Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Making a Fortune and Enjoying the Peace

The Sword Saint, the Director, and Han Se-a emerged from the large tent, apparently done with their discussion.

I took out six pressure cookers from Acresia to serve the reserved stat dishes.

I opened each pressure cooker lid and arranged Horn Rabbit restorative soup and Glace Mushrooms on wide plates.

Then I gathered the broth remaining in the pressure cookers and cooked porridge.

For the six reservation holders, I had specially prepared a table and chairs.

Ria served each of the six seated guests a large tray containing the restorative soup alongside side dishes — seasoning sauce, chive salad, pickled onions, and more.

Among them, Han Se-a looked at the soup and spoke.

"So this is the Agility stat dish. And these mushrooms...... could they be......"

She was visibly shocked upon seeing the mushrooms on the plate.

She seemed to recognize what they were.

"That is correct. They are Glace Mushrooms from the ice cave."

"Good heavens...... Using something this precious in a dish — now I see why the stat food costs what it does."

"That is the idea. For your information, the meat is not chicken or duck, but Horn Rabbit. The Glace Mushrooms completely neutralize the toxins, so please eat without worry."

"Horn Rabbit......"

Han Se-a grimaced with a flicker of aversion.

Then Choi Seok-ho, the gourmet scarred mercenary, spoke up.

"What does it matter if it is Horn Rabbit? If it tastes good, that is all that counts."

He pulled on a pair of disposable hygiene gloves and tore off a drumstick.

"Mmm!"

His eyes lit up.

"So the rumors about Horn Rabbit meat being excellent were true. It is far better than duck or chicken."

As expected of a true gourmet, he was already aware of the rumors about Horn Rabbit meat.

With him taking the lead, guild master Kim Cheol-yeong also tore off a leg.

"It has the flavor of a black tiger milk mushroom restorative soup. The aroma is outstanding."

The two began tearing into the meat with abandon.

Seeing this, the three who had been hesitating — including the Director — started tasting as well, and were soon exclaiming in amazement as they ate.

Only then did Han Se-a cautiously try a bite.

"Hm? It is good......"

As if her earlier aversion had never existed, she continued eating without pause.

That was when someone nudged my side.

Looking over, Ria had her cheeks puffed out.

She leaned in and whispered.

"Seon-u, are you not staring a bit too much?"

Was Ria jealous because I was looking at another woman?

"Your jealousy is adorable, Ria."

"Hmph."

"Do not worry. The only woman in my eyes is you, Ria."

"......"

Ria's face turned red.

And goosebumps rose on my arms.

The porridge was done, so I ladled it into bowls and served it.

All six people scraped their bowls clean — porridge included.

After the meal, nothing was left but bones.

The Director patted his belly contentedly and spoke to me.

"Stats went up, and the flavor was exquisite. I had no idea there was such a fine restaurant inside a Rift."

"Thank you. I actually plan to build a proper restaurant building right on this spot."

"In the middle of the Fourth Floor of the Rift?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

The Director clearly had many questions for me.

Such as how I planned to construct a building here.

Even with a Subspace Storage, how would I procure all those ingredients?

How was I on the Fourth Floor in the first place?

Where in the Fourth Floor were Ria and I staying?

And so on.

He must have wanted to ask many things.

But the Sword Saint's pledge of honor kept him from prying.

'I appreciate that he does not use his authority to force answers.'

Unlike the Hunter Association, I had never had an unpleasant experience with the Rift Management Bureau.

Setting that aside, I needed to take reservations for tomorrow's stat dish.

"Taking reservations for tomorrow's lunch stat dish. The menu is Bolognese pasta and wine set. The price is one Highest-Grade Magic Stone plus one High-Grade Magic Stone. Payment of eight High-Grade Magic Stones is also accepted. First come, first served — three spots only."

Unlike yesterday, no one stepped forward.

Even for stats, the consensus was that 120 million won was simply too expensive.

I continued with additional details.

"For reference, the stat Bolognese pasta is made with Drake meat and premium graded vegetables unavailable anywhere else, granting Strength +1 and Agility +1. The wine is infused with Dragon mana and increases Mana stat by a full 3."

Converting stats to won:

Strength and Agility at 30 million each.

Mana at 20 million per point.

A total value of 120 million won.

The moment I finished speaking, the gourmet mercenary, who had been deliberating, was first in line.

"Even if I go bankrupt, I have to taste Dragon wine."

A true gourmand to the end.

Second in line was Han Se-a.

"Mana stat goes up by three? Is that really true?"

For a mage-type Hunter, Mana was the most important stat of all.

Third was Red Lion Knights guild master Kim Cheol-yeong.

Once again, these three claimed first through third, just like yesterday.

And fourth—

"Ah, too late......"

Director Jeong Jae-yong.

With only three spots, he had missed the cutoff.

The three ahead of him showed no signs of yielding.

Their eyes were filled with burning desire for stats.

Since things had turned out this way, maybe I should score some points with the Director for Ria's sake.

"I will extend to four reservations, including you, Director."

"Oh, that would be most appreciated."

And so, I secured reservations worth 480 million won in stat dishes and Dragon mana wine.

Three of the four did not have enough Magic Stones to cover 120 million, so they paid half upfront, wrote IOUs for the remainder, and agreed to pay later.

After closing reservations and finishing cleanup—

It was time for Ria and me to return to the Rift house.

"One moment, please."

The Director stopped us as we were about to walk away.

