How the Rank 0 Chef Survives: Chapter 116 - The Ramen That Earned Five Stars
In a certain forest, a woman sat perched on a tree branch, peering into a translucent internet window.
"Hmm... This doesn't taste that good..."
BenedictSelfDeployment tilted her head as she read the food review.
"And why are the scores so generous?"
The restaurant in the blog was one she'd visited herself, but it sure wasn't worthy of this level of rave reviews.
"...Did they take money for this?"
BenedictSelfDeployment shook her head and closed the blog.
"Maybe I should check out Myeongran Jeot Konan's blog."
There's no one as objective as Myeongran Jeot Konan-nim, she muttered to herself, navigating to her bookmarked site.
She'd always been into food, keeping tabs on various gourmet blogs. Whenever a place looked tasty, she'd go try it herself.
"There we go."
Myeongran Jeot Konan's blog greeted her with its clean layout.
In this era dominated by Nutube and virtual reality, blogs were dismissed as outdated. Hardly anyone used them anymore, but Myeongran Jeot Konan's blog still boasted over 10,000 subscribers. Most were professionals in the food industry.
"How does he always find the best spots?"
These days, with gourmet horizons expanding into the fantasy world of Pangwol, this food hunter roamed every corner of it. BenedictSelfDeployment actually preferred hunting spots in Pangwol over real life—it was more convenient—so she welcomed the shift.
A new post had just gone up.
"Oh. Perfect timing."
BenedictSelfDeployment clicked it immediately.
"Where'd he go this time?"
Her eyes went wide.
"F-Five stars? Across every category?"
Myeongran Jeot Konan was the opposite of his polite, courteous writing style—a stingy, sharp-tongued critic. A nitpicky judge who compromised on nothing.
Out of hundreds of posts, the highest score was four stars—and even those were rare. Three stars was cause for celebration among restaurants.
There were a few things that shouldn't exist in this world: February 30th, the 13th month, mint chocolate, and Myeongran Jeot Konan's five-star rating.
To him, five-star dishes simply didn't exist.
Until yesterday.
But then it happened. Myeongran Jeot Konan gave five stars.
To taste, interior, price, atmosphere—everything.
"...Gulp."
BenedictSelfDeployment straightened up, reading the post with reverence.
Editor's Note: First, my deepest apologies for the lack of food photos. By the time I came to my senses, the dish was gone.
Some might say, "You're making a fuss over plain old ramen?"
Sorry, but this wasn't "plain old ramen." It was that good. The kind that makes you wonder, "Is food allowed to taste this amazing?" No—it's precisely because it's ramen that it delivers such a bold, violent burst of flavor.
People dismiss ramen all the time, calling it cheap junk. But we should always be grateful. For this ecstatic taste at such a low price.
"Ramen for breakfast? Ramen for dinner? Don't you know it's bad for you?"
I want to ask them: So you expect full nutrition and top-tier taste for just 500 won? Isn't that too greedy?
To those people, I'd say:
"How pitiful. You don't know the true value of ramen."
Above all, this magnificent dish stirred long-faded memories from my past.
I dare say: Three silver to glimpse heaven is a steal.
"...!"
It was pure, unadulterated praise. For this ruthless critic, "edible" or "pretty good" was high praise.
The rest of the post was more of the same: a whole other world of flavor, like dining on clouds, like stepping into someone else's dream, artistic genius, and so on.
The more she read, the more curious BenedictSelfDeployment grew about the chef. Who was this comet streaking across the sky? What was their name?
The chef's name was at the end.
"...Gulp."
Fernandes Yoshimura DereDereDetget Tire Cheaper Than Shoes.
"...Huh?"
BenedictSelfDeployment blinked at the utterly unexpected name.
But Myeongran Jeot Konan's post didn't wait for her.
It continued:
His shop is in Harten.
Only open for seven days, so five days left.
If you want to try it, head out now.
"Wh-what?"
"No way! I have to eat this!"
Without another thought, she leaped from the tree and bolted north.
* * *
I muttered as my apron fluttered around me.
