Chapter 44
Lee Yu-han also spoke with a deeply moved expression.
"Honestly, if it weren't for this place, I would probably still be an F-rank Hunter wandering around dungeon entrances. Hunter Hong Man-gi, and Poming too, thank you so much. From now on, I'll follow you for the rest of my life and work hard at Full Moon Restaurant!"
Lee Yu-han bowed sincerely.
His eyes carried deep respect and loyalty toward Hong Man-gi.
"Hey, don't say things like that. You're making me uncomfortable. And what do you mean the rest of your life? You need to grow quickly and open your own restaurant someday."
Hong Man-gi spoke awkwardly, though he did not seem to dislike hearing it.
Just as the three were sharing their sadness about the final night of the food cart and their excitement over a new beginning,
[Jingle]
The bell at the entrance rang weakly.
A woman staggered inside.
"Hmm...?"
"That person...."
She looked familiar.
It was Reporter Park Seon-ju from the food magazine who had visited the food cart a few days earlier and questioned Hong Man-gi about his cooking.
"Heee...."
She entered with flushed cheeks.
She looked completely different from before.
Her neat business suit was gone.
Instead, she wore a badly wrinkled blouse, and her hair was messy.
Her face was red from alcohol.
Her eyes were badly swollen.
The moment she sat down, she collapsed face-first onto the table.
"Haa... excuse me... excuse me! Soju... bring me two bottles of soju quickly...."
Her heavily slurred voice carried deep sadness and despair.
Hong Man-gi frowned.
'What happened...?'
Only a few days ago she had looked sharp and intelligent.
Now she seemed like a completely different person.
Hong Man-gi approached her.
"Reporter Park, are you all right? Did something happen?"
When Hong Man-gi carefully asked, Park Seon-ju waved her hand without raising her head.
"Forget it, just bring the soju. I'm going to drink five bottles here today and die... And give me any side dish... whatever you're best at... I already know you're good at cooking, so even sugar water is fiiiiine...."
Her voice turned tearful.
'Something is definitely wrong with this woman.'
Hong Man-gi gave Lee Yu-han a look.
Lee Yu-han quickly brought two cold bottles of soju and a glass.
Hong Man-gi quietly sat beside Park Seon-ju and gently patted her back.
"Reporter Park, drinking is fine, but if something difficult happened, you can tell me. It's better than suffering by yourself."
"Why?! Is this some kind of bar? Are you a bartender or something?"
"Sometimes. Isn't that what food carts are like?"
Hong Man-gi's voice was calm and warm.
Park Seon-ju finally burst into the tears she had been holding back.
She collapsed onto the table and began crying loudly.
"Uuuugh... uwaaaah... aaah!"
Her sorrowful sobbing filled the food cart on its final night.
Hong Man-gi simply sat beside her and waited calmly.
A little later,
as Park Seon-ju's crying slowly faded,
an awkward silence settled over the food cart.
Only the occasional sound of soju being poured could be heard.
Hong Man-gi silently refilled her glass whenever it became empty.
Lee Yu-han nervously watched the two.
Poming stayed close behind Hong Man-gi's shoulder and looked at Park Seon-ju with worried eyes.
By the time she had almost finished both bottles, Park Seon-ju finally raised her swollen eyes.
Deep sadness still remained on her face, but she looked slightly calmer than before.
"I look pathetic, don't I? Sorry for showing you such an embarrassing side of myself, Owner. And you too."
She awkwardly bowed toward Lee Yu-han.
"No, it's fine."
Lee Yu-han awkwardly answered.
Hong Man-gi moved the empty soju glass away.
"Your stomach must be hurting. You should eat something. Drinking this much on an empty stomach will damage your body."
He looked toward Lee Yu-han and Poming.
"Yu-han, Poming. Should we make some bean sprout hangover soup? I think that's what she needs right now."
"Bean sprout hangover soup?"
Lee Yu-han repeated.
"I've never made that before...."
"It's fine. We have Poming. Poming, you know the recipe, right?"
Poming proudly puffed out her tiny chest.
"Of course, Chef! Bean sprout hangover soup is Poming's specialty! Nothing beats it after drinking! All right, Mr. Lee Yu-han! Poming will now teach you the secret recipe, so follow carefully!"
Poming fluttered toward the kitchen.
Lee Yu-han followed her with a confused expression.
Park Seon-ju blankly watched them.
"All right, Mr. Lee Yu-han! What's the most important thing in bean sprout hangover soup?"
"The... broth?"
"Okay! You're smart! Exactly, refreshing broth!"
Poming pointed toward a bag of bean sprouts on the counter.
"First, make a strong broth using anchovies and kelp. Remove the guts from the anchovies, and place the kelp in cold water. Once the water begins boiling, take the kelp out immediately so it doesn't become bitter! That's the most basic rule!"
Following Poming's instructions, Lee Yu-han began making the broth.
