The restaurant was packed, with both the parking lot and the inside full of people. It was a sunny Sunday, and many people had come for hiking. Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan waited for about 10 minutes behind middle-aged people in colorful hiking gear before being let inside. Kwon Jihan used his disguise item, Pierce, along with another item that blurred his presence, so no one recognized him.
They were seated at a small, secluded table that barely fit two people. The space between tables was tight, making it uncomfortable for the person sitting outside, but Kwon Jihan graciously offered the inner seat to Yoon Seo. Even though Kwon Jihan was larger than Yoon Seo, he wasn't overly bulky—slim but well-built—so he managed to sit comfortably in the outer seat.
The staff didn't bring a menu. It was the kind of place where you had to look at the menu on the wall and order yourself.
"What are you going to eat?"
"The same as you, hyung."
"I'll keep it simple for now."
"Sure."
Yoon Seo raised his hand to call a staff member. They brought water and side dishes, brusquely saying, "Order when you're ready."
"Four portions of boiled chicken, acorn jelly, green onion pancake, mushroom pancake, two vegetable bibimbap, and four bowls of rice, please."
"Sorry, what?"
The staff member hurriedly pulled out a notepad and pen. Yoon Seo repeated the order.
"Four servings of chicken, two servings of duck, acorn jelly, green onion pancake, mushroom pancake, two vegetable bibimbap, and four bowls of rice."
The order had subtly increased. The staff member quickly scribbled down the order, glancing at the table.
"How many people? Should I move you to a bigger table?"
"We're fine. It's just the two of us."
"You're saying the two of you are going to eat all of that…?"
The staff asked in surprise. Yoon Seo, used to this kind of reaction, calmly replied, "Yes." The staff clapped their hands in realization.
"Are you food streamers or something? Is our restaurant going to be on YouTube now? Wait, where's the camera? You should start filming from the order! You must be beginners. Oh no, my hair must be a mess. Are you going to interview the owner? He's not here right now, but I can fill in!"
After a long and exhausting explanation that they were not streamers, just big eaters, the staff finally went back to the kitchen. Yoon Seo, exhausted and hungry, sighed.
"Hyung, this place is famous for its seasoned vegetables. Try some."
On the table, water, spoons, and chopsticks were already set up. Kwon Jihan had prepared it while Yoon Seo was ordering. Yoon Seo picked up three types of seasoned vegetables with his chopsticks and tasted them. They were savory and salty—truly delicious.
"So, hyung, is that why you've taken up all these hobbies? To fulfill the last wishes of the dead?"
Cough, cough.
Yoon Seo cleared his throat. Kwon Jihan, who had a knack for catching people off guard and hitting the mark, looked more like a villain than a nice guy.
"This doesn't seem like the right place for that kind of conversation."
"It's fine. Everyone's too busy talking about their own stuff, and it's noisy, so no one's going to hear us. And even if we went somewhere else, you wouldn't tell me anyway."
"No, even with your disguise, people are still paying attention to you because you're a handsome and well-built guy. Haven't you noticed the glances from the tables at eleven o'clock, two o'clock, and eight o'clock?"
"Ah, right. I'm just too handsome. Alright then, I'll make sure they can't hear us."
Kwon Jihan let out a small laugh as he activated the item. It was similar to the one Park Soobin had used the day before, an item that made their conversation inaudible to others.
Once the item was activated, Kwon Jihan placed both his arms on the table and spoke.
"So, let's hear it. The reason for all your numerous hobbies wasn't because you have multiple personalities, but because you're fulfilling the last wishes of the Revengers before they died, right?"
"That's correct."
Yoon Seo casually confirmed. On the way down from the mountain, he had run simulations in his mind of what questions Kwon Jihan might ask, and after much thought, he decided to stop trying to deceive an S-class Awakened with evolved traits. Trying to fool someone with heightened senses would only make things more suspicious.
'Fulfilling their last wishes isn't something unethical. As a surviving comrade, it's the least I can do. It would be stranger to hide it.'
With that reasoning, Yoon Seo chose to admit it openly. However, he knew that the sharp Kwon Jihan might catch on to the fact that he intended to die after fulfilling all the last wishes, so he decided to mix in a bit of a lie.
"I started these hobbies to fulfill the Revengers' wishes, but they've now become my own hobbies. I'm grateful because they've enriched my life."
"They've enriched your life, but you stopped after knitting 100 pieces and hiking only 10 mountains?"
"I said I'd stop, but who knows? I might start knitting or hiking again someday. You might have a hobby you thought you were done with but later wanted to take up again. Or food you swore off but craved later on. Come to think of it, I'm curious—what's your favorite food?"
"Hyung, don't try to change the subject by asking something you're not really curious about. Just be honest."
"Why, Kwon Jihan! Why do you always assume I'm not curious when I ask something?"