"Yes, what is it?"

"The Sword Saint tells me that Emeria will not be coming here starting tomorrow."

"That is correct."

"Then let me say this now. The Sword Saint has stated that if Emeria is willing to naturalize, he will serve as her guarantor. With a person of the Sword Saint's social standing as guarantor, it should proceed without major issues. I will also lend my support, of course. So please discuss it between the two of you, and relay the decision to the Sword Saint. We will then begin the naturalization process."

In other words, if Ria wanted it, naturalization was possible.

"Yes. I will discuss it with Ria and confirm her wishes, then relay them to the Sword Saint."

"Understood. I look forward to a positive outcome."

The Director bid us farewell and left.

Ria and I walked back to the Rift house.

Along the way, Ria spoke.

"I will naturalize into your country, Seon-u."

"Just like that? Do you not want to think about it more?"

"Becoming a citizen of the same country as you — there is no reason not to. Besides, that way, when I visit your world, I would not be entering illegally but going in with full legitimacy."

"That is true."

"So I should do it. And it seems like you have some kind of plan, so I need to do it just to find out what that is. The curiosity is killing me."

"I have no idea what you mean."

"Come on, really."

Ria said that and linked her arm through mine.

As she pressed close, the sudden sensation of her softness made my head spin slightly.

Walking hand in hand was nice, but this was not bad either.

I spoke to Ria.

"Then I will let the Sword Saint know you have agreed. Once everyone returns safely, we will visit the Rift Management Bureau together."

"Alright."

***

The next day.

I served the reserved guests the Bolognese pasta made with Drake meat and B-Rank vegetables, along with the Dragon wine.

All four ate with admiration.

The Dragon wine in particular drew the most awe.

"Is this really wine made by a Dragon......?"

To the Director's question, I replied—

"Who knows? What I can say is that it is extremely rare."

I gave a vague answer.

Even if I told the truth, they would not believe it anyway.

When Han Se-a asked where I had found something so rare, I simply said I had been lucky.

"You really are a man of many secrets."

"Ha ha......"

Indeed. Between Ria and everyone else, I was becoming quite the secretive person.

For the rest of the follow-up expedition, I sold hearty beef soup rice.

On the fourth day's lunch, I sold fried rice as a regular meal with no stat dishes.

On the morning of the fifth day — the day the follow-up expedition departed alongside the Sword Saint's group—

"Pulled pork sandwiches made with fresh B-Rank vegetables — they will not spoil or deteriorate. One Low-Grade Magic Stone each. Mana stat also goes up by 0.1. No stacking limit."

I laid out the pulled pork sandwiches Ria and I had made in bulk the night before and began selling.

The first to step up was Han Se-a, the Mana stat fiend.

"Five, please!"

Greedy.

"Limit of two per person, ma'am. As you can see, the sandwich supply is limited."

"......Understood."

Once she got the ball rolling, the rest followed suit.

Hunters without Magic Stones on hand borrowed from others to buy them.

"The description really does say they will not spoil. I should save mine and eat one small bite a day."

"I have always wanted to try pulled pork. This will be delicious."

One female customer purchased hers with a pained expression.

"Selling takeout food even on departure day — you really are a Magic Stone fiend, Chef."

A Magic Stone fiend, guilty as charged.

I could not deny it.

"And yet you still bought them."

"How could I not? The Mana stat goes up, and they keep forever."

With over two weeks of walking ahead, they could not resist shelf-stable sandwiches.

I sold out all 35 sandwiches.

Revenue exceeding 50 million won.

Add the roughly 70 million won from regular meal sales over the previous days.

Plus the 660 million won from two days of stat Horn Rabbit restorative soup, Bolognese pasta, and Dragon wine.

Grand total: over 780 million won in revenue.

As I sat basking in satisfaction, the Sword Saint's group, now packed and ready, approached.

"Seon-u, we will be heading off now."

"Stay healthy. We will be back."

"......Thank you for everything."

So the three of them were leaving too.

After spending so much time together, it was bittersweet.

"Come back anytime. The three of you are always welcome."

When I said that, all three faces lit up.

The most excited of the bunch was, predictably, Eriksson.

"Do not take that back later. Next time we come, you have to give us a Gate ride. And reply to my messages."

"I will."

After saying goodbye, the Sword Saint's group joined the follow-up expedition.

'We will see each other again.'

Director Jeong approached me as well before departing.

"Are you certain you will not return with us?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

He was still puzzled about how I traveled in and out of the Rift.

But he did not ask.

That restraint was something I appreciated about him.

"You mentioned you would visit the Rift Management Bureau, so I will see you then."

"Understood. Please have a safe journey."

And so the follow-up expedition set off on their return journey.

I watched them shrink into the distance, and once they disappeared from view, I opened a Gate portal and headed to the Rift house.

There, Ria, Rin, and Bell, who had been sipping tea, welcomed me.

"Seon-u!"

I smiled and caught Rin as she came running, lifting her into my arms.

Ria asked.

"Has the follow-up expedition left?"

"Yes, they are gone. The S-Rank trio went back with them."

"I am a bit sad I could not say goodbye to those three."

Ria seemed to miss her temporary subordinates too.

"They will probably be back soon."

"I hope so. It will be quiet for a while."

"Right. Let us enjoy the peace, just us, for a while."

I kissed Ria on the cheek and sat down beside her, leisurely enjoying our teatime.

It was a sense of calm and comfort I had not felt in a long time.