While Park Yeon and Jinmyung were engrossed in training, Seo-jun prepared the food.

The curry had been completely devoured by Ae-seon and Hui-min earlier, so he had to make it again.

Fortunately, he had portioned out curry ingredients in advance.

Curry, like jjajangmyeon and tonkatsu, was one of the successfully localized dishes.

As such, there were many varieties.

There was Indian-style curry, Japanese-style curry that had been localized through Britain, and Korean-style curry.

Among them, Seo-jun preferred Korean-style curry.

Of course, authentic Indian curry and Japanese curry had their own unique flavors and characteristics.

Indian curry needed no explanation, and Japanese curry had a rich, deep, and slightly sweet taste that people enjoyed enough to keep at home and cook frequently.

However, it didn’t pair particularly well with kimchi.

On the other hand, how about Korean-style curry?

It had an almost heavenly combination with kimchi.

Now, imagine this.

You mix thick Korean-style curry with rice, mash a curry-soaked potato, scoop up a spoonful of the rice and mashed potato, top it off with a piece of kimchi, and take a big bite!

The bold taste of turmeric powder, the subtle flavor of the rice grains, and the spiciness of kimchi blend together in perfect harmony.

Of course, the curry Seo-jun was preparing was Korean-style curry.

He took out the pre-portioned ingredients.

Curry powder, potatoes, carrots, onions, and corn.

While curry was best with meat, the price of meat had skyrocketed since the upheaval, and he was out of Krexeg meat.

Still, he could make a delicious curry with just these ingredients.

First, he mixed the curry powder with water to dissolve it well.

The key here was using powdered curry.

Since it was Korean-style curry, he used Kkoltugi brand curry powder.

Next, he stir-fried large chunks of potatoes, carrots, and onions in a heated pan.

Here’s a tip: using butter instead of cooking oil gives the curry a much richer flavor.

He carefully stir-fried the vegetables to prevent them from sticking, then poured in the curry mixture he had prepared earlier.

Sizzle—!

With a satisfying sound, steam rose into the air.

The spicy scent of curry quickly spread throughout the kitchen.

For seasoning, honey was better than sugar, as it enhanced the umami.

Now, all that was left was to let it simmer gently.

“Wow, it smells amazing.”

Jinmyung approached and commented.

He definitely looked different from before. Unlike his past timid self, he seemed brimming with confidence.

It was a good look on him.

“Do you like curry?”

“Of course! I’d eat it all the time if I could.”

“That’s a relief.”

Seo-jun plated the curry and rice separately and placed them on the table.

Of course, he didn’t forget the kimchi he had made with Lee Sook-hee.

“Aren’t you and hyung eating?”

“We already ate.”

“Oh… I’m not sure if I should eat alone.”

“You’re already holding a spoon, though.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

As Jinmyung sheepishly set down his spoon, Park Yeon handed it back to him.

“Eating a hearty meal after training is the most important thing. Don’t hesitate. Besides… although it’s bright yellow, it actually tastes quite decent.”

“It…?”

“It’s best if you don’t ask.”

“Ah, okay.”

Though he had said he loved curry, the truth was, Jinmyung wasn’t particularly fond of it.

The sharp taste of turmeric powder and the faintly fishy scent of vegetables like carrots and onions had always put him off, so he often avoided curry even when it was served at school.

But since Seo-jun had made it with care and he trusted his cooking skills, he picked up his spoon.

The moment he mixed the rice with the curry and took a bite—

“Wow…”

He couldn’t help but be amazed.

This was a different taste from the curry he had eaten before.

No, it actually tasted the same, but there was no trace of that vegetable smell.

Of course, there was a reason for that.

Though Jinmyung didn’t know, all the vegetables in the curry were awakened produce.

The difference in quality compared to the vegetables used in school lunches, especially at a public school, was undeniable.

“It’s so good!”

Jinmyung eagerly ate the curry. The combination with kimchi was incredible.

“This is my grandma’s kimchi, right?”

“Yes. The one we made at her house last time.”

“I thought so…”

“Want some more rice?”

“Can I?”

“Of course.”

Seo-jun brought over another bowl of rice and more curry from the pot.

“By the way, how have things been lately?”

Park Yeon asked as Jinmyung mixed his rice with the curry.

“What do you mean?”

“You should pick up on things quickly. I’m talking about bullying.”

Jinmyung scooped a large spoonful of curry rice into his mouth and, while chewing, answered,

“Not anymore. Actually, I’ve made a lot of friends.”

“You… made friends?”

“Yeah. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s just surprising that you made friends.”

“I get what you mean. I used to be shy and had nothing special about me.”

“That’s not exactly what I meant, but if that’s how you see it, I won’t argue.”

Jinmyung had grown used to Park Yeon’s odd way of speaking.

He smiled as he replied,

“Anyway, they were the ones who approached me first. They said they felt bad for not helping when Kang Hyun-seong was bullying me.”

“Well… ignoring injustice is easy, but standing up for what’s right is difficult.”

“So I told them I understood.”

“How many friends did you make?”

“Three.”

For a moment, Park Yeon’s expression stiffened.

