Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Joo Do-gyeom blinked.
"...A house, you say?"
In response, Lee Young-sik pulled out a tablet and showed him the screen.
Displayed was a spacious luxury villa in Blue Zone District 1—within walking distance of the Yongsan Dungeon Place Market.
Lee Young-sik chuckled heartily.
"Hahaha... To be clear, this isn't from me. My daughter prepared this gift for you herself. I repeat—this isn't my doing. The entire purchase came from her own savings. Ohoho...!"
Do-gyeom turned to Lee Seo-ah.
"Your daughter personally...?"
"I'd saved up quite a bit. Invested in stocks... and they skyrocketed over these past two years..."
"Ohoho! Not because she's my daughter, but the girl's naturally talented! I never gave her more than 100,000 won in allowance, you see? But then—ow!"
Seo-ah silently pinched her father's thigh again, shooting him a glare.
Lee Young-sik's lips sealed shut.
Seo-ah sighed.
"Sorry. My father tends to... overdo the doting."
"......"
Do-gyeom nodded.
By now, he was getting used to this.
Another thought crossed his mind.
No wonder she turned out like that—with a father like this.
The desperation, the sharpness of those past two years.
And the future events.
Do-gyeom glanced at the screen again before looking up.
Seo-ah spoke with an embarrassed expression.
"Honestly, a place in the Green Zone would've been beyond my means. I didn't want to rely on Father's help either."
"Not at all. This is more than enough. If anything, I should be thanking you—"
"Seo-ah."
"...?"
"Please call me Seo-ah. Not 'your daughter.'"
Her voice was quiet but firm.
Yet perhaps because she'd only just recovered from her illness?
Despite her bright smile, there was an inexplicable fragility about her.
'...Huh?'
The moment he saw her.
Something flickered at the edge of his mind.
Like a hand waving through fog.
Almost graspable, yet slipping away.
'What was it?'
What was it again?
There was definitely something.
Until now, his memories—likely thanks to Vivien's aid—had been abnormally vivid.
But this one remained frustratingly hazy, unlike the others where even dates and times came to mind instantly.
Do-gyeom groped through the mental fog for a few seconds before giving up.
'Since most memories come back easily... it must not be important.'
More importantly—let him reiterate.
In the future he knew, Lee Seo-ah had died three years later.
There was no reason to dwell on new information.
'...Even if I'm mistaken, forcing it won't make it resurface.'
Having reached that conclusion, Do-gyeom nodded.
"I'll gratefully accept your kindness."
He'd been planning to move anyway.
Hearing his answer, both father and daughter brightened simultaneously.
But now, it felt oddly one-sided—cash, bank accounts, and now a house.
After brief hesitation, Do-gyeom spoke up.
"If you don't mind... would you like some spicy beef soup?"
"...Huh?"
Seo-ah's eyes rounded in surprise.
Lee Young-sik's eyes sparkled instead.
"That incredible smell when we came in—did you make it yourself?"
"Yes. I used some rare ingredients."
"Rare ingredients?"
Since when did spicy beef soup require those?
Not that it mattered.
The mere gesture from their benefactor was precious enough.
Lee Young-sik grinned.
"If it's your hospitality, we'll gladly accept."
"Thank you."
And so, before the two guests.
Bowls of spicy beef soup—infused with magic stones and dungeon ingredients—were served.
Slurp—.
Gulp—.
The sound of hearty soup consumption echoed cheerfully in the cramped one-room apartment.
Then, moments later.
"...This is extraordinary!"
The tycoon Lee Young-sik's astonished exclamation burst forth.
His treasured daughter Seo-ah, pausing mid-bite, wore an equally stunned expression.
"You're... incredibly skilled at cooking?"
Do-gyeom nodded with quiet satisfaction.
"I've put in considerable effort."
"This—this transcends mere effort! Such depth of flavor, consistency, and that umami kick... Even top dining chefs couldn't replicate this. This is pure talent—hrrrgh!"
Clearly a gourmet at heart, Lee Young-sik kept marveling between gulps, his entire face radiating uncontrollable delight.
The scene was surreal.
A corporate magnate and his jewel of a daughter, sweating profusely yet wholly immersed in spicy beef soup inside a Red Zone studio.
