The customer laughed heartily, looking at the man.
“It’s not just any drug. Satin’s rice is a restorative medicine.”
“A restorative medicine?”
“It boosts your body’s healing power, and here.” The customer tapped his head.
“It’s good for a weakened mind, and most importantly, here.”
This time, he pounded his chest.
“Your heart becomes incredibly peaceful. The regulars at this restaurant can only go on dungeon raids after eating Satin’s rice. And when they come back, they look for Satin’s rice first, instead of a healer. If this restaurant didn’t exist, there would be more than a few hunters who would have retired. In that sense, Satin? One more bowl of rice!”
Satin poked her head out from the kitchen.
“Stop eating so much! You’ve already had three bowls.”
“Should I? I’m sorry!” The customer laughed and turned to the man.
“The fact that your reaction was so strong means you’ve been living a pretty tiring life. Isn’t it fortunate? To have a diner that can comfort your body and mind.”
Satin approached the opposite table with a tray.
“Have a fried egg instead. You said you caught an orc in a dungeon today, right?”
“I did. It was a bit of a scrawny one, but an orc is an orc.”
“Well done. Eat this and go home and rest.”
“I will. Thank you, Satin.”
Satin bowed her head and ran to the kitchen.
The man pulled his bag closer.
Something unexpected had happened. It was difficult to understand what had happened.
He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
“I’d like to pay.”
The man paid for his meal in a daze and left the restaurant.
Normally, he should have pressed the call button inside the restaurant.
There was clearly a strange effect in the rice. But the reason he couldn’t was…
His phone vibrated.
He opened it and saw several messages.
– Report on the current situation.
– Report.
– Agent! Please respond.
The last message was impressive.
– Are you okay?
– Agent Kim Jang-han. Return to base immediately.
– If there is no response within 30 minutes, we will dispatch a team.
Kim Jang-han pursed his lips and looked up.
The sky was turning a golden color, soaked in the sunset.
The customer’s voice from the restaurant echoed in his ears.
‘By the way, are you overworked? It’s especially so when you’re stressed.’
Kim Jang-han sighed.
Return to the management agency immediately?
He had worked day and night without a break.
He had thought it was because of the special nature of his work.
It can’t be helped.
This is my job. He had spent decades like that.
He was lucky if he could get three or four hours of sleep a day.
He had two days off a month, and even then, he was usually called in for an emergency.
His girlfriend had left him.
There was no one at home.
The man gritted his teeth and opened his phone.
“This is Kim Jang-han.”
– Are you okay! Why didn’t you respond!
“I was on a mission. I just left the restaurant.”
Really? How was it? Did you find any evidence?
“It’s not a dangerous situation. I’ll report tomorrow when I get to work.”
I told you to return now.
“I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Hey, Agent Kim. Agent Kim?
Kim Jang-han closed his phone.
It was already past quitting time.
It wasn’t a crime in progress, so there was no need to be like this at this hour.
He could have come in the morning or during the day.
Thud, the restaurant door opened.
“Oh? You haven’t gone home yet?”
Satin smiled brightly at Kim Jang-han.
“I’m trying to digest my food. I think I ate too much rice.”
“You only had one bowl. And you didn’t even touch the stir-fried pork.”
“I’ll come back and eat it. Thanks for today.”
“Goodbye. I’ll make it even more delicious next time.”
Satin flipped the wooden sign with the rice bowl on it.
On the other side, an empty bowl was drawn.
As he watched Satin close the door and disappear, Kim Jang-han thought,
‘This restaurant should never be touched carelessly. It shouldn’t be revealed to the world. There are too many secrets to uncover. Then I have no choice. I’ll have to take charge of this place.’
Kim Jang-han looked at the sunset with a resolute face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The restaurant, after closing, was quiet as usual.
Kang Gyeol focused his senses on the Mapo dungeon.
It seemed he would have to go. A serious situation might arise.
Audrey approached.
She brushed a strand of hair from his collar.
“Your hair gets all over, doesn’t it? I’m sorry.”
It was nothing.
He had lived with Satin’s cat-like shedding hair for ten years.
But Audrey’s hair was blonde, so it was a little more noticeable.
“There’s a dungeon with a strange flow. I think I have to go.”
“You’re going alone again this time, right? Then please tell Satin directly.”
“What if she insists on coming with me?”
“It’ll be fine. She’s not that spoiled, is she?”
How would you know? Even I, who raised her, don’t know.
Kang Gyeol looked at Audrey with a conflicted expression.
“Last time, she wasn’t crying because she was scared, but because she was sad. Satin would want you to tell her.”
“Alright.”
“Should I bring her?”
“Yes.”
Audrey went into the room and brought Satin.
Satin was half-asleep, her eyes heavy with sleep.
“Satin. Sit here.”
“Okay.”
