Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Party?
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Party?
In the elevator heading home, my mood lifted a little with each number that climbed.
It wasn't just because I'd had a perfect day. There was another big reason.
- Ding! The doors opened.
I could finally go home and see Il-ho! I had so much to brag about from today.
Beep beep beep beep, click!
I punched in the door code lightning-fast and flung the door open.
"Il-ho! Sis is home!"
Il-ho must have heard the door, because she came running and was waiting right there in the entryway.
"Here!"
I spread my arms wide toward her. It was what she always did for me when she got back from the dungeon, but this time, the roles were reversed.
Il-ho spread her arms too and charged into my embrace.
Whoosh!
"Whoa!"
Her sudden rush made me wobble for a second, but thankfully I didn't fall. Il-ho's tail wrapped around my leg.
Then she stepped back and started petting my head.
Stroke stroke—
"Huh...?"
She must have taken it as the "welcome home ritual."
"Il-ho, that's for cute people or animals. You can't do that to me."
But even after I said that, Il-ho just tilted her head and kept petting. The shorter girl kept stroking my hair.
Well, whatever. It was a good mood day anyway.
"Anyway, did you behave while I was out?"
Nod nod. Il-ho's head bobbed up and down.
I washed my hands since I'd been out, then headed to the living room. Il-ho was already scribbling on the whiteboard with a marker.
Whoosh!
She held out the whiteboard. Bold letters spelled a short sentence.
- Thank you
"Yeah? You watched TV too? What was your favorite?"
Il-ho nodded. She erased the board and scribbled quickly again.
- Cat
"Huh?"
- Cats are cute
"Hmm... besides cute stuff, anything cool?"
Il-ho thought for a moment, then wrote something new.
- Paws!
It even had an exclamation mark, which wasn't like her usual style. But was "paws" really cool? It felt a bit off.
'More importantly, when did she learn the word "paws"?'
She must have watched YouTube while I wasn't looking.
"Nothing else cool?"
I asked wistfully, but Il-ho just sparkled with excitement, holding up the board that said "Paws."
In the end, I let out a deep sigh and gave up. Well, cute wasn't bad either.
"Fine, whatever. Let's eat!"
A few days passed after that.
The world was still buzzing about the cat plushie and the SS-Rank item, but my life at the eye of the storm was utterly peaceful.
"Ughhh, so bored...."
I sprawled on the living room sofa, stretching my legs toward the ceiling.
I hadn't exactly been idle, of course. To kill time, I'd whipped up a few A-Rank daggers and an armor set.
But they didn't take long to make, and Director Joo had told me to hold off on selling them because "the market might overheat."
So now my warehouse was piling up with items, but I had nothing to do. A bizarre situation.
'I always wanted a life of freeloading without work, but this is way too dull.'
Il-ho was tired from her dungeon run yesterday, so asking her to hang out felt wrong.
In the end, I was idly scrolling through the game store page, rolling the mouse wheel for new releases worth playing.
Bzzz—
My phone on the desk vibrated briefly.
[Schedule Reminder: Miss So-jeong's Birthday]
"...Huh?"
The moment I saw the notification, I shot up like I'd been electrocuted.
"I forgot about this?!"
It was a reminder I'd set ages ago while chatting with Miss So-jeong. I'd totally forgotten, but past me had my back.
The clock read 2 p.m.
Miss So-jeong had made lunch, then headed to the Management Bureau for SS-Rank item work.
'She said she'd be back around 6 p.m....'
Four hours left. Not super short, but not enough for a perfect birthday.
How much had Miss So-jeong done for me? Mending clothes, cooking, handling paperwork... She worked 24/7 for me.
I couldn't let her birthday slip by carelessly.
"Il-ho! Got time?"
I dashed to her room where she was resting. She set down her Korean textbook and looked at me.
"We gotta prep a party! Party!"
"...?"
I explained to the tilting Il-ho.
"Because today's Miss So-jeong's birthday. Only four hours till she gets back! What first?"
Il-ho's face hardened with determination. Yeah, this was serious.
- Decorate the house
"Yes! That's it!"
First goal set.
Turn the house into a perfect party venue before Miss So-jeong got back.
We'd need supplies for that.
"Il-ho, let's go out! No time!"
I grabbed her hand and ran to the entryway.
Normally I'd skip going out because it's a hassle, but today was an emergency.
First stop: the home goods store nearby. Famous for having everything.
Il-ho's eyes went wide, scanning the shelves. A forest of cute knick-knacks, different from dungeons or marts—must be fascinating.
I grabbed a red basket at the entrance.
"Okay, Il-ho. Put stuff here. Party supplies first!"
We headed inside to the "Party/Event" sign.
"Found it!"
