Chapter 17

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: Lunch Bet

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When I opened my eyes, the spot next to me on the bed was empty.

The clock on the nightstand showed it was well past 11 a.m.

Even though we hadn't had sex last night and just slept, all the accumulated fatigue hit me at once, and I'd passed out cold.

"Yawn..."

I stretched with a big yawn and got out of bed. My stomach growled loudly.

As I headed to the living room, a warm atmosphere and the girls' laughter greeted me.

"Sua, that's not how you do it. You have to fold it like this here."

"Oh, really? No wonder it felt weird. Ji-eun unnie, you're so good with your hands."

"Hehe... I used to make these by myself at home..."

Hwang Sua, Kim So-yeon, and Park Ji-eun were huddled together on the sofa, folding colored paper and playing around.

Their heads close together, giggling—it was a pretty sight.

Outside, people were probably going insane, killing and robbing each other, but inside this bunker, it felt like another dimension entirely.

Like a peaceful kindergarten in the middle of hell.

"Oppa, you're up?"

Sua spotted me and waved with a bright smile.

"Yeah. Looks like you girls had fun without me."

"You were sleeping in, so we got bored and started origami. Hungry?"

"Starving to death. You didn't eat?"

"Nope. We waited for you to wake up so we could eat together."

Good girls.

I grabbed some water from the fridge and scanned the three of them.

They all looked comfy in baggy t-shirts or pajamas.

Suddenly, I felt like having some fun.

Eating only Sua's cooking every day or just grabbing something quick was getting old, and I was curious about the new girls' skills anyway.

"Hey, wanna make a bet?"

"A bet? What kind?"

So-yeon perked up, eyes sparkling.

"Cooking contest. You three each make one dish. Use whatever's in the fridge."

"Ehh? Out of nowhere?"

"I'll judge. First place gets one wish, last place gets a punishment. Sound good?"

"Punishment...?"

Ji-eun asked with a scared look.

"Yeah. Last place has to grant my wish. Whatever I say."

Their eyes changed at my words.

The carrot of a wish and the stick of punishment.

Especially since they could guess how devious my wish might be, their motivation ignited.

"Alright! I can cook pretty well. First place is mine."

Sua confidently tied on an apron.

"I can't lose either! I'm confident in boiling ramen!"

So-yeon jumped in enthusiastically.

Ji-eun hesitated but stood up with a determined face to avoid punishment.

"I... I'll do my best too..."

And so, the first Bunkergate Cooking Contest began.

The kitchen turned into a battlefield in seconds.

I sat back in a dining chair, watching the chaos happily.

Sua started on kimchi stew with her usual deft hand. Crisp knife sounds. Stable.

So-yeon grabbed a frying pan for fried rice but poured way too much oil, stir-frying like it was deep-frying. Unsettling.

And Ji-eun.

The one I'd worried about most turned out to be a dark horse.

"Ugh... I can't see..."

Standing at the cutting board, her massive breasts blocked her view.

Every time she leaned forward, they swayed heavily, threatening to smother the board.

She awkwardly supported them with her arm or pushed them aside while chopping.

But her knife skills were no joke.

Tat-tat-tat! Chop-chop!

Even intervals, fast speed.

Her form for prepping ingredients was way smoother than Sua's.

"Hoo..."

She'd said she was a shut-in, but her home cooking level seemed pretty high.

An hour later.

Three dishes lined up on the table.

Sua's tuna kimchi stew.

So-yeon's ham veggie fried rice.

And Ji-eun's doenjang pork belly rice bowl.

I crossed my arms, putting on a stern judge face.

First, Sua's stew.

"Mm."

I took a spoonful of broth.

"Familiar taste. Just like always. Solid and spicy. Rice thief approved."

"Hehe, right?"

Next, So-yeon's fried rice.

The salt hit me right away.

"Mm... a bit salty. Ham's already salty, and you added more salt?"

"Ah... I put a little soy sauce..."

"Rice is soaked in oil. Still edible, though. Effort points."

So-yeon pouted sadly.

Finally, Ji-eun's rice bowl.

Visuals were on point.

Crispy grilled pork belly coated in special doenjang sauce, topped with thin onions and green onions.

I scooped some meat and rice together.

"......!"

My eyes widened.

The savory, umami doenjang sauce perfectly cut the pork's greasiness. Crunchy onions too.

This was pro-level. No, better than most restaurants.

I kept shoveling it in without pause.

"Hey, did you make this sauce?"

"Y-yeah... mixed store-bought doenjang with mayo and sugar..."

"You're insane. Why are you so good at cooking?"

"Well... being stuck at home... eating was my only joy... I followed a lot of YouTube recipes..."

