Chapter 58

“It’s edible.”

I scooped some curry with a ladle and tasted it. The unique aroma of curry along with a sweet flavor was quite decent.

Since it was my first time cooking in large quantities, I was worried if it would taste good, but well, curry is a dish that’s hard to mess up.

Now, the only thing left is canned coffee. The problem is, the recipe doesn’t specify how much coffee to add.

I need to figure this out. How much should I add?

Hmm.

I opened a can, took a sip, and poured the rest in.

Even after stirring with a ladle, the color didn’t change much. It seemed like one can wouldn’t make much of a difference, so I added two more cans.

After that, the curry turned a darker color, and I thought this should be enough.

The rice cookers were from Dusik’s house, and the minions who had their own rice cookers brought them over. There were seven rice cookers cooking simultaneously, which was quite a sight.

Since I, the boss, was personally cooking, Dusik and Sohee naturally started scooping rice from the rice cookers for the minions.

Good.

This is an ideal scene.

It’s not right for the boss to just sit around and do nothing.

Leading by example and taking the initiative is how you earn the trust and loyalty of your subordinates.

“Dusik, Sohee.”

“Yes!”

“Bring the rice over here. I’ll serve the curry.”

“We can do it ourselves.”

The minions were sitting around the living room while I was busily moving around the kitchen alone. Dusik and Sohee seemed quite dissatisfied with that.

“It’s fine. Sometimes it’s like this. It’s not like we’re a big organization; there are only twenty of us. Small businesses run on the strength of their employees. Got it?”

Even if I say that, would they understand?

I’m probably the only one who’s experienced this.

Anyway, I generously poured curry over each bowl of rice that piled up on the table.

Dusik and Sohee diligently carried the steaming curry rice to the minions sitting in front of them.

And with a yellow fork, they scooped rice into the bowls, making it easier for Kabe and Bedel to eat by cutting the meat, carrots, and potatoes into small pieces.

I should personally serve my own kids.

The two sitting at the children’s table opened their mouths wide as they looked at the bowls in front of them.

The smell must be good.

The meal preparation was complete.

Only my seat at the head of the table remained, with Dusik and Sohee sitting on the right and left respectively.

I hadn’t sat down yet and stood, looking around at the minions.

When I first arrived, there were twenty-seven minions, but now ten had disappeared.

Keru said that if summoned again, they might return, but whether the vanished minions would come back or new ones would appear was uncertain.

That means the minions who remember this moment are all here now.

Even though they are pseudo-life forms created by magic, they are alive, breathing, and each has their own desires.

They trust and follow me, calling me mother and offering unwavering loyalty.

I have a duty to repay them for the weight of that loyalty.

“Everyone must be hungry, so I’ll keep it short. You’ve all worked hard, and I hope you’ll continue to follow the commands of Sohee and Dusik here. That’s all. Let’s eat.”

“Thank you for the meal!”

I finally sat down and decided to eat.

I mixed the sticky curry with the rice and took a bite…

Why does this taste like this?

Huh?

Wait a minute.

Why does this taste so weird?

When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it wasn’t amazing but definitely decent. But now, it’s just overwhelmingly sweet, like I poured sugar into it, and there’s this weird, musty smell instead of caramel.

“Older sister, did you add coffee…?”

“Huh? Yeah, I added some…”

“How many cans…?”

Dusik whispered into my ear, asking how many? I felt a bit puzzled by the word “cans.”

“Well, I added three cans…”

“What?! Older sister, no way.”

Dusik almost shouted but quickly covered his mouth.

What’s going on?

I had a sudden realization that I might have messed up.

“Older sister, the recipe says to add about half a spoon of coffee mix for ten servings…”

“What? Really?”

So for twenty servings, one can would have been enough?

I added three cans?

Now that I think about it, the minions’ expressions weren’t great either.

Some in the corner were playing rock-paper-scissors, and the loser had to take more than half of the rice from their bowl.

“Ugh.”

I heard a sound like someone was about to throw up and saw it was Sohee.

Her already pale face turned even paler, and she stuffed her cheeks with rice, trying to swallow but it seemed stuck in her throat.

I was drinking cola when Sohee and I made eye contact.

“Older sister, it’s really delicious. A culinary masterpiece.”

Who’s she trying to fool?

“Mom, it’s really tasty.”

Kabe was smiling brightly at me. Maybe the sweetness suits the kids’ taste…?

Anyway, this is not something humans should eat.

Even though I made it, this is just too much.

“Sohee.”

“Yes, older sister.”

“Collect all the kids’ bowls. Dusik, order some jajangmyeon. One for every four people, and get some tangsuyuk too.”

“But older sister, it’s a waste to throw this away…”

“If it’s not good for us, it’s not good for the kids either. We can’t feed them this.”

It’s a waste of ingredients and time, but there’s no other choice.

We can’t serve this as food.

It’s better to make it again later; this is just torture with food.

“Hurry up. The kids are hungry.”

Since twenty people were eating, a full garbage bag came out.

Adding the leftover curry made it even fuller.

What a waste.

I checked the recipe site carefully, and it was there.

It said adding coffee makes it tastier, but only a little. Half a spoon of coffee mix is perfect for ten servings.

If I had read it carefully, I wouldn’t have messed up. I should just keep quiet.

Not long after, jajangmyeon, jjamppong, tangsuyuk, and more were delivered, and we managed to have a somewhat late lunch.

“Older sister, have some coffee.”

“Thanks.”

After finishing the meal, the minions each made a cup of coffee and started gathering in the living room.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

It was Kabe’s voice, but it sounded a bit teary. I quickly looked and saw Kabe standing in front of me with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry…”

“Huh? Kabe, what’s wrong? Did you do something wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Sniff, Mom… Sniff… I’m sorry… Sniff…”

Kabe suddenly burst into tears.

The sudden crying made the atmosphere in the living room turn cold.

I put down my coffee cup and hurriedly hugged Kabe, sitting her on my lap.

She was crying so bitterly, tears streaming down like chicken droppings, while I was completely clueless and panicking.

“Actually, I, sniff, lied to you, Mom…”

“Lied?”

What?

What did she lie about?

I have no idea.

“Earlier, the curry…”

“Yes, what about the curry?”

“It was, sniff, really bad…”

…Huh?

“I told you it was delicious, sniff, but I lied… I’m sorry…”

I remember Kabe saying the curry was really delicious.

In short, the curry was really bad, but she lied and said it was delicious, and now she’s crying because she feels guilty for lying to me.

“It was really, really bad… but I said it was delicious, and I’m sorry, Mom… I messed up… Sniff.”

I wiped the tears from Kabe’s eyes.

But why do I feel like crying too?

“Hey, don’t laugh.”

Someone couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing, so Dusik tried to control the minions’ expressions.

But Dusik, I can see you.

You’re laughing too.