Chapter 29: The Ciel Bank Branch Manager's Support
A kimchi jjigae specialty restaurant.
During lunch hours, it bustled without a moment to spare.
On the table, the kimchi jjigae bubbled vigorously, releasing steam.
“Let’s eat something expensive, okay?”
The branch manager asked with a hint of regret.
“Thanks to the branch manager, I’ve only been eating expensive things lately… and I started thinking about this too.”
At that, the branch manager laughed.
“Haha. Kim Joo-im speaks so nicely. It’s rewarding to hear. Come on, let’s eat.”
The branch manager scooped the jjigae with a ladle into a plate.
Kimchi, pork, thickly sliced tofu.
He ate a spoonful with the broth.
No empty taste.
Recently, the tip of my tongue had become sensitive.
Now, even when eating food unconsciously, the ingredients broke down on their own in the mouth.
Fermented kimchi, front leg meat, garlic, soy sauce, vegetable broth, and a faint aroma of sesame oil.
B-rank talent, Korean cuisine.
This was the change that appeared after acquiring it.
I didn’t even need to think; my tongue would figure it out first.
Interesting.
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
Rather, it was becoming familiar.
Just like when I first got the Baduk talent.
Learning about a new field that was familiar but not fully understood.
It was quite a pleasant thing.
“Yeah, the Ciel Bank Cup integrated preliminary round is held all week from Monday to Saturday?”
The branch manager asked while slowly scooping rice.
“Yeah. I think I’ll have to use my annual leave.”
“Right, use it. That’s what annual leave is for.”
The branch manager smiled warmly.
“Sorry. It might be inconvenient for you when my substitute comes…”
“Why would you worry about that? Kim Joo-im, just focus on winning. A pro Go player is going to come out among my staff, but is that important?”
“… Thank you.”
“I’ll tell the dispatch team leader. Don’t worry.”
I lowered my head and quietly scooped rice.
A feeling of warmth in the chest.
Perhaps.
Isn’t the branch manager supporting and cheering for me more than our parents?
“By the way, Kim Joo-im, did you get any contact from the Biryong Tournament organizers?”
“None? No, there wasn’t.”
Biryong Tournament.
The largest domestic amateur Baduk tournament.
Funded anonymously.
Prize money alone was 30 million KRW scale.
I had heard it operated with a Challenger Deciding Match system.
“Strange. Around this time, announcements usually come out, and they call top-ranked players.”
“Yeah?”
“Our Kim Joo-im needs to win before the point-based professional accession, so contact should come soon.”
From the integrated preliminary, points were awarded based on performance.
Quarterfinals: 20 points.
Semifinals: 40 points.
Finals: 60 points.
Main round 32nd place: 80 points, 16th place: 100 points.
Accumulating 100 points for point-based professional accession.
My current points are 10.
Presidential Cup strongest division winner: 5 points.
Namwon Chunghyang Cup winner: 3 points.
Sundan Cup Gyeonggi strongest division winner: 2 points.
Winning the integrated preliminary finals or advancing to main round would be aiming for professional accession this year.
Then.
Ding. Ding.
A vibration rang. Unknown number.
“Don’t worry, just pick it up.”
The branch manager scooped a spoonful of broth and waved his hand.
I sat a bit to the side and answered the phone.
“Yes, hello.”
- Hello. Is this Kim In-ha’s phone?
“Yes, but who is this?”
- This is Kim Jae-young from the Amabadukhoe. I have something to tell you about the Biryong Tournament. Could you take a moment?
I widened my eyes and looked at the branch manager.
The words about contact coming soon.
It had become reality.
“Yes, of course.”
With my answer, the explanation about Biryong Tournament continued from the other end of the line.
- The Biryong Tournament is operated in Challenger Deciding Match format. Originally, it was for the previous champion to challenge… but Jang Jun-seok, the winner, has entered the pro circuit, so the title is vacant.
In summary.
A situation where there is no champion in the Challenger system.
- So this time, Park Jun-soo, the No.1 amateur ranking player, will defend, and Kim In-ha, the No.2 amateur, will face the challenger who passed the preliminary in the deciding match. If you win that, you’ll face Park Jun-soo in the final.
So.
Deciding Match Game 1.
Final Game 3.
In the end, from my perspective, I could aim to win with just a few games.
In the worst case, winning just one game would be runner-up.
Minimum prize 15 million KRW.
Efficiency compared to effort, nothing like this.
- By the way, in addition to the 30 million KRW winner prize, a small car is awarded as a prize. Will you participate?
“Yes, I’ll participate.”
No hesitation at all.
With just a few games, I could get millions in prize money and a small car.
My heart was already racing.
- Understood. Detailed information will be sent via text.
Click.
After hanging up the phone.
This was all that came to mind.
…… It’s too sweet.
* * *
On the way home.
I stopped by the neighborhood mart and came out with groceries.
Heavy ingredients in both hands.
Today is mom’s birthday.
When I looked back, I hadn’t cooked a warm meal for my mother as a child.
As an adult, the most I’d given was a few times as allowance.
So.
This birthday, I decided to prepare it properly with my own hands.
With this Korean cuisine talent.
When else would I use it if not now?
I opened the front door and went straight to the kitchen.
I took ingredients from the fridge and arranged the groceries I bought.
Seaweed, beef, ribs, noodles, various vegetables.
The menu was already decided.
Japchae, miyeok-guk, sosagalbi-jjim, jeon, goseolchi.
Foods often served on birthday tables, which my mom likes.
“Shall we start?”
First, sosagalbi-jjim.
I prepared the ribs by removing the blood.
I grated pear, apple, onion to make the seasoning sauce.
Miyeok-guk.
I stir-fried the beef until the oil came out, then added seaweed and stir-fried again.
