"Please"

Lee Seo-jun left only these words and vanished like smoke right before Hwang Tae-su's eyes. Left alone, Hwang Tae-su could only look dumbfounded.

"Shit... then what about the shop?"

No, not just the shop...

"Ddu-ru-ru-du-ru-ru, under the sea! Mommy shark! Du-du-ru-ru-ru! Daddy shark!"

"Ddu-ru-ru-ru-ddu-!"

"...."

What about those kids?

Right now, they're absorbed in the cartoon, but once it's over?

'They'll be running around like crazy.'

And if they fall and get hurt?

'...Pocket Dimension.'

He recalled the appearance of Cha Sang-hyun, who had looked barely human. Probably... he himself wouldn't escape becoming the second Cha Sang-hyun.

'No way!'

They said even if you entered a tiger's den, you could survive if you kept your wits about you. He had to survive the monster's lair.

In a hurry, Hwang Tae-su rummaged through his call log. Naturally, it was to call Yeon-jun.

-Yes, President Hwang?

"President Lee, by any chance, when will you be at the shop?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well... your brother left the kids and the shop to me for a bit and went out. But it's almost opening time. It'd be a problem if customers came, and besides, I've never raised kids before."

-Ah... what should I do. I'm at the hospital right now, so I probably can't make it immediately.

"The hospital? Why all of a sudden?"

-An acquaintance was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. I told my brother I'd be late, but I guess he forgot to tell you.

"Then what am I supposed to do alone?"

-Isn't Park Yeon there?

"He is, but he's watching a drama."

The only time Park Yeon turned into a stone Buddha was when he watched dramas. And now, Park Yeon was in that stone Buddha state.

-Then... ah! Could you just lock the shop door? I'll be there soon.

Oh, that was an option.

Just lock the door and physically block customers from entering, right?

Ha... in front of Monster 1 and Monster 2, he could think as fast as Einstein, so why was he so slow at times like this?

"Alright. But you have to come quickly. I'm a busy man too."

-Yes, yes. Thank you. I'll be there soon.

Hwang Tae-su got up to lock the shop door. But just then—

Clang!

A customer walked in.

But don't panic.

It's very simple.

"We're not open right now."

"Huh?"

"The owners are out, so we're not operating at the moment."

If there was Van Gogh the impressionist painter in the Netherlands, then in Korea there was just Hwang Tae-su, the Impressionist.

As he frowned, the customers hesitated. Then Hwang Tae-su deliberately pulled out a cigarette from his inner pocket.

It was a very intentional move. As he pulled out the cigarette, the pistol at his waist was revealed.

"What are you standing there for? I said we're closed."

"Well, but..."

"I said we're not open... huh!"

"Greetings."

"Mr. Park...?"

"Why so surprised?"

"Isn't this your drama-watching time?"

For a moment, Park Yeon's expression stiffened.

"Some breaking news interrupted the broadcast."

"...."

"Are these customers?"

"Huh? Ah... yes."

"Then you should bring them in. Come, come inside."

"Is it really okay?"

"Of course."

"But he said the shop wasn't operating..."

The customer hesitated, pointing at Hwang Tae-su.

"Is that so?"

"Ah, well... Seo-jun isn't here, and President Lee isn't either. When I called President Lee, he told me to just lock the door and wait..."

"But I'm here."

Previously, when Shin Sung-hyun asked if he believed in gods, Hwang Tae-su had firmly answered yes.

And now, the god he saw was disbelief itself.

He shot a gaze full of distrust at Park Yeon. But it had no effect on Park Yeon, who believed in another god.

"Come on in."

"Thank you."

"What would you like to order?"

"Hmm. They serve pork belly too."

"Yeah. And the price is pretty cheap."

"Then why think any longer? Let's just have pork belly with soju for dinner."

"Sounds good."

"Two servings of pork belly and one bottle of soju, please."

"Two servings of pork belly and one bottle of soju. President Hwang!"

"Huh?"

"Please set up the basic side dishes and soju for table 2."

"...What about you, Mr. Park?"

"Obviously, I'll be grilling the meat."

