Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Chick That Eats Hanwoo?
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A chick that eats Hanwoo?
Salary negotiation possible, full benefits, meals provided.
Conditions that would tempt any young person in Korea.
To my life of scraping by on discarded triangle kimbap from the convenience store, the title of "national civil servant" was no different from winning the lottery.
But I politely, oh so politely, pushed away the business card on the table.
"I refuse."
"...Pardon?"
Seo Hwa-rin's eyebrow twitched.
She crossed her arms and asked,
"What's the reason? Is the compensation insufficient? If you want, we can start your salary at 100 million won."
"100 million?!"
My voice cracked.
Whoa, 100 million. How many chickens is that?
For a moment, I nearly lost my rationality.
But I pinched my thigh and snapped back to reality.
'Don't give in. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.'
Offering 100 million meant they planned to throw me into hellish work.
Plus, if I joined, they'd do full body checks and background investigations, and it would only be a matter of time before they discovered Fry breathing fire.
A chick burning yokai to death?
Fry was stuck in a formalin jar somewhere underground in Namsan.
"It's not about the money."
I put on a serious expression, trying my best to look dignified.
"I'm... a free spirit, you see."
"A free... spirit?"
"Yes. I hate being tied down. And honestly, ghosts scare me. Yesterday was just... lucky. Lighter fluid splashed and caught fire."
Seo Hwa-rin let out an incredulous laugh.
"The firepower that burned a D-grade yokai Giant Silkworm to death was just lighter fluid?"
"Yes. I use a good lighter. Turbo lighter."
"......"
Seo Hwa-rin stared right through me.
Her eyes were like a lie detector running.
But I brazenly met her gaze.
Got evidence? The ashes blew away in the wind, and the witness instructor got paid to shut up.
Her gaze shifted to the corner of the room, where Fry was holding his head high.
"What's with that chicken?"
"Oh, this guy? My pet chicken. Name's Fry."
"...Pet chicken."
Seo Hwa-rin stared at Fry for a moment.
Not suspicion, more like,
'Hidden masters have all kinds of tastes.'
Lucky.
The option of 'the chick caught the yokai' didn't even exist in her head.
"Understood."
Seo Hwa-rin stood up.
There was no legal basis to drag me away by force yet.
I hadn't harmed civilians; I'd saved them.
She stood from her seat.
"We'll end it here for today. But I won't give up."
She turned back one last time at the front door.
"Leaving talent—no, a dangerous element like you unchecked would be dereliction of duty as Deputy Team Leader of Ghost Gate Special Team 1."
Click.
The door closed.
I finally exhaled.
"Haa... Felt like I aged ten years."
If the deputy team leader was like that,
What about the team leader?
The branch director?
Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
Best not to get entangled.
"Bpeok."
Fry hopped out from the corner and flew onto the table.
He pecked at the business card Seo Hwa-rin left behind.
As if asking, "You chickened out?"
"Hey, quiet down. If you get caught, it's straight to samgyetang soup."
I lightly pressed his head with my index finger, then picked up the thick envelope on the desk.
3.5 million won. The highest daily pay of my life.
"Let's go, Fry. Time to spend some money."
City Gas Bill
Electricity Bill
Monthly Rent (3 Months Prepaid)
After paying off all the overdue bills, I still had 1.5 million won left.
Seeing the number in my bank account made me full without eating.
Of course, I'd eat. Something very expensive.
I tucked Fry into the inner pocket of my padding jacket and headed to the neighborhood big mart.
He poked his head out through the zipper, looking around curiously.
The mart's bright lights enveloped him.
"Pick whatever. Big bro's treating today."
We stood in front of the butcher section.
Red, crimson meats glistened alluringly.
"Pork belly? Neck? Or..."
I was looking at the pork when Fry tugged my collar with his beak.
His gaze was directed somewhere unexpected.
[Hanwoo 1++ Sirloin (28,000 won per 100g)]
"Hey... you have expensive tastes?"
"Bpeok! Bpeok! (That one! That one!)"
He flapped his wings, pointing at the Hanwoo pack.
No way a chick knows Hanwoo taste.
But he had saved my life twice yesterday. That was a fact.
And I earned 3.5 million thanks to him.
"Fine. Let's eat it."
I boldly grabbed two packs of Hanwoo sirloin.
Fry rubbed his head contentedly against my chest.
He knew it was expensive.
After shopping, we returned home with bags in both hands.
Hanwoo, fresh rice, ssam radish, and even a top-grade microfiber cushion for Fry.
This was the taste of capitalism.
The moment we got home, I pulled out the portable gas burner.
But.
"Oh, right. Out of butane."
Shaking the canister, it was empty.
Go back to the convenience store? Too annoying.
Then, Fry climbed onto the table and stared at me intently.
He pecked at the bottom of the grill, then slipped right under it.
"Hey! What are you doing under there!"
I tried to stop him in surprise.
Then.
Whoosh.
