They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 19

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

19. The Dish Theft Incident (3)

‘Even Divine Beings have particular tastes.’

I regarded the Pungsu Divine Being with suspicious eyes.

“You weren’t picky about it before?”
“Ahem, ahem…!”

The moment I spoke, the Pungsu Divine Being coughed loudly. It seemed he’d recalled those translucent hands bickering over a single side dish moments ago.

“Well… Divine Beings have changed quite a bit with the times, after all.”
“That’s just an excuse, meow.”
“Hae-tae!”
“Hmph, meow.”

My chest felt completely relieved!

‘I should give our Hae-tae plenty of delicious food.’

The last remaining hand waved back and forth toward us in greeting before slowly fading into the empty air. Lee Ju-taek’s clear voice resonated in my ears.

“We shall now conclude the opening blessing ceremony.”

I jumped up and held Hae-tae tightly in my arms. Lee Ju-taek raised both hands over the scroll spread across the floor and slowly closed his eyes.

In that moment, the Mugunghwa pattern inscribed on the paper began to emanate light once more. The quiet time within the shop wavered and rippled.

And the sounds of cars outside, people’s laughter, and footsteps that had been cut off began to seep into my ears.

Like a river that had been blocked finding its way back to flow, the clock hand of stopped time clicked and moved forward.

The sky that had been locked in orange light had transformed into a night sky full of starlight.

“…We’ve returned to normal.”

Lee Ju-taek carefully rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his chest before stretching languidly.

“Phew… I’ve exhausted myself, so drowsiness is overwhelming me. I should head back now. If I don’t leave soon, my team leader will come looking for me!”
“Ah. I’m truly grateful for today.”
“Not at all! I was simply doing my duty. If anything else comes up, please call me. And.”

Lee Ju-taek, who had been hurrying toward the refrigerator, stopped.

“Have you perhaps received any unusual side dish orders?”
“Unusual side dish orders?”

At my bewildered expression, Lee Ju-taek exhaled in relief.

“It seems fortunately none have arrived. If any strange side dish orders do come, please contact me.”
“Ah, yes….”

What could be the matter?

I hastily turned and bowed respectfully to Lee Ju-taek as he hurried away. He answered with a light nod, then opened the lower refrigerator door as if returning to his rightful place, and with a soft thud, stepped inside and vanished.

All that remained were the refrigerator door and an empty shop.

“Is it truly over now….”

The words spilled from my lips without strength. The space where the divine beings had moved about moments ago was now impossibly silent. Yet the Pungsu Divine Being still lingered, watching over me.

“Divine Being, aren’t you leaving?”

The Pungsu Divine Being smiled faintly and replied.

“I should get a taste of something myself.”

The Pungsu Divine Being was determined to eat as well.

“…You’re really going to eat?”
“Hmm, lighten up that expression.”

I rolled my eyes and let out a hollow laugh. He’d been eyeing the side dishes since earlier, and in the end, he couldn’t resist.

“What would you like to eat, Hae-tae?”

Hae-tae swished his tail slightly and answered.

“I’d like braised beef bibimbap, meow.”
“That aroma of braised beef has been driving me crazy since earlier.”
“I’ll have the same.”

The Pungsu Divine Being sat confidently at the end of the table, tapping a ritual bowl etched with hibiscus patterns with his fingertips while casting sidelong glances at me.

“Would the same braised beef bibimbap as Hae-tae’s work for you?”
“That will do.”

I stepped into the Kitchen and the moment I lifted the pot lid, the rich aroma of soy sauce wafted out.

“Oh? Is this the braised beef I made earlier?”
“Yes, I prepared it earlier and set it aside to cool.”

Tender beef chunks glistened in the braising liquid—sweetened with oligosaccharide for a subtle sweetness—that rippled before my eyes.

“This smell is incredible, meow!”

I scooped rice generously into Hae-tae’s bowl and poured the braising liquid over it. Finally, I topped it with beef chunks and quail eggs, completing a proper braised beef bibimbap.

‘Normally you’d top it with egg strips….’

“Is it alright without the egg strips?”
“Waiting is too bothersome, meow.”
“If you’d rather not wait, I’ll serve it as is.”

After setting Hae-tae’s bowl down, I turned to face the Pungsu Divine Being. He was already holding a spoon.

“It’s been so long since I’ve eaten a meal prepared by human hands…. I must admit, I’m a bit anxious.”
“Divine Beings aren’t that special, are they?”
“Why do you think that?”

The Pungsu Divine Being narrowed his eyes with a curious smile.

“Because without humans, Divine Beings wouldn’t exist either.”

At my words, the Pungsu Divine Being clutched his belly and laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! That’s right, exactly! Even divine beings are nothing special!”

I placed a bowl of braised meat bibimbap in a mugunghwa-patterned bowl and gently slid it toward the Pungsu Divine Being.

“I’ll eat well.”
“Please enjoy.”

The moment the Pungsu Divine Being’s hand touched the bowl, the mugunghwa pattern gleamed softly. He slowly scooped up a large spoonful of the braised meat bibimbap and placed it in his mouth. Without chewing long, he swallowed it down. He closed his eyes to savor it, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“…This isn’t Grandmother Hyang-suk’s cooking.”
“Pardon?”

At this unexpected remark, I blinked in confusion.

“Since you’re Grandmother Hyang-suk’s granddaughter, I thought it would taste the same, but it tastes completely different—and delicious at that.”

The Pungsu Divine Being wore a peculiar expression as he picked up his spoon again.

“Perhaps other divine beings will come to know it too. The fact that you resemble Grandmother Hyang-suk yet produce a completely different flavor.”
“Is that important?”
“Didn’t I say it before? Divine beings are picky eaters. And precisely because they’re picky, they wander in search of new flavors.”

