'Hey, Kwon Jihan. Open the door. The side dishes are here.'
Once, Yoo Juncheol knocked on the door of the neighboring house while carrying a container of side dishes with perilla leaves and pickled vegetables. The cocky kid who opened the door was wearing an apron. As Yoo Juncheol entered, a delicious aroma filled the air. He was very surprised to find that a second grader was making tteokbokki, and even more surprised that it tasted better than what his parents made.
Since then, Yoo Juncheol started paying the much younger kid for errands and asked him to make tteokbokki. Tteokbokki turned into kimchi fried rice, doenjang jjigae, steamed eggs, bossam, and galbijjim.
'Jihan, how about we run a side dish store together after you graduate? You just need to cook, and I'll handle the customers.'
'Will you set up the store?'
'Do you think you have any money? I'll cover the investment.'
'That sounds good. I didn't have anything planned after graduation, so this is perfect.'
At that time, Yoo Juncheol was already being considered as the next guild leader of Seokyoung, and Kwon Jihan had awakened to S-rank, so both of them knew it was just a frivolous joke.
Yoo Juncheol cracked an egg, thinking about how things used to be.
The plump yolk fell into the large bowl. With five awakened individuals and three of them being S-rank, even a whole batch wouldn't be enough. Fortunately, the mansion's fridge had three trays of eggs. There were also onions, green onions, peppers, pork, beef, chicken, and even spices he had never seen before.
It was obvious who had stocked these fresh ingredients.
'This guy. When did he prepare all this?'
Kwon Jihan had planned from the start to cook for Yoon Seo.
He could've at least given me a heads-up.
Normally, Yoo Juncheol would have nagged about giving notice if he was going to do something like this, but now he couldn't say anything to Kwon Jihan.
Yoo Juncheol glanced at Kwon Jihan and said.
"Um… wouldn't putting in that many peppers make it too spicy?"
"My hyung likes spicy food."
"Ah, I see…"
Kwon Jihan's response seemed ordinary at first, but Yoo Juncheol, who had been assisting him with cooking since childhood, immediately sensed something was off.
Kwon Jihan was angry.
His eyes were cold, and his gray eyes had deepened further. His lips were tightly pressed together.
The world's top S-rank hunter was cooking while engulfed in rage. The sound of chopping was intense, as if not just the peppers, but the cutting board itself might be in danger.
"Jihan, why… are you angry…?"
Eventually, Yoo Juncheol cautiously asked. Kwon Jihan, as if expecting the question, continued without pausing his work.
"Does it look like I'm not angry? I found out how much hyung Yoon Seo suffered ten years ago."
"Oh. Is that why?"
"It's incredibly frustrating."
Kwon Jihan cursed harshly as he threw the peppers into the pot.
"Too many died. Even the two revenge seekers who barely survived ended up committing suicide, and one has symptoms of mental disorder. There's no way Yoon Seo hyung didn't suffer after going through that. After spending an indescribable amount of time with 1,201 people and ending up alone, it's strange if he's okay."
Yoo Juncheol, mixing the eggs, stared blankly at Kwon Jihan.
To someone who didn't know him well, his gray eyes might have seemed just slightly cynical. His tone was always sarcastic, and his gaze was always cold.
But Yoo Juncheol could tell. Kwon Jihan was enraged.
This was quite surprising.
Kwon Jihan was usually indifferent. People described him as fierce, arrogant, or sometimes sly, but in reality, he was always apathetic and had almost no emotional fluctuations.
Yet here he was…
"I'm so pissed off I could go crazy."
"..."
Was he really saying this?
Yoo Juncheol understood. The reason Kwon Jihan was saying he was angry wasn't just because too many had died in the great dungeon. It was clearly something more fundamental.
If he traced back the peculiar actions of Kwon Jihan recently…
At the end of the clues, there was a man.
Yoo Juncheol cautiously asked, "Is it because Yoon Seo went through that?"
"No, I'm angry because I don't want Yoon Seo to go through it again."
"..."
"If he goes to a place exactly like what happened ten years ago, it will bring up past events. He's someone who remembers things so vividly as it is. It's obvious he'll struggle."
"..."
"I really don't like it. I don't want him to go to the great dungeon."
Kwon Jihan said it without hesitation. Yoo Juncheol's eyes widened in shock. Did Kwon Jihan really say that?
In the face of a catastrophic event like the great dungeon, it was unimaginable that Kwon Jihan would say he didn't want to bring along Yoon Seo, who might be even stronger than him.
This was because Kwon Jihan believed that strength came with responsibility.
Since he was young, Yoo Juncheol had been influenced by Kwon Jihan, becoming a responsible strong person himself.
Now, the same person who had once been the sole conqueror of the great dungeon and an S-rank hunter, as well as the strongest shield in history, was saying he didn't want to take Seo Chaeyoon to the great dungeon.
"Oh, hyung, are you planning to just put eggs in the omelet? When are you going to chop the green onions and carrots? If you're going to do it like that, you might as well cut off your hand."
"Ah, okay. Sorry."
Seeing Yoo Juncheol blankly stirring the egg mixture, Kwon Jihan scolded him with a frown.
Yoo Juncheol, creaking as he followed Kwon Jihan's instructions, thought that Kwon Jihan didn't seem to be aware of what he had just said.
