Chapter 58
Lee Yu-han continued sincerely.
"Hunter, to me, you're not just a companion or my boss. You're someone who changed my entire life, a benefactor. Someday, I want to become someone like you, someone who can give hope and comfort to others. I always remind myself of that."
Lee Yu-han's heartfelt emotions spread warmly around the campfire.
Finally, everyone's attention turned toward Hong Man-gi.
As though he had been waiting for his turn, Hong Man-gi began speaking.
"Until only a few months ago, I was an F-rank Hunter too. You two aren't Hunters, but I'm sure you understand what the rank means. F-rank is the very bottom. I was looked down on every day, treated like baggage, and I thought I had no talent and no hope. So I decided to give up everything and retire as a Hunter. That food cart was almost like an escape for me, one last desperate attempt to survive."
His calm voice continued.
"But there, I met some special people. Exhausted and wounded people, and souls who couldn't leave this world because they still had lingering regrets."
"Souls...?"
"Ah, that was just a literary expression. Hehe."
Hong Man-gi did not explain his specific ability.
"While cooking for people carrying all kinds of stories, I realized something. My cooking wasn't simply food that filled someone's stomach. It could soothe a wounded heart and comfort someone on their final journey. My cooking is comfort for those who are hurting. That's why I run Full Moon Restaurant, and that's why I need to keep cooking."
After Hong Man-gi finished his sincere story, a deep silence settled around the campfire.
"Oh...."
"That's wonderful... truly."
It was not a glamorous career story or an incredible success story.
Yet there was more sincerity and emotional weight in his words than in anything else.
Edward Kang and Master Lee Seon-young now seemed to understand why Hong Man-gi's food carried such unusual flavor and emotion.
His cooking contained his life, his philosophy, and his warm affection for people.
Crackle.
Crackle.
The night grew deeper, and the campfire slowly began to die down.
And then,
the next morning.
The eastern sky slowly began to brighten.
After talking honestly late into the night and only getting a little sleep, all four of them opened their eyes almost as though they had agreed to do so.
The morning sun rose beyond the pine forest.
The four silently watched the sunrise together.
Their awkward first meeting, the tension inside the studio, and the deep conversations around the campfire.
It had only been one night, but a deep trust and bond that could not be explained in words had already formed between them.
Instead of exhaustion, their faces carried calmness and positive energy as they prepared for a new beginning.
"Heh, this old woman got to see something beautiful thanks to you young people."
Master Lee Seon-young spoke while watching the rising sun.
"Indeed. If I'd come here alone, I probably would've spent the entire night thinking about the final menu without sleeping at all."
Edward Kang smiled awkwardly in agreement.
Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han also smiled silently.
They had been rivals yesterday.
Now, they were dependable companions who sincerely supported one another, as well as friendly rivals.
Through this short camping trip, they felt they had gained something even more valuable than cooking skill.
* * *
On the drive back to Seoul after camping,
the atmosphere inside Edward Kang's SUV was far more comfortable and cheerful than the day before.
Master Lee Seon-young handed out handmade yakgwa, and Lee Yu-han happily stuffed his mouth with the sweet treats.
At that moment, Hong Man-gi, who was sitting in the back seat, suddenly clapped his hands as though remembering something.
"Ah, right. I almost forgot."
He lightly tapped Lee Yu-han, who sat in the passenger seat, on the shoulder.
"Yu-han, should we call her out?"
"Huh? Who?"
Instead of answering, Hong Man-gi quietly muttered something into the air.
A small cluster of light appeared above his shoulder.
Then a fluffy white ball suddenly popped into existence.
It was Poming.
"Puwaaang! Poming appears! Huh? Where are we? Sniff, sniff. Forest smell? Valley smell? Don't tell me? Don't tell me!"
Poming looked around, then seemed to understand the situation.
She immediately shouted at Hong Man-gi.
"Chef! Did you go camping without Poming?! And with those scary chefs over there?! How could you do this to Poming?! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!"
Poming's sharp scream filled the entire vehicle.
Edward Kang almost jumped while driving and quickly looked into the rearview mirror.
Master Lee Seon-young widened her eyes and stared at Poming with fascination.
"Oh my goodness. You're as cute as a doll. Even your voice sounds like a Maltese."
Master Lee Seon-young reached toward Poming as though she wanted to pet her immediately.
But Poming ignored the compliment and glared at Hong Man-gi with an extremely sulky expression.
"Chef! Explain yourself! Why didn't you take Poming?! Camping is about eating delicious food! Barbecue! Sausages! Marshmallows! Poming was looking forward to it so much! Sob, sob. Chef doesn't like Poming anymore, right? Right?!"
Tears even began gathering in Poming's eyes as she complained.
She looked so adorable and pitiful that everyone in the car burst out laughing.
Hong Man-gi sighed.
"Poming, if we'd brought you, none of us would've slept last night. You would've spent the entire night asking us to grill more of this and let you taste more of that. You would've been noisy the whole time."
"That's not true! Poming would've behaved! And if Poming had been there, I would've made a dessert a hundred times better than anything you ate yesterday! Chef, you missed something incredibly important! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!"
Poming stomped her feet indignantly while protesting.
"Hahahahaha!"
