Chapter 21: Something Like a Chicken

‘……!’

The siblings had already surrendered to the fragrance wafting past their noses.

In truth, they preferred grilled tofu, but this was already perfect as it was.

No, they couldn't even wait for the time it would take to grill it.

Slice, slice.

As the tofu was cut into neat squares with a few strokes of the knife, the hand holding the chopsticks trembled.

‘Father, hurry!’

They even had to cultivate patience during that brief moment of waiting for Kim Gu-bok to be the first to move his chopsticks.

However, Kim Gu-bok just waited leisurely until Go Mi-young picked up her chopsticks.

Day ‘n’ of consuming labyrinth crops.

The couple had developed this much composure.

‘Dad!’

‘Mom?’

While the siblings' chopsticks hovered in the air, Kim Gu-bok placed a piece of tofu on Go Mi-young’s spoon.

“You first.”

“Oh, you.”

When Go Mi-young put the tofu in her mouth and her eyes went wide, Kim Gu-bok also put a piece in his.

Tremble.

The two simply stared with wide eyes, not even daring to chew.

Everyone knew the moment they saw those expressions.

If you’re late, there won’t even be any broth left!

Zip!

The waiting chopsticks became bombers and dropped.

“Uh…….”

“Uh……!”

The moment the tofu entered their mouths, the siblings froze with a single groan.

The rice that had enchanted them with its smell alone was a mixture containing only a small amount of the rice Go Nam-tae had provided.

But this was tofu made from 100% labyrinth-grown products.

The flavor felt in the mouth was on a different level.

Everything was fine until then…….

“Uhhhhhh!”

“Sob, gulp!”

“……Sob, sob.”

“Sniffle.”

A scene of wailing opened up.

To an outsider, it would have looked as if they were holding a funeral over the dinner table.

However, not a single scrap of food remained on the table.

Even while tears streamed down their faces, their chopsticks could not be stopped.

But the moment they set their chopsticks down, they began to wail loudly.

Waaaaah!

No one could ask anyone else why they were crying.

Hardships flashed by like a kaleidoscope…….

The apologies for not being able to care for each other, the guilt they couldn't erase.

The times they had waited anxiously in worry, and the past days stained with self-reproach.

Their hearts intersected as their sorrows poured out.

Sob, sob, sob.

Was it because they had poured it out so intensely?

Once the crying stopped, the four of them sat in a daze for a long while.

Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young were nearly in a state of exhaustion.

Of course, thanks to the mana buff, there was nothing wrong with their bodies, but they were mentally completely spent.

The siblings carefully helped their parents lie down and quietly stepped out of the room.

“Si, sister……!”

“……It’s right, isn’t it?”

Tremble, tremble.

Their hands shook, whether from shock or the lingering sense of exhaustion.

The siblings were Awakeners.

At first, they were surprised by the taste, but the changes felt in their bodies came almost instantly.

Had he said a D-rank Hunter had been promoted to C-rank?

That was only natural.

It felt as though every single mana cell in their bodies was waking up and then multiplying wildly.

The siblings could share the same sensation just through their gaze.

“Insane! What on earth did he make!”

“He’s truly lost his mind!”

He was crazy!

That was the only thing they could say.

Suddenly, they noticed the mana measuring device installed in the shop.

‘Sister?’

‘……Can we handle it?’

Shake, shake.

The siblings shook their heads simultaneously.

Leaning against the wall, the siblings slowly slid down.

They had pretended to be fine in front of their parents, but as the intense buff subsided, a weary sense of helplessness washed over them.

[※Caution: Myeong-hyeon Phenomenon - Temporary lethargy, insomnia, and mood swings may occur - Watch out for tears]

The side effect of the tofu that Go Nam-tae had been slightly worried about had acted up significantly.

Since having too much energy was the side effect, it would likely be difficult to fall asleep tonight.

After a while, the family members regained their senses and gathered again.

Though they were still a bit dazed, their bodies felt more refreshed than ever.

Kim Seong-hye carefully tried to start a conversation first.

“Mom, Dad. That fissure from earlier…….”

“Shush, it’s a space-related ability Nam-tae has. Just call it a ‘Door’.”

‘Could it be they already know?’

It wasn't an answer someone who didn't know would give.

But…… the feeling was different.

Besides, there was the sensation of the buff that still hadn't fully vanished.

And the memory of that savory and sweet taste they would never be able to forget.

Having become addicted to the ‘fantasy’ in a single go, the siblings had to keep their mouths shut.

Being unable to even chirp in the face of their mother’s sharp gaze was the first reason.

Ahem.

Kim Seong-hye cleared her throat and opened her mouth.

“……You’re saying he opens a ‘Door’ and sends those things through?”

“Yes. So you should relay that to your superiors as well. Got it?”

The siblings nodded without resistance.

“Then it’s okay to tell them that the person sending these is Go Nam-tae?”

At that, Kim Gu-bok gave a bitter smile.

“Large corporations aren't large for nothing. They likely already know who we contracted with.”

“Honey, not yet. We haven't been able to sign the contract yet.”

“Still, I’m sure everything we consulted with the lawyer about has been reported.”

“True. Oh, by the way. What should we do about this? Look at this, honey.”

Go Nam-tae had crossed out the commission section and left a terrifying note.

-If you don't adjust the ratio properly, I won't provide the supply. If you don't change it to the industry standard, I will only give you enough for you two to eat in the future!

It was a very frightening threat.

Kim Seong-hye and Kim Jae-won, who were peeking from the side, covered their mouths and laughed.

The special terms he had written himself had as many as five asterisks next to them.

-※ Meals for Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young’s family are provided for free! No payment allowed! (Absolutely!)

It was truly…… just like Go Nam-tae.

It was a moment where the fear and rejection of the fissure naturally faded away.

