How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 048: Moonlit Stumbles and Demon King's Trail
The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving only a waning moon hanging solitary in the night sky. The dimly lit street was bathed in the soft, hazy glow of scattered streetlamps, creating a serene atmosphere. Two figures strolled down this quiet road.
"Dahyun, it's an earthquake! The ground's shaking like crazy!"
"...Quit talking nonsense and come here."
Dahyun, a full head shorter than Hura, draped his arm over her shoulders and shuffled along with a grunt of effort. Hura, leaning on her for support, staggered forward.
"Customer-nim, this way, right?"
"That's right, human."
"...What're you even saying."
The rosy flush of sunset alcohol had spread to Dahyun's cheeks, but the cool night breeze was slowly sobering it away.
"Dahyun."
"Yeah?"
"How do you drink so well?"
"...You're the one who can't hold your liquor."
"Dahyun the booze whale."
"No, it's not that I drink well. It's that you can't handle it."
"Dahyun the booze elephant."
"...You can't just slap any animal on it."
"Dahyun the booze dinosaur."
"...Customer-nim, booze chick."
"Huh? But you said you can't just slap any animal on it."
"Why pretend you didn't hear when you clearly did."
"Ugh, dunno."
Thud. Thud.
On the silent street devoid of passing cars, only the irregular patter of their footsteps brushed the ground.
"...Customer-nim."
"Yeah?"
"What's your type?"
A faint blush crept back onto Dahyun's cheeks.
"...My type?"
"Yeah."
Hura tilted his head at Dahyun's question.
"Hmm... Dunno. Never really thought about it..."
"You must've thought about it some."
With Hura's judgment clouded by booze, Dahyun pressed for an answer.
"Me? Really?"
"Yes. You."
"Did I?"
"You totally did. Think hard."
"Hmm... Hehe. No clue."
"...You're even cuter drunk."
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing."
Dahyun played it off and quickened her pace.
"Older or younger then?"
"Hmm... Dunno."
"Come on, think properly."
"Older... like a big sis?"
Dahyun perked up at Hura's mumble.
"Oh, like Sera unnie? Kinda similar vibe, right?"
"Hmm... Nah."
"Huh? Why not?"
"She'd just tease and bully me all the time."
"N-no! Not all older girls tease and bully!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Older girls have tons of perks."
Dahyun launched into a fervent defense of older women.
"Like, they've got money to spoil you! Warmer hearts, deeper understanding. That means better conversations too!"
"For real?"
"Yeah! ...Probably?"
"Hmm... What about younger?"
"Younger ones are immature, conversations don't click, and they'd just whine all day?"
"Like that...?"
"Totally!"
Dahyun tossed aside any guilt for slandering all younger women and turned back to Hura.
"So, what's the verdict?"
"On what?"
"Older or younger?"
"Hmm..."
After much deliberation, Hura slowly replied.
"I like..."
Dahyun swallowed hard, eyes glued to his lips.
"I like someo—"
But what came from Hura's mouth wasn't what she hoped for.
"...Urp."
"......?"
"Ugh!"
"......! Nooo! Customer-nim! Over there! Vomit over there!"
"Bluuuugh!"
* * *
Knock knock.
"......"
Knock knock knock.
"......"
Bang! Bang bang!
"Y-yes... coming..."
He dragged himself groggily from bed, clutching his pounding head, and stumbled to the door. Opening it with unsteady steps reminiscent of last night's haze revealed a sleek, intellectual woman in neat attire standing there.
I squinted at her through my throbbing headache.
"...Sis?"
"Hey, little bro. How's your first hangover treating you?"
Grinning brightly, it was my big sister, Sera. She strode in like it was her own place, bags in hand.
"Feels like death. How'd you know?"
"Dahyun told me. Figured you might be a wreck, and yep, here you are wheezing."
"...Dahyun did?"
"Yeah. Said dragging your ass home nearly killed her. Don't remember?"
"......"
Last night's memories were chopped up like meat on a cutting board—fragmented and jagged.
I scratched my head, mumbling.
"...No clue what's what."
"Shake it off over some hangover ramen. Sis'll whip it up."
"Hangover ramen?"
"Yep. Nothing beats it post-booze. Wait here."
She tossed me a drink from one of the bags.
"What's this? Gut churner?"
"Perfect for hangovers."
I chugged it without a second thought. Soon, bubbling water and a savory aroma wafted from the kitchen.
"Almost ready. Clear the table and wipe it down."
"Got it."
The pot of hangover ramen thudded onto the table. Lifting the lid unleashed steam and the rich scent of ramen.
"Mmm, smells good."
"Dig in."
Bean sprouts galore, scallions and red peppers sliced fine. A spoonful of broth rinsed my throat with spicy refreshment.
"Kyaah—"
I couldn't help the exclamation.
