Chapter 7
Jeok I-geon calmly ate his meal while I stood trembling before him.
As relief washed over me from the realization that I wasn’t about to die, I began to settle down.
But his composed demeanor made my blood boil.
Not that I could confront him about it—my place was to quietly serve his meals.
The thought of doing this four times a day was utterly depressing.
Back when I was a working professional, I was happy eating just two meals a day.
Here, three meals weren’t enough, and I even had to prepare a late-night snack.
It made sense, given that physical labor required constant nourishment, but it was a pain for someone on the serving end.
Doing laundry all day felt like a better deal.
Carrying the empty tray back to Jamigwan, I trudged along, my heart heavy with self-pity.
If I was already this drained on the first day, how would I survive two months?
Still, getting through breakfast unharmed was something to be grateful for.
I forced myself to think positively.
Negative thoughts harm both health and confidence.
After all, didn’t the ice water work?
Since I had a good start, maybe it was time to be a little bolder.
“There’s Seol-ha!”
“Seol-ha!”
Before I even entered Jamigwan, So-ok and the other maids swarmed around me.
“What did the Second Young Master say?”
“He ordered ice water? That’s a first! I mean, it’s the first time he’s ever requested anything from Jamigwan!”
“What does he want for lunch?”
“Did he mention craving anything else?”
All this fuss over a single glass of ice water.
Technically, Jeok I-geon hadn’t even done anything for me—instead, he’d made my life harder.
Yet seeing how thrilled they were reminded me that Jeok I-geon truly was exceptional.
Well, he is the protagonist, after all.
Suddenly, irritation surged within me.
Listening to their endless praises for Jeok I-geon made my stomach churn.
I felt like grabbing someone and spilling the truth about his real nature, but doing so might make me an outcast among the maids.
To be honest, it wasn’t clear anyone would even believe me.
Even after Jeok I-geon revealed his true colors in the future, speaking ill of him was impossible.
After all, life was precious to everyone.
And I would need Jamigwan’s support in the coming days.
For that reason, it was in my best interest to bait them with something they’d enjoy.
It looked like I’d have to put on a fake smile and spout empty flattery for the foreseeable future.
It wasn’t ideal, but survival required sacrifices.
So I decided to set aside my guilt and play along.
“Thank you so much for today. The Second Young Master was very pleased as soon as he tasted it.”
“Oh my! Did that taciturn man really say he was pleased?”
“Really?”
“Yes, he said it just like this: ‘Good.’”
I mimicked Jeok I-geon’s curt tone on purpose.
The reaction was immediate.
Squeals erupted all around me.
“We should’ve brought it to him earlier!”
“Ugh, I wish I could hear that voice, too!”
Was it really that great?
Suppressing a sigh, I added, “If possible, it might be nice to prepare ice water with every meal. But that’s probably difficult, isn’t it? Ice is so rare.”
“No way! Not at all!”
“Right, Seolbinggo has plenty of ice!”
“Hardly anyone even asks for it, so it should be fine.”
“This is a great chance to make the Seolbinggo staff do some actual work. They’ve been slacking off, and it’s been annoying me!”
Perfect. Ice water secured.
“How about noodles for lunch?”
“Noodles?”
“Yes, I think he’d enjoy something simple. If you add plenty of meat as a topping, it’ll make for an excellent meal.”
“Great idea! I’m putting my all into kneading the dough for noodles today!”
“I’ll handle the broth. I’ll simmer a whole chicken until it’s perfect!”
The culinary masters of Jamigwan rolled up their sleeves, their enthusiasm blazing like that of fanatical devotees.
Quietly escaping their fervor, I approached So-ok.
“So-ok, do you have any snacks to spare?”
“What? Did you skip breakfast because you were so focused on the Second Young Master? Wait a minute.”
Ah, the love of a good friend is unmatched.
Moments later, So-ok slipped a hefty bundle into my sleeve without anyone noticing.
I thanked her with a silent nod and made my way back to Geonyeong Pavilion.
By this time, Jeok I-geon and Cheon Gang were both reportedly training at the private martial grounds.
During this window, my primary duties were to clean any areas I hadn’t yet tackled or inspect the work done by other maids like Do-ae.
I had been ready to scold them if they used their sore arms as an excuse for sloppy work, but it seemed my earlier warning had sunk in.
Everything was spotless.
Though their glares toward me still carried some malice, I could tell they were genuinely wary of me now.
I remembered how Grandma warned me not to reveal my martial arts skills so easily.
But what could possibly happen?
Even thinking back, it was a situation I just couldn’t tolerate.
