‘I’ve been to a French restaurant a few times before...’

Gio looked around the interior of the restaurant again.

‘They really nailed the concept here.’

A person more inclined toward romance than fear, Gio didn’t let the fact that this restaurant was built in a dungeon where dozens of people had died deter him.

‘Why should I be scared if there’s delicious food coming?’

To Gio, the restaurant ‘Istuwa’ felt almost sweet, the very air seemed inviting.

“……”

“Do you like it here?”

“The atmosphere is good.”

It was enjoyable to take in the scenery.

It was chaotic but clean, dreamy yet tidy. The cool yet warm temperature of the colors that felt gentle were probably due to the designer’s skill in blending whites and pastel tones.

It was an eerie yet fantastical design, like the manifestation of a beautiful dream.

‘I highly doubt a human designed this building…’

The complex and beautiful structure of the building, along with the sweet air that made your mouth water, gave Gio a sense of excitement, like he was at an amusement park, experiencing something he’d never encountered before.

There was something called immersive dining on Earth, where you could enjoy a meal while watching a performance in a theater designed around a single concept. A participatory theater where you could dine as part of the experience.

‘Plus, this place is a restaurant with a story related to a dungeon dimension. Unlike pure fiction, it’s set in a real, historical narrative. And the chef here is supposed to be the protagonist of that story.’

The restaurant was quite tall, but the center was open, allowing you to see the ceiling even from the first floor.

It wasn’t that the center was round and completely open. There was a round, railing-less lobby and staircases that stacked up. Guests could enjoy their meals in these spaces.

People dining in the floating lobby were in prime positions, almost like they were the protagonists of this play.

“……”

Gio and Yoo Seong-Woon’s seats were at the edge of the fifth floor.

“……”

“Hmm…”

Yoo Seong-Woon asked with a somewhat curious expression.

“Did you want to sit in the lobby? It’s a popular spot since it’s where the dungeon’s story took place.”

“No.”

“Oh, quick reply. I thought you might prefer that spot since you’ve been staring at the lobby.”

“I was admiring the structure of the building. It’s enjoyable to look at.”

Though he didn’t outright refuse, Gio definitely didn’t want to sit in the floating lobby.

‘Being the center of attention in a place like that would be too much for someone as delicate as me.’

Thinking about immersive dining, that too could be considered a form of theater, but Gio didn’t want to dine in a space where strangers’ gazes could be freely directed at him. He wasn’t fond of being the focus of attention.

“I was just admiring it.”

“Well, I’m glad.”

With Gio’s clear and decisive tone, Yoo Seong-Woon inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘...I can’t let Gio be exposed to such a public place.’

Although Gio kept his hood on as he wished, it was impossible to hide his physique and aura.

No matter how much he imitated humans, how could he hide his true nature?

‘There are about 19 people watching us... 11 of them are hunters. There are about 4 who are alert and preparing for any possible situation. 1 is C-grade, 2 are B-grade, and 1 is A-grade.’

‘Istuwa’ was an unusual restaurant that made use of the remnants of a past dungeon, and most ordinary people who hadn’t awakened avoided it. It wasn’t the kind of place you could casually visit to just enjoy a meal.

Apart from the price, the fact that it was a place where people had died in large numbers made it off-limits.

‘Many people said they’d have nightmares eating here.’

For hunters, seeing people die was part of their daily lives, so more than 70% of the customers at ‘Istuwa’ were hunters.

But even among them, reactions varied.

‘The remnants’ influence still lingers.’

The building of ‘Istuwa’ could cause hallucinations and even severe mental disorders in some people.

While it wasn’t easy to get to the point of causing a commotion in the restaurant, many guests couldn’t bear the subtle pressure emanating from the building.

“……”

Gio.

‘If you're going to imitate a human, at least act like you care about your surroundings.’

If you act nonchalantly while enjoying the restaurant like this, naturally, you’d attract the attention of others. In a place where the atmosphere becomes increasingly strange the longer you’re in it, he was openly showing that he wasn’t human.

‘…Also…’

Even without that eerie atmosphere or behavior, Gio had a certain nobility about him.

‘He really does look like a noble, so maybe that’s why he fits this French restaurant so well.’

Elegant, or perhaps imposing? Although he didn’t intend it, and despite his efforts to lower himself, there was an inherent grace in his every move.

‘Before, when we only talked through portraits, I didn’t notice it much, but now that he’s out in the open, that noble aura is even stronger. He feels almost like a priest from a temple.’

