Chapter 41

Chapter 41. The First Hero (35)

Park Seokdu eventually couldn't endure Pien's stare anymore.

"What's with that expression?"

"You're not planning to sit here doing nothing until Count Thornjer arrives, are you?"

"Then what? Do you have another plan?"

"You're the Guild Master of the Rice Ball Guild."

"So?"

Pien's mocking expression irritated Park Seokdu.

Is this because of the platinum?

He had made a ridiculous bet because of Pien and lost money.

After he forced her to reimburse him, her mood had worsened.

Now she seemed to be deliberately picking a fight.

"Don't tell me you actually think I'm acting like this because I lost one platinum and eighty-five gold."

"Then what is it?!"

"Oh."

Pien's lips curved.

"So you did think that."

"Stop hiding things and just say it!"

"I discovered something interesting."

Something interesting?

What?

Another embarrassing story about how he'd been fooled?

Several recent humiliating memories flashed through Park Seokdu's mind and disappeared.

"Something interesting? You found something interesting while we're sitting here unable to do anything?"

"Do you remember the child who said he was confident about eating?"

"Stop dragging it out and say what you mean!"

Park Seokdu didn't even remember which child she meant.

What was he supposed to do with some kid who liked eating?

When Count Thornjer arrives, I'm asking him to assign someone else to me.

Pien acted far too much like she knew everything.

She clearly understood he couldn't guess what she meant, yet she still dragged out the conversation just to show off her knowledge.

"The child serves Wild Pig Soup."

Pien continued,

"And that gave me an idea."

Park Seokdu was about to snap at her again for dragging things out.

But Pien moved first.

She pulled out a sheet of paper.

"What's that? Why are you showing me a property contract?"

"Does the location look familiar?"

"That's near the orphanage."

Park Seokdu looked at her.

"What about it?"

"I bought the property across from it."

"Why?"

Park Seokdu had no idea where this was going.

The area around the orphanage wasn't a particularly good location.

His head began hurting.

Then a possibility occurred to him.

"Wait."

He narrowed his eyes.

"You didn't buy that using guild money, did you?"

"No. I used my own money."

Pien waved the concern away.

"Don't worry. I have a plan."

"What? You didn't use guild money?"

"Why is that surprising?"

"You always used guild money before. Or made me pay."

"Did I?"

Pien's voice trailed off.

She glanced at him.

There was definitely something suspicious in that reaction.

Did she think I'd become an easy target because I kept letting it slide?

Past memories surfaced.

Pien had often said,

Wouldn't this help the guild?

Then bought unnecessary items.

Park Seokdu felt anger rising.

But then another question overtook it.

"Why did you buy it?"

"Hmm... because I needed it."

Pien shifted slightly.

"Don't you want to hear the plan?"

"No. I mean yes, I want to hear it."

Park Seokdu frowned.

"But answer why you bought it first. Stop showing off and just explain. I'll listen."

"That child I mentioned earlier..."

Pien hesitated.

"I recruited him."

"Stop changing the subject."

This time, Park Seokdu refused to let it go.

He was already irritated by the way Pien constantly acted superior.

This was a good opportunity to teach her something.

If she wanted to talk, she needed to say things directly instead of making him think through pointless puzzles.

Then maybe she'd start explaining things immediately.

"Don't you want to stop them from selling Wild Pig Soup?"

Park Seokdu's attention sharpened instantly.

"That's possible?"

Wild Pig Soup and Kim Seongchan were already becoming constant topics throughout the area.

People were saying a savior had appeared to solve their hunger.

I also heard they're secretly delivering free Wild Pig Soup to beggars.

Kim Seongchan himself wasn't doing the deliveries.

Peuten, Director Hae-reun, and the children were.

Park Seokdu knew that.

If Peuten, Deputy Head of the Highs Merchant Company, hadn't been involved, Park Seokdu would've stopped them already.

If they could eliminate that annoying Original Wild Pig Soup restaurant, people would eventually begin relying on the Rice Ball Guild again.

"Of course it's possible."

Pien tapped the contract.

"That's why I'm talking about it. I'm opening a restaurant here."

Her plan still sounded strange.

Park Seokdu couldn't connect opening another restaurant with stopping Wild Pig Soup sales.

"You're opening a restaurant?"

He frowned.

"You tasted Wild Pig Soup yourself. At one silver for that quality, the value is incredible."

"Then we'll offer good value too."

