Park Cheong-sol, a student at the Academy, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Both of his parents were hunters belonging to large guilds, and he, too, inherited the abilities of an Awakened early on.
Personality, wealth, family background — he seemed to have a life that anyone would envy. However, the reality was far from it.
“If that son of mine keeps being weak like this, he’ll end up just like his mother.”
“Ridiculous. He’s your son, after all. Just because he’s out and about all the time, he’s forgotten about his own family?”
“That’s it! That’s why I don’t want to come home. I’ve only got one nagging wife at home, and now my child too! Enough. I’ll just shut up.”
“Haha. Alright. Good thinking. Just shut up and stay still. Talking doesn’t solve everything.”
“Argh, you brat! Say that again!”
Wham!
The parents were constantly at odds with each other at the slightest glance.
-Park Cheong-sol (18 years old), 1st semester evaluation: C –
-Supplementary classes required
The inherited Awakened abilities were also mediocre at best. He was no shining star, to say the least.
Even the ripest peach will fall someday.
A rotten peach is no different.
And it was Park Cheong-sol, the rotten peach, who ended up opening Jong-pal’s restaurant.
“Is this the smell of home-cooked meals?”
“Eek! Dad, I told you not to pull my hair.”
“Jong-pal, one more bowl!”
It was the tempting aroma and lively atmosphere. Plus, he was quite hungry.
Setting out to attend supplementary classes, Park Cheong-sol opened the door to the restaurant as if he were under a spell.
“Are you open now?”
And that day became the day he fell deeply in love with the restaurant.
***
“Yeona! Come down to eat with Dad!”
In the morning, Jong-pal, wearing an apron, inevitably shouted.
The hearty voice from the first floor reached Yeona, who was on the stairs.
“Uncle, let’s go eat.”
“What’s for breakfast today?”
Jong-sik and Yeona, who had come down the stairs without realizing it, opened the door to the restaurant. Finally, the morning had begun.
“Good morning.”
“Dad, good morning.”
“Good morning to me too.”
Jong-pal greeted them as he filled the side dishes, and Yeona naturally moved the dishes onto the tray.
Before long, three trays were placed on the table. There was no rice or soup, but several side dishes, including bean sprout salad, were neatly arranged.
“It’s been a while since the three of us had breakfast together.”
Jong-pal, who had been skipping breakfast because he was too busy cooking and tasting food all day, was used to skipping breakfast.
But not today, it seemed. Seeing three trays brought up made him change his mind.
Jong-sik looked at the empty rice bowl and said, “Should I cook the rice?”
“No, it’s because the rice is being cooked right now. So just sit, hyung.”
“Okay. By the way, is your appetite back now?”
“What do you mean? Oh! This isn’t mine. I already ate this and that for breakfast, so I’m full.”
“Then whose is this? Who’s coming over?”
“A customer. Now that you mention it, it’s about time for them to come…”
Jong-pal casually said as he glanced at the clock. Jong-sik looked puzzled and asked, “A customer? Where can there be a customer in a store that hasn’t even started business yet?”
At that moment, Yeona, who had brought a water bottle from the refrigerator, provided the answer.
“It’s probably the student who came to eat breakfast yesterday. Dad told him to come again today for breakfast before leaving.”
“A student?”
Nodding.
“But considering that he haven’t shown up until now, maybe we should just eat among ourselves.”
Oh, was that it?
Anyway, Jong-pal’s stubbornness must be acknowledged.
Jong-pal responded to Yeona’s words, nodding his head nervously.
“If they said they’re coming, then they’ll definitely come. Hyung, you only saw their face, right? I spoke a few words with them yesterday. It turns out that our Yeona goes to the same academy as them. They said they couldn’t resist the delicious smell and came in while on their way to class. How can we just send them away?”
“One more mouth to feed, huh? But isn’t it the academy’s vacation time? So, isn’t Yeona unable to transfer schools yet?”
The decision for Yeona to transfer schools had naturally been made while moving.
