A Familiar Face Behind the Counter
“Ah, sorry about that. Let me ring you up.”
Hura, lost in absentminded cutter-knife practice, belatedly noticed the customer at the counter and took the basket from her hands, setting it down on the checkout.
With practiced motions, he pulled items out one by one and scanned their barcodes.
Beep.
Dahyun watched him, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
'Does the customer recognize me? I barely changed anything except shrinking down like a fairy.'
Beep.
'I did make my eyes a bit bigger, but just a little!'
Beep.
'Gasp. What if he recognized me and is pretending not to? Why, though? Is he the type who keeps work and personal life strictly separate?'
Beep.
'Or maybe he doesn't want to talk to me? Yeah, he hasn't messaged in days.'
Beep.
'Is it even okay to run into the customer like this off the clock? Was there something about that in the company rules? Should've read them more carefully.'
Beep.
But the words that actually came out of her mouth had nothing to do with the storm in her head.
“Practicing your knife skills?”
“Huh?”
Dahyun glanced pointedly at the cutter knife in Hura's hand by way of reply.
“Oh, this? Haha, yeah.”
Hura laughed awkwardly.
“Aspiring chef?”
“Something like that. My skills are still pretty lousy, though.”
Beep.
Even as they chatted, the barcode scanner in his hand didn't stop, zipping over the items relentlessly.
“Um, so do you do any cooking-related work too?”
“Haha, no. I just said my skills suck. Haven't been at it long.”
“Really? Where'd you learn?”
“Well...”
Hura scratched his head, hesitating.
“Why? Hard to talk about?”
“No, no. It's just... kinda embarrassing.”
“Huh? What's embarrassing?”
Dahyun feigned ignorance despite knowing full well.
“Well... I'm learning in a game.”
“A game?”
“Yeah.”
Hura paused mid-scan and looked up at the innocently questioning Dahyun.
“Huh?”
She flashed a bright smile.
'Yes! He recognizes me! It's me, customer!'
“Aren't you the customer who asked if I played Fantasy World last time?”
Without her glasses this time, Hura hadn't recognized her right away.
Dahyun's beaming smile faltered.
“...Yeah, that's me. You remember?”
Grind.
'He remembers that but nothing else?'
Her jaw clenched as she forced the smile.
Blissfully unaware, Hura shrugged it off casually.
“Of course. You bought over 50,000 won worth.”
“Th-that wasn't all for me! I shared with friends!”
Dahyun's face flushed crimson as she blurted it out.
“...Today too?”
Hura glanced at the still-full basket.
“Y-yeah, today too!”
“Last time you said it was for your dog's birthday...”
“...You only remember the useless stuff.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Just mumbling to myself.”
'Damn... shouldn't have bought so much today.'
As Dahyun regretted it belatedly, Hura continued.
“Hmm, got it. Anyway, that's where I'm learning—in that Fantasy World you mentioned.”
“I see...”
Dahyun fanned her flushed face.
Pondering what to say next, she suddenly remembered what she'd told him.
'Right! He'll remember this!'
“I heard Fantasy World brought in world-class chefs for consultations to build their cooking curriculum. They really put effort into the chef class, so no need to be embarrassed!”
She widened her eyes dramatically, hinting hard.
'Get it now, customer? Huh?'
“Oh, the game guide said the same thing. Must be a famous story.”
“The game guide?”
“You know, the helpers when you first log in. They answer questions too.”
“Hmm, not sure who you mean...”
Dahyun played dumb.
“The fairies.”
“Oh, those fairies? They said exactly the same thing? And it's not even that famous...”
'He has to get it now, customer! It's me!'
She beamed telepathically, but it bounced right off Hura.
“Really? What a coincidence.”
'He still doesn't know...'
Dahyun deflated.
'Or is he pretending?'
Her fists clenched under the counter.
'I need to find out. Does he really not know, or is he faking?'
She ventured carefully.
“So, is Fantasy World fun?”
Oblivious to her turmoil, Hura grinned brightly.
“Yeah! These past few days have been a blast!”
“Just these past few days? What've you been up to?”
“I tried proper business for the first time, and it went so well. So fun I forgot to eat for days.”
“...Really?”
Dahyun's face lit up.
'Not because he hates me! He was just busy!'
“Yeah! Hit my goal but kept going anyway. Oh, let me help with that—52,300 won.”
“Here.”
Hura swiped her card in the reader.
“Signature, please.”
Dahyun swallowed hard and reached for the pad slowly.
She always scribbled a squiggly worm like everyone else, but not this time.
She wrote her name carefully, in clear block letters.
'Lee Dahyun'
Hura tilted his head at the signature.
Dahyun watched anxiously.
He looked up from the machine, meeting her eyes.
Finally.
“...Dahyun?”
Her face bloomed into a huge smile.
“Yes! It's me, customer!”
* * *
“So you started the business for that legendary frying pan quest?”
