Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Celebratory Dinner Preparations for the Completed House

Rumors about me.

I had anticipated such rumors would spread.

Because the Hunter industry is so sensitive to information.

"I have heard about it."

"As expected, you have heard. Moreover, there are even rumors that he makes dishes that permanently raise stats, so there is chaos in the Hunter community. Various guilds are also making inquiries to recruit him."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Even excluding the cooking, just having a large-capacity Subspace warehouse alone would make him special S-Grade among porters, would it not?"

"That would be so."

After that he talked about trending issues among Hunters these days.

I was listening and answering mechanically like a machine.

Owner, you like chatting, do you not.

"Ah, my. I talked too much."

"Not at all. I was listening with interest."

Since I had been living practically inside Rifts for a while, I was ignorant of outside news, so it was rather informative.

"Then, getting to the main point, I will first see what kind of Fruit Wine it is. Let me see."

He examined inside the transparent container of the Fruit Wine.

Then he tilted his head.

"What kind of fruit is this? The flesh is slightly red, but it is not a persimmon, and it is not a peach either."

Should I lie and say it is a cultivated apple variety?

Or should I speak based on facts to some extent?

After brief consideration I decided on the latter.

"It is a special fruit obtained from a Rift, and it tastes between apple and cherry."

"What? A fruit from a Rift, you say? This is the first time I have heard that such fruit grows in Rifts. But is there no poison in this fruit?"

"Yes, the component analysis results showed no poison, but just in case, I am making it into Fruit Wine so it neutralizes in alcohol."

The component analysis was done directly with my body.

It seems there are no problems for Hunters in particular.

If there had been toxicity, it would have appeared as a System message.

That is, there is no toxicity.

"Aha, so that is why you are making it into Fruit Wine. Then I will smell it intermittently and adjust to what degree it should ferment to be good."

"Yes, since you are an expert I will trust and leave it to you."

Even though I am from a chef background, regarding alcohol I cannot beat an expert.

Because each person has their own specialty field.

"Then I will go to the aging room and age it. It will take at least twenty minutes. Please look around at the wine in the meantime."

"Understood."

Saying so, he locked the shop door, then carrying the container with the Fruit Wine entered the aging room.

The aging room is a place that maintains optimal environment and temperature for fermenting wine.

I leisurely waited while looking at the wines.

Then after about ten minutes.

"Uah!"

A scream was heard from the aging room.

A moment later the owner came out.

While doing so he pointed at the aging room and asked me.

"Wh-what in the world is that?"

Is it what I expected?

"Why do you ask? Did something happen to the Fruit Wine?"

"A Buff on the Fruit Wine…… a Buff appeared."

As expected.

"Ah, is that so."

"Huh? You do not seem to think it is a big deal."

"I am a bit surprised."

Because I had been thinking it would be good if a Buff appeared, I was waiting for a reaction to come.

"Can you show me what kind of Buff it is?"

"What? Ah, yes. Of course. I will bring it."

Soon he brought the Fruit Wine container from the aging room.

I touched my hand to the container.

[C-Grade Master's Fruit Wine]

[Blessing of Dexterity effect per 200ml: All attribute resistance increases 15% for 5 hours. Pain reduction 30% when injured.]

[C-Grade Fruit effect: Freshness lasts long. Does not spoil easily.]

[Collaboration effect with wine master: The longer the Fruit Wine ages, the deeper the taste becomes and the Buff effect increases. (Buff effect increase maximum 2x limit)]

Attribute resistance and pain reduction.

A good Buff appeared.

But what is the collaboration effect?

It does not seem to be a skill the owner possesses, but seems like an option attached because the Fruit Wine is wine.

Originally wine gets better tasting the longer it ages.

But not just the taste, the Buff effect also improves.

At this rate I cannot stand it from curiosity?

"Owner."

"Yes, I know without you saying. You want to see the maximum Buff effect of the Fruit Wine, right?"

"Correct. How did you know?"

