Our Restaurant is Operating Normally Even in the Apocalypse - Chapter 2

Episode 2. Sundae Soup (2)

Jin-kyung calmed her mind and organized the situation in her head.

This man, who had just served her a delicious bowl of Sundae Gukbap, had been hit by a truck like in a fantasy web novel, adventured in another world, and became a mage.

And after defeating the Demon King, he returned to this world, keeping his magical powers, with plans to open a restaurant.

That was where she couldn’t understand.

“No, everything else is fine… I mean, unless it’s magic, there’s no way you could make Sundae Gukbap in a pristine restaurant like this. But why a restaurant, of all things? I don’t know much, but isn’t a Demon King supposed to be like the final villain? You have enough power to defeat someone like that, so why just a restaurant?”

It made no sense by any common standard.

Eating?

Of course, it’s important.

It’s one of the most important elements for sustaining human life.

But this is magic, for heaven’s sake, magic.

Magic that only appears in web novels, webtoons, anime, or movies.

To have such an absurd, world-turning ability and have your wish be to just run a restaurant?

Jin-kyung couldn’t understand it at all.

“Well, everyone usually reacts like that. Then, before you pay for the meal, I’ll explain it simply, so listen well.”

Seeing Jae-hyung’s smirking expression, Jin-kyung flinched and opened her mouth.

“…Wasn’t this free?”

“Where in the world is anything free? Especially in an apocalypse world view that’s completely ruined, you have to pay up.”

Feeling a sense of despair at Jae-hyung’s logical explanation, Jin-kyung thought.

‘What kind of price do I have to pay?’

Since the economic system had collapsed, there was no way he’d accept money.

Being a mage who could whip up food in a world ruined by zombies, he wouldn’t trade for food either.

So, in the remaining situation, there was only one thing he could demand from Jin-kyung…

“Yeah. Usually, in apocalypse stories, if it’s not daily necessities or food, they target a woman’s body. Well, it’s a misunderstanding that makes sense in its own way, so I won’t get angry even if it’s unpleasant. So, why don’t you drop that pathetic defensive stance?”

Jin-kyung, who had been awkwardly clenching her fists, frowned and asked.

“…How can I trust that?”

“Think about it. If I really wanted your body, would I have gone through all this trouble? I would’ve just used magic to scare you.”

“…Then what do you want?”

Jin-kyung’s guard lowered slightly.

Jae-hyung sighed softly and began to explain.

“Listen well, I’ll explain why I’m running a restaurant in this apocalypse world and serving meals to people I don’t even know. First of all, the meal price I want from customers isn’t goods or money, but information. I’m looking for ‘people’.”

“People?”

“To explain precisely, there are three types I’m looking for. If you can pay even one of the three, I’ll acknowledge that you’ve paid for the meal. Furthermore, if that information is specific and useful, I’ll clean out all the zombies near the place you’re staying to make your survival a little easier.”

Since she had no other choice anyway, Jin-kyung carefully spoke up.

“If it’s information I can answer, I’ll gladly tell you.”

“Thank you for your cooperative attitude, customer. Then first, do you happen to know a man named Park Tae-soo, born in ’65? Whether you’ve encountered him or heard his name… anything is fine, whether it was before the world ended or after, if you know anything, tell me.”

Searching her memory, Jin-kyung finally shook her head and replied.

“Before the zombie outbreak, I ran a camping supply store. Business was good enough that some customers even reserved items, but the name Park Tae-soo wasn’t on my customer list.”

“After the zombie outbreak?”

“As I said before, I ran a camping supply store. Thanks to that, I’ve survived alone so far with various preserved foods and survival tools. …But why are you looking for that Park Tae-soo person?”

At Jin-kyung’s question, Jae-hyung smacked his lips as if it were a pity and replied.

“I asked you earlier why I’m running a mere restaurant even though I have magic, right? I kept my magic and returned to this world for that person. I opened this restaurant to find that person and show it to them.”

His eyes looked like they had a story.

Who on earth could he be to have an expression like that?

Jin-kyung couldn’t suppress her curiosity.

“What kind of person is he…?”

“I’ll leave it at privacy beyond this. It’s not a story I’d tell in detail to someone unrelated. Anyway, for this reason, second, I’m looking for customers who can be a source of information. So, have you heard news of other survivors or encountered them? Even if you’ve been holed up in your shop, people usually announce survivor camps by radio or by distributing flyers.”

“Um… quite a long time ago, soldiers in a helicopter announced it over a loudspeaker. That there was a survivor camp set up by the military in Gyeryong, Chungnam. That those who could move should come there….”

“Any other information besides that? I’ve already heard that story from other customers a few times.”

“Ah, a few days ago, I heard gunshots on the street! I was hiding in the shop so I don’t know the exact situation, but the firefight continued for quite a long time.”

“A firefight not far away…. Given the flow, it can’t be a military unit rescuing citizens. So, in an apocalypse, people are scarier than zombies, is that it?”

