"Well then..."

In a well-organized kitchen of a cabin filled with warm air in the forest.

"It's time for dinner."

Seojio was preparing his meal.

"Being able to eat and sleep without working, how could I be so happy?"

It was the so-called happiness of being jobless.

"Now that I've become jobless, I can finally fulfill my role as a potato. I'll have to sit at the dinner table for three hours."

Seojio was a gourmet and a big eater. The life of a teacher, who had to present a polite and unobtrusive social life, was too harsh for him, a cultivated pig.

"I've always wanted to enjoy my favorite dishes at my own comfortable time."

Seojio nodded his head with his characteristic stoic face.

"This is the life of returning to the countryside..."

Whether this really counts as returning to the countryside, he wasn't sure, but anyway, that was the case.

Above all, Seojio, who hailed from a mountainous village in Gangwon Province and looked like he could have been carved from Arctic ice, had been waiting for the right moment to return to the countryside ever since he moved to the city.

"Losing my job and becoming a portrait to finally live the country life, life really is a hurricane."

It was unpredictable and even amusing, though an actual hurricane wouldn't be fun at all.

"Let's keep it simple today..."

With the wind unable to extinguish the candlelight flickering above, Seojio took out the ingredients.

Sweet potatoes.

"......"

Large sweet potatoes.

As if planning today's sustenance, Seojio blinked twice and then decided.

"Maybe I'll make honey-roasted sweet potatoes."

This was a dish he often made when older folks sent him sweet potatoes, requiring only a bit of honey, salt, sweet potatoes, and butter. Nothing else was necessary.

Luckily, all these ingredients were in the cabin. Like a natural spring that existed despite not being thought of, the cabin’s furniture and ingredients had also accumulated inside.

"Hmm..."

Clatter.

Seojio took a jar of honey from the cypress-scented cupboard.

"...The dairy products are in the basement."

Dairy products like milk, cheese, and butter, as well as generally all food requiring refrigeration, were stored in the cabin's underground cellar.

Surrounded by clear ice on all sides, the cellar maintained a cool chill, acting as an excellent refrigerator. Although it was cold enough to see one's breath, Seojio, having evolved into a haunted portrait, didn't feel the cold.

"Just cool enough."

Considering other ingredients didn't freeze, it was curious why his breath showed.

"It's a phenomenon that completely ignores the laws of physics, but... it's funny, so it's okay."

Holding a small bowl and a knife, he descended the stairs to the cellar, where a heavy, metallic-cool wooden door appeared before him.

Upon opening the door, the interior of the ice cave was clumsily arranged with a few small jars and a large shelf.

"I checked last time, and it seemed to have a variety."

He rummaged through the butter displayed on the shelf.

"I hope to find some mild butter."

Among the sweet ingredients, honey was particularly fragrant. Sweet potatoes and honey were enough, but if the butter's scent was too strong, it might be overwhelming.

Among the various types, Seojio found a pale yellow butter and cut a small piece.

"Too much would be greasy..."

After taking just enough butter for his dish, Seojio neatly wrapped up the package, meticulously closed the cellar door, and returned to the kitchen.

Seojio was an excellent cook. Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of cooking for himself as a gourmet.

"Ah, fresh."

With skillful hands, Seojio neatly prepared the sweet potatoes. He pondered how to divide them.

"First of all..."

After blinking twice, he cut the sweet potatoes into long rectangular shapes. They were a suitable size, shaped like sticks.

"Since there isn't much..."

Seojio prepared 17 large sweet potatoes.

The sweet potatoes, now cut into small pieces, were placed on an iron plate and slid into the preheated stove. The intense heat of the stove quickly cooked the outside of the sweet potatoes.

When the outside was crispy but the inside was still raw, Seojio took them out of the stove.

Those half-cooked sweet potatoes were then laid on a large wok.

"Here goes the butter and salt."

Maintaining a low heat to prevent the butter from burning, he sprinkled a bit of salt over it. The mildly heated sweet potatoes were coated in butter, exuding a sweet and savory aroma.

"And a bit of honey..."

Sizzle.

"Add it."

Seojio drizzled honey he had scooped with a spoon and quickly stirred the wok. Like fried rice being made in a Chinese restaurant, the mixed honey and butter settled on the sweet potatoes.

"......"

That seemed about right.

"Good."

Seojio turned off the heat and stirred the pan a few more times to help the butter and honey blend together without separating.

If he hadn't done this step, the butter could separate and drip off, and the honey might turn into an unpleasantly sticky mess.

"That would have its own taste, but..."

Of course, cooking involved considering the texture. The same taste could become a completely different dish just because of the texture.

"Done."

Seojio placed the finished honey-roasted sweet potatoes on a dish, and immediately soaked the dirty wok in water.

"Even if humans are foolish, I won't repeat the same mistake."

Honey mixed with butter that had dried and stuck to the pan was devilish, testing the patience of a good person like Seojio.

