The Tteokbokki Association President's Sudden Recognition
In the modern world, where countless events unfold every single day, even more happen in the fantasy world of Pangwol, where time races by at breakneck speed.
Among them, the hottest topic by far was a video of one chef. It refused to budge from the top spot on Nutube's trending videos, racking up thousands of comments in real time.
From lengthy analyses dissecting the chef's abilities to deranged, brainless praise presumed to come from the Tteokbokki Cult.
Hura had already garnered a bit of notoriety from the chain of events starting with the Tteokbokki Cult in Genesis Village, but this incident catapulted him to fame rivaling any ranker.
People believe what they want to believe. Everyone hopes the cool hero punishing a vile villain is overwhelmingly powerful.
Thus, Hura's stylish smackdown of a brainless ranker fueled endless exaggerations of his strength.
Of course, there were counterarguments: overrated, staged with the ranker, jumping to conclusions from one clip. Sharp critiques abounded, but they were buried under overwhelming firepower.
Hura's power got hyped beyond all reason, culminating in the wild conclusion that his true strength was high ranker level.
Three men make a tiger. One video transformed him in millions' eyes from ordinary chef to mysterious hero hiding immense power.
Just like that, Hura became an unofficial high ranker concealing his abilities for some reason.
Hundreds, thousands of posts spawned from that single video, spreading his legend across every community.
The Tteokbokki Cult rode the wave to fame, flooded with membership applications.
The silver lining: most people don't assume in-game looks match real life, so recognition in reality was unlikely.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
The man at the center of it all hummed away obliviously, stirring tteokbokki at the snack shop.
* * *
"Ugh, why's my ear itching like this?"
Right now, I stood behind the counter, diligently scooping tteokbokki for customers. Sure, we had hot dogs, fish cakes, and more, but these days nine out of ten ordered tteokbokki—it dominated sales.
"What can I get you?"
"Two tteokbokki!"
"Two tteokbokki coming up. That's two thousand won~"
I glanced at the line while serving. Midway stood students from Baekrim Girls' High, waiting patiently.
"Hmm..."
They followed order, at least. Now what?
As Ichaera mentioned earlier, the tteokbokki's flavor had changed—for the better, in my opinion. But theirs might differ.
Baekrim students arrived with a secretary and bodyguards. Overhearing chatter, they weren't some playground clique hogging spots; surprisingly strict. Rigorous entry, brutal exams for officers...
Anyway, the association chairwoman herself came to taste. How to handle?
"......"
Truth be told, no dilemma. Fretfully pacing is for those who half-ass it and flop.
I brimmed with confidence.
...Strictly speaking, it wasn't my tteokbokki, but whatever. Boss's sauce mixed with my perfect ratio of white powder? Hands-down the world's best.
Just serve it like any other customer.
"Two tteokbokki ready~"
The line shrank until it was Ichaera and her two escorts' turn.
"What can I get you, miss?"
"...Tteokbokki, please."
Ichaera glared as she spoke, tone softened a bit.
Huh. At least she reflects.
"How many?"
"One."
"...One?"
I eyed her escorts curiously. She stiffened, explaining curtly.
"Official business. Just tasting what's needed."
"...Aha."
Straight shooter. More professional than expected.
"One thousand won."
"...Here."
I took the bill, filled a cup to the brim, and handed it over.
Ichaera snatched it, staring daggers right there.
"Uh, once you have it, please step aside for the next customers—"
"I know, okay?"
She huffed, clacking away sideways. Venting by interrupting, holding up the line on purpose till I spoke.
...Cute.
"...Can I eat here?"
Ichaera asked, cup in hand, at the right counter where she'd cut earlier.
"Of course, Chairwoman."
"...Hmph."
She stood there, starting to eat.
"Yes, next customer. What'll it be?"
Scooping tteokbokki, handing hot dogs and fish cakes, I snuck peeks.
Big talk on confidence, but nerves won.
Ichaera speared a tteok with a toothpick, popped it in.
"......!"
Eyes widened. Chewed, swallowed, then shoveled at terrifying speed.
"...Huh?"
"Ch-Chaera."
Escorts called in bewilderment. She ignored, burying her face, devouring gluttonously.
"Chaera, we need to eat too."
