The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 135

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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 135. Securing the Store
I could see the Real Estate Agent’s concern written across his face.
When the surrounding area was empty.
‘Shops don’t really want to move into a place like that.’
It was rare for anyone to take the risk unless they had considerable confidence. The location simply didn’t have good foot traffic, as they say.
From a broker’s perspective desperate to close even one deal, it was an unavoidable predicament.
“I’ll take all three units.”
The Real Estate Agent’s hand froze mid-motion.
“…All three units?”
“Yes. All three connected as one.”
“One shop isn’t enough for you?”
“No. One unit won’t be sufficient.”
I pointed across the street at the Jang On-gyu storefront with my finger.
“To make that visible from here, I need the sightline to flow in one continuous line.”
The Real Estate Agent swallowed hard.
I didn’t give him time to reach for his calculator and pushed forward once more.
“Let’s proceed immediately. You can secure all three landlords today, right?”
“…I’ll, I’ll try my best.”
“Thank you.”
The Real Estate Agent pulled out his phone and let out a nervous cough.
‘I need to lock this down all at once, or word will spread.’
By securing all three units, I could remove the partition walls in one go and connect them into a single flowing space.
The center would be a tasting counter, one side for display, the other for the register and takeout.
The layout materialized in my mind with crystalline clarity.
‘Since I sketched it out at the factory once, it comes together so easily.’
As I left the store, I glanced across the street once more.
Under the Jang On-gyu sign, there were three customers in the shop, one in the neighboring store.
Beneath the row of storefronts, human silhouettes were scattered sparsely.
* * *
I walked two blocks again.
The street, having just finished the lunch rush, was thinly populated.
‘I’m starting to think the Gourmet Street might actually be better.’
I turned into an alley bathed in sunlight.
The Couple’s Kalguksu Restaurant sign was wedged one unit back from the street.
Through the glass door, the shop interior was empty.
Of the five tables, not a single one had a customer, and the Old Lady stood beside the counter, wiping her hands while staring blankly out at the street.
‘Even after lunch rush ends, it’s like this.’
I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The aroma of anchovy broth reached me first. The sound of dishes clinking followed a beat later.
“Welcome…oh!”
“Hello!”
The Old Lady’s voice cut off a beat too late.
The dish towel in her hand froze mid-motion. The Owner looked up from organizing empty bowls inside.
“Kim Seon-woo Representative?”
“Ha ha. Yes.”
“Oh, how… are you here again…?”
The Owner tucked and untucked the towel at his side.
He was trembling a full octave more than when I’d come with Han Jae-won yesterday.
‘When I was next to Han Jae-won, the weight of attention was distributed.’
Today I was alone.
The empty restaurant made it worse.
If there had been even one group of customers, their gaze would have been divided, but unfortunately, I was the only one in the store.
There was nothing I could do about that.
Anyway, five empty tables.
‘Even yesterday at lunch there were only a couple of groups. It’s pretty bad.’
The bleak image etched itself in my mind once more.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Yes! Of course. We’re actually on break… well, not that it matters if we’re not… anyway, it’s fine. Um, where should you sit…?”
“The window seat is fine.”
“Yes, yes. Over there. That’s the cleanest spot.”
The Old Lady stepped forward and stood beside the Owner.
The motion of setting down the cup she was holding onto the counter felt awkward. Her gestures inviting me to sit were hurried.
* * *
“Would you like some tea?”
“Just water is fine.”
“Ha ha… yes. One moment. Here you are.”
We sat facing each other.
The Owner set down two glasses of water and settled into his seat.
A woman who appeared to be the Owner’s wife came out from inside, untying her apron, and stood a step away.
She seemed eager to hear what I had to say.
I told her to sit as well, and only then did I begin.
“The food yesterday was delicious.”
“Th-thank you.”
“But to be honest…”
I turned the water glass once. This wasn’t easy for me to say either.
“It was 2% short.”
The Owner stiffened for a moment. So did the woman beside him.
‘Their expressions say it all.’
This was something they already knew themselves.
“We… know that too. But we don’t know where exactly it’s falling short.”
The Old Lady added a word from beside him.
“I feel it every day—that things aren’t working out. But I don’t know where to start or how to fix it.”
“That’s what I’m here to help you with.”
“Pardon?”
“Simply put, I’d like to offer you consulting services.”
“Could you explain in more detail?”
I set down my water glass.
“I’m going to rebuild your restaurant’s food from the ground up. I want to refine everything—from the dough ratios to the broth base.”
The Owner’s mouth fell slightly open. The woman beside him gripped her apron tightly in her hands.
Their eyes met for a moment, then looked away.
‘You have to throw it all out there at once for them to catch it.’
I raised one finger and tapped the menu.
“You already have the dough technique down in your hands, so I won’t teach you from scratch. I’ll just recalibrate the ratios. Right now it’s too thick—the noodles don’t absorb the broth properly.”
