Chicks, Salads, and an S-Rank Gate
“Why are you only coming home now?”
After eating a hearty breakfast, he enjoyed a brief moment of leisure. He sipped an iced Americano and browsed NewTube.
[Once the butter is completely melted, add the sugar and stir.]
[The key to sweet and sour pork is frying it twice.]
Park Jaeyoung searched for various recipes on NewTube. His Cooking skill only helped him perfectly execute recipes he already knew; if he didn't know the recipe itself, the skill was useless.
After watching five recipe videos, his food had digested a bit. Time to head out, he thought.
Jaeyoung went up to the second floor to pack his backpack. Today, he planned to visit the five-day market closest to the Uninhabited Zone.
“Porri, let’s go.”
Jaeyoung ran with Porri perched on his shoulder. The Uninhabited Zone was incredibly vast, and he was worried about Porri falling off. Pacing himself slightly, he reached his destination in just thirty minutes.
In the distance, the five-day market came into view. Jaeyoung brushed off the stray leaves clinging to his clothes and approached the market.
Eumseong-gun had never been a densely populated area, but its population had dwindled even further after bordering the Uninhabited Zone. There weren't many people at the market, but it still had everything he needed.
A hardware store selling farming tools and miscellaneous goods, a man selling chicks, an elderly woman selling various side dishes and vegetables—several stalls were open for business.
Jaeyoung made his way to the hardware store. He needed to buy some wire to repair his fence later, and stakes to support his Cheongyang chili pepper plants. It would also be wise to buy a hand plow, since he currently only owned a shovel and a hoe.
“Anyone here?”
“Yes, coming!”
When he called out from the entrance, a flushed hardware store owner emerged. Judging by the sounds coming from the back of the shop, the man seemed to have been in the middle of enjoying a cup of makgeolli.
“You look awfully familiar.”
Jaeyoung gave an awkward smile. During his active days, he had been on the news almost daily, so it wasn't surprising that someone might recognize him. However, he had no intention of revealing his identity.
“I get told I look like the Hunter Association President a lot.”
“Ah, right! I was wondering who you reminded me of. You really do look like him. So, what can I get for you?”
“I’d like some wire, stakes, and a hand plow, please.”
“We have a few different kinds. Which ones would you like?”
“Just give me the best ones you have.”
“And the hand plow?”
“The best one for that too, please.”
“Just a moment.”
The man went into the back and returned with a coil of wire, a bundle of stakes, and a hand plow.
“I don't have a bag big enough for these stakes. Will that be alright?”
“Ah, I can just put them in my bag.”
“In that bag?”
The man gave him a skeptical look. But as Jaeyoung slipped all the items inside, the man's eyes went wide.
“Ah, I see you're a hunter. Do you work in the Uninhabited Zone?”
“Something like that.”
“It’s thanks to hunters like you that we can keep living in our hometown. Truly, thank you.”
“How much is it?”
“Ah, where are my manners? It comes to eighty-five dollars, but just give me eighty.”
“Do you take card?”
The man held out his right hand.
“Of course. Hand it over, and I’ll run inside and swipe it.”
Jaeyoung pulled out his smartphone, opened his mobile pay app, and handed it over. The man took the phone, hurried inside, and returned a moment later.
“Here’s your receipt. Come back if you ever need anything else. We carry pretty much everything related to farming.”
“Thanks. Have a good day.”
Leaving the hardware store, Jaeyoung walked over to the man selling chicks. Countless boxes sat before the vendor, filled with chirping yellow chicks. Atop his shoulder, Porri licked his lips, as if the chicks looked delicious.
“I’d like to buy some chicks.”
“How many?”
Since this was his first time raising chicks, shouldn't he buy a decent amount?
“One hundred, please.”
“That’ll be two hundred and fifty dollars.”
Jaeyoung pulled five fifty-dollar bills from his pocket and handed them over.
“You can take those ten boxes.”
“Where can I buy feed?”
The vendor pointed down the street.
“Walk straight down to the right, and you’ll see a feed store.”
“Thank you.”
Since they were living creatures, the chicks couldn't be placed inside his backpack. Jaeyoung stacked the boxes neatly and floated them in the air using telekinesis. The vendor gasped in surprise.
“You’re a hunter?”
“Yes.”
“But why chicks?”
“Just a hobby.”
Jaeyoung walked toward the feed store with the boxes floating behind him. People stared at the boxes drifting through the air, but it didn't bother him. Back when he was the Association President, he had been watched by hundreds of thousands of people at once.
After walking about fifty yards, a shop appeared. With stacks of large sacks piled out front, it was unmistakably the feed store.
“Anyone here?”
“Welcome! Oh? What brings you to our shop?”
The owner was a young man.
“I’m planning to raise some chicks.”
“Ah, so you need feed? How many chicks do you have?”
“One hundred.”
The shopkeeper’s jaw dropped.
“That’s quite a lot.”
“Well, I love eggs, and I love chicken.”