Not taking Seo Chaeyoon to the great dungeon carried a significant meaning.
'This is something he'll have to realize on his own, right?'
Yoo Juncheol didn't bother suppressing the sly smile that was creeping up.
If a hero overflowing with humanity but not loving humans is undergoing a change, then it's something to be welcomed.
It was just that Seo Chaeyoon might be as unyielding as his shield, which was a cause for concern.
In another sense, it was a battle between sword and shield.
***
Kwon Jihan, who held a Korean culinary certification, was an excellent cook. As soon as Yoon Seo tasted the grilled mackerel kimchi stew, he knew this house was a rare gem.
"How is it, hyung? Is it good?"
"Well…"
"Does 'well' mean it's good or not? I'm a bit nervous."
It's damn delicious.
Yoon Seo managed to keep his expression in check as he tasted the other side dishes.
Each one was seasoned just right to suit his taste. If Yoon Seo had been an unawakened person, he might have scolded Kwon Jihan for focusing solely on taste without considering the eater's health, but as an S-rank awakener, he just found it incredibly delicious.
"Mmm, even without asking, I can tell from your expression. I'm glad it suits your taste."
Without answering, Yoon Seo scooped a big spoonful of the glossy black rice into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. He had already picked up the next side dish, the rolled omelet, with his chopsticks.
He wanted to eat quickly, but the lingering advice to chew at least twenty times while eating made it difficult to do so.
'If the food is this delicious, chewing twenty times wouldn't be too bad… Next time, I'll try the perilla leaf kimchi.'
With his lips sealed, he chewed slowly while keeping his eyes on the perilla leaf kimchi. It would surely be spicy and savory, right? He couldn't wait to wrap a spoonful of rice with a leaf and eat it.
Kwon Jihan, who watched Yoon Seo contentedly, picked up his chopsticks. Although he had to eat plain rice because the stew and main side dishes were too salty and spicy for his taste, seeing the person he hoped would enjoy the meal actually eating it well was more than enough satisfaction.
"Oh, this grilled mackerel kimchi stew recipe is from the winning restaurant of 'Love in Han River,'" Kwon Jihan said.
"...!"
Yoon Seo's eyes widened, and he swallowed the bite in his mouth.
"That recipe must have been quite a task, not using canned mackerel…"
"That's why it took so long. Oh, I did add a bit more chili. Still, the taste should be pretty close."
Do Deungsoo and Grace Elysia wondered what 'Love in Han River' was. Yoo Juncheol, who had memorized Seo Chaeyoon's profile, whispered, "It's the name of the drama he's mentioned rewatching hundreds of times."
Yoon Seo took another spoonful of the kimchi stew and carefully savored the flavor.
"Now that you mention it, it really does taste like that. It's delicious."
"Have you tried it?"
"I haven't made it myself, but there's a kimchi stew specialty restaurant near Hongdae that only serves the winning kimchi stews from 'Love in Han River.' I've been there."
"Wow, such a place existed? Why didn't you tell me? Shall we go there for dinner today?"
"It's already too late. To eat there for dinner, you would have had to line up since early yesterday morning."
"That's impressive. So, you must have lined up days in advance too."
"Indeed."
"With whom? The Guild of Leaves people?"
"I went alone. I didn't want to go with people who don't appreciate the fun of 'Love in Han River.'"
"Take me with you next time. I understand the fun of that drama."
After a moment of thought, Yoon Seo responded willingly.
"Alright. Since I've only had mackerel and pork so far, I should try tuna or fish cakes next time."
"Why didn't you order everything at once instead of just one at a time?"
"I was worried the flavors might mix."
"Now I see, you're a foodie, hyung. I'll just order one too. Which was better, the mackerel or the pork?"
"I couldn't choose between the two, but Hunter Kwon Jihan should ask for less spice no matter what he orders."
"I'm planning to improve my tolerance for spicy food during this opportunity. Hyung, help me out."
"That's up to your own will. There's nothing I can do from the side."
"Just cheer me on. If you're bored, you can do some knitting. Oh, and I'd like to learn how to knit too. Could you teach me?"
"Find a professional."
"Looking at you, hyung, you already seem like an expert. You said you're giving the current knitwear to Soo Jaehee. The next one should be mine."
"Why should it be?"
"Because I'm a younger and cuter sibling than you."
"You shouldn't say such things while eating."
Their conversation continued endlessly. Yoo Juncheol, Do Deungsoo, and Grace Elysia watched with wide eyes, observing the interaction between the two. Kwon Jihan timed his conversation with Yoon Seo to coincide with the moments when Yoon Seo was chewing and swallowing his food, and Yoon Seo, despite his indifferent expression, responded to each of Kwon Jihan's remarks.
The three of them barely paid attention to the delicious lunch prepared by the certified Korean cook, focusing instead on observing the conversation.
'They seem really close, don't they?'
'Yeah… They must have become close in the dungeon. I'm envious.'
'Well, friendship often blossoms when you face life and death together.'
'I'm planning to enter the dungeon too.'
'No, calm down, Guild master Grace. Even if friendship blossoms, it's over if you die.'
'I'll make sure to get close enough to have such conversations because I'm going to enter the dungeon.'
'But you'll die if you're not careful. Hello?'