"Ah, so you’re one of our suppliers."

"Haha, I’m glad President Lee Yeon-jun mentioned me. I’m Ki Seok-tae."

"I’m Lee Seo-jun."

"Shall I unload the alcohol in the usual spot in the storage?"

"I’d appreciate it if you did."

Seo-jun started to help but stopped. Watching Ki Seok-tae skillfully handle the alcohol, he realized he’d only be in the way.

"Yeoksam!"

Having finished his meal, Seo-woo darted off to bother Yeoksam again, while Park Yeon marveled at the combination of soju, beer, and stew, repeatedly raising her glass.

Before long, Ki Seok-tae finished unloading and returned hesitantly. His gaze lingered on the stew for a moment before Seo-jun spoke.

"I made plenty of rice. If you haven’t eaten yet, please have some before you go."

"Can I really?"

Contrary to the usual polite refusals, Ki Seok-tae immediately accepted. It wasn’t hard to see why.

As soon as a bowl of rice was brought to him, he started shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth. He must have been starving.

Seo-jun noticed and smiled faintly as Ki Seok-tae paused, looking embarrassed.

"Sorry about this… This job is so demanding and physical that I often skip meals."

"No need to apologize."

Even so, Ki Seok-tae avoided the stew, sticking to the side dishes instead. Perhaps he felt too embarrassed to eat something so rich. Seo-jun ladled a generous portion of the stew, both broth and solids, into a bowl and set it before him.

"Please, eat. Just rice will choke you."

"Are you sure…?"

"Of course."

Ki Seok-tae stared at the stew for a moment before finally taking a bite. His eyes widened in surprise.

"This is incredible."

"Is it to your liking?"

"I’m not exaggerating. It’s fantastic. You might not believe me, but my mother was an amazing cook. But I think this stew is even better than hers."

"Your mother might be offended to hear that."

"She might be, but what can I do if it’s the truth? Haha."

He seemed like a straightforward and jovial person. Seo-jun brought him another half-serving of rice, and though hesitant at first, Ki Seok-tae gratefully ate it all.

"Thank you for the meal."

"I’m glad you enjoyed it."

"Such a fine meal shouldn’t be free. I feel guilty about it."

Ki Seok-tae reached for his wallet, but Seo-jun waved it off.

"No need."

"But still…"

"Instead, just stop by again sometime and help boost our sales."

"...Thank you. I’ll definitely bring some friends for a gathering next time."

Seo-jun smiled warmly.

That day, Seo-jun prepared an omurice dish using Arutus eggs.

It was a recipe inspired by the rolled omelets he’d occasionally made in the Demon Realm with the same eggs.

Yeon-jun, having cleaned his plate in record time, spoke up.

"Hyung, I think I’m getting healthier these days because of you."

"Is that so?"

"Living alone with Seo-woo, I’d eat like a bachelor—barely any side dishes, let alone something like this. Omurice wasn’t even a consideration."

"You rascal."

Smiling faintly, Seo-jun stepped out of the restaurant for some fresh air.

He took a deep breath, one of the habits he’d picked up after returning from the Demon Realm.

The crisp, clean air, so unlike the Demon Realm’s, filled his lungs and brought a smile to his lips.

Just then, a rattling noise drew his attention as a truck came to a stop nearby. The driver’s window rolled down, revealing a familiar face. It was Ki Seok-tae.

"President."

"Out on a delivery?"

"Haha, yes. Got to keep moving to make a living. What brings you outside?"

"Just stepped out for some air."

"Well, the air here in District 12 is really nice. You can feel the difference as soon as you head down to Gangnam—the air there is so heavy."

"I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been."

"You’re not missing much. It’s not worth the hassle... Haha."

Growl—

A faint sound of hunger escaped from Ki Seok-tae.

"If you haven’t eaten, come in and have a meal."

"No, no. I can’t. I’ve already freeloaded twice—once the other day with the kimchi stew and again last week. I can’t take advantage like this."

Ki Seok-tae tried to leave, but Seo-jun stopped him.

"You work hard. You need to eat properly."

"Haha, you’re too kind…"

Reluctantly, Ki Seok-tae parked his truck and walked into the restaurant, greeting Yeon-jun and the others before choosing a table in a corner.

It seemed his sweat-soaked work clothes made him hesitant to sit in a more prominent spot.

"You’re welcome to sit inside."

"No, this is fine."

Seo-jun headed into the kitchen. Today’s menu was omurice made with Arutus eggs.

"The sauce is already prepared."

He started by sautéing vegetables—onions, carrots, corn, and bell peppers—in a heated pan before adding rice.

Sizzle—!

The fried rice came together quickly. Next was the egg.

An omurice without an omelet is like bibimbap without gochujang.

Seo-jun greased the pan with Krekseg fat—a substitute for cooking oil, but far superior.

While the pan heated, he cracked the Arutus eggs into a bowl, seasoned them with salt and pepper, and added a drop of Hydra venom for extra flavor.

The mixture was strained through a sieve to ensure a silky, smooth texture before being poured into the pan.

Once cooked, the golden omelet was wrapped around the fried rice, forming a rugby ball-like shape.

When Seo-jun served it, Ki Seok-tae marveled at the sight.

"Omurice, is it?"

"Yes."

"It’s been four years since I last had this."

"Has it?"

