Sizzling Boar and a Guild Invitation
"Guild? Is that something you eat?" A sound terribly familiar to any Korean rang in Ji-hye's ears. Sizzle— the sound of meat cooking on a hot grill. Rising smoke and splattering oil, the savory aroma of meat wafting everywhere. They say you know a taste too well when it hits you hardest. And yeah, it did. At the sight unfolding right in front of her, Ji-hye swallowed without thinking.
Gulp—
The sizzling meat and Ha-yeon devouring it eagerly seemed to leave quite the impression on the viewers too. It was an unexpected yet welcome reunion. Her stream had been buzzing about Ha-yeon anyway.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Mm, sure."
Ha-yeon nodded, granting permission to join. Ji-hye sat down and tossed another question at her.
"So... why are you grilling meat?"
"...? 'Cause it's here?"
Her tone was utterly matter-of-fact. Like saying, "The mountain's there, so climb it." She even shot Ji-hye—a questioner—a weird look, as if she was the odd one.
Hmm.
Somehow, the conversation wasn't clicking. They were talking, sure, but on totally different wavelengths.
Cooking inside the Tower was a massive hassle. Most floors were fantasy realms based on medieval times, not the modern world. Sourcing basics like flint for fire, cookware, salt for seasoning? Not easy. Replicating real-world recipes? A nightmare. That's why hardly anyone bothered cooking in the Tower. Early days saw some attempts, but everyone gave up eventually.
So Ha-yeon's grilling of that red-tailed boar she'd hunted hit Ji-hye and the viewers fresh and novel.
"Where'd you get the cookware? No shop sells pot lids, tongs, or shears like that."
"Asked Nelly for 'em."
"Ooh... Nelly hooks you up with that stuff? What about the ssam veggies and mushrooms?"
"Nelly gave 'em."
"Ah, gotcha."
Most answers were similar after that. Butchering? Nelly taught me. Flint? Nelly packed it. Conclusion: all thanks to Nelly.
Ha-yeon kept answering questions without pause. The samgyeopsal was vanishing at an alarming rate. Watching her, Ji-hye started feeling hungry herself.
"Ahem."
"Nom nom."
"Khmm."
"Mm... too bad there's no kimchi...."
Tower rankers were treated like semi-celebs. Ji-hye, always in the spotlight as a popular figure, got recognized everywhere outside, fans begging for numbers. It ramped up after her TV appearance, making external activities a drag sometimes.
To her, Ha-yeon's oblivious vibe felt refreshingly novel. No fussing over her, no offers to share first. It was oddly comfortable. Like she could act on impulse without pretense. Ji-hye felt a nostalgic throwback.
"Ahem, mind if I snag a bit?"
"Mm...."
Ha-yeon eyed the grill, pondered briefly, then nodded.
"...Fine, just a little."
It was thanks to Ji-hye she got the meat anyway. She'd even yielded an item.
"Haha! Just a little it is!"
Ji-hye beamed brightly.
*
"Whoa, this is delicious. Do red-tailed boars always taste like this? Kinda like ogyeopsal—chewy and textured just right—"
"...."
In reality, Ji-hye stuck to chicken breast and salads for her figure. This greasy delight? A rare treat even outside.
Her chopsticks darted over the grill. Ha-yeon eyed her rising energy with suspicion.
Zing—
'Said just a little...'
Caught in Ha-yeon's glare, Ji-hye smiled awkwardly and set her chopsticks down.
"Ahaha, sorry, I said just a little but it's too good."
"Hmph."
One strip left. Ha-yeon plopped rice on the grill and stir-fried it up tasty.
Ji-hye couldn't hide her awe at the flashy moves.
"Fried rice too? Feels like a proper BBQ joint."
"Heh...."
Ha-yeon grinned sheepishly at the praise. In her past life, she'd dreamed of running a BBQ spot. Make bank, open her own, retire. Cancer killed that.
'Can I make it this time?'
Who knows. Money's no issue; cure the body, and maybe. Climbing the Tower was part of treatment, really.
"Hayeon. I've got a proposal."
Ji-hye's face turned serious mid-thought.
"Join our guild?"
Ha-yeon, uninterested, kept shoveling fried rice. But this was huge.
Valhalla Guild. Top 10 powerhouse with two rankers including Ji-hye. Ranked 9th—low for top 10, but new guild, so impressive. Hunters pegged it for top-tier dominance soon.
Tons wanted in. Founding member status? Jackpot later.
But top 10 guilds weren't easy. Strict execs or intern programs like corps.
Ha-yeon had a prestige guild scouting her. Viewers weren't overreacting.
Her reply shocked them more.
"Guild... dunno. Not thinking about it now."
Rankers were celebs; top guild entry = big corp job. New ride, new pad—reality.
Ha-yeon? Didn't care. Strength, fame, wealth? She wanted one thing: delicious food. Gobbling what reality denied. Foodie freedom + body cure = why she entered.
Ji-hye just smiled at the rejection.
"Figured you'd say no."
But she sensed Ha-yeon hitting ranker status soon.
'This kid's climbing high.'
Gut feeling, near-certain. Everyone she'd felt that about rose up. Early ones? Rankers now.
Instead of guild? Network. Ji-hye decided to connect for the memorable meet.
"Friends? Us."
"Hm... haven't friended anyone yet."
Ha-yeon played coy—"Friend slot's premium"—drawing Ji-hye's hearty laugh.
Fun girl. Who treats her like this?
"Friend me, might score more tasty stuff."
"We've hunted together—basically friends already."
Day 3 of Tower climbing. Ha-yeon gained a new connection.