Chapter 80
The trust Hong Man-gi had built over time.
And the memories of the miraculous food people had tasted at the Full Moon Restaurant.
Those things made them hesitate.
'Damn it....'
Bae Seok-hun became nervous.
There were too many people watching for him to simply crush Hong Man-gi through force.
Hong Man-gi did not miss the opening.
He raised the mushroom high and spoke clearly to everyone present.
"Everyone, look carefully."
He continued.
"They claim this is a Black Mist Mushroom, a poisonous mushroom that grows naturally."
Hong Man-gi's eyes sharpened.
"But what if someone artificially injected poison into an ordinary ingredient?"
The crowd grew quiet.
"And what if I can separate only that poison, then turn this ingredient back into a perfectly safe dish?"
He looked around.
"Wouldn't that make it obvious who is lying?"
Hong Man-gi's reasoning was clear.
If he could use these mushrooms to create an antidote dish and save the rampaging Hunter,
that would prove the problem was not caused by the natural ingredient itself.
It would prove outside interference.
Bae Seok-hun snorted.
"Hah. What ridiculous logic. Separate the poison? Do you think a chef is some kind of magician?"
But the people around them clearly wanted to see Hong Man-gi prove his claim.
Bae Seok-hun read their expressions and awkwardly spoke.
"Fine. Go ahead and try."
His face hardened.
"But if you fail and that patient dies or suffers permanent damage, you will bear not only legal responsibility, but moral responsibility as well."
Bae Seok-hun stepped back while grinding his teeth.
'It's impossible anyway.'
Removing mana poison already spread throughout a Hunter's body, then using the contaminated ingredient itself to create an antidote?
Even an A-rank healer could not accomplish something like that.
Hong Man-gi spoke briefly toward Kang Jae-min, who was still covered in sweat while restraining the customer.
"Jae-min, hold on a little longer. I'll finish quickly."
"Ugh... yes! I trust you, Chef! But please hurry! This guy's strength is insane!"
Kang Jae-min answered while panting.
Hong Man-gi looked at Lee Yu-han.
Lee Yu-han tried to step forward to help.
Hong Man-gi shook his head.
"No, Yu-han. I'm doing this alone."
Lee Yu-han froze.
"You keep the customers behind the safety line and help Jae-min."
This task required him to push the abilities of the Gourmet Alchemist to their limit.
It was a precise and dangerous operation.
If Lee Yu-han stayed too close, he could become exposed to the extracted poison.
Then,
"Poming, ready?"
Poming, who had been curled up on Hong Man-gi's shoulder, flew into the air with a determined expression.
"Of course! Chef! Let's crush those bad guys and wipe those smug looks off their faces!"
Hong Man-gi walked into the middle of the ruined kitchen.
He took out a cutting board and placed a handful of the Black Mist Mushrooms on top.
Every eye in the restaurant focused on his hands.
The tension became so intense that even breathing seemed loud.
Hong Man-gi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He gathered the knowledge inherited from Cha Gang-il and combined it with the cooking instincts he had developed himself.
'I can see it.'
His eyes opened.
Golden mana began rotating faintly within his pupils.
[Skill Activated: Material Reconstruction, Toxin Extraction and Purification]
"Separate."
The quiet command left his lips.
Then,
[Fwoooooosh.]
The gray mushrooms on the cutting board began vibrating slightly.
Black, sticky mist slowly rose from their surfaces.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Black smoke... is coming out of the mushrooms?"
The watching people murmured in shock.
Even Bae Seok-hun's eyes widened.
Hong Man-gi's hands moved smoothly through the air like a conductor leading an orchestra.
The black toxin leaving the mushrooms floated upward and began gathering into a single sphere.
It was a mass of impure mana that had been artificially injected.
[Crackle! Pop!]
Once the toxin left them, the mushrooms began returning to their natural color.
The dull gray vanished.
The fresh, pale ivory color of newly harvested oyster mushrooms appeared underneath.
Their shriveled surfaces filled with life again and became firm and fresh.
"Impossible...."
"Is that magic? Or alchemy?"
The reporters forgot even to press their shutters.
Their mouths hung open as they watched.
"Is that really cooking?"
"Maybe it's some kind of purification ritual?"
With one gesture, Hong Man-gi sent the sphere of black toxin flying into an empty bottle in the corner.
[Clink.]
The poison was sealed inside.
He immediately picked up the purified mushrooms.
"Poming! Broth!"
"Yeees! Full Moon Essence broth, prepared in advance!"
Poming struggled while carrying over a small broth container.
Hong Man-gi poured the broth into a pot and lit the fire.
[Whoooosh!]
The flames rose.
He added the purified mushrooms into the boiling broth.
Then he took a leaf of Poison Heart Herb from his inventory.
"Lavender, chamomile, and... one Poison Heart Herb leaf."
As he added the ingredients, the fragrance instantly changed.
Only moments ago, the restaurant had been filled with the smell of blood, murderous tension, and dusty air from broken furniture.
All of it vanished as if it had been a lie.
A clean and refreshing fragrance spread through the room, like morning air deep inside a forest.
"Ah...."
The watching customers' expressions relaxed.
Simply smelling the aroma seemed to calm their tense nerves.
Even the rampaging Hunter struggling on the floor paused for a brief moment.
"That's... surprisingly savory."
"I feel... calmer."
Bae Seok-hun panicked.
The atmosphere had completely shifted toward Hong Man-gi.
"Th, that's hypnotic gas! Everyone cover your noses!"
He shouted desperately.
