They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 43

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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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43. Acorn Jelly Lunch Boxes (5)

“Really…?”
“I’m telling you the truth! Look here!”

Lee Hae-ra hurriedly pulled out her smartphone and showed Kang Seo-young her SNS feed. On the screen was a photo of our shop’s neatly packaged lunch box alongside a selfie of Kang Seo-young.

“It’s really true, isn’t it?!”

This woman. Why on earth was she promoting us so much?

Unaware of my bewildered expression, Lee Hae-ra simply held the envelope more carefully.

“Well, anyway! I’ll enjoy this. Boss, have a great day!”
“Yes… Thank you for letting me know, Lee Hae-ra. Feel free to come by anytime if you want something.”
“Okay, okay!”

As Lee Hae-ra opened the door to leave, a cold breeze seeped through the gap. The wind swept past the counter, and the praise sticker board on the wall trembled slightly.

Long, pale fingers affixed an acorn jelly sticker to the praise board. I stared at the sticker for a long moment before a laugh escaped me.

“Complete?”

At the same time, a status window appeared with a chime before my eyes.

[You have obtained Virtue Points and unlocked the shop’s detailed information.]

—————-
[Ji-gu]
– Local Reputation 100 (Known throughout the Neighborhood as a prestigious lunch box establishment.)
– Divine Realm Reputation: 50 (The Divine Beings frown upon the nine-tailed fox who took human form.)
– Karma Points: 10 (Reward unlock conditions not yet met)
[Business Status]
Today’s Customers: 2/60
Regular Customers: 99
—————-

I smiled as I reviewed my status window, then my gaze fixed on the Divine Realm Reputation.

“Finally….”

I could now face death like a mortal.

The realization that I had finally earned the right to fade away at the same pace as humans filled me with an unexpected joy. After staring at it for a long moment, the phone rang loudly.

“A call?”

Errr—

I hurriedly dried my hands with a towel and picked up the phone.

“Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.”
– Is this… the place where Kang Seo-young ordered lunch boxes?

I glanced into empty space for a moment, then quickly gathered my thoughts and answered. The voice on the other end responded with an unexpectedly bright laugh.

– Ah, I knew it! Thank you so much~!
“Yes. Have a wonderful day.”

The moment I hung up, I blinked in confusion.

‘What was that just now?’

The phone was still warm from my ear when another call came through—and ended just as quickly. Before even a second had passed, the phone rang again. So when I answered—

– Kang Seo-young…
– So…

Every call was about Kang Seo-young’s lunch box. I hung up immediately.

I sank into my chair and rested my chin on my hand, frozen in thought like a statue.

‘I never expected it to blow up like this.’

So this is what it means to be a celebrity. I was already scheming how to escape this mess.

“Boss! We’re here!”
“Oh, you made it?”

Finally, the Twins and Student Cheon-ru burst through the shop door after school. Their excited shouts drowned out the relentless barrage of ringing phones.

“Boss!”
“Student Cheon-ru?”

Student Cheon-ru suddenly grabbed my hand and started bouncing up and down like a child. Before I could even ask why in surprise, tears welled up in his eyes.

“Boss, he said he had a delicious meal for the first time in a long while.”

Song Ae-rim explained from beside me.

“Is that so? That’s wonderful.”

I naturally freed my hand from Student Cheon-ru’s warm grip and turned to the Twins.

“Did you two enjoy your meal?”

As if it were obvious, the Twins shifted their backpacks to the front and confidently pulled out their lunch boxes.

“Of course it was delicious!”
“…The acorn jelly didn’t have any bitter taste, so it was really tasty.”

I accepted the empty containers with a soft smile playing at my lips.

“Really? Didn’t you prefer the acorn jelly with a bit of bitterness and astringency?”

There are quite a few people who actually enjoy the rich, lingering aftertaste of acorn jelly, after all. Song Ae-rim answered as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

“I think it would’ve been nice to have it!”

Song Ae-rim raised her hand slightly as she spoke.

“I, *ahem*! I enjoyed it just fine without it!”

Even Student Cheon-ru, still riding high on his excitement, chimed in.

‘Ah, I suppose I’ll have to make and sell the version with it later too.’

I set the lunch boxes, still warm from the children’s hands, down on the counter.

“Tomorrow’s the last day for the lunch boxes, right?”

It was a question I tossed over my shoulder as I turned around.

“Ugh… I’m really going to miss them. If you’re not going to keep selling lunch boxes anyway, why would you tease us like this with just a taste?”

