~Chapter 4~
Lee Seojin’s Egg Rice
The government purchases monster loot brought back by Hunters at fair prices based on grade.
Though practical uses for this loot were still lacking, research was ongoing. Hunters often grumbled about the brutal environment in the Field, and improving it required continuous study—monster loot being essential for that.
As a result, such loot could be traded at decent prices, even serving as currency within the Field.
The man eyeing Lee Seojin’s fried egg was No Minwoo, a Hunter who had awakened an E-rank skill just a month ago and worked as a porter. Today, he had just finished a raid with other Hunters in a low-level dungeon.
While the rest of his party stayed to hunt more, Minwoo had to return—porters weren’t allowed to remain alone in the Field, as the risk of encountering dangerous monsters was too great.
He was about to head back when his stomach roared.
Growl~
“Ugh.”
Minwoo had not eaten anything all day. Processed monster meat was disgusting to him. This was a phase every new Hunter went through—until you built experience, it was hard to stomach the stuff.
He had expected the low-level dungeon to be quick, but its complex layout meant they spent the whole day clearing it. He was now starving.
He longed for a warm bowl of soup and a drink back in reality.
That’s when he caught a delicious smell.
Sniff sniff!
Minwoo’s awakened skill was Enhanced Smell—he could detect every scent within ten meters. From monster poop to puddles, scent told him everything. He could even tell a monster’s type just by its droppings. A useful skill for survival.
Thanks to this, he immediately picked up on the mouthwatering smell from Seojin.
Starving, Minwoo rushed over.
“Is that… fried egg?”
Seojin replied yes—and even added it was made from pig-nosed lizard eggs.
Had Minwoo been full, he might’ve passed in disgust. But now, it was a matter of survival. The smell of fried egg while hungry was irresistible.
His reason briefly shut down.
“Hey! Would you sell me that fried egg?”
“Uh… I don’t mind, but you can’t really pay with money here, right?”
“No one uses cash here. Take this.”
He pulled out a Giant Ant tooth—loot worth about 5,000 won back on Earth.
It may seem excessive for one egg, but if the egg tasted good, it was worth it. Real food in the Field was a luxury.
Seojin stared blankly, then opened his inventory.
‘As expected.’
The seasoning salt he used when frying the egg at home had been stored separately.
He quickly activated his new skill:
[Seasoning!]
Salt sprinkled perfectly across the egg.
“Here.”
Seojin handed over the seasoned fried egg and took the Giant Ant tooth.
Minwoo sniffed it again, still suspicious.
“You’ve eaten this before?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“I even made egg rice with it. If you don’t like it, give it back. I’ll refund you.”
Minwoo shoved the egg into his mouth without hesitation. Hygiene wasn’t even a thought.
Chew chew. Gulp.
“Huh?”
He had just hit the jackpot.
It was delicious. Incredibly so.
The pig-nosed lizard egg was shockingly tasty—his earlier suspicion seemed ridiculous now.
“This is salty and flavorful! Are you sure this is from a lizard egg?”
“Yes.”
“But why…”
Why was it this good?
No Hunter had ever made such a tasty fried egg from monster eggs.
Was there even such a good fried egg on Earth?
This was a Field revolution.
“How did you make this?”
Normally indifferent to others, Minwoo couldn’t help but ask.
Seojin answered casually, “Fried it in oil in a pan.”
“…What?”
“Oh, and I used flavor salt…”
“That’s not what I meant! …Never mind. I wouldn’t tell either if I were you.”
“…?”
Seojin tilted his head. He sometimes took people’s words too literally.
Minwoo was looking for a cooking secret—Seojin had just explained basic frying.
So Minwoo assumed he was hiding the real method.
“Do you have more?”
“Yes. Nine.”
“I’ll buy them all.”
Minwoo opened his inventory and looked for more Giant Ant teeth.
‘Only eight?’
He glanced at Seojin, thinking about bargaining. But Seojin’s honest eyes made him abandon that thought.
‘It’s a bit much, but oh well.’
He took out something else—a bigger, reddish item that sparkled like a jewel.
“The Queen Giant Ant’s tooth. You know this sells for 100,000 won each, right?”
Seojin had done basic research and knew.
“Yes.”
“Take it, and give me the rest.”
Seojin seasoned the remaining eggs and completed the trade.
