Episode 30
“Mmm! This is the taste!”
He was eating so deliciously that the onlookers couldn’t help but gulp.
While slurping up his ramen, Donghee paused and looked up.
Dozens of eyes were fixed on him. Everyone had expressions full of concern and curiosity as they looked at Chloe.
“Not gonna eat it? Should I take it back?”
“Gasp! No, not at all!”
“Thank you so much!”
At Donghee’s words, the workers eagerly began moving their forks.
The temporary dining hall soon filled with the clattering sound of forks and bowls and the loud slurping of noodles following Chloe’s lead.
Watching large-grown men eat ramen with forks was an odd yet amusing sight.
“Ow, hot!”
“Wow! This is really good!”
“It’s so spicy!”
“It’s spicy, but I can’t stop!”
Favorability with the territory residents has increased by 10.
Favorability with the territory residents has increased by 10.
Favorability with the territory residents has increased by 10.
Exclamations of delight filled the room as the workers ate, and alert messages announcing rising favorability chimed nonstop.
Even as the workers ate, ramen continued to boil at one side of the hall.
The head chef and his assistants stood before hot stoves, drenched in sweat, but their faces were full of joy. The fact that they could share food they made generously with others brought them comfort and fulfillment.
It was likely the most rewarding day they had experienced while working at Grace Castle.
Outside the temporary dining hall, many people were still lined up waiting.
Enticed by the delicious smell wafting out, those waiting wore expectant looks. Many of them had eaten their fill of food made with dural and were now curious about this unfamiliar dish.
Hearing that the food offered by the lord was free today, they had apparently resolved to eat until they were bursting.
Especially the children—thin with distended bellies—stood in line, happily patting their stomachs.
“This is the best food I’ve had in my life!”
“It’s really delicious.”
Though beads of sweat formed on their noses from the spiciness, the workers devoured every last drop of the broth.
There was no need to even mention the increased efficiency after lunch.
The workers’ loyalty is skyrocketing.
You’ve managed to score major points with just ramen. Truly, you have the qualities of a ruthless capitalist. Hehe!
Hey, I’m not a ruthless capitalist.
Ramen is the most delicious food in the world. I just wanted them to taste something amazing.
As Donghee protested his innocence, the status window quickly changed the subject.
Awarding 500 hidden points to our excellent lord. Wink!
The once-stingy status window had grown bolder. That little wink at the end was annoying, but Donghee decided to let it slide.
Still, 500 points…
Worried the window might change its mind, Donghee hurriedly opened the hidden shop.
Chwa-ra-ra-ra-rak!
Just like last time, the status window noisily displayed the list of available items in the hidden shop one after another before his eyes.
Donghee excitedly scanned through the newly opened shop menu.
Attention-Grab Whistle – Draws the attention of at least 200 people simultaneously. (-60p)
Power-Up Gloves – Increases strength tenfold (based on user’s base strength). (-60p) Sold Out
Thermal Cloak – Helps maintain body temperature in extreme cold. (For 1 person. Effect halved for 2 users.) (-60p)
…Terrain Info / Level 1 – Grace Territory terrain characteristics. (-300p) Sold Out
Agricultural terrain info (Level 1) (-500p)
Construction terrain info (Level 1) (-500p)
Resource Info / Level 1 – Grace Territory underground resources. (-400p)
Weather Info / Level 1 – Weather forecast around Grace Territory within 24 hours. (-1,000p)
Even though he had the same 1,000 points as before, there were two new options that hadn’t shown up previously. It seemed they appeared because he had already purchased the basic terrain info.
Donghee’s eyes lit up as he saw the new listings.
Agriculture and construction.
With an excited heart, Donghee thoroughly reviewed the list and decided to purchase what would most benefit the territory.
I’ll buy the knowledge on agriculture and construction.
Originally, he had planned to expand his inventory space, but in the long term, it seemed more important to fix the fundamentals first. He couldn’t just keep spoon-feeding people forever.
With a satisfied smile, Donghee looked at the status window.
