Chapter 352
After that, Kurt’s group found Jungwoo in an alley, holding the fallen Elsee and a cat, unable to do anything.
Upon discovering them, Jungwoo begged them to save Elsee, startling the group, who quickly approached to check Elsee’s condition.
Fortunately, Elsee had bruises all over but no serious injuries like broken bones or internal damage. Relieved, they sighed in relief and took Jungwoo and Elsee to the Adventurer Guild for treatment.
By the time they finished the first aid, Kurt returned to the guild after finishing his business.
“Mr. Kurt! Where have you been!? The kids are…!”
“Sorry, I got delayed with some cleanup.”
“Cleanup…?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Kurt brushed off the group’s questions and went straight to Elsee and Jungwoo.
“So, are you okay?”
“Lizardman! I’m fine, but…”
Jungwoo cautiously glanced at Elsee in response to Kurt’s question.
Kurt’s gaze naturally followed Jungwoo’s and landed on Elsee.
Elsee, who had been lying down, hurriedly sat up under Kurt’s gaze.
Even though Kurt wouldn’t scold him for lying down, a 2-meter-tall Lizardman was intimidating enough just by existing, especially to a child under ten.
Moreover, while Jungwoo was friendly and had a rapport with Kurt, Elsee only knew Kurt through Jungwoo and had never properly talked to him, making it even more awkward.
“I heard. You took the hits to protect Jungwoo.”
“I-I’m fine! Ouch…! Ow ow ow…!”
“Elsee! Are you okay!?”
Startled by the sudden attention from the usually intimidating Lizardman, Elsee straightened up and answered nervously.
But sitting up so suddenly made his injuries ache, and he immediately clutched his wounds.
Kurt smiled approvingly and patted Elsee’s head.
Pat pat
“Well done.”
“Huh? Ah… Yeah.”
Elsee, not expecting praise, thanked him with a dazed expression.
Kurt, seeing Elsee’s bewildered state, turned to Mari for confirmation.
“By the way, Mari. You said his injuries aren’t that serious, right?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. He has some bad bruises that’ll take time to heal, but no internal damage or broken bones.”
“Hmm. Then he won’t need to eat porridge or anything.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Mari, understanding what Kurt meant, smiled softly and replied. Kurt then smiled and looked at Jungwoo and Elsee.
“Alright. Then eat before you go home. I’ll contact your families.”
Elsee waved his hands in refusal at Kurt’s words.
Considering he had refused the potato chips earlier, even claiming he didn’t like potatoes, this reaction was expected.
But no matter how much Elsee refused, what could he really do?
At most, he could wave his hands or keep saying he was fine.
Of course, Kurt wouldn’t listen.
He naturally ignored Elsee’s refusal and headed into the kitchen.
“Really, I’m fine…”
“It’s okay. It’s okay. Mr. Kurt is an amazing cook.”
“No, that’s not why I’m refusing…”
After waiting anxiously for several minutes…
Creak
“Hmm. Sorry for the wait.”
“Ah, no! I didn’t wait long at all!”
Clatter
“Hmm. Alright. Anyway, it’s done. Enjoy.”
Kurt, coming out of the kitchen, skillfully placed plates of food in front of Elsee and Jungwoo.
“This is… a treasure chest?”
Elsee, forgetting his nervousness, muttered as he looked at the dish.
…
…
…
A moment earlier.
Kurt, entering the kitchen, pondered.
He wanted to make sure today didn’t end as a bad memory for Elsee and Jungwoo and to praise Elsee with the best dish.
So, the theme was a dish for kids.
Sweet and salty, not too strong, and just oily enough to appeal to children’s tastes.
First, he thought of the Hamburger Steak he had once made for Jungwoo.
The patty, seasoned with salt, would burst with juices upon the first bite, and the demi-glace sauce’s sweet and salty harmony would hit the kids’ taste buds perfectly.
Though he hadn’t done a survey, it was a stable, high-preference dish that would rank in the top five for kids.
“But I already made Hamburger Steak once before, so it might lack impact…”
Next, he thought of Tonkatsu.
Similarly meat-based, the crispy breading would lock in the juices, offering a unique texture Hamburger Steak couldn’t provide.
It would also rank in the top five for kids.
“But I just gave them potato chips as a snack, so another fried dish might feel repetitive…”
Then, he thought of Omelet Rice.
The bright yellow oval base with red ketchup swirls offered a visual appeal Hamburger Steak and Tonkatsu couldn’t match.
It was also a top-five dish for kids.
But…
“Hmm… Omelet Rice is popular, but compared to meat-based dishes like Hamburger Steak or Tonkatsu, it feels lacking.”
Despite considering three dishes, Kurt frowned, unsatisfied.
Each had its merits, but none felt like the ultimate choice.
So, Kurt went back to his childhood, recalling what he liked to eat.
Perhaps his own experience would spark an idea.
“Kid’s menu… As a Lizardman, I ate bloody meat and bitter grass, so that’s out…”
Recalling his human past, Kurt suddenly remembered.
“That’s it!”
The perfect dish for kids.
…
…
…
Back to the present, Elsee, realizing what he had said, blushed.
“A treasure chest? I’m not a kid…!”
Of course, he was a kid, but Elsee still felt embarrassed and glanced around.
But no one seemed to care, so he sighed in relief and looked at the dish again.
Gulp
The dish truly looked like a treasure chest made of food.
Not that it looked like actual jewels, but each item was like a gem to a child.
Two thick, oval Hamburger Steaks, perfectly browned, lay side by side.
On the other side of the plate, separated from the sauce, were crispy Mini Tonkatsu and chicken nuggets, sized just right for an adult to eat in one bite, along with cute smiley-faced fried potatoes.
The smiley potatoes were likely made with a mold, as shaping them by hand in such a short time would require superhuman skill.
But the most eye-catching was the bright yellow omelet in the center, bulging like a round island.
Ketchup swirled in an S-shape, dyeing the golden surface red, and a small wooden flag stood cutely at the omelet’s peak.
The wooden flag, though purely decorative, looked incredibly cool.
Any of these dishes would make a child’s heart race just hearing they’d have it for dinner.
And having them all on one plate?
It was truly dazzling.
This was Kurt’s choice.
If all three dishes were appealing but hard to choose, why not combine them into one plate?
Thinking back, that’s what kids did.
When asked to pick a favorite dish, they’d struggle over the menu and eventually choose a kid’s set to try a bit of everything.
In the end, kids love not just savoring one dish but the idea of tasting everything.
Unlike adults, who learn to choose and let go, kids are full of dreams.
Thus, the Hamburger & Tonkatsu & Omelet Rice Kid’s Set.
“Wow…”
Elsee, looking at the plate filled with a child’s dreams, let out another pure exclamation.