Still, I reminded myself that in the future, I should only respond to such provocations outside Geonyeong Pavilion.
After relaying a few instructions to the maids, I began heading back toward Jamigwan.
Until yesterday, the laundry yard had been both my workplace and my sanctuary. Passing by now felt strangely unfamiliar.
I would get used to it, though. From today, this would become the path I tread most often.
Jeok I-geon’s lunch had to be personally delivered to the training grounds.
According to the booklet given to me by Lady Gwak, Jeok I-geon had a habit of eating lunch slightly later than most, directly at the training grounds.
Training at dawn.
Training after breakfast.
Eating lunch while training.
Dinner after bathing.
And finally, reading some books before having a late-night snack and going to bed.
What a diligent man.
That was probably why he had reached such monstrous heights at such a young age.
Of course, the protagonist’s luck also brought him several serendipitous encounters.
I remembered reading about those encounters multiple times because they were so intriguing.
Would the same events unfold here?
The thought crossed my mind but quickly faded. It didn’t matter since I wouldn’t be here by then.
Whether Jeok I-geon gained those opportunities or not was none of my concern.
I planned to escape this Demonic Cult and flee far, far away.
“But what’s that sound?”
I was almost at the training grounds with the noodles when a loud, explosive sound filled the air, accompanied by vibrations strong enough to shake the ground.
“Oh no!”
Fearing the broth might spill, I instinctively stabilized myself using my internal energy technique to maintain balance.
“Could that have been…?”
My doubts disappeared the moment I entered the training grounds.
Jeok I-geon was practicing his sword forms.
From what I could see, he wasn’t using internal energy at all—only the raw power of his body.
Wow, is that even possible without internal energy?
I was completely awestruck.
His dazzling swordsmanship aside, the sheer focus radiating from him was nothing short of extraordinary.
It was the first time I had witnessed such an advanced martial art since coming to this world.
“Set the meal over there at the pavilion.”
I was completely spellbound.
“…Yes.”
Startled by the voice beside me, I finally snapped out of it.
I had been shamelessly staring at Jeok I-geon’s training.
Why did I keep getting myself into such reckless situations?
Feeling disgusted with myself, I gave a quick bow to Cheon Gang and hurriedly arranged the lunch on the pavilion table.
As if he had been waiting for his meal, Jeok I-geon sheathed his sword and climbed onto the pavilion.
Before uncovering the noodles, I poured him a glass of ice water.
He drank it down in one gulp without a word, as if he had already grown accustomed to it.
It seemed I wouldn’t hear another “Good” today.
What a cold-hearted man.
But I still had my ace up my sleeve.
When I lifted the cover from the noodles, I noticed Jeok I-geon pause slightly.
Heh, see that?
You didn’t expect this, did you?
In both Korea and here, noodles were the quintessential comfort food for commoners.
Born and raised as the Second Young Master of the Demonic Cult, Jeok I-geon only discovered noodles after unifying the martial world.
Until then, he probably hadn’t even known such a dish existed.
Despite being a psychopathic killer, his taste in food was simple.
After that first encounter, noodles became his go-to dish wherever he went.
If he hadn’t grown tired of them then, he’d surely like them now.
But before this unfamiliar dish, Jeok I-geon only stared at me again with those piercing eyes.
I would never get used to those terrifying eyes.
Lowering my gaze quickly, I began to explain.
“This is called chicken kalguksu. It’s made by simmering chicken to create a rich broth and slicing handmade dough into thin noodles to cook in it. While it may look plain, I believe you’ll find it suits your taste.”
Even with my polite explanation, his intense gaze didn’t waver.
Hiding my nervousness as best I could, I continued, “It’s also highly nutritious and excellent for stamina recovery. Given your rigorous training schedule, please think of it as a restorative meal.”
Now are you interested?
The mention of a restorative meal seemed to cause a faint flicker in his eyes.
I’d bet my life he’d finish the bowl and drink all the broth.
Once he tasted it, he wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it.
After a moment of hesitation, Jeok I-geon finally picked up his chopsticks.
The sound of noodles being eaten soon followed.
It wasn’t long before he picked up more, his chopsticks moving faster with each bite.
Before I knew it, he was slurping down the noodles with increasing enthusiasm.
Well, look at that.
He’s even slurping the noodles.
Watching him lift the bowl to drink the broth, I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.
Now you’re probably curious about what’s next, aren’t you?
There’s a saying that nothing beats winning someone over with food.
I wasn’t trying to seduce him or anything, but lunch was a success nonetheless.
“Maybe my life just got extended by a day or two.”
I sighed in relief and watched Jeok I-geon eat with a sly smile.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment