The Village of Eternal Winter, Harten
A brief swirl of blue light gathered in the forest behind Harten Village, then flared brightly.
Whoosh—
A blue magic circle etched itself into the air, spitting out two people.
Thud—
"Ow!"
"Eek!"
The blue magic circle evaporated like mist, leaving only the two wriggling in the snow.
"Ugh... They said it might be a bit unstable over long distances. Miss Eunmi, are you okay?"
"Yeah. Ngh... Good thing the snow's so thick."
Lee Dahyun and Seo Eunmi brushed the snow off their clothes and stood up.
"It's freezing."
"We'd have been in real trouble without these fur coats from city hall."
The two, bundled in thick coats, looked around.
"...A forest?"
"Yeah. Looks like we landed a bit away from the village."
"...What if monsters show up?"
"No worries. From what I know, there are no monsters in the forests around Harten. I don't know why, but..."
The forests near Harten were off-limits to monsters because of Vesta's Flame Palace, but they stayed clear anyway.
"...Which way now?"
Seo Eunmi glanced around.
"That way, I think."
Following Dahyun's pointing finger, Seo Eunmi spotted a massive sign blazing high in the sky.
"Whoa...! Is that magic?"
"Seems like it. We've found our destination. Let's go."
"Okay!"
The two crossed Harten Village and reached the shop at its entrance.
Stepping inside, they blinked and looked around blankly.
"...Lots of people."
"...Yeah."
Every visible table was packed.
"Wonder if there's a seat..."
"Guess we'll have to wait?"
Then, a waiter in a black suit approached.
"Are you the two?"
"Ah, yes. Any seats?"
"Of course. Right this way."
The outdoor restaurant was surprisingly spacious, with plenty of tables.
Dahyun and Seo Eunmi followed the waiter to a table and sat.
"What would you like to order?"
The waiter asked politely, and they exchanged glances.
"Two bowls of spicy ramen, please."
"Understood. Please wait just a moment; we'll bring them right out."
The black-haired waiter bowed neatly and retreated.
"...Feels like a fancy restaurant."
"Totally. Their angles are sharp."
The two meerkat-like scanned their surroundings.
"It's so mysterious. The vibe is... ethereal?"
"I feel it too. Not something you'd see in real life."
"Nope. No way."
The outdoor restaurant sprawled across the pristine snowfield, exuding an otherworldly mystique. Eating here felt like a dream, utterly unreal.
"Dahyun, check out the waitstaff. They all look identical."
"Huh? Whoa, they do. Some skill?"
The staff, all in crisp black suits—waiters and waitresses alike—were mirror images of each other, as if clones.
Their precise gestures and polite speech amplified the restaurant's mystical aura over the snow.
As they gawked, a waitress approached.
"Your meal."
"Oh. Already?"
"...They weren't kidding about 'right away.'"
The waitress, with her long black hair neatly tied, opened the pot lid herself.
Whoosh—
White steam billowed out with an intense, fiery aroma.
"......!"
"......!"
The ramen's lava-red broth was striking. Its aggressive scent made their mouths water uncontrollably—a ridiculous, devastating power from smell alone.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Guh."
"Hic. Slurp—"
They snapped to at her words, wiping away drool they hadn't noticed.
"Well then..."
"Let's eat."
They slowly picked up their chopsticks and slurped a bite of the chewy, spice-soaked noodles.
Slurp—
"......!"
And Seo Eunmi found herself somewhere else.
"Wh-where is this?"
She frantically looked around.
A cramped, shabby kitchen. Familiar somehow.
Oh! It's the old house from when I was little!
As she realized it, the tin pot on the gas stove bubbled over.
As she jumped up, someone brushed past her to the pot.
"Ah, it's overflowing!"
A familiar voice.
No way...
The broad-backed figure donned thick oven mitts, lifted the pot, and carried it to the table.
"Here, dig in."
Eunmi stared at the man before her.
"Not eating? If you don't, big bro's eating it all."
Her long-dreamed brother was right there. He slurped a huge bite of steaming ramen.
The brother who always smiled warmly, her pride and joy.
Before him, Eunmi reverted to that little girl from long ago.
"What're you doing? Eunmi. Not eating?"
"Uh, yeah. I am."
She scooped some into her bowl and nibbled slowly, stealing glances at him. Hard to believe even seeing it.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"...Nothing."
He always smiled at her so warmly.
Until he enlisted.
After discharge, he was different. He smiled at her calls, but always sadly.
She later learned he'd suffered abuses and bullying in the military.
For speaking truth.
Even after discharge, severe depression led him to end it all.
Eunmi regretted endlessly. Why hadn't she noticed? Stopped him? Been his strength?
She cried and cried, until exhaustion felled her.
Then rose again, vowing to become a psychiatrist. To help those scarred like him.
"...Oppa."
She called softly to the brother before her.
"Yeah?"
"...How's it there? Better than here?"
He smiled warmly.
"Yeah."
"...Good."
She wiped her eyes and called again.
"...Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"......"
