A Gluttonous Feast and Mana-Charged Lettuce
Park Jaeyoung had no immediate plans to change that. He whipped up some spicy pork stir-fry and doenjang stew for Ha Eunchae.
Seated at the table, Ha Eunchae watched him cook and asked, "When did you learn to cook? You never showed any interest before. It was always burgers for you."
"Right before retiring."
"Huh? Oh, right, you mentioned buying a skillbook."
"Yeah. Figured if I was heading into the mountains, I should at least know how to cook."
"Smart move."
Ha Eunchae quietly watched Park Jaeyoung's back for a moment before asking, "Oh, one more thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"What's with that squirrel that's always trailing after you?"
"Porri?"
"Yeah."
"Ran into it by chance on the first day."
"Lucky you. Looks like high-grade just at a glance."
"Felt like at least B-rank."
Park Jaeyoung finished up by making rolled omelets.
"The smell is insane!"
Ha Eunchae marveled at the spread on the table.
"Eat up."
"That confident, huh?"
Ha Eunchae's appetite was legendary in the hunter world, and Park Jaeyoung, who was close to her, had witnessed it firsthand multiple times. The last time they'd met, she'd devoured 45 servings of thick-sliced pork belly, five bowls of rice, and ten packs of ramen in one sitting. And that wasn't enough—she'd topped it off with three bowls of shaved ice. If she hadn't awakened as a hunter, she probably would've been a famous mukbang YouTuber.
"If you finish it all, I'll buy whatever you want."
"Deal. I'll fill the fridge to the brim."
Park Jaeyoung and Ha Eunchae dug in.
Ha Eunchae took a spoonful of the doenjang stew and let out a gasp of admiration. "I can taste the love in this?"
"A-rank skillbook's gotta deliver at least that much."
"This stew alone could go with three bowls of rice."
Ha Eunchae picked up some spicy pork stir-fry with her chopsticks, then suddenly clapped.
"This is nuts. Totally nuts. Oppa, forget mountain man—how about opening a restaurant? I'll come every day and boost your sales."
Park Jaeyoung tasted the pork and chuckled. The smoky char was perfect.
"You telling the guy who retired to avoid work to open a restaurant?"
"Doesn't it get boring stuck out here in the mountains?"
"Not really? Cook something tasty, do a bit of work, relax leisurely, and the day's gone."
"How long can that last?"
Park Jaeyoung shook his head. He wasn't bored at all yet. Every day was pure joy.
"If I do get bored, I can just clear some gates. Knock a few out, and maybe the Muinjidae will vanish before you know it."
Ha Eunchae sighed. "I was hoping to recruit you into our party this time."
Most S-rank hunters worked for guilds or the Association, but Ha Eunchae uniquely stuck with a four-person party. Of course, as one of Korea's top hunters, her track record outshone most guilds.
"Me joining might just get in the way, don't you think? Our teamwork wouldn't mesh."
"Teamwork my ass. With your skills, it'd only be a plus."
"Still, no plans right now."
Ha Eunchae made a regretful face, sauce still smeared on her lips. "If you joined, our party wouldn't lose to the Top 5 Guilds."
"You're not exactly losing to them now."
"We are losing, though. We're at a disadvantage bidding on A-rank gates and above."
"Still, no plans right now."
"Fine. I won't ask anymore."
Ha Eunchae tried the rolled omelet and gasped again. "Even the omelet's killer. Today's all a wash."
Park Jaeyoung shook his head with a wry smile and stood up. He went to the rice cooker, scooped every last grain into a big bowl, and returned. It was easily five bowls' worth, but Ha Eunchae lit up.
"Was hoping to mix it up anyway."
She dumped half the pork stir-fry into the bowl and mixed it vigorously. Then she alternated bites of pork bibimbap with spoonfuls of doenjang stew, not forgetting the rolled omelet in between.
Park Jaeyoung watched her for a bit, then slid the pork plate her way. "Take it slow."
"Got it."
Ha Eunchae didn't stop scooping until the bowl was scraped clean.
Finally setting down her spoon, she asked, "Got anything for dessert?"
"Fruit, yeah."
"You gonna share?"
Park Jaeyoung burst out laughing at Ha Eunchae's sudden sheepish glance. "Why the sneaky look?"
"Worried I ate like a total pig."
