<Episode 4>
“Phew, it’s finally over!”
The moment he stepped out of the gate, B-rank hunter Kim Minwoo threw off his protective gear and shouted. It had taken them a full three days to clear the gate.
“That last part was seriously close, huh?”
“Right? I thought I was going to die!”
“Well, we made it back alive… that’s what matters.”
The gate’s rank was about the same as usual, but for some reason, this one had been especially difficult to clear.
Still, it was a relief that they made it back safely. The team members lightly tapped each other’s shoulders, celebrating their safe return.
“Good work, everyone. Let’s just file the report and head home.”
At the team leader’s words, they all nodded vigorously.
After three days without properly washing or eating, their faces showed unmistakable exhaustion.
“By the way… aren’t you hungry?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“Should we at least grab a meal at an awakened-only restaurant?”
At someone’s suggestion, everyone’s eyes lit up. Since the inside of the gate had been freezing, they were craving something warm like soup.
The problem was that they were all awakened, and every awakened-only restaurant nearby was terrible.
“Let’s not go back to that place we went last time. It felt like they dumped capsaicin into everything.”
“They just make everything salty and spicy and call it ‘for awakened’!”
“Ugh, and they charge ridiculous prices too…”
Many places ran their businesses mindlessly, taking advantage of the fact that awakened individuals couldn’t taste properly. In fact, if you thought about it, all of them were like that.
Regardless of taste, they overloaded everything with salt, sugar, and spice. Even using the same ingredients, they charged several times more just because it was labeled “for awakened.”
Even so, they still kept going… because they had no better options. Whenever something was labeled “for awakened,” they at least tried it.
“I didn’t know not being able to taste would be this miserable…”
The youngest member, Seon Daeun, who had awakened just over a month ago, muttered gloomily.
Ever since awakening, every food she ate felt bland… like chewing dry sand or eating underwater.
You could endure it a few times, but eventually, eating itself became torture.
That was why many hunters replaced proper meals with meal-replacement pills.
“I just want to taste real food again, even if it’s just once.”
“Sigh, I know, right? Wish someone would make an item like that…”
They walked along dejectedly.
Since becoming hunters, their bank accounts had steadily filled up… but without the ability to taste food, life had lost a huge portion of its joy.
‘I’ll just go home and sleep…’
The idea of stopping by a restaurant had long been abandoned.
They trudged toward the management bureau.
And the moment they arrived, they witnessed something unbelievable.
“…What is everyone eating? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?”
“No… I see it too.”
“I see it as well…”
People passing by were each holding some kind of food. Some were even letting out soft moans of satisfaction, like “Mmm,” as if it tasted incredible.
Unable to hold back, Daeun grabbed a passerby.
“What are you holding in your hand right now?”
“You don’t know? It’s bungeoppang! From Haneul’s shop.”
“…Haneul’s bungeoppang?”
Apparently, it was a street stall that had opened in front of the management bureau a few days ago. The bungeoppang they sold was an item, so regardless of whether you were awakened, you could taste its sweetness.
“Y-you can taste it!?”
“Ah, you just came out of a gate, huh? This is all the rage these days.”
Kindly, the passerby broke their bungeoppang in half and offered it to her.
Holding the still-warm pastry, she carefully took a bite from the edge.
“Hey, newbie, how is it? Can you really taste it?”
“They didn’t put anything weird in it, right??”
“Say something!”
As her silence dragged on, the others couldn’t hold back and started asking.
Slowly, Daeun raised her thumb.
“This is insane! It’s amazing!!”
Her cheeks flushed red as she bounced on her feet. The exhaustion on her face vanished instantly, replaced with bright excitement.
‘That reaction… It’s really delicious.’
‘Her expression is totally different from when she eats regular “awakened” food.’
‘Where did they say it was sold? Haneul’s?’
This bungeoppang was the real deal.
The moment they realized it, the group, as if by prior agreement, ran toward the street stall at the entrance of the management bureau.
“…Wait. Is this entire line for real?”
“They said it was popular, but… this is no joke.”
They stood there, mouths agape, staring at the enormous line wrapped around the stall.
***
This place was hell.
Bungeoppang hell.
Since opening, she hadn’t rested once and had been grilling nonstop… but the line wasn’t getting shorter. If anything, it seemed to be growing.
“Boss, how much longer?”
“Just a moment! I’ll get to you soon!”
Their once-empty stall had, after the free tasting event, spread through word of mouth and turned into a famous hotspot with long lines.
But there was one huge drawback.
Her bungeoppang mold still only made two at a time.
‘No wonder it’s so slow.’
The maximum she could cook at once was just two. No matter how hard she worked, there was no way the line would shrink.
She had even limited purchases to one per person.
As soon as a golden-brown bungeoppang was done, she put it into a bag and handed it to the customer.
“Here’s your bungeoppang.”
“Wow, finally!! Thank you!”
After a long wait, the customer took a huge bite.
“Gasp! It’s–delicious!”
Covering their mouth with one hand, the emotional customer closed their eyes and slowly savored the taste.
Watching this, the people in line swallowed hard.
“Ahem… maybe I’ll wait just 30 more minutes.”
“I even took half a day off just to eat this.”
“I’m definitely getting one today.”
Even though it could take hours to get one, the line didn’t shrink.
The reason was simple.
You could see people’s reactions in real time.
People moved to tears. People gasped. Some even cried as they ate.
‘If I saw reactions like that, I’d be curious enough to buy one too.’
I lightly patted my sore back and poured more batter into the mold.
With everyone waiting so eagerly, I couldn’t afford to rest.
Ugh… I’ll have to stick on a bunch of pain relief patches again tonight.
Just as I thought that, a system notification popped up.
—
A gift for the hardworking owner!
You have received the skill ‘Iron Stamina (B)’.
—
Iron Stamina? And it’s B-rank?
When I clicked it, it read: ‘While in the shop, stamina increases by 200%.’
It was a bit disappointing that it only worked in the shop, but it was exactly what I needed right now.
‘Alright. Let’s keep grilling.’
I clenched my fist and steeled my resolve.
After that, it was just repetition.
Grill the bungeoppang. Bag it. Hand it over.
Repeat endlessly.
Still, little by little, I got faster.
‘This is kind of fun, actually.’
It felt like playing a bungeoppang tycoon game, with customers constantly pouring in.
I smiled to myself at the silly thought.
Right then, the next customer stepped forward.
“Welcome!”
“Good grief, what is this that I had to wait so long…huh? Jung Haneul?”
“…Gong Juhee?”
The moment I saw her face, my expression twisted.
Her name was Gong Juhee. We were classmates in our senior year of high school.
Her nickname was “Princess.” Because she looked down on others as if she really were royalty.
‘Looks like she hasn’t changed at all.’
She covered her mouth in surprise and quickly looked over my stall.
“I was wondering who’d run a shabby place like this… turns out it’s you.”
“Yeah. It’s me. Long time no see.”
“You’ve been well, right? Oh, sorry. I guess not.”
Looking at me in an apron and headscarf, she shrugged.
“So, did you awaken too? What rank?”
“F-rank. Why?”
“Oh my! F-rank? I’m C-rank.”
Juhee curled her lips into a smirk.
Yeah, good for you.
I waved my hand dismissively. I didn’t have time for meaningless conversations.
“So, are you buying or not?”
“…What?”
“If you’re not buying, can you step aside?”
I pointed behind her.
There were still plenty of hunters waiting in line behind her… and I was busy.
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