How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 051: Roar of Reunion and the Cult's Flag
Suddenly finding myself right in the thick of it, I pulled out my necklace while staring up at the massive mothership blotting out the sky and the missiles raining down like a storm.
"Petrify!"
Flash—
A green light burst from the necklace like a camera strobe.
I remembered how Lilac wielded the petrifying power stored in this necklace with total freedom. She'd frozen Tteoksoon-i's red threads mid-air and even my Cooking Throw projectiles, making them drop like stones.
It might not stop every missile pouring down, but it should at least buy a moment against the ones heading straight for me.
Crack—Crack—
Thankfully, the missiles turned to stone just as I'd hoped. I could feel their descent slowing, no longer plummeting straight down.
"Oh, that necklace, huh?"
Baek Bal Baek Jung recognized it right away.
"Yeah. It should buy us a little time."
"And what're you gonna do with a little time?"
"Stop the fight."
If you could even call this apocalyptic barrage—enough to wipe out the whole area—a fight.
"How?"
Ahem.
Instead of answering, I cleared my throat. Then I bellowed at the top of my lungs.
"Gramannn!!"
Riiiing—!
The petrification had silenced the explosions for a moment, and my thunderous Lion's Roar filled the void.
"Agh! My ears!"
"How's that? They must've heard it."
"Warn me next time!"
"Got it, I'll remember."
I'd picked up the Lion's Roar skill from a rundown skill book shop in Shin-dong Village after wrapping up that treasure trade with the two merchants. Finally, a perfect spot to use it.
Whether my words got through or not, the mothership stopped firing missiles, and the explosions ceased. Now the only sounds were petrified missiles shattering as they hit the ground.
Baek Bal Baek Jung set me down lightly on solid earth, and soon the two still locked in combat approached.
"Aww~ And it was just getting fun!"
My sister popped up pouting her lips in disappointment, while Beda leaped out, greatsword at the ready, blocking my front.
"Baek Bal Baek Jung! Why'd you come back?!"
"Oh, wanna keep going? Sure thing!"
Sis grinned happily and pulled out her mechanical arm.
"Cut it out!"
"Ugh... They started it."
She grumbled as she stowed the arm away.
Baek Bal Baek Jung opened his mouth to answer Beda's question.
"Well, see, bro—"
"It's fine, Beda."
I cut him off. Better for the man himself to explain.
Sis looked unscathed, but Beda had scorch marks here and there, his clothes torn in spots. No major injuries, though—relief.
"It's not fine! What were you thinking, coming back?!"
Beda still gripped his greatsword, vigilance unbroken. I called out to the back of his head.
"It's okay. That's my sister."
"...Pardon?"
Not quite a reply or a question—just a dazed sound leaked from behind him. Then he turned, staring blankly between me and Sis.
"Your sister?"
"Yep."
"So, like... a close acquaintance?"
"No. Blood sister."
"...!"
Sis beamed and waved. "Hi there~ I'm Hura's sis~"
"The one lying next to me, playing Dream Gear."
"..."
Beda slumped to the ground in exhaustion.
"...Why didn't you say so?"
"I tried, but you kept shutting me down."
"Ah..."
"And I did mention someone was coming with us from the start."
"..."
Watching us, Sis pulled out some gum and popped it in her mouth.
"Eh, it was getting fun, though."
She crossed her legs delinquently, chomping away with a dissatisfied mutter.
Baek Bal Baek Jung and Beda glanced back and forth between us. Yeah, we don't look much alike.
"...Right, right. My one and only proud big sis."
* * *
Roll roll.
"Ehehehe."
Dahyun giggled like an idiot, rolling around on her bed.
"What to eat with Customer-nim?"
Burrowed in her blankets, she scrolled her phone for nearby spots, her face beaming with smiles.
"What does Customer-nim like?"
She browsed every local eatery, but nothing jumped out as Hura's style.
"...I don't know Customer-nim that well, do I?"
She knew every detail of what Hura did in the fantasy world, but his favorite foods? Total blank.
"...Gotta ask him all sorts of stuff when we meet."
Reflection and resolve in one. Then a bright idea hit.
"Oh, ask Sis?"
She fired off a message to Sera, then kept digging through blogs, reviews, food pics, and posts for more options.
Spending her rare day off wrapped in fluffy bedding on her cozy bed—Dahyun was happier than anyone.
"Ehehehe."
"...Woof."
Her dog, Sebastian, sprawled on the bed, giving her a pitiful side-eye.
"Hm? What's up?"
After scouting restaurants, she'd switched to YouTube, browsing videos. One thumbnail gleamed insistently: the latest from Panwol Emo Jjomo.
Dahyun tapped in.
The screen showed the infamous Ryuken Gorge.
Panwol Emo Jjomo's reporter delivered the scoop.
The camera zoomed on the flag fluttering atop the gorge, where the reporter pointed.
"...! That's—!"
Dahyun's eyes widened. White background symbolizing white coats, two red tteokbokki skewers pierced by a single toothpick.
"Tteokbokki Cult!"
"Why are they there?!"
The Panwol Emo Jjomo reporter continued.
"...What'd they say to set 'em off like that."
"...Fair point."
"..."
Dahyun nodded silently, recalling the Tteokbokki Cult occupying Genesis Village square. Pure madness back then.
"Huh? Where to?"
The reporter paused dramatically, then grinned mischievously.