First thing that caught my eye: balloons covering the wall.
Solid colors, hearts, stars, even "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" letters.
Perfect for a birthday. I'd hardly seen them myself, but I knew walls get decked out like this for parties.
"Il-ho, anything you like?"
She scanned intently, then picked something from the corner.
A dinosaur foil balloon.
"...Think Miss So-jeong will like that?"
Il-ho nodded confidently. Well, it was cute, so sure.
"Okay, that too."
Scooped balloons into the basket, then party hats.
Everyone in online birthday pics wore those cones. Essential!
Grabbed a pack of five, kept hunting.
'Where's the most important thing...?'
Found it!
"Here!"
Party poppers! Pull the string, confetti or streamers explode out.
Perfect for when Miss So-jeong opens the door—Il-ho and I pop from both sides.
She'd be shocked and thrilled. Imagining her usually blank face surprised made me grin already.
Paid quick at the counter, big bag in hand, off again.
Next: the grocery mart. Birthdays need miyeokguk, obviously.
"Okay, Il-ho. What's in miyeokguk?"
She tilted her head.
"Seaweed and meat, duh!"
I'd only ever made ramen, but I'd seen YouTube vids. Knew the basics.
Marched confidently to meats.
"Gotta get the priciest, tastiest."
For Miss So-jeong, only top-grade. Snagged five packs of "1++ Hanwoo Flower Sirloin."
More meat, better taste.
Dried seaweed next. Dried goods aisle had skinny packs lined up.
Weirdly, they all looked tiny.
'One bag won't even cover a bowl.'
Grabbed the biggest-looking one.
They expand in water, but still. Leftovers for tomorrow.
Chicken stock, sesame oil, soy sauce for flavor too.
Finally, the bakery's biggest, yummiest-looking chocolate cake. Arms full now.
Heart swelling as much as my heavy arms, I flapped home. To make Miss So-jeong's day perfect.
The second we got home, operation commenced.
"Il-ho, blow up balloons and stick 'em on walls. I'll cook!"
She nodded fiercely and dumped the balloon bag on the living room floor.
I checked a miyeokguk recipe on my phone, then kitchen.
'Soak seaweed, fry meat, boil together?'
Seaweed first.
"Nngh...!"
Pulled out a huge pot, dumped the whole bag in, filled with water.
"Great! Step one done!"
Next, meat. Sirloin on board, kitchen knife... but it wouldn't cut easy.
'Hmm... what now?'
Genius idea: Itemize the knife with Item Creation!
It turned into a fancy dagger with a pale golden glow.
Unfathomable Reinforced Kitchen Dagger (C)
"Hya!"
Down it came on the board—cut like butter.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Perfect cubes, even I'd applaud. Hands that made SS-Rank items don't forget.
Then, moving the meat... I realized disaster.
"Uh...."
My cuts had diced the entire cutting board.
...Whatever, buy a new one.
Tossed the shards, kept going.
Then—
Bang!
A pop. Turned to see Il-ho holding a burst balloon, cat-like shock on her face.
She glanced my way innocently.
"Um, Il-ho. Don't blow too much air."
She'd figure it out. Focus on cooking!
Back to it.
"Eh...?"
Meat done, pot check—eyes deceived me.
Half-pot seaweed was now shoving the lid off, escaping.
"What the—?!"
Waterlogged seaweed exploding exponentially. Green monster oozing out.
"Agh! Il-ho! Big bowl! Hurry!"
She rushed over. We frantically scooped into basins.
But it kept growing. Sink became seaweed sea.
"Why so much?!"
Suspecting monster seaweed, checked bag.
[100 Servings]
Unbelievable print.
"This tiny bag makes 100 servings? Fraud!"
Finally contained, kitchen a green slime wasteland. No stopping now.
"More is better! Just boil now!"
Shoved into biggest pot, dumped all sirloin, sesame oil glug-glug, gas on.
Sizzle—
Savory smell. Relief. Sincerity and premium ingredients guarantee taste.
Fry some, add water, big spoon minced garlic.
Bubble bubble.
Broth boiling. Seasoning time.
"Soy sauce... this much?"
Ladled it in. Color deepened, but lots of seaweed—fine.
Tasted a spoonful.
"Ack!"
Salty. Ocean water salty.
"W-water! More water!"
Added more. Pot sloshed near overflow.
Now not salty, but enough for 20 bureau staff.
Il-ho looked uneasy, but I ignored. Everyone messes up sometimes.
'Failure is the mother of success, right?'
Simmer and it'll taste great. Then clean up, done.
Mid-grand plan, a sound I shouldn't hear.
Beep beep beep beep...
Only 4:30. But door lock beeping.
I sensed things going very wrong.