Chapter 41 EPISODE 41 HONEYMOON (2)

Terms used in this chapter:

Molecular gastronomy

a subdiscipline of food science that that seeks to investigate the physical and chemical transformations of ingredients that occur in cooking.

Ramyeon

Korean word for instant noodles. Its the Korean version of the Japaneses ramen. It is made by boiling a precooked and dried noodle block with flavoring powder or sauce.

Binyeo

a Korean traditional hairpin used to hold a womans hair bun in place. (The white hairpin in the picture.)

Qinggong

this had been mentioned in previous chapters, but heres a recap. Its a martial art skill in wuxia stories that allows you to circumvent gravity to fly, cover tremendous distances in a single stride, run across surfaces of water, mount trees, and jump over or scale high walls. For this chapter, Jude used the cover tremendous distances in a single stride.

The next morning, after Cordelias letter was found in Count Hrsvelgrs guest room, the count tried to respond as calmly as possible.

I have to find them.

Whether they left on their own or not, if some accident happened to Jude and Cordelia, Count Hrsvelgr had no choice but to take responsibility for it.

In any case, the two were minors, so Count Hrsvelgr ideally had the responsibility to protect the two who were invited as guests.

Why? What the hell did you do while the kids left the house? Are the walls of Count Hrsvelgr that low?

Of course, it was unlikely that Count Bayer or Count Chase would say such words themselves, but they would put the blame on him with a roughly similar remark.

The potential discord among the 12 northern families wasnt the only problem.

What should we do? If those two get caught by the Devils Hand

Lucas spoke to everyone with a face full of worry, and the faces of Count Bayers and Count Chases knights all turned miserable.

They couldnt have gone that far. Lets steadily find them around the city.

When one of Count Hrsvelgrs knights intentionally spoke in a lively manner, the other knights were also motivated.

Regardless, they had to find the two people first.

But contrary to everyones expectations, Jude and Cordelia had already gone quite far.

***

Five days from their elopement, Count Hrsvelgr was still searching the villages near Vedrfolnir, but Jude and Cordelia had reached near the northwestern border where Frost Anvil was located.

That smells delicious.

It was morning, and Cordelia sniffed in front of the campfire while still in her sleeping bag.

She had just woken up, her hair was untidy, and she had no makeup on, but as an incomparably beautiful girl, she was still pretty and lovely.

Are you awake?

Uh, Im awake. What is it for this morning?

Cordelia faintly smiled as she saw the hard-working Jude cooking in front of the campfire.

When Jude and Cordelia left Vedrfolnir, Fabian gave them only one luggage bag, but in the last five days, their household items have pretty much increased.

Magic Blaze, expansion bag, special insect-repelling incense.

The Magic Blaze, also called a portable burner, was received in exchange for helping Koblo escape. The expansion bag, which can store double its size, was received in exchange for finding the memento of Yinsens lost mother.

The special insect-repelling incense was made from ingredients that Jude had collected during their trip.

And there were many other items.

Five days ago, they were bare-handed when they left Count Hrsvelgrs territory, but now, Jude and Cordelia were unbelievably well-supplied for their journey.

A man who has the ability to maintain a livelihood is the best. The number 1 ideal husband.

Uh, okay. Anyway, for this morning, we have French toast, bacon, and cream soup.

Jude responded without even looking at Cordelia, but she was already satisfied.

It was because Judes gaze was focused on the frying pan.

Where did you learn how to cook?

Here and there.

Where is that here and there?

France, Italy, England, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabiaits literally so on and so forth.

Cordelias eyes sparkled at Judes words, but she pouted by the end of it.

At first, it was possible if he had gone to one or two countries, but she didnt think that hed really been to all those countries.

Well, hes good at lying.

But the important thing was that he was good at cooking, so Cordelia quickly regained her usual expression and used her nose to sniff again the smell of the savory bacon.

Did you learn how to make bacon abroad?

Oh, I learned this from my friend who lives in America.

I heard that cooking is a skill.

No, its more about accurate measurement.

Measurement?

Baking time varies depending on the intensity of the fire. The amount of salt added depends on the amount of ingredients. Of course, it also depends on the persons preferences.

Is it molecular gastronomy or something?

Well, its similar.

Jude, who had spoken so far, suddenly raised his head to look at Cordelia and then shook his head in resignation.

What is it?

No, I just remembered the first dish you cooked three days ago.

No, can you even call that cooking?

Cordelias face turned red in proportion to Judes miserable face, and she pouted her lips.

Hmph, I have a dish that Im good at cooking too, okay?

Lying about your weakness

No, its not? Im really good at cooking ramyeon.

isnt ramyeon an instant food?

As Judes expression became even more miserable, Cordelias face turned even more red.

Really. Its because you havent tried it. If you eat the ramyeon I cooked, youll fall in love too? If you ask for it, Ill cook it for you every day.

Yes, yes. If you insist, so be it.

Tsk, Im serious.

Cordelia pouted again, but she soon smiled and said.

Well, someone said that theres a right talent for the right place, so in the future, itll be good to divide our tasks like this. Youre the cook, and Im the taster.

F*cking bullshit. Im in charge of cooking and youre in charge of washing dishes.

Hey, he said that if his Gueumjulmaek is cured, he wouldnt even let a drop of water get into my hands.

