“It’s been a while. Such kindness is...”

“Is that so?”

“Many people died after the upheaval. It’s understandable if people became more cold-hearted.”

“How have you been, Grandma?”

“Me? No different. Same as everyone else.”

“No, I mean, are you living alone?”

“Oh, no. I live with my grandson. His parents passed away during the upheaval. Poor thing…”

Once the conversation started, Lee Sook-hee didn’t stop.

“Still, I didn’t realize how tough life was. I was too busy enjoying the fun of watching my grandson grow… enjoying his playful antics.”

“What kind of child is your grandson?”

A smile appeared on Lee Sook-hee’s face.

“He’s a good kid. Any other child would have gone astray in an environment like ours, but not him. He never shows a hint of rebellion.”

“I see.”

“He’s also great at studying. He’s top of his class, they say. I couldn’t even afford to send him to private lessons, yet he’s first. It makes me proud but also a bit sorry.”

“I can understand.”

“I wanted to see him go to college, but...”

Lee Sook-hee let out a despondent laugh.

“I have cancer. Terminal stage.”

Seo-jun feigned ignorance, widening his eyes.

“I didn’t know. You seem so healthy.”

“The doctor said the same thing. Asked why I came so late, said there’s nothing they can do anymore…”

Seo-jun thought to himself.

She probably wouldn’t have sought treatment even if she’d gone earlier. She’d likely save every penny for her grandson’s college tuition instead. Sometimes, unconditional love means sacrifice.

“Ah, look at me. An old woman rambling away.”

Handing her a tissue, Seo-joon replied, “I find motivation in people who work hard to live.”

“Do you, now?”

“Especially people like you, Grandma, who are living so diligently.”

“These days, everyone has to work hard to live, don’t they? There’s no other choice.”

After a pause, Seo-joon spoke again.

“You should try visiting another hospital.”

“What do you mean…”

“It could be a misdiagnosis.”

“Something like that only happens in movies.”

“Please, visit another hospital. It might just be a misdiagnosis.”

Lee Sook-hee nodded awkwardly, forcing a smile.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Please visit again.”

After Lee Sook-hee disappeared with her cart, Park Yeon spoke up.

“Why did you cure her?”

“Cure what?”

“The black masses in that old woman’s body.”

“Well…”

“You have some ulterior motive, don’t you?”

“Ulterior motive?”

“You wouldn’t save her without expecting something in return. Is your goal… her soul?”

“Think whatever you want.”

Seo-jun chuckled and walked back into the store.

“Come on, tell me! What’s your motive?”

“Go have a cola.”

“Do I look like I’m in the mood for cola… Wait, cola? Where is it?”

While Park Yeon was distracted by the mention of cola, Lee Sook-hee climbed the hill back to her house and immediately rummaged through a drawer to find her medicine. She had hidden it deep inside to keep her grandson from seeing it. She only took it when the pain was unbearable due to its cost.

After taking the medicine, the pain subsided a little.

Her grandson returned home, and they ate dinner together. As always, Lee Sook-hee didn’t show any sign of her condition.

The Next Day

Like any other day, Lee Sook-hee was collecting recyclables when she paused in front of a hospital she hadn't noticed before.

“Misdiagnosis...?”

Perhaps it was a desperate hope. Yet even a thread of hope was worth grabbing onto. As though possessed, she stepped into the hospital.

The MRI results were astonishing.

“What?”

“Everything’s clean.”

“What does that…?”

“You came for a liver check-up, right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s completely clear.”

Lee Sook-hee widened her eyes.

It had to be one of two things:

Either the university hospital’s diagnosis was incorrect. Or this hospital’s diagnosis was flawed.

“Come to think of it, the pain…”

It wasn’t there. Even this morning, when she opened her eyes.

Normally, she would sneak into the bathroom to groan quietly so her grandson wouldn’t hear, but today, her morning was calm and peaceful.

All day long, she felt no pain.

“How could this be…”

While bewildered and shocked, she also felt relief.

She would see her grandson grow up—no, she could even watch him marry someday.

“Thank you, thank you!”

Tap, sizzle.

On the griddle, the pork belly was sizzling away. Occasionally, droplets of fat popped off, adding to the charm of the meal.

Seo-jun preferred his pork belly slightly charred at the edges.

He grilled the family’s portion to a golden perfection and plated it separately, while his preferred slightly burnt cuts went onto another plate.

As soon as he brought them to the table, Seo-woo cheered, holding his chopsticks.

“Wow! Pork belly! Pork belly!”

“Seo-woo, do you like pork belly?”

“Yes! I love it!”

“How much?”

“As much as the sky and the earth!”

“Even more than Yeoksam?”

On the floor, Yeoksam, who was sleeping soundly, cracked one eye open lazily. Seo-woo looked at Yeoksam and hesitated.

Just then—

Woof! Woof!

What’s there to think about? Is this even a question?

Yeoksam barked, his half-closed eye now wide open. Seo-woo eventually giggled.

“I like Yeoksam better.”

Woof woof woof!

Yeah, that’s right. I’d better be your favorite.

“Sniff sniff.”

It wasn’t Yeoksam. It was Park Yeon. He sniffed at the plate of pork belly.

“What? Does it smell like the food of demons or something?”

“Ahem.”

By then, Yeon-joon had finished washing the leafy vegetables and sat down.

“Is this our first home-cooked meal together?”

“Home-cooked?”

“Even so, pork belly’s no small feat.”

Seo-jun recalled the supermarket flyer.

“You sure it’s okay?”

“Business has been good lately, thanks to you. Plus, Mr. Park Yeon has been a great help. And most importantly…”

Yeon-jun glanced at Seo-woo, who was holding his chopsticks, waiting eagerly.