"I had to say it. Sorry for not understanding, for not supporting you."
"......"
"You suffered alone, right?"
She steadied her ragged breath. Throat tight.
"...You know, I worked really hard."
"...Yeah?"
He smiled warmly, like old times.
"Studied like crazy thinking of you. Seoul National University Medical School? Got in."
He smiled silently.
"But after? Hell. Internship and residency nearly killed me."
He gazed warmly as she rambled complaints.
"Became a psychiatrist? Make good money."
She giggled softly.
"Helped lots of folks scarred like you."
"......"
"So they wouldn't let go... like you. Tried so hard."
"......"
Tears blurred her vision. She bowed her head.
In a tiny voice: "Did I... do good?"
"......"
Plop—
His hand rested on her bowed head. So warm.
"You did great."
"......"
"Yeah. Our Eunmi did so well."
"......"
She closed her eyes, feeling his gentle stroking.
"You worked hard. So hard."
"......"
"Oppa’s proud of you."
"...Yeah."
Tears streamed down.
Snapping from the vision, Seo Eunmi lifted her head. Snow fell thickly.
So warm just looking at it. Like his hand truly stroking her hair.
Seo Eunmi burst into sobs mid-bite.
* * *
Meanwhile, Dahyun, eating her ramen, recalled first meeting Sebastian.
The little guy Mom found near the shop.
Her previous cat had gone to heaven; she resisted bonding, remembering days of tears. Never again.
But this pup kept whining, approaching.
"Shoo! Go away!"
Whine...
One day, as Dahyun boiled ramen alone, the pup stared hungrily.
"What're you looking at?"
"......"
"Staring won't get you any."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"Even if I wanted to, I can't! You're not supposed to eat this."
"......"
"Stop staring!"
Whine...
Dahyun reluctantly stood.
"...Tch. Fine, kibble instead. Eat that."
He chowed down eagerly.
She watched intently.
"...Tasty?"
Woof!
"Hehe... Eat up."
Pat pat.
"Treat too?"
Woof!
"Secret from Mom?"
She looked up. Fat snowflakes drifted down.
"Man... what is it."
She poked her ramen with chopsticks.
"So warm."
Dahyun smiled faintly, wiping teary eyes.
"Delicious."
Glancing across, she saw Seo Eunmi bawling uncontrollably.
"Huh...? Y-you okay?"
"Sniff— Yeah, huwaaang— I'm fi-hi-hine. Hic— sn-snh— don't mind me, e-eat up."
"Ah, o-okay..."
* * *
"...All done?"
Dahyun cautiously eyed Seo Eunmi.
"...Sniff. Yeah, delicious."
Seo Eunmi dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, still sniffling.
"Now, let's go see the chef. ...Sniff."
"...Yeah. I'll call."
Dahyun raised her hand.
"Excuse me~"
A waiter appeared instantly.
"Yes? You called?"
"Sniff... We'd like to see the chef."
At her teary request, the waiter nodded as if expecting it.
"Yes. The boss is waiting. Follow me."
"Really?!"
Their faces lit up at "waiting."
"Yes. This way."
They stood to follow.
Then, a palm blocked Dahyun's path.
"Not this guest."
"...Pardon?"
"The boss specified only this guest. You don't qualify."
"Wh-what?"
Oh no.
Dahyun remembered not telling Hura she'd come.
...No helping it.
She bluffed shamelessly.
"M-must be a mix-up. I'm sure I was mentioned."
"No. You weren't."
"C'mon~ Think harder. Cute, pretty girl coming? Ring a bell?"
"Never heard."
The waiter was firm.
"Um... I hate going alone. Can I join?"
"No. Impossible."
Even Seo Eunmi's plea got cold rejection. Dahyun bit her lip at his icy demeanor.
Turning back after coming this far? Unthinkable.
"...Excuse me, waiter. Ear here a sec?"
"Yes?"
"Tch. Gimme your ear."
"......"
He leaned suspiciously. Dahyun whispered.
"I know who you are."
"...?"
"Geum Taeyang, don't think I won't recognize you."
"......!"
Geum Taeyang's eyes widened—dyed black-haired and suited by Molrangkau's help, utterly transformed.
But Dahyun knew Hura was here, and his golden eyes remained.
"That waitress is Tteoksoon-i, right."
"......!"
"Knowing your master's identity now? Weird if I didn't. Right?"
"...Gulp."
"But I know his name and true identity."
"Wh-what..."
Dahyun grinned, whispering.
"Demonic Chef, successor of Sulis. Hura, yeah?"
"......!"
He jolted at the title—known only to a handful: Sulis's friends like Ptah and Vesta, their heirs Geogi Seora and Molrangkau, Hura's comrades Baek Bal Baek Jung and Rank 1's enigmatic Cheon-gong.
Excluding Cheon-gong, all close to Hura.
But who was she? Never seen her face, yet this detailed?
"Who... who are you?"
Geum Taeyang stammered.
"Hm? Your master's friend."
Dahyun winked cutely.
"Sneaking in."