“If you can carry them, how about ten forty-pound bags? The main ingredient is dried grain, so they have a very long shelf life.”
“Sure. How much?”
“That’ll be three hundred dollars.”
Jaeyoung handed over his smartphone, and the shopkeeper went inside to process the payment before returning.
“Here you go. Thank you!”
“Is there anything I should keep in mind when raising chicks?”
“Just make sure they have plenty of space to roam freely, and keep the coop clean.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Have a great day!”
Just as Jaeyoung was about to turn around, he paused.
“Ah, where can I find some straw?”
“Straw? I can throw some in for free. Would three bundles be enough?”
“That would be perfect.”
His errands were complete. However, Jaeyoung didn't head straight home. Since he was already at the market, he had to get some snacks. Starting with a hotbar, he wandered around, sampling various street foods.
Jaeyoung didn't return home until past two in the afternoon. He headed straight for the chicken coop.
Entering the coop, he carefully tipped over the boxes. The chicks immediately scattered in all directions.
Squeak, squeak!!
Jaeyoung quickly grabbed Porri, who was already baring his claws. The chicks chirped in panic and scrambled away.
“They’re not food. Besides, you ate plenty earlier.”
Porri had already stuffed himself with sausages and sundae at the market.
Jaeyoung carried Porri inside. After resting in the living room for a bit, he headed into the kitchen. He was feeling a little peckish, and Porri kept nudging him for food.
Since he still had to eat dinner later, he decided to whip up a light salad.
He shredded some chicken breast and tossed it over a bed of lettuce, romaine, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers. He drizzled a tangy dressing made of olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top, then finished it with a handful of mixed nuts for a pleasant crunch.
“Porri, snack time!”
Squeak, squeak!!
Porri scurried over and scrambled up the leg of the dining table.
“Enjoy.”
Jaeyoung ate his salad, pondering what to do before dinner. Aside from the lettuce, his crops weren't fully grown yet, and the chicks could be left to their own devices.
Yet, he didn't want to just lounge around the house all day. It was likely a habit left over from his years of constant, relentless work.
After a brief moment of thought, Jaeyoung made up his mind.
“Once you’re done eating, let’s go for a walk.”
Jaeyoung geared up and left the house. Porri was perched on his right shoulder.
Unlike last time, he planned to head up along the valley stream. Once he reached the valley, he scanned his surroundings.
He intended to clear any Gates he found nearby. It would be a disaster if a Gate Break occurred while he was away and ruined his house and farm.
“Let’s take care of that one first.”
Beyond the thicket, the air was shimmering—a clear sign of a Gate forming. Judging by the massive scale of the distortion, it seemed to be an exceptionally high-rank Gate.
As soon as the Gate fully manifested, Jaeyoung stepped through without hesitation. In an instant, his surroundings shifted into a barren desert.
It was a Gate he remembered entering before. The boss would likely be a Giant Sandworm.
S-rank Gates were dangerous zones that required the main raid teams of the top five guilds. But for Jaeyoung, it was nothing more than a light warm-up.
As he dashed across the desert sands, swarms of Giant Scorpions and Giant Ants rushed him.
Porri squeaked in alarm, his tail puffing up, but only for a split second. With a single sweep of Jaeyoung's sword, the very space before them seemed to tear open, slicing the monsters to ribbons.
In less than ten minutes, Jaeyoung reached the ridge overlooking the Gate's exit. Considering it usually took a standard raid team over ten hours to clear an S-rank Gate, his speed was utterly absurd.
RUUUUUMBLE!!
The moment he took a step toward the exit, a Giant Sandworm erupted from beneath the sand.
Stepping back, Jaeyoung swung his sword, unleashing a wave of concentrated sword qi.
SCREEEEEECH!!
The Giant Sandworm writhed in agony, a deep gash carved into its neck.
Jaeyoung closed the distance, his blade flashing in a blur. The sword pierced through the roof of its mouth and deep into its underbelly.
SCREEECH!!
Sand sprayed in every direction as the Giant Sandworm thrashed in its death throes.
Squeak, squeak, squeak!!
His fur standing on end, Porri leaped off Jaeyoung's shoulder and scrambled back to a safe distance.
Jaeyoung swung his sword once more, severing the Giant Sandworm's head. Even an S-rank Gate's boss monster was utterly powerless before him.
“Let’s go, Porri.”
Jaeyoung pocketed the mana stone left behind as a reward. It would easily fetch at least a million dollars. He wasn't hurting for cash, but having more money was never a bad thing. He'd find something to spend it on eventually.
Jaeyoung didn't return home until past eight in the evening. It had been a while since he had cleared Gates in earnest, and he had actually started to enjoy himself.
As his house came into view in the distance, Jaeyoung froze in surprise.
Kim Minseo was crouching in front of his door. Had she been waiting for him all this time after getting off work?
As Jaeyoung hurried over, Minseo looked up and pouted.
“Why are you only just getting back?”