Chapter 82 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Bokbok Interiors' New Employee (2)
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"Even Dongwon went out of his way to ask the guy... but it doesn't look easy to find someone."
"An employee. Do we really have to hire one?"
Jang Chaewon bristled at the Heavenly Demon's words.
"You expect me to handle delivery requests on the phone, interior design quotes, greeting customers in the store, checking on construction sites—all by myself?"
"Can't you manage?"
"Of course not!"
Jang Chaewon stared at the Heavenly Demon with a weary face.
"Besides, most of the calls lately are dungeon material deliveries. At this rate, you'll have to switch careers from interior contractor to delivery boy."
"Hmm."
No helping it, then.
Just as the Heavenly Demon smacked his lips, Kim Chanwon walked into the shop covered head to toe in dust.
"Huh? You just got back from the dungeon?"
"What were you doing to end up that filthy?"
"What else? You were supposed to do the demolition, so I handled it instead."
"You, Kim? Really?"
When the Heavenly Demon gave him a puzzled look, Kim Chanwon replied with a fatigued expression.
"With you heading into dungeons so often, there's no one left to handle the demolition work."
"I see."
All three of them looked exhausted, their shoulders slumped.
Jang Chaewon and Kim Chanwon glanced at the clock and said in unison,
"How about a company dinner?"
"Where to?"
That was it. On a grueling day like today, drinks were just the thing.
"This lord..."
The Heavenly Demon tried to decline, but his opinion was naturally drowned out in the ensuing commotion.
Downtown bustle, food alley.
The Heavenly Demon's group had their fill of grilled pork belly and soju for once. Since they were in a crowded area full of ordinary people, they had left Nameless and Sparrow behind for the night.
"Ah, that hit the spot."
Jang Chaewon patted her belly as she stepped out of the pork belly joint. Kim Chanwon, picking at his teeth beside her, smacked his lips.
"Tell me about it. Days like this, you just gotta have a drink."
"Where to for round two? Somewhere quiet would be nice."
"How about that old No-byeong place we went to before? The booze there is killer, and the vibe's great."
"Isn't it a bit far? We'd need a cab from here."
"Nah, it's a quick walk. Twenty minutes tops."
Having overheard Kim Chanwon and Jang Chaewon, the Heavenly Demon settled it.
"No-byeong it is."
Without another word, the group left the bustling streets and strolled leisurely along.
"Huh?"
Jang Chaewon, leading the way, spotted twinkling lights in the distance and pointed.
"There's a street food stall over there. Looks nice."
Under the culvert, in the thickest patch of shadow, a cart glowed with a soft yellow light.
Tucked away on a remote road far from the downtown or residential areas, it was no wonder it hadn't caught their eye before.
"It's been ages since we hit a pocha. What do you think?"
At Jang Chaewon's suggestion, the Heavenly Demon and Kim Chanwon turned their heads in unison.
The rundown exterior of the cart, bathed in warm yellow light.
A cold breeze swept through the street, carrying the flapping sound of the cart's awning.
"Keu, nice. It's got that irresistible vibe that demands another round."
Seeking agreement, Kim Chanwon grinned. The Heavenly Demon slowly nodded.
Inside the cart, they saw a table laden with side dishes, where the owner stood prepping ingredients.
"Welcome."
Instead of the plump middle-aged woman one might expect, a young woman stood there.
Early twenties, maybe?
Her tanned skin and gray-tinted contacts gave her mysterious eyes.
With her round short bob and exotic features, she looked less like a street cart owner and more like a surfer who'd just come from riding waves.
"What can I get... Gasp!"
The woman glanced casually at the Heavenly Demon and let out a strange gasp.
"Th-the face is a bit rough, huh? But he's harmless."
As Jang Chaewon laughed and pointed at the Heavenly Demon's face in jest,
"Heh heh heh, what a unique fellow."
Suddenly, Kim Chanwon burst into a hearty laugh and greeted the owner in an odd way.
"Must've been a tough choice, running a pocha like this."
"Is that so? You don't strike me as someone who went the ordinary route yourself, Elder."