"Good, right?"
"Yeah. Stomach's settling already."
Sera beamed at me warmly.
"Eat up."
"Will do. Thanks."
I scarfed it down, sweat pouring, broth and all. As I sipped the gut churner for a chaser, Sis asked,
"Stomach better now?"
"Yeah."
"Head too?"
"Yeah."
The ramen sweat had chased away the skull-splitting pain.
"So, remember last night now?"
Sera grinned mischievously.
I eyed her playful smile warily, sifting through memories.
"Last night...?"
Bits started surfacing. Dinner plans with Mansu at Two Loves Chicken—chicken and beer. Mansu kept bugging about Dahyun, so I called her to shut him up, expecting rejection.
But Dahyun showed up cheerfully, and we ate together. Then...?
"Ugh."
A fresh headache hit; memories cut off abruptly, mind foggy as mist.
"Hehe, it has to come back... or you're in deep trouble~?"
"Grr... hold on."
"Hahaha, think hard. Dahyun walked you home, remember?"
"Dahyun...?"
Sera giggled wickedly—her grins never boded well.
"Uhuhuhu."
"......"
My throat tightened like I'd choked on chicken breast; stomach churned uneasily.
Dahyun walked me home? And... did I screw up?
Lightning struck my brain. Jagged memory shards pieced into a rough picture, vivid voices replaying.
'Bluuuugh!'
'Customer-niim!'
"......!"
My heart shrank. Cold sweat drenched my back; hands iced over. The mental fog turned to hail.
"Pfft— Bwahahaha!"
Sera clutched her sides, howling at my ashen face.
"Ahahaha! Look at your face! Finally remembered, huh?"
"......"
"Puhaha! Wahahaha! How ya gonna face Dahyun now?"
"Wh-what'd Dahyun say? She pissed?"
I steadied my quivering voice.
"Ahahaha! My sides. Don't ask me—call her if you're dying to know."
"R-right!"
Trembling, I grabbed my phone from the bedside and checked.
"......!"
Dozens of messages from Dahyun: worries about my stomach. None eased my dread.
The last one dropped my heart.
'Call me when you wake up.'
"......!"
Sera peeked over my petrified shoulder and burst out laughing again.
I deep-breathed, swallowed, and dialed Dahyun.
Ring— Ring—
Each tone killed me a little more.
—Hello?
"D-Dahyun! D-did you get home safe last night?"
—Haha, yeah. I did. You?
"Y-yeah, thanks to you."
—Good. Stomach okay?
"Yeah. Sis made hangover ramen."
—Ooh, sounds tasty.
Sweat beaded relentlessly. Her sweet normalcy hurt worse than anger.
I blurted first.
"D-Dahyun."
—Yeah? What's up, c-customer-nim?
I bowed my head over the phone.
"Sorry! Really sorry! I didn't mean to!"
—Haha! Nobody does it on purpose.
"So sorry."
—It's fine. First time drinking, bound to happen.
"Sorry!"
—No need to overdo it. I'm okay.
"I'm not..."
—Hmm? Then buy me a meal.
"Yes! Absolutely! Anytime!"
—Haha, cool. I'll text later. When works?
"Anytime!"
—Hehe, got it. Rest up. Don't forget snack bar by 10 AM tomorrow.
"Got it!"
—Bye. See ya.
"Take care!"
Click.
"Haaah..."
Drained, I flopped onto the bed. Sis, having cleared the table, smirked and perched on the edge.
"What'd she say?"
"Said buy her a meal if I'm that torn up."
"Nice."
She pressed her hand to my forehead as I lay there, then poked my cheek.
"Ow, quit it."
"Bored."
"So?"
"Play with me."
"......"
"Hey, I made you ramen."
She shook me wildly, whining.
"Play~ Play~ Play~"
...Not a kid anymore.
"Fine, grab the Dream Gear for some Fantasy World."
"Sweet!"
She bolted to her handbag, yanking out the Dream Gear.
"Was gonna blow off steam since robots ain't fixing easy. Anywhere good?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
Time had flown since holing up in Shin-dong Village. Cleared every hunting ground, cooked everything possible—even mid-cooking tour now.
Can't wait longer, old man. No quest? Fine, I'll come to you.
I held the "Demon King's Revival" keyword. Unlocked Demon King's Castle hint.
Chasing traces of the Demonic Chef Sulis at Machine Hill led to nosy chat with Ptah, netting a linked hidden class quest: find Rank 3 high ranker "Geogi Seora"—brutal difficulty.
Luckily solved instantly. Reward: "Demon King's Revival"—final content keyword at a glance.
Like a level 10 noob snagging a level 200 endgame quest via exploit. Gramps never expected this.
"Demon King's Castle."
Sera's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
If you won't come, I'll go. Traces of the Demonic Chef, Sulis. Heading there now.