Chapter 29
Chapter 29.
What Do You Think of Me.
……Bungeoppang?
Choi Jae-jun spoke in an excited voice, one sentence after another.
"What was the name again? Anyway, apparently it's all the rage on social media right now—they say it sells out before they can even make more."
"There's a place like that?"
"Yes. I haven't seen it myself yet, but apparently several companies have already made contact, though there's been no word of a contract. They've caught the scent of money."
"Is that so."
"Actually, our Baekgyeong department store's food business division is planning to go visit, late as it may be, and offer them a spot. Anyway, that's exactly the kind of special item we need. Since it's come up, would you like to go check it out together?"
"Sure."
"Glad you think so. There's nothing more helpful than seeing a thriving store firsthand. I'll send you the location. We have our sect meeting today—once it wraps up, around 5 o'clock? I'll see you at the Bungeoppang place."
Click.
The call ended. A moment later.
Ding-dong!
A message arrived. Of course.
……Pfft.
Mom called me from the living room.
"Tae-yang, the red bean filling for the Bungeoppang is ready. We're almost out of gas—shouldn't you order more?"
"I'll call about it."
3 p.m.
I pulled the Bungeoppang cart and headed back to the front of Sanwang Technical High School.
Maybe because school was back in session, the street felt somehow lively.
Start of business.
Bake, sell, bake, sell.
4:35 p.m.
Ding-dong-daeng.
The end-of-day bell at Sanwang Technical High School.
A moment later, students came pouring out.
"Bungeoppang please!"
"Get in line, you!"
The queue formed. Chaos.
Not long after—Vroooom.
A white, top-of-the-line SUV arrived.
Ring-ring-ring!
A call came in from Choi Jae-jun right away.
I was in the middle of baking, so I wedged the phone between my cheek and shoulder to answer.
"Senior, where are you? We're here—"
"We?"
"I brought Jae-hwa along."
"Ah, yes. I'm right here."
Whirr.
The window of Choi Jae-jun's SUV rolled down.
He looked around from inside the car, searching for me.
"Where? Wow, but this place is really doing great business. The line is enormous. We might not even get to eat today."
"I set some aside in advance."
"Haha, thank you. You've helped us out again. Have you tried them? How do they taste?"
"Incredibly good."
"Now that you're watching the business run—how does it feel? Getting any sense of it?"
"I'm not quite sure."
"In my opinion, the taste and the concept match up perfectly. A handsome guy in his twenties selling incredibly delicious Bungeoppang…… Everyone would want to try it at least once. I think the owner has a real business sense. Oh dear, there's nowhere to park."
"You can park inside Sanwang Technical High School."
"Really? How do you know that so well?"
"I'm close with the teachers and the admin office."
"You must live nearby. But where are you? I can't see you."
"I'm right here."
"Where?"
"Right in front of you."
"……Pardon?"
Hi there.
I waved toward the white SUV.
Choi Jae-jun and Choi Jae-hwa's jaws dropped.
Thud.
An expensive phone slipped from his hand.
You came?
Oh, it's the older brother again.
***
After finishing business, we headed to a nearby café.
Mom greeted the Choi brothers.
"It's been a while, you two. We met at the hospital last time, didn't we?"
"Ah…… That's right, Ma'am. My apologies for the late greeting."
Having seen them a second time, Mom's manner with the chaebol heirs was noticeably more relaxed.
A true woman of great mettle, indeed.
First, the younger one, Choi Jae-hwa, opened his mouth looking at Mom.
"Ma'am—or rather, Boss. Had I known you were running this business, I would have at least brought a flower basket."
Mom waved her hand in dismissal.
"I'm not the boss."
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
"My son is!"
Mom smiled broadly. Pride bloomed across her face.
"Haah……."
The Choi brothers' sighs deepened.
"Truly could not have imagined it."
"To think that Senior, who has achieved such tremendous feats as an Unaffiliated Climber, would be selling Bungeoppang……."
As the brothers shook their heads in disbelief, Mom's eyes sharpened.
"Unaffiliated Climber? What's that? And Senior? Our Tae-yang should be younger than both of you—in what sense is he your senior—"
"Ah, it means senior in the Bungeoppang trade."
I cut in hastily. The fact that I was a climber was still a secret from my family.
I gave the brothers a look, and catching on, they held their tongues.
I smiled and rose from my seat, asking the brothers.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Ah, we'll get it—"
"Today it's on me."
But the brothers insisted on getting up and following me to the counter.
Swish.
I frowned and spoke to them quietly.