His movements were still clumsy, but he clearly looked much calmer and more serious than before.
"While the broth is cooking, wash the bean sprouts clean. Here's one tip! Don't remove the heads! They contain lots of aspartic acid, so they're perfect for relieving hangovers! Slice the green onion diagonally, chop Cheongyang chili peppers if you want some heat, and mince the garlic. Got it?!"
Poming recited the recipe smoothly like an experienced chef.
Lee Yu-han breathed heavily but worked hard to follow.
"Once the broth is ready, remove the anchovies and kelp. Then put in the bean sprouts and the lid! Never close it! Thought I was going to say close it, didn't you? Hehe, nope!"
"H, huh?"
"Bean sprouts can become smelly in an instant! Boil them strongly until they're cooked, then add minced garlic, soup soy sauce, and if needed, salted shrimp for seasoning! We don't have salted shrimp, so use salt!"
"O, okay!"
Lee Yu-han's hands moved faster.
"Good! You're doing great! Finally, add green onion and Cheongyang chili pepper, boil it a little more and, khaa~ refreshing and spicy bean sprout hangover soup, perfect for recovering after drinking!"
Along with Poming's lively explanation, the savory and refreshing aroma of bean sprout hangover soup began spreading from the kitchen.
Without realizing it, Park Seon-ju sniffed the air.
* * *
A little later, a steaming earthenware pot of bean sprout hangover soup was placed in front of Park Seon-ju.
Crisp-looking bean sprouts, chopped green onion, and red chili peppers floated over the clear broth.
"Try it. It should help settle your stomach."
Hong Man-gi gently encouraged her.
Park Seon-ju silently picked up her spoon.
She blew on the hot broth and took a sip.
"Ah... that's good...."
The refreshing yet spicy broth warmly surrounded her empty stomach.
The crisp texture of the bean sprouts.
The gentle aroma of garlic.
The refreshing flavor of green onion.
There did not seem to be any special ingredients inside.
Yet strangely, it tasted deeply comforting.
She silently continued eating.
[Slurp]
Only after emptying every last drop from the earthenware pot did she finally breathe out and look at Hong Man-gi.
"Owner... no, you said your name was Hong Man-gi, right? Thank you. Really... I thought I wouldn't be able to eat anything... but this soup brought me back to life."
Her voice was still hoarse.
However, she seemed far more comfortable than when she had only been forcing alcohol down her throat.
"Reporter Park, if you're comfortable with it, could you tell me what happened now?"
Hong Man-gi asked carefully.
Park Seon-ju looked outside the window for a moment.
The street was deeply covered in darkness.
The occasional shout from drunk people and the sound of car horns could be heard.
She turned back toward Hong Man-gi and slowly began her story.
"I have... a very old friend. Her name is Han Na-jin. She's the complete opposite of me. I'm sharp and sensitive like this, but Na-jin is honestly like an angel. She always smiles and puts others before herself. She studied social welfare because her dream was to help people in difficult situations."
Her voice carried affection and longing.
"It was about a month ago. Na-jin was coming home late at night when she was struck by a motorcycle in a hit-and-run accident near her house."
"A hit-and-run?"
Park Seon-ju's eyes turned red again.
"Fortunately, her external injuries weren't serious. There were no major fractures, and her life wasn't in danger. But she hit her head. They called it a short-term memory formation disorder or something like that. Anyway, there was some damage to her brain."
Her voice trembled.
"She can't remember conversations from ten minutes earlier. She recognizes who I am and who her family members are, but she quickly forgets what she just did or what we were talking about. Sometimes she even becomes confused about what she's doing at that very moment. The doctors say it's a side effect of the brain injury and that steady rehabilitation and medication might help, but the problem is...."
Park Seon-ju lowered her head, unable to continue.
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
"They still haven't caught the hit-and-run driver. Unless Na-jin gets her memory back, we can't know exactly what happened during the accident, so the investigation isn't going anywhere. Compensation is the same. Every day feels like my blood is drying up. Watching Na-jin lose her smile is unbearable, and I feel pathetic because I can't do anything for her."
She covered her face with both hands.
"I see...."
Hong Man-gi silently listened.
Her friend's tragedy.
Her deep sadness.
Her helplessness.
Now he could roughly understand why she had drunk so much tonight.
Silence continued for a long time.
Lee Yu-han looked at Park Seon-ju sadly.
Poming sat on Hong Man-gi's shoulder and pretended to wipe away tears.
'Hmm....'
Hong Man-gi thought for a while.
Then he slowly spoke.
"Reporter Park. I might... be able to help."
"What?"
Park Seon-ju looked confused.
"I said I might be able to help."
"H, how? What can you possibly do...?"
Hong Man-gi looked toward Poming.
"I obtained a strange ingredient from the BX-0 Dungeon. Think we could make a lunchbox with it?"
Lee Yu-han immediately understood and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Huh? You're going to use that?"
