How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 045: The Iron Empress's Terror

"So, Rank 3, Geogi Seora?"

My casual question made the two of them—who'd been devouring the food—freeze solid. A heavy silence settled in.

"……."

If not for the cool breeze rustling through the forest, I might've thought time itself had stopped.

"……?"

Flustered by the unexpected quiet, I glanced back and forth between them.

"Uh, was that a bad question or something?"

"…No, it's not that."

Beda replied stiffly, lifting a giant mushroom to his mouth. Then Baekbal Baekjung set down his chopsticks with a clack and muttered,

"Rank 3, Iron Empress Geogi Seora…"

He shuddered as he said it, like he was recalling a nightmare he never wanted to face again.

"What's Geogi Seora got to do with it?"

Their reactions only piqued my curiosity more. What the hell had this immature big sis been up to in the fantasy world to make them recoil like this?

Baekbal Baekjung chugged the water from his cup before opening up. It was a different vibe from his Molrangkau story.

"You just asked about Molrangkau, right?"

"Yeah. You said she nearly burned your head bald after you messed with her."

"Exactly. I still have nightmares where she chases me sometimes—a fire demon torching everything in her path, and I'm running for my life."

Geum Taeyang quietly approached and refilled Baekbal Baekjung's empty glass. He downed it in one go again, then looked at me and continued.

"Personally, I find the Iron Empress Geogi Seora even scarier than the Red Witch Molrangkau."

"……!"

This was the guy who'd barely escaped having several mountains set ablaze behind him, his hair singed off in the process—the same guy who dreamed about that nightmare. And he was saying my sister, who burned everything while chasing him down like a fire demon, was less scary?

One possibility sprang to mind.

No way.

"…Did she catch you?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"……."

His heavy silence confirmed it. I wondered what she'd done to him once she had him.

Baekbal Baekjung's face paled as he swallowed hard, lost in the memory.

"…After that, I stopped firing my bow recklessly."

"No wonder things quieted down after a certain point. So Geogi Seora was the one who broke the Mad Archer's bad habits."

Beda nodded as if it all made sense now.

"Really? Is Geogi Seora that scary?"

Baekbal Baekjung shook his head frantically in horror.

"Ugh. Hura, you haven't seen those icy blue eyes of hers—like she's flash-freezing a sapphire right there. Just looking at them makes your body lock up."

"…Is she really that terrifying?"

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. What do you think, Beda?"

Something told me it was best not to reveal she was my sister, so I quickly turned to Beda.

"…She's a frightening young lady. You know she's called the Blue Witch, the opposite of the Red Witch Molrangkau, right?"

"Yeah."

"But Geogi Seora has this unique trait compared to Molrangkau—she couldn't care less about anything outside her interests. If it doesn't spark her curiosity, she won't even glance at it."

She'd always been like that since we were kids. Lucky for me, I was always on her list of interests, which got me into plenty of trouble.

"That's why her infamy hasn't spread as much as Molrangkau's. Otherwise, she'd probably be even more famous."

"…That serious, huh?"

"Yes. She's not well-known, but she's genuinely terrifying. If you ever ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠run into her, don't catch her interest. Slip by quietly, play dead—whatever. Just don't make eye contact."

"Ah, got it…"

It sounded like advice for bumping into a bear in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the mountains.

I pictured her now, probably tinkering away on Machine Hill, banging out robots with a goofy grin.

Hee hee hee hee!

She was likely fixing Ptah's robots with that dumb laugh of hers. Did she even know her reputation? Probably not—Beda was right; she wouldn't give it a second thought.

"Hmm…"

Still, a terrifying sis Seora? Hard to picture.

I scratched my head and finished my food.

Yesterday was Thursday—the day I successfully transformed the talking potato into a convenience store clerk.

Today was Friday. A real holiday ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for once.

Having worked at the store without a single day off, I couldn't even remember the last time I'd had a break like this.

I lay there on the bed, savoring the rare rest.

Mansu was probably starting his first shift at the store right now, getting handed off from Brother Philip.

He'd do fine. Even if he didn't, it wasn't my problem anymore.

He'd learn through mistakes, just like I had.

I'd done my duty. Taught him everything I could. The rest was up to Mansu.

It was out of my hands now.

Hell, I owed this day off to him in a way. If he hadn't picked it up so fast, my probation would've dragged on.

I reflected on yesterday.

Mansu hadn't wasted a single moment—diligently taking notes, absorbing it all.

By shift's end, he'd compiled a perfect convenience store manual.

Not just that—he'd reviewed, practiced, handled surprises and slip-ups, growing dramatically into a clerk rivaling a veteran part-timer.

After successfully handing off to the next shift, he stepped out into the darkening street and asked me,

"First trial… passed?"

"Hmm…"

I pretended to mull it over, dragging it out while he watched anxiously.

Finally, I nodded slowly.

"Good enough."

No real debate needed. He'd studied like he was acing Seoul National University entrance exams.

Mansu let out a relieved sigh, eyes sparkling as he pressed,

"So, what's the second trial?"

"Second trial: Work at the store diligently for 30 days straight—no tardiness."

In other words, I'd introduce him to Dahyun in exactly a month, no sooner.

Predictably, he rebelled instantly.

"What? You're kidding!"

But what could he do? As if a punk like him deserved Dahyun.

No chance in hell. I'd make sure of that out of spite alone.