“Yeah. Thought I'd make pocket change, maybe 50,000 won, but it blew up.”
“For real? What'd you sell?”
“Tteokbokki.”
Dahyun clapped and bounced excitedly.
“Whoa! Sounds delicious! I love tteokbokki.”
Seeing her so happy, Hura smiled naturally too.
“I'll make you some sometime.”
“Deal! But didn't you make a ton with that imperial gold and tteokbokki stall? Didn't expect to see you part-timing at a convenience store.”
“Life's about playing it safe.”
“Ahaha!”
Her items had been bagged long ago, but Dahyun lingered at the counter, chatting with Hura for a good while.
* * *
Would you like to log in as character 'Hura'?
“Yes.”
Fwoosh.
Fantasy World was already cloaked in evening moonlight.
“Perfect timing.”
He headed toward the back alley for the quest, a faint smile creeping onto his lips unbidden.
Unexpectedly pleasant customer encounter.
“Fate really is...”
He'd thought she looked a bit similar, but really Dahyun? Her fairy eyes seemed a tad bigger, maybe?
Strolling the now-quiet alley with fewer people, he opened the quest window.
The completion notice had come ages ago—no need to worry.
Those Who Would Wield the Frying Pan, Bear Its Weight!
✦ Move 100 people with your cooking.
🎯 Moved: (1218/100)
“......?”
He blinked rapidly, rubbed his eyes.
“Am I seeing this wrong?”
Even after, the number stayed the same.
Those Who Would Wield the Frying Pan, Bear Its Weight!
✦ Move 100 people with your cooking.
🎯 Moved: (1218/100)
“Over a thousand? And not just eaters, but truly moved by the food? What a brutal difficulty!”
He opened the skill window and tapped Cooking Charm.
“Hiek!”
List of those affected by Cooking Charm. (1219)
• Molrangkau
• ToughGuyHyunwoo
• BananaJoah
• ...
1,219 people under Cooking Charm? And the skill level had shot up too.
“This is insane...”
Mouth agape, he froze—then something stirred in the alley shadows, slapping a friendly hand on his shoulder.
“Heh heh, no way you cleared that task in four days. Here to beg mercy? Lower the difficulty?”
The quest-giver himself, the mad old coot.
“Actually—”
The old man jammed a finger to his lips, silencing him.
“Now, now. As I said before, impossible. Like I told you, this proves you're worthy to hold his frying pan. Now you get how tough cooking for a living is. Don't despair—I'll share some of my know-how.”
“I cleared it.”
The old man, finger raised mid-explanation, froze solid.
“...What?”
“Quest complete.”
“Heh heh, must be going deaf. Keep hearing nonsense.”
Digging in his ear with a hearty laugh, Hura replied not with words, but action—tapping the completion button.
Now the info flooded in; the old man's eyes bulged, jaw dropping.
“I-impossible! 1,218 in four days? What the hell did you do?”
Technically three days accounting for store shifts, but details.
The key was this absurd overachievement.
“Heh heh heh, talent. You said it yourself—I have the gift.”
Gloating at the stunned old man was pure joy.
Grinning wickedly, he added,
“Don't be too down. Want some of my know-how? Hmm. So, what's your personal best over four days?”
Ding!
Taunt Lv.1 (0.00%)
You become slightly more infuriating when teasing.
Heh heh, nice assist! Artificial intelligence Simus.
“Th-this is ridiculous...”
“So, can I use the frying pan now?”
“Fine... take it.”
“Haha! At last, this frying pan meets its master. No more words? I'll be off then.”
“Wait!”
The old man grabbed his shoulder as he turned.
“Heh, want my know-how now?”
But what came back was a sharp scolding.
“Don't get cocky!”
“...Pardon?”
“Sure, impressive results, but most who boom early fizzle out later. Why? Arrogance and sloth! Got it?”
“I was just kidding around...”
Where's the praise? This old man was Gordon 2.0.
Crushed the goal, and all he gets is a lecture.
Ding!
Ugh! Not even a skill!
Who's taunting who?!
The old man soothed the suddenly sullen Hura.
“Ahem, just an old man's worry—not wanting to lose another talented chef. Anyway, truly eye-opening results. You did great.”
“...Really?”
“Of course! I'm stingy with praise too!”
“...Hehe, thanks.”
Patting his shoulder, the old man continued.
“Did you meet Minare when you got the frying pan?”
“Oh, the emperor? Yeah.”
“Then you heard about him.”
“Him?”
“Minare's friend, the Demonic Chef.”
Hura nodded.
“Yeah, a bit.”
“From the last emperor, no less. Makes this easy. Head east to Shin-dong Village. Seek clues there on the Demonic Chef!”
Ding!
Demonic Chef
🎯 Become the Demonic Chef who enchants the world!
✦ Travel the continent following his footsteps, gathering clues on the Demonic Chef.
📍 Clue added!
• In the lush green village of Shin-dong Village, seek traces of the Demonic Chef.