A Day's Start, Morning
A new day dawned, morning breaking as weary office workers dragged themselves to work. The convenience store buzzed with busy commuters.
Hura arrived at the store just like any other day, swiftly scanning barcodes with the reader in a practiced rhythm. Beep—
"3,100 won."
With an expressionless face, Hura rang up customers. It looked cold at first glance, but Sera knew better. He wasn't thinking about anything at all right now.
"Heh, what a cute guy."
Sera munched on bread from inside her car, watching Hura through the tinted window.
Once the morning rush died down, Hura sighed and sank into his chair.
"Yeah, take a break."
He couldn't hear her, of course, but Sera muttered around a mouthful of tough bread washed down with milk.
But Hura sprang back up, grabbing something and fiddling with it on the counter.
"What're you doing?"
Sera squinted. In Hura's hand was a dull plastic knife, the kind used to cut cake.
"...What the heck?"
Chopping at thin air— even his family would find the sight baffling.
For the next few hours at the store, whenever there were no customers, Hura kept repeating the motion.
"What on earth? Guess I have to see for myself."
She donned a mask, topped it with sunglasses, and pulled her hat low. Triple disguise. Her face was completely hidden. Suspicious as hell, but Hura wouldn't care. He was so indifferent to anything outside his interests that he bordered on cynical.
Sera got out of the car and entered the store. Ding-a-ling—
"Welcome~"
Hura greeted her with his usual flat tone. Sera just nodded curtly and slipped between the shelves, picking out car snacks one by one. Standing on tiptoe, she peeked at Hura over the counter.
"Again. Again. Still doing it."
This time, Hura was "slicing" a pencil with the cake knife. Pretending, not actually cutting.
Sera approached the counter with her basket of snacks. Hura kept at it.
"Ahem—"
Finally noticing her, Hura set down the knife.
"Oh, sorry. Let me ring you up."
Beep— As Hura scanned efficiently, Sera pitched her voice low.
"Ahem— uh. What were you doing, if I may ask?"
"Pardon?"
Sera pointed at the cake knife on the counter. Hura gave an awkward smile.
"Oh. Nothing much."
"If it's nothing, why not teach me?"
"Well..."
Hura raked a hand through his hair, hesitating before confessing.
"Practicing knife work."
"Knife practice?"
Sera's voice rose in surprise.
"Yeah. I wanna be a chef..."
Hura scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. Sera's eyes widened behind her sunglasses.
A dream? Hura has a dream now?
Flustered, Sera pressed on.
"Uh, m-may I ask what made you want to be a chef?"
The stranger was suspicious, but it wasn't a big deal, so Hura answered casually.
"Nothing special. Back in the day, I made fried eggs for my parents. They loved it, praised me a ton. Keeps coming back to me. That sparked it."
"...!"
Tears welled in Sera's eyes.
This kid. When did he grow up so much?
Sera threw out another question.
"You have a sister, right?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
Hura's eyes rounded. Sera brushed it off vaguely and continued.
"Just a hunch from your face. Did you make her fried eggs too?"
"Yeah."
"What'd she say after eating it?"
Thump-thump. Sera's heart raced. What did I say? How did I cheer on my little brother's dream?
"One bite and she said it sucked, then left."
"..."
"Hurt so bad I never cooked again. Hmm. Thinking about it, maybe that's why I'm starting so late— because of her."
"..."
Sera drew a blank. She'd crushed Hura's dream? She wanted to punch her past self.
"7,800 won. Need a bag?"
"Yeah... wait. I'll grab a few more."
Sera dashed back, snatching more tasty-looking items. She'd planned to buy just one warm canned coffee he liked, unnoticed. But a dream changed everything.
...And this has nothing to do with my guilt. Really. Totally separate.
Hura rang it up again.
"23,300 won. Bag?"
"Yes. I'll pack it."
Sera bagged only her own snacks, leaving the rest on the counter.
"Uh, customer. You need to take these too..."
"Eat them yourself."
"Th-this much?"
"Yep. Bye."
Sera bolted out like a fugitive, diving into her car. She yanked off her hat, glasses, and mask. Tears had soaked the mask.
"Wh-when did this kid grow up so much? He was so tiny. Sob."
Sera wiped her eyes with her sleeve and chomped her bread. She devoured tear-soaked bread like that. But her mission wasn't over. Great that he'd found a dream, but she still needed to uncover how he'd paid that deposit.
Sera's surveillance continued.
"Sob... The kid who could barely boil ramen... a chef... a chef..."
She sniffled for a good while.
"Urgh—"
My stomach was full all day. Some shady customer grilled me, then left over 10,000 won in snacks "for me."
Kind folks sometimes tossed me a drink for my hard work, but this was new.
"Are you a chef?"
Plausible guess. Maybe supporting an aspiring junior chef.
Shift ended, straight home—no dinner, just cleaning, workout, shower, then dive into Fantasy World.