"Nah, it's nice watching you enjoy it."
"For real? Phew."
Park Jaeyoung pulled a bag of apples from the fridge. "I'll peel 'em."
"Go for it."
Ha Eunchae took the fruit knife and peeled an apple in seconds. Park Jaeyoung offered a slice to Porri, who had been watching from the table. The squirrel scampered over and took it with both paws.
Watching Porri nibble away, Ha Eunchae grinned brightly. "It's so cute."
"Porri's a little cute, yeah."
Park Jaeyoung and Ha Eunchae chatted idly while eating the apples.
Right after finishing, Ha Eunchae stood. "Gotta head out."
"Already?"
"Got a schedule tomorrow morning."
Park Jaeyoung saw her to the door. "Safe travels."
Ha Eunchae giggled. "I'm no slouch compared to you, oppa. Muinjidae's not gonna hurt me."
"You never know with people."
"That's why I like you."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. See ya next time."
Ha Eunchae waved big and vanished in a flash.
Park Jaeyoung stared at where she'd disappeared for a moment, then headed back inside.
As he entered the living room, Porri scurried right up. "Bored?"
Chirp chirp!
"I'll play with you now."
Park Jaeyoung spent some time playing with Porri. Nothing fancy—just tossing nuts around for the squirrel to chase and snag.
He checked his smartphone with one hand while playing for a couple of hours when Kim Minseo called from outside. "Association President!"
Park Jaeyoung rushed to the door and opened it.
Kim Minseo tilted her head at the sight of him. "Who was here?"
"Eunchae dropped by."
"Ha Eunchae? How'd she even find this place?"
"Said she scoured Muinjidae like crazy."
"Sounds like her."
Park Jaeyoung nodded and asked, "Everything good at the Association?"
"Peaceful as ever today."
"Good to hear."
Kim Minseo grinned. "Shall we check the garden? Wonder how much it's grown."
Park Jaeyoung and Kim Minseo inspected the garden. True to Muinjidae's mana-rich soil, the lettuce was already harvest-ready.
"It's thriving."
Park Jaeyoung plucked a leaf and handed it to her. "Rinse this, would you?"
"Sure."
A stream of water appeared from thin air, wetting the leaf. Park Jaeyoung shook off the dirt and popped it in his mouth.
A moment later...
"Huh?"
Park Jaeyoung's eyes went wide.
"What's wrong?"
Mana has increased by 1.
"This is an elixir herb?"
"An elixir?"
Park Jaeyoung nodded. The moment he'd eaten it, a system message popped up saying his mana had risen by 1.
He plucked another leaf and asked Kim Minseo to rinse it. He ate it.
Mana has increased by 1.
Current Mana: 78,500,452
The same message appeared.
Park Jaeyoung surveyed the garden. Eating all the lettuce here would boost his mana by at least 50. On par with that king bellflower he'd dug up before. Except bellflower required scouring the mountains, while lettuce just needed seeds to sprout like crazy. He could stockpile insane amounts effortlessly.
"Minseo, you try it."
Kim Minseo tasted a leaf and let out a hollow laugh. "Mana really went up?"
"No limit on multiples either."
"What the heck is going on?"
"Beats me, but it's a good thing."
"Association President."
Meeting his eyes, Kim Minseo said, "Let's expand the garden."
"Huh?"
"It grew this much in two days, right? Let's aim for 1,000 leaves a day."
"What for 1,000 leaves?"
"You eat 500, sell the rest to the Association."
"Sell them?"
Kim Minseo nodded vigorously. "Time to properly nurture promising hunters. I'll retire someday too, you know."
"You could work another 20 years easy. If anyone objects, I'll back you up."
Kim Minseo shivered. "No thanks. I'll retire a day before you and make it a rule."
"Why go that far?"
"So future generations know your greatness. The first Association President and the longest-serving one."
Park Jaeyoung caught a faint glint of madness in her eyes.
"Uh, yeah, let's do that."
"For real? You're the best, Association President!"
The two, along with Porri, quickly tilled more land and scattered all their lettuce seeds.
"See? The Association President is amazing. Korea runs smoothly because of you."
"This was just luck."
"Nonsense. It was your foresight to grow crops in Muinjidae."
Park Jaeyoung glanced at her expression and quickly changed the subject. "Let's eat dinner. You must be hungry."