Seo Ji-hyun
Seo Ji-hyun. She was the only daughter of a wealthy family with loving parents.
Monopolizing their affection, she grew up nurtured by it, blossoming into a delicate, beautiful rose.
People envy those blessed with exceptional looks, seeing it as good fortune. But for Ji-hyun, her peerlessly stunning beauty brought misfortune instead.
At school, boys loitered around her just to exchange a word, while girls resented her for it.
During break time, Ji-hyun sat reading at her desk.
"Ji-hyun, any idea what's for lunch today?"
A girl named Su-ji, seated a few rows back, called out to her.
Ji-hyun turned with a polite smile. "Today's lunch is bulgogi and—"
But Su-ji giggled with her desk mate, completely ignoring her.
"……."
Suddenly reduced to talking to herself like some weirdo, Ji-hyun quietly returned to her book.
Moments later, Su-ji tried again. "Ji-hyun, know the math test range?"
Knowing she'd be ignored anyway, Ji-hyun pretended not to hear.
As if waiting for it, venomous insults poured down. "What? Ignoring me now? Such a bitch."
"Thinks she's all that. Fucking annoying."
"……."
Ji-hyun squeezed her eyes shut. It was childish. Infuriating.
The boys wouldn't leave her alone either. One day, they swarmed her desk.
"Yo, Min-chul has something to say."
"…Wanna go out with me?"
One thrust out a pitiful flower—bent and bruised from his careless grip.
Ji-hyun felt an odd kinship with the wilted bloom.
"Ooh! Confession! Confession!"
"Say yes! Say yes!"
Too spineless to confess solo, his entourage chanted, and the rest of the class joined in gleefully.
"……."
She'd lost count of these. Selfish confessions without a thought for her feelings, the jealous glares they trailed, the excited stares from clueless onlookers—it all disgusted her.
All she wanted was to be left alone.
"I kinda like you. Go out with me?"
"No."
Her cold rejection chilled the festive air instantly.
Suddenly, it was like she had committed some grave sin. She and the boy had to endure the awkward stares.
"Min-chul worked up the nerve, couldn't you be nicer?"
"At least pretend to think about it."
Another in the endless cycle. Rejected suitors always dragged it out with their bitterness.
"Hah—."
"…Did you just sigh?"
"What a bitch. Thinks beauty excuses everything?"
"Hey, chill."
"Let me go. I said let me."
Ugly. Nauseating.
Ji-hyun fled the scene.
Her school life was this on repeat. Boys orbited endlessly, girls seethed with envy at the attention.
Soon, the girls spread vicious rumors: millions spent on plastic surgery, slut crazy for guys, rotten personality.
The lies snowballed, growing uglier.
Fearing she'd worry her parents, Ji-hyun endured alone.
Before long, she became fair game for abuse.
"Slut."
"Look at that rude bitch."
"See how she looks at me? Kinda scary."
The girls hurled open insults and torments.
"Heard you do it for cash? Wanna with me?"
Boys snickered crude jokes.
None of it amused her.
Her favorite food was kimchi jjigae. With bean sprouts.
But one incident changed everything. Even that.
Lunchtime. Ji-hyun ate alone, as usual—her beloved bean sprout kimchi jjigae.
Splash—
"Oops, sorry~ Hand slipped?"
Scalding broth dumped over her head.
Giggling echoed muffled, like from afar, pounding her ears.
Something snapped in her mind.
When she came to, she stood drenched in kimchi jjigae, the girls who tormented her collapsed sobbing on the floor.
The cafeteria stared like she was a monster.
A bean sprout dangled from her bangs, staring right back.
It seemed to whisper: 'Monster.'
"……."
She dropped out that day, sought psychiatric help.
Otherwise, she shut herself in her room, refusing the outside world.
Her therapist recommended VR gaming.
Thus, she discovered Pangwol World, naming her character after her favorite candy: Molrangkau.
She dove in obsessively, rising to Rank 5 top ranker.
But her twisted school trauma made her push people away, avoid new bonds.
Always alone.
And it all stemmed from bean sprout kimchi jjigae.
Her mom cooked it, her favorite—but now the smell alone made her vomit.
Sight of bean sprouts did the same.
But today was different. The savory aroma didn't repulse; it whetted her appetite.
Like time rewound to when it was her absolute favorite.
Gathering courage, she tried it after years.
"Hic… sob…"
The taste was heavenly. Tear-inducingly so. Nostalgic.
'Here's your bean sprout kimchi jjigae, Ji-hyun's fave!'
'Yay! Mom's bean sprout kimchi jjigae is the best!'
