The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 122. Reactions
There was no need to mention it now.
“Then I’ll go check on it.”
“Yeah. Good work.”
PD Ga left the Director’s Office.
Choi PD, who had been leaning against the corridor wall contemplating the future, approached him.
“What did he say?”
“The ratings are good. They’re even talking about regular scheduling. Isn’t that killer?”
“Oh. Yeah, that’s definitely killer.”
“Kekeke….”
Choi PD’s eyes widened. It was good news, after all.
But PD Ga’s face wasn’t bright.
“Have you checked the internet yet?”
Choi PD’s expression hardened.
“…The timing of when you check will be the problem.”
“Right, exactly.”
“Why didn’t you just report it voluntarily?”
“Are you insane? Doing that there would make you a real lunatic.”
“That’s true. I’ll give you that.”
PD Ga didn’t answer.
His eyes behind his glasses were fixed on the end of the corridor.
Viewers are perceptive.
At first, they’d probably just sense something was off.
Then they’d realize the production structure was strange somewhere.
After that, they’d dig into the cost structure.
It was the nature of viewers to probe sharply into even the smallest hints.
In other words, it was only a matter of time before the problem exploded.
In fact, that document I’d seen back then had long since been taken by Oh Tae-sik.
He claimed it was a mistake.
‘As if that was really a mistake.’
Even knowing it wasn’t a mistake, I’d willingly returned it to Oh Tae-sik.
I’d already achieved my goal anyway.
Besides, it would be difficult to even release that document.
If it came out as an official article?
‘That’s ridiculous.’
If that became a news story, the Jang Family would move.
It would actually be blocked before it even went out.
They were quite active as advertisers in those media outlets too.
The Jang Family behind Jang On-gyu.
That household. If they moved, the Department Head would be the first to break.
Wasn’t that the same with the sponsorship deal?
‘I’ve been knocked down before, so what.’
One phone call would be enough to wipe that relaxed smile off the Department Head’s face.
I made the call knowing that.
Even I thought it was insane.
‘That time until then is mine.’
The time I’d been given was incredibly brief.
* * *
The day after the broadcast aired.
Song Seo-gwang-eo products were released as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
It wasn’t just online.
Convenience stores, large marts, neighborhood supermarkets—everything opened up at once.
I didn’t know about it.
“What are we making today?”
To be precise, I wasn’t interested. I was busy preparing lunch at the restaurant.
I was the type who did what needed to be done.
Besides, Oh Tae-sik hadn’t taught me the details that thoroughly.
Jin-woo was the first to tell me.
“Hyung! Song Seo-gwang-eo! It’s stocked in convenience stores!”
“Convenience stores?”
“All the major chains, hyung! In the refrigerated section! Everything!”
Jin-woo thrust his phone at me.
“Oh….”
It was a photo someone had taken.
Song Seo-gwang-eo packages were lined up in the refrigerated section of a convenience store.
‘Right next to the triangle kimbap.’
Seeing my own product displayed like that stirred something peculiar in me.
“It’s in the marts too.”
“…Already?”
“The distribution seems to be moving fast.”
“They must have timed it with the broadcast.”
“That’s probably it.”
“This is interesting. So distribution works like this too.”
“Exactly. I never paid attention to it before, but seeing our product out there… it’s actually pretty impressive? You could say it’s got some real impact?”
“Haha. This is fun.”
“People are posting pictures on the community too. Saying they bought it from convenience stores.”
Photos were flooding the screen one after another.
Verification shots taken in front of convenience stores holding Song Seo-gwang-eo packages.
Photos of shopping carts with two or three packages packed in.
Even mentions of stopping by on the way home from work.
-I stopped by the Convenience Store on my way home and bought it right away
-Went to the Large Mart and they were heating it at the tasting station, had to wait in line
Mom saw it on TV and told me to buy it, so I got three of them lol
-There were only two at the G Convenience Store so I grabbed them all in a hurry
‘They’re even doing tastings at the Large Mart?’
Tastings cost money, don’t they?
When they do something, they really do it properly.
Or maybe… they’d prepared for this from the very beginning of production.
‘Back then, they must have thought the scheme would succeed.’
But that’s not how it turned out now.
Anyway.
The fact that the Large Mart provided a tasting corner means this was definitely pushed through the distribution side.
They capitalized on the broadcast effect immediately, and whoever set it up was fast.
‘Jang On-gyu really put his power to good use.’
After finishing lunch service and cleaning up, Jin-woo came by again.
“Boss! It’s going crazy online. It’s sold out!”
“Already?”
“All the initial stock sold out in just four hours after posting. Look here. There’s even news about it!”
The screen Jin-woo showed me displayed “Temporarily Out of Stock” in red letters.
Both the Large Mart and the Online Store showed the same. The Online Store especially only had a button to register for restock notifications.
“What about the Convenience Stores?”
“Some Convenience Stores still have stock, but… they won’t last long either, right? The online stores are completely gone.”
I nodded while wiping my hands with a kitchen towel.
Four hours. Three thousand units.
‘Three thousand units that my hands never touched.’
Those are going into people’s mouths.
‘This is fun.’
I was genuinely entertained.
* * *
Next, the community exploded again.