"The fact that I'm a climber is a secret."
"Yes. We'll be careful."
The Choi brothers looked thoroughly stunned.
They even forgot to pay, lowering their voices in admiration.
"You could have at least given us a heads-up, Senior."
"What would a whale like Baekgyeong care about a shrimp's little business? It's embarrassing—why would I bring it up?"
"Not at all! Beyond the taste, the shop's concept, the location it's claimed, the attitude toward customers, their loyalty, the limited sales—not a single thing was unworthy of attention."
Choi Jae-hwa emphasized it was absolutely not so, praising me earnestly.
Choi Jae-jun chimed in.
"That's not all."
"What else is there?"
"Beyond the business acumen, I was struck by the foresight."
"As expected of you, Senior."
……Hmm?
"The tremendous achievement accomplished as an Unaffiliated Climber! A second identity to avoid the world's attention. And for that purpose—the Bungeoppang business, isn't it?"
"Ah."
"Truly remarkable. Not even Gukmubon, nor the Goryeo Sword Sect, nor anyone else would imagine that Senior is a climber."
"A perfect cover identity."
That's not it though.
I just started it to make a living.
"And thank you."
"For what."
"For telling us your true identity—that means you now fully trust us, doesn't it?"
"……That's right."
That's not it though.
But the brothers kept nodding, giving me a thumbs up.
Misunderstandings are theirs to keep.
Harmless misunderstandings need not always be corrected.
I returned to the table with the coffees.
The brothers hadn't come alone.
They'd brought along a suited man in glasses.
The man, impeccably dressed in a fine suit, seized upon a brief silence to hand me his business card.
[Baekgyeong Department Store Food Business Division Manager, Jeong Jang-hyeon]
The manager overseeing the department store's food hall.
The reason the Choi brothers had brought him was precisely to negotiate a contract with my Handsome Bungeoppang.
Of course, they hadn't anticipated that I would be the owner.
"Um…… Senior. Please open a location at our Baekgyeong Department Store's food hall."
Choi Jae-jun got to the point.
True to Chairman Choi's sons, who strike while the iron is hot—they intended to close the deal right then and there.
I turned to the Choi brothers.
"Let's set aside the department store talk for now and start with the chocolate."
"Ah…… Yes."
They have something they want, so delivering my business first is the art of negotiation.
Clack.
I placed a prepared box on the café table.
"It's chocolate. Please have a taste."
My part-timer.
It was the chocolate Min-jeong had made.
The Choi brothers each picked one up and put it in their mouths.
And then.
"Oh?!"
They looked surprised.
Choi Jae-hwa offered some to Manager Jeong.
"Please have some too, Manager."
Jeong Jang-hyeon put the chocolate in his mouth.
His head turned to the side in surprise.
He certainly shows extreme deference toward the owner's family.
Right away.
"Oh! This is delicious!"
A gasp of admiration burst from Jeong Jang-hyeon.
He launched into professional terminology, trying to show off his knowledge.
"It's not inferior to something made by a French chocolatier. The ingredients seem quite premium. The cost of materials must be considerable. Is it French cacao mass?"
"No."
"Then what? Ah! It has a slightly Belgian feel. Like Brussels or Antwerp."
"It's from a traditional market."
"……Pardon?"
"She bought it at the market. Over there in that alley."
"T-that can't be right."
I smiled and raised my hand toward the corner of the café.
"Come here, part-timer."
Min-jeong, who had been sitting in the corner quiet as a mouse, shuffled over nervously.
"A-ah, hello……."
Min-jeong looked visibly tense in front of the chaebol heirs.
"Allow me to introduce you. My chocolatier."
"This student? She looks young……."
"She's 19. Graduating this year."
Manager Jeong's eyes went wide.
"Where did you learn to make chocolate? École de Cuisine in France? If it's Belgian, Eliasson?"
Jeong Jang-hyeon rolled his r's heavily.
It seemed like he was trying to show off his knowledge in front of the owner's family.
Min-jeong stuttered out an answer.
"A-ah, no."
"Then where?"
"San……."
"Sanotré? Ah, that place is famous too."
"That's not it."
"……?"
"Sanwang……Technical High School."
"Pardon?"
See that? This is my part-timer.
France, of all things.
How dare anyone underestimate my part-timer.
***
The contract was settled swiftly and smoothly.
First, Min-jeong was selected as a scholarship student for Baekgyeong Department Store.
A study abroad trip to Paris for several months was confirmed.
It was at Manager Jeong's strong insistence.
