Baekgu, Sol, and Maru had become high-ranking spirits. Now, including the wind spirit soon to be born, Jinwoo would essentially become a perfect Spirit Master.
Baek San, a senior Spirit Master, laughed heartily and congratulated Jinwoo’s spirits.
Jinwoo, who had stepped out due to the sudden commotion, also showered the spirits with praise and affection before returning to the camper to finish cooking. He was preparing gukbap by processing the Black Pig. Although it was a dish that typically required a long cooking time, Jinwoo was finishing it in an instant.
There were two secrets behind his speed.
It was a combination of excellent equipment and superior ingredients.
The ingredients sponsored by the Father of Crops created a broth where the aroma spread the moment water was added. These herbs produced a flavor deeper than capsule broth while being even more convenient to use. Furthermore, by placing a Fire Orb into a sword that had transcended the limitations of a pot, he could drastically reduce the cooking time.
In less than one hour, a gukbap more savory and delicious than one simmered for a long time was complete.
“It’s ready.”
Jinwoo served the gukbap in earthenware bowls as an offering to the Constellations along with some beer. After that, he moved the rest outside the camper. The park was also a place where meals could be enjoyed.
“Haha, this is wonderful.”
Baek San laughed refreshingly. He did not seem uncomfortable eating gukbap in the park. In fact, Baek San was a world-famous Hunter known by the entire nation. As a first generation Hunter, he had revitalized Korea and proved to the world that A-Class Hunters could be competitive.
Such an overwhelmingly famous person eating gukbap in a park? It was quite a rare sight.
(Anonymous 1) : He’s someone who doesn’t care about others’ opinions.
As if agreeing with the anonymous comment, Baek San shared a surprising revelation.
“I often order delivery with my employees and eat in parks. We take in the fresh air and use the scenery as a side dish. That is why I want to support your journey, Mr. Jinwoo.”
Baek San was a man who lived a modest life and desired freedom more than anyone. Jinwoo was surprised by Baek San’s attitude and handed him a beer.
“Would you like a drink? It’s craft beer.”
“…My working hours have just ended.”
He spoke with a smile. Such a deviation for a Branch Manager of the Association. Jinwoo was internally surprised but smiled back. He figured Baek San was drinking because he knew he could handle any consequences.
(Anonymous 1) : Wow, but this gukbap looks killer, whew! Is this what Busan tastes like?
(Father of Crops) : It’s because my ingredients are good.
(Anonymous 1) : Hmm, is it that much?
(Last Night Market) : My equipment also lent a hand to this fantastic taste.
(Anonymous 1) : I’ll acknowledge that.
(Father of Crops) : Why, why!! Why won’t you acknowledge me alone!!!
(Anonymous 1) : Oh, whatever, whatever, just be quiet! I’m trying to eat my gukbap.
(God of Rain and Sunlight) : The deep flavor of the broth is art….
(Cook of the End) : The harmony between the seasoning and the clean broth is a masterpiece. The way the Black Pig meat is sliced thin to cover the rice is aesthetically pleasing, and the thick texture when chewed is heavy. The first bite is substantial, but it gradually melts as it infuses with the broth. Truly art.
(Water God of Clear Stream) : It’s just tasty though….
(Endless Waiting) : You’re right, it’s just delicious.
(Liberated Swordsman) : …The depth of the broth is art.
(Martial Artist Who Lives Death) : It is truly delicious.
The Constellations were full of praise. Even the Constellations who loved beer were talking more about the gukbap than the drink. Jinwoo waited for Baek San’s reaction, and that was when Baek San picked up his spoon.
“I will enjoy this meal. You must have been simmering it since this morning.”
“Yes, I started it this morning.”
“Whew, it looks truly delicious. Thank you for the meal.”
Baek San greeted him politely and finally put a spoonful of gukbap into his mouth. The moment the rice, well-soaked in the broth, entered his mouth, it spread and scattered, releasing a sweetness with every chew. On top of that, the clean flavor of the broth rushed in, and the spiciness and savoriness of the seasoning stimulated his appetite and salivary glands.
The ingredients built up layers of flavor one after another, and the highlight that made it all explode was none other than the meat. The Black Pig meat filled his mouth as he chewed, releasing an insane amount of savory flavor.
“Whew—!!”
Nothing but a refreshed exclamation could come out. It was the most delicious spoonful Baek San had ever eaten in his life. He was a man who had climbed to this position and eaten all sorts of delicacies. Moreover, he was a self-proclaimed gourmet and a big eater who had tried world-class cuisines, but this….
“…It’s really, really delicious.”
Baek San recalled hearing during their meeting that Jinwoo’s original dream was to be a restaurant owner. He even felt a sense of regret. He thought that if Jinwoo weren’t terminally ill, he would have become the best chef in the world.
After swallowing the fantastic bite, Baek San picked up his beer. When he drank the beer after a light toast with Jinwoo.
The nuttiness of the barley and the refreshment of the carbonation burst powerfully as it went down his throat.
“…Hah!!”
Even the beer is delicious?
“These… what exactly are they?”
Baek San unintentionally asked a ridiculous question.
“No, wait.”
Baek San stopped himself before Jinwoo could answer and picked up a piece of meat from the gukbap with his chopsticks.
“…This is Black Pig, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. I have a demonic energy detox skill.”
“Hah.”
The more he learned, the more goosebumps he got. Just what was the identity of this Hunter named Kim Jinwoo? He was handsome and had a good personality. A Spirit Master’s character could be seen through their spirits, and it had been a long time since Baek San had seen spirits raised so uprightly. Plus, he had a cute daughter.
