Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Business Begins — The Taste of Kimchi Stew That Makes You Forget Your Pride

On the first day of business, I would sell regular dishes.

First, I would capture their palates.

Then I would rake in the money with stat dishes.

'I should go with that menu, as planned.'

For 25 days, they had eaten almost nothing but grain soup, jerky, or Calorie Bars.

Their stomachs must be in desperate need of relief.

The number one food Koreans craved most after being abroad for a long time.

That was kimchi stew.

First, I took out a large pan from Acresia, added lard, and stir-fried a large batch of aged kimchi I had pre-sliced and stored.

'The secret behind most famous kimchi stew restaurants is using lard or rendered pork belly fat.'

But what I was using was no ordinary lard — it was Drake lard, rendered from Drake fat at a low temperature.

An oil that produced a depth of nuttiness leagues above pork or beef fat.

Stir-frying kimchi in Drake lard created an overwhelmingly savory aroma.

"I cannot handle spicy food, but I want to eat that......"

"......"

Beside me, Santos and Eriksson were swallowing their drool as they watched.

"I will dish you each a bowl after business is done."

"That is our Seon-u. Loyal to the end."

After the first batch of kimchi was fried, I transferred it to a 50-liter commercial-grade pot used in restaurants.

As I started frying the second batch—

I could see the Sword Saint, Bell, and the follow-up expedition approaching in the distance.

I kept frying the kimchi.

The volume was too large to fry all at once, so I was doing it in three batches.

An entire 15-liter container of kimchi, all stir-fried.

While I was focused on cooking, Eriksson called out.

"Seon-u, the follow-up expedition is almost here."

"Got it."

I transferred the second batch into the large pot and then turned to observe the arriving guests at the bottom of the hill.

'That must be Han Se-a.'

The other S-Rank Hunter from Korea who had led the follow-up expedition: Han Se-a.

She had silver hair similar to Ria's and wore a white robe.

She was around my age, as far as I knew.

Her epithet was the Frozen Witch.

She wielded a remarkable three ice-attribute skills.

'To use three skills, one would need to be a Third Awakened or have achieved a special feat.'

She was the former.

In other words, she was one of the world's rare Third Awakened individuals.

She fought primarily with skills, and her Mana stat reportedly exceeded 230.

However, her other stats — despite having undergone a Third Awakening — were said to be in the mid-90s.

In terms of Mana stat alone, she ranked within the top three worldwide.

A textbook mage-type Hunter.

'I envy that high Mana stat.'

If my Mana exceeded 200 too, I would not be struggling with mana shortages in every dangerous situation.

Behind her, I spotted some familiar faces.

Among them was Kim Cheol-yeong, A+-Rank guild master of the Red Lion Knights, who had bought stat dishes from me on the Second Floor.

Similarly, the gourmet scarred mercenary who had been my first paying customer back on the Second Floor.

Judging by the heavy load on his back, he had likely joined as a porter.

The porter roster had not been publicly disclosed, so I had not known he was part of the follow-up expedition.

'I was disappointed when he vanished during business on the Second Floor, so it is nice to see him again.'

And the most unexpected member of the follow-up expedition.

'Is that not...... Rift Management Bureau Director Jeong Jae-yong?'

Why was he part of the follow-up expedition?

While I was puzzling over this, the expedition arrived.

I had been standing behind Eriksson and Santos.

Among the arriving members, the S-Rank Hunter Paulo, dispatched from Brazil, shared an emotional reunion with his compatriot Santos.

Santos and Paulo were close comrades.

'He must have thought his comrade was dead. Finding him alive must be overwhelming.'

Then one of the expedition members met my eyes.

It was the gourmet scarred mercenary.

"Hm? Chef......?"

"Hello. It has been a while."

"It has. But what are you doing here, Chef?"

"One thing led to another."

The expedition began murmuring at the sight of someone besides the S-Rank trio.

Bell, who had led them here, came bounding into my arms.

"Aroo!"

"Good job, Bell."

I held Bell and stroked her head.

