Chapter 29: Lua’s Fang and the Unpierceable Manager
Alright, with the cooking tools mostly ready, let’s start the cooking class again.
First, using the makeshift but well-prepared tools, I chop the ingredients.
Swish…
I place them one by one into the wok, coated with cooking oil.
For our refined little guest’s taste, the ingredients are as follows:
Finely chopped onions and green onions.
Diced Vienna sausages.
Freshly minced beef.
Carrots? They’d make it tasty, but our picky guest specifically said no, so we’ll skip them today.
Sizzle!!
In the well-heated wok.
I add the ingredients, frying them in order, starting with those that need more time.
Sure, I could toss them all in at once for a basic omelet rice.
But as a proud ‘apartment chef,’ I’d never settle for such an amateur move.
As the ingredients cook to a golden perfection in order.
I add butter, ketchup, and a touch of soy sauce, frying them gently.
Sizzle!!
Swish!!
When the butter’s creamy aroma, ketchup’s sweet-tangy flavor, and a hint of soy sauce blend perfectly with the vegetables.
It’s time to add the cold instant rice.
Thud!!
Sizzle!!
‘Make sure the rice grains stay separate for that fluffy texture…!’
With the heat on medium-low, I stir tirelessly to mix the sauce and rice evenly.
But I’m careful not to overcook, or the ingredients’ texture could be ruined.
Thud!!
‘Alright, done.’
The rice is perfectly cooked.
But it’s not complete yet.
Because the star of an omelet rice—the delicious rice covered with a beautiful egg sheet—is still to come.
I set the wok with the fried rice aside and grab a glass bowl to whisk eggs smoothly.
And another frying pan from the drawer under the sink.
Clank!!
I open the old fridge again and take out two of the freshest eggs.
You might say I could transfer the rice and use the wok to cook the egg sheet—less hassle.
But that wouldn’t make a perfect omelet rice.
The egg sheet is the ‘flower’ and ‘highlight’ of this dish.
Using the same wok used for the rice would taint the pure egg flavor and aroma—a basic rule, isn’t it?
Just because washing dishes is a chore, I’d never ruin a dish for the sake of convenience.
I refuse to compromise.
Crack!
Crack!
I break two eggs into the glass bowl.
And whisk them thoroughly with a spoon to make them as smooth as possible.
Normally, I’d strain them through a sieve to remove the chalaza for perfection.
But sadly, there’s no sieve here, so this will have to do.
Whisk!!
Whisk!!
‘Alright, this should be good enough.’
Sizzle!!
I pour the smooth egg mixture into a well-heated frying pan to make a perfect egg sheet.
Then place it over the cooled, perfectly flavored fried rice.
And there you have it—a perfect room-service omelet rice.
But let’s not forget what our cute little guest specifically requested.
‘Bring me an omelet rice with a cute kitty drawn in ketchup on top of a round egg. You can manage that, right?’
She clearly asked for a kitty drawn in ketchup on the round egg sheet.
‘…I’m terrible at drawing. This is bad.’
In my apartment, I’ve tried many things, but the one thing I’ve never succeeded at.
Is drawing.
I can’t even sketch a decent apple with a pencil.
Can I really draw a ‘cute kitty’ with ketchup that’ll satisfy Lua?
‘…Sigh.’
It’s a daunting situation, but what can I do?
It’s the guest’s request, so I have to try.
“Phew…!!”
With a deep breath.
I grab the ketchup bottle and start drawing a ‘cute kitty’ on the steaming omelet rice.
Squirt!!
Squirt!!
After a minute of focused drawing.
‘…This is ugly.’
Looking at the misshapen kitty and heart on the omelet rice, I can’t help but chuckle.
Well, in some way, it’s kind of cute, so maybe she’ll let it slide?
‘…No, it’s way too ugly.’
Even my optimistic reasoning and self-justification can’t call this ketchup kitty ‘cute.’
‘…She’s gonna cry when she sees this.’
My negative thoughts kick in, imagining Lua sobbing at the sight of this drawing.
But there’s not enough time to make another one and try again.
Resigned, I hope she won’t cry.
And carry the plate of omelet rice out of the kitchen.
Just three steps from the kitchen door.
Crunch!!
Staring at the omelet rice while walking, I step on something cold and metallic, making a crushing sound.
“What’s this?”
Checking under my foot.
“A knife? Why’s it standing upright?”
The knife from the ceiling shelf, oddly standing upright on the floor, is now crushed under my foot.
‘Tch, what a waste. I’ll have to fix it later.’
It’s a pity I ruined a knife due to my carelessness.
But I can reshape it later, so I brush it off and leave the kitchen with the omelet rice.
Back in front of Room 105.
It’s 4:29 a.m., one minute ahead of Lua’s scheduled time.