Hikikomori's positive trait, huh.

The results were obvious.

"First place: Park Ji-eun. Second: Hwang Sua. Third: Kim So-yeon."

"Kyaa! First place!"

Ji-eun jumped for joy, her huge breasts bouncing up and down like an earthquake.

"Aww... last place..."

So-yeon made a miserable face.

"Alright, time for awards as promised. First place wish. Ji-eun, what's yours?"

Ji-eun hesitated, then spoke shyly with a flushed face.

"Um... Oppa... can I..."

"What? Spit it out."

"Can I... post on the bunker community? With my nickname?"

"Huh? A post?"

I asked, surprised.

"Yeah... I wanna brag about living here... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I was so jealous of your posts before... Now that I'm here too... I wanna get revenge on those losers..."

Oh, right, she was a former troll.

Her inner 'attention whore' blood was boiling.

Trolling. Can't resist it.

"Fine. Permission granted. But no location hints. Mock them to your heart's content."

"Woo! Thanks, Oppa!"

Ji-eun excitedly grabbed her smartphone.

"Now, punishment time."

I grinned slyly at So-yeon.

"So-yeon, come here."

"Eek... Oppa, go easy... It's not scary, right?"

"We'll see. My wish is..."

I paused dramatically, then declared.

"From tomorrow morning to evening, all day—wear egg rotators on your body."

"Whaaat?! R-rotors?!"

So-yeon's eyes bugged out.

"Yeah. Two on your nipples, one on your pussy. Total three."

"N-no way! How am I supposed to wear those all day? What if I need to pee?!"

"Figure it out. I'll control the vibration with the remote. During meals, rest—always."

"Waaah... That's too mean..."

So-yeon plopped on the floor, stomping and whining.

But what could she do? The world of competition is cruel.

"Don't wanna? Pack your bags and leave now."

"Tch... Fine... I'll do it..."

So-yeon nodded reluctantly, like swallowing bitter medicine. Thinking of her twitching all day tomorrow already had me amused.

And so the lively lunch wrapped up.

Ji-eun, with her first-place privilege, busied herself taking proof shots around the bunker.

Fridge packed with food, fluffy bed, spacious tub.

An evil smile played on her lips.

In the afternoon, we all gathered in the living room for a movie.

"Sniff... sob... So sad..."

Sua leaned on my shoulder, sniffling.

"Mister... don't die... waaah..."

So-yeon dabbed her tears with tissue.

Ji-eun quietly wiped hers too.

Even my nose tingled.

We immersed ourselves in the movie, feeling each other's warmth wordlessly.

After it ended, the afterglow lingered, and we sat dazed for a while.

The outside was hell, but at least among us here, we had to cherish each other.

In my own way, of course.

As evening neared, I lightened the mood.

"Ji-eun, you post it?"

"Oh, yeah! Earlier!"

Ji-eun beamed and showed me her phone.

I logged into the Apocalypse Gallery on mine and found her post.

Ji-eun cackled at the mix of curses and envy.

"Kekeke... Serves you right, losers."

Then she caught my eye and flinched, hiding her phone.

"Ah... was it too much...?"

Her face red, peeking nervously—peak nerd vibe.

"Nah. Perfect. Excellent job."

I patted her head. Dual appeal for sure.

Dinner was on me.

The girls worked hard at lunch, so the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head of the house steps up for dinner.

I pulled pork shoulder from the freezer for spicy pork stir-fry. Loaded with gochujang and chili powder.

Air-fried some frozen pork cutlets too.

Crispy cutlets and spicy pork. Unbeatable combo.

"Wow! Oppa can cook too?"

Sua marveled, chopsticks ready.

"Dig in. Eat up."

"Thanks for the food!"

Watching them eat heartily warmed my heart.

Ji-eun wolfed down two bowls, saying mine was better than hers.

After dinner, stuffed on the sofa, my body started itching.

We just slept last night, so tonight we should work it out, right?

I dropped a hint casually.

"Bellies full, time to digest..."

All eyes on me.

"With some post-meal exercise?"

My gaze turned sticky.

Sua got it instantly and smiled seductively. So-yeon blushed and looked away.

Ji-eun swallowed hard, hugging her massive chest with her arms.

"What... kind of exercise today...?"

Ji-eun asked cautiously.

"Hmm. Yesterday was a party, so tonight... some thorough training."

I stood, looking down at them.

"Go wash up and come to the bedroom. First one there gets spoiled first."

Sua bolted to the bathroom first.

So-yeon and Ji-eun scrambled after.

How hot would tonight be?

Anticipation swelling, I sauntered to the bedroom leisurely.