"...Will you be alright?"

"President Hwang, have you heard this saying?"

Hwang Tae-su decided to watch what nonsense Monster 2 would spout this time.

"Even a dog can recite poems after three years at a seodang. Of course, I'm not a dog, but I've seen enough by looking over the shoulder, so I can manage."

"Mr. Park, you might not realize, but grilling gochujang pork belly isn't as easy as it sounds..."

"Grilling meat is all the same."

At Park Yeon's indifferent attitude, Hwang Tae-su felt like he was standing at the crossroads of life and death.

This crazy monster thinks grilling meat is as simple as cooking instant noodles!

'Damn it... at this point, I have no choice but to risk it!'

Hwang Tae-su tied on an apron and headed into the kitchen.

"Then I'll do it."

"You, President Hwang?"

"Yes."

"It's fine. I'll do it."

In fact, Park Yeon had been eagerly awaiting this day. Back when he traveled with his fellow warriors, he was in charge of cooking.

He had a certain pride in his cooking. Though he hadn't had a chance to show it off on Earth.

But now, that chance had finally come.

He didn't want to miss it, and moreover, President Hwang's attitude somehow pricked his pride.

As if implying he couldn't grill meat properly...

Park Yeon, who had once burned a Garakustan monster — which was supposed to be non-flammable — using sacred power, could grill a mere pork belly with his eyes closed.

...Or so Park Yeon firmly believed, and Hwang Tae-su knew it too well.

He had to find a way out, he must!

Hwang Tae-su’s brain started working at full speed. And soon, he found a way to overcome this crisis.

"Instead! I'll show you a movie later!"

"A... movie?"

As expected, Monster 2 showed interest.

"Yes! A movie."

"Hmm... how many?"

"One?"

Park Yeon, who had been showing an expectant expression, immediately wore an indifferent face again.

"One is too few. Let's make it four."

"F-four?!"

"That's right."

Watching movies with Monster 2 was pure torture. After the viewing, he would chatter on for hours, basking in the afterglow.

But four movies…… watching four movies including Monster 2! This was something that must absolutely be prevented!

Hwang Tae-su opened his mouth without even thinking to wipe away the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Then let’s settle on two movies.”

“Four.”

“Mr. Park, four movies are too much. Let’s make it two.”

“Four.”

“Ha… fine, three movies.”

“Four.”

“Mr. Park. Three movies, three! That’s really a huge concession. You know that, right?”

“Four.”

“This is driving me crazy……”

Muttering in frustration, Hwang Tae-su thought to himself.

Actually, the reason he was trying to enter the kitchen was simple.

Let's imagine a situation.

You’re sitting in the passenger seat and get badly injured in a crash due to the driver's negligence. It would be immensely unfair.

Because you had no control over the car.

But if I were the one driving, and got badly injured because of my own negligence?

It would at least feel less unfair. It happened under my own control.

Hwang Tae-su thought that even if a crash occurred and he got thrown into a subspace, he would rather it happen because of his own carelessness.

That way, at least it would feel less unfair. With that thought reaching its conclusion, Hwang Tae-su gave a reply laced with a sigh.

“Ha… fine, four movies.”

“Okay! Four! Thank you!”

Park Yeon, looking pleased, took off his apron and left the kitchen, and Hwang Tae-su let out a sigh of relief.

But it was too early to relax. He had to make the ultimate gochujang samgyeopsal.

‘The key is grilling it without burning.’

Gochujang samgyeopsal was a surprisingly tricky dish to cook. The seasoning made it prone to burning, so fire control was crucial.

Hwang Tae-su first gathered a spatula, long chopsticks, and tongs to set up.

“Shit… but why do I know exactly where all the cooking tools are?”

With a sigh, Hwang Tae-su took out the pre-portioned gochujang samgyeopsal from the refrigerator. The frying pan was on the ceiling.

But he couldn’t just start grilling right away.

He didn’t even know how strong the burner was or how well the pan conducted heat.

In that sense, foil was a kind of insurance. It would prevent the meat from burning in case of an accident.