Did he really think the term ‘ordinary person’ suited him, despite exuding this kind of atmosphere?

‘There are hardly any humans like this…’

While Gio had a high respect and understanding for humans, there were still gaps here and there. Looking at the details, it seemed he wasn’t human, after all.

“……”

Of course, Gio had no thoughts about this.

‘I haven’t been to a restaurant like this in a long time.’

He thought to himself briefly as Giovanni.

In fact, the grace that Gio had displayed so far came from his past as Giovanni, who was a noble, a doctor, and a priest. He wasn’t aware of the habits and aura that came naturally to him.

“Here’s the bread before the meal.”

“Thank you.”

Gio’s heart skipped a beat.

‘Bread.’

It had been so long since he had seen such a comforting lump of flour. It reminded him of the meals he shared with his disciples as Giovanni, which made him feel even better.

Yoo Seong-Woon seemed to have sensed Gio’s mood.

“Do you like bread?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t skip anything and I don’t have any food preferences.”

“Really love food, huh…”

“That’s right.”

Gio took a small bite of the bread and placed it on his plate.

‘It’s small and round.’

He didn’t eat it all at once but broke it into pieces to eat slowly. Watching Gio’s actions, Yoo Seong-Woon observed him closely.

“……”

Yoo Seong-Woon was secretly convinced.

‘Noble… or at least from a class that’s equivalent to that.’

The manner in which he paid attention to every little detail in his eating habits confirmed that.

‘He wasn’t particularly noticeable in the diner, but could he have ties with France? Or maybe just some connection to Western cuisine…?’

While Yoo Seong-Woon pondered, Gio continued with his meal.

“This bread is delicious.”

“Yeah? The aroma is really nice.”

“It’s simple and savory.”

The outer crust of the bread was dry to the point of being crisp, but it wasn’t tough or chewy like a badly made bread.

Inside, it had a soft, fluffy texture, steaming with warmth, like a pastry shell that crumbled easily.

‘It’s definitely not the kind of bread like sliced bread or morning bread, but maybe ciabatta? But even that was fluffier than anything I’ve had before…’

It felt like there was a delicate chewiness between the soft fluffiness, like meringue that had been whipped into layers.

The crispy crust, the soft, fluffy texture, and the gentle chewiness all blended together to create a delicious experience.

The bread’s flavor was earthy and savory, with a subtle aroma of the wood-fired oven.

‘It’s not excessive, but it’s overall balanced.’

Whoever made this bread, I want to kidnap them.

“This oil smells good too.”

“Ah, right? It’s oil made by mixing olive and mushroom.”

“Olive and mushroom?”

“They’re varieties modified from dungeon species. This might suit your taste better.”

“I do like the unique flavor. It’s good.”

Typically, oil served with bread like this would be accompanied by balsamic vinegar, a thick grape vinegar known for its tangy and rich flavor, but interestingly, this oil had salt instead.

‘It almost feels like I’m eating sashimi.’

Gio suddenly thought of the mermaid with indigo hair, a sensitive and prideful child.

‘...Aria hated strong flavors, so she would prefer to dip bread in oil without vinegar. I didn’t think of that back then, though...’

Back then, salt was expensive and hard to keep around, even in seaside villages, so it was a rare commodity.

“……”

Definitely tastes like sashimi.

The texture of the tender, soft bread felt very much like fatty tuna belly dipped in soy sauce. The bread, full of life, gave that same sensation.

‘...The oil and salt are amplifying the aroma, while the sweetness of the grain is more prominent. It’s definitely a good match with the freshly baked bread’s texture.’

As Gio nibbled on the bread, the second dish arrived.

“Onion soup with three types of cheese.”

Unlike the creamy soups most people expect, this was a transparent brown soup made with just the sweetness and umami of onions.

“……”

The cheese spread thickly across the soup, a perfect golden yellow and orange blend, melted just right.

Gio gently scooped up the soup.

‘The cheese isn’t that thick.’

Unlike the crispy outer layer of the cheese, the inside was soft and tender, carrying the rich umami of well-cooked onions.

‘The onion texture is really noticeable. It’s been cooked so thoroughly that it melts in my mouth, but I can still see the original shape of the onion. This soup must have been made with great care. It must’ve taken a while.’

The cheese on the onion soup was a natural and classic pairing, but Gio didn’t like overly thick cheese on top. His personal preference was for cheese that didn’t turn rubbery when the soup and bowl cooled.

