Chapter 24: First Date
A curious woman who had been pretending to walk away suddenly turned back and stepped closer, her eyes locked on Hyun-woo.
“Hey… are you a man?” she asked, unable to hide her surprise.
Hyun-woo didn’t miss a beat. He grabbed his own chest with both hands and squeezed dramatically.
“Nope! Who said I was a man? I’m just a woman with really small boobies,” he replied with a straight face.
Stheno stared at him with a completely blank expression. What the actual fuck are you saying? she thought.
Instead of snapping at him, she turned her sharp gaze toward the nosy woman who was getting a little too close to Hyun-woo. She could clearly see the faint glow of a charm ability around her—the kind meant to make men loose-lipped and friendly.
“Hey! Don’t you have any work to do?” Stheno said firmly, walking straight toward her.
The woman froze the moment she realized who was speaking. Her face went pale.
“Y-Yes! Of course, Mistress Stheno!” she stammered, nearly tripping over her own feet as she hurried away.
The other women who had been slowly drifting closer immediately stopped in their tracks. No one wanted to test a Gorgon sister’s patience. They quickly scattered, pretending they hadn’t been staring.
Stheno let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I guess it was a mistake bringing you here,” she muttered. She had wanted a normal, peaceful date—just the two of them walking around, enjoying the night like any other couple. Instead, they were already the center of unwanted attention.
Hyun-woo noticed her mood drop right away. He could guess what she was feeling. This was her first real date in who knows how long, and she just wanted to enjoy it without drama.
Even though it was the middle of the night, the market was still lively. The streets were full of people—well, full of women. Lanterns and floating crystals lit up the area, and the scent of street food filled the air.
Instead of letting her stay down, Hyun-woo quietly reached out and took her hand, gently lacing their fingers together.
Stheno instinctively looked up at him.
“Hey, don’t mind them,” he said softly. “It’s our fault anyway. We should’ve changed our appearances before coming here.”
Hearing that, Stheno relaxed a little. The tension in her shoulders eased, though it didn’t disappear completely.
Seeing that she was still a bit tense, Hyun-woo bumped her shoulder lightly to change the subject. “Anyway, take me someplace nice. I’m hungry.”
“Okay,” Stheno replied. She still didn't say much, but she did start walking.
Hyun-woo grinned, happy to see her trying to move past it. “Lead the way, Mistress Stheno,” he teased. “I’ll follow my beautiful date wherever she wants.”
Stheno huffed, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward into a small smile. She didn’t let go of his hand as she pulled him deeper into the vibrant night market, the golden lights of the dome shimmering above them.
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Stheno had a specific place in mind from the start.
She led him to a stylish open-air restaurant nestled beside the central plaza. Warm amber light spilled out from under a beautiful wooden roof wrapped in glowing vines. A large iron teppanyaki grill sat prominently in the center, surrounded by semi-private tables with soft, comfortable seating.
“This is the place,” Stheno said with a small, confident smirk. “I’ve wanted to bring someone here for a long time. They cook everything right in front of you.”
She was clearly in a better mood now, the earlier annoyance fading away as excitement took its place.
As they stepped inside the restaurant, Stheno walked straight up to the receptionist. The woman behind the counter looked surprised for a split second when she saw who it was, but she quickly recovered and gave a respectful bow.
Within moments, they were escorted to the best table in the house, right beside the glowing iron grill. Floating crystals hovered overhead, casting an intimate golden light over everything. Soft music from magical wind chimes blended with the distant, lively buzz of the night market, making the whole place feel cozy and romantic.
While they waited for the chef, a question popped into Hyun-woo’s head.
“So you already had a reservation?” he asked.
“Yep,” Stheno replied casually.
Hyun-woo raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘yep’?”
Stheno leaned back in her seat, a playful smirk forming on her lips. She could tell he was curious and decided to tease him a little. “What do you want to know?” she asked innocently.
Hyun-woo narrowed his eyes. Time to mess with her a bit, he thought. “Did you already plan a date with me before we even met, you psycho pervert?”
Stheno blinked, completely caught off guard. “W-What the hell are you saying?!”
She had only meant to tease him and say she would have come here alone or with Ebonara. But as usual, Hyun-woo’s brain went straight to the dumbest possible conclusion.
Hyun-woo laughed and quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. I was just teasing ya.”
He knew she had really wanted a normal, peaceful date tonight. Stheno huffed, crossing her arms, but the corners of her mouth were twitching like she was fighting a smile.
Before she could fire back at him, the chef finally stepped up to the grill.
She was a normal human woman with neat black hair tied in a tight bun, sharp focused eyes, and a clean black chef’s coat. She moved with calm precision and professional grace as she prepared her station. No horns, no scales—just a highly skilled human who clearly took her craft seriously.
