Chapter 50: Kimbap Paradise Opens Its Doors

“You’re too kind.”

“Not at all. Every adventurer was singing nothing but praises. How could I just sit still after hearing that? Everything Fabir makes turns into a trend, doesn’t it?”

Welper took a breath and continued.

“But food takes far more effort than one might think. And making it fresh every day is no small task.”

I nodded. 

Preparing ingredients alone is already a lot of work. 

Moreover, since I grow the ingredients myself, even more care goes into them.

“So here’s my proposal: how about opening a restaurant together with me?”

“A restaurant?”

“My trading company will provide all the capital, manpower, and ingredient sourcing. Of course, you’ll receive shares as well.”

“That’s a very generous offer. What exactly do you want from me?”

“Menu development and advice on operations.”

“Not a bad deal.”

I didn’t need to think long. If Bernard knew of them, they must have the funds and capability.

“I’ve actually been wanting to open a restaurant for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And this proposal doesn’t seem like I’d be losing anything.”

As long as I supply the various fermented pastes and sesame oil, the flavor will be secured. 

Since I hold the key ingredients that determine the taste, even if I share the recipes, I still hold the upper hand.

“I’ll prepare the contract right away. By the way, what would be a good name for the restaurant?”

“I do have one I thought of while planning to sell kimbap…”

I grinned and answered.

“Kimbap Paradise.”

“That’s a great name! It sounds like it’ll let you taste paradise itself!”

Bernard, who had been listening quietly, approached and said,

“Finally, I’ll get to eat kimbap too!”

Expectation shone all over his face.

And so, the project to open a Korean restaurant in Alburton began.

***

I planted perilla seeds and sesame seeds in the field.

I plan to make sesame oil for the soon-to-open “Kimbap Paradise.”

You can’t have Korean food without perilla oil and sesame oil.

Jingle jingle.

The dairy cow approached me, ringing the bell around her neck.

“I planted sesame in the field. When they’re fully grown, make oil for me.”

“Mmoooo.”

“Leave it all to you? That’s reassuring. Without you, pressing the oil would have been back-breaking work.”

Normally I’d have to thresh the sesame myself, but the cow will chew and process it for me. 

Things that would be impossible alone become possible with a reliable helper.

The pastes I had started with pink salt were maturing deliciously under the sunlight.

“As expected, fermentation goes so well on the Floating Island.”

At this rate, it’s time to separate the soy sauce and doenjang.

Clank—

When I opened the lid of the earthenware jar, pitch-black soy sauce and blocks of meju greeted me.

I took out the meju, kneaded it, boiled the remaining soy sauce, and stored it separately. 

I added a bit of seed soy sauce I had received from Yujin’s mother to enhance the flavor.

After a little more aging, delicious doenjang and soy sauce will be complete.

Next to them, gochujang was also maturing beautifully. 

I was especially looking forward to it since I had made the red pepper powder myself from peppers I grew.

***

I headed to the center of Alburton where the Blue Horse Company was located.

As one of the top five trading companies in Alburton, their building was quite large and easy to find.

“There are so many people…”

“I have trade dealings to settle today, but why isn’t the person ahead coming out?”

“Why are you acting like it’s something new? This place is always busy.”

“Just accept it and wait quietly.”

“Please wait for your turn, everyone. The reception is this way.”

Buzz buzz.

It was crowded with small-scale merchants and producers who came to sell goods.

Meeting Mr. Welper would take ages. I’ll come back another day.

Just as I turned to leave.

Rush—

Someone hurriedly approached me.

“Welcome, Fabir-nim.”

“Who might you be?”

It was a face I had never seen before. Perhaps a customer from the apothecary?

“I’m Michael, the manager here.”

He bowed politely.

“Mr. Welper instructed me to treat you with the utmost courtesy if you ever visited. Were you about to leave?”

“It looked very busy, so I thought I’d come another time.”

“I’ll inform Mr. Welper right away.”

“There’s no need to go out of your way.”

“Not at all. This project is our top priority. Please come inside. I’ll escort you to the VIP room.”

Buzz buzz.

Tap.

“Who is that guy that even the manager is bowing and scraping?”

“The manager is strict as a knife with work—why is he giving special treatment only to him?”

“What kind of business could it be that it’s their top priority? Did they discover a gold mine or something?”

Receiving piercing glares and envious looks all at once, I stepped inside.

“Here is your black tea.”

Once inside, Michael offered me fragrant black tea.

“Mr. Welper will be here shortly. Please enjoy a cup while you wait.”

I brought the cup to my lips. 

The aroma was deep. It was top-grade, hard to obtain even in Alburton.

“It’s been a while, Fabir-nim.”

As I was pleasantly savoring the tea, Mr. Welper appeared.

“I’ve actually been waiting for you to visit.”

“Have you been well?”

“I’m always busy, as usual.”

“I came to let you know that the seasonings for the restaurant will be ready soon.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Our side is almost fully prepared too.”

“How about the rice and seaweed I asked for earlier?”

“I sentently sent people to the East Continent. I told them to select and purchase only the finest ingredients with utmost care.”

The main ingredients were taken care of. 

Fresh vegetables and eggs can be bought from the market on the day.

“Have you decided on the location?”

“That’s actually why I was about to contact you. Michael, bring it here.”

Michael spread a scroll on the table. It was a detailed map, even showing every alley.

“Please tell us if there’s any place you prefer.”

“Me?”

“You have proper shares, so I can’t decide alone. The first shop holds special meaning, after all.”

“It’s sudden, so it’s hard to choose right away.”

“Of course. Please take your time and let us know. We’ll expand once business goes well, so no pressure.”

Even in a small city like Alburton, there are commercial districts. 

The central area is the market. 

Around it are streets for manufactured goods and a restaurant district.

“Most restaurants are gathered in the restaurant district, so that should be the right choice.”

Naturally, where restaurants cluster, customers flock.

“I was thinking the same. Then let’s look for a place near the market.”

Michael was about to roll up the scroll.

“Wait a moment.”

He stopped.

“Actually, this spot would be better than the restaurant district.”

I pointed to one place, and both men’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected location.

“Huh? Isn’t this the adventurer district?”

Adventurer Street was lined with weapon and armor shops, and at the end was connected to the training grounds.

It was a street always filled with the smell of sweat and iron, so their shock was understandable.

“May I ask why?”

“We’ll target adventurers as our main customers.”

“Adventurers?”

“They make up the largest population ratio in Alburton.”

Moreover, their income is relatively high. Especially when it comes to delicious food and alcohol, they spare no expense.

“This is a street adventurers constantly pass through. Especially near the request office, it’s the optimal location for adventurers to access.”

You can’t ignore a commercial area close to the workplace. Wasn’t the inn in Alian village like that? Though far from the market, it was a hidden gem where nearby workers ate every meal.

“Unfortunately, the buildings on this street are too small for a restaurant. We wouldn’t be able to fit many tables.”

The number of tables directly affects sales for a restaurant.

But there are exceptions.

“There’s a way to increase sales!”

“What would that be?”

“Takeout!”

“Takeout? Hmm… wouldn’t that be inconvenient?”

“They’re people used to eating on the street. Adventurers who pack lunches before heading out on missions would actually welcome takeout.”

Wasn’t kimbap originally meant to be sold as a convenient meal for adventurers?

“Above all, the advertising effect would be outstanding.”

Welper stroked his chin in thought, then soon nodded.

“As you say, we’ll look for the spot closest to the request office.”

Three days later.

***

The Blue Horse Company was far more impressive than I expected.

Everything ran like perfectly meshed gears. 

I understood why they were counted among Alburton’s best. 

There was a reason so many people lined up to deal with them.

As I entered Adventurer Street, chatter could be heard everywhere.

“What’s going in there?”

“I heard it’s a restaurant?”

“No way. If they were opening a restaurant, they’d go to the restaurant district.”

“It’s definitely a restaurant. I saw kitchen equipment being brought in.”

“Really? Opening a restaurant here of all places?”

“But guess what’s even more shocking? I heard the Blue Horse Company is the one opening that shop.”

“The Blue Horse Company? No way. That’s just a rumor.”

“Why won’t you ever believe people?”

“You and your tall tales aren’t exactly new.”

“Ahem. This time it’s real.”

“That company is meticulous with everything they do. They’d have to be insane to open a restaurant here.”

“More than one person saw Manager Michael coming in and out of the shop.”

“The Blue Horse manager? Then it must be true. What on earth are they planning to sell?”

Buzz buzz.

Unlike usual, the adventurers were restless.

I walked down the street.

“This must be it.”

Right across from the adventurer request office.

The moment you open the request office door, the shop is the first thing you see.

If the savory scent of sesame oil wafts from here, no one would be able to just walk past.

I approached the shop to take a closer look.

Construction was in its final stages. 

At this rate, we could open without issue tomorrow.

“Huh? Fabir-nim!”

A familiar voice came from behind.

It was Cayton.

“Cayton. Heading to the request office?”

“Yes. I was actually planning to thank you, and we ended up meeting like this.”

“Thank me?”

“For the sword you gifted me.”

I had asked Bernard to deliver the sword to Cayton the next time he visited the apothecary. 

Thankfully, it was delivered safely.

“Even though you promised, I never thought you’d actually give it to me. Is it really okay for someone like me to receive such a sword?”

“It’s not that amazing a sword, so don’t feel burdened.”

“Not amazing? I heard this sword took second place in a blacksmithing contest! And it’s the most comfortable sword I’ve ever held. It fits my hand perfectly!”

“I’m glad you like it. The sword must be happy to be wielded by you too.”

“Thanks to it, my hunting efficiency has increased several times! I’ll work hard and become a promotional model worthy of the shop’s reputation!”

“I’ll look forward to it. But aren’t your party members waiting over there?”

“Huh?”

Behind Cayton, his adventurer classmates had their ears perked up. 

They were now familiar faces.

Envious gazes poured toward them.

“They probably came to see you, Fabir-nim, not me.”

Cayton shook his head.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“I’m opening a shop here.”

Cayton blinked, then a beat later his mouth fell open.

“…Eeeeeeh?”

At the same time, I saw his classmates’ jaws drop.

“Y-you mean… that shop right in front of us?”

“That’s right. This one.”

“B-but I heard it’s a restaurant? Then does that mean you’ll be selling…?”

Just then, a new sign was being installed outside.

– Kimbap Paradise

Cayton’s eyes nearly popped out.

“I’ll be selling kimbap.”

Whisper whisper.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

“Good grief! Why are you suddenly screaming like a madman?”

“Kimbap! It’s kimbap!”

“Okay, but what the heck is kimbap?”

“The food I told you I ate in front of the beginner dungeon!”

“Ah! The one so delicious it makes you dizzy and faint?”

“The one you wouldn’t shut up about? The one that causes heart attacks from pure bliss?”

“Yes! To think a shop would open right in front of the request office! I can’t believe it! Oh! Jesus! This is a blessing!”

Buzz buzz.

As the outside grew noisy, adventurers began coming out of the request office one by one.