How the Rank 0 Chef Survives: A Doctor's Proposal
“How is it? Really delicious, right?”
“Yeah. It was the absolute best.”
Seo Ji-hyun and Seo Eunmi chatted away amiably while doing the dishes. Molrangkau washed them by the fire, and Seo Eunmi took them, stacking them neatly. Over there, Vesta and Dahyun were handling dishes the same way.
—Um, can I just touch your hair once?
—No way! Do you think I'll let you just because you're a fairy!
—Hing…
Seo Eunmi nodded as she spoke to Ji-hyun. “It brought tears to my eyes.”
“Hehe, right?”
Molrangkau beamed as if the praise were for her. Seo Eunmi watched her with a soft smile for a moment before carefully calling out.
“Ji-hyun.”
“Yes?”
To move forward with what Seo Eunmi had in mind, she absolutely needed the girl's consent.
“Actually, your teacher didn't just come to eat the food.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Of course, at first I was just curious how delicious it had to be to make such a fuss. But our Ji-hyun, you improved so much after eating Hura's cooking, didn't you?”
Of course, it was possible because of her own tremendous efforts, but that effort had a trigger. And ultimately, the trigger that let her overcome her trauma in the end.
Hura's cooking, which provided that, was priceless.
“...Right?”
“I think other patients at the hospital could benefit greatly too.”
“Ah, yeah, that makes sense!”
Molrangkau clapped her hands together. Hura's food had this mystical power to evoke memories, so it would surely help a ton.
“So, your teacher plans to formally request this from Hura.”
“Sounds like a great idea.”
“But to explain it...”
Seo Eunmi trailed off, glancing at Molrangkau.
“Ah.”
Her beaming smile faded as realization dawned.
“Yeah. To do that, you'd have to explain that you're a psychiatrist.”
“...Then he'd naturally find out I go to a psych hospital regularly...”
Seo Eunmi nodded silently. It was unfortunate, but negative views of mental hospitals were still widespread. Sure, perceptions had improved a bit, but the stares were still unkind. People looked at you strangely if you said you went to one—treating you like a total nutjob or avoiding you altogether.
That's why Ji-hyun had never told Hura about “some hospital.”
“...Yeah. Other people would feel so much better after eating his food.”
She knew from experience. The way to overcome current pain was through happy memories of the past. It would definitely be a huge help. She'd overcome her tormenting trauma beautifully, just like she had.
But...
“...You okay with that?”
Seo Eunmi asked gently. Molrangkau bowed her head, fumbling for words. Her hands had stopped washing dishes.
“...What if Hura... starts hating me?”
“Ji-hyun.”
“What if he says he never wants to see me again?”
She recalled the monstrous stares. If... even Hura looked at her that way...
I... I'd...
“It's okay.”
Seo Eunmi gently took her trembling hands.
“Just from a short chat, I could tell. He's a good person.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. One of those rare people with real depth.”
“......”
“He'll understand. He won't hate you, Ji-hyun.”
Gripping her hands tight, Seo Eunmi asked, “Do you trust him?”
“...Yes. I do.”
After a moment's thought, she smiled faintly. “Hura's warm.”
“...Yeah. Warm like spring.”
Seo Eunmi smiled softly, brushing back Ji-hyun's hair.
'He melted your midwinter self so beautifully.'
Molrangkau resumed washing as she said, “...But you don't have to get into details, right? I still... can't talk about it.”
“Of course not.”
“I want to tell him myself later.”
“He'll wait as long as you need.”
“Really...?”
“He will.”
“How do you know?”
Seo Eunmi smiled. “You know him better than I do.”
“......”
Seo Eunmi recalled the miracle-like experience from his food. A person who made such warm dishes wouldn't mind waiting for something like that.
She hugged Ji-hyun tight and said softly, “I told you before. It's no big deal, Ji-hyun.”
“......”
“Really, nothing. It's insignificant.”
“Yeah...”
“You could shake it off like whoosh and your life wouldn't change at all.”
“......”
“That's all it is. Something you can forget anytime.”
“......”
“So when you're ready, tell him whenever. He'll listen.”
