Relieved that the shop was fine, I went to the kitchen to check the safety of the broth first. The broth was a little watery, but… it was good enough. As I clasped my hands together in prayer, Sa-young followed behind me and peered over my shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“Be quiet.”

I did not believe in religion in particular, but today I decided to thank the Buddha. I remembered the warm smile on Min-ki’s fan. I repeated my thanks and apologies over and over again in my mind, and then I remembered how terribly I had offended the Buddha.

“You don’t look that religious.”

“Shut up, it’s just for today.”

“Also, that’s the god of Nairon.”

I prayed once again to show mercy and forgive him for his irreverence. It wasn’t for Lee Sa-young, but for the sake of my own.

I walked back out of the kitchen, grabbed an apron, and came back in, fully equipped for the business, and called out to him.

“Hey.”

“Lee Sa-young.”

There it is again…. I glanced at the gas mask, but since he had been gracious enough to bring me here so quickly, I obediently complied with Sa-young’s request.

"Lee Sa-young, don't touch anything in the kitchen."

"I can't even watch?"

"Are you planning to poison a group of guests at Haejang-guk House?"

"I'm wearing gas masks and gloves."

Sa-young waved his black leather gloves in the air, but he walked out of the kitchen willingly. I glanced back at him, then laid out the ingredients I needed.

"Lee Sa-youn-"

"Yes, what?"

"What time is it now?"

"Four forty."

"Hyung?"

Opening in... 20 minutes?

I slowly looked around the kitchen. Business was much busier in the evening than in the morning. Besides, there were a lot of customers these days since the discussion about J was held at Haejang-guk House. After looking at the ceiling for a while, I looked at Lee Sa-young standing in the hall for a moment.

Wouldn't it be okay if he wore a gas mask and gloves? I subconsciously had terrible thoughts and shook my head wildly. The possibility of an accident was also a problem, and the rat poison in the food could not be ruled out. Sa-young must have been aware of this and would have stepped aside.

Just like that, my Haejang-guk house credo of accident-free and sincere work collapsed. It was time for me to become a bearer of Haejang-guk House to despair.

"Hey, I'm back."

"This is... Congratulations on your safe escape from the battlefield, sir!"

A round thing suddenly emerged from the shadows of the robe. I couldn't take my eyes off its cheerful appearance, even putting my hand around its eyes and looking around. I forgot to greet him out of courtesy and grabbed Min-ki's wrist as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Mr. Min-ki."

"Yes."

"Are you good at cutting?"

"What?"

"No, I can't, but I'm sure an A-rank could."

"Sir, I think that's a fallacy of generalization."

Min-ki tried to rebel shyly, but he was completely ignored by Ui-jae, the monster born from the Haejang-guk house. I set the wooden cutting board and knife down with a clatter and waved to him.
 

"Cut the Cheongyang chili and put it in this container."

"What?"

"You can take the apron out and put it on."

"What? Yes..."

"I'll lend you a pair of goggles if you start to tear up, but just chop it up, there's no time, now."

As I lit my eyes and instructed him step by step, Min-ki, who had been stuttering and realized that there was no way out, nodded hesitantly.

"Okay, can you put the knife down and tell me?"

"Why? Do you think I'll stab you with it?"

"....."

"Let's go, because I'd rather set up shop than stab you and clean up the blood."

It seemed that Ui-jae had a talent for saying scary things casually. But Min-ki, a strong-willed worker, could not break down here. He still had a job to do.

"V, very well, sir. But why don't you lift the curse of weakness first and then do it?"

"It won't affect the business, so let's do it later tonight."

Min-ki's heart almost collapsed again when he heard that. He could almost see the dark gas mask of his abusive boss over Ui-jae's face, casually ordering him to work overtime.

Min-ki fumbled with a thin, long, rectangular piece of leather in his pocket, indicating that he had a scroll.

"While you're at it, take a knife and cut it right here in the middle..."

"This is a kitchen knife."

"...Then please give me another one."

I bent my waist slightly and took out the small scissors I had left inside. It was part of Ha-eun's stationery set, and it was useful as a knife for opening packages. The handle had a cute ribbon pattern that contrasted with Ui-jae's vicious face as he rushed to open it.

Cut!

As the leather snapped, I felt my body lighten.

When I looked at him to see if he was done, Min-ki nodded vigorously and took the apron from the basket in the corner of the kitchen and put it on. I washed my hands thoroughly and put on the hygienic hat, apron and gloves.
 

It was fortunate that I hadn't cooked rice before going to the center. I opened the rice cooker, searched through it, and started to put it into a stainless steel bowl.

[Unique Traits: Adept's Hands (S+) Activated]
[Trait proficiency has been reached to the limit].

