculous plant refuses to perish even when scalded in boiling oil—a testament to its remarkably stubborn vitality.”
“…….”
“This single dish encompasses appetizer, main course, and dessert all at once. First, I suggest you savor the silkworms slowly, and then please begin with the mandragora’s roots.”
The culinary explanation I hadn’t particularly wanted to hear came to an end.
Only then was I freed from the urge to cover my ears. It was in that moment I exhaled an inward sigh.
“Hmm.”
Alto hopped up onto the table with a bound.
“…….”
The moment his muddy claws stamped across the wooden table, Haitan’s eyebrow twitched.
‘Damn it.’
One Stack?
……It’s fine. For now. According to the rules, Haitan overlooks minor discourtesies three times before his patience wears thin. Still, I’d better issue a warning.
[Skill activated.]
‘Carry yourself with some dignity.’
I poured urgency into the skill itself, but―
[Trust level with target is too low.]
[Demonic Beast ‘Alto’ refuses your command.]
Alto merely snorted.
Then he thrust his snout forward toward the plate, flaring his nostrils. Not a trace of dignity anywhere.
“…….”
Haitan had folded his arms by now.
Two stacks―proof his mood had soured.
But then.
Slurp, smack, smack-smack…….
Alto plunged his nose into the plate and began eating.
“Sigh.”
At last Haitan let out a long breath.
Arms still crossed, he tapped his forearm with his fingers.
He looked like a man calculating exactly how to dispose of these rude bastards. Like a chef deciding which cut of meat to carve.
‘Should I fight?’
But could I win?
If I woke that white-haired fool and called in the rest of the party, the odds might improve. By about five percent.
‘Damn it.’
At least until the meal finished, Haitan wouldn’t raise a hand―not while that madman was insisting on ‘Etiquette’. Going against it would be a breach of his own code.
So the time remaining was now…….
“Splendid.”
Ah. He’d finished everything.
Alto lifted his head, looking satisfied. His muzzle was smeared with ragu sauce that looked like blood.
Lick.
Alto wiped his mouth clean with his tongue, then spoke in an unhurried tone.
“I say it again. That was splendid cooking.”
Haitan uncrossed his arms.
The posture of a man about to enter combat. His eyes didn’t smile, only the corners of his mouth curved upward―like he was inviting Alto to try saying something else.
“What aspects did you find most pleasing, sir?”
“The sweetness of the silkworm and the acidity of the sauce blended smoothly, wrapping around the tip of my tongue. Unlike the long-boiled mandrake, the silkworm seemed to have the sauce poured directly over the raw flesh. That’s what gave it that fresh yet intriguing texture. Rather than eating, it felt like appreciating a fine play.”
“…….”
Haitan’s body went rigid. His frame, which had tilted slightly forward, snapped back to its original angle like a tumbler.
Regardless, Alto continued his critique in a measured voice.
“Following the sequence you prescribed for the meal, I could see the chef’s meticulous care. Was the reason for eating the silkworm first to fully savor its fresh texture before the sauce soaked it completely?”
“……Yes, precisely.”
“The plant root carried a bitter note, yet it harmonized perfectly with the silkworm’s sweetness. In my time under Baek Eun-hyang, I never experienced such consideration. For a first visit, this meal showed remarkable thoughtfulness and deliberation. The only flaw was perhaps that the sauce’s acidity ran somewhat strong? Had anyone else eaten it, that sharpness might well have become poison.”
At this point, I couldn’t help but interject.
“Become poison?”
“Put simply―your stomach would have dissolved.”
“…….”
Being a Demonic Beast, he could withstand it.
Alto looked at me, his voice genuinely pleased.
“A meal like this is welcome anytime. Ordinary Caindale. I commend you.”
[Trust level with Ash Lizard ‘Alto’ has increased.]
……Don’t let trust go up over something like this.
Alto spoke again, looking toward Haitan.
“Of course, the chef labored greatly as well. Should there be another chance to taste this, I would welcome it.”
“……That is the most glorious compliment a chef could receive, sir. I too shall look forward to the day I may serve you again.”
“Good. I shall await it.”
Alto gave a final nod and vanished again, wrapped in ash.
“…….”
“…….”
Did that actually go well?
The atmosphere seems fine enough for now…….
But it felt like at any moment he could snap and say, ‘On second thought, I’m in a foul mood. Just die,’ then swing a kitchen knife. Haitan’s expression was that enigmatic.
“Hmm.”
I’d been watching his reactions carefully.
Haitan smiled at me with a glimmer in his eyes.
“How fascinating.”
“If you’d like, we could continue our conversation. I can have him brought back.”
“Ha. Of course, that eccentric gourmand is interesting as well, but―”
Haitan’s gaze settled on me.
“You’re far more intriguing, Master Caindale.”
“Pardon?”
“Our conversation today, the attitude you’ve shown, your timely response—quite impressive. I found it rather enjoyable, in fact. It’s been far too long since I felt this way.”
“…”
“A small gesture of goodwill toward our fortuitous meeting. I’ll have your companions released. You’re welcome to take them with you.”
A sigh threatened to escape me.
I forced the tension draining from my limbs back into place and spoke.
“Thank you.”
I offered a brief bow, then rose from my seat.
I was about to head straight for the kitchen behind the stall when―
“…”
I stopped abruptly.
Feeling a sharp weight of gaze pressing against my back, I opened my mouth slowly.
“Though I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
I turned around.
Beneath a sky where the sun was beginning to set, Haitan, who had been staring at me intently, was wrapped in an unnaturally thick darkness.
“How could an outsider enter the kitchen in such an unclean state?”
At those words, Haitan finally smiled.
‘Bastard.’
I knew it.
That cursed creature had just tested me one final time.
If I’d accepted his kindness and meekly crawled into the kitchen? My head would’ve been separated from my shoulders in an instant.
“Just as I thought. You truly are a well-educated man, Master Caindale.”
Haitan clapped his hands together twice, satisfaction written across his face.
That was when it happened.
An enormous carriage suddenly shrank, transforming into a toy-sized miniature small enough to rest on the palm of a hand.
‘A carriage enchanted with Shrinking/Miniaturization magic?’
How much would that run?
Whatever the price, an enchantment of that caliber on an object that size would cost far more than even a premium Detection Crystal.
“This has been a most memorable encounter. I yield this place to you. Please accept it as an apology for the rudeness I’ve displayed today, and as a mark of my respect.”
“…I see.”
“And―”
Haitan stepped forward and held something out to me.
When I accepted it, I found an exceptionally elegant invitation card.
Invitation to Lucien Bistro
An invitation to a small restaurant operated by the chef Haitan. Only a select few guests recognized by Haitan may receive this.
Haitan spoke.
“Lucien Bistro welcomes your return at any time. I would be delighted if, next time, you would grace us with your own presence rather than that of your companions.”
What nonsense. I won’t be sharing another meal with you until this Game is over.
“I shall look forward to it.”
The words that came from my lips contradicted what lay in my heart, and Haitan smiled once more.
Then he withdrew a Detection Crystal from within his clothes—a premium-grade one at that, the sort that required no special ordering.
Pop.
In the next instant, Haitan’s entire appearance transformed drastically.
From a beautiful young man with dark green hair to a blue-haired girl wearing a gentle, playful smile.
“…”
I didn’t particularly react.
Haitan was, after all, a master of disguise.
The madman even greeted me in a voice that had become as thin and high as befitted a girl.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Whoosh.
And so Haitan departed.
Leaving me with a lingering sense of unease.
‘Please.’
Please let me never cross paths with that creature again.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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