Eddie headed to the convenience store in the basement. The store, which had moved back to Eddie’s basement as if it had been there all along, still maintained its neat condition.
Come to think of it, this is really an amazing benefit.
With that thought, Eddie casually browsed the ramen section.
Soup ramen? White broth? Gerold can’t eat spicy food. What would be good?
There were so many new products that an entire wall of the convenience store was devoted to ramen. While contemplating which to choose among the many spicy options catering to Korean spice pride, Eddie’s eyes fell on that particular ramen.
‘On Sunday~ I~’
The moment he saw the black packaging that automatically brought the commercial jingle to mind, he knew this was it.
For four adult men, eight packets would normally be more than enough, so two packages of four should suffice… but recalling Ketron’s appetite, Eddie quietly picked up one more package.
The cooking process itself wasn’t difficult. Add plenty of water to a large pot, cook the noodles, drain most of the water, mix in the powder seasoning. Then a touch of sesame oil.
Of course, Eddie, with his experience living alone, was skilled at getting the water amount just right for ramen.
Eddie carefully measured enough water to create a slightly soupy consistency without having to drain it, though cooking 12 packets simultaneously was a first and somewhat challenging. While the noodles cooked, he made fried eggs on the side.
When the noodles were sufficiently cooked, he sprinkled the powder seasoning and added not only the included sesame oil but some extra from his own supply—
“There, it’s done.”
The four people, huddled together as if it had been quite some time even though it hadn’t been that long, sat staring blankly at the unfamiliar aroma and the off-putting black appearance of the food.
“Um, are we really supposed to eat this?”
Sebastian grumbled. Understandably, a noodle dish soaked in black sauce would be unfamiliar. Like the first impression of triangle kimbap, it would naturally evoke resistance.
But knowing that they would inevitably come to like this too, Eddie smiled.
“It’s not spicy.”
“That’s not the issue…”
Despite his complaints, Sebastian knew that Eddie wouldn’t serve anything truly inedible, excluding Fire Chicken Noodles, and picked up his fork. Ketron and Gerold, who had become accustomed to using chopsticks while living with Eddie, used them.
“Huh?”
Sebastian, who had skeptically taken a bite using his fork with some difficulty, tilted his head and then slurped another forkful.
“Mmm!”
His eyes lit up.
“Awsome(daebak).”
Using an expression Eddie had taught him sometime before, Sebastian showed a thumbs up.
Once his initial resistance disappeared after the first bite, he began devouring the Jjajang-getti like a madman. He too was a young adult male with a tremendous appetite.
“So messy…”
Meanwhile, Gerold quietly offered Sebastian a tissue after noticing black sauce splattered on his clothes from slurping.
Sebastian mumbled something as he took the tissue and rubbed his clothes vigorously. Of course, it was useless against the black sauce stains, and the more he rubbed, the more they spread.
Gerold, who was in charge of laundry, could be seen swallowing his frustration, but he didn’t seem overly annoyed.
These two have… gotten closer, haven’t they?
Eddie, who had been quietly observing Gerold’s face after a long time, softly asked.
“Gerold. Everything’s been okay?”
Gerold looked at Eddie for a moment before giving a brief answer.
“Yes.”
Gerold would certainly understand what Eddie’s question really meant. It was an indirect inquiry about whether ‘E’ had made contact, and he responded without difficulty.
That’s a relief.
Just as Eddie, inwardly relieved, was about to dig into his portion while watching the three eagerly eating…
“Ahem, hmm.”
Eddie turned around with wide eyes at the voice coming from nearby. There was a man clearing his throat.
He was a guest at the inn.
Looking quite embarrassed, he cleared his throat again and said,
“I’m a regular customer, and, um, hmm, I’m curious… can I try a sample?”
“What? Oh.”
Eddie realized the man was referring to the Jjajang-getti.
Normally when eating a new menu item, he would have it during the quiet lunch hours, not served up grandly like this in the evening. People were displaying considerable curiosity at this unusual sight.