When did I say that? He said that hell carry you, hit you, cross over the wall, and also care for you.

I think something is missing.

Anyway, were going to eat now, so go and wash your face. Wash your hands too.

Yes, mom.

Phooey, is that whom Im going to marry?

Cordelia stood up as she giggled, and Jude shook his head.

Ill be right back.

Yes, dont skip or youll trip.

Who do you think is a kid?

After Cordelia arranged her long hair into a bun and secured it with a binyeo made by Jude, she began walking with a light gait.

She walked towards a nearby stream.

Its definitely winter now, so its really cold.

Moreover, they had arrived near the northernmost part of the Slen Kingdom.

If the weather got a bit colder, the stream itself might freeze.

Im not sure if well be okay then.

Frost Anvil would be much colder than this place.

Although they diligently packed items that protected them against the cold, Jude still couldnt help worrying about it.

Its a shame. If we had a little more time, we wouldve gotten the winter blessing.

It was a blessing that could only be obtained through a special event called Winter Blessing. It helped by maintaining ones body temperature and not hindering ones movement in the cold. The problem, however, was that the event was a random occurrence.

If you consider the circumstances, it seems to be near here

Jude raised his head and looked around, but he didnt see the area where he thought it would happen.

No matter how great JudeWiki was, he couldnt figure out the parts that were left out in the game.

Damn, it cant be helped.

The encounter with the person who told the event location was really random.

Even if they had enough time, they still didnt know where it was, so they couldnt wander around here just to get the winter blessing.

And it was at that moment.

Kyaa!

Cordelia?!

Jude heard the screaming sound and spontaneously shouted as he stood up by kicking the ground and simultaneously using the Twenty-Four Gale Steps.

Although it was a footwork technique, the Twenty-Four Gale Steps could be used as Qinggong depending on its application.

Cordelia!

If she had been attacked, his current shout would be able to draw the enemys attention away.

Jude shouted loudly once again, as he ran like a gale towards the stream.

And when he reached the stream

Oh, uh Hello?

Cordelia uttered as she stood by the stream with an awkward face, and Jude looked past Cordelia and saw a large man who had fallen down with his head in the stream.

What happened here?

No, thatit was a reflex.

Cordelia made some small gestures, narrating how she was so surprised that she instinctively used attack magic.

Just like me, youre not normal either.

She was an incomparably beautiful girl who would shoot attack magic by reflex.

No, I meanhe suddenly came out from the bush, so I was really surprised

Well, thats okay. This is better than if you got hurt.

Mmmmnnn

In the midst of Cordelias embarrassment, Jude pulled the man who had fallen in the stream and laid him down right away.

Is he okay? I didnt use a strong magic. It was just <Paralyze>.

Fortunately, its not <Fire Arrow>.

Jude tactfully answered as he checked the mans pulse and breathing. As Cordelia had said, he was simply paralyzed, but because his magic resistance was low, her magic seriously affected him.

What do you think? Did he get hurt when he fell?

Hes all right. Your luck is good.

Huh?

Yes, Im talking about you.

Jude spoke as he glanced at Cordelia who tilted her head.

Look closely. You recognize him, right?

It was the face of a man in his late twenties.

He had a face that had no special features other than being plain-looking, but Cordelia immediately recognized him.

The lumberjack Bambino.

Yes, hes exactly the person we need.

***

Bambino was both a lumberjack and an herbalist.

There was no lord who claimed ownership of the forest in the northernmost part of the Slen Kingdom, and because of that, whoever took the wood or herbs was the rightful owner.

Of course, it was a dangerous place where not only beasts, but also monsters, would occasionally appear as no one managed this place.

One day, while Bambino was walking around and working hard in the forest mountain, he experienced something dreamy and fantastic.

He witnessed the scene of a gathering of angels taking a bath.

Angel?

Bambino opened his eyes and blankly stared at Cordelia as he spoke. Jude frowned and Cordelia laughed like an idiot as she held out her hand and said in a whisper to Jude.

I won, right? Isnt Cordelia the prettiest?

Damn.

After handing over the copper coin without any complaints, Jude spoke to Bambino, who was still in a daze.

We are not angels, but scholars who came from the center to explore Frost Anvil.

Are you guysscholars?

Yes, although were still students. We belong to the Royal Academy.

When Jude assumed an identity as a disguise without faltering in his acting, Cordelia stealthily turned away and concealed her facial expression.

Unlike Jude, Cordelia was not good at lying.

In any case, Bambino nodded at Judes words.

He thought that Jude and Cordelia did not appear to be common people.

They must be real nobles.

This was the Slen Kingdom, where there was no deep conflict between the nobility and the common people, but even though they were not nobles with a title, nobility was still nobility.

Bambinos attitude became a little more careful.

You dont have to be so nervous. Whats your name? Im Shoot, and shes Felicia.

UhhIm Bambino.

I see, youre Mr. Bambino. Nice to meet you.

Whathappened? I dont remember

Miss Felicia found you lying in the woods here. We dont want to sound boastful, but Miss Felicia did save Mr. Bambinos life.

Ahthank you very much.

N-no. HohoIm glad that youre okay

Cordelia awkwardly answered and quickly averted her gaze again.

She was feeling embarrass