Chew chew. “When are you coming back to the Field?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you usually come at this time?”
Since he came after his restaurant job, that was likely.
“Yes.”
“Got it. Take care.”
Minwoo vanished from the Field.
Seojin stared at the red tooth in his hand.
“…I sold it. My cooking.”
A faint smile formed on his lips.
His lifelong dream was to open his own restaurant and serve food.
He had thought the dream was lost after being scammed—but now, it felt possible again. In the Field.
And he had just made a hefty profit—105,000 won for ten fried eggs.
Though Seojin wasn’t greedy, with only 270,000 won left to his name, every bit counted.
With joy in his heart, he exited the Field.
* * *
Only half a year had passed since the Field opened, and the world had yet to catch up.
There were still no official ways to identify Awakened versus normal people.
Outside the Field, Awakened were no different—except for one thing: the inventory, which still worked.
Selling loot to the government required official registration. The government verified each skill before issuing ranks and assignments.
But not all Awakened liked this interference.
So a system of agents emerged—people who sold loot on behalf of unregistered Awakened for a 20% fee.
Not wanting hassle, Seojin hadn’t registered either.
The next day, he met such an agent.
Thanks to the thriving online community, it wasn’t hard to find one.
He handed over the two items from Minwoo.
“Giant Ant tooth and Queen’s tooth. That’s 105,000 won. After 20%, you get 84,000. Sound right?”
The agent, Seo Rina, was a petite woman who showed her phone’s calculator.
“Yes.”
She handed him the cash.
“You know we only deal in cash—bank transfers leave traces.”
“Yes.”
They completed the deal quickly in a back alley near Seojin’s home.
“Later then! Contact me anytime~”
Rina waved as she walked off.
Seojin looked at the cash in his hand and smiled.
He had sold food from the Field—for real money.
That joy was bigger than the profit.
He wanted to fry more eggs and head right back—but it was already past 10 p.m.
He needed sleep to function at work tomorrow.
Some might say, “Just quit the restaurant and cook in the Field!” But Seojin was still unsure. It was too soon to take that risk.
Back home, he washed up and went to bed, heart fluttering with thoughts of returning to the Field tomorrow.
* * *
“…You seem happy today.”
The next day at work, Yoo Tae-an asked Seojin.
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling? Did you win the lottery?”
“No.”
“Stick to your usual self. When people act out of character, something’s up.”
Normally, this would’ve annoyed Seojin—but today, he felt serene. Selling food in the Field had brought peace to his heart.
No reaction from Seojin meant Tae-an lost interest quickly.
Around 10:30, the restaurant owner, Jo Sang-man, popped his head into the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m starving. Make me something simple.”
“Ah, can’t let our boss go hungry! I’ll cook you something right away. Please wait at the counter.”
Tae-an responded sweetly, winning a satisfied smile from Sang-man.
“Ugh, why now? We’re swamped,” Tae-an grumbled.
Sometimes, the boss requested food before opening hours, which was annoying.
“Seojin, you make his food today.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Make something simple. You’ve been here three months—it’s about time. Right?”
Seojin nodded as Tae-an resumed prep.
‘What should I make?’
Suddenly, he remembered the egg rice he made last night.
He discreetly pulled two pig-nosed lizard eggs from his inventory.
They had a richer taste than normal eggs—perfect for impressing the boss.
Sizzle—
He fried them sunny-side-up.
It looked simple, but perfectly cooking eggs like this—runny yolk, crispy edges—required real skill.
‘Perfect.’
He scooped warm rice into a bowl, added the egg, poured soy sauce and sesame oil, and mixed.
Tae-an, watching from the side, scoffed.
“Egg rice? Seriously? For the boss?”
“Yes.”
“Suit yourself. He’s gonna flip.”
Regardless, Seojin served the egg rice with kimchi to Sang-man.
The boss frowned.
“What’s this?”
“Soy sauce egg rice.”
Tae-an jumped in, trying to shift blame.
“I offered to cook, but Seojin insisted! I let him because he wanted to care for you. I’m sorry. Should I redo it?”
“Tch, forget it. We’re about to open.”
Sang-man scooped a big bite—and everyone braced for his scolding.
Even Jang Youngshim, tidying the hall, watched anxiously.
“……What is this?”
Everyone thought he’d throw the spoon.
But instead—
“This is… so good!”
His eyes sparkled with joy.