Eddie’s inn now typically had a fair number of people during the evening hours, and they were subtly watching from the corners of their eyes.
More specifically, they were eyeing the food with its unfamiliar smell and appearance.
And Sebastian who was enjoying it so much.
“Ahaha, sure, why not.”
The 12 packets would be too much for them anyway. Eddie smiled as he scooped an appropriate amount onto a plate and handed it to the man, who excitedly took the food and returned to his seat.
Watching the man’s companions crowding around saying, “What is that?” “Give me some too!” Eddie stroked his chin.
His eyes gleamed with the instinct of a store owner that he hadn’t felt in a while.
Right, it’s time to add a new menu item.
Whether playing or resting, it’s the fate of a self-employed person to inevitably think about business. Eddie unconsciously grinned.
It was that smile that Sebastian occasionally described as demonic.
* * *
After the meal and cleanup, Eddie stretched his tired body and made eye contact with Ketron.
In that moment, Eddie realized that the time had come for the explanation Ketron had promised when he said, “I’ll explain when we get back.”
“Do you have time now?”
Just as Eddie had predicted, Ketron spoke those words.
Have they reached the point where they can understand each other’s intentions just by making eye contact?
With this idle thought, Eddie nodded and followed Ketron to his room.
In Ketron’s room, the holy sword had returned to its sword form and was leaning in its usual corner spot.
Since Ketron’s room still had hardly any furniture, Eddie had no choice but to sit on Ketron’s bed.
I’ll definitely remember to bring a table and chairs in here this time.
While Eddie was making this resolution, Ketron sat beside him, interlaced his fingers, and remained silent for a moment.
“…I…”
Ketron finally began his story after a long pause.
“Before meeting Eddie, I traveled around the continent.”
The story Ketron began wasn’t much different from what Eddie already knew.
The story of running away from the orphanage, of living fiercely, learning swordsmanship, accidentally learning magic, obtaining the holy sword, meeting Augustine, meeting Arthur and Boram, and adventuring throughout the world.
“I woke up in an abandoned village in the desert with none of my companions around. I thought we’d just gotten separated, but… the situation was very different from what I’d imagined.”
When he opened his eyes, he was in the desert. His body was covered in wounds from the final battle, and he was extremely thirsty and hungry. The fact that he even regained consciousness was more like his body forcibly waking his brain, knowing he would surely die otherwise.
He was dying.
“Arthur, Boram, Augustine…”
He painfully called out his companions’ names, but no one answered. Eventually, Ketron forced his barely functioning body to move.
Finding his way in the desert wasn’t difficult with his vast experience, but his severe injuries and terrible physical condition made it far from easy.
Near an oasis he barely managed to find, he encountered people. Ketron received treatment from them in exchange for the valuables he had, and obtained food and water.
It was there that he first heard the rumor.
“They say Hero Arthur defeated the Demon King.”
Hero Arthur.
At first, he thought he’d misheard. But not just them, everyone he met afterward told the same story.
Hero Arthur and his companions, the mage Boram and Augustine of Divine Power, had successfully defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the world.
There was no place for Ketron in that story.
Something was wrong. Had the magic that erased existence gone wrong? Was that why they had forgotten Ketron too? But…
The people who were at the place where the spell was cast, Arthur and Boram, shouldn’t have been affected by the magic.
Moreover, even if Ketron had simply disappeared, how could Arthur naturally claim all the glory?
Ketron knew Arthur well. He had been a companion since the early days of Ketron’s journey, but his skills were not exceptional compared to the others.
He was rather adept at scheming and improvisation. If anyone besides Ketron should have become the hero, Augustine would have been better, and if not Augustine, then Boram as the hero would have been more convincing.
It was strange. Too strange. Rather than thinking ‘that’s impossible,’ his first thought was that something was odd.
Perhaps instinctively, he already knew then.
That he had been betrayed.