A Certain Moment (14)
We set up our base camp about 5km away from the desert grassland. Team members who had pitched tents and built fires were huddled together in front of the bonfire. Even Lee Seong-rok and Hwang Ji-hyun, who had been bickering earlier, seemed to have called a temporary truce as they quietly took their places.
After confirming that everyone was present, the raid support team began taking out and distributing food from the bags they had brought. Sa Hae-geon, watching this, leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“Hyung, are we really eating now? Is that food?”
“Yeah. That’s food.”
“…”
Sa Hae-geon seemed quite shocked at the sight of triangular kimbap much smaller than his palm and chocolate bars being distributed as meals. He silently stared at the triangular kimbap, chocolate bar, and energy drink he received.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to eat? In dungeons, you have to eat even if you don’t want to. If you just think of it as replenishing energy, it’s quite edible. It fills you up too.”
“I didn’t know the food you mentioned before would be like this. So you’ve been eating this kind of food while working in dungeons all this time?”
“Yeah… well, that’s right. But it’s not as bad as you might think. Really.”
“Hyung, this isn’t a meal.”
After that firm statement, Sa Hae-geon stood up abruptly. Team members who had been chatting while taking bites of their triangular kimbap shifted their gaze to Sa Hae-geon’s sudden movement. Whether or not he realized he was now the center of attention, he stood in front of a spare bonfire and took something out of the large bag he had been carrying.
“What’s all that? What is our maknae taking out?”
“Isn’t that a frying pan and a pot?”
“Wait, when did he pack those? Is he actually going to cook now?”
“I was wondering what was in that huge bag he was carrying, so it was that kind of stuff?”
“Watching him like this makes it feel like we’re on a camping trip.”
The team members watched Sa Hae-geon while exchanging comments. Even though he could surely hear what they were saying about him, he paid no attention and busily prepared food, taking out cooking utensils and ingredients.
I had wondered why he was packing such a large bag at the crack of dawn, but now I understood. There was a reason he had stubbornly blocked me from seeing inside earlier. He must have thought I would stop him from bringing these things if I found out. Or that I would scold him.
Of course, what he was doing in the middle of a dungeon was quite absurd, but that was all. Deep down, I had always dreamed of eating warm, carefully prepared food in a dungeon. He probably knew that to some extent… Did he hide it because he wanted to surprise me?
Thinking about it that way made him seem even more adorable than usual.
Jong-hyeok, who had been silently eating his triangular kimbap, also looked at Sa Hae-geon as if observing a rare species. Given that he disliked team members’ spontaneous actions or behaviors without prior discussion, I thought he might stop Sa Hae-geon, but fortunately, he just watched without saying anything.
“He even brought an apron. He’s serious about this.”
“Seriously. He must be the first Esper to bring such things into a dungeon.”
My eyes widened at the word “apron.” Knowing how cute and uniquely styled Sa Hae-geon’s aprons could be, I hurried to check it out.
‘…What?’
Contrary to my expectations, the apron Sa Hae-geon was wearing was a completely normal design. A simple navy blue apron. Does this mean he had this normal apron all along but chose to wear aprons with chicks, quokkas, or frogs while cooking?
Why on earth? I really couldn’t understand Sa Hae-geon.
“Oh, something smells delicious?”
“What’s that smell? Kimchi fried rice?”
“Yeah, that’s it. It really smells like kimchi fried rice.”
“What’s he boiling on the side?”
“Looks like doenjang soup. That’ll be tasty.”
By now, the team members had completely turned their bodies toward Sa Hae-geon. They chewed their triangular kimbap halfheartedly while giving intense looks toward the kimchi fried rice and doenjang soup.
Soon, Sa Hae-geon completed the steaming kimchi fried rice and doenjang soup. The team members salivated at the spicy and savory aroma.
“Hey, maybe he’ll share at least a bite with us?”
“He made a whole pot, so we can expect something, right?”
“Wow, this is a smell I’ve never encountered in a dungeon before. Looks delicious.”
