With me trembling before him, Jeok Igeon ate his meal quite well.
Though I gradually calmed down from the relief of being alive, I couldn’t help but feel furious at his composed behavior. But it wasn’t my place to question him; quietly serving his meal was what I had to do. The fact that I had to do this four times a day was simply lamentable.
Back in my office worker days, I was happy eating just two meals a day. But here, three meals weren’t enough—I had to prepare even a late-night snack. I could somewhat understand it since his work involved physical labor, but from a working perspective, it was very bothersome. It was better when I could just do laundry all day.
My heart ached with pity for myself as I trudged back to the Hall of Lasting Glory carrying the empty dishes. If my energy was already drained like this on the first day, how would I endure two months? I already felt hopeless.
Still, at least I got through the morning safely.
I tried to force myself to think positively. Negative thinking harms your health and lowers your confidence. Didn’t even the ice water work? Since I got off to a good start, it wouldn’t be bad to try being a bit bolder.
“Look, Seolha’s coming!”
“Seolha!”
Before I could even enter, the maids, including Seolok, came rushing toward me in a crowd.
“What did the Second Young Lord say?”
“It’s the first time he’s ordered ice water! No, it’s the first time he’s ever requested anything from us!”
“What should we make for lunch?”
“Did he say he wanted anything else?”
Such a fuss over just one glass of ice water. When I thought about it, Jeok Igeon hadn’t really done anything for me. If anything, he’d been a bother. But seeing them all so happy about it, Jeok Igeon really was quite something. Well, that’s probably why he’s the protagonist.
Suddenly, irritation washed over me. Listening to them continue praising him was making me sick to my stomach. I felt like grabbing someone and ranting about his true nature, but if I did that, I might be branded a traitor.
Honestly, I doubted they’d even believe me. Badmouthing him would be impossible even after he revealed his true nature later. Life is precious to everyone, after all. And I absolutely needed the maids' help going forward. For that reason alone, it would benefit me to throw them some bait they’d like.
“Thank you so much today. The Second Young Lord was very pleased as soon as he drank it.”
“Oh my! That taciturn man actually said he liked it?”
“Really?”
“Yes, he said exactly this: ‘Good.’”
I deliberately imitated Jeok Igeon’s blunt way of speaking. Then squealing sounds came from all directions.
“We should have brought it to him ages ago!”
“Ugh, I want to hear that voice too!”
Are you that happy about it? I barely held back a sigh and added, “If possible, it would be good to have ice water prepared with his meals from now on… though that might be difficult, right? Ice is so precious, after all.”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“Right, there’s so much ice at the Ice Storage!”
“Hardly anyone asks for ice, so that much should be fine. This is a good chance to make the Ice Storage staff do some work. I was getting annoyed watching them just waste time anyway.”
Okay, so I’ve secured the ice water.
“How about noodles for lunch? Something simple?”
“Noodles?”
“Yes, he seemed to like noodle dishes. If we put plenty of meat as garnish, it would make an excellent meal.”
“Great! I’m staking my life on today’s noodle dough!”
“I’ll handle the broth. I’ll put in a whole chicken and simmer it thoroughly!”
The cooking masters rolled up their sleeves. Their eyes burning with enthusiasm felt like witnessing fanatics. I quietly slipped away from their fervor and approached Seolok.
“Seolok, do you happen to have any leftover snacks?”
“What? Seolha, did you skip breakfast because you were worried about the Second Young Lord? Geez, wait a moment.”
Fellow trainees’ love really is the best. Shortly after, Seolok secretly slipped a fairly heavy bundle into my sleeve. I conveyed my thanks with a look and returned to the Hall of Lasting Glory.
*****
I’d heard that Jeok Igeon and Cheongang trained individually at the private training ground during this time. My main tasks then were cleaning or checking the work done by Doae and the other maids. I’d planned to do a thorough cleanup if they’d done sloppy work, but whether my warning had worked, everyone had finished their work cleanly.
The venom hadn’t completely disappeared from their eyes when they looked at me, but I could definitely feel they were intimidated. My grandmother, Ms. Shin Geum, said I shouldn’t reveal my martial arts skills carelessly. Well, what could happen? Looking back, earlier was truly an unbearable situation.
After giving the maids a few instructions, I headed back toward the kitchen. Eok I-geon’s lunch was to be brought directly to the training ground by me. According to the booklet Madame Gwak gave me, he had a habit of eating lunch a bit later than others.
Training at dawn. Training after breakfast. Eating lunch while training. Dinner after bathing. Then reading, a late-night snack, and sleep—that was Jeok Igeon’s pattern.
Wasn’t he truly diligent? That’s probably how he reached such a monstrous level at such a young age. Of course, he also had a few fortuitous encounters thanks to his protagonist buff. I remember reading about those repeatedly. Would those same encounters happen this time? I immediately dismissed the thought. I wouldn’t be here then anyway. I was going to escape the Demon Cult and go far, far away.
“But what’s that sound?”
I’d almost reached the training ground carrying the noodles when a fierce sound of air being split echoed, and the ground shook as if there was an earthquake.
“Oh no, this won’t do!”
Afraid the broth would spill, I unconsciously circulated my internal energy cultivation method to maintain my balance.
My suspicion disappeared the moment I entered the training ground. Jeok Igeon was practicing sword techniques. At a glance, he wasn’t using any internal energy at all, unfolding his swordsmanship with purely physical strength.
Wow, that’s possible without internal energy?
I was truly overwhelmed. The dazzling sword techniques were impressive, but his focused demeanor was extraordinary. For me, this was the first proper high-level martial arts I had encountered since coming to the Central Plains.
“You can set the meal over there in the pavilion.”
I had been completely entranced.
“…Yes.”
At the sudden voice beside me, I startled and barely managed to collect myself. Of all things, I had been secretly watching his training. I bowed to Cheongang and hurriedly set up lunch in the pavilion.
As if he had been waiting, Jeok Igeon put down his sword and immediately climbed up to the pavilion. Before uncovering the noodles, I first poured a glass of ice water. He gulped it down without a word. It seemed his approval from earlier was a one-time thing.
Heartless bastard.
But I still had my trump card. When I uncovered the noodles, I could feel Jeok Igeon hesitate.
Hehe, look at that. You didn’t expect this, did you?
Jeok Igeon, who was born and raised as the noble Second Young Lord of the Demon Cult, only first ate noodles in the novel after unifying the Murim. Until then, he probably didn’t even know such a dish existed. Despite being a psychopath, his taste was simple, so he would order noodles first wherever he went afterward. Since he ate them tirelessly back then, he would surely like them now.
However, faced with this unfamiliar food, he once again just glared at me menacingly.
“This is a dish called chicken kalguksu. It’s made by simmering chicken for broth and boiling thinly sliced wheat flour dough. It may look unappetizing, but it will suit your taste.”
Even with my explanation, his sharp gaze didn’t soften.
“It’s nutritious, so it will help nourish your body. You train every single day without fail. Think of it as a kind of health food.”
Are you interested now? At the mention of health food, his pupils definitely wavered. I’d bet my neck that you’ll finish every noodle. After pondering, Jeok Igeon soon picked up his chopsticks. Then I heard the sound of him eating. The speed of his movements increased, and before I knew it, he was slurping the noodles.
Watching him lift the entire bowl and gulp down even the broth, a chuckle escaped me. Now you’re curious what the next dish will be, aren’t you? They say there’s no business like winning someone over with food.
‘My life has probably been extended by a day or two.’
I let out a sigh of relief while watching him eat with a scheming gaze.