[mory of the Thaw: Banquet of Spring Snow]
Amuse-Bouche
Cucumber and Dill Oil
Finely diced cucumber garnished with fragrant dill oil. A bright, crisp texture refreshes the palate and announces the start of the course.
Appetizer
Turnip Carpaccio with Wild Berry Vinaigrette
Thinly sliced turnip paired with an emulsified vinaigrette of wild berry vinegar and olive oil. The turnip's inherent sweetness and earthy notes harmonize with the tartness.
Warm Appetizer
Onsen Egg with Spring Herb Cream
A gently cooked onsen egg at low temperature, topped with warm herb cream. The yielding yolk blends with the cream, imparting a rich and smooth flavor.
Grain Course
White Wine Spring Risotto
A risotto slowly stirred with white wine and young peas. The grain's texture is preserved for a satisfying bite, with a subtle acidity that cleanly finishes the aftertaste.
Main Course
Trout and Asparagus
Trout cooked sous vide in white wine butter sauce, accompanied by seasonal asparagus. The trout's mild, supple texture is accentuated, with a light sauce that highlights the seasonal vegetable's aroma.
Pre-Dessert
Lemon Sorbet
A refreshing lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate. The acidity lting on the tip of the tongue lifts the al's heaviness and leaves the mouth clear.
Dessert
Ricotta and Lemon Zest
Gently ward ricotta cheese topped with sweet honey and freshly grated lemon zest. The cheese's soft flavor and the lemon's bright aroma create a harmonious finish.
***
"Mm."
Coco grumbled.
"Mm...."
"Quite skilled at the art of expressing discontent passively."
"Mmm."
"I never taught you that."
Where did you learn it?
'Is there actually an internet connection sowhere I don't know about?'
Yeon-woo pondered Coco's daily improving social skills, despite not having had study sessions recently. For about three seconds. At any rate, developing communication abilities was probably a good thing.
"Are you worried about ?"
"Hello?"
"I'm fine."
"No."
"So you're the one who's not fine, is that it?"
"Yes."
"Still haven't learned modesty, I see."
A long road ahead.
"Do you think I'm offering goodwill beyond what's warranted?"
"Yes."
"Saying sothing that unkind when you can see right through ."
"Mmmm."
"Hah."
The possibility that it might be deliberate cuteness sent a chill down his spine.
"Well, it's not a conventional approach, I know."
It was indeed quite the wrong attitude for dealing with a senile old man bent on hunting you down like a rat.
"But we have to take the long view."
"How far?"
"If things go well, all the way through reconciliation."
"Not hello."
"Then I have to think about what cos after I lose, too."
"Vampire. Bohemia. Seventeenth century."
"Right, and even that's on the premise of winning the blood fight first."
Yeon-woo compulsively smoothed the creases from his sleeves until they lay flat. Perhaps because he'd always been sensitive by nature, these small disarrays had beco unbearable since his 'positive emotions' were torn away.
"Ultimately, The Guest Without Taste is still a guest at our hotel. Respecting his choices is part of what I need to do."
"Need to do?"
"Yes."
When a natural disaster cos, there's no use cursing the heavens—just open an umbrella. With an impassive face, he pressed the elevator button for the 14th Floor.
"Hello?"
"All right, shall I try being honest for once?"
"Agreed!"
"The truth is, I'm not all that fine."
A centuries-old vampire with no grip on sanity was indeed sothing else. There was no way not to be stressed by a problem guest who rewrote the ga's rules on a whim. Enough that even The Drenched One, who at least followed the rules, was starting to look good.
"But that doesn't an I intend to change my attitude."
"Mm."
"You can accept this situation with an easy mind. Just because the other party doesn't respect
doesn't an I must do the sa. That would be too... foolish...."
"Foolish. GWT."
"They say you have to watch every word around children."
I must be crazy. When did it even learn to abbreviate?
"Hehe."
"......"
Listening to laughter that resembled a child's, Yeon-woo let a small breath escape.
"...Those nus were designed for The Guest Without Taste in the first place. If I had to scrap them for emotional reasons, it would be a waste for either of us."
"Friend? Friend?"
"It's not impossible."
Just because his feelings had soured didn't an the Golden Egg-Laying Goose's identity had changed. Yeon-woo was still a high-value supplier to him, and The Guest Without Taste was a potential consur.
"Of course, that side probably can't see it that way."
That was all for lack of popularity. Even at his age, The Guest Without Taste had his immature aspects.
"Whether his gamble fails or succeeds, he believes the als I'm providing now are ones he'll never taste again. By the common sense of the world he knows, I suppose that's only natural."
If the hunt failed, there was no way Yeon-woo—having lost all his 'positive emotions' and had his life threatened—would serve him als personally. This was a special nu made for a 'friend,' after all.
If it succeeded, it would be after Yeon-woo had already been absorbed. In that case, too, there would be no special nu. What could Yeon-woo possibly do once he'd seeped in and beco a single drop of blood?
"So he can't refuse. Whether what's in it is dicine or poison, he's confident that eating it a few tis won't kill him, and there's the regret that if not now, he'll never eat it again."
"Hehe!"
"You're particularly delighted whenever I do sothing underhanded."
He was a good person. He liked delicious things, wanted to observe courtesy, wanted to be a good human. Losing one 'positive emotion' hadn't changed that fundantal 'humanity' of Yeon-woo's.
"And precisely because of that, I can read the other's psychology more easily...."
Coco, on the floor, looked up at him. Yeon-woo gave his shoulder a light brush and placed Coco atop it. Coco settled in with practiced ease, as always.
Fine goosebumps rose on the back of his neck, but he rely boarded the elevator with a composed face.
"There is one puzzling point. The fact that The Guest Without Taste didn't eat the rest of my emotions."
"Correct."
"Whether it's malice intended to prolong this hellish stretch, or because the remaining emotions aren't to his taste—I don't know. But whatever the reason, it's an excellent variable and welco news for ."
A whip only works if one can feel the pain.
"The last run went rather well."
He'd felt like he was going insane. His head spun. He'd amplified the self-reproaching voice and buried trivial sorrows, doggedly gathering ID Cards and records. Now only one record remained.
'Perfectly on track.'
So it was better to have no variables at all. Unlike the previous runs, if even one thing had changed, it would take more ti to adapt to his own condition.
"......"
Watching the numbers climb, Yeon-woo murmured.
"...I wish I were in a state to collect mory Cards as well."
He was already at the rcy of negative emotions as it was. Reflecting on what had happened when he'd checked the previous mory Cards, he judged that obtaining the 14th Floor's mory Cards would be detrintal to his emotional state.
Because of that, even as Yeon-woo diligently traversed the 14th Floor, he'd excluded mory Cards from his collection. His emotional frawork was already a wreck. He had no desire to stain a blank canvas with the psychologies of criminals.
"It's regrettable, but I accept it. I'm not in good shape."
Ding—
That insufferable chi.
"But soon, everything will be over."
"Yes."
"Just one more...."
Just one more record.
And he could obtain authorization for the Central Control Room.
"......"
"......"
Through the open elevator doors, he took in the now-familiar sight.
"...Hah...."
Soday, he would clean this place and dry it out.
***
As an addendum.
Recently, The Guest Without Taste's questions had decreased.
'—May I eat?'
...That question, specifically.
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