How the Rank 0 Chef Survives Chapter 118

They say time flies when you're busy. Before I knew it, Wednesday had arrived. Ichaera dropped by the snack shop during lunch hour for her report, just like always.

"It's such a massive relocation that there's a ton of stuff to sort out, so we're starting a bit late."

"When do you think you'll get there?"

"Hmm... fastest would be tomorrow, or maybe the day after."

I nodded. "That should be plenty."

"Oh, right! Looks like the Sapjaru-dan has figured out you're in Harten too. We got a report about some noticeable movement lately."

"...Sapjaru-dan? What's that?"

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Ichaera blinked her eyes wide.

"You don't know?"

"No, I don't."

"It's like a fan club for Rank 8. Bunch of lunatics."

"...I see."

I stared straight at Ichaera as she said that. Do you really have room to talk? It was like the pot calling the kettle black.

But my thoughts didn't get through, and she blinked at me with big, sparkling eyes. "Why, Oppa Hura? Why are you looking at me like that? You're making me flustered for no reason."

"...It's nothing."

Suddenly, Ichaera shot to her feet. "Ah, I'm so dense. Don't worry, go take care of the bathroom quick. I'll hold down the fort here."

"Huh? No, that's not what I meant."

"Aah! You must want a break! Here, sit right here."

"Wait, that's not—"

Before I could protest, she plopped into my seat and shoved me down into the chair with her shoulder.

"Welcome~ What can I get for you?"

"...Good grief."

Thanks, I guess. Come to think of it, Baek Bal Baek Jung had given me that fan cafe link. Might as well check it out while I'm sitting.

I pulled out my phone and entered the address he'd told me. It took me straight to the Sapjaru-dan fan cafe.

"Hmm. Gotta sign up, huh."

Sapjaru-dan had a simple join process before you could really access it. But it was kinda weird. They just wanted you to spin a photo of a shovel stuck in the ground and post it with a join greeting. That's it.

"...What the hell?"

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I didn't complain, just attached the photo and posted my greeting as instructed.

Ding!

And then the comments started flooding in real-time.

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"Wh-what the hell is this?!"

Ding! Ding! D—

I hurriedly put my phone away. Then I just stared blankly into space for a while.

"...What was that all about?"

This was a famous mental health clinic.

"Hi, Jihyun. Come on in."

"Yes. Hello, Doctor."

Seo Eunmi smiled warmly at Seo Ji-hyun as she entered the consultation room, but her eyes soon widened.

"...Jihyun."

"Yes."

"You... took off your hat?"

"...Yes."

Ji-hyun kept fiddling with her hair, clearly uncomfortable without it.

"Can I ask what happened?"

"Sure."

Seo Ji-hyun slowly poured out everything that had happened in Pangwol to Seo Eunmi.

"...I see."

Seo Eunmi nodded thoughtfully. It was hard to believe. Ji-hyun's proactive efforts to overcome her trauma were certainly praiseworthy, and while she'd always believed she'd conquer it eventually, she hadn't expected it this soon. It had been such a deep trauma that full recovery was supposed to take ages.

To think it got resolved in one go just by eating some food. Of course, without Ji-hyun's persistent efforts, it wouldn't have been possible—but providing that trigger was still incredible.

An amazing dish! Even more than I imagined!

If she fed that dish to her other suffering patients, it could help tremendously. Seo Eunmi was completely captivated by the power and potential of that food. She wanted to try it ASAP. She wanted to talk to that chef right away.

"I'm so glad. This is great, just great."

"Yeeah..."

Seo Eunmi eyed Ji-hyun, who was shyly twirling her hair.

"So, did you ask him?"

"Ask who about what?"

"I said last time I wanted to try his cooking."

"Oh, right. I did."

"What'd he say?"

"He said he's fine with it."

"Really? Then when should we meet? Today. Yeah, today works. How about today?"

"Today won't work for you, right? Then... tomorrow?"

"Ah, well..."

Ji-hyun was a bit flustered by Seo Eunmi's sudden sparkling enthusiasm.

"He's with me right now."

"Perfect!"

"But he's way too far from Genesis Village..."

"Where?"

"Harten, up north."

"So if I go there, I can meet him?"

"Huh? But you haven't even job-changed yet. I can't come pick you up either, so you couldn't make it alone."

"Hehe, Jihyun. Money can buy anything in this world."

"...Pardon?"

"Don't worry about it. Harten, right?"

"...Yes."

Before long, it was 4 p.m.

"Great work today, Hura!"

"Thanks, Boss! You too! See you tomorrow!"

"Take care~"

I bowed to the waving Son Da-eun and hurried off. My steps slowed only when I reached the utility pole.

"Done?"

Seo Ji-hyun was leaning against it, waiting for me.

"Yeah. Let's go."

She wasn't wearing her hat today either. At some point, she'd stopped altogether. Not that it looked bad without it.

We jogged slowly toward the park with our usual pace.

"Went to the clinic today?"

"Yeah."

"When's she coming?"

"Tomorrow."

I glanced back at Ji-hyun. "Huh? To Harten?"

"Yep."

"Didn't you say she hasn't job-changed yet?"

"Right."

"So how's she getting all the way to Harten?"

"Dunno. She said money makes the world go round."

"...What does that even mean?"

"No idea. Anyway, she said she'll handle it."

"Alright. Then take good care of her when she gets there. No charge for the food."

