The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 41

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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 41. Unexpected Developments (1)
The festival had begun.
[The 20th Food Festival!]
The streets overflowed with far more people than usual.
Banners fluttered from every streetlamp, and the sound of camera shutters erupted continuously from the photo zones scattered throughout.
It was evident that Jang On-gyu had spared no expense.
“Wow, did he really go all out this time?”
“Hey, look at those photo zones over there. The floral decorations are insane.”
“How much money did he spend?”
The entire New City District, which had been quiet, was now bustling with energy.
A massive success, truly!
That enormous tide of people naturally flowed toward our store, whether Jang On-gyu intended it or not.
“Welcome! Factory Canteen!”
Jin-woo’s voice rang out clearly as he greeted customers.
We were fully booked the moment we opened. A waiting line stretched far outside the factory.
“Wow, what’s the vibe here? Is this actually a factory?”
“It’s so hip… What are those lettuce plants doing there?”
“Well, let’s just say it’s unique.”
The raw concrete walls of the abandoned factory and the lush green plants I had carefully cultivated.
This incongruous harmony struck a chord with the festival visitors’ sensibilities.
It was the opposite of the refined street Jang On-gyu had created—raw, unpolished charm.
In an era where uniqueness itself feels refreshing, this worked perfectly.
It resonated far more than I expected.
As a result, the kitchen became a battlefield—one where I had to process incoming orders and push them out as quickly as possible.
“Chef! Four Hong Kong ramens, five kimbap lazagnas! Oh, and add shrimp-free tempura too!”
“Order received.”
“Chef! Two more ramens here!”
“Another order? Again?”
“They want more!”
“Tell them to be careful not to overeat.”
“Yes. I’ll mention that next time we take additional orders.”
“Good.”
But it was a joyful battlefield.
My hands never stopped moving.
I poured the pre-prepared broth and boiled the noodles.
As I rolled the kimbap diligently, Haran, who had become my kitchen assistant, sliced them beside me.
Slice. Slice.
A detail that required cutting all the way to the edge of the seaweed.
Haran was slicing the kimbap beautifully while maintaining that precision.
‘She’s quite skilled.’
Seventy percent of cooking is knife work.
Simply mastering that alone gave Haran every right to stand in this kitchen.
‘I picked a good person, didn’t I.’
She was someone whose passion for cooking burned with uncommon intensity.
Thanks to my reliable colleague, I could devote myself entirely to the flames.
The instincts I had honed and sharpened during the Apocalypse for survival.
Those instincts now erupted as pure culinary drive to satisfy our guests.
[Activating skill 【Cookware Enhancement】.]
[The blade’s sharpness intensifies.]
[The wok’s heat conductivity amplifies.]
The sharpened blade danced across the cutting board.
A single toss of the wok kissed the dish with flame-kissed flavor.
The moment the finished dish left the kitchen, the reaction exploded….
“Insane. What is this broth? This actually cures a hangover properly?”
“The kimbap texture is incredible. The way it’s layered is literally lasagna, right?”
“This fried dish seemed like a joke, but it’s no joke?”
Exclamations erupted from every corner.
It wasn’t just my cooking.
“Apple soup coming through! Try some authentic Hong Kong home cooking!”
Jang Owner’s voice rang with vigor.
The guests who had widened their eyes at the unfamiliar loofah dish gave a thumbs up the moment they took a spoonful. The 2nd Floor Cafe was in complete chaos.
As diners naturally drifted upstairs seeking Older Brother’s coffee, the espresso machine ran without pause.
This was perfect synergy!
‘Excellent.’
I received benefits without spending a single coin in sponsorship fees.
And I captured the incoming tide of customers with nothing but taste and skill.
Even if I was merely laying a spoon on the grand table Jang On-gyu had prepared, it didn’t matter.
No, it actually felt exhilarating.
‘Since I suffered helping him find a store last time, let me properly enjoy his favor this time.’
My lips curved upward as I watched the mounting order tickets.
[Stat 【Luck】 activates.]
Was it just my imagination?
In this kitchen battlefield, the timing for drawing out broth, the moment noodles finished cooking—everything aligned with perfect precision.
This was what a festival should be.
And this, this was real business.
* * *
The storm had swept through.
Lunch service completely sold out. Evening service ingredients depleted.
The result of running without a single break for the festival.
“Ugh! I’m dying!”
“Come on, don’t be such a baby. You ate two bowls of ramen yourself.”
“That’s different! My legs are killing me!”
The friends Jin-woo had hurriedly brought in.
The guys he’d recruited as temporary workers for the festival were sprawled across the floor.
Sweat-dampened bangs, flushed faces. They were groaning about how exhausted they were, but their expressions remained bright.
Youth had its perks.
“Alright, everyone pay attention!”
At my call, their gazes snapped toward me.
I pulled out the thick envelope I’d prepared earlier.
“You all worked hard today. This is modest, but it’s from the heart.”
“Oh! Boss! Is this our weekly pay?”
“No. Daily wages.”
“Huh?”
The eyes of the guys holding the envelope widened in disbelief.
Their jaws dropped as they opened it.
Double the promised hourly rate.
Plus a 50,000 won bill on top as cab fare.
“Wow, Boss! Is this for real?”
“You didn’t make a mistake, right? I’m not giving this back?”
“It’s a festival—we should enjoy it together. Think of it as a special bonus.”
At my words, the guys let out cheers.
“Boss! Your loyalty! I’ll lay down my life for you!”
“Boss, should I bring more friends? Or if Jin-woo quits, just let me know!”
“You bastard!?”
Simple but unmistakable reactions.
People are moved by concrete rewards more than words, after all.
Whether it was the apocalypse or now, this truth never changes.
“Tomorrow will be just as busy as today. Maybe even busier. Come prepared.”
“Don’t worry, Boss! I’ll burn myself out for this!”
“See you tomorrow! Your loyalty!”
The guys gave deep ninety-degree bows before excitedly heading out of the factory.
Laughter echoed from their retreating forms.
Watching their backs, Jin-woo chuckled softly.
“Boss, the kids are going to develop bad habits, aren’t they?”
“They did well for their first time. You have to take better care of the ones who perform well. That way they’ll come back excited to work tomorrow, right?”
“True. Looking at those expressions, they’ll be flying around tomorrow.”
Jin-woo grinned and gave me a thumbs up.
* * *

