The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 29

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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 29. Hidden Feelings
“I actually wanted to cook too.”
“Is that so?”
I knew it well. She was more sincere about cooking than anyone else.
“Yes. I wanted to work somewhere related to cooking, at least.”
“I see.”
“And I wanted to study more too.”
I knew that well. That’s why she studied abroad.
“But that’s… difficult.”
“Why? You could just do it, couldn’t you?”
“Heh heh. It’s tough. And I don’t have work right now… Ah, why did I say that!”
“Hmm… is that so?”
“Please, forget you heard that.”
Even though she appeared fine on the surface.
Inside, she was struggling.
Not yet strong enough to bear that burden willingly.
And yet, she wouldn’t ask for help.
That’s just who she was.
“Haran.”
I called her name as if I were learning it for the first time today.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say I called her by a name I should use from now on.
“Yes?”
“If you don’t mind me asking…”
I made one final proposal before she left.
Along with that proposal, the party came to a grand close.
* * *
There was one more curtain that needed to fall.
The closing of the Food Truck Zone.
Bang Owner, who had come out to check on it, let out a loud snort.
“Hah. Packed with customers again today!”
Packed. If it had been before, it would have only given me a stomachache.
All those customers overflowing in the Food Truck Zone should have been coming to me.
Wasn’t that why I pulled every trick in the book, starting from the Youth Mall and all the way to the competition?
Thinking of the money and connections I invested for that, my insides still boil with resentment.
“You really have no patience.”
“No patience? I’m burning up. But it closes tomorrow anyway.”
“That’s true.”
It’s only until today.
That Food Truck Zone will disappear.
And I will never see it again.
That’s why there should only be good days ahead.
But to Bang Owner, even that seemed difficult.
“But that’s not all, you see.”
“The New City District?”
“Yeah. That damn Jang Owner. Business genius my ass—what kind of genius targets places like this?”
“It’s infuriating, isn’t it?”
“Damn right!”
The New City District. Rumors had spread far and wide that a business genius was entering there.
Because of that, I hadn’t been able to visit this place for the past month.
I had to go confront Jang Owner one more time instead of coming here.
“That bastard, wouldn’t it be better if he came into our Eatery District with us?”
“Right. That would work, so why is he crawling into the New City District?”
I’d actually confronted him about it.
Why the New City District?
Wasn’t the Eatery District already thriving?
“That guy’s a merchant through and through. Bullshit. All talk. What? The Youth Mall exists, so he won’t get attention if he goes there? Ugh…”
“Mutual prosperity my ass! It’s all mutual prosperity! It’s all lies.”
Jang Owner’s justification for it was mutual prosperity.
That his entry into the alley market would become a threat.
For them, his very appearance was the threat.
Worrying about that kept me from coming here.
A far bigger enemy than the Food Truck had arrived!
“But why are there still so many people here until the very end?”
“Ugh. Look over there. They say it’s some kind of commemoration for the last day, so they’re giving things away for free.”
“Free? That’s insane.”
Part of me had come to vent my frustrations.
I felt like I needed to stir up trouble with the Food Truck Zone owners to feel satisfied.
But the place that should be reeking of a funeral atmosphere was instead almost bursting with festival energy.
I couldn’t let this stand.
“Hey. Free? I can’t resist that.”
“Why? You going to eat without thinking again?”
“Well, why wouldn’t I eat? And wouldn’t it feel good to flip my insides while eating?”
“Oh. Now that’s a good idea. Let’s go. Come on!”
My tactless friend had come up with a good idea.
Let’s go eat for free while venting our frustrations.
‘Nice. This is it!’
There couldn’t be a better idea than this.
The two of us lined up with grins on our faces.
Perhaps because it was a giveaway with no payment required.
The line quickly shortened.
Until that moment, the Bang Owner and the Cafe Owner remained excited.
That is, until they saw the banner hanging on one side of the Food Truck.
[Food Truck Relocating.]
A small banner affixed to the truck.
The contents within were the problem.
“Relocating the Food Truck? What does that mean?”
“Must be moving somewhere else. They’re probably not closing shop. Besides, there was never any talk of them coming to the Eatery District anyway, right?”
“Right!”
They were relocating.
Fine, good riddance. I’d practically driven them out anyway.
But somehow, that location felt familiar.
“But let’s see here… huh, this looks familiar?”
“…Here! This place!”
The Bang Owner was just about to recognize the location on the map.
“It’s the Edge of New City. The Abandoned Factory Area. Haha.”
Kim Seon-woo, who had been quietly observing, immediately told them.
At his bright smile as he delivered the relocation news, the Bang Owner and his friend made expressions as if they’d eaten something foul.
* * *
“Man, people really don’t change.”
“Exactly. But look at those sour faces too. Kekeke…”
I was full of admiration.