Seeing this, the Rift Management Bureau Director stepped forward.

"So you are the one raising the young wolf that helped locate us."

"That is correct."

Just as things were about to get awkward, the Sword Saint stepped in.

"This is the benefactor who saved the three of us from starving to death out here. I would ask that you not pry beyond that."

"Sir, but in a place like this......"

S-Rank Hunter Han Se-a started to speak, but the Sword Saint raised a hand to stop her.

"On the honor of myself, Adel Eriksson, and Rani Santos, we vouch for this person's identity. Please trust us and do not put our benefactor in a difficult position."

Eriksson and Santos also stepped between me and the follow-up expedition.

As if shielding me.

The Sword Saint looked at Han Se-a, the expedition leader, and continued.

"I am asking you, Se-a."

"......If you are willing to stake your honor, sir, then I understand."

Han Se-a and the Sword Saint had history.

In the early days of the Rifts, they had been in the same party. The Sword Saint had helped Han Se-a extensively when she was still inexperienced right after her First Awakening.

She had even trained at the Sword Saint's dojo for a period, and was well known for deeply relying on and admiring him.

"I will stand down as well, for now."

Director Jeong Jae-yong also took a step back.

'As expected, the Sword Saint's influence is formidable.'

Free once more, I returned to stir-frying the kimchi.

Then someone approached.

"So the Chef is cooking here too."

The gourmet scarred mercenary.

"I am a chef, after all."

"Ha ha! True enough. I cannot ask why you are here since the Sword Saint told us not to. Anyway, planning to sell food again this time?"

"Yes, that is the plan."

"The menu looks like kimchi stew. My mouth is already watering."

"You can look forward to it."

Looking around, everyone was organizing their gear while stealing glances in my direction and swallowing hard.

They looked half-delirious from the smell of aged kimchi frying in Drake lard.

After all the kimchi was fried—

I poured rice-washing water into the large pot and set it over the fire to boil.

Once it came to a boil, I added a generous amount of garlic along with a small amount of kimchi brine.

'You need plenty of garlic for that deep stew flavor.'

I then added minced Cheongyang Chili Pepper and Red Pepper Powder.

Next, I dropped in a large quantity of pork shoulder, the cut meant for stew.

Pork belly would also work, but since I was already using Drake lard, pork belly could make it overly greasy, so I went with shoulder.

Seasoning came from Soy Sauce and salted anchovy sauce.

And I added sweetness and umami with my homemade plum extract.

Kimchi stew needed to simmer for a long time to reach its true flavor.

While it simmered, I prepared the side dishes.

'Rolled egg omelette, hand-roasted seaweed, grilled sandfish, seasoned bean sprouts, stir-fried fish cakes, young radish kimchi.'

As I made and arranged the side dishes one by one, people began gravitating closer.

"That smell is driving me insane, seriously......"

"I am drowning in my own drool. Must have swallowed liters by now."

"I was so sick of jerky and Calorie Bars. A piping-hot, spicy broth is exactly what I am dying for."

"He cooks so cleanly and quickly."

"I heard that chef is the one who ran a food stall on the Second Floor."

"Oh, the one rumored to have a massive Subspace Storage?"

I kept my ears tuned to the chatter while cooking.

It seemed almost everyone knew about my reputation.

Two people in martial arts uniforms were watching me as well.

"Instructor, the build looks similar. That must be the same person from back then, right?"

"It seems so."

The Instructor and a member of the Bamboo Fragrance Guild.

That was the same Instructor I had seen when I delivered the letter.

'He figured it out without me even revealing that I was the one who delivered it.'

Sharp eyes.

After finishing the side dishes—

I tasted the stew.

'This is the flavor.'

Sharp and deep, yet refreshing.

After simmering for over an hour, the flavors had fully developed.

I added the pre-sliced tofu and green onions as the final touch.

Three more minutes of simmering and it would be complete.

"Ahem!"

"Hm."

As the preparations neared completion, the perceptive gourmet scarred mercenary and Red Lion Knights guild master Kim Cheol-yeong were first and second in line.