Strange way of talking.
The owner spoke like a raw recruit straight out of boot camp, stiff and formal.
"Uh heh heh. That so?"
Jang Chaewon blinked as the odd exchange unfolded between them.
'Do they know each other? Their faces don't suggest it.'
Sensing Jang Chaewon's gaze, the owner smiled and gestured.
"Please, sit wherever you're comfortable."
The Heavenly Demon and his group took a corner table in the cart.
"What to order?"
Scanning the menu on the wall, Jang Chaewon pointed to a sign: 'Chef's Special, 20,000 won per person.'
"Um, what's the chef's special?"
"It's whatever side dishes I whip up from the fresh ingredients that come in that day."
The owner paused her precise chopping mid-motion to answer. Her movements were crisp, disciplined somehow.
"Then chef's special for three."
"Got it!"
Hot, steaming spicy stew. Golden-grilled skewers. Stir-fried spicy beef.
Even yukhoe and tangy salad—sides rarely seen at a pocha.
"Wow."
All this for 20,000 won a head?
Jang Chaewon gaped in surprise.
"They're so generous here."
She grabbed a spice-rubbed skewer, sauce glistening, and bit into it heartily.
Rich juices and charcoal aroma filled her mouth, sliding down her throat. She downed her shot of soju.
"Keu. That's the stuff."
Soju after a hard day's work always hit different.
As Jang Chaewon scarfed skewers and soju, the Heavenly Demon watched, his eyes gleaming intensely.
"Why are you staring like that?"
Jang Chaewon recoiled, and the Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes.
"You eat well."
"Yeah. I love these chicken skewers."
Her cheeks bulging as she chomped another, Jang Chaewon grinned. The Heavenly Demon said flatly,
"It's Donovan."
"Huh?"
"Donovan."
"What?"
"What the proprietor's eating."
The word Donovan hammered into her ears repeatedly. Jang Chaewon's eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
"It's a dungeon beast from the sewer dungeon. Ugly-looking thing, but strip off the blue hide, remove the white tendons, skewer it up..."
Before he finished, Jang Chaewon retched into the trash bin, spitting out her skewer.
"Say something beforehand!"
"I thought you knew."
"I told you last time too. I don't eat dungeon ingredients!"
The Heavenly Demon tilted his head at her fierce reaction.
"Strange. A proprietor like you not knowing dungeon ingredients?"
"I told you, I hate dungeons! You think I'd know what comes out of them?"
"But no need to spit out what you've already eaten."
"No way. I said I don't like it."
Kim Chanwon, sitting calmly beside them, blinked.
"Wait, dungeon ingredients?"
Dungeon ingredients were usually huge, so cheap. But tricky to prep and not that tasty, so they weren't popular.
In food-abundant Korea, dungeon dishes were often seen as weird gourmet stuff.
"Ah, sorry I didn't mention earlier. We use dungeon ingredients here, sourced affordably."
In the meantime, the owner set down a steaming plate of grilled fish.
"Mackerel rib grill and pork stir-fry. These are the only non-dungeon items. Apologies."
"Oh, no, it's my tastes that are picky..."
Jang Chaewon bowed awkwardly, but the owner bowed back.
"No, my fault for not saying so upfront."
Still that boot-camp bark, loud and rigid.
"Y-yes..."
Jang Chaewon smiled awkwardly at the owner's unique speech and picked at the mackerel ribs.
"Ugh."
The seasoning was off, and a fishy stench hit hard.
Forcing down the mackerel, she tried the pork stir-fry next.
"Eek."
Where it should be savory and nutty, a greasy stink wafted instead.
'Everything but the Donovan skewer tastes awful?'
Swallowing her shock, Jang Chaewon looked up to see Kim Chanwon wearing a dismayed expression. Clearly stunned by the bad food.
'That's why there are no customers.'
Now she got why this prime spot had no patrons. She hung her head.
The drinking went late into the night.
The food was bad, but the pocha vibe was cozy, and more importantly, the whole group were heavy drinkers.
Gulping soju in the cool night breeze, it was impossible not to overdo it.