Still, it was a good day.
Everyone was coming after all.
I watched until the very end.
And then, at the very last moment.
“…Is it really okay if I work here?”
Haran had come too.
There was only one answer I could give to that.
Of course!
One more person had joined my team.
It was Haran.
* * *
The new store opened.
Though three businesses operated in one space, the converted Abandoned Factory provided ample room.
The first floor held tables for dining, while this upper floor, originally built for hauling materials, was primarily occupied by cafe tables.
Preserving the atmosphere of the Abandoned Factory, I’d brought in various plants to eliminate the starkness.
“Boss, you know what they call that plant caretaker thing, right?”
“Plant caretaker? Of course! Aren’t I a plant caretaker?”
“Huh?”
“The character for food, combined with caretaker! If you serve meals and look after people, isn’t that being a plant caretaker?”
Don’t people call cat owners “cat butlers”?
So what does that make me—a “food butler”?
Whoever came up with that term, it fits me perfectly.
“…I’m not even sure where to start correcting that.”
“Hehe….”
“Why are you laughing, Haran? And why are you sighing?”
Why was I getting these kinds of reactions?
“Jin-woo, you said the place was too barren, so let’s bring in some plants, right?”
“That’s right?”
“We brought them in now, so what’s the problem? Huh? Look over there.”
I pointed to one of the plants with my hand.
The green onions were growing vigorously.
“The green onions grow well because they get plenty of sunlight. If you use them properly, they grow almost infinitely, you know?”
Those green onions—they grow better than you’d expect.
If you cut the upper part, the remaining base shoots out new stems right away.
It’s practically infinite.
‘If I enhance them, they’ll last even longer!’
But that’s not all.
“And what about the lettuce over there? Watch it. That one’s infinite too. Infinite!”
Once the lettuce grows, it shoots up quickly.
Eventually it grows so much it becomes difficult to manage.
During the apocalypse, I can’t tell you how valuable these two were as ingredients.
Though eventually the contamination got so bad we couldn’t use them anymore.
Anyway!
“Garlic and all these other things become excellent ingredients if you grow them properly.”
“But…I still don’t understand why all these varieties thrive so well in this environment without dying….”
Well, that’s because I have my know-how and skills.
But I didn’t mention that part.
“Growing them well is good enough, isn’t it?”
“Well, growing them well is fine, but…why does it all have to be food, you know?”
“The barrenness is gone, isn’t it?”
“That’s true, but….”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Ah…it’s just that this ‘food butler’ thing….”
I wasn’t sure why she was frustrated even before opening.
“Welcome!”
“Oh! Welcome!”
Our first customer had arrived.
“Did we come too early?”
“No. You’ve come at just the right time.”
“Good thing you’re here. I need to do the opening ceremony properly, don’t I? I came early!”
They were elderly gentlemen.
The two of them had arrived dressed neatly, having prepared since early morning.
I quickly guided the two elderly gentlemen to their seats.
“Lucky us. Haha. By the way, you’ve grown quite a variety here?”
“If you’re a food devotee, this is the minimum you should do.”
“A food devotee. Hoho. Yes indeed. These would taste wonderful eaten fresh right now.”
“Right? I knew you gentlemen would appreciate it. I’ll have everything ready shortly.”
The elderly gentlemen immediately recognized my hard work as a food devotee.
‘That’s right… you only understand when you’ve experienced hunger yourself. What would Jin-woo know about going hungry? Tsk tsk.’
Though it sounded a bit like old-fashioned thinking.
Once you’ve lived through a past life of hunger, there’s no garden quite as beautiful as this.
I could only feel sorry that Jin-woo didn’t know that.
“Jin-woo, let’s prepare the food. Haran, please get the serving station ready first.”
“Yes!”
“Brother. If you find out later, you’ll be embarrassed then…”
“Tsk! No other talk in this sacred kitchen—just cook.”
“…Sigh.”
I had to set aside such concerns for now.
It was time to cook.
* * *
‘Alright, I need to show my true skills for these gentlemen.’
Even apart from them, as my first customers, I had to give my best.
I put on the hygiene tools. A sanitary mask and chef’s hat were standard. I also wore a freshly sterilized apron. That completed the basic equipment for cooking!
‘The hunt is prepared, now I need to examine my prey.’
I surveyed the ingredients I had prepared.
Ramen stacked like mountains by type, and over twenty varieties of prepared ingredients.
Beside them, additional ingredients for fillings filled my vision.
‘Ah… it’s a treasure trove. A real treasure trove.’
A kitchen three times larger than when I ran the Food Truck.
The cooking tools I had arranged carefully gleamed brilliantly in my eyes.
These were true treasures to me.
Treasures that could create any dish!
Now it was time to create dishes with those treasures.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes!”

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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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