Do-gyeom wordlessly turned on the air conditioner.
A landlord's courtesy toward perspiring guests.
As the atmosphere warmed and bowls neared emptiness—
Lee Young-sik's eyes suddenly bulged.
"...What sorcery is this!?"
"...?"
"My magic—my magic rank increased!"
Before his eyes, a system message floated:
『Magic Rank Up: D- → D』
Lee Young-sik was an Awakened too.
Like most tycoons, he'd safely undergone awakening with high-paid hunters as escorts.
Though his overall stats were D-rank, his magic had stagnated at D- due to zero combat experience.
Yet one bowl of soup elevated it.
"I—I feel it too. My body's... warming up inside?"
Newly-awakened Seo-ah blinked at her tingling palms.
Two pairs of eyes locked onto Do-gyeom.
His own eyes gleamed slightly.
As anticipated—the Universal Chef's cooking effects worked on others too.
'This profession is even better than I thought.'
Satisfied, he explained.
"That's likely my class skill at work."
"Class skill?"
"Yes. My hunter class is called Universal Chef."
Their eyes widened again.
They'd never have guessed Do-gyeom's class was culinary-related.
Not with his demeanor.
Or his feats.
Nothing about him fit the chef archetype.
But why would he lie?
Even if he did, why would they doubt him?
No reason.
Thus, the duo—
"Ah..."
"Oh..."
—exhaled soft awe and nodded in unison.
Though not entirely comprehending.
The link between "Universal Chef" and magic enhancement wasn't immediately obvious.
Do-gyeom kindly elaborated.
"The magic boost comes from combining dungeon ingredients with magic stones."
"...?"
"...?"
"First time trying it myself, but Fat Bird's texture works surprisingly well."
Their gazes slowly dropped to the tender, shredded meat in their bowls.
'Ah, so that was Fat Bird.'
'......'
In this era, gourmet cooking with dungeon ingredients was a known (if niche) hobby.
But few dared indulge.
Even foodie Chairman Lee had never considered dungeon-sourced meals before.
Why bother when regular delicacies abound?
Unless the world went to hell, why stomach potentially off-putting ingredients?
Yet could they refuse now?
Three compelling reasons said no.
First: sheer culinary merit.
Regardless of ingredients or initial revulsion—it was delicious.
Second: the unprecedented magic boost outside dungeons.
This was invaluable.
Not just rare—this was world-shaking.
Enhancing magic on Earth?
If word got out, billions would queue for a taste.
No wonder Do-gyeom called it precious.
Which led to the third reason.
The gesture behind the meal.
Contemplating this moved them deeply.
Unbeknownst to himself, Lee Young-sik's brows trembled slightly.
"You..."
"...?"
"We came to repay you, yet you serve this treasure? Our debt only grows heavier."
Do-gyeom shook his head earnestly.
"It's fine. Please don't dwell on it."
He knew.
It was indeed precious.
Without the Universal Chef class, this effect wouldn't exist—not with expensive magic stones and monster ingredients combined.
But conversely, for him, this was replicable anytime.
'Thanks to them, money's no issue now.'
Couldn't he afford this hospitality?
Yet the father-daughter pair felt differently.
"You didn't have to share something this valuable..."
"We'll cherish this kindness."
"......"
Really, it wasn't that big a deal.
His mouth opened, then closed.
On second thought, no harm done.
A tycoon chairman.
His cherished daughter.
The regressor had earned their goodwill.
This would prove useful moving forward.
Thus, Do-gyeom simply nodded lightly.
"Would you like seconds?"
"...!?"
"...!!"
"There's plenty. Enjoy your fill."
"W-well, if you insist..."
"Please."
Any discomfort about dungeon ingredients had long vanished from their minds.
The move was set for days later.
Though the Lees offered immediate relocation, Do-gyeom declined.
A message had arrived.
Kim Han-yul: Ready. Team leader, when are we going?
Two days ahead of their one-week schedule.
Moving could wait until after the dungeon raid.
With that thought, Do-gyeom replied.
Do-gyeom: That was fast.
Kim Han-yul: When I put my mind to something, I go all in. (Confident rabbit emoji) So when do we leave? Knowing you...