I closed the factory door and hung up the “Closed for Preparation” sign.
Now it was our time alone.
“Hahaha! Everyone worked hard today!”
Jang Owner’s hearty laughter echoed through the factory.
Older Brother approached while removing his apron.
His face was filled with refreshment rather than exhaustion.
“Today was seriously legendary. We sold out all the extra coffee beans we prepared for the festival?”
“Same here. The apple punch? We couldn’t sell it because we ran out.”
Jang Owner launched into his tales of glory with an animated face, gesturing wildly.
Older Brother laughed cheerfully and cracked open a canned beer.
Psssht. Click.
The refreshing sound spread through the factory.
“Come on, everyone have a drink! It’s a festival day, right? We should celebrate like this!”
“Sounds good!”
We clinked our canned beers together.
The cold beer slid down my throat.
‘So refreshing.’
The fatigue of the day washed away completely.
Older Brother wiped the foam from his lips and his eyes sparkled.
“Honestly, Jang On-gyu set up the whole thing, but doesn’t it feel like we’re sweeping up all the money?”
“Right? He paid for everything—the photo zone and all that—but people are eating here and leaving.”
I smiled watching the brothers laugh and snicker.
This was it. A place that smelled of humanity.
Sweating together, celebrating together in this moment.
It wasn’t just about earning a lot of money.
Proof that we weren’t wrong.
The thrill of how we, who nearly got crushed by Jang On-gyu’s massive capital and system, were flipping the game with our skills was sweeter than anything.
‘The atmosphere is great.’
It felt like we’d only rise from here on out.
Until then.
* * *
An office overlooking the New City District.
Jang On-gyu stood by the window, gazing down at the streets illuminated by the festival’s nighttime glow.
Flashing neon signs and crowds filling the streets. It was the perfect picture he had designed and invested capital into creating.
Knock knock.
Park Secretary entered. Her footsteps were light.
“I have a report.”
“How is it?”
“Even accounting for the festival, we’ve exceeded projections. Sales up 350% compared to last week. A record high.”
The tablet screen Park Secretary presented displayed a sharply ascending graph.
Jang On-gyu’s lips curved upward.
We’re just getting started, and it’s already at 350%.
All the money I poured in under the sponsorship banner was worth it.
“Weekends will be even better. Once the invited singers arrive, the crowds will multiply several times over.”
“Right. You have to row when the tide comes in.”
The title of business genius wasn’t earned for nothing.
I knew how to set the stage, and how to command it.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
With just one exception.
Jang On-gyu lifted his teacup and asked casually.
“What about that place?”
There was no subject stated.
But Park Secretary understood immediately.
The edge of the New City District. That factory canteen that had rejected his proposal and insisted on going its own way.
Here, he hesitated.
“That is….”
“Tell me.”
“…They’re also booming, sir. Or rather, to be frank, they’ve hit the jackpot.”
Park Secretary continued his report with visible discomfort.
“The festival crowds are flowing in their direction.”
“Flowing?”
“Yes. You could say they’re reaping the trickle-down effect quite well. The waiting line apparently extends all the way outside the factory.”
Clink. The sound of the teacup being set down seemed unusually loud.
Jang On-gyu’s eyes narrowed.
So it’s a city festival, technically.
But this was a festival stage I created with my own massive investment.
Promotional costs, talent fees, facility expenses.
Those bastards who didn’t contribute a single penny in sponsorship money were helping themselves at the table I’d set with enormous capital.
And they’re even getting a reputation as a must-visit restaurant?
“Quite the skill. Filling your belly at someone else’s table.”
Park Secretary watched his expression carefully.
He expected an immediate order to come down.
But it was unexpected.
Instead of getting angry, Jang On-gyu let out a soft chuckle.
“Leave them be.”
“Sir? But if needed, I could bring in the Promotions Team Leader…”
“No. Tell them to enjoy themselves for now. Let them get a real taste of easy money.”
Jang On-gyu gazed out the window again.
In the distance, the abandoned factory area lay dimly visible in the darkness.
Those fools who mistakenly believed they could survive simply through good luck or skill.
They were still greenhorns who didn’t understand how unforgiving the ecosystem of self-employment truly was.
“After all, the higher you climb, the harder you fall.”

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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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