“...Yeah. And now.”
Seo Eunmi said seriously, “Actually, I'm a psychiatrist.”
“A psychiatrist?”
“Yes. Commonly called a shrink.”
Hura stared at Molrangkau with wide eyes.
“......”
Ji-hyun, tense inside, couldn't meet his gaze and just glared at an innocent teacup. She'd said it was fine, but nerves were nerves.
Still, her ears perked up for his response. Seo Eunmi watched him tensely too.
With both their eyes and ears on him, Hura's reaction was unexpected.
“Phew— what a relief.”
“...Huh?”
Ji-hyun looked up with saucer eyes. Even Seo Eunmi stammered at the unforeseen reply.
“Wh-what's a relief?”
To her question, Hura nodded toward Ji-hyun casually. “I heard she goes to the hospital regularly and thought she had some incurable disease she couldn't talk about.”
Yeah. Hura had heard Ji-hyun went weekly and worried secretly. Hospitals were for colds or once-a-year checkups, but that often? Was she sick? She ran better than him, so she seemed healthy, but... some rare, untreatable illness? That's why she trained so hard to overcome it?
But since she didn't say, he'd pretended not to notice.
“A psych hospital means it's a mental issue, right?”
“Uh... yeah.”
No matter how serious the mental illness, it beat some terminal rarity from the movies. That was Hura's take.
“Mental stuff can be healed anytime, and since she goes steadily, whatever it is, it's improving, right?”
“Y-yeah, correct.”
“So, she's fine now?”
Hura slurped his tea and asked.
“Ah, yes. Of course. Ji-hyun overcame it brilliantly.”
“Then we're good. So, what did you want to say?”
Hura breezed past it like nothing. Their eyes went wide.
“Y-yes?”
“You introduced yourself as a psychiatrist, right? That's the intro, not the conclusion?”
“Ah, yes. Right.”
“Go on.”
Seo Eunmi blinked at Ji-hyun, then collected herself.
“Ah, yep. So, what I wanted to say is...”
Hura nodded, looking at her expectantly.
“I'd like to propose a job to you, Hura.”
“...A job?”
Hura's eyes widened this time at the surprise.
“What kind?”
“You might not know, but Ji-hyun got huge strength from your cooking.”
“Hm?”
“She overcame her bad trauma beautifully thanks to it.”
“Oh... really?”
Hura's lips curved into a crescent.
“Hey, Ji-hyun. For real?”
Ji-hyun blushed furiously under his gaze. “Y-yeah... true.”
Hura grinned mischievously. “Then calling me your lifesaver wouldn't be enough?”
She yelled back. “Hey! Don't overdo it!”
“No, look at how you talk to your lifesaver!”
“It wasn't that big a deal!”
Ji-hyun pouted. Hura poked the back of her hand on the table.
“Hey. Hey, Ji-hyun.”
“What.”
“Buy your lifesaver a meal. You haven't yet.”
“Tch... fine. I'll buy once.”
Seo Eunmi smiled watching them. 'Knew it.'
It looked like teasing, but he'd brushed it off lightly. In his casual words and actions, she glimpsed his warm consideration to avoid burdening her.
“Ahem... young lady. Is that how you talk to your lifesaver?”
“Wh-what's wrong with my tone!”
“Say, 'I shall treat you~'”
“What?”
“'My lifesaver Hura-nim, allow me to treat you to a lavish meal~' Say it.”
“...Seriously!”
“Wh-whoa? What are you doing to your lifesaver?”
“Lavish meal my ass! Eat this!”
Whoosh—
“Kyaa!”
...Or maybe he just wanted to mess around.
“Ahem. Anyway, I have a job proposal.”
Seo Eunmi calmed Molrangkau, who was shaking Hura by the collar.
“Wh-what job?”
Hura scooted away from Molrangkau and asked.
“I'd like you to cook for our hospital patients.”
“...Here? In Pangwol?”
“Yes. We'd pay properly, of course. How about it...?”
Hura pondered, then replied. “Hm... sorry, but that'd be tough.”
“Huh? Why?”
Seo Eunmi asked, flustered by the refusal.