'Eat up, my girl. Wonder who you take after, loving it so much.'
Tears streaming, she shoveled in the salty broth.
"…Not like it's infinite fuel or something."
Hura muttered, watching in disbelief.
"You okay? Why the waterworks all of a sudden?"
"Sob… hic. Why's it so good?!"
"Uh… sorry. No, thanks."
Hura accepted her greeting with a baffled look, eyeing the white powder suspiciously.
'…Is this stuff actual drugs?'
Ignoring him, Molrangkau shoved her empty bowl back.
"Hic! More!"
Hura's eyes gleamed.
"No way, of co—"
He bit his lip, swallowing the words. She looked heartbreakingly fragile, weeping.
"More!"
"…Here."
"Taeyang, she calming down at all?"
"Hard to say, Master. Still inhaling it."
We peeked at the redhead devouring kimchi jjigae.
Possessed by a food demon, she ate voraciously.
At least the tears had stopped.
"Um, all done…"
She handed back the empty bowl.
"Feeling better now?"
Nod, nod. Puffy-eyed, she bobbed her head.
The bowl gleamed spotless.
"…More?"
"More?"
"A bit left."
"…Just a little then."
Now's the time.
She admitted she's fine. Time for firm rejection.
"No!"
"…Hic."
Pouting sobs.
"…Kidding. Here."
Whispering to Taeyang as she downed bowl three:
"Taeyang, what do? Wanna punish her for dissing us, but can't bring myself."
"Instead of punishment, how about a request?"
"Request?"
"Yes. Ate three bowls of your cooking—might grant a favor. Didn't Cooking Charm activate?"
"Ah!"
I vaguely recalled amid her breakdown.
Hurriedly opened skill window.
• Molrangkau is currently affected by Cooking Charm.
"……?"
I eyed the redhead slurping kimchi jjigae sans rice.
So, Molrangkau ate my food and got charmed?
"Taeyang."
"Yes, Master."
"What exactly does Cooking Charm do?"
"Charm, right?"
Blank stare.
"You don't know either."
"No, sir."
Damn. Just say so.
Narrowing eyes at Molrangkau, who sheepishly returned the spotless third bowl.
"Hmm."
"W-Why stare like that?"
"Sauce on your mouth."
"Oh."
She wiped with her hand.
"That delicious, huh?"
"Yeah… so good."
"Then, as payment, answer some questions."
"Sure! Ask away!"
Her eager vibe prompted:
"Name?"
"Seo Ji-hyun."
"…Character name."
"Oh, Molrangkau."
Checked skill again.
• Molrangkau is currently affected by Cooking Charm.
Confirmed.
Now, what isCooking Charm?
Pulled out notepad and pen.
"Current mood?"
"Refreshed."
"Refreshed…"
Jotted it down, mumbling. Usually it's "full" or "happy," right?
"Describe my dish's taste?"
"…Delicious. Enough to forget all my painful memories."
She met my eyes, savoring each word slowly.
"Hm. Short-term amnesia, huh…"
"N-No, not that!"
"Kidding. Any special flavors?"
"Um… nostalgic, like. Tasted like Mom's old kimchi jjigae."
Nostalgic taste? Either my recipe matches hers perfectly, or the white powder's doing.
One or the other.
'White powder = nostalgia?'
Scribbled, tapping pen.
Anyway, no charmed vibe. Charm conjures hearts in eyes, puckered lips lunging—not this.
"Molrangkau."
"Yeah?"
No hearts, just innocent gaze.
"Do I suddenly look hot? Smell great? Wanna hug me tight?"
"? No."
X for charm = seduction.
Shame.
"Then… age?"
"Twenty."
"Height?"
"170cm."
"Weight?"
"…Secret."
X. Not everything.
"Give me 1 gold?"
"Sure. Here."
Shiny coin from her pouch.
"Nah, don't. Just answer. 10 gold?"
"Yes."
"100?"
"…Why?"
"Answer."
"Yeah, can."
Spotted her staff while scanning.
"Give me that staff."
"No, can't. Super expensive."
X. Not all-giving.
Charm's vague… Just food so good she's friendly overall? That's not a skill—that's a tasty restaurant.
Scratched head, eyeing her clutching staff warily.
"Anyway, isn't this beginner dungeon? Why here? You ain't no newbie."
She hesitated. "Um… treasure hunting."
"Treasure?"
Eyes widened at the surprise.
"Find treasure, give it instead of staff. Deal?"
"Deal."
My hand shot out, shaking hers.
Cooking Charm. Might be more useful than thought?