"Good value?"

Park Seokdu stared at her.

"What are you planning to sell?"

"I'll make the food myself, so don't worry about that."

Pien returned to the earlier topic.

"You remember the child who said he's good at eating?"

"Yes. You keep mentioning him. What's so special about him?"

"I promised to give him ten silver for every plate he finishes."

Pien smiled.

"You'll cover that, right?"

"What?! Why should I pay?! Do you think I'm an idiot?!"

"Then should I cancel everything?"

Pien shrugged.

"You want to stop Wild Pig Soup from being sold, don't you?"

She leaned closer.

"If you do nothing, Kim Seongchan's reputation will keep improving. Isn't it about time the reputation of Rice Ball Guild Master Park Seokdu improved too?"

Pien had a point.

Ever since Seongchan began selling Wild Pig Soup, his popularity in the Terk Kingdom had risen day after day.

He still hadn't reached the fame of the Rice Ball Guild, which had fought Wild Pigs and demons.

But if this continued, he could eventually become a threat.

"So what's the plan?"

"I'll explain after you agree to pay ten silver for every plate the kid eats."

"Haa..."

Park Seokdu sighed.

"Fine. Tell me."

For some reason, he always felt like Pien managed to take advantage of him.

It's for the Rice Ball Guild.

That feeling didn't matter.

This was an investment in the guild.

"Kyao~ Kyaooo~"

Silnyang lay comfortably on Na-ye's shoulder, gently swaying its tail.

The spirit's eyes met Seongchan's.

"Kyao~"

Silnyang cried softly.

Seongchan smiled.

"You're early."

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Seongchan looked at Silnyang.

"Silnyang seems to be in a great mood. What happened overnight?"

"I don't know. Maybe Silnyang feels more comfortable now."

"Looks like it."

Seongchan looked outside.

Na-ye did the same.

"They built that restaurant overnight."

Seongchan glanced across the road.

"Do you know anything?"

Na-ye could only frown.

She was still Vice Guild Master of the Rice Ball Guild.

But in practice, Park Seokdu controlled the guild.

He didn't tell her anything.

Na-ye had only one option.

"Should I go ask?"

"I don't care if you help them too."

"Really?"

"You're the Vice Guild Master of the Rice Ball Guild."

"Right..."

Na-ye looked strangely surprised.

Seongchan rubbed his own cheek where she was staring.

There was nothing on it.

"What?"

"It's just... strange."

"What is?"

"The Rice Ball Guild keeps betting against you and confronting you, but you're still telling me I can go help their restaurant."

"You were the one who said you'd go ask first."

"Oh."

Na-ye blinked.

"That's true."

She smiled.

"I'll stay and help you instead."

"All right."

Seongchan grinned.

"It's reassuring having the Vice Guild Master of the Rice Ball Guild helping me."

Na-ye's face immediately became red from the unexpected praise.

Apparently wanting to change the subject, she looked toward the restaurant across the road.

"What do you think they'll make?"

"Something good enough to compete with Wild Pig Soup and Wild Pig Kalguksu."

"Is that possible?"

Seongchan watched Pien giving instructions.

The Rice Ball Guild had deliberately opened a shop directly across from his.

Pien isn't bad at cooking.

She simply enjoyed discovering talented people more than earning money through cooking.

That was why she rarely cooked professionally.

A smile formed on Seongchan's lips.

She came exactly as expected.

Because of this competition, even more people would learn about this area where the orphanage was located.

"We need to serve lots of customers and earn money again today!"

"Dean... there's something."

"What? Need the bathroom?"

"No! It's..."

Malko was troubled.

He had lowered his voice because he was worried about people overhearing.

Instead, the suspicious whisper made several children turn toward him.

Malko didn't notice.

Dean did.

If it isn't poop, what is it? Why does he look like he doesn't want to go to the restaurant?

Dean looked at Malko, who was nervously checking the people around them.

Then he raised his voice.

"Director Hae-reun, Malko has something to say. Can we come a little later?"

"Is something wrong?"

Instead of continuing toward the Original Wild Pig Soup restaurant, Hae-reun immediately approached.

Now all the children were looking at Dean and Malko.

Dean, why did you make this into such a big deal?!

Malko resented him.

At the same time, his mind raced for a way out.

Nothing came to him.

But he couldn't tell the truth here either.

I can't say I'm going to eat at the Rice Ball Guild's restaurant.