Others noticed and began forming a queue.

The Sword Saint approached my side.

"Seon-u, Santos and I will handle the rice and side dish plating."

"I would appreciate that."

Eriksson stepped up too.

"I will handle the counter."

"Thanks. Charge two Lowest-Grade Magic Stones per serving. If someone does not have Lowest-Grade stones, accept a Low-Grade stone and give change in Lowest-Grade."

"Got it."

And just like that, I had temporary staff for the day.

Preparations were complete.

"We are open for business. The price is two Lowest-Grade Magic Stones per kimchi stew set meal."

A kimchi stew set meal at a whopping 600,000 won.

A price comparable to a Michelin three-star fine dining restaurant in New York.

But this was the Fourth Floor of the Rift. It was by no means expensive.

As if to prove it—

"One set meal, please."

"One serving here."

Orders flooded in.

I ladled kimchi stew generously into 1,500cc disposable paper containers.

Making sure each portion had an even mix of kimchi, meat, tofu, green onions, and onions.

The Sword Saint plated the side dishes, and Santos scooped the rice.

Seventeen servings sold in an instant.

'Some people have not bought yet since they are still setting up camp.'

Han Se-a and the Bureau Director seemed to have other reasons for abstaining.

'Is it a matter of pride? Or are they suspicious of me?'

Probably both.

And it seemed some others were hesitating because they were watching those two for cues.

During a brief lull, I headed over to the gourmet scarred mercenary, who was sitting on a rock eating.

"How is the taste?"

"This is......"

This is......?

"An insane flavor."

"Ha ha, that good?"

"Absolutely. How is it possible to achieve this depth of flavor?"

"Hmm, it is probably because I used Drake fat lard. Lard rendered from Drake fat produces a far richer and deeper flavor than pork lard."

"That explains it. I knew this was no ordinary flavor."

Beside him, guild master Kim Cheol-yeong nodded in agreement.

"So the secret was Drake lard. That Drake steak from before was incredible too."

"Yes, once you deal with the gamey smell, Drake really is outstanding meat."

I then listened to the reactions of others.

"This is the best kimchi stew I have ever had in my life......"

"Why am I tearing up? It must be because I was so exhausted from nothing but jerky and Calorie Bars all that time."

"I think this will be a meal I remember for a long time."

"Two Lowest-Grade Magic Stones does not feel like a waste at all."

Seeing everyone eat with such satisfaction was deeply gratifying as a chef.

When I returned to my station to wait for the next customer—

Someone walked up to the counter, face flushed.

It was none other than Han Se-a, the follow-up expedition's leader.

"I would like one serving too, please......"

Her flushed, embarrassed face suggested she had been trying to refrain for the sake of appearances, but watching everyone around her eat with such delight had proved impossible to resist.

Behind her, the Bureau Director lined up as well.

"One set meal, please."

Once those two placed orders, the others who had been watching their cues followed suit, until every single member had ordered.

Some even came back for refills after finishing their portions.

I gave free refills, setting aside enough for myself and the Sword Saint's group.

In total, I sold 39 servings.

Earning 78 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones, the revenue came to a whopping:

'23.4 million won.'

Not an enormous sum, but respectable.

Today was just a teaser anyway. Tomorrow was the real deal.

As the meal wound down, I addressed the follow-up expedition, who were basking in satisfaction.

"Tomorrow at lunch, I will be taking reservations for a restorative soup that increases your Agility stat. The price is two High-Grade Magic Stones. Only six spots, first come first served. Please reserve at the counter."

The instant I finished, Kim Cheol-yeong came sprinting over and secured the first spot.

Behind him, the gourmet scarred mercenary.

Third and fourth in line were two very unexpected figures.

They were Han Se-a and Bureau Director Jeong Jae-yong.

The gourmet scarred mercenary glanced back and quipped.

"It seems even Miss Se-a and the Director could not resist stat food."

Both of their ears turned red.

'Nobody can resist stat food.'