"Kaa."
Jang Chaewon sighed after downing shots nonstop.
"Anyway, we need to hire another shop hand soon. Can't keep this up."
"Consider the head branch's scale. Adding subordinates won't be a burden?"
"Not subordinates—employees. I get your sentiment, but no more. We're on the verge of losing credibility."
That serious, huh.
In an instant, the Heavenly Demon's expression and mindset flipped like a pancake.
"Start recruiting tomorrow. This lord will assist."
"Chan, it's not that simple."
Kim Chanwon shook his head, soju glass in hand.
"Credibility aside, the jobs Manager Jang takes aren't for amateur solo delivery guys."
"Skilled people are everywhere."
"Sure, but would a skilled one work for a small outfit like Bokbok Interiors for a salary?"
The dungeon management team's requests ranged from F-grade to A-grade dungeon materials.
Handling them required at least 4th-grade Awakener skills—enough to make bank solo.
"Yeah. And we can't snag another pro like you, Kim Engineer."
Truth was, upper yokai were perfect for domain staff.
They knew the 'Laws of the World' well and could handle any job effortlessly.
"Well, no choice. In this economy, just having work is a blessing. Not losing a finger is lucky enough."
Jang Chaewon sighed deeply and refilled her glass.
"Wish we could find someone for part-time at least."
"Um..."
The owner, prepping ingredients, spoke up hesitantly.
"Any restrictions on qualifications or experience?"
"Huh?"
Jang Chaewon blinked wide-eyed, and the owner said stiffly,
"If part-time's okay, I'd like to apply."
"Really? Are you an Awakener?"
Bokbok Interiors traded with Earth Gods. Humans could work there fine.
Just, if unaware of the 'Laws of the World,' they'd forget domain work memories upon quitting.
"No."
To Jang Chaewon's question, the owner looked sheepish.
"Actually... I'm a yokai."
"Huh?"
As Jang Chaewon gaped, Kim Chanwon mid-shot said,
"You're Illusion Shock Clan, handlers of Divine Soldier Knights. Right?"
"Correct. And you're Wind Spirit Clan, wielder of winds, Elder."
"Illusion Shock Clan?"
Jang Chaewon blinked.
Illusion Shock Clan. Alongside Wind Spirit Clan, among yokai with immense power.
Especially Illusion Shocks: they split their bodies via mental force, creating Divine Soldier Knights with identical powers.
'That explains it.'
Now Jang Chaewon understood their weird greeting.
Upper yokai Wind Spirit and Illusion Shock had recognized each other at a glance.
"But why... run a pocha?"
Illusion Shocks were typically arrogant, eyes above all.
So why was this haughty upper yokai slinging street food?
Guessing her thought, the woman grinned at Kim Chanwon.
"Even Wind Spirits and humans do the dirty jobs no one wants."
Rude words, but knowing Illusion Shock arrogance, Kim Chanwon was unfazed.
Unlike average yokai, he viewed humans warmly. Jang Chaewon knew his circumstances led him to knight work.
Maybe her too?
"Allow a proper introduction."
As Jang Chaewon stood speechless, the owner stood at attention.
"Illusion Shock Clan, Go Eunjin. Adult."
Pure yokai matured around three, aging glacially compared to humans.
Thus, yokai rarely revealed ages—risking being called brat or fossil.
"Nice to meet you."
Well aware, Jang Chaewon smiled and shook her offered hand.
"Jang Chaewon, running 8th-grade domain Bokbok Interiors."
"So you are the domain lord."
"Huh?"
"With a Wind Spirit Elder and a human of your caliber on staff."
Meanwhile, the silent Heavenly Demon rose, munching yukhoe.
"Hmm."
He began scrutinizing the ingredient crates before owner Go Eunjin.
"Heavenly Demon, what're you doing?"
"So it was you after all."
"What're you talking about?"
To Jang Chaewon's question, the Heavenly Demon irritably pointed at the displayed meat chunks.
"This is black wolf meat. From the one this lord smashed recently."
"What?"
"The one tailing this lord in the dungeon—it was you."
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