Chapter 11
Where on Earth Is This Place?
Current mood of A-Table customer: -99 points!
Impressive.
Could it even be raised above zero? Sori looked at Manager Choi, who was trembling with anxiety, and thought.
“It can’t be like back then, right, Manager Choi?”
First, let’s calm him down.
“Shall I bring you some piping hot soup first?”
“Soup?”
It wasn’t a lie—at the word “soup,” a drop of saliva slipped from his lips.
“Could you wait just five minutes?”
“Five minutes….”
Manager Choi repeated her words blankly, like a mantra.
No matter the grudge, business is business. Using the recipe book left by the former owner, Sori quickly prepared the soup first.
“Soup is ready!”
“Did you poison it?”
Still trapped in suspicion, Manager Choi’s chin trembled, eyes filled with fear.
“Poison? Manager Choi! What do you take me for?”
But his patience ended there. Eventually, Manager Choi scooped a full spoonful and, as if he were a top food critic, frowned deeply and slowly put it in his mouth.
His eyes instantly widened.
Mood of A-Table customer changed to -20 points!
A triumphant smile spread across Sori’s face.
“No poison, right, Manager?”
She had quit the company ages ago, yet hearing “Manager Choi” still irritated her. But she couldn’t think of a better title to call him.
“Today’s menu is Bird Stew. Would you like to try it?”
Please let him eat that.
Sori deliberately emphasized the Bird Stew on the menu, pointing to the section with the large photo of it.
“Meat?”
A smile stretched across Manager Choi’s face.
“Excellent! Meat cooked in a dungeon!”
“Then please wait just ten minutes.”
Sori smiled politely, turned, and left.
Ugh, of all people, he had to be my first customer. Maybe I should sprinkle some salt on him.
She frowned as she turned.
“John! Make it delicious. As much as possible.”
Make it delicious and give him a little lesson, she thought, grinning slyly.
“For dessert, we’ll make it spicy.”
“Why spicy?”
John didn’t understand.
“Hoho. Today’s customer is a weakling when it comes to spice.”
Business courtesy only applies to the main menu.
The second dish went reasonably well. Sori first placed the cooked slime meat into a pot, heating it, then poured in spiced broth, simmering it over high heat. She added various vegetables, enhancing color and flavor.
The finished Bird Stew released steam from the slightly reddish broth, with vegetables and slime meat perfectly harmonized.
“The spices are almost out, John. Can I still get more?”
“Everything except what isn’t in the Hunter Market is available.”
John replied while trimming his claws.
“Ah, the Hunter Market. I’ll taste it first and plate it.”
Sori took a bite of the Bird Stew.
Did she really make this herself? She couldn’t believe it.
“Wow. Even I think it’s delicious. I feel my energy surging. Is this… real?”
The plating was perfect. A world apart from the Poisonous Spider Stew she had served the first customer.
Did cooking skill level 4 make that much difference? Seems like cooking skill had a surprisingly big impact.
To think someone with zero cooking talent could make such a dish! She had to document this.
She pulled out her phone to open the camera app.
Warning!
Digital recording is prohibited in the Happiness Restaurant kitchen.
A system window appeared, and her phone froze.
“What? I can’t even take photos in my own restaurant?”
“Nothing related to awakening may be recorded. Learn, awakened one!”
“Hmph!”
She checked the time—fortunately, it hadn’t exceeded ten minutes.
“Your Bird Stew is ready!”
Manager Choi’s tears fell as he looked at the dish.
“Oh… it’s been so long since I’ve seen food like this…”
Perhaps forgetting it was hot, he began devouring it wildly.
He hesitated to describe the deep flavor he was experiencing.
Slightly tangy, like a rich Korean kimchi stew, yet simultaneously sweet—but not overly sugary. What was this mysterious taste?
As he ate, Manager Choi wondered how this restaurant had ended up inside a dungeon.
It didn’t make sense. Moreover, it felt safe from monster threats.
Did she cast a barrier?
But Kang Sori, an awakened one adept at barriers? She’d need at least ten years of training to keep monsters away completely.
She hadn’t been awakened while working at the company…
Could there be a partner? But aside from Kang Sori, there was no other presence in the restaurant.
Clearly, she possessed extraordinary abilities.
Manager Choi finished the Bird Stew. Could this really be made by someone so hopeless at cooking? He called out, voice trembling.
“Kang Sori…”
“Yes!”
Sori immediately came forward and stood neatly before him.
He felt tears welling up. This was the feeling! The sensation of everyone obeying him. Just like back then, when one word from him had everyone bowing!
He discreetly picked up his broken glasses and wiped away his tears.
“Are you alright?”
Sori asked kindly. He nodded.
“I’m fine, Kang Sori.”
He had forgotten the ridicule from the community comparing her to a kraken. Now, Kang Sori was simply the most welcome person he had ever met.
And it was time to ask that person for a favor. Just like before—boss and subordinate, as it used to be!
“Do you know a way to cook like this outside?”
The most important thing in a dungeon—instant cooking.
Sori forced a smile, looking uneasy. He’d give her something. But her explanation was a bit odd.
“Simple! Catch a monster, sprinkle in some spices, and it’s done. Even one monster, and half the dish is complete.”
Catch a monster? Yourself?
I can’t even catch that monster… but you can?
“You were a hunter?”
Now it made sense. Right—since she was a hunter, she could be doing this in a dungeon.
Manager Choi let out a hollow laugh.
