NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Dungeon Food Truck Owner – Chapter 17
“Oh my, this is unbelievable.”
In just one hour, it would mark a month since Ji-eun awakened.
The place she entered for her final operation was the second-floor dungeon that she had longed for.
[Valley of Despair] Zone 3.
After checking the information, it turned out to be a location quite close to the entrance on the second floor.
The Valley of Despair, Zones 1 to 3, was a major dungeon for awakened individuals at levels 20 to 30.
Monsters popping out from narrow mountain paths could be quite troublesome, but since it was the entrance to the second floor, it was naturally frequented by hunters.
“Look, Kamang! I said I’d come one last time!”
“Of course! There will definitely be more people here than in the third-floor dungeon, where the difficulty spikes significantly at level 50!”
Level 50. This was a threshold that only high-ranking hunters, classified as A-rank or above, could achieve based on their chosen traits and abilities.
To reach level 50 from level 1 without the assistance of any awakening limitations required over ten years of consistent training.
Surpassing the limits of given abilities to ascend to the next level.
Very few managed to break through the wall from being an average mid-tier hunter to a high-ranking one.
Therefore, naturally, the main customer base targeted by her was not high-level hunters above A-class, but the numerous awakened people below them.
In the Hunter world’s pyramid-structured hierarchy, the ones with the greatest numbers were the B-class Awakened in their level 40s and the C-class Awakened in their level 30s.
While the name Valley of Despair sounded somewhat ominous, just stepping slightly into the area would reveal dense coniferous trees, common in many mountains.
“Ah, the fresh air of the second floor.”
A month after awakening, there have been quite a few changes to Ji-eun’s food truck, which had been waiting for customers who never came.
First off, the blackboard-shaped sign that had sparked my awakening when I wrote the store name on the very first day I got the food truck has made a comeback.
There’s also a menu board now with “Today’s Recommended Dish!” scribbled in chalk, along with a sign that says “[Ji-Eun].”
Having traveled through various dungeons, Ji-eun set up a canopy to protect against the harsh sunlight or rain.
After spending a significant amount of money on the canopy that shielded against sunlight and blocked rain or snow, she hung the menu board on it.
The menu board was essential so that customers could see the options without needing to ask directly.
Today’s menu included a freshly fried cheese tonkatsu set and a simple tonkatsu rice bowl.
After pounding the tonkatsu meat flat since morning, her arms still felt shaky, but the muscle soreness was quickly forgotten in the excitement of being on the second floor for the first time.
She took out the stainless steel containers filled with breadcrumbs and flour, along with eggs and tonkatsu meat from the showcase.
As it was her last operation of the day, the pork loin, seasoned with salt and pepper, was wrapped up with the square mozzarella cheese she had prepped.
Once the tonkatsu meat was laid out on the counter, the preparation for the cheese tonkatsu set was complete.
Next, she needed to prepare the other menu item, the tonkatsu rice bowl (katsudon).
The large pork loin, which had been marinated with flour, came out of the refrigerator.
After dipping it in egg wash and coating it with breadcrumbs, it could be quickly fried to make the basic tonkatsu for the rice bowl.
The sauce she had made at the start of the day for the tonkatsu rice bowl was also filled in a sauce container.
The teriyaki sauce, with onions and green onions perfectly simmered, was delicious enough to drizzle over rice.
Now, she was fully prepared to welcome customers for her last operation, wrapping up the month.
Though she wondered if there would be any customers in this clearing located halfway up the mountain, Ji-eun couldn’t hide her excitement as she neatly arranged the dishes.
During this time, Kamang perked up his ears, sensing something, and jumped up from his seat next to the cash register, and shouted.
“Really?”
Thud. Thud.
The distinct sounds of human footsteps were different from the presence of monsters. As the sounds drew closer, she could hear the clinking of metal, suggesting someone was wearing heavy armor.
Seeing Kamang nodding, confirming it was definitely a person, Ji-eun couldn’t contain her curiosity and leaned out of the truck to look around.
The owner of the footsteps met her gaze directly.
“It’s really a truck?”
“Are you a customer? Would you like to try our delicious tonkatsu set or a simple tonkatsu rice bowl?”
“Am I… dreaming right now?”
“No, you’re not. This is a real food truck, not an illusion! It’s getting late; are you alone? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Hungry, you say?”
With the arrival of her second customer, the first since meeting Song Joo-hyuk on the fourth floor, Ji-eun’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she gestured for him to come closer.
