After Thoroughly Enjoying the New Toy
After thoroughly exploring advanced cooking techniques with our newly acquired precious kitchen tools—and deeply reflecting on them—we finally ascended to the surface.
I glanced around. He was supposed to be nearby.
"Where's Beda?"
"Up there."
Molrangkau pointed upward. Following her finger, I spotted a bear of a man dozing off at the top of a tree.
...Gutsy. Sleeping up there?
I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted.
"Beda!"
The bear stirred groggily from its winter slumber and peered down.
"Ah, Hura."
Beda immediately surrendered to gravity.
Whoosh—
Thud!
The trees, startled by the impact, shook off their snow with a rustle. Beda extended a hand, his rugged face breaking into a warm, good-natured smile.
"Good to see you again."
"Loved the footage," I said, shaking his hand with a satisfied grin. "You beat the crap out of them."
"Haha, that good enough?"
"Plenty. Felt like a breath of fresh air..."
Beda let out a hearty laugh, then gave me a meaningful look.
"So, about that ramen you promised...?"
"Heh... Right away, sir. Ever had ramen boiled over a dinosaur's flame?"
"No idea what that is, but sounds delicious."
I summoned the burner with the dinosaur head jammed on top and placed a pot over it. Beda clapped his hands in delight at the sight.
Right? Who doesn't love dinosaurs?
Geum Taeyang and Tteok Sun-i fetched a folding table and chairs from somewhere, quickly setting up.
Beda watched eagerly, licking his lips—until his gaze landed on Molrangkau, standing quietly like a folding screen behind us.
"...?"
Beda's eyes widened.
"Wha..."
He stared blankly, at a loss for words, his face screaming what in the world? He sidled up to me and whispered.
"Hura."
"Yes."
"...That one."
"Speak freely."
"Molrangkau seems to have lost it."
Beda glanced at her and muttered. I met his eyes squarely.
"You think so too?"
"Since when?"
"Like that when I logged in today. Maybe Sap Knight hit her head too hard?"
"...Probably."
"Think another good smack would fix her?"
"Smart idea. But her temper's a nightmare—can't get close."
Ahem.
A cough from behind made me toss the pre-sliced green onions into the ramen.
"There~ All done! Dig in."
"Ooh... Thanks for the meal."
Beda grabbed his chopsticks without hesitation.
Slurp—slurp—
The only sound in the quiet forest for a while was the slurping of noodles. Beda devoured it, sniffling all the way.
I filled a cup with ice from the Ice Devil's Left Horn, then poured cool water shaved from the Crested Dragon's Horn, and handed it over.
"Ah, thank you."
Beda gulped it down and roughly wiped his eyes.
"Spicy, huh?"
"Yes. Keeps making me sweat."
I stayed by his side until he polished off the ramen. Once the bowl was empty, I activated my skill.
Cooking Clone Art
Pop—
Jeil Hura popped up beside me.
"Fake Hura's here!"
"...".
"The real Hura's back?"
The bubbly newcomer waved cheekily, like a delinquent. It was like staring at Geum Taeyang after embracing the darkness—pure sass.
...Why'd he turn out like this? Like a high schooler hitting puberty.
"What, not happy to see Fake Hura?"
Jeil Hura chuckled self-deprecatingly, scanning the surroundings.
...His clone status must've twisted him up inside.
I itched to smack the back of his head and free him from that rut, but he'd shone against Sap Knight, and it'd feel like hitting myself, so I held back.
I pointed at him for Beda.
"Want more? Just tell him."
Beda eyed him curiously.
"Oho... Saw it in the video, but real Cooking Clone Art, huh? You sure you're a chef?"
"Not just any chef."
His eyes would bug out at my flame ray sword.
Jeil Hura kicked at the dirt sullenly.
"Tch. Fakes gotta say 'Yes, sir~' to whatever the real one orders in this filthy, unfair world."
"...Smack him if he mouths off."
I stretched my cramped legs from squatting.
"Got business nearby—be back soon."
"Watch for Sap Knight."
"Yeah. Molrangkau's coming."
Molrangkau smiled reassuringly and gave Beda a graceful nod.
"?????"
Beda's face was priceless. Probably what mine looked like seeing her first thing today.
"Jeil Hura, no slacking—serve with all your heart."
"Yessir~ Whatever you say~"
"...".
Gonna have to sort him out later.
* * *
With Molrangkau's disguise magic on us, we crossed Harten. The village was deep in reconstruction. Having seen Sap Knight reduce it to rubble, I was stunned at the progress. Thought it was hopeless, but it was already halfway fixed.
