Chapter 19
[Special Reward: Sub-space Detergent!
▸ Enhances the washing machine’s performance by 200%.]
Wow! Detergent!
The timing was as if it had read my mind.
[*Can be used infinitely.]
And it can even be used infinitely.
Finally, I can use the washing machine now. The reward was a perfect finishing touch.
I went out to the veranda with a satisfied smile.
“Everyone, come out and take a break!”
I then headed to the living room with a tray of snacks, intending to take a short break.
These were the snacks I hadn’t been able to offer earlier due to Baek Hwan’s sudden tea-spraying incident and the house unexpectedly expanding.
I’d added some dried seeds and sliced sweet purple fruits. It would be the perfect snack to munch on while waiting for dinner.
Soon after I called, Shin Yeoul and Baek Hwan began to appear one by one, hesitantly opening the door.
Oh…
The two men, who had been neat and tidy earlier, were now covered in dust and grime. It seemed they had been working hard on cleaning.
Their outfits were still the same, but their expressions were faint and weary.
“Break time? Why? We could keep going.”
It was Baek Hwan nitpicking about why we needed a break.
But despite his words, he was the first to plop down onto the sofa, looking completely drained.
“It’s almost dinner time. It’s a good time to rest, don’t you think?”
Shin Yeoul, on the other hand, didn’t sit down. Instead, he walked over to me.
Huh?
Shin Yeoul stood in front of me, hesitating. Embarrassed, he fiddled with the edge of his apron.
“Um…”
At Shin Yeoul’s call, I made a conscious effort to keep my eyes focused on his face. I could see what was below, but I wouldn’t look. Ahem.
“I think you should come with me for a moment.”
“Huh? Where to?”
“To the, uh, basement storage.”
Ah, of course. Why was I even asking?
Shin Yeoul had been in charge of the basement storage. He tugged lightly at the edge of my sleeve.
What was it? Was cleaning the basement particularly difficult? Or was there another issue?
I had only seen the basement storage appear in the system window; I hadn’t actually gone down to check it myself.
I figured I’d only understand why Shin Yeoul was acting this way once I saw it.
The basement storage was accessible by descending a staircase that had appeared at one end of the cabin.
As we descended, a coolness greeted us. Being underground, the temperature was noticeably lower.
However, thanks to the bright lighting, the space didn’t feel creepy or eerie. It barely felt like a basement at all.
“Wow, you cleaned everything?”
On top of that, the space was so well-cleaned that I couldn’t help but be impressed by the spotless, gleaming sight.
The walls and floors practically sparkled.
“You really worked hard! This is amazing!”
At my enthusiastic praise, Shin Yeoul awkwardly scratched his neck, looking embarrassed.
“No, it’s nothing. I had to do it anyway to reduce the debuffs.”
Despite the sudden forced quest that would’ve been enough to irritate anyone, Shin Yeoul answered as if it were no big deal.
He must’ve been utterly exhausted after being stuck in this subspace and working for days.
“That’s what I mentioned earlier.”
Shin Yeoul pointed to a corner of the basement storage.
“I haven’t opened it yet. I thought it’d be better for the homeowner to see it first.”
In the corner stood a large box.
No, it wasn’t just a box.
It looked strangely familiar.
No way.
I gasped, my breath catching. My heart started pounding and wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t believe I was seeing this here.
My feet moved toward it almost instinctively.
Carefully, I placed my hand on top of it. When I opened the lid—
Whoosh! A brilliant light burst forth. In that moment, I knew exactly what it was.
This is…!
[Appraisal ▸ Well-Fermented Napa Cabbage Kimchi!
: A mother’s touch (Passive)! Feel the living probiotics in every bite!]
[Appraisal ▸ Spicy Green Onion Kimchi!
: The pinnacle of umami! It’s so delicious!]
[Appraisal ▸ Crunchy Radish Kimchi!
: The finest radish from sub-space, turned into kimchi!]
That’s right.
The large box in front of me was none other than a kimchi refrigerator.
And it was filled to the brim with various kinds of kimchi.
I cheered silently, a grin spreading across my face.
“Ah. And there’s this too. Because of the debuff, I couldn’t put it in the inventory, so I left it here temporarily.”
While I was doing an internal dance, Shin Yeoul picked up something from right next to the kimchi refrigerator and handed it to me.
It was a black plastic bag. It was heavy, like it contained a lot.
“It came as a special reward when the cleanliness level exceeded the contamination level.”
“Oh.”
I knew good rewards followed after cleaning, but I didn’t realize others could get them too.
I rustled through the bag to check its contents.
“T-this is.”
And I couldn’t help but be surprised once again.
“Yes. It’s pork.”
Shin Yeoul explained the bag’s contents and, for the first time, gave me a proper smile. A small dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth.
It was the happiest moment of the day.
✦✦✦
Sizzle! I tossed the perfectly chopped kimchi into the pot and stir-fried it, the rich aroma filling the air almost immediately.