The reporter's teasing jab made Dahyun think of Hura instantly.
"Ah, Customer-nim's probably still in Shin-dong Village?"
But instead of worry, she burst into clear laughter.
"Ahahaha! Can't wait to see what happens if they meet!"
* * *
Scratch scratch.
"Achoo, ears are itchy. Someone talking about me?"
"That's superstition."
"I know. Just saying."
Right now, we were aboard Sis's massive mothership—Cute Blackie No. 3—heading for Demon King's Castle.
Cute Blackie No. 3 was a full-on aerial fortress. Pool, garden, theater—the works.
Splash splash!
"Hahaha!"
"Ho ho ho!"
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i splashed around the pool, laughing innocently.
"Master! Come play!"
"...Nah."
I ignored Tteoksoon-i's invite and gazed out the window. People scurried like ants below.
I lounged on a sunbed by the pool, legs stretched out. Sis, next to me in sunglasses and bikini, soaked up the warm sun.
"...Bikini?"
"My ship, my rules. Can't wear 'em outside, so here."
She handed me something.
"Bro. Oil my back?"
"Ew, no."
"...That a hard no? Hurts my feelings."
"You had that mech arm earlier. Use it."
"Ugh. Doesn't spread well."
On the other side, Baek Bal Baek Jung and Beda reclined on sunbeds in shades, slurping the Clear Mint Flower Smoothies I'd made.
"Ahh... Nice."
"..."
"Hidden classes got perks like this, eh bro?"
"..."
"Regulars gotta be jealous."
"..."
"...Bro? You asleep?"
"Baek Bal Baek Jung~"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Sis called, and he bolted up.
"Oil my back, please."
"M-Me?!"
Her eyebrow arched at his stammer.
"Don't wanna?"
"N-No! Of course!"
He stiffened like a wooden doll, slathering oil on her back.
"Even it out—no piling in one spot. Clumps."
"Y-Yes."
I pitied him, begrudgingly at work, then glanced at Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i frolicking happily.
How's it so fun? It hit me—they were barely a year old. Like babies to me. Am I like a dad to them?
"Master! Come play!"
Tteoksoon-i beamed again. I stood, feigning defeat, and cannonballed in.
"You punks!"
"Kyaa!"
"Wahaha!"
* * *
"That's Demon King's Castle?"
"Yep."
"...Doesn't look very demonic."
We'd disembarked Cute Blackie No. 3 and trudged across the barren, blizzard-swept wasteland.
The land near the continent's northwest edge was blackened, lifeless—no grass, no trees. Flat plains, no hills or valleys. From afar, the castle's spire looked like a random needle jabbed in.
"Not time yet."
Beda stared at it intently.
"Time?"
"Yeah. Heard when main event hits and demonic energy floods the continent, it'll feed on it and regain its glory."
"...The castle eats demonic energy and grows?"
"That's the word."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Demon scum spill it plenty when I beat 'em."
He shrugged it off.
"Oh yeah. They always say the Demon King's descent is near—'just watch.' Still ages away, though."
Baek Bal Baek Jung chimed in like he'd heard it too.
...Am I the only one who hasn't beaten demons? Are they weird, or am I green?
"Ugh, freezing. Why not fly right up?"
Sis grumbled, bundled like a fat snowman.
She'd always hated cold—even in-game.
"Told ya to drop just me."
"And leave you? Skinny weakling."
She pouted.
We'd walked far; the castle was finally visible. I'd wanted to check early for traces of the Demonic Chef, Sulis.
"...Not that weak. Got stronger lately."
"Stwonger?"
"Don't copy."
"Don' copy."
"Oh yeah? Wanna taste my Magic LadleCooking Throw?"
"Nope, misses. And doesn't hurt anyway."
Then—
Shwooo—BOOM!!
An ominous sound. Heads snapped up lightning-fast.
Up skyward: Cute Blackie No. 3, scouting ahead, unleashing hundreds of missiles at... something.
"What the—?!"
"Hold on."
A complex monocular device sprouted before Sis's eye. She peered piercingly at the blast zone.
"...! Someone's there!"
"Who'd be out here? Empty, right?"
Ping—!
Something streaked from the explosions like light, a glittering flash hurtling at missile-spewing Blackie with terrifying speed.
"No!"
Sis's scream—and the massive ship split in half like a lie.
As if space itself was severed.
No time to react.
Rumble—
The aerial fortress plummeted slowly to earth—its size tricked the eye.
Screeeeech—like an ancient whale's wail, the machine howled.
"...!"
We stared, souls drained.
Against the unforeseen crash, a lone figure strolled casually.
Step—
Step—
The mothership crashed cinematically behind him.
Screeeeech—Thud! Boom!
KA-BOOM!!
It slammed into blackened earth in a massive blast. The shockwave reached us.
Step—
Step—
The cataclysmic explosion—enough to vaporize villages—didn't faze him. Eyes forward, stepping on.
Step—
Step—
Light steps, but heavy presence. Clear amid chain blasts behind.
Step—
Step—
Through carnage, he advanced indifferently. Each step carried mountain-like pressure.
Blast winds whipped his flowing white hair—cloud-like.
Beneath, sky-blue eyes.
Semitransparent weapons floated around him: massive sword, long spear.
I knew him. He wouldn't know me.
First time seeing him in person, but too famous not to.
"Cheon-gong!"
Rank 1's name slipped out—a whisper like a scream.