"I saw the same yearning as mine in your eyes. Those eyes are the eyes of one who explores new ingredients. And…… your identity must be that cook Hunter who is a hot topic these days. Not only a Subspace warehouse, but a Buff called Blessing of Dexterity even appeared on the Fruit Wine."

"Yes, I am probably that rumored Hunter."

I expected to be discovered once the Buff appeared.

So I coolly acknowledged it.

"As I thought."

"Then may I ask you to ferment it until the maximum Buff appears?"

"Of course! I will do it for free."

No, still free is a bit much.

It is work using Mana.

"The Mana consumption will be considerable so it will be hard for you, so naturally I must pay compensation."

"Not at all. As a wine expert I am a person who looks at future aged value rather than immediate profit."

Somehow a slightly cringeworthy yet cool statement.

The owner continued speaking.

"Therefore I will invest in the future."

"Investment, you say, what kind of……"

"How about making a contract with me? If you supply Fruit Wine, I will age it at our store and then sell it at a high price."

Hmm.

Not a bad idea?

I need this owner's fermentation skill too.

Moreover, thanks to the owner, a collaboration effect that can increase the Buff effect was even attached.

'It is a win-win for each other.'

However, such contracts must be approached carefully.

Especially regarding profit settlement ratios.

In times like this one must absolutely not go with a low posture.

However.

"I do not want much. A profit ratio of 9 to 1 would be sufficient. Naturally I am the 1."

The owner struck first.

And with a very low settlement ratio at that.

'What? I was going to propose me 8, owner 2.'

Still if that did not work I was going to propose 7.5 to 2.5.

If he wanted more than that I was going to make it as if the talk never happened.

But 9 to 1.

It was very unexpected that while aging and even doing consignment sales, and even adding a collaboration effect, he would only take 10%.

"Will you be okay with 10%?"

"Yes, it is sufficient. Since the fruit that becomes the Fruit Wine ingredient is fruit that can only be obtained in Rifts, and the Buff skill is also yours, it would be unconscionable if I took more than 1. And from this one ten-liter container, if we filter out the fruit, approximately seven liters of Fruit Wine will come out. Then since a Buff occurs per 200ml of Fruit Wine, if we divide it approximately 35 bottles will come out."

As expected of an expert.

He calculated it right away.

He asked me.

"If selling, how much per bottle are you thinking of selling at?"

Hmm, since I used C-Grade Applecherry, it should be sold much more expensively than the Applecherry juice I was selling in the Rift before.

Moreover since alcohol requires even aging, if I add that cost.

"Approximately 3.5 million won per bottle seems appropriate."

"At 3.5 million won for 35 bottles, the total is 122.5 million won. If I sell all of that, I will earn 12.25 million won. Not a small amount at all."

It is correct that it is not a small amount.

Then I earn over 100 million won.

The value of one ten-liter container of Fruit Wine was higher than I thought.

'Rin, you lovely creature……!'

Thanks to the Applecherry tree Rin grew, I will earn a lot of money.

Of course it is also thanks to Ria who brought Rin.

"Then let us discuss the detailed contents of the contract gradually."

"Understood. I did not introduce myself. I am Jang Benoit who runs this wine shop. Please comfortably call me Owner Jang."

A French-style name.

On his business card too, Korean and French are written together on the side.

"Yes, Owner Jang. I am An Seon-u."

"Yes, Seon-u. Then will you come to pick up this Fruit Wine tomorrow, or tonight? It seems it will take quite some time."

"Then I will come at night."

I greeted him and left Owner Jang's wine shop.

I feel good.

A good Buff attached so I am about to earn big money again.

'The attribute resistance and injury pain reduction attached to the wine are very valuable Buffs.'

The first floor dungeons of certain Rifts are said to be extremely cold or extremely hot.

Such dungeons mostly remain unconquered.

Being able to preempt and conquer such dungeons has great value.

