~Chapter 10~
My Name is Arte
Irael had often heard people say things like this growing up:
“You eat so joyfully!”
“Just watching you eat makes me hungry.”
“How can you make food look that good? I just ate, but now I’m starving again.”
When it came to eating, Irael was sincere.
Eating something delicious was the happiest, most joyful thing in the world to her.
But that didn’t mean she sought out high-end gourmet dishes like a food critic.
She simply enjoyed eating good food—especially the kind you encounter in daily life.
From Korean home cooking and street food to Japanese dishes like tonkatsu and ramen, to Western-style pasta and steak, and even common Chinese and Southeast Asian meals—she loved it all.
That didn’t mean she had a dull palate.
She just didn’t go to bad restaurants.
Especially after returning from the Field, where she’d had to eat bland food for days, her cravings kicked into overdrive. She needed real satisfaction.
And yet… there she was, eating egg rice at her mother’s request.
The first spoonful she forced down.
Who would have guessed?
“Hm?”
A hum of surprise escaped her lips, and then she found herself scarfing it down without thought.
Chomp. Gulp.
Chomp. Gulp.
Irael scooped up big spoonfuls of egg rice and closed her cherry-red lips around each bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing.
At first, the other diners in the restaurant glanced at her beauty.
But once she began to eat, they couldn’t take their eyes off her.
She looked so blissful, and the egg rice looked so delicious.
Eventually, the crowd stopped admiring her face and started craving what she was eating.
One person couldn’t hold back any longer.
“I’ll have an egg rice too, please!”
That sparked a domino effect.
“Should we order one and share it?”
“Let’s do it.”
“One egg rice, please!”
“Ma’am, I want one too!”
“Can I get one to go?”
Suddenly, orders poured in from all over the restaurant.
Excited, Jang Youngshim rushed the orders to the kitchen.
“Five egg rice orders, coming through~!”
Both Yoon Tae-an and Lee Seojin were stunned.
“What? F-five? I don’t get it.”
“…!”
Ignoring Yoon’s grumbling, Youngshim gave Seojin a cheerful fighting pose.
Ssszzzzt!
Snapping out of his daze, Seojin cracked more eggs into the pan.
“Egg rice can taste this good?”
“It’s never like this when I make it at home.”
“Honestly, it’s still just egg rice… but it’s cheap, filling, and comes with a ton of ham. Great value.”
“Next time I’m ordering it again. Might try it with spicy stir-fried squid.”
“What’s in this egg rice?”
At the counter, owner Jo Sangman watched the growing excitement with satisfaction.
His instincts were spot-on.
Egg rice cost next to nothing to make, so every sale meant more profit.
And with the low price, customers could order something else and add an egg rice to share—just like this.
“Boss, check please!”
“Sure~ That’s 25,000 won.”
‘Seojin really is a lucky charm.’
Sangman grinned ear to ear as he helped the customers.
“I’m heading out first~”
The shift ended, and after tidying up the dining hall, Youngshim was the first to leave.
On her way to the bus stop, her phone rang.
“You always call the second I finish work.”
—“Mom, did you guys always sell egg rice?”
“Nope. Started today.”
—“Why didn’t they sell it before? It was so good.”
“Our kitchen boy made it.”
—“A boy? Not the head chef?”
“Yup.”
At home, she always referred to Yoon Tae-an as “the rude chef” and Seojin as “the kitchen boy.”
“How does it compare to that spicy pork bowl I brought before?”
That spicy pork dish, made by Yoon, was the restaurant’s best-selling item.
Without hesitation, Irael replied:
—“Egg rice.”
“That good?”
—“Sorry to the chef, but the pork bowl was ordinary. Not bad, but nothing special. The egg rice, though—it was unique.”
“Honestly, I felt the same. That’s why I told you to come eat it.”
—“Why didn’t you just bring it home like last time?”
“Egg rice doesn’t keep. Once it cools, it’s over. Even microwaving it ruins the flavor.”
—“Ah, true.”
“No Field work today, right? You’re off?”
—“Unless something urgent comes up.”
“Good, good. Ah—my bus is here. See you at home~”
Youngshim ended the call and slumped into her seat on the bus.
Through the window, she watched the street pass by—including the restaurant, Onjeong Korean Cuisine.
Just then, she spotted Seojin stepping out the front door, done for the day.
‘That guy really has talent.’
She couldn’t help but think—if not for his disability, he could’ve made a name for himself in the restaurant world.