Just as I had conducted a tasting corner…

“So when the divine beings were tormenting me, it was because…”
“They wanted to taste your cooking at least once.”

Wow! I screamed internally. Then I ran my hands through my hair in exasperation and cried out.

“So it really was a tasting corner?!”
“What else? Did you think it wasn’t?”
“Well…”

The Pungsu Divine Being nodded calmly.

“Indeed. Divine beings have mouths too, so they desire to taste. The ritual offering was essentially a tasting session for the divine beings.”

I thought it was a memorial service for the deceased. I let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.

“Your country really takes food seriously, even when it comes to divine beings.”
“Is there anything in this world more serious than eating? Besides, the more divine beings enjoy leisure and food, the more important sustenance becomes to them.”

The Pungsu Divine Being resumed savoring the food without a care. I had assumed there was some dignified meaning hidden in how the divine beings conducted opening day rituals, but apparently not.

‘So the true nature was just the psychology of a gourmet hunting for delicious restaurants?’

“You should just create a Michelin guide map specifically for divine beings.”

At that moment, Hae-tae lifted his head, his mouth smeared with soy sauce.

“GS Company has already constructed a Michelin guide map, meow.”
“…I was just joking.”

They really do take eating seriously…. Just then, the Pungsu Divine Being set down his spoon.

“You should have a taste too. This bowl has come to the time when it must meet a new owner.”
“Ah. Then….”
“It’s being passed from Grandmother Hyang-suk to you.”

With an uncertain heart, I picked up a spoon and gently touched it to the hibiscus-patterned bowl. I scooped up a spoonful of braised meat bibimbap and placed it in my mouth.

The salty aroma of soy sauce and the savory fragrance of sesame oil spread throughout my mouth. Though it was an ordinary taste, it was strangely warm—as comforting as a blanket wrapped around my entire body.

“That’s it.”

The moment the Pungsu Divine Being finished speaking, the hibiscus pattern began to glow softly, enveloping my fingertips before moving across the back of my hand. The pattern, tinged with pink light, trembled for a moment before settling into place.

“What is this?”
“You saw it, didn’t you?”

The Pungsu Divine Being smiled.

“This bowl is now yours. It’s not merely a vessel for holding food.”
“It’s not?”
“It possesses the power to grant one wish. On a night filled with moonlight, you fill it with water and make your wish.”

‘That… the wish I saw in historical dramas?’

I gazed at the Mugunghwa pattern visible on the back of my hand.

“That was quite delicious.”

The Pungsu Divine Being emptied even the last grain of rice with meticulous care, then set down his spoon with a decisive clink.

“Now that both the vessel and its master have found their rightful places, it is time for me to return as well.”

Rising from his seat, the Pungsu Divine Being turned toward the Kitchen from which he had arrived.

“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I must depart now.”
“You’ve endured much hardship.”
“I hope Shinsu will continue forward, transcending this pain.”
“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

The Pungsu Divine Being smiled and rose from his seat.

“I must return to my original place now.”

As his feet brushed across the air, a crystalline chime like a small bell resonated through the breeze.

“When customers arrive in the future, do not be too startled.”
“How much more startled could I possibly be?”

The Pungsu Divine Being’s lips curved upward as he regarded me.

“That is true enough.”

He had returned to his original appearance—a scholar with his long topknot coiled, dressed in ancient hanbok beneath a silk durumagi draped across his broad shoulders. An elegance transcending time itself emanated from those expansive shoulders and piercing gaze.

“We shall meet again someday.”

With those words, the Pungsu Divine Being dissolved into the wind. Where the divine being had stood, only the lingering echo of the breeze remained, circling the space for a long moment.

“He’s truly gone….”
“That is simply the nature of divine beings.”

Hae-tae calmly licked the remaining braised meat from the bowl and swallowed.

“Can I eat the leftover rice too?”
“…Just go along with the mood!”
“Where’s the whining coming from? Go wash the dishes.”

At the mention of washing dishes, I lifted my head toward the sink. The side dish containers I’d meant to put away earlier, the stacked plates, the sight sprawling before my eyes—I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Sigh….”

Hae-tae drooped his tail with shameless ease and spoke.

“Cleanup is always the hardest part. I’m going to sleep.”
“Where are you going?”
“Why are you like this!”

I hastily grabbed Hae-tae’s hind legs.

“I have to wash dishes alone and feel lonely… while you get to sleep comfortably….”
“Then just hire a part-time worker!”

I pleaded while holding onto Hae-tae’s hind legs.

“Come on, today feels so empty. Stay with me.”

I gave Hae-tae a pitiful expression as he glanced back. Eventually, Hae-tae let out a long sigh.

“I’ll stay with you until the dishes are done. But I’m leaving after that!”
“You’re going to watch over me?”
“Fine.”

Hae-tae jumped onto the table and curled into a ball. Watching him, I placed the bowl I’d received from the Pungsu Divine Being deep inside the upper drawer of the Kitchen.

‘…Perhaps the time to make a wish will come.’

With that thought, I began washing the dishes.

***

The next morning.

I pushed open the Entrance door wide and breathed in the fresh air.

‘Another wonderful day!’

Today felt like it would be even brighter than yesterday. It was just as I turned my head after placing the sandwich board sign back in its proper spot.

Grandfather stood there, impeccably dressed in a formal suit and fedora. His tightly pressed lips and brows knitted like rope revealed a solid, unyielding anger.

“Hello… sir? Did you come to buy some side dishes?”

But instead of answering, Grandfather abruptly thrust a paper bag directly in front of my face.

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