How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 057: Cherry Blossom Conspiracy
"Oh. This place is pretty."
"Wow!"
Dahyun let out a gasp of admiration at the white and pink cherry blossoms filling her view. She skipped ahead with excited steps—tap tap tap—while Sera followed behind with a satisfied smile.
"This spot looks good, right? What do you think?"
"Perfect!"
Dahyun whipped out her notepad and jotted it down right away.
"Any restaurants nearby?"
She searched for nearby eateries, and names popped up like fireworks behind the lush cherry trees.
"Lots of them."
Sera chuckled softly. It felt vividly real, like the actual world, but strictly speaking, it wasn't. This was the virtual reality of Dream Gear—specifically, Korea from a year ago. The two were using Dream Gear to scout the best cherry blossom viewing spots together. Sera, who happened to be bored, had happily joined in.
"We've checked out plenty already. Time to make a plan."
"Yes!"
Under the cherry trees swaying gently in the cool breeze, with delicate petals fluttering down, they sat across from each other at a table and began plotting.
"First, lunch."
"Lunch? Not dinner?"
"Yeah. Restaurants with a great view of the cherry blossoms."
"Why?"
Sera sighed deeply at Dahyun's innocent question.
"You idiot. That way, it's natural to suggest cherry blossom viewing."
"Ah, aah!"
Dahyun buried her nose in the notepad and scribbled furiously, as if afraid to miss a word. Sera muttered under her breath,
What would you two do without me?
She clicked her tongue and watched Dahyun write.
"Even better if it's by a window with the best view."
"Secure... window seat..."
Scribble scribble.
"Eat enough to feel full but not stuffed. Gives an excuse to walk it off."
"Oho! Feed him... till full..."
Scribble scribble.
"Then hang out till evening having fun."
"Fun till... evening..."
"Evening hits, suggest dinner."
"Dinner... too..."
"That's the big picture. Now the details."
"Got it! I was thinking, reserve this Japanese place and..."
For quite a while after that, they discussed with grave expressions rivaling a diplomatic summit—debating world peace itself. Dates and times, restaurants near prime cherry blossom spots, optimal routes connecting them, selecting the most efficient path. Dahyun's notepad filled up at a terrifying speed.
"Phew—that should do it."
Sera stretched her back, wrapping up the meeting.
"Thanks, sis!"
Sera gazed warmly at Dahyun's beaming smile, feeling like she'd gained a little sister.
"That good, huh..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Good luck. Your big sis is cheering you on."
"Yes, sis!"
"Aigoo—gotta head out. Time flew."
Sera stretched again.
"Sorry to take up your busy time."
"Pfft, busy? I did this because I wanted to."
"Still..."
Sera flicked Dahyun's fidgeting fingers and thwacked her forehead.
"Ow..."
"Buy me a meal if it works."
"Yes! Deal!"
Dahyun nodded vigorously, adding,
"I could even treat you to hanwoo!"
"Oh."
As Sera stood to leave, she glanced back at Dahyun as if remembering something. She beckoned the giggling girl closer with a suddenly serious face.
"...?"
Dahyun approached cautiously, shielding her forehead. Sera whispered in her ear:
Knock him flat on his ass.
"...!"
Dahyun jerked back, face beet red, and shrieked.
"Sis!"
"Puhahaha! Bye!"
Sera vanished in a puff. Alone, Dahyun fanned her flushed cheeks and huffed. She reviewed her messy notes while fanning—flap flap. It took time to read through the pages. She organized them, even taking a call from Mom at 4 PM. Good news: the customer had done well.
"Yup! All set."
Dahyun nodded in satisfaction. Not just Plan A, but B, C, D for contingencies. Time to execute.
Under the cherry tree, amid petals dancing in the breeze, she pulled out her phone.
"Hmm..."
After pondering, she opted for a text. First day must've been tough. He might be asleep already. Or too early? Text it is. Dream Gear handled calls, so texts worked fine.
"Ugh..."
She typed and deleted repeatedly, settling on basics.
"Weekend... free...?"
She read it over.
"Hm..."
Not bad. Sent. Heart pounding, she waited.
"......"
No quick reply.
"Probably asleep."
She set the phone down and prepped to return to the fantasy world. Flexible shifts meant filling the hours.
Then the table buzzed.
"Mom?!"
Startled, Dahyun checked: Hura.
"Ahem."
She cleared her throat and answered.
"Hello?"
Hey, Dahyun. Saw your text. Weekend works.
"Oh, great. Relieved."
Yeah. Saturday or Sunday?
"Whenever's convenient for you, customer."
Both fine for me. Whatever suits you?
"Saturday then?"
Saturday's good.
"Lunch...?"