Back home, Lee Seojin changed into his Field gear and made his way to the Safe Zone.
Now, just the thought of entering the Field made his heart race.
Bzzt—
As he neared the entrance, his phone buzzed.
It was Seorina.
“Hello, Rina.”
—“Oppa, are you going to the Field today?”
He still wasn’t used to her calling him oppa, but he didn’t show it.
“I’m on my way.”
—“Need more plates?”
“Plates are fine. But I could use containers for steamed egg, and maybe some chopsticks and spoons. Think you can make them?”
—“Steamed egg containers should be fine. But utensils are tough—stone carving is too tricky for me. Wood’s possible, but it’s toxic here.”
“I see. Then just the containers will be a huge help.”
—“Okay! Meet me at the Fire Rabbit habitat in about an hour!”
“Got it.”
Just as the call ended, Seojin stepped through the Safe Zone and entered the Field.
He immediately swept up all the pig-nosed lizard eggs and nearby vegetables as he headed toward the Fire Rabbit habitat.
He even managed to collect three lizard tails on the way.
Though he had the “Sprint” skill, it only worked three times a day—so catching more than three lizards was nearly impossible.
Once again, he noticed their numbers had dropped.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it and moved along.
Not long after he left that area…
Something massive emerged from the underbrush.
It looked like a pig-nosed lizard, but at least ten times larger.
Floating above its head was a name:
[Pig-Nosed Lizard Queen]
She stared after Seojin’s retreating figure and muttered:
—“Because of that egg thief, my children can’t hatch. If he returns, I will not let him live.”
Then her gaze caught something rustling in the bushes.
A tiny monster made entirely of crystal.
Her long tongue whipped out and ensnared it.
Crunch! Crunch!
The Lizard Queen chewed it to pieces before disappearing back into the forest.
Back in the Fire Rabbit habitat, low-rank Hunters were busy hunting.
In the Field, skills leveled up through use.
Though most low-level skills didn’t evolve dramatically, rare breakthroughs did happen.
The Hunters pounding on rabbits with random skills were all hoping for a lucky upgrade.
They were also Seojin’s customers.
He positioned himself in a noticeable spot and prepared to shout—
“…”
—but as usual, he hesitated.
“Hey! Aren’t you the guy from yesterday selling food?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Are you selling again today?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll take two of everything—fried eggs, omelets, lizard tails!”
Seojin smiled and handed over the food.
Satisfied, the man walked away.
And then…
A shocking sight.
A long line of Hunters began to form.
Another woman in line grinned.
“That weird mask gave it away. I hoped it was you! I’ll take two of everything too!”
Seojin finally realized what was happening.
To hide his identity, he’d cut a sleeve and poked holes for his eyes, nose, and mouth.
It looked so strange, no one could forget it.
That bizarre look had made him easy to recognize.
Ironically, it helped his business.
In under thirty minutes, he sold out of all his food.
‘Should I go gather more eggs?’
Just as he turned to head back, a familiar voice called out:
“Fried egg guy, right?!”
It was No Minwoo, Seojin’s first ever customer in the Field.
“Yes. Hello.”
“Finally! Why aren’t you in the Safe Zone anymore?”
“Too few people. It was hard to sell.”
“You’re selling here now?!”
“Yes.”
“You’re… sold out, aren’t you?”
Seojin nodded, and Minwoo staggered dramatically.
“Damn… you’re a celebrity now.”
He had hoped Seojin would remain his secret chef, but that was unrealistic.
You can’t hide a sharp blade in a sack forever.
“Now it’s gonna be tough getting your food.”
“Sorry.”
“By the way, we never exchanged names. I’m No Minwoo.”
“Ah, I’m…”
Seojin hesitated.
He didn’t want his real identity exposed.
“Just call me Arte.”
In Spanish, Arte culinario means “the culinary arts.”
He’d once looked up food-related words in different languages out of curiosity.
Now, one of those terms had popped into his head as the perfect alias.
“Okay, Arte it is.”
Minwoo didn’t pry. He wasn’t the curious type.
“So nothing left to eat?”
“I have raw eggs. They’re edible.”
“Raw eggs, huh…”
Minwoo hesitated.
Better than nothing, but he wanted something cooked.
“How many do you have?”
But Seojin didn’t answer.
He was staring off into the distance.
“What is it?”
“Over there… what is that?”
Minwoo turned to follow Seojin’s pointing finger.