"Phew... It's hot."
The chill northern air was no match for the scorching heat from these burners surrounding me. Hotter than the diner stove back home. Felt like the desert.
Yeah. Sulis-like summer dessert.
I briefly activated Dark Chef.
"Cooking Clone Art. Cooking Clone Art."
I dumped ramen broth into pots already coming to a boil. The water bubbled furiously on cue, and I tossed in the noodles without delay.
Thankfully, I could selectively share the darkness with my cooking summons, so no worries about them scaring customers.
"...Hot."
I stirred the boiling ramen with the Magic Ladle, then checked my skill window.
Clones reduce dish taste by 25%.
Cooking Clone Art had hit level 9 before I knew it. Thanks to that, Nature's Fire Ramen came out at nearly 100% of its original flavor.
I set the finished pots outside. They vanished almost instantly.
I called out to one of the people grabbing a pot.
"Dapam."
"Y-Yes?"
"Ah."
I hurriedly turned off Dark Chef.
"Sorry. Skill was still on."
"It's fine."
"You're busy, and here you are helping. I feel bad."
"Haha, no worries. I was free anyway. Gotta serve the customers quick."
"...Right."
...Yeah, fine. I sighed heavily.
I'd overlooked one thing: staffing. Idiot move.
Inviting 3,000 people but running the place with just two staff?
Luckily, sharp-eyed merchant Dapam noticed first and offered to help when I was panicking.
With kind-hearted Dapam leading, the Berry Merchant Group staff who'd come to deliver ingredients pitched in voluntarily.
Not for free, of course—but Dapam insisted on minimum wage. Wouldn't take more no matter what.
"Phew..."
Another sigh escaped. So sorry, so grateful—what to do?
I'd overheard their conversation by accident.
'Master, what about the next schedule? At this rate...'
'How much time left?'
'Three days.'
'It's fine. Postpone it.'
'But you prepared night and day for this deal. Delaying will cause issues.'
'I said postpone.'
'Master!'
'Without Chef Fernando, Berry Merchant Group never would've reached this point. How can I ignore our benefactor in need?'
'......'
'Postpone the schedule.'
'...Understood.'
...Fine my ass.
"What now..."
Overheard yesterday—two days left. Had to figure something out on my own...
Especially with the massive crowds coming soon.
I recalled my lunch chat with Ichaera.
'Tell the Tteokbokki Cult.'
'Ugh... Uurp.'
'There's an amazing food spot in Harten.'
'...!'
That should do it. Sharp as she was, she'd get the hint.
I removed my finger from her lips.
Ichaera, who'd frozen, smacked her lips, stuck out her tongue, and licked them. Then smacked again.
Ew. What're you doing?
Ichaera looked at me with worried eyes.
'...You sure?'
I replied confidently.
'I'm prepared.'
The Tteokbokki Cult was an unpleasant inevitability I'd have to face someday.
A monster I'd unwittingly created. A poisoned chalice I had to drink.
If I must, now's the time.
'...Your hands are shaking.'
'Just your imagination.'
'......'
Ichaera left with, 'Got it. I'll drop a hint at the executive meeting.'
...Should be fine, right? It'll be okay.
Molrangkau's here anyway. Worst case, we bolt.
Clang—
"Why're your legs shaking so much?"
Molrangkau asked, entering with arms full of pots.
She handled dishwashing. Specifically, fire washing, not water.
Using her newly awakened power to clean spotlessly.
...Smack.
Having her do dishes with that amazing ability felt kinda bad.
"Sh-Shaking? No way."
"Heh. Sure. Even a guy on death row wouldn't shake this much. What's up?"
Molrangkau neatly stacked the pots and asked.
"Hey, Jihyun."
"Yeah?"
She looked surprised—I rarely used her real name in-game.
"My super-strong friend Jihyun."
"...What's with you?"
"You'll protect me if those thugs barge in, right?"
"Duh. I'll blast 'em all."
"Ah, no. Don't blast 'em—just keep 'em away from me."