"Eggs are so expensive. I’ll fry them sometimes, but omurice feels like a luxury. I feel bad for imposing again."

“Just enjoy the meal.”

“I’m sorry.”

Instead of expressing gratitude, he apologized, a statement likely loaded with unspoken meaning.

Seo-jun stepped aside, leaving Ki Seok-tae alone at the table.

Little Seo-woo, who had been entertaining herself by dancing in the background, quickly scurried over to him.

“Mister, eat up quickly!”

“Seo-woo, huh?”

“My uncle made this! It’s super delicious!”

“Really?”

“Yup!”

“Alright, I’ll eat it. Thanks.”

“Hehe.”

Ki Seok-tae picked up his spoon and gently tore open the golden omelet that covered the rice. As the fluffy egg split, sauce flowed out, revealing perfectly stir-fried rice beneath.

“Wow...”

In that moment, the enticing aroma of the fried rice wafted into the air, involuntarily drawing a gasp from him.

Gulp.

His mouth watered. Unable to resist, he scooped up a spoonful of egg, rice, and sauce and brought it to his mouth.

“...!”

A taste so stunning that his eyes widened.

The sweetness of the sauce, the savory richness of the rice, and the mild smoothness of the egg melded into a flavor so extraordinary it felt otherworldly.

‘How can something taste this good?’

The dish, though quickly prepared in about five minutes, had a taste that rivaled the finest gourmet cuisine.

“Seo-woo, could you help your uncle for a moment?”

“Okay!”

At Seo-jun’s call from the kitchen, Seo-woo dashed off to assist, leaving Ki Seok-tae to enjoy his meal in peace. He watched the child scamper off with a smile before turning back to his plate.

Excitement bubbled up inside him. Eating this omelet rice made him feel nervous, almost like going on a first date.

This time, he skipped the egg and sauce, taking a large spoonful of just the fried rice.

“...”

He found himself wondering about the type of rice used. What kind of grain would yield such a delightful texture and flavor when stir-fried? The slight char, the subtle sweetness from the vegetables, and the fun interplay of textures made it extraordinary.

It was a whole new world for someone like him, who had long prioritized sustenance over flavor after the upheaval.

Next, he tried just the omelet by itself. Its airy, soft texture was almost reminiscent of a sponge cake, light and fluffy. When combined with the sauce, the resulting harmony was indescribable.

“Wow.”

With each bite, Ki Seok-tae couldn’t help but let out a sound of admiration. Before long, his plate was spotless.

As he finished, Seo-jun approached, handing him a glass of water.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Enjoy it? That doesn’t even begin to describe it. Your cooking always has something special, but today’s dish was on another level. Honestly, I thought I might die of a heart attack—because it was so good.”

“Glad to see you’re still alive.”

“Hahaha. Still, I feel guilty. I keep eating here without contributing to your sales.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“But...”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“Actually, may I ask you something, if it’s not too forward?”

“Sure.”

“Why are you so kind to me?”

Seo-jun scratched his cheek, clearly caught off guard. He had never really thought about it, nor did he see it as anything extraordinary. To him, kindness looked more like...

Tiptoe.

Creak!

...turning a blind eye as Park Yeon stealthily opened the fridge and grabbed a cola.

“Well, I’m not sure.”

“It’s just that the world has become so harsh, any act of kindness feels suspicious at first. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“Don’t worry. I understand.”

Seo-jun gave a gentle smile, and Ki Seok-tae hesitated before pulling out 30,000 won and handing it to him.

When Seo-jun tried to decline, Ki Seok-tae firmly shook his head.

“You always say it’s okay, but it feels wrong to keep eating such incredible meals for free. I know running a business doesn’t come cheap. Honestly, even 30,000 won for a dish like this feels like stealing, but please accept it.”

Perhaps it would ease his guilt to accept the money.

“Well, it’s my first sale of the day. Thanks to you, it seems like today will be a good one.”

“Haha, I hope so. Honestly, if I could, I’d pay 300,000 won for this meal. But given my situation... I’m sorry.”

“It was just omelet rice. 30,000 won is more than enough.”

“It didn’t taste like ‘just omelet rice,’ though. I can’t believe something this good exists. Anyway, thank you. I’ll be off now. I hope business booms for you!”

Seo-jun waved him off with a smile as Ki Seok-tae left the store.

The old, weathered signboard hung above the entrance, evoking nostalgia. The name paired perfectly with its antique appearance, tugging at memories of the past.

“When did that song come out... Ah, right, 2009.”

Back then, Ki Seok-tae had been young, a college freshman savoring his youth. Though the glory of his past had faded alongside the years, leaving only memories and family, it was that family that kept him going.

With his stomach full from the comforting omelet rice, Ki Seok-tae worked through his deliveries quickly. The energy from the meal allowed him to finish early and head home by dusk.

“Daddy!”

The moment he stepped inside, his youngest child greeted him with excitement.

“Hey, sis! Daddy’s home!”

“You’re back?”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, not yet. I was just about to.”

“Perfect. How about chicken for dinner?”

Parents often feel guilty after enjoying a good meal alone, unable to help but think of their children.

His eldest daughter, Sunhye, initially lit up at the word “chicken” but quickly wore a crestfallen expression.

“It’s okay.”

“Why? Don’t you love chicken?”

“I do, but... we’ve had so many expenses this month...”