Anyway, this was his dinner menu for today.

"Nice."

Honey-roasted sweet potatoes were not only simple to cook but also served well as a snack or a meal.

Seated at the wooden table, Seojio picked up a sweet potato stick with his fork. It was crispy on the outside like sweet potato fries but much softer due to the honey coating, enriched with butter, creating a complex aroma.

"......"

The fork easily pierced the sweet potato, indicating it was perfectly cooked. Seojio then placed the sweet potato in his mouth.

"......"

Munch...

He came to a conclusion.

"Delicious."

It was simply tasty.

"I prefer this over sweet potato fries. My grandmother said the same..."

Unlike sweet potato fries, which could sometimes poke the roof of the mouth, this honey-roasted sweet potato was tender on the outside. The smooth and soft texture was merely enhanced by the mix of honey and butter.

It provided a different kind of pleasure from the crispy texture of fries.

"Sweet potatoes and honey are indeed a good combination."

And butter and salt complemented them well, forming a perfect set.

The flavor of honey could become ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) somewhat plain, but butter added a unique richness, and a bit of salt balanced the dish that could otherwise become too greasy or sweet.

"Adding some herbs on top would have been nice too."

Common spices like black pepper, parsley, or rosemary could have been added without issue.

"But then the flavors might have become too strong. It might be hard to enjoy it lightly."

Seojio was happy with it as it was.

"The texture is just right."

Despite rolling around between the honey and butter, the surface of the sweet potatoes retained their crispness due to the intense heat of the stove.

On the other hand, the inside, which had been uncooked, seemed moistly cooked due to being coated in honey and butter.

"The moisture inside must have been trapped by the strong heat of the stove. It was good to cook the outside first."

The long shape made eating enjoyable, and the varied textures were a pleasure to experience.

Eating too much could feel greasy, but this amount allowed for a satisfying meal, especially for someone who ate as much as Seojio.

"......"

Seeing just the faint traces of honey-butter sauce left in the bowl, Seojio thought,

"Truly, I am a fine potato."

He wasn't particularly hungry just before bed, but it was just the right dish.

"I like it."

The lantern light on the table shone softly. There was a profoundly analog sentiment to it, and staring at it, he felt a nostalgia not for his childhood home.

"It would be perfect for camping."

In the cozy fullness that seemed to encourage sleep, Seojio spent a long time just being. The lazy emptiness of the clean bowl and the lantern's soft voice softened the air...

Soon, Seojio's gaze turned towards the window, shyly greeted by the spring breeze.

"......"

After looking out at the darkened outside for a while, Seojio got up.

"...It's better to prepare the medicinal herbs in advance."

It was to make the bleeding-related medicine mentioned by the system.

Although it seemed unlikely he would need to use them soon, making them one by one and stacking them up was also a pleasure for an artist. It was a kind of collection.

"Let's wash the Mangdung berries first and spread them out. It will take quite some time to dry them enough to make them into powder. It seems it will take longer than making raisins since they're sizable...."

He was almost asleep, but his mind was still quick, likely due to the sugar he had consumed.

"Let's start with about 50 berries. Even if there's not much juice from only three flowers, having plenty of powder prepared will still be useful later on."

Having made his decision, Seojio acted.

He washed the berries thoroughly with the drinking water he had previously drawn from the stream. Mangdung berries were quite elastic, and once submerged in water, their insides

faintly showed through.

"...They somewhat resemble gooseberries."

Of course, the clear difference was that the Mangdung berries were completely filled with pulp inside.

Seojio continued his idle thoughts as he washed all the berries.

"......"

Crunch.

"Nice."

The bright red, bead-shaped berries were washed in the clear stream water, making a refreshingly pleasant sound, more enjoyable than expected.

After washing all the berries, he placed them on a wooden drying rack.

"Should set some aside as snacks just in case."

It was evening now, but putting them out in the well-ventilated, sunny outdoors would be ideal for drying the berries.

Seojio placed the berry-filled drying rack right in front of the cabin.

"And..."

He re-entered the house and approached the hearth where the wood was stacked.

"Now I need fire."

Tap, tap.

Seojio shook a plant with a round bulb attached.

Then, a small, dull noise echoed from inside the bulb, and a fire burst forth. Although small, the fire was quite strong, as it was blue in color. A faint aroma slowly rose from it.

It was as beautiful to watch as a fire burning in winter.

"......"

Seojio threw it onto the wood in the hearth to ignite it.

Bellflower

A flower with a black bulb instead of normal petals, inedible. When the flower is in bulb form before fully blooming, shaking it causes the stamens and pistils to collide and create fire. However, a vigorous up-and-down motion is needed for the sparks to fly, so natural ignition is almost nonexistent.

It means it can replace lighters or matches.

"...If this were sold on Earth, it would have been a hit as a sentimental camping product."