She glanced at her notes.
Sure. Any cravings?
Just tell him to follow without chit-chat. Sera's words echoed. Hura was paying, so she could pick spots.
"...Yeah."
What?
"Deciding between two. I'll tell you day-of."
Okay. Eat whatever you want—I like everything.
She smiled unwittingly. I know exactly what you like, hehe. But kept it cool.
"Got it."
Hura sounded drained, voice limp and weary. Worried, Dahyun asked gently,
"How was your first day?"
...Explains the hourly wage.
"Haha, yeah? Busy with customers, especially lunch."
...Yup. Damn sprouting brats.
"Hahaha!"
Laughing brightly at his grumbling, Dahyun suddenly stiffened with a thought.
"Um, customer."
Yes?
"Baekrim Girls' High students haven't come yet, right?"
...Pardon? Baekrim?
"Yeah. Far-off girls' school. Some students visit sometimes."
...And?
Hura sensed the ominous tone.
"They're a bit... picky."
......
"Like hazing newbies?"
Hazing?
"Yeah. They haze a little."
......
Silence.
"Cust... customer?"
Another call brought a gloomy chuckle from the receiver—like an echo from a cave, chilling her ear.
Hehe... hehehe...
"C-customer?"
Hehehe... Hazing... Guests hazing... Hehehe...
"Customer! You okay?"
Pardon? Oh, yes. Fine. Totally fine. Already dying here, and hazing... Huhuhu... Fine. Totally.
"...Rough day. Go rest."
Yeah...
"See you Saturday!"
She forced cheer, but only got gloomy laughs back.
"...He'll be okay, right?"
Dahyun muttered worriedly at her ended call.
......
Meanwhile, Hura staggered home, stumbling like a drunk.
"Hehe... Future pillars of the nation hazing..."
He muttered self-mockingly.
"Hazing... Cute. Huhuhu..."
He shuffled like a sloth-zombie.
"Come anytime, you devilish brats. Starving vagrants with only appetite left. Blind locust swarms sniffing out the good stuff."
Grinding his teeth, muttering, he entered the rundown villa.
"Hehe... Hehehe..."
Eerie laughter fogged the dim hallway.
"Hehehe..."
* * *
Sun blazed over Shin-dong Village. Kids played outside, birds chirped hopping branches. But ReliableMerchant and DapamEverything were far from such cheer, in a pitch-black building—windows draped, lit only by dim lamps like an interrogation room, shadows crawling everywhere.
"Hey, Reliable... What now?"
"What? Wait till they release us."
Dragged here by spear-wielding Tteokbokki Cultists, the two merchants were detained.
"But it'll be fine."
"Why?"
"Look at their faces."
As Reliable said, others were detained too—no complaints. Probably due to the mystery cups they held, nibbling red contents occasionally.
"Why no cups for us?"
"Not the point now."
"But looks tasty."
People sat one or two per table. A hooded figure with a clipboard circled, asking questions and noting answers. Face hidden, murmurs indistinct from afar. After each table, they moved next—finished folks followed guides willingly.
Now the adjacent table. Ears perked, the merchants eavesdropped.
"Hear?"
"No. Closer?"
"Yeah."
They scooted inch-by-inch to the corner, leaning sharply. Faint words emerged.
You know this person?
Hm... Ah, the kimchi fried rice guy! Wondered where.
Kimchi fried rice?
Yes. Gave bites to folks sharing good info around Shin-dong. So tasty...
He shuddered.
...Know where he went?
Hm... Probably chased those tips.
I see.
Yes. Whispers only, so no one else knows.
What info did you give?
Southeast lake...
Thud thud—a cultist passed, startling them back to position.
"Ahem."
"Hem hem."
No more eavesdropping. Questions done, the hooded figure approached their table with clipboard.
"Hello. Gwisinigo Kalroli."
He plopped opposite, cross-hand greeting—horizontal doubled.
"Ah, hello."
"Oops. No 'that' for you."
He beckoned; a cultist set two cups down. Clunk clunk.
As they stared blankly, Gwisinigo Kalroli slid them over.
"Humble offering—try some."
His hidden eyes scrutinized from hood shadows. Round glasses gleamed coldly under the downward lamp—perfect for covert observation.
"Ah, yes."
"Thanks for the meal."
Red tteokbokki inside—sweet-spicy scent evoking fond memories. Toothpick-speared rice cake to mouth.
"Mm."
"Tasty?"
They nodded, munching happily. Not Hura's level, but good.
"...!"
Gwisinigo Kalroli's glasses flashed, catching their lukewarm reaction. In hood darkness, her lips curved like a crescent moon.
"...You've eaten Hura-nim's tteokbokki before."
"...!"
"...!"