Do-gyeom: Come to my place first.
Kim Han-yul: Called it. I'll head over now then.
Do-gyeom: We'll eat before going.
Kim Han-yul: ...?
Do-gyeom: Spicy beef soup. Homemade.
Kim Han-yul: Uh... okay. On my way?
Do-gyeom: Right.
Thus, shortly after the Lees departed, another guest arrived.
Do-gyeom scraped together the remaining soup for Han-yul.
'After this, I'll try cooking something else.'
B-rank dungeon magic stones should yield better effects.
No regrets.
Meanwhile.
Han-yul's expression upon seeing Do-gyeom's place mirrored Chairman Lee's earlier reaction—but she sat down without comment.
The spicy beef soup placed before her.
Han-yul's eyes widened.
"Wow, team leader. Didn't know you had hospitality skills. Points for you. No wonder you're the leader. Mmm...! Smells legit. You've cooked before? Looks professional."
"Special dish."
"Suddenly bragging?"
Snickering, Han-yul scooped a spoonful.
Her face froze momentarily.
Then her hands moved frantically.
Just like the Lees, exclamations burst forth nonstop.
"So good! Freaking delicious! God-tier flavor! Team leader, what? How are you this good at cooking?"
Do-gyeom felt pleased but kept it subdued.
"Your magic?"
"My magic? What about—huh?"
Han-yul's already large eyes threatened to pop out.
"What the? Why's my magic...?"
"My skill. The effect comes from cooking Fat Bird with magic stones."
"Ah...?"
"If you're uncomfortable—"
"HOLY CRAP! THIS IS INSANE! BEST TEAM SERVICE EVER!"
"......"
"Got more? I could drink this whole pot—"
"Finished it."
"Stingy, hogging all—"
"I'll make more after we return."
"...You can just whip this up?"
"Easily."
Do-gyeom's slow nod.
Han-yul's eyes moistened with emotion.
"Team leader... You. You're actually a good person."
"That's a weird way to put it."
"Does it matter?"
"......"
Do-gyeom shook his head.
Instead, he briefly eyed Eve's Gift in his inventory before closing it.
'No immediate need anyway.'
Better to gift it when most effective.
Decision made.
Thus, with their bellies full of the Universal Chef's hearty meal—
Han-yul declared:
"Anyway, I'm mentally prepped now. Let's go. That B-rank dungeon you mentioned—where? If it's one of the easier ones, just us two could—"
"Occupied Frontier Lord's Fortress."
"...?"
"Let's depart now. Form the party."
In the room.
Do-gyeom extended his hand.
Han-yul recoiled instantly.
Do-gyeom tilted his head.
"What's wrong?"
Her voice trembled.
"Say that... again?"
"About what?"
"Right now, let's—"
"Before that!"
"What are you—"
"Occupied Frontier Lord's Fortress?"
Understanding dawned in Do-gyeom's eyes.
Her reaction made sense now.
Occupied Frontier Lord's Fortress.
Currently ranked 11th worst among B-rank dungeons by hunter communities.
"You want us two to tackle that?"
"Yes. I know it's daunting—"
"NO. NOPE. HARD PASS. THIS IS SUICIDE. YOU WON'T EVEN TAKE RESPIBILITY IF WE DIE! WE'D JUST BECOME WELL-FED PRETTY GHOSTS! SO—"
"Kim Han-yul."
"NO. CALL ME ALL YOU WANT—"
Do-gyeom retrieved Eve's Gift from inventory.
"Know what this is?"
He stated simply:
"System info share."
Instantly, Han-yul's vision displayed the item's description.
『Eve's Gift』
『Expands all slots possessed by the user.』
"...!!"
As her eyes bulged—
Do-gyeom stashed it away again.
Then added:
"If you refuse, I'll find another teammate. Pity, but—"
"WHAT NONSENSE! I'M YOUR ONE AND ONLY TEAMMATE! YOUR ETERNAL PARTNER!"
Han-yul declared passionately.
Drool nearly dripped from her crimson lips.
Do-gyeom chuckled and extended his hand.
She clasped it immediately.
Party formed.
Do-gyeom commanded:
"Dungeon entry. Destination: Occupied Frontier Lord's Fortress."