Welcome to Fantasy World.
The familiar message rang out. I opened my eyes in the same dingy Machine Hill. Bright lights illuminated it, but eerie blue glows like snake eyes lingered sinisterly here and there.
Pulled tteokbokki and slightly burnt fried eggs from inventory.
"Cooking Summon."
Flash— Dimmer than before, and out popped the two.
"Master."
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i greeted me right away.
"While you were away, we pondered the names you gave us."
"...Yeah?"
Probably hate them, want new ones... Tch. Naming's not easy. What next?
But they said something unexpected.
"Yes. We failed to grasp your profound intent. We're sorry."
"Sorry."
They knelt, one on each side.
"...Huh?"
Geum Taeyang bowed deeply, ashamed.
"We pieced together our shallow thoughts to divine your deep meaning. Tteoksoon-i, lead the rhyme."
Tteoksoon-i recited her name, and Taeyang unpacked each syllable's hidden wisdom.
"Tteok."
"Tteoksoon-i."
"Soon."
"Is innocent."
"I."
"Must guard against teeth. Only then can we advance to the next stage."
"..."
I was speechless.
"How is it?"
Geum Taeyang lifted his head cautiously.
...Clap... clap... clap...
I shook my head in mock admiration, slowly applauding.
They gazed up with sparkling eyes.
"...Brilliant. Brilliant. Figuring out my hidden meaning in just a day. I expected a month."
"You're too kind, Master."
"Thank you, Master."
They bowed politely.
"Right, Tteoksoon-i. What are spiciness levels 0 and 1?"
"0 is mild, 1 is less spicy, Master."
"2 must be spicy. Am I right?"
"H-how...!"
Tteoksoon-i clapped hands over her mouth in shock. I let her stew and continued.
"Tteoksoon-i. You're too innocent."
"Am I?"
"Yes. Guard against teeth. Only then can you conquer this harsh world. Only then reach level 2 spiciness."
"Wise words, Master! I'll etch them in my heart!"
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i knelt like loyal vassals, heads low.
"Rise. We have far to go."
"Yes!"
I hurriedly sent them scouting.
"As expected of Master. I'm pathetic for doubting even a moment."
"It's fine. We grow through mistakes. Heed Master's words."
"Yes! Of course!"
They chatted as they walked away.
"..."
Watching their backs, I belatedly checked the flashing system message from earlier.
- When lying, become a bit more shameless and confident.
- When lying, your pupils won't waver.
"...Should I be happy this leveled up?"
My moral compass stabbed at my chest. The triangular conscience in my heart spun wildly, poking everywhere.
Praised for lying? At this rate, it'll wear down to a circle. I'll devolve into a conscienceless thug.
That AI Simus. What's its goal? Boredom? World conquest? Whatever. I won't lose to an AI. Lie as little as possible.
...As much as possible, anyway.
I kicked machine debris, grumbling.
"Innocent my ass. How would I know after knowing her that long?"
I headed opposite the kids, seeking the exit.
"Day two evening. Hura's routine is simple. Back and forth between store and home. Doesn't go out after."
Sera muttered, jotting in her notebook.
"Hura dreams of being a chef. But separately, still no clue on the big money."
Sera gazed at Hura's lit bedroom window.
"Motion-detect cam on opposite wall, end of day two."
Snap— Sera closed her notebook and started the car.
Vroom—
"Out."
The black car glided smoothly from the alley.
"Master! Found it!"
Ran at Tteoksoon-i's call. There, like before, a switch protruded. But red this time.
"Not getting attacked again, right?"
I poked the pillar, muttering.
"Careful this time—"
Beep!
"You idiot!"
I yelled at Tteoksoon-i, who mashed it with innocent eyes.
"But it's the only one."
"...Good job."
These two are identical.
Rumble— Vibration hit, then beside the switch, an elevator-like pod sprouted.
Capsule-shaped. No enemies, luckily.
Whirr— Door slid open invitingly.
"Get in."
"Yes."
No other way, so we boarded.
Whirr— Thunk. Door shut, and with a jolt, it descended underground.
Rumble— Vibration stopped, door reopened. Beyond it:
A colossal robot in dim twilight.
"Whoa..."
So cool, pure awe escaped me. Forgot it could flatten us. Overwhelmed by sheer size and presence.
Iron legs unmarred by axe strikes. Shoulders bristling missiles to raze nations. Chest armored, faint engine hum. Matching sword and rifle, massive. Blue eyes glowing nobly in shadow.
Groooan— The robot, fit for mechanical king, loomed on a huge throne, gazing down imperiously.
As we craned our necks, a heavy voice boomed, like the chamber itself spoke— resonant, fitting its immense aura.
Gulp. I spoke carefully.
"...'His'?"
The robot's icy blue eyes flashed.
Affection and reverence laced the deep voice.
Demonic Chef.>