The quiet alley was bustling. The reason? The recently opened “Dok Family Restaurant.”
The marketing strategy must have been effective, as there was a serious line since morning.
And the complexion of the man watching turns dark. A restaurant opening in the same alley as his, where they share customers.
“No sense of fair play. None at all. It’s absurd!”
The man was Hong Taek-gi, the owner of “Boar and Paradise,” located in the same alley as Dok Family Restaurant.
Hong Taek-gi scanned the people waiting with jealousy in his eyes. Then the man next to him, wiping the sweat from his cheek, spoke.
“There are really a lot of people. Is that the Dok Family Restaurant? The one that opened the day before yesterday, right?”
He was a delivery driver for “Boar and Paradise.” Hong Taek-gi responded with a bitter expression.
“You know it well. Did you go have a meal there or something?”
“Oh, no way. Why would I leave this place and go there?”
“Then how do you know? You’re not even delivering goods over there.”
“Well, that restaurant was featured on Seoul Foodstagram yesterday. Seems like that’s why people are flocking…”
“Hold on. Seoul Foodstagram?”
“Yes. Even ‘Future Dumplings’ was featured on that account a few months ago, and their sales tripled. Didn’t you know? I heard the boss knew about it too…”
‘Of course he knew. Why wouldn’t he? Just because one post went up on that account, the owner of Future Dumplings changed his car.’
And that’s not the only case.
Hong Taek-gi had contacted the account owner to request a back advertisement. However, the result was a polite rejection. But…
“It went up on that account?”
He needed to see it with his own eyes. Hong Taek-gi took out his phone while biting his lip. Just as the driver said, there was a post about “Dok Family Restaurant.” And without any advertising label.
“Oh, this is infuriating. If you don’t have enough for advertising, then why bother? Damn it. They refused to do back advertisements, yet they post a restaurant that opened just a day ago? This is ridiculous.”
“What?”
“There’s that. Anyway, did you put all the meat in?”
“Yes, yes. Here’s the key to the freezer. But what about payment?”
The delivery driver glanced at Hong Taek-gi and subtly asked. Hong Taek-gi, without much interest, turned away.
“I’ll settle the payment all together at the end of this month. I’ll put it in the ledger. Make sure the invoice is clear. I’m already going crazy because of the lack of tax records.”
“Sir! Please, pay today. Our boss asked us to collect the payment too…”
“Oh, really. Why is everyone bothering me today? You’ve been trading with us for years, can’t you wait even for a couple of days?”
“Sir, please, I really need it.”
“Tsk, it’s not like I don’t want to pay, it’s just that I don’t have the cash on hand. I’ll go to the bank this afternoon and deposit it. That should be fine, right?”
“You said the same thing last time…”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I said I’d pay you. It’s not like it’s a huge sum of money. Stop bothering me and go. I need to prepare for business too.”
Hong Taek-gi slammed the shop door angrily. The door closed right in front of the delivery driver’s nose as he tried to follow. It almost hit him.
“Damn bastard. Seriously dirty. Ah, but I was supposed to get the payment today…”
In the end, the delivery driver turned around, muttering curses under his breath. He briefly considered opening the door and insisting, but soon gave up.
There’s no use getting into an argument and losing my time. It’s not like I haven’t experienced this before.
“Ah, my stomach.”
Meanwhile, inside the store, Hong suddenly felt an unexplained abdominal pain.
My cousin told me that buying land makes him sick to his stomach. Is that the same thing? He frowned and turned to his brother.
“Hong Cheol, where’s the painkiller?”
“Painkiller? Why all of a sudden?”
“Because I’m in pain! Where is it?”
Taken aback by his brother’s sudden outburst, Hong Cheol rummaged through the drawer and handed him a painkiller.
“Here. Did you eat something bad since morning? Why do you feel so under the weather…”
“Ah, it’s really frustrating. You’re always stuck in the kitchen, so you wouldn’t know. Go outside and take a look. Huh? Do I look like I’m not in pain?”
“Is it because of that newly opened restaurant over there?”
“What? You knew?”
“Well, it’s just… obvious.”
“Huh. But why are you so calm about it?”
Hong Taek-gi furrowed his brow at his brother’s nonchalant attitude. It’s frustrating whether he’s trying to do business or not.
“What do you mean calm? I just didn’t care. Anyway, their menu is different, and their customer base is different from ours. So, don’t bother worrying about it. It’s just a stomachache anyway.”
“Don’t worry? Hey, you spineless brat! Is that what you have to say as the head chef?”
“Well, it’s like that. Their dining area is cramped too…”
“Can’t you see the long line waiting to get into that cramped dining area? And it seems like their menu changes every day. If it overlaps with ours… huh? That day might just be a soup day!”
“So, we should work harder. I’ll put in more effort. Brother.”
Hong Cheol patted Hong Taek-gi’s shoulder and smiled. He’s too weak. Hong Taek-gi, frustrated by his brother’s lack of realism, snapped back.
“What effort? Is running a business child’s play? If everything could be achieved through effort, there wouldn’t be any failed businesses.”
“Well, what are you going to do then? Don’t think strange thoughts, brother. It seems like they have connections with the Healing Guild too. How did I know?, I saw them having a group dinner on the first day.”
“Who has connections? Didn’t they invest a lot of money to open a franchise?”