Song Ae-rim crossed her arms, her disappointment dripping from every word as she pouted.

“Why are you being so chatty today?”

I laughed and pinched Song Ae-rim’s cheek lightly.

“…I think Song Ae-rim’s words are entirely correct.”

Song Ae-hyuk added from beside her with a very serious expression.

‘These two are tag-teaming to blackmail me…’

But ultimately, they were just whining because they loved the lunch boxes that much. Their true feelings were so transparent it was endearing. I leaned against the counter and gave them the answer they wanted.

“I wasn’t going to.”
“You weren’t going to!?”

Song Ae-rim parroted my words back at me.

“…Because Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop’s lunch boxes got featured on some celebrity’s social media, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing. So I’m thinking of running it with limited quantities. But if you kids give me a heads-up, I’ll set some aside for you.”

The Twins’ eyes widened simultaneously.

“Oh, and Student Cheon-ru—if you ask, I’ll set some aside for you too. Since you kids were the ones who suggested I start selling lunch boxes in the first place. Don’t you think I should offer some incentive to keep things fair?”
“Yesss! I love mugwort soup! Please put mugwort soup in mine!”

Student Cheon-ru shouted first, and the Twins clapped their hands in delight.

“Boss, so I’m reserving my menu in advance tomorrow? You’re making a special lunch box just for me, right?”
“Song Ae-rim, kimchi broth.”

I replied playfully and draped an arm across Song Ae-rim’s shoulders. But my excitement wouldn’t settle down easily.

***

And the next day. I couldn’t focus on anything all day. No—I couldn’t even exist in a single moment.

“Boss, are you out of lunch boxes?”
“I heard the acorn jelly lunch boxes here are delicious.”
“Did you see Kang Seo-young posted about how good the lunch boxes are here!?”

The rush of customers made the day fly by in an instant.

I’d said selling lunch boxes once was the end of it, but people kept asking as they left.

I was nearly wrapping up lunch box containers, serving steaming side dishes, and closing the refrigerator door, my hands tingling from the heat each time….

‘What a hectic day.’

But I didn’t realize how exhausting it was. I was just drowsy. Lethargy seeped through my eyelids.

‘Tomorrow’s a day off, so….’

…I still need to prep ingredients. That’s how business works—the day before a day off is always busier. I need to prep the side dish ingredients, organize the refrigerator, prepare lunch box containers….

That’s why.

‘People in business always say taking a trip somewhere isn’t as easy as it sounds!?’

I unconsciously picked up the basket and entered the Dimensional Space.

“Oh, it’s afternoon here.”

Warm sunlight streamed down gently. The sun’s warmth against my skin was so comforting that my fatigue didn’t simply melt away.

“Mmm… resting here for a moment wouldn’t be so bad.”

I lay my body down on the grassy field where Hae-tae usually lingered. A soft breeze brushed through my hair, and I closed my eyes gently, surrendering my weight to the grass beneath me.

“This is nice….”

The rustling of grass blades and distant birdsong blended together like a gentle lullaby.

‘Hm?’

That rustling….

“What are you doing?”
“Oh. It’s Hae-tae. Just lying here.”
“Why are you lying there?”
“The weather in the Dimensional Space is nice.”
“You’re enjoying the romance of it.”

I lifted Hae-tae and placed him on my belly.

“Enjoy it too.”
“…W-what are you doing!”

Hae-tae squirmed and thrashed in my arms. A playful impulse seized me, and I hugged him even tighter.

“Sometimes rest matters more than dignity.”
“I hate that philosophical tone…!”

Even his complaint sounded warm, and I couldn’t help but smile contentedly.

“Ahem. So how are those lunch boxes coming along?”
“Well… I’m busy. So incredibly busy that I can barely think straight.”

I shifted both arms behind my head and let out a sigh.

“So you didn’t like it?”
“No, I didn’t dislike it.”

A smile spread across my lips.

“Actually, I quite enjoyed it. I could focus on my work without distractions.”
“Why?”
“Before, there were only those bastards trying to scratch me whenever I did anything.”
“…Meow?”
“And I never had a moment to rest.”

Even as I spoke, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter ache.

I’d lived a life of constant torment. Whenever I thought I could finally catch my breath, disaster would strike. Solve one crisis, and another would be waiting.

“…It was so overwhelming, I questioned why I was even alive.”

My words trailed off into the empty air. Hae-tae quietly swished his tail.

“But you know what?”

I looked at Hae-tae.

“Living through it all… days like this come too.”
“Meow.”