Purchasing professional knowledge of agriculture and construction for 500 points each.
Would you like to begin the acquisition of Level 1 Agriculture Info and Level 1 Construction Info purchased with hidden points? Please answer Yes or No.
He recalled how the last time he said “Yes” carelessly, he suffered terrible headaches and nausea.
He was a bit scared, but it was a pain he could endure. The suffering had an end, and the reward afterward was immense.
Still, he couldn’t risk undergoing forced acquisition here in front of everyone eating happily. Donghee quietly stood up.
As he rose, his butler Handsome and two escort knights moved with him.
“I’m going to rest in the carriage for a bit. You guys stay here and eat.”
“I’ll escort you.”
Donghee was about to refuse but decided otherwise since it was a bit of a walk to the carriage. He left Handsome to finish his ramen and took only the knights.
As Chloe moved, all eyes in Morta Village followed her. Their gazes were filled with affection.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Favorability with territory residents has increased by 10.
Favorability with territory residents has increased by 10.
The favorability alerts chimed constantly. It felt like just being looked at by the villagers now increased her favorability.
If she could maintain this for a bit longer, even if favorability dropped in other towns, the damage might be minimized.
Donghee took her time walking to the carriage, as if savoring the moment.
She had never imagined a day would come where she’d enjoy the gaze of others so much. It felt like being a celebrity.
The inside of the carriage was surprisingly warm.
On the first day of her visit to Morta Village, cold winds had seeped through the closed doors, and the windows didn’t seal properly, letting in drafts.
But today, even though it was colder, the inside was warm.
Delma had placed well-heated stones inside to warm the air, and Builder had fixed the worn parts so no wind came through.
She hadn’t said anything since Builder was busy with village repairs, but it seemed Scrooge had gone to him on her behalf.
Donghee looked around the nicely repaired carriage interior.
Not long ago, she wouldn’t have seen the cozy fur and blankets now laid out on the seats.
She brushed her palm over the soft, snowy fur and took a deep breath.
“Open the hidden shop.”
Would you like to begin the acquisition of Level 1 Agriculture Info and Level 1 Construction Info purchased with hidden points? Please answer Yes or No.
The question from earlier popped up again.
Donghee took a deep breath and slowly nodded.
You have chosen forced acquisition.
The process will take approximately 10 minutes and may cause slight nausea and headaches.
Donghee anxiously looked at the letters sprawled across the floor.
The words from the status window squirmed like living insects. It was the first time she had ever felt fear from looking at text.
“Ugh!”
Just looking at them made her feel nauseous.
She braced herself, and the squirming letters whooshed toward her glabella—the space between her eyebrows.
“Uuuurp!”
She almost threw up the ramen she had just eaten but clamped her eyes shut and resisted. She couldn’t disgrace herself by vomiting on the soft fur someone had kindly placed for her.
Nor did she want to run outside in front of everyone to do it.
“I have to hold it in. Urrgh!”
Her fingertips trembled from the effort.
If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have eaten the ramen!
The gut-wrenching nausea and skull-splitting headache hit her all at once, making her feel like her body was falling apart.
“Uuuuuugh.”
She tightly sealed her mouth to stop any sound from leaking outside the carriage and clenched her eyes shut.
Just a little more. I can endure a little more.
A strange, cool and slippery sensation spread across her glabella.
She felt like touching it, but worried that doing so would interrupt the process, so she held back.
Because she was acquiring two at once, the process lasted longer, and only after a longer bout of pain did the nausea and headache start to fade.
“Ughhh!”
Her whole body felt beaten to a pulp, and sweat poured from her skin.
It was definitely harder than last time due to the extended duration.
“Next time, I’ll only do one at a time.”
Donghee shook her head, firmly deciding never to double-up again.
She hadn’t expected much from the Level 1 agriculture knowledge she bought for just over 500 points.
Still, she had hoped to at least get the basics she needed right now.
But the storm of knowledge that poured into her mind was a bit different from what she had expected.