“I'm on the run, and I dash all over the continent nonstop. I don't even know where I'll be.”
“Ah...”
“Can't leisurely cook every time. Sorry.”
“Ah... I see.”
Seo Eunmi's shoulders slumped.
Then Molrangkau, who'd been watching quietly, chimed in. “Then do it in real life.”
“...Huh?”
“You got nothing weekends. Cook then.”
“But... real life won't have the same effect.”
“No. It will.”
Ji-hyun nodded firmly. “Better than nothing. What do you think, teacher?”
“Perfect for us!”
Seo Eunmi's eyes sparkled as she beamed at Hura. “Saturday or Sunday—which works?”
Hura scratched his cheek awkwardly. Good cause or not, working weekends after weekdays didn't appeal, even to a food lover like him.
“Ah, but I work all week, so weekends I need to rest to...”
“Just come at lunch, cook a few hours, and go. We'll match your pay. Tell us tools and ingredients—we'll prep everything. Just bring yourself.”
“That's... sorry, but weekends I need full rest to handle weekdays...”
“50 per day.”
“Thanks, but...”
“20—no, 30.”
“No, it's not about money...”
“50.”
“......”
“Deal?”
Seo Eunmi extended her hand.
“...I can't resist cooking jobs.”
Hura had no choice but to shake it. Too much money to refuse.
* * *
They'd start next week with the doctor. This week had family stuff.
“Tch...”
It'd be tiring, but he'd think positive. Where else could he earn 50 for a few hours? Good is good—row when the tide's in.
Even better than lazing weekends. Productive gig—thanks a ton, thumbs-up Molrangkau, for the hookup.
“......”
...Why the sweaty eyes, though? Dry eyes? Yeah, that. Definitely not shame from selling out for cash. Nope.
“Ah...”
I sighed and trudged to the group. They'd lit a fire and partied noisily—looked fun.
“I am Ground—starting now!”
“Sexy Thief two!”
“Sexy Thief, Sexy Thief! Thug three!”
“Thug, thug, thug! Ppachara four!”
“Ppachara, Ppachara, Ppachara, Ppachara! Sexy Girl two!”
“Sexy Girl, Sexy Girl! Fairy one!”
“F-Fairy!”
“Hahaha! Wrong!”
“Drink here, sunbae!”
“Drink up~ die after eating~”
...What the hell?
“Oh? Hura-nim!”
“Ah, customer-nim! Come join us!”
Ichaera spotted me peeking, then Dahyun, mid-sip, waved me over.
“What's this?”
“Drinking game from our company MT! Super fun!”
“...Drinking game?”
“Ah, not real booze now—just for vibes.”
They sat around the bonfire playing some mystery game. Dahyun seemed buddy-buddy already.
“Haha! Fairy! Hurry and drink—what're you waiting for?”
“Ah, no BGM, so probably not drinking!”
Excited Vesta and Geum Taeyang. Like puppies—super sociable.
“...Vesta-nim. You know what this is?”
“Fairy game, they said! Tried it—insanely fun! Keeping this from me?!”
“I see...”
“Yeah! Hura, come join.”
“......”
Looks fun... Wanted in badly, but work awaited and time was short. Steel myself.
“Got stuff to do.”
Everyone except logged-out Seo Eunmi and Molrangkau was at the fake booze fest.
...Why's Jang Wusan there? I eyed him laughing awkwardly, limbs tied.
Eh... all together, fine.
“Dahyun-ssi. Come here a sec.”
“Huh? What? Gotta play.”
“...Later. Important talk.”
“Okay. Be right back—keep going! You know rules?”
Dahyun dusted off and followed.
“What's up?”
She bounced like a bunny, in high spirits.
“You'll see.”
I led her into the woods.
A clearing had a crackling bonfire.
“Hey, Hura. Lit the fire like you said. But why—”
They froze, spotting each other. Faces twisted in sync on eye contact.
“Come on~ Campfire time~ To the fire, both of you~”
I grabbed Dahyun's paused shoulder, nudging her firmly to the flames.
Heh... 'Get-along' time to fix their rift.