Japchae.
I boiled the noodles until moist, and stir-fried the vegetables lightly to retain color.
Jeon.
I finely chopped chives, pumpkin, and peppers, and pan-fried them to a golden color.
Finally, goseolchi.
Gochujaru, aejit, garlic.
I adjusted the ratios by hand.
Thanks to the talent, even unfamiliar hand movements felt natural.
I picked up a bite and tasted it.
“…… It’s delicious?”
I couldn’t help but smile.
It exceeded expectations.
I was a bit worried about B-rank Korean cuisine.
But it was as good as any fancy restaurant.
The dishes one by one filled the table.
Then.
The front door opened, and my mom and dad who had gone out came in.
The smell of food and the commotion made my mom’s footsteps stop at the kitchen door.
“What, what is all this?”
Mom stared blankly at the table.
She asked while looking at me in the apron with wide eyes.
“This… did you make all of this?”
It was surprising.
I, who only knew how to boil ramen, never imagined cooking like this.
“Today is mom’s birthday. I wanted to make you a warm meal with my own hands.”
Mom still looked dazed.
Whether from shock or emotion.
She seemed still in a daze.
My dad who followed also scanned the table and exclaimed.
“Really, you did this? This is like a full-course meal without a separate one?”
I smiled and pulled out a chair gently.
“Please sit down. The rice is ready.”
Mom sat down with a dazed expression.
I opened the rice cooker and spread white rice into bowls.
I ladled out the boiled miyeok-guk.
“You… when did you learn to cook?”
“By watching. I grew up under a mom who cooks well.”
I smiled cheerfully and placed the soup bowls on the table.
“Please eat before the dishes.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Mom carefully took a spoonful of miyeok-guk.
She put it in her mouth, and her expression softened.
“It’s delicious…”
After that, no more words.
Just silently one spoonful after another.
She ate japchae, tasted the ribs jjim.
She didn’t say it was delicious one by one, but her chopsticks didn’t stop.
Even just watching her eat, she must be full…
Then, suddenly.
Mom quietly put down her chopsticks and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Why are you crying?”
Mom smiled.
Yes.
Smiling while crying.
“Just… your son’s food is too delicious.”
I laughed playfully.
“If you get too emotional, it might be a problem. I’ll make it every year, but then you’ll cry every time.”
“You can’t say anything you can’t do.”
My joke made mom smile half and half tears, and she offered the seat next to her.
“Sit. Let’s eat together.”
I sat next to mom and picked up my spoon.
Beyond the food taste.
The time sitting side by side with mom and dad eating was happy.
I should make it more often.
Filial piety isn’t grand.
Just family gathering together.
A child making a warm meal for parents.
Isn’t that real filial piety?
Around the time the meal was ending happily.
I asked casually.
“How was your trip?”
I had heard you decided the final spot for the store today.
Mom took a sip of water and nodded.
“I signed the contract.”
“Where?”
I asked cautiously.
Mom seemed to have lingering attachment to the old ‘Inha Bunsik’ location.
No, exactly, it was because the initial cost was the least.
So I gave the saved money.
To broaden the selection as much as possible.
But, all judgments were left entirely to mom.
“Near the building where the old Inha Bunsik was, do you remember the great real estate?”
“Is it inside the alley? Next to the convenience store.”
“Yeah, that place. Since that spot opened up, I signed a cheap contract.”
Mom smiled satisfied.
Not bad?
I thought the same.
Location is location, but not entering the old Inha Bunsik spot was fortunate.
No more bullying like in the past.
Only.
“Is it right next to the old Inha Bunsik?”
About two minutes walking pace.
Close enough to touch nose if you fall.
Mom nodded calmly.
“Yeah, well… my daughter-in-law is still running the bunsik shop, but it’s right before closing.”
“Really?”
“I guess so. I don’t want to think about it.”
I burst out laughing.
“The Inha Bunsik auntie would hate it, right?”
“That’s why.”
Mom said firmly.
“When to kick her out, we don’t have to worry about her eyes.”
“Right, that’s right.”
Dad immediately agreed.
I looked at the two of them silently, rolling my spoon for a while.
Then I smiled softly.
“…… Our mom is really amazing.”
Mom laughed along.
“Of course. Who has a mom like this.”
The laughter of our family filled the kitchen.
* * *
Saturday afternoon.
I came out of Shinchon Station Exit 4.
Going out to Seoul on weekends was rare, but
Today had a special appointment.
Yuzuha: I know it’s a difficult request… but could you meet me once? I’ll come to where you are!
A DM from professional Go player Saeki Yuzuha.
Whether her Korean was awkward or a characteristic of her age.
Her speech with omitted subjects in sentences made me a bit flustered.
But beyond that.
I heard you have concerns about Baduk.
The expression was awkward, but the earnestness was evident in the words.
To extend a hand to a mere amateur like me, who is not even a pro.
Why me, I don’t know.
That sincerity.
It brought me here.
“Over there.”
I walked down the street.
Young couples.
Shops lined up densely.
A chaotic Seoul weekend scene.
I walked down the alley for a while.
As I approached the meeting place, a person appeared far away in my sight.
Long bob hair, white one-piece dress.
Both hands neatly folded on the long arms.
A neat yet striking silhouette.
Yuzuha.
Indeed, an superior presence that catches the eyes of passersby.
I sneaked a glance and saw her looking at me, then a fierce look from her girlfriend made her sweat.
This is instinct…
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
“Here!”
Yuzuha spotted me and waved brightly.
At that moment.
Unwanted gazes followed me one by one.
The emotions in those eyes.
Envy, perhaps jealousy.
As a man, I could understand it.
Ah.
I felt a bit smug without realizing.