‘Some might argue that it adds substance like in stews or meats, enriching the texture, but... that’s not me. I just want to taste the soup.’

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

However, the bowl kept the soup warm, and the cheese, not too thin or thick, was just right for easy spooning. This allowed the natural flavor of the onions to shine through more.

“……”

“Do you like it?”

“It feels like my body is warming up, which is nice.”

“Onion soup does have a bit of a comforting vibe.”

“I think so too.”

The process of slowly caramelizing the white and firm onions until they turned a deep amber was the key to this soup. If the onions were burnt or undercooked, it would’ve tasted like bland onion water instead of umami.

But this soup, with every drop squeezed from the onions’ sweetness and richness, could definitely be called a nourishing dish. Not many people would have the time and patience to extract all that flavor.

‘Kidnap.’

I need to kidnap the chef.

“Amura puree with cheese flower salad.”

The next dish arrived, with a strange word that made Gio naturally look to Yoo Seong-Woon.

A beautiful salad with a light yellow sauce and cheese shaped like flowers, surrounded by carefully arranged flower petals.

“……”

“……”

Explanation was needed.

“……”

“Ah... Do you want to know what Amura is?”

“May I ask what Amura is, if it’s not too much trouble?”

“It’s one of the representative fruits that we successfully modified from dungeon species. Do you know avocado?”

“I do.”

“It’s similar in texture, but it has a stronger nutty flavor, like peanuts or walnuts. The oil in the flesh is massive, and it doesn’t burn at even high temperatures, which is why I know it’s often used in Chinese cuisine.”

“So the flesh itself...”

“I’ve never used Amura as puree before either. Last season, we just served it as a fruit salad. ‘Istuwa’ changes its menu every 4 months, so there’s always something new to enjoy.”

“I see.”

The fruit called Amura had a pale yellow hue, lighter than a chick.

‘...It has a nutty flavor similar to peanuts or walnuts.’

It didn’t immediately remind him of nuts, though. If anything, it tasted like the nuttiness and sweetness you get when chewing rice for a long time.

Then, at the end, a rich sweetness and the fruit’s characteristic tang hit, creating a flavorful twist.

‘It’s definitely oily too. Almost like beef marbling...’

This sweet oil, reminiscent of bone broth, paired well with the lightly spread flower petals. Gio’s gaze naturally fell to the cheese flowers that resembled azaleas.

“……”

When he gently split the cheese flower, he could see that it had grown like a ‘flower’ from the start.

“...What’s this cheese flower?”

“Are you interested? Want me to get you some seeds later?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Alright then. I’ll get you some when we head back after the trip.”

“Thank you.”

A flower that grew from cheese—it was a story that stirred up childhood nostalgia, like something out of a fairytale.

‘Considering the effort it takes to make cheese, it’s quite an attractive flower.’

After all, what is cheese? It’s a symbol of effort, from boiling milk to rolling it around until only a small amount remains.

So when that processed product comes out as a flower, it’s no surprise. The petals were thin and beautifully crafted, like an art piece.

‘What’s the principle behind it? The flavor seems similar to Tête de Moine...’

Though it kept its form, a light tap made the cheese crumble like a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It had the creamy and savory qualities of milk, along with a strong nutty flavor and spicy taste.

The cheese flower had a stronger spicy kick on the tongue, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It simply balanced the rich taste of Amura puree and the inherent richness of cheese.

‘The harmony is an art form. Could the chef be an intangible cultural asset?’

More than anything, this cheese flower, with its sweetness and savory richness stronger than Tête de Moine, also carried the flavor of honey. It had that delicate sweetness you’d get if you licked the underside of an azalea petal.

It blended perfectly with this flower salad. Gio couldn’t wait to plant it when he returned to the cabin.

“You look really happy.”

“Yes.”

What a simple statement.

“Humans are happiest when eating.”

“...Oh, really?”

“At least ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) I am.”

It was like when my grandmother used to give me potatoes from the stove. This primal joy was something I could never escape.

Then the fantastic courses continued—gratin with a strong truffle aroma, French fries with a touch of cheese, slowly roasted brisket with a hint of wood, and garlic chips crisped up to perfection.

A rich, yet perfectly balanced course that never felt repetitive.

“Did you like it?”

“It was great, not just okay.”

“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it…”

If you’re going to imitate a human, at least pretend to care about your surroundings.

‘Humans are more social than you think...’

Yoo Seong-Woon bitterly smiled, having been the one to bear the burden of the strange stares directed at Gio.