Chapter 35
John Gets Promoted
Bang!
In an instant, five crocodiles were killed. Of course, they were monsters.
You have defeated Red Crocodile (D) ×5!
You have gained 1200 EXP!
She had almost fallen straight into a crocodile’s mouth, but thanks to a quick strike, her life was safe.
The source of that loud sound was Avalon’s Pistol.
According to the description, it could cook five dishes at once—but it seemed far more useful for hunting monsters.
It was its first use, and it felt like a whole new world. It barely required any effort. At this rate, it felt like she could kill a hundred monsters in no time.
You have obtained Roasted Red Crocodile (D) ×5!
You have obtained Red Crocodile (D) Leather ×5!
Now it looked like she could serve crocodile soup.
Sori gazed at the “Hongdae Dungeon,” which resembled a dystopian wasteland, and smiled with satisfaction.
* * *
It turned out that the 5,000-gold stealth hood wasn’t meant to be used inside dungeons.
Apparently, it was something hunters used for their romantic affairs.
“What kind of romantic affairs?” Sori asked.
“Oh my, don’t you know, miss? How innocent you are. Hohoho.”
Thinking she had just wasted 50 million won, Sori left the shop with a confused expression.
Until I earn the money back, I’ll just keep using the stealth hood I bought first.
“…But I looked cool.”
Back at the restaurant, Sori remembered the moment she had pulled Avalon’s Pistol.
“It felt like a movie.”
She held her flushed cheeks in both hands and giggled.
John looked at her with a pitiful expression.
“Ahem!”
Embarrassed, Sori deliberately opened the refrigerator wide.
“Well, at least this should last for a while.”
The fridge was packed with cooking ingredients—roasted crocodile, slime, fire-mole belly, and more.
While she looked inside happily, the phone rang.
“Oh, it’s Dad!”
It had been a while since she heard from him. She answered immediately with a bright smile.
“Dad!”
—My daughter, are you doing well?
“Of course, Dad. I’m doing very well.”
She emphasized “very” while glancing at John.
John shrugged as if asking why she was looking at him.
“But Dad, why haven’t you contacted me lately? I was worried. You didn’t even reply to my messages.”
—Haha. I went somewhere recently where communication doesn’t work. Sorry about that.
“Where did you go this time?”
Her father was an explorer, someone who investigated traces related to dungeons and monsters.
He mostly traveled overseas.
—You remember that Crater Dungeon from a few years ago? I went there.
“I see.”
Actually, Dad… I awakened too. I’m not a hunter, but I hunt monsters.
She almost said it but stopped.
“Dad, when are you coming back to Korea?”
—I’m not sure yet. But I should be able to return this year.
“You have to come back this year. Oh! I miss Uncle too. Are you with him these days?”
Her uncle worked overseas as some kind of researcher.
—No, he’s probably busy working.
“I guess so.”
Then her father asked:
—Sori, are you still working at the company?
He still thought she was employed.
Sori decided it was better to tell the truth.
“No, Dad. I quit my job.”
—You quit?
“Yeah. It didn’t suit me. I’d been planning to quit for a while. I told you before how awful it was.”
The real reason had been that notorious manager, but she didn’t mention that.
Her father sounded shocked.
—Then did you join another company?
“No. Dad… I quit everything.”
—What?!
He couldn’t hide his surprise this time.
Sori cleared her throat and said calmly.
“Dad… I run a restaurant now.”
—A restauraaaant?!
Her father shouted so loudly he sounded like he might faint.
“Yeah, Dad.”
—Did you have money for that? Dad didn’t even help!
“Well… I had some savings, and I got the place cheaply. The previous owner was really kind.”
Well, that’s not entirely wrong. I got it for free.
Then she heard her father’s breathing turn shaky.
“Dad…?”
That breathing sounded suspicious.
“Dad… are you crying?”
Her father had always been quite emotional.
Even so, Sori was a bit startled.
Soon he began crying openly.
—Sob… My daughter has grown up! Waaah!
“…Dad, why are you like this? Is no one next to you?”