A perfectly made apartment-style omelet rice.
Except for the ‘ugly kitty’ drawn on the egg sheet, everything is perfect.
‘Please… don’t cry…!!’
Hoping she won’t run off sobbing at the sight of this ugly kitty.
As the clock hits 4:30 a.m., I cautiously call out.
“Lua?”
…
No response for some reason.
Knock!!
Knock!!
I hear footsteps inside, so she’s definitely there.
Why isn’t she opening the door?
‘Oh, wait…’
“Lady Lua? Your meal has arrived.”
Creak…
The door, locked when I called her ‘Lua,’ swings open the moment I say ‘my lady.’
“You arrived on time this time. I’ll praise you for that, manager.”
Lua praises me with a lofty, elegant expression.
The slight twitch of her lips betrays how much she loves being called ‘my lady.’
Enjoying her cute reaction with a warm smile.
“Now, hurry and present the omelet rice with the ‘cute kitty’ drawn on it.”
“…Gulp.”
Her voice pulls me back to the reality of the ‘ugly kitty.’
“What are you doing? Bring it to me now!”
“Uh, well…”
The perfect omelet rice with an imperfect kitty drawing.
Hesitating to show it, I falter, and Lua, now sulky, stares at me.
“I’m hungry! Show it to me!”
Snatch!!
She swiftly grabs the plate from my hands.
“This… this is…”
“….”
Unable to face Lua’s reaction.
I cover my eyes and pray desperately to someone up above.
‘Please… please don’t let her cry… I’ll redo it if she asks…!!’
“This is…!!”
Her reaction comes as I pray.
“So cute…!!”
“…?”
“Wow…!! It’s super, super cute…!!”
For some reason, she’s calling the ugly kitty adorable.
Worried she’s just being polite, I study her expression closely.
“Wow…!!”
Her sparkling eyes genuinely adore the ugly kitty drawing.
‘…What a relief.’
Her unexpectedly positive reaction makes me sigh in relief.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied. I’ll take my leave now, my lady.”
I bow politely to Lua and turn to return to the kitchen.
Just as I start walking.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Lua stops me from heading back to the kitchen.
“…Huh?”
“You’re not planning to leave me alone during my meal, are you, pathetic manager?”
“Then where should I…”
“Sigh… So clueless. Do you think a lady like me can lift something as heavy as a ‘spoon’?”
“…??”
Creak.
“Come in. And at the table prepared inside, feed me this perfect kitty omelet rice.”
“Now, my lady, ahh~”
“Ahh~”
Nibble.
“Mmm… munch munch…”
“How is it? To your liking?”
“It’s delicious. I’ll praise you… munch munch…”
Led by Lua into Room 105, I’m feeding her the omelet rice like a mother bird feeding her chick.
To a third party, it might seem excessive for a manager to go this far, even for room service.
It could feel like a hassle.
But for some reason, every time Lua happily takes a bite.
My heart fills with ‘pride’ and ‘happiness’ rather than ‘annoyance.’
‘Is this what parents feel raising a child…!’
“Another bite, please, manager.”
“Of course, my lady. Ahh~”
“Ahh~”
Nibble.
“Mmm… munch munch…”
After feeding her all the omelet rice and gently wiping the sauce from her lips with a napkin.
“Mmm! Truly a satisfying meal!”
Lua flashes a satisfied smile.
Transforming from a cute chick being fed back into a refined noble lady.
“I’m so glad you’re pleased. I’ll take my leave now…”
Feeling refreshed after cooking away my fatigue, I start to leave the room.
“Wait, stay right there, pathetic manager.”
Once again, Lua stops me from leaving.
“Today started with rudeness, but it was truly a ‘satisfying day.’”
Click.
Click.
“So, I’ll grant you, the motel manager, one reward.”
“…A reward?”
Even though the service isn’t over, Lua says she’s satisfied and approaches me as I turn around.
The strange word ‘reward’ makes me pause.
Hug!!
Suddenly, Lua climbs onto my back.
And slowly opens her small mouth.
Revealing ‘sharp fangs’ hidden inside.
“Consider it an honor. For today, you’ll live ‘safely’ as my ‘kin.’”
With those words, Lua, perched on my back, bites my neck.
“Kyaa…”
Her small mouth, now menacing with sharp fangs, clamps down hard.
Chomp!!
Crunch!!
Her fangs sink in, and I should’ve become her kin for the day.
…That’s how it should’ve gone.
Crack!!
Crack!!
“What… what is this body…!? My fangs can’t pierce it…!!”
“Ow, that tickles, Lady Lua…”
“What… what is this…!!”
Sadly, Lua’s sharp fangs fail to pierce her intended kin’s shoulder and bounce off.
“This… this isn’t supposed to happen…!!”