Jae-hyung smiled and stood up from his seat.

Then he continued speaking to Jin-kyung.

“It seems like a sufficient meal price. Now, as promised, I’ll take you home.”

“Yes? Is this really enough?”

At her question, Jae-hyung nodded with an indifferent expression.

“It’s no different from looking for Mr. Kim in Seoul, so I didn’t have high expectations from the start. It’s just, if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll catch one…”

“…Then what was the third question?”

“Since you said you’ve been living alone, I thought it was unlikely… but it’s right to ask, right? So, the last third one: Do you know exactly where this zombie virus started?”

“Oh, no.”

“See, for the third one, the person to ask is practically decided. Either some high-ranking person who must have held a position, or a scientist buried in research wearing a white gown to develop a vaccine. If it’s not people like that, there’s no point in asking.”

Jin-kyung stared at Jae-hyung.

A mage who crossed to another world and defeated the Demon King.

Thinking that maybe, just maybe, this man could save a world ruined by zombies.

“Now, then, as promised, I’ll take you home.”

Clap, clap.

With the sound of applause ringing in the air, the restaurant building that had been enveloping the two began to disappear like a mirage.

Thrown back into the cruel reality of the apocalypse, Jin-kyung felt bitter.

“Could I possibly follow you?”

At that, Jae-hyung blinked and looked at Jin-kyung.

Then he burst into a smirk and replied.

“Look here, camping supply store owner. Do you know what ‘Hijeonjuk’ means?”

Jin-kyung shook her head.

“It’s an abbreviation for ‘kill the heroine before she becomes a heroine.’ Readers absolutely hate characters who stick to the protagonist and just cause trouble without being any help….”

“This is reality, not some web novel….”

“What makes you think reality is any different? No, it’s actually much crueler. At least in an all-ages web novel, there’s some protagonist correction, you know. Can you tell me what benefit I’d get if I took you? If the reason is reasonable, I’ll take you.”

“…At least I can be a conversation partner so you’re not lonely.”

Smirk.

“Sorry, but I enjoy having time to myself. I’m afraid that’s considered a disadvantage, not an advantage, to me.”

At Jae-hyung’s point, Jin-kyung couldn’t answer.

As he said, she wouldn’t be any help.

“Don’t be too disappointed. I have a cheat key called magic, so I don’t need anyone’s help, but maybe someone is desperately waiting for your help?”

A strange smile with an unknown meaning.

Always playful, yet sometimes showing a mysterious side like a real mage.

Jin-kyung wanted to know a little more about this strange man.

‘No, maybe I was just missing people.’

For the first time since the world became like this, she shared a warm meal with someone else and felt alive while talking.

She had forgotten for too long.

That humans are social animals who live together among others.

When she was left alone in this world, she didn’t really feel it.

This loneliness rushing in like a wave.

But Jae-hyung refused to accompany her to the end.

If only they hadn’t met, if only she hadn’t remembered the warmth given by another person…

Jin-kyung walked behind Jae-hyung without a word, head bowed.

Boom, explosions happening here and there.

And the screams that followed.

“Eek!”

Startled by the unfamiliar voice ringing in her ears, Jin-kyung lifted her head.

And at the end of her gaze was Jae-hyung, smiling with the corners of his mouth raised.

“I’ve taken care of all the zombies in the vicinity of this shopping district, so if you go back and forth diligently, you’ll be able to move all the supplies within today or tomorrow. So do your best. The two of you, together.”

“What does that mean…?”

“You didn’t just want to rely on my magic, you missed the warmth of people.”

How did he…?

Before Jin-kyung could ask, Jae-hyung answered first, wearing that strange, unreadable expression again.

“How did I know? I’m a great mage, so I know well. Then goodbye, camping supply store owner. Let’s see each other again if we can.”

Jae-hyung disappeared in an instant.

Like someone possessed by a ghost, Jin-kyung stared blankly at the spot where he had been standing.

And soon, she burst into a smirk and muttered to herself.

“You really appeared like magic and disappeared like magic. Thank you, Mage-nim.”

A mage who suddenly appeared in her lonely daily life.

Since he had saved Jin-kyung, who was floundering in the emotion of loneliness.

Now it was her turn to reach out to someone else first.

Her footsteps running toward the direction where the scream was heard.

A faint expectation, the same as when she met and talked with Jae-hyung, was blooming on Jin-kyung’s expression.

“Keuk, this is it.”

A mysterious being who suddenly appears, helps someone in trouble, and then disappears.

Jae-hyung was feeling an overwhelming thrill at his own appearance as someone’s ‘Deus Ex Machina’.

No matter how great one is, people must live together with people.

To her, who had lost the warmth of people due to being isolated alone for a long time, the salvation Jae-hyung handed her along with a bowl of Sundae Gukbap was ‘people’.

“This is a pretty decent salvation, right?”

Jae-hyung smiled and thought of a missed face that must be alive somewhere.