Chapter 28
[Sizzle]
Oil spread across the rectangular rolled omelet pan sitting on the old gas burner.
Hong Man-gi took a couple of deep breaths, then carefully poured the freshly beaten eggs into the pan.
He could almost feel Reporter Park Seon-ju's sharp gaze piercing into his back.
Normally, he would have cooked while bickering with Poming, but the atmosphere today was completely different.
"Chef! Relax! Just do what you normally do! You have to roll eggs with your heart!"
Poming whispered into Hong Man-gi's ear.
But even Poming's voice carried a slight tension that was not normally there.
"I know. But that reporter looks like she's about to shoot lasers from her eyes...."
Hong Man-gi watched the edges of the egg turn white and picked up his chopsticks.
Just as he had taught Kang Jae-min, he relaxed his hands and moved gently.
He carefully rolled up the first layer.
Fortunately, it did not tear or burn.
"Oh! The first step is a success! As expected of our Chef!"
Poming clapped her tiny paws.
Hong Man-gi poured more egg mixture into the empty part of the pan and slightly tilted it so that it spread evenly.
'Focus. Just do what I always do.'
It did not matter who was waiting behind him.
Right now, the only thing he needed to do was put his heart into the dish in front of him.
As the rolled omelet slowly grew layer by layer, a small earthenware pot was placed on the other burner.
A pale broth had been made by boiling soaked dried pollock, anchovies, and kelp.
Hong Man-gi added diced radish first and boiled it until it became translucent.
"Chef! If you cook the radish too much, it'll get mushy! It's time to add the doenjang!"
"I know."
Hong Man-gi smoothly dissolved the doenjang through a strainer.
A rich and savory smell slowly filled the food cart.
Park Seon-ju, who was waiting outside, sniffed the air.
'Hmm... the smell is pretty deep....'
Hong Man-gi became even more focused.
He added tofu, zucchini, and minced garlic, then continued boiling it.
Finally, he added chopped green onion and a little Cheongyang chili pepper for some heat.
[Bubble, bubble]
The rich and flavorful dried pollock doenjang stew was complete.
"All right, let's serve it."
Hong Man-gi sliced the finished rolled omelet into easy-to-eat pieces and placed them on a plate.
Then he placed the steaming earthenware pot of doenjang stew on a tray.
Poming quietly sat on his shoulder.
Reporter Park Seon-ju was still sitting in the same position, waiting for Hong Man-gi.
A warm rolled omelet and doenjang stew were placed on the table in front of her.
Hong Man-gi calmly said,
"Please try it."
Reporter Park Seon-ju first carefully examined the rolled omelet.
The ordinary-looking yellow rolled omelet did not seem particularly special.
She picked up a piece with her chopsticks.
It felt soft yet springy.
'Hmm, from the outside, it just looks like the rolled omelet you'd get at any neighborhood snack shop.'
Still doubtful, she placed the rolled omelet into her mouth.
'...?!'
Reporter Park Seon-ju's eyes widened sharply.
'What is this softness? It isn't dry at all, it's moist. The seasoning isn't too salty or too bland either, it's just right. Even the vegetables inside have a nice crunch, and they go perfectly with the egg.'
Without realizing it, she picked up another piece and brought it to her mouth.
'This isn't just an ordinary rolled omelet. He brought out the natural flavors of the ingredients perfectly. His heat control and rolling technique aren't ordinary either. Can food of this quality really come from a food cart?'
This time, her attention moved toward the doenjang stew.
A savory aroma rose from the earthenware pot.
She could sense the deep flavor of a broth that seemed to have been made with dried pollock, anchovies, and kelp.
She scooped up a spoonful of broth.
'Huh? This isn't ordinary either. It's not salty, but the flavor is still deep. The refreshing taste of dried pollock blends well with the rich flavor of the doenjang. It doesn't taste like artificial seasoning, it feels like the ingredients themselves created the flavor.'
She lightly soaked a spoonful of rice in the broth and ate it.
The warm and filling taste gently comforted her stomach.
'They called it the Miracle Food Cart, maybe those rumors weren't completely wrong. With skills like this, his food could do more than simply taste good. It could move people's hearts. A Hunter who used to be at the lowest rank can cook food like this? There has to be a deeper story behind him.'
Reporter Park Seon-ju's chopsticks and spoon began moving busily.
The sharp, suspicious gaze she had when she first arrived had completely disappeared.
Before she knew it, she was fully focused on the food.
Hong Man-gi and Poming silently watched her eat.
A little while later, Reporter Park Seon-ju wiped her mouth with a napkin.
The plate and earthenware pot in front of her were completely empty.
"Thank you for the meal."
She looked at Hong Man-gi with a much softer expression than before.
"To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. But it was delicious. Very impressive."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"With skills like this, you could open a proper restaurant. Why are you running a food cart?"
"Hmm, well... like I said, it's also a side job. Besides, doesn't a food cart have its own charm?"
Reporter Park Seon-ju nodded several times.
Then she stood up, took out a notebook, and briefly wrote something down.
After that, she handed Hong Man-gi a business card.
"I really enjoyed the meal today. You accept cash, right?"
"Whatever is convenient for you."
"When you work with food professionally like I do, you can tell. You know how difficult it is to create this much flavor and emotion with such simple, basic dishes. If I get another chance, I'd definitely like to try one of your 'special dishes' too."
"Special dishes?"
"The ones I've only heard about through rumors."
Hong Man-gi gave her an awkward smile.
"There aren't any. I don't even know what rumors you're talking about...."
At that, she gave him a meaningful smile and continued.
"All right, I understand. Someday, there may be someone who wants to make you an interesting offer. Perhaps a place that needs that special ability of yours."
"I don't know what kind of place would need a special ability like that, but I'm really not someone that impressive."
"We'll meet again."
Leaving those words behind, Reporter Park Seon-ju gave him a slight bow and left the food cart.
[Jingle]
When she disappeared with the sound of the bell, silence returned to the food cart.
Poming flew onto Hong Man-gi's shoulder and asked nervously,
"She seems kind of strange, doesn't she? What was she even talking about?"
"Hmm... I know."
"A place that needs your special ability? What does that mean?"
Hong Man-gi silently stared at the business card Park Seon-ju had given him.
Under the 'Food Insight' logo, the name 'Reporter Park Seon-ju' was clearly printed.
"I wonder if this will lead to something good, or if it's the beginning of another headache."
Hong Man-gi muttered as he slipped the business card into his pocket.
The unexpected visit and the reporter's final words had created a new ripple in his heart.
Meanwhile, at a hospital designated by the Hunter Association.
Kang Jae-min lay on his hospital bed with his arm in a cast, spending his time in boredom.
No matter how much he changed the TV channels, there was nothing particularly interesting to watch.
'Ah... I want to go back to the food cart. I need to practice making rolled omelets.'
Without realizing it, his thoughts returned to the food cart.
Was Hunter Hong Man-gi doing well?
What kind of prank was Poming pulling now?
It had only been a short time, but that place had already become familiar and comfortable to Kang Jae-min.
At that moment, the hospital room door quietly opened.
"Hunter Kang Jae-min, do you have a moment?"
The person who entered was completely unexpected.
He wore a neat black suit.
His gaze was sharp, and there was something intimidating about him.
A badge on his chest showed that he belonged to the Hunter Association.
The words 'Inspection Department' were clearly engraved on it.
'Inspection Department? Why are they here?'
Kang Jae-min could not help becoming tense.
The Hunter Association's Inspection Department was a kind of internal investigation organization that investigated Hunters for corruption, rule violations, and similar offenses.
There was absolutely no reason for them to come looking for him.
"Who are you?"
Kang Jae-min asked cautiously.
The man answered,
"I'm Team Leader Cha Mu-jin from the Association's Inspection Department. I came because there are several things we need to confirm regarding your recent activities, Hunter Kang Jae-min."
Team Leader Cha Mu-jin's gaze briefly rested on Kang Jae-min's arm in the cast.
"I heard you suffered that injury during the BX-01 Dungeon raid. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. They said I just need to rest until the bone completely heals. But why would someone from the Inspection Department come to see me?"
Team Leader Cha Mu-jin pulled over a chair and sat beside Kang Jae-min's bed.
"As I understand it, you've recently been working together with a D-rank Hunter named 'Hong Man-gi.' Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's correct. But is there some kind of problem...?"
"Rather than a problem, there are simply some things we need to confirm. Hunter Hong Man-gi was F-rank until recently, yet he suddenly began displaying exceptional abilities and clearing several dungeons. In particular, clearing BX-01 was highly unusual. Since you're a B-rank Hunter, I'm sure you understand that better than most. You know just how unusual something like that is."
Team Leader Cha Mu-jin's eyes became sharper.
"I'd like you to honestly tell me what impressed you the most about Hunter Hong Man-gi during that process. And whether there was anything about his abilities that you found suspicious."
Kang Jae-min swallowed hard.
The appearance of the Inspection Department had been completely unexpected.
The intention behind their questions also did not seem simple.
Did something happen to Hunter Hong Man-gi?
Or has the Association started to become suspicious of his abilities?
If they are suspicious, why? What exactly happened?
Complicated thoughts crossed Kang Jae-min's mind.
Depending on how he answered, it could have a major effect on Hunter Hong Man-gi.
Perhaps even on himself.
"He's just... a good person."
Kang Jae-min carefully began to speak.
"And he's strong. There was nothing suspicious about him at all. What exactly could be a problem? There isn't any rule saying a D-rank Hunter isn't allowed to clear a high-rank, high-level dungeon, is there? If you're saying there's never been a case like this in history, then maybe he's simply making history. Wouldn't that make it even more impressive?"
Team Leader Cha Mu-jin silently listened to Kang Jae-min's answer.
No emotion could be read from his expression.
"Yes, that makes sense. Very well. Let's move on to the next question."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"I'd like you to answer honestly. Was there anything suspicious about Hunter Hong Man-gi's abilities or behavior?"
There was subtle pressure in Team Leader Cha Mu-jin's voice.
It was an unexpected situation, with an unexpected atmosphere.
Kang Jae-min swallowed dryly.
He had no idea how his answer here might affect Hong Man-gi.
But as if he had already made up his mind, he spoke openly.
"Something suspicious? I'm not sure. Like I said, he's simply a good person. If there had been anything suspicious about the way he acted or behaved, do you really think I, a B-rank Hunter, would have chosen to stay by his side? He's only D-rank, after all."
