I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 87

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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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I’ve had a strong appetite since childhood.
It was unavoidable, having spent my life confined to a hospital room under strict dietary management.
That’s my excuse, anyway—though secretly, I suspect I’m just someone who’s naturally obsessed with delicious food.
Regardless, I take food seriously, and I still haven’t forgotten the taste of tteokbokki I ate once when I was very young.
‘I memorized the recipe thinking, “I can’t eat it, so at least I’ll remember it”—I never expected it would actually come to fruition like this!’
Delighted, I cupped both my cheeks in my hands and spoke with hopeful anticipation.
“Since it’s rather chilly today, I’d really like something with broth, you know?”
I couldn’t have managed alone.
I’ve recently realized something: I have virtually no talent for cooking.
Memorizing and proving mathematical formulas is far easier and more enjoyable than actually cooking, which says everything.
What good is an excellent recipe if I turn it into garbage the moment I make it?
‘I’m so grateful Yuri is here with me.’
Yuri was both a mathematical prodigy—though she seems to have set mathematics aside recently—and a culinary genius.
At the Arena Palace, they called Yuri a born culinary researcher.
As a true culinary researcher, Yuri was a genius among geniuses who could turn my request for one into ten—an exemplary talent without equal.
I spoke.
“Make a broth from anchovies and kelp.”
And Yuri was the kind of genius who, when taught one thing, understood ten.
“Well, then it would be best to remove the anchovy heads and intestines, toast them gently, then grind or crush them finely for preparation.”
“Really?”
I didn’t know such details. I only knew the recipe itself.
“I have some broth packs I made beforehand stored separately, and I think using those would work well too.”
“That’s a great idea!”
God, I really love you, sister.
Gulp.
“I need to add scallions, but….”
“If we slice some finely and cut some into longer pieces before adding them, it’ll look prettier and work better.”
“And I need to make something called tteok….”
Truth be told, I didn’t know exactly how to make it either.
But when I explained the general concept, Yuri actually brought me the tteok she’d made.
“You’re definitely a genius sent from heaven, sister.”
“I’m just doing this because it makes me happy.”
Yuri smiled at me.
At that unadorned, radiant smile, I felt myself growing a little embarrassed for no reason.
The thought briefly crossed my mind—do I deserve to be loved this much?—but it crumbled helplessly before the tteokbokki about to be born.
“Add the tteok, pour the water, add the kelp too, hehehehe.”
I’d eaten it exactly once when I was young.
Watching kids my age eat tteokbokki in dramas, I couldn’t express how much I envied them.
I could only ever eat bland, tasteless hospital food.
In any case, Yuri finally completed the tteokbokki.
“Is this right? It feels so unfamiliar.”
“This… this is it.”
The smell and appearance I remembered.
It was perfect tteokbokki.
In the world after 【The Doomed Villainess Dies】, the perfect tteokbokki descended upon us.
“Mmmmm!”
The taste was pure fantasy.
It turned this world upside down.
“S-so spicy.”
Spicy, yet blissful.
My second experience with tteokbokki in this life was intensely beautiful and unforgettable.
“But it’s so delicious.”
My Villorian body was sturdy enough to digest spice without any trouble.
There would be no petty problems like stomach pain, heartburn, or indigestion.
“Yuri really can make anything.”
“It was only possible because the Princess provided such an excellent recipe.”
And several days passed.
The beginning is always the hardest part, but once you start, most things tend to flow smoothly.
The tteokbokki was fantastically delicious, but I noticed something was missing.
* * *
One night.
I could realize what that something was through reflection.
“There were no ramen noodles!”
Bumblebee, who had been sleeping in my arms, startled and looked at me.
[Ramen noodles?]
[A demon’s name? Should I exterminate it?]
Bumblebee, who had briefly erupted with vigilance, fell back asleep in just three seconds.
She seemed very drowsy.
“Yes. Ramen noodles. That’s what I need.”
Of course, I had no idea how to make ramen noodles. I figured I’d just fry some noodles and do something or other.
…or so I said,
“Yes! This! This is what I wanted!”
And with a flourish, ramen noodles appeared.
Thus, tteokbokki with ramen was born, and this too was a miracle.
To think I could eat K-tteokbokki with ramen in a possessed fantasy world.
‘Now that I have ramen noodles?’
I loved ramen just as much as tteokbokki.
I had even eaten ramen in secret from my doctor.
I suffered terribly from food poisoning and dehydration back then, but at least I was happy while eating the ramen.
‘But would such magical powder really be created?’
This world had no concept of ramen, and naturally, ramen broth didn’t exist either.
I had no idea how ramen broth was even made.
“I tried making it once based on the concept you described, Princess, but I’m not sure if it suits your taste.”
