Chapter 5: Urgent Business, Slurp Slurp
The Crown Prince Astur stabbed his fork into the cup ramen lid to drain the water.
"Every time I see it, it's amazing. Just pour in hot water, and pasta's done."
"It's not pasta, it's ramen."
"Right, ramen. Father went crazy for this stuff. He wouldn't even let his own son have any."
After draining the water, the prince peeled back the lid and poured the liquid sauce over the noodles.
"It's like devil's blood, all dark red. Nobles who've eaten it say it's like the devil whispering. Is that true?"
"Not really, I don't think so."
I layered the fully cooked black bean noodles from the jjajang cup on top of the spicy chicken ones. Black jjajang sauce covered it all, and I mixed it with chopsticks.
Swirl, swirl.
Aaah, the smell's rising. The scent of spicy chicken and black bean mixing. A smell you should never sniff at night pierced my nose.
"Here, dig in."
"So this is what Father eats every time. Looks like... devil's guts pulled into thin strands. Like a demon might burst out any second."
The Crown Prince eating Buldak Jjajang at the convenience store late at night. A rare sight.
He twirled noodles on his fork and shoved a bite in his mouth.
Slurp!
The knights who'd come with him stared at his mouth.
"Cough!"
Surprised by the sudden spice, he coughed, but didn't stop forking.
Sluuuurp!
"Whoa, this?"
The prince cracked open a can of beer while eating the Buldak Jjajang.
Pop! The crisp sound of the can opening refreshed his ears.
Forkful of Buldak Jjajang, sip of beer. He was devouring it.
Even simple motions carried elegance. Was this imperial dining etiquette?
"Kah! This is killer!"
Halfway done already, he lifted the cup ramen container.
"Insanely spicy! No wonder nobles call it the devil's whisper. Feels like a demon's crammed in your mouth, screaming for more of this weird shit."
The emperor's eyes turned to me.
"I get why Father wants this all to himself."
Even a palate used to fancy daily imperial feasts loved it. A high-class tongue can't resist a hit of MSG. Helpless.
"Hmm... Not bad. Really not bad."
He elegantly forked another bite and beckoned his knights.
"You lot, grab whatever you want and eat. Can't hog this alone."
At his words, the knights—who'd been eyeing him—headed to the frozen section.
Frozen foods, huh. Knights are soldiers, after all.
"Haha, look at 'em bolt. They must be starving."
Watching their backs, the prince laughed heartily.
"They all jumped when they heard we were coming to the convenience store."
"The imperial palace knights, you mean?"
"Yeah. They don't watch the manager's mood, do they?"
"Not yours, Your Highness. The palace knight order answers only to you and His Majesty the Emperor."
"Hm, is that so?"
Of course it is, dude. Why would knights jump at a regular convenience store manager's word? He says the most casually dangerous shit.
"Total 15 gold. Thank you."
While I sweated at the prince's words, Elena cheerfully rang up the knights at the counter.
"Anyway. Manager, sit for a sec."
He cracked a new beer can, and I sat across from him.
His expression changed in an instant. Gone was the playful smile from slurping Buldak Jjajang. The air grew heavy.
Astur, the kinslayer who'd offed his own brothers, fixed me with a piercing glare.
Good thing the counter was behind him. If Elena saw this face, she'd drag me into all-night work instead of bed.
He only got this look when dumping a sticky problem on me.
"Got a job for me?"
"Yeah. Urgent enough to use the lame excuse of trying ramen."
"Rebellion?"
"If it were mere rebels stirring, I wouldn't come like this."
Some excuse—you scarfed it down like it was heaven. Not his line to say after scraping the bowl clean. But I didn't want to add imperial insult charges, so I just nodded tightly.
Powerlessness is the real crime.
"Recent reports of strange mana flows around the capital. Can you check it out?"
"Can't the knight order or guards handle it?"
"No."
His voice was grave.
"This scale needs at least a knight company. But you know—it's only been a year since I took my brothers' heads. Moving knights would stir rumors. Nobles would tense up. I won't pull that string."
"His Majesty says nothing?"
A deep sigh from the prince.
"Suspiciously huge mana flow, and he's silent."
"Magic Tower won't budge, then."
"Yeah. Those mana-crazed idiots won't hear me out."
He ground his teeth, voice chilling.
"And I suspect those idiots as prime culprits."
"...So you need me. Not your forces—a neutral third party."
"Exactly. Can you?"
"Loyal to future power, of course."
"Kukuku, solve this clean, and I'll beg Father to pardon you."
"Didn't work twice already?"
"Third time might sway him."
"He's stubborn."
"Anything else you want?"
"Hmm. I'd like to slip out of imperial spotlight now? Even this attention burdens a humble manager."
Dead serious. These drop-ins scare me shitless. I've got my spot now—wanna slack off easy street. High rollers make my heart drop.
He shook his head at my plea.
Aw, no dice?
"Sorry, impossible. You know—your store's an imperial treasure now. If you leave our fold, it'll get hit from all sides. Remember that past mess? That..."
He trailed off.
"Best not dwell. Bad for both of us."
"Thanks."
"Plenty of ways to reward you besides cutting imperial ties."
Shuts down my top wish—leaves me nothing.
"I'll check it. Trust you'll handle the pay."
"Thanks. Sending help tomorrow."
"Just one guide."
"Got it."
"Oh, heading to Moonlit Lake Brothel after finishing?"
"Obviously. Rare undercover outing—gotta hit the empire's hotspots."
He grabbed his fork again, shedding the cold mask for his prior innocent grin.
"Another bowl possible?"
"Of course."
The prince bantered with knights as he boiled fresh ramen. Past 11 already. Watching them eat made me hungry somehow.
Slurp! Sluuurp!
"Huuuh!"
Damn, they eat well.
Back at the counter, my ears caught a rumble.
Gurgle.
It was Elena.
"Ah."
Her ears flushed beet red at the embarrassing sound. So cute, I absentmindedly patted her head.
"Sorry. My stomach's roaring 'cause I'm hungry. Too lonely to eat alone—wanna share ramen after the prince leaves?"
"Yesss, love to."
Too much convenience store food's bad, but one meal's fine.
Slurp! How to resist watching that?
Sent off the prince, clocked out Elena. Forced her upstairs despite wanting to stay, now idly serving customers.
"Thank you. Goodbye."
Oddly few assholes today. No drunks, no litterbugs eating out front. Imperial etiquette—truly tear-jerkingly proper.
Huff, huff.
No customers? Snuck quick exercises near the counter for energy.
How much time passed?
Bzzz!
A message from the Madam of Moonlit Lake Brothel.
Requesting a visit. Not about the prince, right? I even pressed the stone to confirm I'd come.
Not that issue, then. Trouble at the lake? Drunks causing chaos would suck.
"Ugh, hassle. Fake being busy and skip?"
Like she heard my mutter, another message. Fine, fine, got it.