I could see the post title.
[Tried the Songseogwang Flatfish. Absolutely insane.]
Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations.
That’s the way it is. lol
But I didn’t want to fall behind the trend either? Got that feeling like it might catch on. So I bought it first.
But when I tried it. This is insane?
The recommendation count was in the triple digits.
-Thought it would just taste like broadcast food but it’s actually delicious
-Made at a factory but this quality? Does that even make sense?
-Bought it at the Convenience Store and microwaved it, tastes like a professional Chef made it
-It goes to charity donations? You get delicious food and do good at the same time.
-When will it be restocked? It was sold out online, so I went to three convenience stores.
I scrolled down further.
More posts were appearing.
[Gave it to my mom and she said she doesn’t need side dishes anymore]
[Song Seo-gwang flounder + rice combo is insane]
[Can’t you do regular delivery for this?]
Reviews were breeding more reviews.
Once someone posted that it was delicious, it was over.
Below that, comments piled up—I bought it too, I tried it too.
People who watched the broadcast bought it, people who bought it posted reviews, and people who saw the reviews bought it again. A cycle had formed.
‘So even factory-made products can achieve this.’
The feedback that it tasted the same even though my hands didn’t touch it—it didn’t feel bad.
Beyond what I’d set up, the fact that it was entering people’s mouths in a different way felt fresh.
It was simply fascinating to keep feeling this, first at the factory and now here.
Jin-woo scrolled through more comments and stopped.
“Hyung.”
“What.”
“Posts like this are starting to appear too.”
I looked at the screen.
The atmosphere was different.
-But what if it was really tasteless at first?
Maybe so. Haha.
-Remember when Kim Seon-woo recited market prices as cost on the broadcast?
-Yeah. It was shocking.
-But when you calculate that, something doesn’t add up?
-What do you mean?
-Just… something feels off…
That feeling is real.
-No seriously think about it. A bit!
Doubts were wedged between hundreds of compliments.
They were still buried. The recommendation count was low.
But the content was specific.
Sharpness was gradually being demonstrated.
The viewers were sensing it too. That something was off.
* * *
The Department Head sat on the sofa, holding a coffee cup.
Even after drinking several cups, the excitement wouldn’t fade.
This wasn’t the kind of excitement that came from drinking coffee repeatedly. It was the viewership ratings driving him mad.
‘How long has it been since we’ve seen ratings like this.’
A pilot’s highest viewership rating was a number that couldn’t help but bring satisfaction.
It was exceptionally high—the kind that stood out.
No matter how much of a madman PD Ga was, he certainly knew how to do his job well.
At today’s department head-level meeting, they’d even discussed regular scheduling. The topic of seasons had come up.
‘Excellent. Excellent. If only every day could be like today.’
Today had been quite a pleasant day.
That’s when the phone rang.
The Department Head’s expression changed as he looked at the screen. The number wasn’t Jang On-gyu’s. It was one level above that.
‘What is this? Why? Ah… maybe they’re offering another advertisement. Well… we did do our job properly, didn’t we?’
Direct calls from the Jang Family were rare.
Usually, everything was filtered through Jang On-gyu’s line.
For this number to appear now meant something good, surely.
The Department Head straightened in his seat and answered the call.
“Ah, yes. I’ve got it!”
-Hello, Department Head.
The voice was low and smooth.
Not cold like Jang On-gyu’s. Not hurried either.
There was composure in it.
That composure gave it even more weight.
-I heard the pilot’s viewership was good. Congratulations.
“Oh my, thank you. You’re too kind. It’s all thanks to you! We could only do this because you sponsored us! Ha ha. Are you offering another advertisement, perhaps? A flounder ad? Ha ha.”
The Department Head laughed—a laugh that came from his throat.
-But you see, Department Head, if you do this, we don’t find it very amusing.
“Pardon?”
In that instant, the Department Head’s shoulders stiffened.
What did that mean? Not amusing?
‘Did we do something wrong? The viewership was solid.’
I heard this morning that all the products sold out. Doesn’t that mean the advertising was incredibly effective? Why would they say this?
‘What? Have they lost their minds?’
The coffee cup in his hand seemed like it might shake. He set it down first.
-Of course, if the broadcast is entertaining, that’s good. I understand that. But there’s a part that isn’t entertaining for us, you see. You know what I mean, don’t you, Department Head?
“Ah, yes. I’m not entirely sure what you’re referring to, but we’ll look into that part…”
-I’d appreciate it if you would. Wouldn’t you agree?
The tone remained smooth.
“Um… I’ll look into it right away.”
-Thank you. Let’s continue to have a good relationship, Department Head.
The call ended. The Department Head sat with the phone resting on his lap.
‘What is this?’
The coffee’s aroma should have been the same, but now he couldn’t smell it.
He stared blankly out the window beyond the Director’s Office.
I tried to regain my composure.
That’s when it occurred to me.
‘Something’s not quite right here.’
A Chef from the Apocalypse Ventures into the Food Industry
Author |
Heung-haeng
Publisher |
Samyang C&C
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Address |
7F Gwangseong Building, Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil 28
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260206001
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
No part of this book may be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C – Dream Books.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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