“There must be separate classes during vacation time, anyway, he always said he would come at this time. Let’s wait a little longer since we have to cook rice anyway.”
“Waiting is fine, but wouldn’t it be awkward to eat at the same table for no reason?”
“Hmm. Hyung, do you feel awkward?”
“No, not me.”
“Ah… But it would be weird to sit separately.”
While the three of them were chatting, the awaited person arrived with a ding.
“Hello.”
The awaited guest appeared. Park Cheong-sol bowed slightly and greeted them.
“Have breakfast here before going to class tomorrow. If the student travels back and forth, their studies won’t be affected.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. This is how I usually build regular customers.”
“Then I’ll really come!”
Was it really taken seriously?
Anxious Park Cheong-sol glanced around.
“Look, he’s here. Student, come over here and sit.”
“Yes!”
However, contrary to worries, the restaurant owner welcomed him as warmly as yesterday.
“Our daughter already knows him from yesterday, and here’s our hyung.”
“Hello!”
“Oh, it’s you? Welcome. Is the rice that our Jong-pal made delicious?”
“…Yes, it’s very delicious.”
Park Cheong-sol nodded. In the meantime, Jong-pal scooped up the rice that had finished cooking.
Freshly cooked rice with steam rising, fermented bean paste soup with greens, stir-fried bean sprouts, stir-fried radish greens, and several colorful side dishes.
Just looking at it, one could feel the sincerity of the meal.
“I should mix the rice with some side dishes. Everyone, enjoy your meal.”
“Yes! Dad, enjoy your meal too.”
The owner’s daughter and Hyung lifted their spoons without any surprise, as if this kind of meal was familiar to them.
Park Cheong-sol, who had been staring blankly at the tray, also picked up his spoon and said after a while.
“I will eat well.”
***
A little later,
After finishing the meal, Yeona slowly stood up.
“I’ve finished eating. I’ll go upstairs to…”
“Stop moving. Where do you think you’re going? I told you to eat breakfast and take your medicine.”
However, Yeona hesitated at Jong-shik’s firm voice. Jong-pal also glanced at Jong-shik for no reason.
The reason was the red salamander potion.
It was not just the content, but the scent itself that was terribly unpleasant. How about the taste? All medicines are said to be bitter, but this one was really bitter.
So, perhaps it was only natural for Jong-pal and Yeona to be reluctant to take the medicine.
“You’re not both five-year-olds. Really, both father and daughter are the same. Did you both drink it yesterday?”
“I did drink it!”
“…Daughter, what does that make me if you say that?”
“Huh?”
“Hahaha.”
“It seems like he’s trying to laugh it off, but it’s not going to work like that. Yeona, go to the kitchen and quickly get the medicine.”
“Hng.”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Yeona went into the kitchen. Meanwhile, sensing the tense atmosphere, Park Cheong-sol cautiously spoke up.
“Um… the bill, please.”
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Jong-pal stepped forward.
“No need to worry about the bill. Just think of it as eating at a neighborhood diner and go. We’ll start taking payments next week when we officially open.”
“No, no! It’s okay.”
“What are you going to do if the owner refuses to accept payment?”
Jong-pal pushed Park Cheong-sol’s shoulder and said. At that moment, Yeona emerged from the kitchen with a gloomy expression. In her hand was the red salamander potion. Jong-shik spoke up when he saw it.
“Kiddo, follow the owner’s instructions for payment and come over here to have a drink. I usually don’t give this kind of thing to others, but since you’re our first customer, I’ll make an exception.”
“Oh, I’m really okay.”
“Just say it’s okay. Come over here quickly and have a drink!”
Eventually, a cup was placed in front of Cheong-sol too. Jong-pal and Yeona shook their heads as if to say it wasn’t necessary. But their situation wasn’t any different.
Gulp.
“Ugh!”
“Hot.”
“Cough.”
