The method of eating bone hangover soup differs from person to person. Seo-jun preferred to start by picking the meat off the bones.

He carefully stripped the meat from the bones and dipped it into mustard sauce. The distinctive sweet and slightly spicy flavor danced on his palate.

A smile spread across his face unconsciously. Another piece of meat was dipped into the vinegar-red pepper paste.

The tangy sweetness sent a shiver of delight through his tongue.

Next was the turn of the greens. Seo-jun blew on the sierae (dried radish greens) to cool them before taking a bite. The texture, saturated with broth, slid down his throat, leaving him marveling at the taste.

Finally, the broth.

He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and gulped it down.

“Ah…”

Seo-jun's sigh of satisfaction piqued Park Yeon’s curiosity. Tentatively, Park Yeon picked up his spoon and imitated Seo-jun’s eating method.

He stripped meat off the bone, dipped it into the mustard sauce, and took a bite.

“Whoa!”

Park Yeon’s eyes widened in amazement.

Next, he tried dipping the meat into the red pepper paste.

“This is pork, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“But how does it taste like this…”

“Try the broth too.”

Park Yeon scooped up some broth and drank it. Instead of exclaiming, he let out a groan.

Thanks to the demon king’s scheme, alcohol was still lingering in his system, and just one spoonful of the broth made his body feel reinvigorated.

“I hate to admit it, but this is impressive.”

“Finish it quickly. It won’t taste as good once it cools.”

Park Yeon eagerly finished his bone hangover soup. When his bowl was empty, he looked at Seo-jun hesitantly.

“If you’re done, let’s head out.”

“Well…”

“What is it?”

“Can I have… one more bowl?”

Seo-jun chuckled.

“Go ahead.”

“Wow! Daddyll, you’re the best! The best!”

“Do you like it that much, Seo-woo?”

“Yeah! I love you, Daddy! Heeheehee!”

Seo-woo smothered Seo-jun with kisses. Watching Seo-woo’s joy, Yeon-jun wore a bittersweet expression. Seo-woo had already unwrapped the toys and was playing enthusiastically.

“Beep-beep! Woo-woo!”

Yeon-jun’s eyes turned red as he watched his child. Life had been hard, and he hadn’t been able to buy even a simple toy for Seo-woo.

Every time they went to the store, Seo-woo would fixate on the toy section but never asked for anything.

How much had he wanted them? How much had he held back from asking?

“You okay?”

“Hyung…”

“Why are you tearing up?”

“Thank you, hyung.”

“What for?”

Seo-jun had given all the toys he bought for Seo-woo to Yeon-jun, figuring it would be better for the father to give them.

“And here.”

Seo-jun handed him an envelope. Yeon-jun’s eyes widened as he inspected it.

“What is this, hyung?”

“What else? It’s money.”

“This must be over ten million won…”

“Not quite. It’s about nine million.”

“Where did you get this? You didn’t…”

“It’s nothing shady. Don’t worry.”

“Then what?”

“I had some old stocks. Ga-seong Electronics.”

Yeon-jun’s jaw dropped.

Ga-seong Electronics.

It was one of the companies that had boomed after the Great Cataclysm, thanks to its partnership with the Abyss Guild.

The guild supplied magical crystals and dungeon items at low prices, and Ga-seong Electronics used them to develop new electronic devices.

The result was a skyrocketing stock price.

In Korea, Ga-seong had effectively monopolized the market for electronics utilizing magical crystals.

“How much stock did you buy?”

“Not much. When I checked, it was worth about ten million won.”

“Why give this to me? You should use it.”

“Put it towards your lease deposit.”

“…You knew?”

Seo-jun’s enhanced senses surpassed human limits. There was nothing he couldn’t see or hear.

“I overheard you on the phone.”

“This is embarrassing…”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Use it.”

“Thank you, hyung… really, thank you.”

Tears welled up in Yeon-jun’s eyes as his shoulders trembled. The hardships he’d endured were evident.

Just then.

Ding-dong!

“Huh?”

“Haha. Good evening! Are you open today?”

“Of course. Please, have a seat.”

Choi Sungkyun and his team member, Oh Seong-sik, had arrived.

They chose a counter seat where they could watch the kitchen instead of a regular table.

“I just can’t get enough of those fried eggs.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, please start us off with those and two bottles of soju.”

“Coming right up.”

While Yeon-jun prepared the drinks and side dishes, Seo-jun began making Arutus-style fried eggs.

He poured oil onto a hot pan and cracked the eggs.

The eggs sizzled as they cooked.

But plain eggs were boring. Today, he decided to add a special touch with a rare seasoning.

A few drops of detoxified hydra venom were drizzled onto the eggs.

He plated the eggs and served them. Sungkyun eagerly grabbed his chopsticks.

“I’m telling you, this stuff is addictive. Every meal, I crave it.”

He chuckled as he cut the egg and took a bite.

“Wow…”

An involuntary exclamation escaped his lips.

Today’s eggs tasted even better. Was it because it had been a while? No, he’d eaten them just a few days ago. But the flavor…

‘Rich, yet light; light, yet subtly sweet. I can’t describe it.’

His limited culinary knowledge failed to explain the complexity of the taste. He found himself devouring the eggs, ignoring the alcohol.

As the two diners enjoyed their meal, Yeon-jun approached Seo-jun.

“Hyung, can I take Seo-woo to grab dinner?”

Seo-jun remembered the pork belly marinating in gochujang (red pepper paste).