Stheno glanced at the chef and looked mildly surprised for a second, as if she recognized her from somewhere. But she quickly shrugged it off and turned her attention back to Hyun-woo, ignoring it completely. On the other hand, the chef didn't react to Stheno's status; she only gave them a polite bow and began her performance.
With practiced flair, she ignited controlled flames across the wide iron grill—blue at the edges, crimson in the center. Knives danced in her hands like silver extensions of her body. Ingredients flew through the air in elegant arcs before landing perfectly on the sizzling surface.
She started with Thunder Beef bacon, thick slices that crackled beautifully as golden fat rendered out. She tossed in glowing nightshade onions that sparkled like tiny stars when they hit the heat. A quick spray of citrus spirit and a dramatic flip turned the bacon perfectly crispy while the onions caramelized into sweet, smoky rings.
This was Hyun-woo's first time at a place like this, and he was absolutely ecstatic watching the chef's performance.
Next came the Crystal Shrimp—large, translucent prawns from mana-rich rivers. She seared them in garlic butter, then deglazed the grill with fermented dragon-plum wine. The shrimp turned a beautiful opalescent pink, releasing a sweet, tangy aroma that made both of them lean forward instinctively.
For the main course, she prepared two gorgeous cuts of Void-Tiger Steak. The deep red meat was richly marbled with glowing blue fat. She seasoned them simply with sea salt and crushed mana-pepper, then seared them with a burst of flame. The outside formed a perfect crust while the inside stayed incredibly juicy. When she sliced them tableside, blue-tinted juices flowed like liquid magic.
Alongside the steak, she stir-fried a colorful mix of Rainbow Forest Vegetables—vibrant purple carrots, sparkling emerald asparagus, and golden spirit corn—all tossed in a light soy-honey glaze with toasted sesame and edible glowing petals that left a pleasant, warm tingle on the tongue.
To finish, the chef made Flaming Love Cakes right on the grill. Small rounds of sweet rice batter cooked until golden, then topped with fresh moon-berries and warm chocolate infused with passionflower essence. She finished with a tall, elegant flame that caramelized the top into a crispy shell while keeping the inside soft and gooey.
Throughout the entire cooking show, Hyun-woo and Stheno kept stealing glances at each other. This was the first real date either of them had ever gone on, and because of that, the atmosphere between them felt electric.
At one point, while the chef was busy flipping shrimp high into the air with dramatic flair, Hyun-woo reached under the table and gently took Stheno’s hand. She didn’t pull away.
Instead, she laced their fingers together and gave him a soft squeeze. Her usual tough expression softened into something warmer and almost shy.
“You really planned all this, huh?” Hyun-woo asked quietly, smiling. “This is my first time doing something like this, but it’s way more amazing than I imagined. So… thank you.”
Stheno shrugged, trying to act casual, but her cheeks turned a faint pink. Being thanked so sincerely by a man was new to her. She was momentarily lost for words.
“I… yeah,” she managed, looking a little flustered.
When the chef finished plating their food with a final graceful bow and left them alone, the table felt even more intimate. They were on the second floor, with a perfect view of the glowing market below.
The warm golden light from the floating crystals, the delicious smells rising from the plates, and the soft background noise of the lively streets made everything feel special and romantic.
Hyun-woo cut a piece of the perfectly cooked Void-Tiger steak and held the fork out to her.
“Here, baby,” he teased with a playful grin.
Stheno’s cheeks flushed pink again, but she leaned in without hesitation and ate it straight from his fork. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment as she savored the taste.
“Fuck… that’s amazing,” she whispered, clearly impressed.
Hyun-woo laughed softly and took a bite himself. The rich, savory flavor practically melted in his mouth—perfectly seared on the outside and incredibly juicy inside.
They spent the rest of the meal feeding each other small bites, laughing at the chef’s dramatic flames from earlier, and talking about everything and nothing. The romantic atmosphere, the incredible food, and the gentle lighting made the moment feel truly magical.
For the first time in centuries, Stheno looked genuinely relaxed and happy.
As they finished the last of the warm, gooey Flaming Love Cakes, she looked at him across the table. Her golden-red eyes were soft in the golden light.
“…Thank you for coming with me,” she said quietly. “This is better than I imagined.”
Hyun-woo smiled and gently wiped a tiny bit of chocolate from the corner of her lip with his thumb.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. Best first date I’ve ever had.”
Stheno huffed, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. “What are you talking about? Don’t talk like the date is over. Let’s go walk around the market. The day is still young.”
Hyun-woo raised an eyebrow. “It’s literally night.”
“Don’t mind the small details,” Stheno replied with a smirk, already standing up and reaching for his hand.
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Chapter 34 is now available on Patreon.