The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 55

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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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Chapter 55. An Unexpected Turn of Events! (3)
This dish had to nourish the body while also providing healing.
[The effect of the title 【Healer】 activates.]
[Using the skill 【Medicinal Cuisine】.]
I applied the final touches while activating the skill.
I sprinkled sesame seeds, seaweed powder, and finely chopped scallions on top.
[Dish Complete: Golden Abalone Intestine Porridge]
[Grade: Premium Restorative Dish]
[Upon consumption, grants stomach protection, stamina recovery, and vitality restoration.]
[Upon consumption, Stamina increases by 3 for one day.]
[Upon consumption, umami lingers on the palate for one day.]
A fine dish had emerged.
“It’s ready.”
I placed the steaming earthenware pot on a tray and set it before her.
Plump white abalone meat floated atop the porridge, which gleamed with a rich, deep color.
The aroma alone was so savory that even a closed stomach would surrender—a fragrance that promised comfort!
“Is this abalone porridge?”
“Yes. You mentioned you haven’t eaten in days. Something like spicy seafood noodle soup would upset your stomach.”
I handed her a spoon as I spoke.
With the earthenware pot before her, Ha-yun’s nostrils flared.
She inhaled the ocean-like aroma deeply, as if it were some precious perfume.
Perhaps that was the greatest temptation of all.
“…I’ll eat well!”
She lifted the spoon with trembling hands.
“Phoo. Phoo…!”
She blew carefully and took a spoonful.
The moment the porridge touched her lips, her eyes widened dramatically.
* * *
“Hup!”
Ha-yun unconsciously pressed her lips firmly together.
No exclamation, no gasp of admiration escaped her.
‘If this were a broadcast, it would cause an uproar.’
Her mechanical reactions had simply ceased.
She could only stare blankly at the earthenware pot, alternating her gaze between it and Kim Seon-woo.
Soon her spoonfuls became urgent and hurried.
Slurrrp. Gulp.
“Mmm…!”
The moment the porridge slid down her throat again.
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
Warm, substantial heat spread through her stomach, which had been empty, cold, and hollow.
Whoooosh—
It was as if some tremendous warmth was melting her rigid body.
‘So warm.’
[The medicinal food’s effect activates.]
[Ha-yun’s stomach resumes normal function.]
[Vitality returns to her parched blood vessels.]
[Her complexion improves.]
Notifications visible only to Kim Seon-woo appeared.
She savored the rich, umami depth of the abalone viscera.
The fragrant aroma of sesame oil tickled her nostrils.
‘The scent is insane. Is that really sesame oil?’
Above all, the texture was astounding.
The thinly sliced abalone meat was a revelation.
Without even chewing several times, it melted softly on her tongue.
Pop—
Then it bounced back chewy against her teeth.
Each time, the deep ocean’s essence danced across her palate.
“Huu… haa.”
She exhaled roughly.
One spoonful, two spoonfuls. Her pace accelerated.
Unbelievable speed for someone who’d fasted for days!
The pace of a mukbang empress had returned.
She’d long forgotten the porridge’s heat.
Like someone more afraid of losing this taste than burning her palate.
She swallowed the food as if possessed.
“Huu. Hu!”
Slurp, slurp! Smack, gulp.
Beads of sweat formed on her cheeks as color returned, dotting her forehead.
Her eyes gleamed with vitality.
Strength returned to her trembling fingertips.
[Ha-yun’s condition recovers rapidly.]
[Severe malnutrition is resolved.]
[Vitality overflows.]
‘Ah… something’s changing. What is it?’
She instinctively sensed something again. This was different.
To confirm it further, she scraped the very bottom of the remaining earthenware pot.
Scrape. Scrape.
The sound of scraping the bottom was loud.
She scraped up every last grain of rice and piece of abalone from the bottom and put it in her mouth.
It needed no washing.
“Ah…!”
All that remained was an empty bowl.
She stared at the stone pot as though it were her sworn enemy for a long moment.
“Owner.”
Then she lifted her head.
The dying patient from mere moments ago had vanished without a trace.
With porridge smeared around her mouth and eyes gleaming like a predator, she thrust the stone pot forward and cried out.
“More! Quickly!”
* * *
I witnessed every moment of it.
I saw Ha-yun scrape down to the last grain of rice and set down her spoon.
Regardless of any notification, the faint blush that colored her face as she looked at me spoke volumes.
She had recovered.
‘Thank goodness.’
I exhaled a silent sigh of relief.
The dish had worked perfectly.
The immediate crisis had been averted.
Now that the path had opened, she would gradually adapt from here.
Once her body remembered its original sensations, she would be able to swallow other foods bit by bit.
‘Though she’ll likely feel a faint thirst no matter what she eats…’
But that was beyond my control.
It wasn’t my responsibility that Ha-yun’s senses were more refined than others.
“Are you feeling better now?”
I asked as I cleared away the empty bowl.
Today’s treatment ended here. With proper rest, tomorrow would bring further improvement.
But then.
I had clearly misjudged her.
“Owner.”
“Yes?”
“It’s not enough.”
But she’d just had a whole stone pot. And not just any pot—a massive one at that.
“…Pardon?”
“It barely touched my stomach. My digestive system just woke up, and if you stop here, what happens then?”
The intensity in her gaze was extraordinary.
Like a predator stalking its prey, her eyes blazed with fierce light.