To Seo-jun, it seemed that Park Yeon was quite shocked by the fact that Jinmyung had made three friends—something he himself had never managed to do.

‘See? I told you to go out and make some friends.’

Seo-jun shook his head.

- In truth, I am your father!

- You… are my father?

- Yes.

- That’s impossible. How could a despicable man like you be my father?

- You probably have a birthmark on your right side. A large one, about the size of a coin…

Doo-doong!

To be continued in the next episode—

Park Yeon let out a sigh and picked up the remote to turn off the TV.

Until just yesterday, he had been enjoying this daily drama.

But for some reason, today, it wasn’t entertaining.

Was it because of what happened earlier?

- Three of them.

Jinmyung’s confident expression came to mind.

Letting out another sigh, Park Yeon left the store. Then, he began walking aimlessly.

‘Jinmyung made three friends…?’

Suddenly, the thought struck him again, making him jolt in surprise and shake his head.

This was not a thought a hero should have.

He should be happy for someone else’s happiness, not jealous!

If his comrades saw him like this, they would surely be disappointed.

No, there was no need to think so far.

If the Demon King saw him like this, he would undoubtedly scoff.

But humans are creatures of rationalization.

And Park Yeon was no exception.

‘If I think about it, this isn’t jealousy—it’s admiration, isn’t it?’

The dictionary definition of jealousy is being unable to stand someone else’s success and trying to bring them down.

But he wasn’t bothered by Jinmyung’s success, nor was he trying to undermine him.

Realizing this, Park Yeon nodded in satisfaction.

‘Yes, this is admiration. After all, a hero like me wouldn’t feel something as petty as jealousy.’

By rationalizing it this way, his heart as a hero felt more at ease, but his heart as Park Yeon still felt uneasy.

What exactly was a friend?

Park Yeon knew comrades well.

Kenef, with his prominent buck teeth, Diel, whose black hair was stunning, and Luan, who had a rough face but a warm heart…

But could he call them friends? No, he couldn’t.

They had gathered with the shared purpose of defeating demons, but beyond that, they had nothing in common.

‘It’s difficult.’

Park Yeon had spent his childhood in the temple.

Because of the temple’s environment, he had never had the chance to meet peers and make friends.

Priest Vorpian had been his father, his grandfather, and his friend.

Perhaps that’s why it felt even more difficult now.

After all, he had spent most of his life in the temple, and the rest as a hero.

“Haa…”

Just as he let out a sigh—

Park Yeon suddenly tensed and became wary of his surroundings.

‘This is…!’

His senses picked up an evil presence.

He flared his nostrils and carefully followed the scent.

“Shreeek! I wonder how many they laid today.”

Humming to himself, Karanto rummaged through the Arutus nest.

The resting Arutus let out sharp cries of “Kyaak!” in protest, but Karanto paid them no mind.

“Shreeek! Get lost!”

The scent of a Red Orc was fatal to the Arutus.

Of course, it wasn’t directly harmful.

But since it caused paralysis, the Arutus instinctively avoided him.

In the wild, being paralyzed meant certain death.

Seo-jun knew this well, which was why he had put Karanto in charge of the poultry farm.

“Oh… Shreeek! They laid quite a few today. Shreeek!”

Kyaaak!

Kyaaaak—!

“Shreeek! The Demon god will be pleased— Shreeek! Oh.”

Karanto grinned as he collected the eggs.

He stored them in a warehouse so that the Arutus couldn’t take them back.

Kyaaaak!

As he finished his task, the Arutus let out shrill cries. They were asking for food.

Before Seo-jun had set up the barrier, they had survived by hunting for food.

But things were different now.

Inside the barrier, there was nothing for them to eat, so they had no choice but to rely on Karanto for food.

And Karanto’s menu never changed.

Leftover scraps from Krekseg.

As a Red Orc, Karanto saw Krekseg as a kind of kin and wouldn’t eat it himself, but the Arutus were different.

Kyaaak—!

Kyaaak!

Just looking at the way they swarmed madly was proof of that.

“Shreeek! Such savage creatures.”

Karanto shook his head.

Just then, his stomach growled.

It was time for him to eat, too.

Ramen was a dish that never got old. No matter how much he ate it, he never tired of it.

“Burp!”

After finishing his meal, Karanto lay down on the ground, a satisfied grin showing his tusks.

Everything was perfect.

The lush greenery and clear skies of the human world—something he had never seen in the Demon Realm.

The thick forests, the fresh air, and of course… ramen.

Even though his life was confined within the barrier, Karanto was quite content.

Except for one thing.

“...I’m bored.”

His routine inside the barrier was always the same.

Collect Arutus eggs, eat, nap, eat again, sleep.

Sometimes he would climb trees or run through the grasslands, but that too got boring after a while.

After some thought, Karanto decided to leave the barrier.

The first time doing anything was always the hardest.

At first, he had been afraid of everything, but after going outside four times, the fear had mostly disappeared.

Karanto pulled his robe over his head. From the outside, he looked like nothing more than a large human.

Satisfied with his reflection in the stream, Karanto stepped out of the barrier.