Tak tak tak! With my upgraded cooking skill (C), my knife glided through onions, green onions, and garlic at an incredible speed. The rhythmic chopping was almost therapeutic. I added minced garlic and a bit of sugar to the sizzling kimchi before pouring in water, watching as the ingredients blended together into something wonderful.
While waiting for the stew to boil, I drizzled oil into a frying pan and cracked one of Koko’s eggs into it. After all the effort I’d put into collecting eggs from Koko, it was finally paying off.
Next came the most crucial ingredient: pork. I drained the blood, then cut it into bite-sized pieces. The stew bubbled away invitingly, and I carefully added the pork, letting it cook and blend its flavors into the broth.
Turning my attention back to the eggs, I debated how to cook them.
“Should I make them over-hard or sunny-side up?”
I asked, glancing over at the two aproned figures who had wandered into the kitchen, clearly drawn by the delicious smell.
“Either is fine.”
“Sunny-side up for me.”
Sunny-side up for Baek Hwan, and over-hard for the rest. That settled it.
Whoosh! I adjusted the heat and cooked them accordingly.
“It’s almost ready. Just hold on a moment.”
I called out as I plated the finished eggs and brought them to the dining table.
“Oh! You didn’t have to….! Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble at all. It’s the least I can do.”
Shin Yeoul, who was setting the table with utensils, expressed his gratitude.
Baek Hwan, noticing this, quietly got up and went to the rice cooker, scooping himself an absolutely ridiculous mound of rice.
Um, excuse me. Just how much are you planning to eat? The sheer height of the rice left me speechless.
Goodness. Weren’t these the same rankers who had terrified me just hours ago?
Now, they were standing around in aprons, helping prepare dinner like domesticated kittens. Shin Yeoul even poured water into glasses with a gentle trickle.
Pfft. I barely managed to hold in my laughter and quickly turned back to the kimchi stew, focusing on finishing it. The pork was cooking beautifully, releasing just the right amount of fat to blend harmoniously with the kimchi. Wow. It already looked amazing. My mouth watered in anticipation.
Finally, I added the chopped onions and green onions, letting the stew boil one last time. Some red pepper powder would’ve been nice, but this was more than good enough. After all, I wasn’t a chef—just good enough was fine. I had faith in my cooking skill.
“Alright! The main dish is coming!”
Wearing oven mitts, I lifted the heavy pot. Since both Shin Yeoul and Baek Hwan ate like they had bottomless pits for stomachs, I’d made an enormous amount, filling the pot to the brim.
Thud. I set it down on the dining table, and the moment I removed the lid, steam billowed up dramatically. Someone audibly gulped.
I ladled the steaming stew into bowls, and we all sat down together. With the upgraded cottage, the dining table had expanded, making it large enough to seat the three of us comfortably.
“Well then, enjoy your meal!”
“Thank you for the food.”
“Let’s eat.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Shin Yeoul and Baek Hwan raised their spoons and took big bites of the stew.
Slurp. Then silence.
I suddenly felt nervous. W-What did they think?
A distinct sound of swallowing filled the air. Then, without a word, they both focused entirely on eating.
Apparently, it was delicious.
Though Shin Yeoul’s slightly teary eyes were a bit concerning, at least he wasn’t outright crying this time.
Seriously, do rankers usually not eat properly?
Shin Yeoul had been starving for days, so that made sense. But Baek Hwan, too, was eating like he hadn’t seen food in years. Watching them devour their meals was so distracting that I realized I had only just picked up my own spoon.
And when that first spoonful of kimchi stew slid down my throat…
“Hah.”
A gasp of astonishment escaped before I could stop it.
What…. What was this? Am I a genius?
The upgraded cooking skill must’ve made a massive difference because this was exceptionally delicious. Was it even okay for food to taste this good?
Forget selling items—maybe I should just open a kimchi stew restaurant and buy a whole building. It would absolutely be a hit. Even with just basic ingredients, it tasted incredible.
The well-fermented, tangy kimchi paired perfectly with the pork, creating an explosion of umami. I was glad I’d cut the ingredients into big chunks—the pork, tender and savory, melted in my mouth, its fat blending beautifully with the broth. The sweetness from the onions balanced the kimchi’s sourness, and their slight crunch added the perfect texture. The broth slid down effortlessly, rich and flavorful.
Whenever the taste became too intense, I took a bite of rice or a piece of fried egg, and—
“Ahh.”
Koko’s eggs were soft and rich, always delicious.
And with a piece of green onion kimchi from the fridge? Chef’s kiss.
Wow. Seriously. This is amazing.
“This is truly delicious.”
For a moment, I thought I had spoken out loud. But no, that was Shin Yeoul. Having already emptied four bowls of rice, he shyly spoke up.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
Oh. That wasn’t me either.
Baek Hwan nodded in agreement beside him.
Seeing their satisfied expressions made me smile. I was really glad they enjoyed it so much.
If the food hadn’t been good, Baek Hwan probably would’ve killed me by now.
And then, a moment later—
Huh? The debuff…?
🌱
Thank you for reading! ♡