I took a sip of the broth. And I saw a new world.
“Whoa?”
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it taste good? Should I make it again?”
I’d actually thought my craving for ramen was a product of my deprivation.
Since I’d barely ever eaten it. I’d only envied others eating it.
So I’d assumed nostalgia bias was heavily at play.
‘It wasn’t nostalgia bias!’
It wasn’t that at all.
Without a doubt, Yuri’s ramen was the most delicious food I’d ever eaten.
“This is seriously incredible. How can you make something taste this good?”
Slurrrp—
I actually performed the noodle-slurping technique I’d only ever seen on television.
Of course, being my first time, I wasn’t very good at it.
“P-please eat slowly. It’s hot. You’ll burn the inside of your mouth.”
I looked at Yuri, who was worried about me, while still chewing on noodles that hadn’t snapped yet.
Hehe— I laughed.
Suddenly, anew, my mood became incredibly good.
‘My palate didn’t burn at all?’
Even though it was quite hot.
My body from before was so sensitive and fragile that something like this would have been unimaginable.
If I’d done this with my old body, I probably would’ve ended up on an emergency operating table.
‘Being healthy and strong is truly happiness.’
I savored the happiness, and Yuri felt quite proud.
Yuri watched me eat deliciously with satisfaction, then asked with some curiosity.
“Princess, are such simple things really making you this happy?”
“Huh? Is it really that obvious?”
“Yes, very much so. When I’m beside you, Princess, I feel like I’m getting dyed in happiness and becoming all fluffy myself.”
“Yeah. Everything feels like a miracle to me.”
Being able to eat things like this without any problems was a miracle.
But what was even more miraculous was that this incredible body didn’t gain weight at all!
The body was so exceptional that its calorie consumption seemed enormous.
Whether it was rice cakes, flour, noodles, fried food—I could eat as much as I wanted without worrying about dieting. That was truly a miracle.
Meanwhile, Narmore’s eyes burned with ambition toward the ramen.
“I smell something, I smell it—the smell of money!”
Narmore realized immediately upon seeing it that this was a blockbuster product. And he promptly announced he would begin mass production.
“It seems we can produce this at a very low cost. The cooking time is fast, and with just water and a pot, we can achieve such uniform flavor. This is truly a revolution.”
Mmm, it’s delicious, really delicious.
I simply nodded at Narmore’s words.
I didn’t possess much knowledge regarding economics, and Narmore was someone who would become wealthy regardless of my involvement.
I believed the best approach was to simply let him be and offer my support.
It would be far more efficient and effective than me constantly making demands and suggestions.
“Yes, as I’ve always said, do whatever you want as long as you don’t tarnish the Imperial family’s honor or violate Imperial law.”
* * *
The Narmore Corporation, headquartered in the Kingdom of Alpea, began to expand in scale.
Narmore spoke.
“Indeed. We already have experience establishing and expanding manufacturing factories, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Good. What do I need to help with?”
Rahela, the Castle King of Alpea, also viewed the Narmore Corporation favorably.
This was because the headquarters and factories of the Narmore Corporation were located in the Kingdom of Alpea, creating substantial employment opportunities.
Moreover, the Narmore Corporation maintained excellent employee benefits and wages.
Narmore’s principle was that to avoid tarnishing the Imperial family’s honor, employee welfare and treatment must be prioritized even if profit margins decreased.
“It would be appreciated if you could continue simplifying administrative procedures as you have been.”
“That’s not a difficult matter.”
However, there was one thing that needed confirmation.
“Is this at the Princess’s behest?”
The Princess would certainly be utilized as a political instrument of the Imperial family.
In other words, a strategic asset of the Empire.
Therefore, it was crucial whether the Narmore Corporation’s advancement was the Princess’s intention or not.
“The Princess told me to do whatever I wish.”
That was answer enough.
There was a high probability this was an unprecedented project being undertaken at the Imperial level.
One had to ride that wave well.
Indeed, because Rahela had ridden the first wave successfully, the Kingdom of Alpea was now growing prosperous.
A second wave of revolution was certain to come.
“Then I shall cooperate actively.”
Narmore didn’t even need to seek partners. The partner was the Royal Family of Alpea itself.
Since the Narmore Corporation already had experience in factory establishment and expansion, the work proceeded swiftly.
Thus, the revolutionary food product ‘ramen’ was born.
Narmore chuckled with delight.
“We’re handling manufacturing, distribution, and sales all ourselves. On a kingdom-wide scale, no less.”
Ramen, which had captured the palates of countless people, sold as if it had wings.
The Narmore Corporation seemed to be sitting on a mountain of wealth.
Yet not everything in this world flows so smoothly.

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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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