Chapter 6

It's red.

Very, very red.

The entire dish is very, very red.

"Miss, what is this?"

He asked, pausing after each word, with a slight air of intimidation. Geanoote had indeed ordered a noodle dish.

"The customer, this is spaghetti. Napoletana."

The waitress replied, not backing down, with a bright smile. She had quite some nerve. Not that Geanoote was intimidated, but he lowered his gaze to his plate. It was red, indeed. This red reminded him of the red eggplant he hadn't eaten in a long time. But it was red. He had never seen such a long, red noodle dish, even in the southern part of the empire where he grew up. Even with ground meat or a broth, the dishes were designed with a more subdued color palette.

The toppings were quite simple.

Bell peppers, onions, and bacon. In the empire, where vegetables were scarce, the green of the bell peppers was nostalgic and welcome. The bacon, surprisingly, was not a thin, meager slice but a thick, substantial piece.

"Oh, you noticed? This thick-cut bacon is the barkeep's late-night snack."

Geanoote nodded in understanding. If it was meant to be the barkeep's late-night snack, the thickness made sense.

Still, to be able to serve such a luxurious snack, they must have some leeway.

Excessive luxury should be discouraged, which means this could also be a subject for tax examination.

While thinking about this, he brought the spaghetti to his mouth.

Sweet?

No, it wasn't just sweet.

The sweetness and acidity of the red eggplant were well blended with the noodles.

The cooking was perfect.

Just a hint of firmness remained in the center, or perhaps not.

This waitress, she wasn't just an ordinary server.

However, he couldn't stop.

Somehow, the overall taste was childish.

It wasn't something a person like Geanoote, who held a seat in the city council, should be eating.

But he couldn't stop.

What was this "sticky" deliciousness that spread in his mouth?

"Oh, customer, would you like cheese and Tabasco?"

"Cheese and... Tabasco?"

"Yes, I'll leave them here."

The waitress placed two containers on the table. A green cylindrical container and a red glass bottle. The cylindrical one seemed to contain grated cheese.

He tried a bite with the grated cheese.

Delicious.

Indeed, the person who came up with this combination was a genius.

He would likely become a famous chef, but Geanoote could recommend him for a seat on the city council.

Now, the other one.

The waitress had said "Tabasco," right?

Geanoote hesitantly sprinkled the contents of the bottle onto the spaghetti Napoletana.

Life.

The universe.

The answer to everything.

At that moment, Geanoote received a revelation.

The harmony of sweetness, sourness, and spiciness in his mouth.

The bitterness from the bell peppers, the smoothness from the onions, and the richness from the thick-cut bacon blended into a complex flavor.

This was a miracle.

The love of God brought to earth.

A holy scripture in the form of spaghetti.

Without caring about getting his mouth dirty, Geanoote devoured the spaghetti Napoletana.

What a meeting, what happiness.

Before he knew it, the plate was empty.

He felt ashamed of his initial thought that it tasted childish.

It was indeed a taste that reminded him of his forgotten childhood, a taste for which this noodle dish was made.

And that wonderful flavor.

The integrated taste taught him the beauty of life and the dignity of the universe.

Even the now-empty white plate seemed to teach him about the impermanence of life.

"Oh, customer... You ate so quickly. Were you that hungry?"

"Hmm, no, that's not it. No, it was a really delicious spaghetti. Thank you, miss."

Saying this, Geanoote took out his wallet and picked out a large gold coin.

"Oh, a gold coin? We don't have that much change..."

"I don't need change."

"Uh? But, um..."

"Then, I'll take my leave."

"Shouldn't you wait for the barkeep?"

"No, it's fine. From a place like this."

Turning his back, Geanoote quietly left.

He decided to quit his job, which made him hated by people. He would donate his earnings somewhere... maybe even return to his hometown.

While walking, he felt that people on the street were smiling at him.

Such days made him feel very good.

"He's gone..."

Shinobu put away the napkin she was about to give him.

She thought he might be laughed at by others with ketchup around his mouth, but she decided to keep that thought in her heart's treasure box.