“My goodness, our maknae is a good cook too. The smell is artistic!”
The team members couldn’t take their eyes off Sa Hae-geon’s cooking. Neither could I. But I wondered if Sa Hae-geon had brought enough tableware to share with everyone. Knowing his personality, he probably hadn’t even thought about sharing with the team members.
Feeling anxious, I just stared at Sa Hae-geon. If I were the only one to receive his food in this situation… Just imagining it gave me goosebumps.
After finishing cooking, he went back to his bag and took out some things. Hwang Ji-hyun, who had been watching him closely, said excitedly:
“Disposable bowls and spoons?”
“What? Really?”
Soon, kimchi fried rice and doenjang soup began to be distributed to the excited team members. They seemed deeply moved to be able to eat warm, delicious, freshly made food, repeatedly thanking Sa Hae-geon while continuing their meal.
And I just stared blankly at my portion of kimchi fried rice and doenjang soup, heaped generously in my bowl.
“Isn’t this… too much?”
I felt self-conscious about the amount, which was far more than what the team members had received. But Sa Hae-geon responded firmly.
“Since I made it for you, hyung, of course there’s a difference.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Though I did give the team leaders a bit more too. So don’t worry and eat quickly, hyung.”
Taking comfort in his last words, I slowly began eating.
After finishing our meal, we spent some time in a meeting, keeping an eye on the distant desert grassland. The most vocal participants were Lee Seong-rok and Hwang Ji-hyun. The two seemed to be competing, saying all sorts of things. Their tone was so light that anyone who didn’t know them might think they were just kids playing around.
“Why don’t you just set fire to the entire grassland, Team Leader? Wouldn’t that end things quickly?”
“Wow, look at how clueless Seong-rok is. We’re not dealing with ants, but monsters—do you think such a simple method would work? I think it would be faster if you and Hae-geon worked together to create a tornado and blow them away.”
“Are you serious? There’s no way they would die from something like that.”
“Well… if they get really dizzy, wouldn’t they die? So, Seong-rok, you need to create a strong wind. What? Can’t you do it? Are you scared?”
“Wow… Noona, you’re really clueless. If they won’t die from fire, do you think they’ll die from that method? And who’s scared? If anything, it looks to me like you’re the one who’s scared. Afraid of getting bitten by ants?”
“What? Hey, Lee Seong-rok. Do you want to die?”
Jong-hyeok, who had been sighing at the sight of the two now arguing, stepped forward.
“Both of you, stop. This is a time to share opinions, not to fight.”
Only then did Lee Seong-rok and Hwang Ji-hyun’s momentum diminish. Other team members who had been watching their quarrel with interest clicked their tongues when Jong-hyeok finally intervened.
“Geez, I can’t tell if those two are friends or not. They always fight when they meet.”
“Exactly. They act normal usually, but as soon as they meet, they’re like sworn enemies… Well, it’s entertaining for us to watch.”
“That’s true.”
Jong-hyeok listened quietly to the team members’ conversation before speaking.
“Hae-geon, what do you think? What do you think would be best?”
At his noticeably gentler tone compared to how he addressed other team members, Hwang Ji-hyun said she got goosebumps and rubbed her arms. Then, receiving a glare from Jong-hyeok, she pretended nothing happened and subtly averted her gaze.
Sa Hae-geon, who had been chewing his kimchi fried rice, blinked and asked:
“Would my opinion be helpful?”
“Hey, Hae-geon. Sometimes you stumble upon a good method. Just speak comfortably. You did well last time too.”
Encouraged by Lee Cheol-min, Sa Hae-geon furrowed his brow as if contemplating something, then carefully began to speak.
“Wouldn’t fire combined with lightning cause more damage to the monsters?”
“Hmm, fire and lightning…”
“Oh, right! That’s a good idea. We’ve seen combinations of fire and wind, water and lightning many times, but the combination of fire and lightning is a bit unfamiliar. I think it could work well?”
Lee Cheol-min looked at Sa Hae-geon as if looking at his grown son and smiled contentedly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
