Chapter 91
Some time later.
A day at the Full Moon Restaurant had now become so hectic that even the word "war" was not enough to describe it.
"Another Spicy Cream Pork for Table 3! Is the Doenjang Cheese Risotto for Table 5 still not ready?"
"It's coming, it's coming! Ah, stop rushing me! The timing for melting the cheese is everything!"
It was already three in the afternoon, long past lunchtime, but every seat in the restaurant was still occupied.
No, it had gotten to the point where they might need standing seats.
The line outside the restaurant stretched around the alley and all the way to the main road. People passing by kept peeking over curiously, whispering as if some famous idol was holding a fan signing event.
"Hey, that place opened again."
"Oh, you're right."
Hong Man-gi briefly glanced toward the dining area while tossing his wok.
'At this point... should I seriously consider opening a second branch?'
The restaurant was simply too small to handle all the customers.
People willingly waited for one or two hours, but every time he had to send customers away, Hong Man-gi could not help feeling bad.
"Chef! The customers waiting outside are asking us to install a ticket machine! The waiting numbers are already over one hundred!"
Amid all the chaos, there was one sight that stood out.
At the innermost part of the restaurant was a separate VIP table.
It had originally been prepared for customers who wanted to enjoy their meals in peace.
"Hey, look over there. Isn't that woman... the White Lotus Guild Master?"
"Song Hwa-rin? No way. You think that crazy tyrant would sit around eating in a place like this?"
"It is her. Look at that red hair and those eyes. That's definitely Song Hwa-rin."
At the end of all those whispering gazes sat Song Hwa-rin.
Instead of the intimidating armor or coat usually associated with an S-rank Hunter, she was dressed casually, elegantly enjoying a plate of Black Sesame Teriyaki Braised Pork Belly.
"Hong Man-gi! Give me more rice! I still have meat left!"
She waved her empty rice bowl.
The charisma of an S-rank Hunter was nowhere to be seen. Right now, she looked more like a younger sister or an older cousin throwing a little tantrum over food.
Hong Man-gi sighed and scooped more rice from the cooker.
"Please lower your voice. You're going to give the other customers indigestion."
"Hmph. I'm paying for my food with my own money. If anyone has a problem with it, they can fight me."
Song Hwa-rin snorted as she accepted the rice.
Ever since Hong Man-gi had restored the sense of taste she had lost for three years, she had been coming to the restaurant almost every day.
As if making up for everything she had been unable to eat during those years, her appetite was enormous.
Just then,
"Hello!"
"Good afternoon."
A large group of customers came pouring inside.
It was a family of eight.
"Oh dear, there aren't any seats."
"Doesn't it look like there's an empty spot farther inside?"
The customers were pointing at the four-person VIP table where Song Hwa-rin sat alone.
She was taking up the entire large table by herself.
Hong Man-gi walked over to her with an awkward expression.
"Um... Master?"
"What?"
"Well... we just got a large group of customers, and we don't really have enough seats. So, if possible..."
Hong Man-gi trailed off and glanced toward the kitchen.
Song Hwa-rin's eyebrow twitched.
"Are you telling me to move right now? Have you forgotten who I am? I'm Song Hwa-rin, the master of White Lotus!"
The Hunters nearby flinched and held their breaths.
Getting on an S-rank Hunter's bad side could easily leave someone without even enough bones to bury.
But Hong Man-gi remained calm.
"I know. That's exactly why I'm asking you. Instead, tonight I'll open the special wine I've been saving. And... I set up that little chair you like in the corner of the kitchen. It's warm over there."
Song Hwa-rin glared at him.
Her notoriously bad temper seemed to blaze in her eyes.
"...Make sure the wine is vintage."
"Yes, understood."
Song Hwa-rin pouted as she stood up.
Then she personally picked up the tray holding her rice and side dishes and trudged toward the kitchen while grumbling.
"I'm only moving because it's you. If anyone else asked me, I'd already have beaten them half to death."
She dropped onto a small plastic stool beside the ingredient boxes in the corner of the kitchen.
Then, without the slightest concern, she placed the remaining meat on top of her rice and resumed eating.
The customers stared with their mouths hanging open.
Song Hwa-rin, an S-rank Hunter ranked among the top five in South Korea in terms of offensive power, was crouched in a cramped kitchen corner eating her meal.
"Am I... seeing things?"
"She can actually become that obedient?"
"Whoa... what the hell is the owner of this place? He's treating an S-rank Hunter like a kitchen assistant."
Their awe toward Hong Man-gi rose another level.
10 PM.
The last customer had finally left, and the restaurant doors were closed.
"Aaaagh! My back! Today was seriously the worst yet!"
Kang Jae-min cried out as he sprawled across a chair.
"You worked hard, Hunter Kang Jae-min. I'll finish the dishes."
Lee Yu-han energetically rolled up his sleeves.
Hong Man-gi smiled at the two of them.
"Forget it. Both of you go home early today. Jae-min, you need to visit the market tomorrow morning, so get some rest. Yu-han, you've been working late several days in a row too."
"Come on, we should at least finish cleaning together."
"It's fine. I'll do it tonight. Besides... there's still one more guest here."
Hong Man-gi pointed toward the kitchen.
Song Hwa-rin was still there, wiping a wineglass.
"Ah... I see. Understood. Then we'll head home first. See you tomorrow!"
Kang Jae-min and Lee Yu-han quickly read the mood and gathered their belongings.
Poming was dismissed as well.