These folks must be tough, living in this harsh land—they hammered away at houses and cleared the ravaged earth.
Come to think of it, before the Ice Devil walled it in with that massive ice barrier, this place had nonstop blizzards year-round. Daily life here was extreme; a little destruction probably didn't faze them.
And mixed in with the villagers were plenty of players helping out. One chatted up another.
"Hey, did you... get a quest?"
"One sec. Lemme move this... Hngh!"
The player hefted a huge rock aside, wiped sweat, and replied.
"Quest? Yeah. Why?"
"Know where to pick 'em up?"
"See the village chief?"
"The fur hat guy?"
"Yeah. From him."
"Thanks!"
"No prob."
Hm. Harten's chief must be handing out quests like candy. Not our business, though.
"Tsk tsk... That Sap Knight bastard dug up the whole village. What a mess."
Molrangkau politely countered my mutter.
"...Wasn't that 'cause you kept poking him, Hura?"
"Guy who snaps at pokes is the problem, right?"
"...What?"
"Why make laws then? No 'poking crime,' but assault's illegal."
"What kinda nonsense—dogshit logic is that?"
"Sap Knight's the one barking nonsense. Why take Jeil Hura's grudge out on me?"
"...".
I let Molrangkau's words go in one ear and out the other as we crossed Harten, still chewing out Sap Knight like bubblegum. Soon we reached the village entrance where I'd set up shop.
The bustling outdoor stalls from days ago were now heaps of shattered tables and chairs.
"Ugh..."
It tore at my heart. All rented. Gotta pay for that. How much...?
But I steeled myself.
"Geum Taeyang."
"Yes, Master."
"Not everything's smashed, right?"
"Yes. Salvaged the intact ones and stashed them in a quiet forest spot."
"...Lead the way."
"Right this way."
Following Geum Taeyang into the empty woods, Molrangkau dropped the disguise.
"Here. Right there."
I looked where he pointed. Tables, chairs, pots, and utensils neatly stacked.
"Gasp..."
My legs buckled at the sight. The pile was noticeably smaller than before.
A little... no, a lot short.
"You okay?"
Tteok Sun-i steadied me.
"...".
Needed a moment. Deep breath.
"Geum Taeyang."
"Yes, Master."
"How much left?"
"About half—no, a third of the salvageable stuff."
"Gasp...!"
It stabbed like a dagger.
"The war between Sapjaru-dan and Tteokbokki Cult right in the shop's heart... that's what did it."
Geum Taeyang bowed his head shamefacedly. Per his explanation, the clash exploded smack in the middle, smashing all the rentals. The tables Tteok Sun-i and he had gradually made were arranged in rings around the center ones, so most survived.
...Unbelievable. Why smash the good stuff instead of the cheap makeshift?
"Sniff..."
I buried my face in Tteok Sun-i's shoulder. Heartbreaking.
One table costs a fortune.
"Master..."
Tteok Sun-i patted my head.
"Ahem."
Molrangkau sidled up and slyly lifted my head to her shoulder.
"...?"
She patted me like Tteok Sun-i.
"Aw... Must be so heartbroken..."
"...???"
I froze blankly, then yanked away.
"Wh-what're you doing?!"
Mind cleared instantly.
"What? Just comforting you."
She tilted her head innocently.
"You let Tteok Sun-i, but run from me?"
"Th-that's 'cause you and her are different!"
"How?"
"...They just are! Anyway, different!"
"...".
She tched and turned away.
...No clue what her deal is. But hey, snapped me out of it.
What's done is done. At least it's not worse. Could've lost everything—the quest, our lives. Few seconds later and poof. But quest cleared, survived Sap Knight, even got "Rank 0 Chef" nickname. Grateful.
Shattered tables? Small price. Thankful, even.
"Yeah, no regrets!"
I slapped my cheeks and yelled. Then roughly tallied the survivors, estimating repair costs in my head.
Molrangkau stepped forward.
"Hm..."
What's she up to?
She clack-clacked to a table and hopped up, crossing her legs.
"...?"
I whipped my head away.
"H-hey! Skirt! What're you doing?!"
I ducked behind Tteok Sun-i.
"Huh? My legs, my business."
She shrugged shamelessly. I tsked and called out.
"...Tteok Sun-i."
"Yes, Master."
I pulled a fur garment from inventory.
"Cover her up. Tie it tight with thread."
"Got it."
Once Tteok Sun-i draped and secured it, my eyes were free.
"Phew... Can't let my guard down for a second."
I muttered at Molrangkau, who pouted at her blanketed legs.
Then, distant clop-clop of hooves echoed from afar.