Tteokbokki Legion's Stand

Chop chop chop—the cheerful sound of the cleaver striking the cutting board. I sliced up vegetables for stew. Lately, I'd been steadily practicing in real life the skills I'd picked up in the game.

"Whoa, it's just like in the game. You really put in the effort, huh."

As Dahyun had said, everything was turning into blood and flesh—real, tangible gains. While cooking, I streamed a Fantasy World broadcast on my phone. As a newbie short on info, I'd wandered the internet for Pangwol game details before settling on this channel called Panwol Emo Jjomo. It wasn't hugely famous, but it delivered clean, fun breakdowns of Fantasy World info—perfect for me. Subscribers were growing fast, too.

I'd started from the oldest videos and worked my way up; now I was nearly caught up to the latest ones.

"Slurp—hmm. Just right."

I tasted the stew and kept listening to the video.

"Pfft—"

...That's me?

I wiped my mouth in a daze and stared at the screen. The video showed them interviewing customers eating my tteokbokki.

I'd thought those voices sounded familiar. So the interviewers were from Panwol Emo Jjomo. I looped my broadcast debut while eating breakfast.

"Heh heh... Me on a broadcast."

Not TV, just YouTube, but hey—who cared? Meaning was seeping into my life. Before, mornings meant scarfing bread and kicking off another pointless loop. Not anymore. Breakfast made by me, while watching me on screen. Positive change was creeping into my routine.

"Ah, time to head to work."

I dumped the dishes in the sink, filled it with water, changed quick, and got ready to go.

"Hm?"

A breaking news alert blinked on Panwol Emo Jjomo's latest video about Genesis Village. But I'd left that place behind—no need to rush.

"I'm off."

No one to hear it, but I said it anyway as I stepped out.

* * *

Chop chop chop—the cheerful tap of the counter. When it was slow, I'd practice knife work with the plastic cake cutter Dahyun gave me. Better than a box cutter, she'd said.

Ding-a-ling—

The bell announced a customer mid-practice. I set down the cutter.

"Welcome~"

"Customer-nim! It's me!"

Only one "customer" called me that.

"Dahyun! Hi."

"Hehe, stopped by on my way home."

She'd drop in like this for chats now and then.

"Customer-nim, seen this?"

She shoved her phone in my face. I spotted a familiar profile pic.

"Oh? Panwol Emo Jjomo?"

"Yup! Your broadcast."

"Yeah, caught it this morning. Wild seeing myself on it."

Her eyes went wide.

"Huh? Just now? It's been up a while."

"Was too busy slinging tteokbokki—forgot about the interview."

"Then you haven't seen the new one?"

"Nope."

"Watch now."

Her screen showed protesters with bamboo spears.

"What the..."

Dahyun stared at me; I just blinked blankly.

"......"

"......"

"...I swear I had nothing to do with it."

* * *

An unfortunate mess back in Genesis Village, but our caravan escort to Shin-dong Village was smooth.

"Run! It's the Red Witch Molrangkau! Ruuuun!!"

"Hee hee hee! Fire Arrow!"

Bandits took one look at Molrangkau and bolted—no work for us. But monsters didn't scare like people.

Scanning from atop the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lead wagon, Donggul Donggul yelled.

"Orcs!"

"Battle stations!"

Green-skinned brutes with jutting tusks burst from the trees.

"Kwaaak! Humans! Die!"

I hopped down to join the fray.

"Taeyang!"

"Yes, Master!"

Clang—Geum Taeyang blocked with his fried-egg ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shield, holding them. I snuck behind with stealth from Minare's ring.

Then—

"Take this, punk!"

Crack!

Full-force frying pan to the skull.

"Got 'em! Pound him!"

"Yes!"

Then Taeyang and I beat it to dust. Focused assault. Or gang-up. Undefeated tactic.

"Die! Die!"

"Keurk—!"

"Phew—one down."

I wiped sweat from my brow, sharing a crisp grin with Taeyang.

"...Sneaky."

Molrangkau muttered from the wagon roof, sniping Fire Arrows.

"Orcs look pitiful."

But no choice—I'm too weak solo. Orcs weren't powerhouse strong, but bred like rabbits. Sheer numbers.

"Humans few! Us many!"

"Kwaaa!"

Perfect for testing Cooking Throw. I pulled leftover tteokbokki from inventory, scooped onto frying pan, and hurled at them.

"Cooking Throw!"

"Hey! Why waste good tteokbokki?!"

Red globs splattered orcs.

"Kwaa! What's this?!"

"Oh ho."

Sauce-drenched orcs staggered, strength draining. Cooking Throw debuffed foes.

...What about allies? Party members count as allies?

Eyeing my busy comrades—perfect test ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠subjects. Coincidence, really. I grinned and lobbed tteokbokki their way.

"Cooking Throw!"

Red rain fell impartial on friend and foe.

"Kwaak!"

"Gah! What?!"

"Oopsie!"

"Oh ho, buffs for allies. Nice skill."

Party perked up.

"Grr! Suddenly pissed!"

"Doesn't even hurt! This inner power...?"

Unexpected side effect: some tried reclaiming my thrown tteokbokki.

"That delicious tteokbokki!"

"Hey! Don't eat it! I'll make fresh! Stop!"

I yanked back Axe Guy puckering at a sauce-smeared orc.

But he smooched anyway. Orc freaked and fled.

"Kruk! Retreat! Retreat!"

Tteokbokki-coated orcs scattered. Our job was escort, not pursuit.

"Good work! Regroup, then roll out!"

Leader Axe Guy smacked his lips.

Orcs never touched the wagons. Mission success—we paused to regroup.

"Hmm..."

While the party wiped green goo and patched wounds, I stroked my chin, eyeing a downed orc.

"Master? Something wrong?"

"That crazy old man said true cooking uses monster meat. This count?"

"What? Eat this?"

Molrangkau butted in.

"Said monster meat's the real deal."

"Eugh. Tasty?"

"You tried orc?"

She shuddered, shaking her head.

"Don't say creepy shit. Who eats orc?"

"Dunno. Might as well snag a leg, just in case."

"Ugh. Whatever."

Slice—one leg off. Green blood oozed with a foul stench.

"Urk—"

Nearly hurled.

"...Master. Probably shouldn't eat this."

"Yeah, think so too."

I chucked the leg into the woods. Dust soon enough.

"Attention!"

Axe Guy, our head honcho, called as we prepped to move.

"Normally we'd detour through a village for rest, but timeline's tight—straight shot!"

Youngest Donggul Donggul shot up a hand.

"Straight?"

"Yep!"

"Then..."

"Ryuken Gorge!"

Party inhaled, murmuring grimly.

"Gasp."

"Ryuken Gorge? Sane?"

"Donggul Donggul."

"Yes, Hura-nim."

"What's Ryuken Gorge?"

He explained patiently.

"Infamous bandit nest. Bandit hellhole. Only top-tier pros pass unscathed."

"And we're going?"

"Beats me what leader's thinking."

Axe Guy bellowed again.

"I know the worries. But we've got something scarier than the gorge—Molrangkau!"

"Ah."

"True."

Instant buy-in.

"Objections?"

"......"

"Good. Ryuken Gorge it is. Early arrival means bonus—beers on me."

Nods all around; they dusted off to move.

"......"

"What? I'm Molrangkau-soft? How should I know her dirt?"

I eyed Molrangkau suspiciously, but she shrugged shamelessly. Was the unease just mine?