A month on the job would give him perspective—he'd give up.

"Don't like it? Then don't."

"Kuh… Fine, I'll do it."

He accepted it grudgingly through gritted teeth, and we parted ways.

His slumped shoulders and grumbling back looked kinda pitiful, but I couldn't let the talking potato harass Dahyun.

On the way home, before I forgot, I pulled out the fancy black business card Dahyun had given me.

I stared at it and punched in the number.

Ring ring—

—Hello?

Her cautious voice came through before the first ring even finished.

After wrapping up the call—her constant clear laughter making my day—I got home. That's why today felt so aimlessly floaty.

Hence, still sprawled on the bed in a daze.

"Maybe log into the game?"

But nothing to do there. My meetup with Beda and Baekbal Baekjung was evening, and I'd cleared all the hunting spots near Shin-dong Village ages ago.

Couldn't wander freely until the hidden class quest triggered and Gordon appeared.

"What to do then…"

Just deep-cleaned the whole apartment top to bottom.

Curiosity hit about the Pangwol rankings, so I pulled up the site on my phone.

"Here we go. Pangwol World Official Rankings."

"Whoa, for real."

I hadn't doubted them, but seeing it official was still a shock.

Scrolling up revealed more familiar names.

"Weird feeling."

Like having celebrity friends.

"Wait, who's Rank 1?"

A quick scroll—just two spots above Rank 3.

Only two characters sat at the top.

Rank 1. Cheon-gong

"Cheon-gong…"

I'd glimpsed the name on forums occasionally.

Tapping it pulled up his profile pic: a man with cloud-like white hair, surrounded by floating weapons guarding him—a massive sword, a long spear, and more.

"Hmm… Hidden class, huh? No clue what job that is. Gotta ask Beda and Baekbal Baekjung later."

I browsed recipes on my phone, then grabbed some clothes.

With time to kill, why not hit the market leisurely?

Usually I'd zip to the corner mart for essentials, but today? Splurging on the big supermarket a bit farther out.

Tons of small marts nearby, but only one superstore—and it got packed. Weekdays like today, early, were prime.

Thirty-minute walk along the main road. Good exercise, nice stroll—why not?

I stepped out, humming.

"Heh heh heh. Wonder what hidden gems are waiting."

Big stores had all those ingredients and sauces the little ones lacked.

Brimming with excitement, I whistled and set off with light steps.

A few weeks back.

Pangwol World Rank 5, Molrangkau—Seo Ji-hyun.

She opened her door and stepped out herself.

Her mom stared with wide eyes. Ji-hyun spoke cautiously.

"Mom. Make me some kimchi jjigae."

"……!"

"With bean sprouts too."

"Ji-hyun…!"

Her mother, Im Yun-hee, knew what this meant. Half joy, half shock, she fired up the kimchi jjigae.

"Ji-hyun, you sure? No need to push. Time's on our side. Take it slow."

"I'm fine, Mom."

The savory aroma bubbled up.

Missing out on this because of those pathetic pests? What a waste—and stupid.

Ji-hyun sipped the broth carefully.

Slurp—

Eyes closed, she savored it. One face popped into her mind first.

Hura. My friend.

His kimchi jjigae had evoked her mom's. Now, ironically, her mom's brought his to mind.

Ji-hyun smiled faintly at the fun twist.

"Ji-hyun? You okay?"

Opening her eyes at her mom's call, she saw the anxious worry.

"Yeah, Mom. It's delicious."

"…Ji-hyun!"

Ji-hyun ate heartily like old times. Yun-hee burst into tears watching.

"Why cry, Mom?"

"It's just… such a relief. Sniff. Thank goodness. Thank you, thank you."

"Don't cry. You'll make me cry too."

Seeing her mom's tears welling up brought them to Ji-hyun's eyes too.

Next day, Ji-hyun and Yun-hee visited their long-time psychiatrist first thing.

The kind-faced doctor watched Ji-hyun chatter like a kid during their one-on-one, eyes warm.

"Hee hee, listening to you is so fun, time flew. Could you fetch your mom?"

"Sure, Doctor."

Ji-hyun left; Yun-hee entered.

"How's my Ji-hyun?"

Seo Eunmi removed her glasses with a smile.

"She made a friend."

"What? A friend?!"

Yun-hee jumped in shock and joy.

"Yes. Seems she met a good one in Pangwol World who opened her up."

"A friend…!"

Tears streamed down unbidden. She dabbed them with a handkerchief.

"Aigoo, sorry. So emotional."

"Hee hee, of course. Such great news."

"Getting old, tears come easy. What's the friend's name?"

"Character name's Hura. Seems like a great cook."

"Hura…"

Yun-hee repeated the unfamiliar name. She wanted to shower him with treasures.

"Ji-hyun finally opened up. Even wants to go outside."

"Wonderful."

"Yes. That desire to meet him out there seems deeply rooted. With her will, steady progress from here."

And so Ji-hyun started venturing out—walking streets alone, strolling parks.

With hat and mask, sure, but huge progress.

Today: Riding the bus solo to the nearby superstore.

"I'm off!"

"Okay, Ji-hyun! Call if it's too much—we'll come right away!"

"No biggie! You got this, our girl! Fighting!"

Leaving her parents' loud cheers, Ji-hyun stepped out.

Something good was coming—she could feel it.