She pointed at the empty stone pot and cried out as though deeply wronged.
“Give me more. Something to chew. This time, not porridge—something I can actually sink my teeth into!”
“Ha…!”
I swallowed a hollow laugh.
‘Was that really the same person dying just moments ago?’
She emptied that large earthenware pot as easily as closing a crab’s eyes, yet still demanded more.
An ordinary person couldn’t eat that much even if they tried, no matter how hungry they were.
But her eyes were sincere.
‘Did the treatment work too well?’
This didn’t feel like treatment—it felt like I’d awakened a dormant appetite and sent it into overdrive.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Usually it would end here. But she was anything but usual.
“Isn’t the patient pushing herself too hard?”
“I’m not a patient anymore. I’m all better now, so bring me food!”
She slapped the bar table, urging me on.
At her bold demand, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
‘Yes. This is how it should be.’
A customer who charges at the plate like they’re about to devour the dish itself is a hundred times more beautiful than one who picks at their food.
As a chef, what greater dopamine rush could there be?
South Korea’s greatest gourmet, clinging to my food as if nothing else would do.
“Very well. Today, I’ll give you special service.”
“Wow…!”
I opened the refrigerator door again. Since we’d come this far, I decided to see it through to the end.
‘Yes. Let’s see how far this goes.’
I’d opened the path with porridge; now it was time to bring out the real thing.
“Don’t blame me if your stomach bursts.”
“Just bring it already!”
I hummed a little tune as I grabbed the wok again.
For the first time in a long while, my hands were itching to cook.
That day, Ha-yun and I went wild with indulgence.
* * *
The next evening.
Ha-yun’s subscribers received a YouTube notification.
[LIVE : Sorry About Yesterday! Today I’m Eating My Fill!]
The moment the broadcast went live, the chat exploded like a waterfall.
It couldn’t have been otherwise.
Look at Im Ha-yun on the screen.
Rumors of health issues had been circulating for some time.
And just yesterday, she’d skipped her broadcast to prove it.
But today, she was shining brilliantly, as if mocking those rumors!
-Whoa? Unnie’s skin is insane.
-What? I heard she was sick, but why does she look even prettier?
-Her face is glowing? Did you change the lighting?
-Wow, she’s so radiant…!
-What procedure did you get done?
—Didn’t you take a break yesterday because of the procedure?!
Ha-yun smiled brightly and waved her hand toward the camera.
The pallid complexion that had haunted her was completely gone.
Her cheeks now flushed with a peachy, healthy glow.
Her beauty radiated with an intensity that surpassed her usual appearance.
“Hello everyone, I’m Ha-yun. I know you were all worried about me, right? I’m completely revived! Woohoo!”
She declared confidently and pointed to the table before her.
Today’s menu was a Factory Canteen special takeout.
“Today’s menu comes from a place I’ve been absolutely obsessed with lately. Where, you ask? It’s that abalone place I conquered before!”
As she delivered her commentary, she naturally showcased the food.
The extra-large abalone porridge I’d prepared since dawn and the black pepper konjac ramen that tasted delicious even when cooled were visible.
“You’re saying I only favor one place these days? What can I do when the food is this delicious? Oh, by the way, this isn’t an advertisement, right? I’m paying out of my own pocket!”
Finally, she revealed the mountain-high stack of lasagna kimbap.
These were dishes I’d specially prepared because she wanted them.
“I won’t say much. Let’s just eat first!”
She picked up her chopsticks.
There was no hesitation. No pretense of elegance with delicate nibbling.
She grabbed three pieces of lasagna kimbap at once and shoved them into her mouth.
“Mmm~!”
Munch munch. Her cheeks puffed out round and full.
With each chew, the crispy sound of thin fried noodles and the crunchy sound of vegetables transmitted vividly through the microphone.
This transcended ASMR levels.
The crispy sounds filled the entire audio.
—Wow, the sound is insane.
—Is that kimbap? That’s kimbap?
—They said it’s lasagna kimbap!
—Did she really starve for days?
—Ah, my mouth is watering…
The moment she swallowed the kimbap, she opened the lid of the abalone porridge.
Steam rose gently from the golden porridge, still retaining its warmth.
The screen briefly turned white.
Even that became a scene that conveyed the taste.
In the meantime, she scooped the porridge with a ladle and drank it directly without transferring it to a bowl.
With a ladle!
‘Wow… look at that angle.’
Even I, who knew the taste, felt my saliva involuntarily slide down my throat.
She didn’t care whether porridge smudged around her mouth or not.
Then she furrowed her brows sharply.
The so-called brow of truth!
It was a genuine reaction that only appeared when she ate something delicious—impossible to fake through acting.
“Ahh… everyone, this is it. This is what living is all about.”
She murmured with an enraptured expression.
The viewer count reached nearly 100,000 in real time.
It was on the verge of breaking through 100,000 soon.
It was even higher than usual.
She might even break the record she had achieved before.
Then, one sharp-eyed viewer spotted something she hadn’t introduced yet.
-But unnie, what’s that water bottle next to you? Barley tea?
-Huh? Yeah, what is that?
-Looking at the color, isn’t that soy sauce? lol
In the corner of the table.
Among the lavish dishes, a plain plastic bottle sat alone.
It was the barley tea I had prepared for her.
Ha-yun glanced at the chat, let out a soft chuckle, and picked up the plastic bottle.
“Oh, this?”

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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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