I frowned. I was in a hurry, but I couldn't see anything through the white window.

Do not obstruct my view.

I ignored the system message and continued to eat the rice. A moment later, a firecracker exploded in front of me with a bang.

[Congratulations! A new trait has blossomed!]
[You have obtained Combat Woven into Life (S)]

Someone who gains a new trait when they eat rice. I had suddenly gained the S-class trait that all those hunters craved, but I'm not happy about it. I'm grateful, but it's suspicious. Besides, there was no way a part-time worker in a store about to open would have the time to check its contents.

I have to open the store in 10 minutes, so don't bother me and get lost.

The system seemed to know that it would be the same, so it kindly presented the explanation itself.

[Trait: Struggle Woven into Life (S)]
Housework is war for me. A trait for those who can't give up housework or battle. Increases attack, attack speed, and dexterity when performing actions classified as housework].

...It was too good a trait to ignore. I stopped my rapid-fire quenching.

Actions classified as chores?

Cooking, cleaning, and laundry would all be considered chores, then... I looked at the hand holding the spatula. Cooking is a chore. Putting rice in a bowl to set the table was also a chore.

[Trait: Combat Woven into Life (S) Activated]

As if to confirm my answer, a notification appeared to activate the trait. For some reason, the hand holding the wooden spatula felt lighter. With this talent... Five o'clock opening, yes! The hand holding the spatula began to dance.

At that time, Min-ki, who was behind me, blinked back tears under his sunglasses.
 

The topic of the 110-minute debate in his mind was: "How big should I cut the Chengyang chili, and how should I cut it? He wished he had a sample to look at and follow, but all he had was a cutting board, some chili peppers, and a chef's knife. He thought he'd take the tap off first, so he snapped it off with his nitrile gloved hand.

The tremendous energy sent shivers up and down his spine.

There is something...

It was so intense that he didn't even dare to look back. Obviously, Ui-jae is the only one behind him, so can the mood change like that in a moment? Maybe Ui-jae is angry because he can't make the opening time instead of scooping the rice? Don't tell him, he's going to deal with him for not doing his job properly?

He had to check, but he was so afraid of the strong impulse. Min-ki swallowed his saliva.

No! No matter how angry he is, he won't kill me.

Didn't Cha Ui-jae say it himself? It's more efficient to prepare for the opening than to kill him. Although it went through a somewhat distorted filter, the meaning itself was similar. The intense energy became thicker. Min-ki believed what he said and turned his head carefully. And then,

Min-ki opened his mouth without noticing.

Ah...

Cha Ui-jae was still cooking rice in the restaurant's rice cooker.

Clink, clink, clink, clink

But very fast. So fast that you can see so many arms!

'...Asura?

For some reason, it seemed like a golden halo was shining behind him. He felt like Ui-jae was doing a knife dance or a spatula dance. When Cha Eui-jae put down the spatula, the lid of the bowl flew like a prize. Clink, clink, clink. Everything fell on the rice bowl without missing a beat. If the producer, the artisan of life, saw this, he would have to kneel down and pray for him to appear on their program.

Is this... the professional of Haejangguk House?
 

It was such a waste to watch that scene alone! It has to be recorded on video. Min-ki was about to take out his cell phone without realizing it.

"Seo Min-ki."

"Yes, sir... g, guild leader?"

Min-ki was so surprised that he jumped to his feet. Standing at the border between the kitchen and the hall was Lee Sa-young, a person who did not fit into this old Haejangguk house! He must have escaped with Ui-jae, but he didn't expect to be followed all the way back to the shop, so Min-ki creaked like a broken robot.

"Why don't you do as you're told?"

"Yes, sir. But I don't know what size to cut this to..."

A small sigh flowed through the gas mask as Min-ki answered hesitantly. Min-ki seriously considered whether he should learn more than 30 skills needed to run a Haejangguk house now.

"That one."

"What?"

"That one."

When Sa-young pointed to Onjango, Min-ki walked over to the pile of rice that was stacked like a mountain. Ui-jae, who had become a crazy chore master, immersed himself in his work without the slightest nagging. After putting all the rice in, Min-ki wiped his tears with his sleeve and said in a small voice of frustration.
(TL/N: I forgot the name of the 'ojango', so you can only see the picture of it.

"Still, I... I did my job quickly, sir."

"......."

"Exactly the quality you asked for, just right. No jams this time."

"Well done."

Min-ki, who had planned to mourn his daily suffering under the vice boss again today, was surprised by the unexpected answer and hardened. He opened his mouth in disbelief and finally bit back.

"What? I didn't hear that well."

But the gas mask's face, which had been turned to him a moment ago, was now turned to Ui-jae. Min-ki was thrilled that even in his guild life a small miracle could happen.