"Okay."

We reached the park and ran our familiar park path hard.

Huff huff—

Breathing steadily, Seo Ji-hyun said, "More and more people are showing up."

"Yeah."

"How many so far?"

"Around 500."

"Whoa! That's a lot!"

Ji-hyun's face lit up in surprise. She was right. A solid crowd. Roughly 500 customers moved by our food over Monday and Tuesday. Fantasy World's time flows 1.5 times faster than real life, so that's 500 in about three days. Considering Harten's location, that's not bad. No, it's amazing.

...But nowhere near enough for the quest.

Ji-hyun realized it too, her voice dropping a bit. "...But we need 3,000."

"Yep."

"What're you gonna do? Who told you to brag about doing it in 7 days?"

"......"

500 in 3 days. Pathetic—not even 1,000, let alone 3,000. Four days left. Need 2,500-plus more.

"What now?" Ji-hyun asked, worried.

"It's fine."

But I said confidently, "Starting tomorrow—or day after—the crowds will pour in."

"...What makes you so sure?"

"I've got it all planned. You think I'd boast about 7 days for no reason?"

"Then...?"

"Yep. Already set everything in motion. Heh heh heh..."

Ji-hyun narrowed her eyes. "...You villain. What did you do?"

"Heh heh. Just sit back and watch."

"This feels ominous..."

She gave me a suspicious side-eye, but I just grinned.

Back home, while showering and drying my hair, I checked the Sapjaru-dan again. Browsed around, but no useful info.

Tch. Keeping all the fun stuff to yourselves? Newbie limitations, I guess. No real gains—just a ton of Sap haha comments—before I logged out.

Why do they laugh like that? Should I try? "Sap hahaha."

The hollow laugh echoed through the house.

"......"

Good thing I live alone.

I slipped on the Dream Gear right away.

"Yes."

Whoosh—

Back in Fantasy World. Nothing different from yesterday. She'd said tomorrow at earliest, so no big events today. Obviously.

Just sweating buckets, frantically boiling ramen non-stop.

"Ramen's up!"

The second I slammed them down, our staff snatched them away like they'd been waiting.

"...I swear I made a ton."

I stared blankly at the empty spot. Busy now, and tomorrow the crowds hit harder. What then?

No matter how many come, if we can't cook and serve fast enough, it's game over.

"......"

Another oversight. Haven't even solved the staffing issue to replace the Berry Merchant Group. Problems keep piling up.

Just one day left till their "important ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠schedule."

Geum Taeyang appeared outside just then.

"Geum Taeyang!"

"Yes, Boss."

He poked his head out from between the makeshift buildings. Black hair, black suit—looked pretty out of place.

"How's the crowd? Lots coming?"

"Yes. Even more than yesterday!"

"Any customers wanna help serve?"

"Pardon?"

"Never mind. Forget it."

"Yes."

Can't just ask customers out of the blue, "Hey, wanna serve?" Where do I even find waitstaff? Village is deserted as is.

Even if I begged customers and got some, bigger issue: cooking.

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Hands aren't enough—ten wouldn't cut it. No other chefs possible. We have the white powder, but it just boosts innate skill. Another chef's ramen won't carry nostalgia. Taste changes. And it won't count for the quest.

"...This is insane."

I scratched my head muttering. Serious problem.

Calling crowds means nothing if we can't feed 'em. The crisis loomed large, scary-fast.

No fix by tomorrow? Total bust. Everything crumbles.

"Sigh..."

A deep sigh escaped. How to unravel this mess?

I'd heard somewhere: when stuck, laugh like a maniac. Might help?

"Sap hahahaha!"

A cold wind whistled through the building's gaps.

"......"

...No one heard that.

Then a voice from behind. "...Have you finally lost it?"

"Ack! You scared me."

I turned. A pale mage stood there, looking displeased. "Vesta! You startled me!"

"What was that bizarre laugh?"

"...Nothing."

I averted her pitiful gaze.

"That laugh making you look uglier suddenly?"

"...It's disguise magic?"

I glanced at her. "You made it out here, huh?"

Pretty far from the Flame Palace behind the village. Thought she couldn't, but apparently.

"Indeed. I can venture out, though my power wanes with distance."

A candle-flame flickered on her palm—then sputtered out.

"Business booming, I see."

"...Something like that."

"But at this rate, 3,000 in 7 days is impossible."

"......"

Vesta's lips curved into a seductive crescent. "What say you? Retract your words now?"

"You'd accept if I did?"

"I would."

"Huh. For real?"

That easy?

"With conditions."

There it is.

"What? Let's hear 'em."

"I'll be generous."

Vesta spoke magnanimously, like bestowing mercy. "One month."

"A month?"

"Run the shop a month. At this pace, 3,000 is easy."

Easy my ass. 500 in 3 days—two weeks tops to hit 3,000. But a month was four times seven days.

"A bit long, but better than failing, no?"

She smirked victoriously, her enchanting smile fitting the Red Witch moniker.

"......"

Wanted to shut it down flat, but... legit tempting. Too many issues to ignore.

Ideals crashing into reality.

"...Time to think?"

"Very well."

Vesta grinned, arms crossed.

"Whew..."

Boil some ramen and mull it over. I summoned clones and got back to cooking.

"Cooking Clone Art. Cooking Clone Art. Cooking Clone Art."

A shock rippled through my body.

"Kyaaak!"

Again?!