The man, looking as if he were entranced by an illusionary monster, slowly walked up to the counter.
“Just look at the menu board hanging here and choose your dish! The prices are listed next to it, so you can refer to that. Payment is in advance! I’ll help you pay with Hunter Market points!”
“Uh… um, this is really a food truck, right? I’ve only heard rumors about it.
“Rumors? What rumors?”
“Never mind, I’ll order one tonkatsu rice bowl. I’ve been wanting to try it.”
“Okay, I’ll help you with the payment!”
As she pressed the menu item on her class-exclusive item [Error-Free Card Reader], the price was automatically entered.
[Incredibly Delicious Tonkatsu Rice Bowl!]
Payment method: Hunter Market Points 6,000
After entering the ID the man provided, an alert confirmed that the payment was completed, and Ji-eun’s Hunter Market points increased by exactly 6,000.
“I’ll bring out the chairs and table. Please wait a moment!”
Excitedly, Ji-eun pulled out the table and chairs from the truck’s cargo area and set them up right in front of the counter.
Pointing to the chairs while patting them a couple of times with her palm, Ji-eun encouraged the man to sit down, and he reluctantly complied.
Seeing him settle into the chair, Ji-eun dashed back behind the counter and immediately began preparing the tonkatsu rice bowl.
After washing her hands thoroughly once more, Ji-eun raised the thick pork loin for the tonkatsu rice bowl, coating it evenly with flour. Before dipping it in the egg wash, she turned up the gas flame to quickly heat the oil in the frying pot.
As the preheated oil intensified, bubbles began to rise rapidly within the pot.
Once she confirmed this, Ji-eun carefully coated the floured pork loin with the egg wash, removing the egg whites, and then evenly coated it with breadcrumbs for that crispy texture.
Once the breadcrumbs were evenly applied to the surface of the pork loin, Ji-eun dropped a bit of breadcrumb into the oil to check the temperature.
The breadcrumbs sizzled and floated to the surface, signaling that the oil was at the perfect temperature.
Using long wooden chopsticks, she carefully placed the breaded pork loin into the bubbling oil.
When making Japanese-style tonkatsu, which is thicker and fills the mouth more than Western-style tonkatsu, it’s crucial to fry it until the coating is crispy without burning.
Once the tonkatsu was perfectly fried with a crispy coating and fluffy inside, she placed it on a kitchen towel to drain the excess oil before cutting it with a knife.
Crisp!
The sound of the crispy coating echoed as she cut the thick tonkatsu into even pieces on the cutting board.
After slicing all the freshly fried tonkatsu, Ji-eun took out a larger bowl for the rice than usual.
She scooped a round mound of rice in the center and drizzled the sauce over it, allowing it to soak into the rice, creating a small space for the yolk.
Placing the sliced tonkatsu on top, she gently drizzled more sauce over it.
Carefully placing the plump yolk into the reserved space without breaking it, she garnished it with chopped green onions, completing the tonkatsu rice bowl.
Alongside the rice bowl, a miso soup was prepared, creating a fulfilling meal for just 6,000 won.
“Thank you for waiting! Enjoy your meal!”
“Wow…”
The customer, who had been watching the entire process in disbelief, looked down at the tonkatsu rice bowl set before him and shook his head in amazement.
A person who looked barely in their twenties or nineteen was moving her hands so diligently to prepare the food that he lost track of time watching her cook. Fixated on the delicious aroma wafting from the rice bowl, the man picked up his chopsticks, seemingly resolved.
The tonkatsu sauce, with a hint of minced garlic, coated the thick piece of tonkatsu, which remained crispy despite the sauce being drizzled on it. The man dipped it into the sauce and took a big bite.
Crisp!
“This is really delicious!”
With a delightful crunch filling his mouth, the man’s eyes widened in surprise as he savored the tender meat.
Ji-eun, who had been a bit nervous, smiled warmly as she watched the customer, now holding a spoon in one hand and the rice bowl in the other, eagerly enjoying the dish she had made.
She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so fulfilled. This was the feeling she had sought by consistently entering the dungeon.
“Take your time! Would you like a cola?”
“Yes, please. It’s so delicious!”
“Enjoy it slowly with the soup!”
“Thank you!”
Watching the customer scoop up sweet and sour onions with rice and crispy tonkatsu, then gulp down the refreshing cola, Ji-eun felt an overwhelming joy welling up inside her.
“I’m so glad… This feels amazing.”