Seojio muttered a worldly greed with his stoic face as he rummaged through his basket. Then, he took out ten Baiyamunil flowers, which resembled orchids.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

He lightly washed them and placed them on a small drying rack, then hung a pot over the hearth and filled it with water. He waited for it to boil.

"...This should be enough."

As the water began to bubble vigorously, Seojio added the Baiyamunil. A deep, sweet aroma characteristic of vanilla wafted up.

Pong, pop―!

"Hmm..."

If he were to eat it like greens, it would be best to dip it briefly and remove it, but this flower wasn't a green. Moreover, if not properly blanched, it would retain its toxicity.

'The time it takes for the toxicity to dissipate is a total of 10 minutes.'

Seojio faithfully followed the system's instructions. He set aside the Mangdung berries he had been eating and waited for the toxicity to leave the flowers.

"Is it done?"

After checking the time on the system 10 minutes later, Seojio stood in front of the pot again.

He lifted the limp flowers with long chopsticks and placed them on the drying rack. Despite being boiled for a long time, their shape remained intact. He rinsed the once blanched flowers with clean water and left them as they were.

Seojio didn't turn off the weakened fire under the hearth but simply switched out the pots. The water in which the Baiyamunil had been boiled would still contain toxicity.

"I'll have to dry this too."

Seojio carried the drying rack with the flowers back outside.

And as he opened the door.

"......"

Whoosh...

A gentle spring breeze blew in.

"...It's refreshing."

The lukewarm cloud seemed to softly envelop his face with its texture and temperature.

It was a pleasantly gentle breeze.

'Soft and cool.'

The drowsy breeze made his heart flutter slightly, and Seojio slowly blinked his eyes.

'It would be perfect to fall asleep like this.'

The breeze, neither too hot nor too cold, was as soft as fine hanji or silk, tickling his fingertips.

"......"

Enjoying the simple happiness that came unannounced, Seojio then moved his feet.

"...I hope they dry well."

Having placed the drying racks for the Mangdung berries and flowers side by side, Seojio returned to the house. Two baskets had already appeared in front of the house, but there was still more to be prepared.

This time, Seojio had picked a transparent flower called Lurufu.

"......"

How should he handle this? Hindered by the sleepiness that rushed in, Seojio pondered for a moment before seeking help from the system.

"Purification method."

Purification method: Place the petals in warm, edible water and wait until they dissolve and juice emerges. Never interfere during this process. The juice obtained can be used with various other medicinal ingredients.

Possible use of purification method: Blood dumplings made with Mangdung berries and Lurufu juice.

"Thank you."

Expressing his gratitude to the system, Seojio filled the newly replaced pot with water.

The water, which had entered the heated pot, changed to a lukewarm temperature. When he touched the water, it seemed warm enough, gently steaming.

'Warm water, not hot, should be just the right temperature.'

With that thought, Seojio held the flower, which seemed made of water yet woven like silk and sturdy, in his hand.

The Lurufu flower, which emitted a clear and sweet fragrance like dewdrops made of honey, was carefully placed in the pot.

"......"

The Milky Way-like sparkle of the petals spread throughout the water in the pot.

"...Surely the sparkle of Lurufu is due to its ability to scatter light from sunlight or lamps."

Had it been capturing the bright sunlight or clear lamp light within itself? It felt like watching glitter made of ice melting in warm water.

"...Oh."

As the sparkle subsided, the water in the pot emitted a clearer fragrance.

'It could sell well as a perfume,' he thought in a capitalistic moment, but Seojio scooped out the contents before the water could boil completely.

'That was close.'

The scooped-out flower water was poured into a prepared glass bottle.

"It doesn't seem that impressive at a glance, but this can be used to make medicine."

The Lurufu juice, though simply dissolved in water, emitted an enchanting light like paint mixed by an artist pouring his soul into it. He wondered if it could really be used to make medicine.

"......"

Well, there's nothing you can't do if you try. That's life.

'If a perfectly healthy human can become a haunted portrait, why not make medicine with a strange-colored liquid?'

Having finished all his preparations, Seojio ascended to the second floor of the cabin. The sleepiness that had been tickling his eyelids urged him to sleep.

The wooden stairs beneath his feet felt strangely warm. Although it was undoubtedly solid wood, there was a soft texture, and a comforting fragrance emanated from the good-quality wood.

The bed in the bedroom he reached was as soft as if it were made of water.

"Haah..."

Thump.

He dived into the bed.

"......"

His eyes, which had been blinking a few times to sum up the day's events, closed quietly like a child being stroked in a parent's embrace.

Through the wide-open window, the wind carrying the forest's fragrance flowed in, and that delicate breeze timidly passed through his body. Once at his forehead, once at his fingertips, once at his knees...

In the profoundly dark view, the cries of the evening birds faintly faded away.

"......"

With the crickets' gentle song as a lullaby.

Seojio fell asleep.