"Huh?"
"I'm genuinely curious. What are your hobbies? What's your favorite food? Why do you pry into my life while saying nothing about yourself?"
Frustrated by the repetitive conversation, Yoon Seo raised his voice slightly. Kwon Jihan blinked in surprise.
At that moment, the staff approached with a tray, pausing their conversation. The server placed more side dishes, sauce, green onion pancake, and bowls of rice in front of them, asking once again if they could really eat it all. Yoon Seo nodded, and the staff left again.
Kwon Jihan chuckled as he tore a piece of green onion pancake with his chopsticks.
"You were really curious all this time?"
"…"
"Alright, I'll answer. But you have to open up too. I'm sorry if it seems like I've been pushing for answers, but I feel a little anxious. If I don't ask now, I might not get another chance. We're close enough now to eat together just the two of us, so let's stop hiding things."
"I've already told you everything. What do you mean I'm hiding something?"
Kwon Jihan dipped the pancake into soy sauce and placed it on top of Yoon Seo's rice.
"Ah, right. You're ready to tell me everything now. How does it feel? Doesn't it feel better to get it all out?"
"…"
Yoon Seo didn't reply.
Talking about what happened in the Great Dungeon. Sharing how the Revengers had died and the final words they left behind.
Yoon Seo felt a weight lifting from his chest.
So, will it be easier if I lay bare these damn last wishes?
Those people left ridiculous final wishes, making me live in agony for ten years. Do you know how absurd those wishes were? Yoon Seo really wanted to be understood.
And Kwon Jihan wouldn't spread the stories around if he heard them. He's not that kind of bad person.
'Why does this feel so frustrating when it should be simple?'
Yoon Seo felt a pang in his chest and a headache coming on, so he pressed his temple with his fingers.
On a weekend afternoon, the hikers in colorful clothes were drinking makgeolli, getting tipsy, and chattering loudly. The staff were busily taking orders and clearing dishes. All the food they had ordered arrived at Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan's table. Due to the lack of space, another table was added, which Kwon Jihan helped with.
The hot steam rose from the samgyetang. With the glistening vegetables and rice of the mountain vegetable bibimbap and the crispy pancakes in front of him, Yoon Seo's nerves were on edge. He took out a bottle of medicine from his pocket, just as he was about to open it.
"Hyung, what time did you have breakfast?"
"Why do you ask that suddenly?"
"I'm just curious. I didn't eat, but you?"
"I ate at five."
"It's already one o'clock. It's been six hours."
"Yes."
"Think about it while you eat."
"Ha… will I even be able to eat?"
Kwon Jihan scooped some glistening rice with a spoon, tore a piece of the crispy pancake, and handed it to Yoon Seo. With his long arms, he let Yoon Seo smell it first, then nudged his lips, making Yoon Seo open his mouth.
Nom nom nom… As Yoon Seo chewed, he tried to open the medicine bottle again.
"Hyung, eat this too."
This time, Kwon Jihan offered acorn jelly. Yoon Seo's lips parted in pleasure. The acorn jelly was also nutty and delicious.
Yoon Seo put the medicine bottle back in his pocket and picked up a spoon instead. He took a big spoonful of rice first, then ate the acorn jelly and side dishes. Kwon Jihan smiled brightly.
"The samgyetang is really delicious. I'd like to know the recipe."
"Will I even be able to eat it?"
"True. It might not go down, but just tell me a little."
Kwon Jihan moved the samgyetang pot closer to Yoon Seo. Yoon Seo's chopsticks naturally reached for the samgyetang.
Ha, this is really troubling. What should I do…
Yoon Seo put a piece of chicken breast into his mouth with a troubled expression.
***
"I'm not hiding anything extraordinary. It's all in line with what I've been saying…"
After finishing their meal, they moved to a nearby café to continue their conversation.
Having relieved some of his frustration while eating, Yoon Seo decided to confide the truth to Kwon Jihan and put it into action.
"I am the executor of the Revengers' last wishes."
"Executor of the last wishes…"
Kwon Jihan repeated each word as if engraving it into his mind.
Yoon Seo glanced sideways, observing Kwon Jihan's expression.
He had shortened "I am fulfilling the Revengers' last wishes" to the more concise "executor of the last wishes," wondering if Kwon Jihan had understood. Since this was the first time he was revealing this to someone, he was a bit worried about the reaction, but Kwon Jihan's expression wasn't one of mockery. He looked serious and earnest.
"So that's what it was. That's why you said those things back then."
"What did I say?"
"When we were in the dungeon last time, when you were suffering from magic depletion, you said something like this."
'Are you thinking of leaving a last wish and then dying?'
'Try leaving a last wish. I'll kill you if you do.'
Hearing this, Yoon Seo remembered. He sighed, his shoulders drooping with fatigue.