“…”
“I’ll take care of everything, so you just focus on preparing the food properly. Got it? I noticed you kept throwing away side dishes last time. Don’t do that again.”
“It seems like the customers are noticing too. Let’s stop recycling. Okay?”
“What do you mean stop? Just use what you’ve noticed and make fried rice out of it. Do I have to tell you everything one by one? Huh? Hong Cheol, I don’t have the energy to worry about the kitchen. You figure it out yourself. Got it?”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“Oh, okay. But what about that Dok Family Restaurant?”
“What can we do? Whoever rises by SNS shall fall by SNS.”
“In any case, Weeds should be pulled in the early season. Hong Taek-gi pushed away his younger brother’s hand and picked up his cell phone. A smug smile played on his face as he dialed a number.”
When you see it, it looks like a press conference. Trigo is seated with cameras aligned next to him, and in front of him are several executives from the Healing Guild, including Jong-sik.
“Now let’s talk about your hometown. Ah, what was the name of that mountain range?”
That’s right. They were investigating Trigo. The cameras were there to record the investigation process.
“It’s the Achukarata Mountain Range.”
“Are there monsters there too?”
“Monsters? If you mean demons, then of course there are.”
Questions from the executives, excluding Jong-sik, poured in.
‘No need to worry.’
He’d gotten a briefing from Jong-sik before coming to the guild. Trigo cooperated with the investigation without a word. He readily answered questions.
“Well then, what is your profession? Can you handle mana, or… let me ask again. Do you have a status window?”
“A status window? I don’t know what you’re talking about. My profession is a blacksmith.”
“Now! Didn’t you see something the moment you said status pane?”
“No, there’s nothing like that.”
“Does that mean you don’t have the skills….”
“Recognizing high-quality items, delicate craftsmanship, intricate forging technique. It’s hard to say them out loud. Aren’t these all skills?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
While mundane questions were exchanged, Jong-sik stared intently at Pyeong-ari’s team leader sitting next to him. Of course, it wasn’t just a casual observation.
Just as they were investigating Trigo, Jong-sik was secretly examining Pyeong-ari.
‘If the demons were to reveal themselves, could she be the tower? Can she form a coalition of interdimensionals and earthlings?’
‘It’s been on my mind since last night: why did a man from another dimension appeared on Earth?’
‘No matter how many dozens or hundreds of times I thought about it, there was only one answer: their arrival meant a demonic invasion. And so it was with the Eldar Continent.’
‘If so, disaster would soon strike the planet, shattering our barely recovered civilization and plunging society into chaos.’
Jong-sik wanted to stop it. However, he didn’t want to go to the forefront of the battlefield as he did before, either.
He just wants to live peacefully like now. Living an ordinary life, working at his job, and taking care of his family.
So Jong-sik decided on priorities. First would naturally be his family, and second would be the families of his colleagues.
‘The last will be Pyeong-ari and the team. Since there’s time, let’s prepare slowly. And I’ll help Pyeong-ari gather people from behind.’
While he was organizing his thoughts, a voice interrupted his conscience. It was Ok Sun-ja, the Healing Guild representative.
“Hoho. Our team leader Pyeong looks worn out.”
“Oh, did I stare too much? I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“Youth is always like that. I understand.”
“Re, Representative!”
Pyeong-ari burst out at the unexpected talk about youth. But Ok Sun-ja, the representative, continued without concern.
“But our Dok Hunter seems to have no questions. You’re unusually silent.”
“I don’t really have any questions since everyone else asks so much. I’m not particularly curious.”
“The way you yield questions to others, so considerate and admirable.”
It’s an elegant tone that doesn’t suit her at all. Without anything to say in response, Jong-sik chuckled, and Pyeong-ari blushed in embarrassment.
“Um, is the Investigation over now or what?”
At that moment, Trigo, who was sitting, asked the executives. Although the Healing Guild representative was present, Trigo still spoke informally.
‘However, even they are people not from my dimension, everyone seems to understand it to some extent.’
“For today, at least.”
“For today?”
“There will be more opportunities like this in the future.”
Pyeong-ari’s answer seemed unsatisfactory, as Trigo’s eyebrows narrowed. However, that was all. He seemed to be holding back after looking at Jong-sik’s face.
“Would you all like to have a meal together if nothing urgent comes up? It’s almost lunchtime.”
In the meantime, Ok Sun-ja, the representative, asked Jong-sik. She said “everyone,” but the gathered executives knew. They had to leave.
“Representative, I have a pre-arranged appointment with a client.”
“I also have a meeting scheduled.”
“Oh, unfortunately, it looks like only Team Leader Pyeong and Team Leader Dok are left.”
Ok Sun-ja, the representative, said with a hint of regret. However, Jong-sik also expressed his refusal like everyone else. It was because he had something to prepare for his top priority, his family.
“I’m sorry, but I also have somewhere important to go. I can’t have lunch together. Now that the Investigation is over, I’ll go too. Trigo, let’s get up.”
“Ah. Well… If there’s a schedule, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Yes. Understood. Hyungnim!”
Perhaps it was an unexpected refusal, but Ok Sun-ja, the representative, couldn’t hide her surprise. Even though the reasons were different, the other executives also showed signs of surprise. It was because suddenly, formal language popped out of Trigo’s mouth, who usually used informal speech.
“What’s going on? You know how to be formal?”