He was an S-Class Hunter who traveled freely and cooked well. He even had the demonic energy detox skill, one of the skills Baek San wanted most. He was truly all-purpose!
‘….’
The more Baek San learned about Jinwoo, the more tragic the situation felt. For such a versatile person to be terminally ill—the heavens were truly cruel.
“Then, what about this beer?”
“I made it myself.”
“Pardon?”
“I used various abilities with the spirits to make craft beer barrels, and I used barley I grew myself. Maru is very good at farming.”
“….”
He was good at farming with spirits, good at making alcohol, and good at crafting things? And such a person was terminally ill? Baek San felt a deeper sense of regret. He wished they would take someone like himself, who had lived long enough and enjoyed life, rather than someone so young and talented. It was tragic and truly unfortunate.
Noticing his feelings, Jinwoo spoke with a smile.
“You don’t need to worry about me. Please, finish your meal.”
“…Understood.”
“And… I’m sorry to say this, but I want to continue living exactly as I am now.”
It meant he had no intention of working as a professional Hunter.
“Of course, as I said earlier, if something truly dangerous happens or a Dungeon breaks near my travel destination, I will absolutely perform the subjugation mission.”
“…Thank you.”
Who in the world could force Jinwoo to work as a Hunter? At the very least, it was something Baek San could never do himself.
“I will try to keep your personal information private as much as possible… but it’s not something that can be perfectly hidden just because we want to. Occasionally, contacts might come from the leadership of other countries.”
“I will refuse them on my own. I won’t be naturalizing to another country. I promise you that.”
Yes, that one sentence was enough.
“Thank you. I will also do my best to ensure you can live a free life.”
Jinwoo nodded. The gukbap in the earthenware bowl was still hot, and only then could Baek San fully focus on eating.
(Anonymous 1) : Well, it worked out well.
(God of Rain and Sunlight) : I feel like everyone will eventually find out Jinwoo is an S-Class Hunter, though.
(Water God of Clear Stream) : Does that even matter? Thinking about it again, I don’t think much would change.
(Returnee of the Demon Realm) : I think so too. Hidden Hunters can be quite a hassle if revealed, but exposing the fact that he’s an S-Class Hunter won’t matter much. If anything, it’ll just boost Korea’s morale.
(Anonymous 1) : Besides, if Jinwoo, an S-Class Hunter, travels without belonging to any organization, he could pull off a mysterious concept quite well. Sure, some citizens might complain about a Hunter not doing Hunter work, but Jinwoo isn’t the type to care about the voices of public opinion.
(Returnee of the Demon Realm) : That’s what I’m saying. Actually, S-Class Hunters don’t get swept up in annoying things much. It would be different if he were a Hidden Hunter since the whole world would flock to him, but as long as he only uses his status as an S-Class Hunter and doesn’t show off too much power, he won’t get caught up in troublesome matters.
That was true. Because Jinwoo knew this, he hadn’t strongly insisted that Baek San keep his identity secret. He just hoped that everyone would find out a little later.
Jinwoo looked at Baek San and spoke.
“Branch Manager.”
“Yes, Hunter.”
“I’m curious about what your dream is.”
“Pardon?”
Being asked about his dream was a first for him, and Baek San’s expression turned blank.
“Haha, that’s interesting. Everyone usually only asks how it feels to have achieved my dreams….”
“I asked because I don’t think a dream is something like social status.”
“My dream… at first, I wanted to be the Association President. I hoped the treatment of Hunters would improve. However, I felt my brother would make the treatment of Hunters better than I could, so I have no lingering feelings for that position. Well, that dream has been achieved in a way.”
Jinwoo nodded. Certainly, since the current Association President took office, the treatment of Hunters had improved remarkably. There was a time in the past when Hunters were treated like the nation’s war tools or weapons.
“And I also wanted to form a happy family. I achieved that, too. Soon, my grandchild will be entering middle school, haha.”
Baek San laughed warmly as he watched Byeol-i, who had finished her bowl and was patting her stomach. He had an expression that said, ‘My grandchild was just like this once.’
“My last dream… it’s a bit of an embarrassing one, but it’s to become an S-Class Hunter. Although I’ve retired from being an active Hunter and am working in this field, I still live off the memories of subjugating with my spirits. Even as I get older, there are times when my blood boils. When a Wave occurs, when I send the Hunters belonging to the Association to the field and I’m left alone feeling anxious. At times like that, I feel like I’m going crazy wanting to go out to the battlefield with my spirits.”
When one becomes an S-Class Hunter, their physical age becomes younger, as if undergoing a metamorphosis. It isn’t a dramatic effect that changes one’s appearance, but Baek San’s physical age would become young enough to participate in subjugations alongside Hunters in their 20s and 30s.
Again, of course, the appearance would not change.
“So I want to be an S-Class Hunter. Isn’t it just like me to have never surpassed the limits of A-Class in my entire life?”
(Anonymous 1) : But you stood shoulder to shoulder with S-Class Hunters as an A-Class. Jinwoo, don’t say anything like that. That’s not comforting.
‘I wasn’t going to say that.’
Jinwoo simply clinked his beer glass against the other’s without a word.
(Father of Crops) : But Jinwoo, didn’t you apply a lot of buffs today?
‘Yes, I used quite a bit of mana today.’
(Father of Crops) : And a lot of my herbs went in.
‘Yes, I put in everything you sponsored today.’
(Last Night Market) : And you put an orb in the equipment I made?
‘I only put in the highest-grade orb bought from the coin shop.’
(Anonymous 1) : Then… congratulate him in advance.
‘Who?’
(Anonymous 1) : The Branch Manager in front of you, who is about to face his second prime.
It was then.
*Flash!*
Baek San was promoted to an S-Class Hunter.