"...Let 'em eat first?"
"Exactly."
"...Fine, got it."
Molrangkau left, head tilted.
I calmed my trembling legs watching her go.
Terrifying fanatics incoming. Prepared or not, fear's fear.
"It'll be fine."
I pressed a hand to my anxious heart and whispered.
"All is well. All is well."
Yeah. Everything'll work out. Just like in the movie.
I desperately quelled my unease.
* * *
Surrounded by cold machines, this was Machine Hill.
"Geogi Seora."
"Huh?"
Ptah called to Geogi Seora, who was tinkering on a robot.
"Customer's here."
"Oh, really?"
"The one you mentioned?"
Ptah projected a screen from a machine rising from the floor.
It showed a female adventurer knocking: "Hello~ Anyone home~?"
"Yep, that's her."
Ptah snapped her fingers at Geogi Seora's confirmation.
An elevator popped up beside Dahyun on-screen.
-Whoa!
Dahyun yelped and fell on her butt.
"Pfft."
"Cute, right?" Geogi Seora chuckled.
"Yeah. Fun to tease."
-S-Seora unnie. Ride this?
Dahyun hesitated before stepping in.
Ptah grinned and snapped again. The screen retracted; an elevator from the ceiling spat Dahyun out.
"Kyaaah!"
Caught off-guard in freefall, Dahyun screamed bloody murder.
Geogi Seora swooped in on blue light trails and caught her easily.
"Hi?"
"Waaah! Unnieee!!"
Dahyun clung tight. Geogi Seora laughed, setting her down.
"Waaah, unnie! I almost died!"
"But you didn't. Meet Ptah."
"Oh."
Dahyun hopped down and bowed to the grinning Ptah.
"H-Hi. I'm Dahyun."
"Hey. Nice to meet ya."
"C-Can I hug you?"
Dahyun's eyes sparkled.
Saw her on the monitor at work a few times. She's adorable in person!
Like touching cotton candy.
But Ptah smacked her half-extended hand away firmly.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Aww."
Then, an unfamiliar voice reached the sulking Dahyun.
-What's all the noise?
A long-haired man with bandages everywhere approached, yawning and tousling his messy hair. Looked like he'd just woken up.
Dahyun's eyes went bunny-wide.
"B-Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim?"
"Huh? Who're you?"
"Whoa! It is Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim!"
Dahyun rushed over, hand out.
"Honored to meet you! Huge fan!"
"Haha... Honored, really."
Baek Bal Baek Jung shook awkwardly, shooting Geogi Seora urgent glances.
'Who is she?'
Geogi Seora smirked at his caution.
"Don't worry. My little sis. Friends with Hura too."
"Oh, cool?"
Baek Bal Baek Jung finally smiled.
"Haha, Hura-nim's got all the luck. Friends with a beauty like this."
"She's the same IRL."
Geogi Seora grinned mischievously.
"Unnie! Don't spill that."
Dahyun waved shyly—but not unhappily.
Quick-on-the-uptake Baek Bal Baek Jung played along dramatically.
"For real?"
"Totally! And so talented. Works at Fantasy Games. Gets paid to test games right now."
"Whoa, dream job. Impressive!"
"Hehe, nothing much."
Dahyun tucked hair behind her ear ladylike.
"And so kind! Total angel!"
"Haha, a perfect lady all around!"
"Oh, stop, unnie."
Dahyun blushed, squirming adorably—like an innocent puppy getting mindless praise amid claps of "Good girl~."
The three beamed warmly at her.
Teasing styles varied, but Geogi Seora was a pro.
More prank than tease, really.
"Good people attract good people, after all."
"Hehe."
Dahyun giggled at Baek Bal Baek Jung's summary.
"Oh, right—where's the client? Still haven't friended them."
Geogi Seora waved it off.
"Hura? With Molrangkau in Harten."
"...Pardon?"
"Oops—"
Geogi Seora covered her mouth too late. Words spilled like arrows loosed or water poured.
"...What does that mean?"
Dahyun's eyes had gone ice-cold.