TRUFT 20

 Chapter 20

“Yuna, Jjajjak—come over here!”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Uncle, what is it?”

I showed them the newly made room.

Inside, the ground was covered with dry soil.

“We’re going to plant medicinal herbs here. That way, Jjajjak can keep eating bibimbap, and we can keep running the business tomorrow.”

“Bibimbap!”

“Business!”

Their eyes sparkled as they looked at me.

“But to do that, we need to till this soil nicely… Who wants to help?”

“Me! Me! I’ll help!”

“I shall assist as well!”

I smiled.

Just as planned.

Honestly, I could’ve finished this quickly on my own—but if the two of them worked together, they’d grow closer.

And they’d learn a bit more about effort… and the rewards that come with it.

That was my goal in asking for their help.

“Hey, Hyunjoon, we’ll help too. It’s been a while—this brings back memories.”

My brother and sister-in-law joined in.

“Nice. The more the better.”

First, we tilled the soil with hoes.

The space was about 100 pyeong (~3,300 sq ft), so there was a lot of land to work on—but with so many hands, it went by quickly.

Then we made evenly spaced holes, placed the leaves in them, and covered them back up.

“Ugh! Hup!”

“Huff… huff…”

Yuna and Jjajjak looked a bit tired.

They hadn’t felt fatigue while working on the truck thanks to my magic, so this must’ve been a shock—but they were still working hard, and I appreciated it.

‘Jjajjak’s working hard too.’

I should give him two bowls of bibimbap tomorrow.

“Wow, it’s actually fun doing this again.”

“Yeah.”

“Remember how we used to farm like this at school?”

“Of course.”

My brother and sister-in-law, who grew up in the countryside, reminisced happily.

‘This really is fun.’

It reminded me of farming back in school too.

‘I kind of want to see my old friends again.’

Maybe I should reach out sometime.

“Phew… all done!”

After about an hour, we finished everything—including planting.

“Uncle… I’m so tired…”

It was already 10 PM. Way past Yuna’s bedtime.

Feeling a bit guilty, I cast relaxation and fatigue recovery magic on everyone.

“Whoa… I suddenly feel so much better. That’s your ability, right, Hyunjoon?”

I smiled at my brother.

“Thanks, as always.”

“No problem.”

“Uncle, I’m going to sleep now! Today was fun!”

“Hyunjoon the Great Hero, I shall also retire. Good night, Yuna, Hyunsu the Great Hero, Lady Jiyoon.”

“Good night, Jjajjak. You too, sir.”

“Good night.”

Everyone left the garden.

I placed my hand on the soil.

“Hup…”

And released my mana.

Wooooong—

The soil absorbed it deeply. After about ten minutes, I lifted my hand.

‘This should keep the herbs growing perfectly for about a month.’

I’d infused an enormous amount of mana.

After a month, I’d need to do this again—but still, it was simple.

When soil contains mana, herbs naturally absorb it as they grow.

In other words, this creates the perfect growing environment.

The reason I needed to recharge the mana every month was because it would become slightly “tainted” over time, reducing the herbs’ effectiveness and taste.

‘All done. Time to sleep.’

By tomorrow, plenty of herbs would have grown.

Normally it would take a week—but my mana was special.

“Grow well, guys.”

Andong B-Rank Gate.

My brother set up parasols and chairs while my sister-in-law prepared ingredients.

‘50 Flame Herbs harvested this morning… plus 15 leftover…’

65 Flame Herbs.

And 65 Poison Herbs.

So today, we could sell 65 servings.

One bowl of bibimbap costs 30,000 won, and a cup of Poison Herb tea is 5,000 won.

‘If we sell everything… that’s 1.95 million won.’

After taxes, it’d be a bit less—but still.

‘Not as much as the record 4 million…’

But that was a record.

Earning nearly 2 million in a day was enough to live comfortably for a week.

‘Which also means we can afford a big discount event tomorrow.’

Today, we’d make enough money.

‘We’re selling out. No matter what.’

Customers began to gather.

“Two bibimbaps and two teas!”

“Yes! That’ll be 70,000 won.”

Han Jimin, a B-rank hunter, sighed deeply.

‘Two raids in a row… I’m going to die.’

Even pro fighters take two months to recover after a match.

But she had participated in two exhausting, dangerous raids back-to-back.

She had filled in for a fellow healer friend.

She could’ve refused.

But she didn’t.

‘I should’ve said no…’

She was the type who couldn’t refuse requests.

Kind, but often taken advantage of.

‘Still… I made good money and didn’t get hurt.’

Mentally exhausted—but she tried to stay positive.

“Let’s eat first!”

She devoured the bibimbap from Yuna Food.

“…Whoa.”

She had asked for it extra spicy—and it was painfully spicy.

‘But it’s so good.’

The mix of vegetables, pork belly, and rice was perfect.

“Ha… ha…”

Sweating, she finished the meal.

‘So it really had Flame Herbs in it…’

Delicious and spicy.

She downed the Poison Herb tea—safe despite its name—and closed her eyes.

“…I feel calm.”

Her mind cleared.

‘…Yeah.’

From now on, she would refuse requests that harmed her.

If someone left because of that—so be it.

Better to filter them out.

For once, she felt determined.

‘Strange… I feel braver after eating this.’

Maybe she could change.

Little by little.

“Busy, busy~!”

Yuna’s catchphrase again.

“Busy, busy…”

I repeated it unconsciously.

“Five bibimbaps!”

My sister-in-law called out, and we moved quickly.

I cooked eggs (we used regular eggs since Black Eggs ran out) and pork belly, while Yuna placed vegetables—including Flame Herbs—on the rice.

“Done!”

Add egg, pork, gochujang, sesame oil—and finished.

“Yuna, after these five orders, we’ll take a 30-minute break!”

“Okay!”

We had already stopped taking new orders.

Once this last customer’s six bowls were done—we’d rest.

“Oh my! Your daughter is so cute!”

“Thank you.”

“You’re all running this together?”

“Yes, for about a year.”

“Wow… I’ve only seen this on Instagram. I wish I could live like this.”

“Thank you.”

‘Building rapport with customers is the best way to gain regulars.’

I silently sent a telepathic message to my brother and sister-in-law:

Make them follow our truck!

…Of course, it didn’t work.

“If possible… could you post more photos of your daughter?”

“Of course.”

“…And maybe… your younger brother too. He’s totally my type.”

I overheard her whisper.

Well… that’s embarrassing.

Still, compliments always feel good.

“Six bibimbaps are ready!”

I handed them to her myself.

A small gesture of thanks.

“Thank you!”

“Enjoy.”

Phew.

That’s the end of the first round.

After 30 minutes, we’d start again during peak hours.

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

Andong City Hall Hunter Team 1.

The youngest member, Choi Hajun, froze.

“Sir! Team leader!”

“What?”

“The gate we cleared was C-5, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“There’s a Yuna Food at B-2 gate nearby! They’re open right now!”

“What?!”

They had heard rumors before.

A food truck that restores stamina and mana—and tastes amazing.

And now it was just five minutes away.

“Let’s go! I’ll pay—just hurry before they sell out!”

Government hunters had decent salaries.

“Price doesn’t matter—just go before it’s gone!”

“…That was insane…”

“My mana really recovered…”

“I never thought I’d eat bibimbap like that.”

“Same. Best I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks, Hajun.”

“Ah, it was nothing!”

They were still in awe.

“Will we get to eat it again?”

“I checked Instagram—they’re doing a festival event tomorrow! Same menu, 70% discount!”

“What?!”

“Let’s go to the festival tomorrow!”

And since they all had the next day off…

They decided to go—just for Yuna Food.