Through Pien, Malko had agreed to eat as much of their food as possible.

For every finished plate, he would receive ten silver.

While Malko hesitated, Hae-reun finally stopped staring at him.

"If you're worried about something, you can always tell me."

She gave him a gentle smile.

"Tell me after you've organized your thoughts."

"Okay..."

"If it's nothing important, I'm leaving. Ow!"

Malko suddenly grabbed Dean's arm hard as he tried to walk away.

His eyes were desperate.

Dean sensed something was wrong and immediately stopped talking.

Only after Hae-reun and the other children disappeared from sight did Malko release him.

"My arm almost came off."

Dean rolled up his sleeve.

A clear handprint remained on his skin.

Malko's eyes widened.

He had grabbed much harder than he'd intended.

His voice became tiny.

"Uh... sorry."

"You think sorry fixes this? Wow, it really burns."

Seeing Dean frown made it even harder for Malko to speak.

If he'd simply never accepted the offer, none of this would've happened.

The situation had moved far away from what he'd originally wanted.

His mind went blank.

"Did something troublesome happen?"

"H-How did you know?"

"I can tell by looking at you."

"You can tell just by looking?"

Malko stared at him.

"How?"

"If it's nothing important, let's go. We need to make money."

Dean started walking immediately.

"I'm eating steamed potatoes with sugar today!"

Malko stared at his back.

Then he shouted,

"There is something! Something happened!"

Dean stopped.

"What?"

"I don't know if what I'm doing is wrong."

"Pooping your pants while walking down the street is embarrassing. It's not morally wrong."

"That's not it!"

"Then what is it?"

"They said they'll give me ten silver for every plate I eat."

Silence fell.

Dean's eyes widened.

Then he shouted,

"Hey!"

"So it is wrong?"

"Of course you should do it!"

Dean leaned forward excitedly.

"Introduce me too! I'll do it!"

Malko sighed in relief.

"The Rice Ball Guild is opening a restaurant across the road. I just need to eat there."

Dean's expression immediately changed.

"Hey. That's different."

Malko froze.

"So I can't?"

"Of course not."

Dean frowned.

"Who do you think is the reason we're eating this well now? You can't do something like that."

"Right..."

Malko's shoulders dropped.

"What should I do? I already said I'd do it."

He rubbed his head.

"They said the food would be delicious, so I wanted to eat it too."

Then he muttered,

"And she kept asking whether I was really confident about eating. I got angry and shouted that I'd eat everything, so she should prepare the money."

"Really?"

Dean looked toward someone in the distance.

"Is that her?"

Malko followed his finger.

Pien was there.

"Yes."

"Don't point."

Pien noticed them anyway.

She looked toward Malko.

"Not confident going alone, so you brought a friend?"

"I can do it alone!"

Malko answered instantly.

Then, as if bewitched, he started walking toward her.

Dean shook his head and looked behind them.

They're watching.

Seongchan's shop and the Rice Ball Guild's restaurant were close enough that each side could easily see the other.

Dean met Peuten's eyes.

Peuten only smiled.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't look angry either.

"Your name is Dean, right?"

"You know me?"

"I make a point of remembering talented people."

"Talented? What's that?"

"Something you'll understand later."

Pien gestured toward the waiting area.

"Since you're here to eat, wait over there."

"I didn't come here to eat!"

Dean didn't receive an answer.

Pien was busy arranging tables and chairs with the Rice Ball Guild members and preparing for cooking.

"What do we do, Dean? Should we leave now?"

"Everyone already saw us. What's the point of leaving?"

"What do you mean? Saw what? They're treating us like we don't even exist."

"Look over there."

Malko looked across the road.

The other children were watching.

Even Director Hae-reun met his eyes.

To Malko, everyone looked as though they thought he'd betrayed them.

Scratch. Scratch.

Malko aggressively scratched his head.

When Pien had asked whether he was confident in eating, he should've simply said he could eat a decent amount.

Now it was too late for regret.

"What do I do? What do I do?"

"What do you mean?"

Dean looked surprisingly calm.

"This is actually good."

"Hey! How is this good?!"

"Watch."

Malko watched Dean's back.

Then he followed the direction Dean was heading.

Hae-reun was standing there.

Dean raised a hand and mimed eating.

What are you doing?! Aren't we supposed to hide that I'm eating here?

Malko's heart pounded.

Just imagining everyone hating him made him feel sick.