Satin approached and plopped down on Kang Gyeol’s lap.
“Not here, on the chair.”
“Okay.”
She jumped up and sat on the chair in front of him, yawning and looking at him.
“What is it, mister?”
“I’m going to a dungeon.”
“Oh? You’re going alone again?”
“Yes. Wait at home with Audrey.”
“No? I’m going with you, mister.”
“The dungeons are getting more dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Why would I get hurt when I’m with you, mister?”
Right.
She wouldn’t get hurt.
He needed another excuse.
“Audrey will be scared if she’s alone. You have to protect her.”
“We can just take her with us.”
“Is a dungeon a park? How am I supposed to fight if I have to take care of two of you?”
“You can fight and protect a hundred people, mister. I know you can.”
Right. It was possible. Conversations should be honest.
“I want to go alone.”
“I knew it. You don’t like me anymore, so you want to go alone. Right?”
Satin had been testing him with her words lately.
One wrong move and it would take a lot of effort to appease her.
This was a crucial moment.
“I do like you.”
“Then why?”
“Because I also want to be alone sometimes.”
Satin’s eyes widened.
Her lips parted slightly.
“Why?”
“I want to drink beer alone, go for a drive, and meet people.”
Satin’s gaze wavered.
Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t find the words and closed them again.
He thought about stroking her head but just stood up.
“I’ll be back.”
As he turned away, he saw Satin run into Audrey’s arms.
Kang Gyeol left the restaurant.
The sky was unusually blue.
The Mapo dungeon.
He was itching for a fight, so it was perfect.
He hoped for some tough ones.
He wanted to let loose properly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hunter Management Agency, Drug Enforcement Division.
The director put down the report and looked at Kim Jang-han.
“It’s not a drug?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then what is it? Why do hunters change so much after visiting that restaurant?”
“The rice is delicious.”
“What kind of nonsense is that!”
Kim Jang-han’s expression didn’t change.
“Sir. It has to make sense. Did you use the detection stick properly? There’s nothing unusual in the report.”
“It’s as you saw. The component analysis from the stick showed no problems.”
“Just rice? 100% rice?”
“That’s correct. The variety is Chamdeurim. The processing is 9-minute polishing. It’s ordinary rice sold in regular stores.”
“Ha, this is… Did you order the wrong thing? Is there a secret menu that requires a password or something?”
Now was the time.
Kim Jang-han took out the weapon he had prepared.
“That could be it.”
“What?”
“First-time customers can only order two things. Rice and stir-fried pork. Only those two are on the wall menu. It’s possible that the menu changes depending on the customer’s rank.”
“That’s it! So?”
“I’m thinking of changing my work area to Jongno 3-ga for the time being. There’s a branch office there, isn’t there?”
“It’s been closed for over three years.”
“I looked at it on my way here, and it seemed fine. I’ll clean and restore it. This is no ordinary matter, is it? If that restaurant causes a problem, many hunters will be in danger. We have to stop it.”
“You have a point.”
The director stroked his chin.
He had a serious expression.
“Can you do it alone? Should I assign you support?”
“No, sir. Alone is better. If there are more people, the target might get suspicious. It’s the Hunter Who Carried a Baby. He’s no ordinary person. I was lucky to get acquainted with him, so I won’t be suspected.”
“Excellent. Alright. Commute to the Jongno 3-ga branch for the time being and investigate the restaurant.”
“Understood.”
“I acknowledge your courage, but don’t overdo it. If you feel any danger, request support immediately. I don’t want to lose a competent agent. If a problem arises, I will personally lead a team to rescue you.”
Kim Jang-han’s eyebrows furrowed, and he saluted the director.
“Understood! I will begin my duties immediately!”
The team leader smiled with satisfaction and patted his shoulder.
“This is why I trust you. You never procrastinate. If you successfully complete this mission, I’ll consider a special promotion. I’m counting on you, Agent Kim Jang-han.”
Kim Jang-han, a ten-year veteran of the Hunter Management Agency’s Drug Enforcement Division, felt a surge of excitement.
He didn’t care about the promotion. It was probably just empty words.
I’ve lived too harshly.
I’ve dedicated everything to the organization.
After eating the rice from that restaurant, he finally realized.
Life was precious.
If you lost yourself in the process of sacrificing everything, it was all for naught.
That’s it.
I can legally eat that amazing rice and stir-fried pork during work hours every day.
Kim Jang-han said to the director with a serious face,
“Please maintain security for the time being. I need to enter that restaurant alone. Please keep this mission top secret until I submit my final report.”
The team leader gripped his shoulder with a deep look in his eyes.
“What a great sense of duty. To carry such a heavy burden alone. I’ll do as you say. I’ll entrust Jongno to you.”
A determined smile appeared on Kim Jang-han’s face.
From today on, I can eat that fantastic white rice every day.