—You can live well even without Dad now! Sob!
“…That’s not it…”
He had been abroad for years already. She had managed fine until now.
After crying for a while, he finally calmed down.
—But Sori… you’re not the one actually cooking, right?
Even after calming down, her father immediately began worrying about the safety of the restaurant’s customers.
* * *
The Happy Restaurant was still packed.
Many hunters came back saying the food was delicious.
They’re saying the food I made tastes good…
It was a touching moment.
Things had become much easier now.
After all, even a master needs good tools.
Avalon’s Pistol.
It was great for hunting monsters—but was it really good for cooking?
She had doubted it at first.
But those worries were unnecessary.
It looked completely unsuitable for cooking since it resembled a gun, but it was incredibly efficient.
Five servings in a single shot.
“So? How is Avalon’s Pistol?”
John asked arrogantly while walking across the counter with his hands behind his back.
“Well… like you said, it’s somewhat useful.”
She twisted her words a little because admitting it directly hurt her pride.
“Ahem!”
Wearing a cute apron, John coughed proudly.
“So that means you’re satisfied?”
His smug grin came as a bonus.
“Order here!”
Calls from the dining hall echoed continuously.
Finally, the last customer left around 7 p.m.
Fortunately, Gijun didn’t show up today.
Should I really buy him a meal?
Buying the meal wasn’t the problem.
The problem was sitting face-to-face for an hour figuring out what to talk about.
Is he going to bring up that story again?
She couldn’t understand why he suddenly wanted her to treat him.
Maybe I should just pretend I forgot…
She had just finished cleaning the front.
“It’s manageable… but I’m definitely tired.”
Still, having John made things easier.
Despite shouting “Glory’s Strawberry!” like an echo, he helped constantly in the kitchen.
Annoying, but useful.
They had earned 4,000 gold today.
At this rate, my balance will be full again soon.
“John, you’re going to sleep now, right? Good work today. You’ve improved a lot in the kitchen. Pretty strong for a hedgehog too.”
That was high praise coming from Sori.
But John didn’t respond.
Did he already go downstairs?
She hadn’t heard the trapdoor open.
When she turned around, she saw something glowing where John was.
“What? John! What’s going on?”
There was no response.
The light was so bright she could barely tell if he was even there.
“Ugh, my eyes… Did John leave?”
Then—
Clack.
Suddenly, a fanfare sounded.
Ta-da-da-DAAA!
Clap clap clap clap!
Applause echoed.
A spotlight shone in the center of the kitchen—no idea where it came from.
At the center of the light stood John.
“John! What is this?!”
John twisted his body into a graceful pose like he was competing in “The World’s Most Beautiful Hedgehog” contest.
His eyes were closed, and he looked extremely happy.
Then a system window appeared.
Congratulations!
Thanks to the endless stream of customers, our “Junior Manager” John has finally received his first promotion!
Please now refer to him as “Mid-Level Manager John.”
Promotion Benefit:
John can now wash dishes twice as fast.
Mid-Level Manager Welfare Benefit:
A 7-day vacation within the next 6 months is guaranteed.
“Promotion? Seriously?”
She had never expected John to be promoted.
But the twice-as-fast dishwashing sounded quite appealing.
“Now you’re a Mid-Level Manager?”
Sori burst into laughter.
The spotlight disappeared.
John opened his eyes.
“So you got promoted because you worked hard? I don’t know what’s going on, but congratulations, John!”
“At last, this body has been promoted! From now on, call me Mid-Level Manager, Awakened One!”
“Alright, Mid-Level Manager. But why didn’t you answer when I called you earlier?”
John looked confused.
“When did you call me?”
“Earlier.”
“I know nothing of it.”
It seemed he didn’t remember.
Maybe it had something to do with the system.
“By the way, Mid-Level Manager, you even got a one-week vacation.”
“A vacation?!”
John’s tiny eyes sparkled.
“At last, this body has vacation days!”
“Was that your first vacation?”
At that moment, Sori realized she actually knew very little about John.