The short-haired bodyguard tapped her shoulder.
She smacked the hand away.
"......"
Ichaera vacuumed the cup clean solo. No chance to stop her.
She surfaced, red sauce smeared everywhere.
...Where'd "just taste for business" go?
Finally noticing their stares, she turned.
One word:
"...Insane."
Her bombshell review shocked them.
"......!"
"...Gulp."
Not sure, but their faces screamed high praise.
Escorts rushed to the line's end.
Ichaera licked her lips, staring blankly at the empty cup. Kinda creepy.
Snap—head whipped up, locking on me.
I averted eyes, serving customers.
"Haha, what can I get you?"
Scooping tteokbokki, passing hot dogs and fish cakes, I played it cool.
Ignored her piercing, inexplicable gaze.
Until her words.
"...Hura-nim?"
"Huh?"
* * *
Ichaera. Endless passion, curiosity for tteokbokki, senses finer than anyone's.
Ruthlessly objective yet devoted—tteokbokki incarnate.
Unprecedented unanimous pick for Tteokbokki Association Chairwoman.
Her obsession traced to childhood.
Family dysfunctional, parents unloving—at least to her.
"Fifth in class? You messing with me?"
"Who'd she get this from? Tsk tsk."
"I said give your best! You're slacking. Good college like that?"
"Ugh, embarrassing. Can't show my face because of you."
"......"
Grandma taught her love.
"Aigoo, puppy. Why the long face? Mom yell again?"
"Yeah..."
Grandma smiled wryly.
"Grandma make tteokbokki?"
"...Really?"
"Course! When'd I lie? Hehe."
Chatting over tteokbokki with Grandma—pure bliss.
"Grandma, you won't leave me, right?"
"Pfft. Where'd I go without my Chaera?"
Pinky promise.
"Promise. Stay by me forever."
"Yes yes. Promise."
But Grandma broke it. Passed soon after.
"...Grandma, liar."
Chaera dove into tteokbokki madness. Obsessive.
Studied everything, chased rumors nationwide.
Grandma's was surely the world's best.
"...No."
None matched.
One day, first Pangwol login. Heard Hura's tteokbokki was killer.
And finally. Found it.
Grandma's world-best flavor.
"Grandma..."
From then, chased Hura relentlessly.
But... weird.
Why this taste here?
A tear plopped into the empty cup.
Her refined palate caught nuances others missed.
This tteokbokki echoed the snack shop auntie's—elevated a notch.
Filling an unknown flavor gap.
Plus something familiar. Nostalgic, subtle.
Grandma's tteokbokki.
Precisely Hura's "Tteokbokki of Memories."
Chaera stared blankly at the new employee.
"...Looks just like."
She doubted her eyes.
"Why...?"
Doubt hardened to certainty.
"No way...?"
Eyes bulged in disbelief.
"...Hura-nim?"
"Huh?"
His dumbstruck reply confirmed it.
Her face lit up radiantly.
"Hura-nim! Oh my god! It really is you!"
Hura panicked unprecedentedly.
"Wha-wha?!"
She scurried to the counter front, bouncing, gazing up.
"Hura-nim! Hura-nim! Don't you remember me?"
Students buzzed.
Hura stared stiffly at chick-peeping Ichaera chanting his name.
"Hura-nim! Hura-nim!"
His eyes shook wildly.
...How'd she know?
But contain it before it blows up.
Hura forced an awkward grin, playing dumb.
Hoping it'd work.
"Hahaha. No idea what you mean."
"It's you, Hura-nim! It is! It is—"
"Chairwoman! Care to step inside? Got tteokbokki questions."
"Yes!"
Damn. Zero effect.
Ichaera dashed in, claimed the spot beside him behind the counter, chattering nonstop.
"You're Hura-nim, right? Remember me? Bought tons from you in Genesis Village!"
"Shh!"
Hura pressed a finger to lips.
"Oh, whisper? Secret? Got it, Hura-nim. But—"
No stopping her.
Hura sighed deeply, murmuring just for her.
"Listen, Ichaera. What the—"
"Eek! Hura-nim said my name!"
Watching her bounce, Hura rubbed his throbbing temple.
"......"
Better her yelling earlier, he thought.