A Bitter Defeat

Cain was miserable because he couldn't even deny it.

"What are you up to?"

"I'm going to clean."

"I already did the cleaning this morning, though?" Tae-hyun asked, genuinely puzzled. Of course he had cleaned up; guests were on their way.

"...Why did you have to do it already?!"

"I didn't realize you were such a fan of chores. Got it. From now on, all the cleaning is yours."

"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Cain frantically tried to excuse himself. He had hoped to salvage his public image by showing himself doing some housework, but he had been thwarted from step one.

"Hmm. What else can I do?"

"How about helping with the cooking?"

"Oh, that sounds like a good idea." Cain went back to Tae-hyun. "I want to help you with the cooking."

"Hmm. Cain, that's a good idea."

"Really?!"

"It's a good idea, but not today. This is a battle where I have to feed Lee Se-yeon. If I lose, will you take responsibility?"

"No... I told you, it's not a battle..."

No matter how much Cain grumbled, Tae-hyun didn't even bat an eye. He couldn't possibly let a Bizarre Chef like Cain assist when the food was meant for Lee Se-yeon. He would ruin all the good ingredients!

"I'm here. Were you getting ready?"

"Ah. Can you come over and help me out?"

"...Hey...!" Cain felt a surge of resentment. Was this blatant discrimination?!

"Well, of course he'd ask Lee Da-bi."

"I agree. It makes perfect sense."

However, Choi Sang-yun and Jeong Su-hyeok were cold and realistic. While Cain's cooking skill was only at the Beginner rank, Lee Da-bi's was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at least Advanced or higher. How could he even compare?

"If I can't cook and I can't clean, what can I do?"

"Whoa. Su-hyeok, look. Cain is finally starting to self-reflect. To think it took him this long to realize."

"I'm a bit surprised myself."

"...Both of you, shut up..."

Cain decided to just go back to cleaning. The place was already spotless, but he had to at least look like he was doing something...!

"There's a joke that the players of Team KL live the most luxurious lives in the country. What do you think about that?"

"Of course, it's a joke, but I think it's somewhat true. It's rare to find an environment where you can focus on the game like this. We live a structured life under Kim Tae-hyun's guidance while preparing for tournaments and matches."

Choi Sang-yun gave a textbook, exemplary response. While Tae-hyun and Lee Da-bi were cooking over there, it was the team members' job to fill the time by answering questions. I have to make sure Cain doesn't get any questions.

"This time, Kim Tae-hyun and Lee Da-bi were selected for the national representative team and showed great performance. How do you feel about that?"

"I'm truly proud and happy. Since he's our captain, he had a lot of constraints when playing because he had to look after us. Seeing him perform so well alongside other outstanding players made me as happy as if I were playing out there with him."

Tae-hyun, who was chopping onions in the background, whispered to Lee Da-bi. "Did someone give him a script?"

"I don't think so."

"He's good. Yes, that's exactly how you give an exemplary answer."

While it was a perfect textbook answer for an interview, it was also true that the broadcast crew wanted a more entertaining picture. For a while now, the host's gaze kept drifting toward Cain. The legendary mouth that was said to boost viewership ratings by several percentage points the moment it opened!

"I'd also like to ask Cain..."

"I do not speak while I am cleaning!"

"..."

"..."

Choi Sang-yun was horrified. That just makes him look like a complete lunatic! He had told Cain not to say anything stupid, so the guy was just acting like a madman instead.

"Hello."

"W-w-welcome."

"I-it is an honor to meet you."

"...Should we shoot that again?" Lee Se-yeon asked, looking back at the crew. Jeong Su-hyeok and Cain were sweating profusely and stuttering.

"No, this is fun, let's keep going. Just act naturally. These days, this kind of raw reaction is much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more entertaining."

"...No matter how you look at it, they just seem like weirdos...?"

There was a very good reason why Jeong Su-hyeok and Cain tensed up whenever they met Lee Se-yeon. It was because Tae-hyun had constantly brainwashed them, drilling into their heads: Lee Se-yeon is terrifying. Seriously terrifying.

And even putting that aside, Lee Se-yeon was a star among stars. She had been appearing on broadcasts and building nationwide popularity even before Pan-On became a massive hit. She was the pioneer, the original idol of all the pro gamers and players rising to fame today!

"Have you arrived?" Tae-hyun called out to Lee Se-yeon in a solemn, dramatic voice.

Lee Se-yeon stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Why are you acting so serious...?

Seeing Tae-hyun staring at her from the kitchen with an incredibly grave expression, Lee Se-yeon felt slightly flustered. This isn't that kind of show today, is it?

Lee Da-bi, who was standing next to him, lowered her head. Judging by her expression, she seemed slightly embarrassed.

"Lee Se-yeon. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what it takes to win."

"Excuse me, but today's broadcast isn't that kind of show. Can you stop before people get the wrong idea?"

"Actually, I think this is quite entertaining, so it should be fine," the PD chimed in.

"What exactly is fine about this...?"

Lee Se-yeon was starting to worry about how this broadcast would turn out. If they just filmed whatever they found funny, what would they do if there was nothing usable to air later? But the PD was confident. Considering the sheer star power of the people gathered here, just watching them breathe would be highly entertaining!

"As a result, rather than changing the menu, I decided to put much more effort into our usual meals."

"Right... sure..." Lee Se-yeon sat down with a resigned expression. What she had expected when coming here was a warm, friendly conversation and a cozy "Wow, so this is how you guys live!" kind of vibe... Somehow, the atmosphere had devolved into something resembling a cooking competition.

"Now, sit down and wait."

"Actually, I was planning to cook something to treat you guys too."