"I acknowledge that her skills are exceptional. But to command a higher price, you need credentials!"
"Is that so?"
"Of course! The credential from a prestigious chocolate school will be an asset that lasts a lifetime. Please trust me on this!"
I decided to accept his advice.
When it came to matters outside production—marketing was something Jeong Jang-hyeon would know better.
Min-jeong looked at me with a dazed expression.
"I'm going to…… Paris? The Paris with…… the Eiffel Tower?"
"That's right. The Paris of Saint-Germain."
"The Paris of Notre-Dame?"
"The Paris of Mbappé."
"I can't speak French—I can barely say a word of English."
"Baekgyeong will provide an interpreter."
"Is o-oppa coming too?"
"Why would I go? I'm busy."
There's the tower to climb, and the business expansion to prepare for.
"You don't want to? Should I cancel it?"
"No! I'll absolutely go!"
[Flabbergasted, Min-jeong rejoices at the opportunity that could change her life. +1,000 Happiness]
Next, ‘my Handsome Bungeoppang’ signed a contract to open in the Baekgyeong Department Store food hall.
"Incorporation, brand logo, interior design, marketing—our department store will handle everything."
"Thank you."
Manager Jeong had clearly received a detailed briefing about me from the Choi brothers; his discipline was impeccable.
Good to see.
It was evident he would give his all for my business's success going forward.
The share breakdown for Handsome Bungeoppang Co., Ltd. was: me 70%, Baekgyeong Department Store 25%, and Grandma 5%.
The Choi brothers asked me.
"Who is this person, that you would give them 5% of shares?"
"There's someone. My Bungeoppang master. An absolute master."
I don't forget even the smallest grudge,
but I never forget kindness even more so.
I'm the poison demon, after all.
Of course, the chocolate would be kept separate from the Bungeoppang and incorporated as a distinct company.
Mom whispered to me.
"Is it alright to just sign like this? I've heard chaebols are greedy."
"It's fine."
[The Choi brothers regard you as their lifelong benefactor.]
These two are all my subordinates anyway.
[Seeing your confident and composed manner, Mom is proud of you. +500 Happiness]
And you? How do you feel?
[Kim Tae-yang is happy. +100 Happiness]
Hehehe. From now on, give me points more generously, you.
Anyway, I can leave the business expansion to the Choi brothers.
Ding-dong!
A message arrived right on cue.
The outcome of educating the fraudulent Bungeoppang lady from the district office.
[We inform you that the case you reported has been concluded as follows.]
[Reason for report: Unauthorized occupation of road]
[Fine: 200,000 won]
As expected.
A slap on the wrist—a 200,000 won fine.
But that wasn't the end of it.
The tax evasion investigation was ongoing, and the defamation lawsuit had resulted in a summary indictment from the prosecutor's office, apparently.
Fine of 1,000,000 won.
Trrring—
"Hello?"
"Kid. It's me, the Bungeoppang lady from back then. Could you settle that defamation report? Hmm? I'm sorry."
"How did you get my number?"
"Hmm? That is—"
"I'll have to report you for violating the Personal Information Protection Act."
"No, kid! That's not what I meant—I really did make a mist—"
Beep beep.
Must've been the police who told her.
Maybe it's a chance to take down the lady's connections along with her?
Lady.
Overwhelmed, aren't you? Getting hit one after another.
How dare you spew insults at me.
……Still.
200,000 won fine and 1,000,000 won penalty. The punishment is far too light.
How can justice be upheld in society like this?
It's deplorable that I, the poison demon, must step in to handle things.
"Anyway, it's time to enter the tower."
News had reported that a crowd had gathered in front of Murim Tower.
Expectations were high!
I'd purchased information on the 11th floor from the Black Market in advance.
The information was expensive, but knowing ahead and preparing couldn't hurt.
I was personally curious, too.
11th floor through 13: White Tiger Gate.
Like the Blue Dragon Gate before, a sect that branched off from the Four Divine Gate.
"Why White Tiger Gate, I wonder?"
They don't have a particular connection to me.
Pondering what the tower intended to show me, I stepped inside.
Wooooong.
***
After clearing the tower.
I shook my blood-soaked hands.
A curse slipped out involuntarily.
"What the hell…… What is this."
Something that had absolutely no business being here had emerged from White Tiger Gate.
"This…… Why is this here?"
The Yama's Life-Chasing Threads!
So thin it was nearly invisible to the naked eye, yet strong enough that no precious sword could sever it.
And.
The Sacheondang Family's secret treasure.