Archmage's Restaurant - Chapter 87: A Week in Korea (6)

The savory scent of black *chunjang* [1] sauce filled the air. Steam rose from the dish, with peas sprinkled delicately on top. And next to it, there was *danmuji* (yellow pickled radish) [2].

I picked up my chopsticks. The best part of *jjajangmyeon* is mixing it. Personally, I prefer regular *jjajangmyeon* over *jjaengban jjajang* (platter-style) [3] because you get to mix it yourself.

“Hey, why is this black?”

“It’s one of those dishes that’s delicious because it’s black. I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste, but I love it. Give it a try.”

“Oh! Really? You like it? Then, even if I don’t, I’ll still enjoy it.”

Rurin, with her usual cheerful remark, eagerly stabbed her chopsticks into the *jjajangmyeon* just like I did. She was as enthusiastic as ever.

“You should do it like this…”

Just as I was about to explain, watching the steam rise from the *jjajangmyeon*, a group of people barged into the restaurant.

“Excuse me, we need your cooperation for a moment!”

Crash! Suddenly, it was the police. At the same time, a few people in the restaurant started to run away—some of the customers included.

If they run as soon as they see a police badge, they must be involved in something shady or criminal.

“Catch them!”

The restaurant became a chaotic mess as those who attacked the officers tried to escape, turning the place upside down. The police were also making a mess while trying to catch them.

One of the escapees struggled with a policeman, and the commotion reached our table.

As a result, our table was ruined. Not that we could have eaten in peace anyway, even without the chaos.

Of all times…

“We apologize, but we need your cooperation for a moment!”

It seemed like this restaurant was involved in some kind of crime, as the police began checking IDs and asking questions to each customer.

This was troublesome. Missing a meal was bad enough, but Rurin and I don’t have proper identification.

I’m technically a missing person, and I haven’t resolved that status. Not that it matters since we’ll be leaving anyway.

And Rurin? She’s not even supposed to exist in this world.

So, cooperating was not an option. We might as well escape. If push comes to shove, we could use Rurin’s mental magic, but after this kind of disturbance, there’s no way we could continue eating here.

The best option was to just leave.

“Rurin, do you have enough mana left to teleport?”

“I do.”

“Then let’s head back to the hotel.”

“Is there a need? Dropping my food on the floor like that… those guys are annoying. I’ll crush them all…!”

“Hold it, hold it, there’s no need to cause a scene. This isn’t our world, remember?”

“Hmm, fine!”

Rurin nodded and jumped into my arms. Suddenly, everything went dark.

Escaping was not a problem. But failing to eat *jjajangmyeon* for the second time? That was frustrating.

It felt like I was cursed, unable to eat *jjajangmyeon*. Everywhere I went, something always happened.

A bit bewildered, I collapsed onto the bed. The bed here was way softer than anything in the other world.

Rurin, as expected, followed by jumping onto the bed. Jumping onto the bed and falling asleep had become part of her routine recently.

“Hey, hey, can’t we take this bed with us when we go back? It seems better than the ones the dwarves made.”

“Hmm, I’m sure there’s an even better bed out there.”

“Oh! Is that so? Then let’s take that one!”

“Sure, we’ll buy it later.”

“Agreed!”

It’s a promise I can easily keep. After all, I also prefer the beds here.

We couldn’t summon something this big before, but bringing it back directly from this world is a different story.

Plus, since my mana capacity has increased significantly, it seems like I can summon larger items.

Rurin, in a good mood, started rolling around on the bed again. But my stomach was still growling. The sun was setting.

“Let’s head out again.”

Ordering *jjajangmyeon* at the hotel wasn’t an option. So, I thought of another solution. This time, I decided to try delivery and headed to Han River Citizen Park with Rurin.

The sun was setting in the western sky, casting a red hue. People bustled about, and amidst the weekday city scenery, Rurin and I strolled leisurely into the park.

There were Chinese restaurant flyers everywhere near the park station, so I picked one and made my way to the park. But first, I stopped by a convenience store to buy a mat. I also grabbed some drinks and used the convenience store phone to place the order.

I asked the convenience store to accept the delivery and handed over the payment and a tip. The part-timer was kind, and everything went smoothly.

If there really was a curse, something would surely go wrong. So I kept my guard up, waiting for the delivery. I spread out the mat and sat down.

Soon, Rurin dozed off on the mat, and I waited for the *jjajangmyeon*.

The delivery came quickly. I laid Rurin’s head gently on the mat and went to the convenience store.

With the help of the convenience store clerk, I got the *jjajangmyeon* and *tangsuyuk* (sweet and sour pork) and returned to the mat. If I had a phone, I wouldn’t have needed to go through the convenience store, but without one, ordering food to an unmarked location was tricky.

That’s why the tip was necessary. But that’s a minor thing. What matters now is that I finally have *jjajangmyeon* and *tangsuyuk* in hand.

After failing to eat *jjajangmyeon* twice, I can finally enjoy it now.

No interruptions.

Unless a monster suddenly appeared in the Han River.

No, even if one did, I’d burn it with magic and eat my food.

“Rurin, wake up. The food’s here.”

“Hmm? Finally food? I’m starving. But hey, isn’t that the same thing we saw earlier?”

“Yeah, *jjajangmyeon* all looks like this.”

“Strange dish.”

“To you, maybe.”

I absentmindedly replied as I focused on the *jjajangmyeon*. After missing out on it twice, it felt like an incredibly precious meal.

Steam rose as I unwrapped the package. The delivery system here was impressive. I pulled out the wooden chopsticks and, with reverence, carefully split them in two.

“You split the chopsticks like this and use them. You’ve used chopsticks before, so you know, right?”