A warm, red flame bloomed under the grill.
It was Fry's fire.
Not blue like gas, but a gentle, orange glow like firewood.
"Are you... saving me on gas bills right now?"
"Bpeok."
He poked his head out from under the grill and looked at me.
His eyes sparkled.
As if saying, 'Hurry up and put the meat on.'
Unbelievable.
Using the fearsome flames that incinerated yokai to grill meat.
Wasn't this blasphemy?
Whatever. He's mine.
I placed the Hanwoo sirloin on the heated grill.
Sizzle—
The sound was perfection.
Fry's fire was steady and powerful.
The meat instantly underwent the Maillard reaction, turning brown.
Seared hot, the juices were locked in visibly.
"Whoa... the smell is insane."
I plated the cooked meat and picked up scissors.
Fry waddled out from under the grill and hopped onto the table.
He wagged his tail expectantly.
"Here, ahh~"
I cut the meat small, cooled it, and held it to his beak.
Fry snapped it up with a "Bpeok!"
Munch munch.
The sound of a chick chewing meat was so satisfying.
He swallowed the piece in a flash, narrowed his eyes in bliss, and hopped in place.
Means it's delicious, I guess.
"Tasty? That's 30,000 won per 100 grams, you rascal."
"Ppi-yak~"
He nibbled my finger playfully.
Ha, cute little guy.
Hard to believe this is the fire-breathing monster.
We finished our peaceful dinner.
Full belly, warm back—nothing to envy in the world.
Exorcists, yokai—it all felt like another world's tale.
"Gulp."
I leaned on the sofa, patting my belly.
Fry was buried in the new fluffy cushion on my lap.
The yellow fluffball melted into the cushion like a rice cake.
"Sleep well, my little one."
I stroked his back with my finger; he purred contentedly, like a cat's rumble.
I wish this peace lasted forever.
Do odd jobs when money runs low, grill meat like this.
An ordinary daily life where nothing happens.
.
.
.
3 AM. The quiet hour when the world sleeps.
Shhh...
Black smoke-like things seeped in through the front door gap and window frames.
Formless at first, they clumped together into rat-sized beasts.
[...Smell... good...]
[...Delicious smell... pure Yang Energy...]
Low-grade yokai Glutton Rats, miscellaneous yokai that infest anywhere with spiritual energy.
They'd been drawn by the massive spiritual power and rich Hanwoo scent from this house tonight.
Dozens of black rats filled the room.
Their blood-red eyes turned to the bed.
Precisely, to the yellow fluffball sleeping soundly on it, and Kang Han-gyeol snoring with his mouth open beside it.
[...Eat...]
[Human first...?]
The lead rat drooled as it crawled up to Kang Han-gyeol's bedside, aiming for the defenseless human's nape, baring its yellow teeth.
At that moment.
"......"
The yellow fluffball sleeping by Kang Han-gyeol's head slowly opened its eyes.
Not the usual dumb, cute black bean eyes.
[...How dare you.]
A chilling, arrogant voice echoed in their minds.
Fry didn't even lift his head.
Just raised his eyelids while lying down, staring at the rat pup by the bed.
[Do you think you can crawl in here?]
[Kii... Kie?]
The rat froze.
Instinctual fear.
From the tiny chick before it emanated a 'rank' as hot and immense as the sun.
Before the thought to flee could form.
Whoosh.
No sound. As Fry's eyes glowed red, the rat by the bed vanished in mid-air.
Not even scorched.
It simply evaporated from existence in the heat.
[...So noisy. My contractor is sleeping.]
Fry yawned lazily.
Tiny sparks flew from his mouth.
The remaining rat horde recoiled in terror.
But too late.
[You came in as you pleased, but leaving? Not so much, vermin.]
Fry flicked his wing ever so slightly.
Swoosh—
A golden wave skimmed low across the room floor.
Like ripples from a stone in a calm lake.
Rats touched by the light ring couldn't even scream.
Fry had silenced sound, incinerating them with heat alone.
[......]
[......!]
Dozens of yokai vanished like dust in an instant.
Nothing left behind.
Not even ashes—a perfect purification.
The room fell silent again.
Fry wiped his beak contentedly.
[Hmph. Know your place.]
He glanced at Kang Han-gyeol on the bed.
His contractor slept obliviously, snoring.
Kicked off the blanket too.
[Tsk tsk. Cover up with the blanket, human.]
Fry flapped his wings, stirring a warm breeze.
The blanket drifted up, covering Kang Han-gyeol's belly.
"Mmm... warm..."
Kang Han-gyeol mumbled in his sleep, burying his face in the pillow.
Fry curled up round again, tucking his beak into his wings.
Back to the cute chick as if nothing happened.
"Kkool... snore..."
Tomorrow morning, Kang Han-gyeol would wake up none the wiser.
Clueless that his home nearly became a yokai den in the night.
Or that the chick he picked up cleaned them out and tucked him in.