However, the faces of Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young were clouded.

“Even if it’s the industry minimum, we should at least have 20%……”

“Honey, do we really have to do that?”

“Nam-tae’s stubbornness is no joke. Since Nam-tae rejected it, we can't even use this contract.”

“Still…… if we do that, I’ll feel so bad, what should I do……”

“We can just be more transparent and sell it better for him. If we ever get greedy later on, let’s look at this contract and reflect on ourselves.”

“Shall we?”

The siblings' mouths fell open again at their parents' murmuring.

“Ha…… he really is……”

“He’s truly driving me crazy……”

In fact, until just a moment ago, they did have a ‘What if?’ thought.

They had suspected that an unknown entity was pretending to be Go Nam-tae and attempting a new invasion.

But the argument that the author of that note was something other than Go Nam-tae was meaningless.

An invasion, a fissure.

Go Nam-tae had happened to awaken an ability that was prone to being misunderstood.

……Well, it was an invasion, technically.

“He said he’d allow a deal with the Saeron Guild too. But he told me to handle the rest of the condition adjustments on my own. What should I do?”

At their father's words, Kim Seong-hye shouted.

“Do it! Do it, Dad! The Guild Master of the Saeron Guild will become our backer. When a small shop like this does well, thugs tend to mess with it. They’ll protect us on a guild level. We are the evidence of that!”

Kim Seong-hye and Kim Jae-won poured out words rapidly!

“Mom, Dad, leave dealing with people to us from now on.”

“Mom and Dad, please don't ever come into contact with Hunters.”

“We will handle the sales too.”

“If a stranger asks to meet separately, you must tell us.”

The siblings were finally beginning to perform their mission properly.

Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young said they would make a new contract immediately and went out, while the siblings took over the cleaning.

The two fell into a new dilemma.

“He must have awakened an incredible ability.”

“Farming in a labyrinth, who could even imagine it?”

“How many floors did he reach?”

“……But, sister. How far should we report this?”

“…….”

As Kim Gu-bok said, their relationship with Go Nam-tae and the method of procuring goods would be revealed with just a little investigation.

It was because there was no process of moving the goods.

However, they could hide the method itself.

In the end, the two decided to report everything except for the ‘fissure’.

Their primary mission was to protect their parents.

That was the most important thing.

After a brief moment of worry, as soon as they reached a conclusion, the sound of knocking echoed.

Knock, knock!

“Are you not open for business today?”

When the siblings opened the door, a swarm of people swept in.

***

Go Nam-tae attempted an unconventional fusion dish.

Sizzle.

He grilled the tofu first in a heated pan.

Then he took out some kimchi.

The seasoning is the life of kimchi, but he boldly soaked it in water and washed it.

He re-seasoned the washed kimchi with chili powder he had made himself.

He chopped the kimchi finely, added two spoons of vinegar, one spoon of sugar scraped from the bottom of the container, and some sliced green peppers.

He sautéed the seasoned kimchi and, before the liquid could evaporate, added soy sauce and a pinch of salt.

He served the shiny red sautéed kimchi alongside the golden tofu.

“Guys, try this.”

Pat, pat, pat, pat!

Beep, beep, beep……!

He served it ambitiously, but as expected.

Even though he had washed off the original seasoning, the tofu kimchi was not popular with his familiars.

Grilled tofu versus tofu kimchi.

It was a total victory for the grilled tofu.

However, one fellow could not take his eyes off the tofu kimchi.

“Hagye, do you want to try it?”

It was Hagye, whose lips had previously swollen up and caused a scene.

Go Nam-tae was concerned, but Hael and Habyung did not stop the little one.

‘He needs to be scolded to learn.’

……Parents were tough.

Thinking about it, the reason the familiars weren't interested in the tofu kimchi might be because it was spicy.

Though Hagye’s interest seemed to be growing.

But wouldn't it be okay if it was eaten with tofu……?

“Then do you want to try just a little?”

To be honest, Go Nam-tae wanted a comrade to share this deliciously spicy combination with.

With a hundredfold courage, Hagye put a piece of tofu kimchi in his mouth.

Hack, cough, cough! Screech, screech!

As expected.

The parents and siblings shook their heads with looks that said, ‘I knew that would happen.’

But…… Hagye did not give up.

‘I want more!’

“Really? Truly?”

Hagye made a second attempt with a determined expression.

Though he looked like he found it spicy again, he didn't cough.

While huffing and puffing, his eyes were sparkling.

At that moment, Baekho also approached.

“Right, you try it too.”

As the golden tofu coated in red seasoning was absorbed and vanished into his stomach, the fellow trembled as if experiencing a shiver.

It was different from a look of disgust or dislike.

“Will you eat more?”

‘Yes!’

The mukbang of Baekho and Hagye began.

Anyone could see they were enjoying it.

Huff, huff, good! Seeing this repeat, the other fellows also tilted their heads and slowly began to taste it.

However, only Hagye and Baekho ate it until the end; the others all dropped out midway.

Surprisingly, Hagye’s lips were fine this time.

[It is thanks to the mana buff.]

If it was thanks to the buff, the others should have been affected too, but they didn't try again.

It was a shame, but he supposed he would have to be satisfied with two comrades to enjoy spicy, delicious food with.

Now that he had comrades, he suddenly thought of the egg rolls he liked.

A spice fanatic, Go Nam-tae liked egg rolls with finely chopped peppers in them.

He could eat the spicy ones with Hagye and Baekho and just grill plain ones for the others.

“I wonder if there are any guys around here that lay eggs.”

When he muttered that, Toto quickly replied.

[If you are looking for something similar to a chicken, they exist.]

“What? Really?”

[Yes, it is these fellows.]

Toto spread out and showed him the things ‘similar to chickens’.