"...!"

Tae-hyun stared at Lee Se-yeon with a shocked expression. To think she was harboring such a sinister plot!

"Tae-hyun, I don't think that's something to be so shocked about," Lee Da-bi whispered beside him. No matter how she thought about it, those words weren't shocking at all.

"She's saying she won't just eat what I prepared, but wants to challenge me to a duel."

"...I think she was just trying to be considerate of you, Tae-hyun..." Lee Da-bi muttered, but her words didn't reach his ears.

Lee Se-yeon had simply felt a bit bad about only being treated as a guest, and since they had gone through the World Cup together, she wanted to cook something as a gesture of gratitude. But to Tae-hyun's ears, it sounded like nothing less than a declaration of war.

"Fine, Lee Se-yeon. There's plenty of space here, so come on over."

"Huh? Really? Is it okay if I join?"

Lee Se-yeon had planned to wait until Tae-hyun was completely finished, but since he was inviting her, there was no reason to hesitate. The kitchen was incredibly spacious, so standing side-by-side to cook seemed perfectly feasible.

"You look excited."

"I am not. I'm not excited at all." Lee Se-yeon tried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to maintain a straight face as she stood up.

Tae-hyun turned to Lee Da-bi. "Since this is a duel, I shouldn't receive any help from you, Da-bi. Go over there and wait. Actually, this works out perfectly. Let's make Lee Da-bi the judge."

"Wait..." Suddenly thrust into the role of a judge, Lee Da-bi looked at the two of them in bewilderment. Can't I just keep helping you with your cooking, Tae-hyun?

Se-yeon, please help me.

But Lee Da-bi had forgotten one crucial detail: Lee Se-yeon was also someone who would never back down from a challenge.

"Fine. You might have a higher cooking skill in the game, but I'll show you that reality is a different story. Da-bi, please go sit down. I'll show you cooking on a completely different level."

"...I think both of you need professional counseling..." Lee Da-bi sighed and sat down.

The staff watched the kitchen, which had suddenly transformed into a heated culinary battleground, with eyes full of excitement. How would this turn out? They had expected a standard special video showcasing the daily lives of national representative players, but this was exceeding their expectations in the best way possible.

Whoa!

Amazing...!

The staff's eyes gleamed. The skills of both competitors were extraordinary. Lee Se-yeon had personally learned from a world-class chef, while Tae-hyun had single-handedly fed and sustained the entire roster of Team KL.

"This is truly... incredible...!" At Cain's exclamation of awe, the host subtly asked, "What exactly is so incredible about it?"

"Normally, when Kim Tae-hyun cooks, he just chops off the roots of vegetables and rushes straight into the cooking. But today, he's washing them thoroughly to the very end. He's putting in several times more effort than usual."

"Oh... so you're saying he usually cooks your meals carelessly?"

"...N-no, that's not what I meant."

Tsk.

I almost fell for it!

Cain had grown a lot too. He didn't fall for such trap questions so easily anymore.

"With Cain acting as our commentator, I'm highly curious to see how this duel will end."

"Uh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wait a minute. If both of them are only cooking for Lee Da-bi, does that mean there's nothing for us to eat?"

At Cain's question, Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon raised their heads and looked at each other.

"...You didn't prepare anything extra, did you?"

"Yeah. You too?"

"I was originally only making enough for you to eat. ...It's too much trouble, so let's just tell the rest of them to order delivery."

"Is that really okay?"

"It's fine, it's fine. Ordering delivery won't kill them."

"..."

Cain slumped. We have to eat delivery food?!

"..."

Tae-hyun sat in stunned silence. The filming had ended on an incredibly high note, with the PD repeatedly thanking them and showering them with praise. The content was so rich and entertaining that it was already expected to be a legendary broadcast. But regardless of that, the atmosphere in the team house was as gloomy as a funeral home.

If we say the wrong thing right now, we might actually get punched, right?

Shh.

"Why do you think I lost?"

"Uh... well... maybe Lee Se-yeon used Threaten on her?"

"Lee Se-yeon isn't that kind of person."

Ugh, what a pain in the ass.

Although it was an impromptu match, the rules had been strictly enforced—even including a blind taste test! In the end, the dish Lee Da-bi had raised her hand for as the tastier one was Lee Se-yeon's.

It was an incredibly narrow margin, but to Tae-hyun, it was an absolute shock.

"I think it was just the seasoning. My sister eats things incredibly bland, you know," Lee Da-sol, Lee Da-bi's younger sister, chimed in.

But her words didn't register in Tae-hyun's ears. He snorted and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Do you really think Lee Da-bi is so simple-minded that a tiny difference in salt would decide her preference?"

But my sister's palate is actually super simple... Lee Da-sol felt incredibly wronged. Lee Da-bi didn't exactly possess a highly refined palate.

"I'm telling you, it really was the salt. If you had put just a little less salt, she would have chosen yours."

"I don't need that kind of consolation. Hmm. Come to think of it, I guess I haven't had enough time to study Da-bi's taste buds. I've only been feeding useless fools."

"...Those useless fools don't happen to be us, do they?" Cain asked in a sorrowful voice. They had already been forced to eat delivery food today because of the broadcast, so what did they do to deserve this?!

"Ah! In that case, when it's my turn to do dinner duty, I'll let you take over. Why don't you come and practice then?"

Tae-hyun stared intently at Lee Da-sol. Da-sol worried inwardly. Ah. Did he catch on?

"...You're a really good kid. I think Da-bi would be very happy if she knew."

"Please don't ever tell my sister!"

If her older sister found out, she would definitely get a swift smack to the back.