“You must’ve had a hard time getting him to eat.”

The good business was just an excuse.

“Mr. Park Yeon, it’s been a while since you’ve had pork belly, hasn’t it?”

“Pork belly? This is my first…”

Thump.

“…Indeed, it’s been a long time.”

“Eat plenty.”

“Thank you.”

Seo-joon preferred perilla leaves to lettuce. He carefully laid a perilla leaf on his palm, added a slice of meat, a clove of garlic, and some ssamjang paste, and wrapped it all together.

Gulp.

How many years had it been since he last ate pork belly?

As he reminisced, Seo-joon smirked. It was a meaningless thought.

“Back there, I even ate a golden pig...”

Its official name was Kreksheg.

A monster dwelling in the swamps of the demon realm, its fur shimmered like gold, so Seo-joon called it the golden pig.

He used to slaughter and eat the golden pig as a substitute for pork belly.

“Tasty. But compared to Kreksheg’s meat…”

The juiciness, balance of fat and lean meat—it lacked harmony. It was about 2% shy of perfection.

Just then, his eyes landed on the soju in the fridge.

Yes, pork belly pairs best with soju.

Seo-joon retrieved a bottle from the fridge and noticed Park Yeon hesitating.

He sent a mental thought, so the family wouldn’t overhear.

Not eating?
Well…
It’s not some demonic food.
I know.
Eat it. My brother went out of his way to get it.
How do I eat it…?

So that’s why he had been watching so intently.

Seo-joon sighed and made the simplest wrap—a combination of lettuce, perilla leaf, two pieces of pork belly, garlic, chili, rice, and ssamjang.

Quite the meticulous warrior, aren’t you?
It’s just cultural differences! You don’t know much about the continent’s culture, either! But…
Hmm?
Do I just eat it like this? Right away?
Yes.

When he handed over the wrap, Park Yeon inspected it with suspicion.

Wrapping vegetables around meat? Continentals would scoff. Meat is meat, and vegetables are vegetables.

Still, hunger is the best seasoning. Without much expectation, Park Yeon put the wrap in his mouth and chewed. His eyes widened.

“Wow!”

Astonishing. Incredible.

The harmony of vegetables and meat defied description. The greens balanced the greasiness, and the garlic and chili added a spicy finish.

“To think such a flavor existed!”

As Park Yeon devoured the wrap in awe, Seo-jun chuckled and poured himself a shot of soju.

He downed it in one gulp and followed it with a pre-made wrap.

“Ah…”

This was it. This was the taste that made him descend to the mortal realm and get tangled up with that annoying warrior.

Is that the green liquor?
Yes. It’s called soju.
Soju… What a peculiar name. May I try some? It looks delicious…
It might be a demonic drink, you know.
You wouldn’t offer a demonic drink to your brother. I have some sense!
Fair enough.

Seo-joon poured a shot for Park Yeon, who was eagerly watching.

But what’s your drinking capacity?
Drinking capacity?
You might get drunk.
Ha! Don’t worry. I’ve never been drunk in my life. I don’t even know what a hangover feels like.

Seo-joon handed over the shot. Park Yeon mimicked him perfectly—downing the soju, then swallowing a wrap.

“Wow!”

“Mr. Park Yeon, you seem to love this!”

“It’s amazing! Absolutely amazing!”

“Ha ha. It must’ve been a long time since you’ve had soju too.”

“Soju is indeed… Correct. It’s been a while.”

“Drink as much as you’d like.”

“Thank you. For introducing me to such delicious food!”

“No need to thank me…”

While Yeon-joon watched in amazement, Park Yeon kept drinking. The bitterness of the soju was balanced by the pork belly’s rich flavor.

It was an incredible combination.

How much time had passed? With a flushed face and slurred speech, Park Yeon mumbled:

“I’ve got a secret… I’m a hero…”

“A hero…?”

Thud!

“Mr. Park Yeon! Mr. Park Yeon!”

Half a bottle of soju.

That was Park Yeon’s limit.

Inflation had turned pork belly into "golden pork belly." Cabbage, too, was in short supply, earning the nickname "gold cabbage."

“I should’ve brought my treasures…”

Thinking they’d be a burden, he had distributed them to his subordinates. He regretted not at least storing them in a subspace.

To think the Demon God himself would be strapped for cash… He definitely needed to earn money.

Seo-jun wasted no time.

Despite inflation, this world was convenient. A single search yielded thousands of videos.

Seo-jun clicked on a thumbnail that caught his eye.

“Making money? Honestly, it’s easy as hell. You all know it. You just don’t act on it. What’s there besides awakening?”

“Guilds? Screw them. If you’re high-ranked, they’ll beg to recruit you. Focus on finding the right dungeon for your skills. Don’t go dying in the wrong one.”

“Sell monster byproducts to the government for bounties instead of shady dealers. Trying to make a few extra bucks could get you into trouble.”

“Magic stones…”

It was a strange world. The instructor looked impossibly young but seemed famous, judging by the comments.

• This guy oozes charisma
• If anyone else said this, they’d sound like an idiot, but Kim Chul-joon makes it badass
• Watched Kim Chul-jun raid? The guy’s nickname isn’t "Demon King" for nothing

Demon King?

The real demon kings would find it amusing.

“Hope they’re doing well…”

Love them or hate them, he had spent centuries with them. They were probably waging wars to claim his empty throne.

The so-called Demon King Kim Chul-jun’s video was vulgar yet informative, filled with useful tips.

“Dungeons, huh…”

It was straightforward:

"Enter a dungeon and kill monsters."

After turning off the video, Seo-jun used a portal map to find the nearest dungeon. There was one conveniently located in District 12.