“Hold on. I’ve got some marinated pork belly.”

“You even bought pork belly?”

“Park Yeon wouldn’t stop begging for it.”

Yeon-jun chuckled and nodded.

Seo-jun took out the marinated pork belly. At a glance, the seasoning seemed to have seeped in perfectly.

He placed the pork belly on the heated frying pan.

Sizzle!

The delightful sound of grilling meat was accompanied by the spicy-sweet aroma spreading through the air.

After cooking, he cut the pieces into bite-sized portions and handed them to Yeon-jun on a plate.

Hearing the sounds of admiration from Yeon-jun and Seo-woo, Choi Sungkyun asked, “Is that gochujang-marinated pork belly?”

“Oh, yes. Would you like some?”

“Haha… I couldn’t possibly eat such expensive pork belly for free. It’s fine.”

“No, really. You helped me out the last time.”

“Ah, you mean with those loan sharks? Have they come back?”

“Thanks to you, they haven’t.”

“That’s a relief.”

Marinated dishes are great, but the problem is that they tend to burn easily.

‘I have my shield.’

As Seo-jun considered getting another frying pan, a method he used in the Demon Realm crossed his mind.

By casting a barrier over the frying pan, he could grill the meat without it burning.

It was like adding a protective foil layer. He plated the meat and handed it to Choi Sungkyun and Oh Seongsik.

Oh Seongsik was the first to taste it.

“Wow…! Boss, is this really pork belly?”

“Of course.”

“How do I even describe this… It’s definitely pork, but the flavor with the seasoning… I’m speechless. Did you train as a chef somewhere?”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

“It’s more than just ‘suiting my taste’! This is a revolution! A culinary revolution! Team Leader! You have to try this… Team Leader?”

Choi Sungkyun was already eating. Unlike the enthusiastic Oh Seongsik, he was quietly shedding tears.

That day, Choi Sungkyun wasn’t in a great mood after a trivial fight with his girlfriend.

“Why won’t she pick up…”

He returned to his studio apartment, still clutching his phone. Inside, he sensed someone’s presence.

Looking at the shoe rack at the entrance, he noticed his mother’s old, worn shoes. Again. He had asked her not to come so many times, yet here she was.

“Son?”

His mother greeted him with a bright smile.

“Mom, why do you keep coming here when I told you not to?”

“I just wanted to bring you some food you like.”

“Well, you could at least call before coming! What is this?”

“I thought you’d be busy… Have you eaten yet? I made your favorite gochujang-marinated pork belly—”

Seeing his mother smile brightly despite his complaints, he couldn’t contain his frustration, and sharp words spilled out.

“Stop coming! I can buy my own food!”

He shouted, storming out of the apartment. And foolishly, instead of calling his mom, he called his girlfriend to apologize.

-Still mad?

“Yuseon, I’m sorry.”

-What are you sorry for?

“For what I said earlier… I knew how you’d feel, but I still—”

While he was rambling, a loud crash interrupted him.

BOOM!

The building collapsed in an instant. He had no chance to react, no opportunity to apologize to his mom.

Food and drinks are astonishing things. They make you reminisce about someone, think of someone, and long for someone.

That’s the true flavor they bring.

Choi Sungkyun chuckled bitterly.

Seo-jun poured him another drink.

Drip.

“I couldn’t even say I was sorry to my mom. I wanted to tell her I didn’t hate her… that it wasn’t her I hated but that day… and that she shouldn’t take it to heart.”

Drip.

“Isn’t it absurd? The last words I said to her were complaints… haha.”

“You didn’t know.”

“What really annoyed me wasn’t my mom. It was seeing her, with her bad leg, travel so far just to bring her son food. That’s what got to me… and I…”

Seo-jun quietly handed him a tissue.

“Sorry. I guess I’ve grown comfortable around you. I’m spilling all this.”

“It’s okay.”

“Seongsik, let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

“How much do we owe you?”

“Thirty-nine thousand won.”

“I’ll make sure not to show this side of me next time.”

“Mr. Choi Sungkyun.”

“Yes?”

“Why not say everything you’ve wanted to say? All the things you’ve held onto. The words that have weighed on your heart for so long.”

“What do you mean?”

“You never know… maybe you’ll see her in a dream.”

A faint smile appeared.

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

Choi Sungkyun left the restaurant.

“Team Leader…”

“Don’t say anything.”

“…Understood.”

“I’ll head home first.”

He lived in Yeoksam-dong. After hailing a cab and arriving home, fragments of the night began replaying in his mind.

“Why did I do that…”

Not even his comrades, who had crossed the line of life and death with him, nor his closest friends knew what he’d just confessed.

But with just a bit of alcohol, he’d spilled it all.

“Am I getting old?”

They say people grow sentimental with age. Perhaps that was the case.

Sungkyun lay in bed, feeling more at peace than ever. Just then—

“Sungkyun.”

Someone stroked his head. He bolted upright, rendered speechless by the unbelievable sight before him.

His mother stood there, smiling radiantly.

Exactly as she had been ten years ago.

“M-Mom?”

“My dear son, have you been well?”

“Mom…”

“Why are you crying? Are you upset because I came so late?”

“I’m sorry… Mom, I’m so sorry. Everything I said that day… I didn’t mean it. I didn’t…”

His mother pulled him into a tight embrace.

“I know. I know everything.”

“I’m so sorry, Mom…”

“It’s okay.”

In his mother’s arms, Sungkyun wept uncontrollably.