“No, I’m not a hunter.”
Sori tilted her head. His expression hardened again.
“Then… what are you?”
Sori shrugged.
“I’m just a restaurant owner with some cooking skills.”
Manager Choi thought she wasn’t revealing her secret.
She still thinks of me that way…
Mood of A-Table customer changed to +50 points!
Despite Sori’s nonchalant answer, his mood reached the maximum. Clearly, the food had been delicious.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“…It tastes good.”
He answered hesitantly.
So honest, yet not fully honest.
“By the way…”
He called her again.
“Yes?”
“The potion… you used it, right? Just tell me that. Is there a potion that enhances flavor?”
Otherwise, there was no way someone hopeless at cooking could make food this good. That was how Sori interpreted his question.
“Haha… no. Of course not. No potions were used!”
The spices didn’t have such effects anyway.
“But it still feels energizing, like you took a potion?”
“Probably because monster meat has high energy content.”
“Is that so… fine. Now, bring the dessert.”
“Please wait a moment.”
In the kitchen, Sori saw the container of chili powder she had intended to sprinkle.
“Hmm.”
“Why?”
John asked.
“Just… I’ll serve it as ice cream.”
“Indecisive?”
“Awakened ones are like that.”
“Hmph.”
Sori felt a bit softhearted seeing Manager Choi admire her cooking. Praise works wonders on someone hopeless at cooking. Plus, his ragged appearance made her feel pity.
Sori, despite appearances, considered herself a soft-hearted person.
…At least that’s what she claimed.
She served ice cream with chocolate syrup instead of chili powder. Manager Choi took a small bite, eyes wide.
“Is this… a potion?”
“No, it’s just ice cream.”
“Kang Sori, did you…?”
“Yes?”
Excited, he jumped up.
“Did you study at an Italian chef school abroad?”
“Whaaaat?”
“I see… so that’s normal for everyone, then.”
He suddenly looked despairing and sat back down.
Why?
After finishing the ice cream, he asked the price.
Sori hesitated. Originally, she planned to charge 30 gold for the soup and 20 for the dessert.
“150 gold!”
She decided to charge only for the Bird Stew. Manager Choi had said it was delicious. And asking if she studied at a chef school was high praise.
Feeling so pleased.
“That’s cheaper than I thought. Here you go. Thanks for the meal.”
150 gold has been deposited!
Gold was instantly deposited, as expected in a dungeon. Just as she barely held back a smile, a system window appeared.
Congratulations!
Achievement “First Customer from a Dungeon” unlocked!
Now the Happiness Restaurant would officially become a haven for hunters. Until the day it’s visible to everyone.
Reward: Skill “Word of Mouth Is My Happiness (C)”, 200 exp
The achievement unlocked. Did the system hear Sori’s prayer?
“Word of Mouth Is My Happiness is active!”
Skill acquired: Word of Mouth Is My Happiness (C)
Restaurant Owner (Lv. 4)
Level-up rewards granted.
- Restaurant Gacha Ticket X1 acquired!
- Happiness Restaurant upgraded to Lv. 3!
- A ‘Reputation’ system is now added to Happiness Restaurant.
And she leveled up. Level-up reward. She wondered what the gacha ticket would give. Reputation points… that sounded ominous.
Use skill: Word of Mouth Is My Happiness (C) now?
The system even politely asked.
“Of course.”
“What?”
Manager Choi asked behind her as she turned.
“No, I meant it as a thank you for enjoying your meal.”
Sori clasped her hands politely.
Tears welled in Manager Choi’s eyes.
“Alright, take care.”
Skill: Word of Mouth Is My Happiness (C) target locked!
—Target: Manager Choi (Notorious Manager)
—Effect: 5 people
She watched as the skill activated successfully.
Hopefully they don’t come back!
She swallowed her last words.
Slime (F) Roast X5 → Slime (F) Roast X4
[Title] Eating Delicious Food in a Dungeon
[Author] ptsdOm
Found a restaurant inside a dungeon. Crazy delicious. But the owner…
[11 comments]
- ddSuper: A restaurant inside a dungeon? What the hell?
- T-RexHunter: Hey, but who’s the owner?
┗ ptsdOm: Someone I knew, damn it.
┗ T-RexHunter: Someone you knew? Wait, a restaurant inside a dungeon? Is it newly opened?
┗ ptsdOm: Seems like it… going there looking ragged ㅠㅠ so embarrassed I thought I’d die
┗ Wests: Was it an ex-girlfriend or something?
┗ ptsdOm: No, just someone I knew from work - ddSuper: But how’s there a restaurant in a dungeon? What’s on the menu?
┗ ptsdOm: I had stew. They said it was monster meat. Oh, Happiness Restaurant also used monster meat, interesting.
┗ T-RexHunter: Isn’t it the same place? The former owner was awakened too, maybe they finally linked it to the dungeon.
┗ ptsdOm: …Maybe?
[In progress] DungeonHater: The owner’s good at cooking, I want to go too
Hmm.
Looks like he was rescued from the dungeon and even posted online. Sori paused before leaving a “self-promo” comment—almost forgot he knew her username.
“Hopefully the skill works.”
[Title] Is it true that a restaurant appears in dungeons?
[Author] Hunter1
I’d like some information.
0 comments
“Crazy.”
Seeing the new post, Sori jumped up.
“Hunter1—that’s him, right?”
Kang Sori’s ex-boyfriend and S-Rank Hunter, Lee Gijun’s username.