Moreover, from the third floor onward there are said to be many Monsters that do attribute attacks.

Therefore it will surely become a very useful Buff item.

'Good.'

Indeed only when the bankbook and wallet are ample does a person become relaxed.

I went shopping with a lightened heart.

First I purchased fresh ingredients.

At the hardware store I purchased industrial steel balls in bulk.

Purchased as projectiles for Acresia's 'discharge' skill.

'Later I should buy additional weapons from blacksmith grandfather Oh Cheon-seok.'

That master craftsman grandfather's weapons are expensive but are certainly superior in terms of performance.

Having finished shopping like that, when the time came I headed to the wine shop again to pick up the completed Fruit Wine.

When I arrived, Owner Jang had already filtered the pulp through a sieve and divided it into 35 bottles.

I first checked the Buff.

[C-Grade Well-Aged Master's Fruit Wine]

[Blessing of Dexterity effect: All attribute resistance increases 30% for 5 hours, injury pain reduction 60%, exaltation effect.]

[C-Grade Fruit effect: Freshness lasts long. Does not spoil easily.]

[Collaboration effect with wine master: The longer the Fruit Wine ages, the deeper the taste becomes and the Buff effect increases. (Buff maximum reached)]

The Buff effects truly increased 2x each excluding duration.

But what is the 'exaltation effect'?

Is it an effect like a courage potion?

Or an effect similar to a Berserker skill?

Owner Jang also seemed not to know.

"Well, since it is alcohol, might it not mean one feels good? When I filtered the pulp, I tasted a bit of what remained after bottling, but there was nothing particularly special. Of course I would need to drink a whole bottle to know."

"Well since it is a Buff it will not be bad. That aside, thank you for dividing it into such luxurious bottles yourself."

"To receive a supply contract I must show well, must I not? Haha!"

I like that he is honest.

Then……!

"May I make one request that might be very rude?"

"What is it?"

"Could you possibly ferment Meju too?"

The raw Meju I made together with Ria that has not yet been fermented.

In the end Owner Jang fermented the Meju too for thirty minutes.

According to later reports, the owner had to ventilate the wine shop for a long time.

* * *

The next day.

I finished laying the grass.

Now the house construction that took a bit over a month from basic construction has finally ended.

"Waah!"

After laying the last grass, Ria sent out a cheer and was very happy.

Rin on Ria's shoulder also imitated Ria and raised and waved her arms in happiness.

Soon Ria said.

"Our house is really completed now."

Our house…….

Words that warmly resonate in the heart.

A neat U-shaped house, and in the middle of the U-shape grass is laid, and in the flower beds outside the U-shaped house the flowers Ria and Rin grew surrounded it.

A house beautiful like a picture itself.

"Tonight let us enjoy a celebratory dinner for the completion. I will prepare from now."

"Should I help too?"

"No, I am sufficient alone. Rest."

"Alright. Then I should also dress up with the clothes and cosmetics Seon-u bought me to match the mood. Is this the feeling noble daughters feel when preparing for a ball? I am excited."

Ria headed to her room in such a good mood.

I went to the living room kitchen and started food preparation.

Today I plan to present a fine dining seven-course meal.

The amuse-bouche is black Truffle fondue potato croquette.

The appetizer is tuna tataki caviar.

The soup is Tuscan ribollita.

The fish dish is grilled Chilean sea bass.

The meat dish is Korean beef tenderloin steak.

The dessert is hazelnut parfait.

I harmonized greasy food with less greasy food.

After finishing the food, I stored the plates with food in Acresia so they would not cool.

While tidying the kitchen like that, Ria, dressed up to the fullest, entered the kitchen.

"……"

I was at a loss for words.

The coral-colored blouse and H-line white skirt suited her very well.

When properly dressed up, she is like a chaebol second generation granddaughter from a drama.

Soon Ria asked awkwardly.

"Does it not suit me……?"

"No, it suits you tremendously well."

It seems I should control the alcohol well today to stay alert.