That’s why life is unknowable. You wait. You endure. Even when that endurance feels devastatingly lonely, the reward always comes.

Smack!

Hae-tae’s front paw struck my face squarely. The sharp impact snapped my eyes wide open.

“You’ve rested enough. Now get back to work.”
“Ah, you ruined the moment.”

I grumbled while vigorously ruffling Hae-tae’s head with both hands. Hae-tae thrashed about with a cry of protest.

“Meow! Meooooow!”
“I have to work hard.”
“Don’t torment me like this!”
“You’re just so cute.”

The spot where Hae-tae had struck me still ached.

“Ugh!”

I brushed the grass from my clothes and stood up.

***

I picked up the wicker basket brimming with ingredients and headed toward the Kitchen. Each time I felt its substantial weight in my hands, a smile bloomed across my face.

‘Just organize this and then I can collapse on the sofa.’

I was straightening my hunched back and drawing a deep breath when—

Knock, knock.

The sound of someone tapping on the shop door reached my ears. When I turned, Grandmother Myeong-ja stood beyond the glass, her kind face beaming as she waved.

“Grandmother!”

I rushed over happily and opened the door wide. Grandmother Myeong-ja, as always, offered a warm smile and handed me a paper bag of bread. The aroma of freshly baked goods wafted from inside.

“Oh, bread!”
“Those Twins were raving about today’s lunch boxes—said they were absolutely delicious. This bread is my way of thanking you for your hard work.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m the grateful one when the Twins enjoy eating what I make.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja beamed with pride. Then she glanced at the notice about the limited lunch box offerings posted by the door and asked,

“By the way, it was quite lively here during the day. How’s the lunch box business treating you? Is it manageable?”

I exhaled and shook my head.

“Expanding a business isn’t something just anyone can do, it seems.”
“Ha ha. Is that so?”

Grandmother’s laughter warmed my heart.

“So acorn jelly lunch boxes are that popular?”
“How did you know?”
“Oh Jong-hee told me when he stopped by. He said you made acorn jelly lunch boxes for some celebrity, right?”

He’d bought acorn jelly lunch boxes this morning before heading out….

“Yes, thanks to that I’ve been swamped. The phone keeps ringing….”
“Did all the lunch boxes sell out?”
“Almost all of them sold out.”
“Then that’s wonderful. This is your chance to make a name for yourself. The owner of Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop, Ji-gu.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja narrowed her eyes and laughed playfully.

“Grandmother, you’re something else. I’d just be happy if the shop’s name got out there.”

I scratched my head. In truth, Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop was a hidden gem that only loyal customers knew about—a place where word-of-mouth was everything, no matter how much heart I poured into it.

‘…I wish the word would just spread on its own like this.’

Grandmother Myeong-ja gave my shoulder a light tap.

“This is just the beginning, isn’t it?”
“Yes, this is just the beginning.”

I tightened my grip on the bag in my hand.

“By the way, when is Myeong-ja’s Bakery opening?”

She pulled out a small flyer from her pocket and handed it to me.

“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!?”

I was so startled that I nearly dropped the bag in my hand.

“So suddenly?”
“Suddenly? You just didn’t notice because you’ve been so busy.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja straightened her back slightly, a subtle smile playing at her lips.

“The sign is all up now, the equipment is working perfectly, and tomorrow we’re doing a tasting and grand opening.”
“Wow… Myeong-ja’s Bakery is finally opening.”

Grandmother’s gaze drifted toward some distant place. A hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes.

“I was supposed to do this with Hyang-suk, but in the end, I’m doing it alone.”

I pressed my lips together.

“But you’re doing it with me, aren’t you? That should make you happy, Grandmother.”
“You’re right. Just hearing you say that makes it worthwhile. Come taste the bread tomorrow. Boss.”
“Yes, I’ll be there.”

After seeing Grandmother Myeong-ja off, I looked at the advertisement and let out a light laugh.

“The Twins drew this.”

Round letters and crooked bread drawings. Just looking at the advertisement bearing the Twins’ touch brought a smile to my face.

I picked up a bag of freshly baked red bean buns and headed into the shop, calling out.

“Hae-tae! Let’s eat some bread!”

A tail shot up from the kitchen in a flash.

“Red bean buns?!”

Hae-tae came bounding over, eyes sparkling.

“Grandmother Myeong-ja gave them to me. She said the opening is tomorrow.”
“Shouldn’t we bring a congratulatory gift?”
“Right. We should bring a congratulatory gift.”

I handed the bread to Hae-tae while pondering.

‘But what should we give her?’

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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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