After swallowing the potion, the three of them grimaced in unison. On the other hand, Jong-shik, not involved in the ordeal, murmured peacefully.
“If you’ve taken this much, there should be some reaction.”
“Uncle, what kind of reaction…”
Hearing Yeona’s question as she gulped down water, Jong-shik glanced at Jong-pal.
“Don’t know? Then, how about you, Jong-pal?”
“Well, I’m fine. Just eating what I’m told to eat. But come to think of it, lately I’ve been feeling lighter.”
Suddenly, Park Cheong-sol muttered softly.
“…You look more beautiful.”
“What?”
“The owner’s daughter. He says you look more beautiful than yesterday.”
Cough, cough!
At Park Cheong-sol’s words, Yeona choked as if caught off guard by a cough. At the same time, Jong-pal glanced back and forth between Yeona and Cheong-sol.
“Our daughter is beautiful, yes. But that’s not appropriate.”
“…What?”
“Dad! What are you even saying?”
“That’s enough, both of you. Nephews shouldn’t act that way, especially not to our first customer, and Yeona is a student.”
With a firm statement from Jong-shik, Park Cheong-sol responded with an scornful tone.
“But I’m a student too! I just mentioned it because it seemed like you were looking for changes.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Well then, I’ll take my leave since I’m late.”
However, judging by the reddened ears, it surely wasn’t just a casual remark. Jong-shik watched Park Cheong-sol quickly leave the shop and then turned to Yeona, urging her.
“He’s not suitable.”
“Ugh, seriously! Is even Dad teasing me now?”
Eventually, Yeona also left the shop, her face as red as a beet. Meanwhile, Jong-pal, with a lingering concern, invoked his ‘status window’ out of curiosity.
It was the first time he had called up his status window since quitting the Hunter life.
[Name: Jong-pal]
[Strength 70 / Stamina 100 / Agility 60 / Endurance 80]
[Skills: Swift Blade (C), Rapid Fire (E)]
For a moment, Jong-pal’s eyes widened in astonishment as he checked his status window.
“W-what? Why is it showing like this?”
No wonder, his basic attributes including strength had been increased by at least 10 points. Even during his time at the training camp for a month to increase his stats, he hadn’t experienced such a significant improvement.
“I only raised it by two points after a whole month.”
But now, just by drinking a potion, it had increased by 10 points. And there was still half a bottle of the red salamander potion left.
Jongpal could now understand the true value of the potion. He looked at his brother Jongshik and asked,
“…Hyung. What exactly is that potion?”
“I’ve told you so many times, it’s a good medicine for the body. Why, are you just realizing it now? You’re really slow. Anyway, if you listen to me, even while sleeping, you’ll get results. So, from now on, make sure to drink it regularly without skipping. Got it?”
“Uh, yes! Of course!”
But hyung, instead of results, it’s stats that came out.
Medicine Efficacy: The effect of medicine that manifests outwardly.
Even if people take the same medicine, they may not all experience the same effect.
While some may respond well to the medicine efficacy, others may not.
In that regard, Park Cheong-sol had a body that responded very well to medicine efficacy.
That afternoon,
In the hologram training room of the academy where supplementary classes were in full swing.
A monster of the cat family, the Caspi Tiger.
The creature charged towards Park Cheong-sol from different directions. He agilely rolled on the ground. The Caspi Tiger’s front paws struck the ground. He had always narrowly missed avoiding it, but today was different.
“That’s it, Park Cheong-sol. That’s the way to do it. You dodged it well!”
Even the professor, who had been watching, showered praise, which he hadn’t done before.
Park Cheong-sol didn’t stop there and took on an attacking stance.
The Caspi Tiger circled around, wandering about.
He waited for the moment the creature moved.
With a firm grip on the spear, he exerted force.
And then, both legs pounded the ground.
After a moment,
Applause.
The professor clapped his hands and nodded.
“…Cheong-sol, you can skip the supplementary classes if you want, right? When did you improve your skills like this?”
“Um, today?”