Hwang Tae-su pulled foil from a drawer and wrapped it around the frying pan. Then he generously poured cooking oil over it.

And with a solemn heart, he lit the fire.

Clang!

Flames roared up from the burner, heating the frying pan. When it seemed hot enough—

‘Now!’

He quickly lowered the flame. Then, ever so gently, as if soothing a crying baby into a cradle, he laid the samgyeopsal down.

Sizzleeeee!

Instantly, acrid smoke shot up.

‘No!’

Hwang Tae-su hurriedly turned the heat down even more. Then, with all his might, he flipped the meat.

Thankfully, it wasn’t burnt. But it was too early to let his guard down.

Drip drip drip—

Maybe it was the tension?

Sweat formed and ran down his sideburns, but he didn’t even think of wiping it off.

At this moment, Hwang Tae-su had entered a state of no-self.

In this world, only the frying pan and himself existed.

A fierce battle unfolded.

Splaaaash!

Fwoooosh!

Craaaackle!

Crack-crack-crack!

And at the end of that long battle—

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Hwang Tae-su achieved victory.

He was breathing heavily, like he had sprinted 100 meters at full speed. Catching his breath, he plated the samgyeopsal onto a dish.

“Looks like you have some talent.”

“Ah, you scared me!”

Startled by the sudden voice, Hwang Tae-su jumped. The owner of the voice was Monster 1.

“S-sorry! I did it without realizing……”

“You wrapped the pan with foil to prevent the meat from burning, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, yes.”

“You also poured oil.”

“……Because it shouldn’t burn.”

“Hmm. Looks good.”

“I tried my best, hahaha.”

“Thanks. Thanks to you, I was able to take care of things properly.”

“By ‘things’… you mean the cockroach, right?”

Seo-jun neither affirmed nor denied it. That made it even more chilling for Hwang Tae-su.

Swallowing dryly, Hwang Tae-su carefully took off his apron.

Placing the apron down modestly, he avoided Seo-jun’s gaze and finished off the plating with a sprinkle of parsley powder.

“A-all done. Well then, boss, I’ll be going now……”

“I’ll repay you for today’s help someday.”

“R-repayment… it’s really not necessary. I’m just glad I could be of help. Th-then, I'll be off……”

Bow!

As Hwang Tae-su darted away, Seo-jun let out a small chuckle.

The scent of the parsley-sprinkled gochujang samgyeopsal tickled his nose.

‘Not bad.’

Nodding approvingly, Seo-jun took the nicely plated samgyeopsal and left the kitchen.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“Huh? Is that the boss?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t see you come in… that’s odd.”

“I just woke up from a nap in that room.”

“Ah……”

“Please enjoy your meal.”

“Mr. Kim.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Earlier, you asked if it was really ligated……”

“……”

“Would you believe me if I told you the truth?”

“Regardless of believing or not, I know you’re not the type to talk nonsense, Chief.”

Park Min-cheol smiled faintly and downed his drink. After a brief pause, he spoke.

“It was ligated.”

“……”

“At first, I thought maybe I did it unknowingly because everything was so chaotic… but after the surgery ended, it kept nagging at me.”

“……”

“So I went to the facility team and checked the operating room’s CCTV. Turns out, I didn’t do it.”

“You mean……”

“We have to assume the blood vessels ligated themselves. Maybe we should call it self-recovery.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Isn’t the world a crazy place now? Anything can happen.”

This time, Kim Woo-jin downed his drink in one shot.

“Does anyone else know?”

“Now one more person does. You, Mr. Kim.”

“……”

“Don’t ask me what I’m going to do about it. I’m not doing anything. Besides……”

Park Min-cheol chuckled and drank again. His hand was slightly trembling, perhaps already drunk.

“Chief. I’m sorry, but can I ask you one question?”

“As long as it’s not the cliché ‘why did you become a doctor.’”

“……”

“Haha. Don’t you think that’s just too cliché?”

“That was the answer I most wanted to hear from you, Chief.”

“If I were to tell the whole story, one bottle of soju wouldn’t be enough.”

“I can drink more than I look.”

Chuckling, Park Min-cheol ordered another bottle of soju.