“…Ah.”
“For the broth, I’ll keep the anchovy base as is. I’ll just change the top layer of flavor.”
“One layer?”
“Yes. One layer. The base isn’t bad, so if we just adjust the top, the whole impression changes dramatically.”
The Owner’s expression gradually softened.
The Old Lady kept her grip on her clothing, nodding her head a few times.
“While we’re at it, I’ll also adjust the customer flow slightly. Right now the path from the entrance to the counter is too long—I’d wager some customers walk in and just turn right back around.”
“…H-how did you know that?”
“You see it when you look.”
I rotated my water glass once more.
“Will you give it a try?”
“…W-wait. Us?”
“Yes. Both of you.”
“But what about our… conditions?”
The Owner glanced to the side. The woman beside him had already nodded once, ahead of him.
“If you’re willing, I’ll take this food all the way to commercialization.”
“Commercialization?!”
“Yes. Processing it so it can be sold elsewhere. Not just ending with one bowl of kalguksu, but creating an entire product line.”
“C-can that even be done?”
“It might be difficult. No matter how much I teach you or how much I plan out, it won’t be easy.”
“B-but then why would you do it?”
“Well, there are several reasons, but… personally, I find it interesting.”
There was no need to mention Jang On-gyu’s involvement.
‘And I have no intention of causing them harm either.’
So I only told them enough to accept the offer.
They had nothing to lose.
Even if commercialization never happened.
‘First, the food will taste better, after all.’
These weren’t people who didn’t know him.
The Owner’s shoulders lifted slightly.
“Yes, I will. I’ll do it!”
“You’re saying yes right away?”
“If we don’t do this, we’re fools! Right?”
“That’s right!”
The Old Lady let out a small laugh from beside him.
She was gripping the hem of her clothes tightly.
‘Fast decision-maker. Good.’
I lifted my water glass and clinked it lightly against theirs.
“Then let’s start next week. We’ll work out the details then.”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Have a good service today.”
I didn’t look back as I left the Store.
Beyond the glass door, the two of them faced each other, their shadows flickering as they chattered excitedly about something.
* * *
Several days passed in a blur.
The Interior Designer returned to D-dong.
“This kind of construction is difficult for me too, honestly.”
“Because you’ve only done Restaurant construction before?”
“That’s right. Still, I did bring in some experts and experienced workers… but to be honest, I’m not very confident.”
“Yet you took the job anyway?”
“I want to learn from this opportunity.”
“Learn?”
“Yes. Honestly, how can I make a living just doing the same work? I need to expand when I have the chance.”
“Ah, I see…”
“That’s why I’m asking for your understanding. By the way, even if this project costs me a bit as an Interior Designer, I’ll do my best.”
“Because you’re planning to expand?”
“Yes. That’s exactly it! Haha.”
“That’s great. I’m counting on you. And if you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thank you! I’ll get started right away then!”
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
This time it wasn’t a Restaurant—it was a Factory production line.
‘A complete overhaul.’
* * *
Time flew by quickly.
All the old finishing materials were removed, and the floor was relaid to withstand chemicals.
The ceiling coolant line was preserved as is, but ventilation ducts were added alongside it.
‘He was complaining, but he’s actually doing better than I expected?’
The Interior Designer stood atop the ladder, tape measure extended in his hands.
“Hey! If we pull the work station line this way, we can create two separate workflow paths!”
“Where did you learn something like that?”
“Oh, just a bit here and there… By the way, my older brother works in this field.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes. Hehe. I pestered him until he taught me, and honestly, I’ve gotten quite a bit of consultation from him too.”
“Well done.”
Jin-woo came running over with the blueprints.
This was already the fifth layout diagram, revised four times over.
The restaurant layout had gone through four iterations, then shifted to a factory design, and now received another update.
“This time it’s a factory, not a restaurant.”
“I know! That’s what makes it even more fun!”
“…I see.”
Jin-woo was the type who couldn’t resist filling empty spaces, and now his range of interests had expanded.
‘That guy really does have talents across the board.’
Over in one corner of D-dong, the Old Gentleman stood with his arms crossed.
‘He still hasn’t left.’
The man who had originally planned to stop by briefly found himself unable to leave once he saw the scale of the construction work.
“Heh heh, you there. It’s really turning into a proper factory.”
“It was always a factory.”
“True enough. I felt a bit of regret when you said you’d use it as a restaurant, but seeing it take on a factory form again… it feels rather good.”
“Haha. I’m glad to hear that.”
“It feels like I’m being comforted somehow.”
Thanks to this.
It was a good beginning.
A Chef from the Apocalypse Ventures into the Food Business
Author |
Heunghaeng
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Samyang C&C
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Editorial Department
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G720:N+A063-20260206001
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Without written permission from Samyang C&C – Dream Books, the contents of this book may not be used in any form or by any means.

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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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