“Is this what that is? I didn’t know because they were stuck together.”

“Yup.”

It was Rurin’s first encounter with split wooden chopsticks. She immediately tried to break them apart with all her strength.

Of course, there was no finesse. She held the chopsticks like she was trying to crush them, and they broke miserably, leaving only the front part intact.

A tragic failure.

“What’s with this thing?”

“What’s wrong with you!”

The *jjajangmyeon* was going cold. I couldn’t let her eat it with her hands. Out of options, I ran back to the convenience store to buy another pair of chopsticks. Exhausting.

“Huff, huff.”

“Hahaha! You look cute with your tongue hanging out.”

As I came back, panting, Rurin laughed, treating me like a pet. Unbelievable. Whose fault was this?

“Forget it, I’ll break them for you. I’m starving.”

“I’m starving too. That’s why I’ve been eating this.”

Turns out, Rurin had already started eating the *tangsuyuk* with her hands.

“Really? How could you betray me like this? I ran all the way to get your chopsticks…”

“I don’t care! Eat this. It’s tasty, though a bit bland.”

Rurin stuffed a piece of *tangsuyuk* into my mouth. Was this her way of telling me to shut up?

I couldn’t handle it. But the *tangsuyuk* was delicious. This was my first bite of the day.

“Fine, I won’t say anything. Anyway, here’s how you mix the *jjajangmyeon*. If you mix it well, it turns into a glossy black color. Oh, the smell is amazing!”

I praised the scent of the *jjajangmyeon*, and Rurin, nodding, imitated me. Everything was going smoothly. The sunset was perfect. I lifted the noodles with my chopsticks.

Still, I looked around just in case. Nothing unusual. The worst thing that could happen now would be sudden rain. A downpour that soaks the *jjajangmyeon* and *tangsuyuk*.

No way that would happen…

I looked at the sky unconsciously. But it was clear.

“Slurp.”

Relieved, I took a bite of the noodles.

The slightly swollen noodles filled my mouth. Even though they were a bit soft, they were still delicious. The rich umami of the *chunjang* sauce, paired with the slight greasiness, was a hallmark of Chinese cuisine.

How long had it been since I last had *jjajangmyeon*?

Nom nom.

I kept eating as more noodles slid into my mouth. I glanced at Rurin and saw that she was also eating without any issues.

“This is… mmm… good…”

“Right? Now, eat it with that yellow thing. You’re supposed to eat it with *danmuji*.”

The slightly greasy taste is cut by the crunch of the *danmuji*, enhancing the flavor.

When the rich, sweet-salty flavor of the *chunjang* spreads in your mouth, biting into the crisp *danmuji* elevates the taste.

“Oh!”

Rurin hesitated for a moment before trying the *danmuji*, but her face lit up with satisfaction.

After leaving a portion of my *jjajangmyeon* for later, I picked up the fried egg I had ordered. When the dish starts to get a bit too greasy, this is the best thing.

I also poured some of the *jjajang* sauce onto a portion of the *tangsuyuk*. Now I had three ways to enjoy it: with *jjajang* sauce, with *tangsuyuk* sauce, and just dipped in salt I bought from the convenience store.

Each method has its own charm.

First, dipping it in salt brings out the natural flavor of the *tangsuyuk*. The crispier the exterior and the softer the inside, the better. However, I doubt the restaurant I ordered from put that much effort into it.

But *tangsuyuk* is still delicious, no matter what.

No matter how it’s done, it’s always at least decent.

The slight saltiness complements the savory, mild flavor of the *tangsuyuk*, making it irresistibly chewable.

Of course, the *tangsuyuk* sauce adds a fresh sweetness with its thick consistency, creating its own harmony. And, just like with the *jjajangmyeon*, dipping it in *jjajang* sauce and eating it with *danmuji* is also great.

I ate heartily, finally feeling that my persistence had paid off after two failed attempts. Rurin looked satisfied as well. She set down her empty *jjajang* bowl with a content expression and called out to me.

“It’s not as good as your cooking, but I was starving, so I enjoyed it!”

“Really?”

In the end, she complimented my cooking. I appreciated it. Feeling thirsty, I rustled through the bag and pulled out the drinks. Two PET bottles. They were drinks I hadn’t seen before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I opened the cap and took a sip. As the refreshing lemon flavor spread through my stomach filled with *jjajangmyeon*, it felt invigorating.

After quenching my thirst, I laid down on the mat. I handed one of the bottles to Rurin.

She took the bottle and gulped it down, but soon after, she pulled it away with a confused look, tilting her head. She had expected it to be water, but the taste was different. Still, she liked it and resumed drinking.

“Hey, it’s spilling.”

The drink trickled down from her lips to her chin, so I wiped it for her.

“If it spills, you can wipe it for me.”

She tilted her face toward me, as if that were the most natural thing in the world.

I had no words. Yet there I was, wiping her face diligently with my sleeve.

After quenching my thirst, I laid back down on the mat. Rurin immediately snuggled up next to me, staring at me as she lay there.

Then she pointed across the Han River, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She seemed amazed by something.

“Hey, even at night, there are so many twinkling lights. What are those things shining everywhere?”

* * *

Footnotes:

[1] Chunjang: A thick, black bean paste made from fermented soybeans, used as the base for the sauce in Korean-Chinese dishes like jjajangmyeon.

[2] Danmuji: Yellow pickled radish, commonly served as a side dish in Korean cuisine, particularly with Korean-Chinese dishes to help balance rich or greasy flavors

[3] Jjaengban Jjajang: A platter-style variation of jjajangmyeon, where the noodles and sauce are pre-mixed and served on a large shared dish.