Dungeon Snack Bar

Chapter 1
Prologue

“I’ve finally found it!”
The man looked at the shabby restaurant with trembling eyes.

The red brick wall was covered in moss, the thick wooden door, and the smoke rising from the chimney.

He would have passed the random Korean sign in front if it didn’t belong there.

[Dungeon Snack Bar]

“I’ve finally found it!”

The hidden restaurant that can only be found on the 50th floor!
After being tricked by the cruel system, it had been 10 years since he began climbing the Tower of Trials.

He had stayed stuck on the 40th floor, unable to find a way to go higher, no matter how hard he tried.

“Well, that’s what I believed.”

With every floor he climbed, the quests in the tower became more difficult.

The monsters that appeared from the dungeons grew stronger and stronger.

He feared losing his life too much.

So, the man conformed to the tower’s life.

He even lost the will to live.

Then one day, a post on the system’s community completely shook his heart.

[Has anyone been to the 50th-floor ‘Dungeon Snack Bar’?

They say a high-level chef with hidden skills sells Korean ramen there.

It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

One bite of the ramen and tears just started flowing.

It’s a taste that really touches the soul of a Korean.

To the guys struggling on the lower floors, let me give you some advice.

Fight your way through, and make sure to get to the 50th floor.

Pay 15,000 gold and buy the ramen.

From here on out, this is real information.

Pay attention.

The ramen gives you a buff skill.

It’s also possible to unlock hidden achievements.

By the way, after eating the ramen, my mental strength went up by 3.

Believe it or not, it’s up to you.

I’m going again next week! Take care!]

[Yeah, right. I don’t believe you~]

[If you’re going to lie, at least be creative. Newbies these days have no imagination.]

At first, he didn’t believe the post.
But as time passed, more and more reports appeared in the community.

It was true.

They really did sell ramen on the 50th floor.

Some people said that their health permanently increased, while others said their strength went up.

The man didn’t fully believe the crazy stories.

However, he couldn’t ignore the fact that they were selling ramen.

“Even if I die, I can at least have one bowl of ramen, right?”

With that thought in mind, the man risked his life.

And now, he excitedly opened the restaurant door.

Bang!

Luckily, he seemed to be the first customer, as there was no one else in the restaurant.

“Feels good.”

As soon as he sat down, he shouted.

“Owner, one bowl of ramen, please!”

Tap, tap.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

The man turned around without thinking and froze.

“Groan.”

A giant black bear was standing there, holding a tray!

“Not only that, but the bear is wearing an apron!”

The black bear growled threateningly and pointed to the side.

The man widened his eyes.

There was a warning notice written in red letters on the wall of the snack bar.

[One menu item per person!
Self-serve water!

Reselling food from the system shop is prohibited!

★ Absolute silence inside!

★★★ No fighting between customers★★★

Violating these rules will result in a permanent ban from the ‘Dungeon Snack Bar’!

No second warnings!

–Owner Baek–

The man carefully read the warning notice.

Then, he waited quietly for his ramen without saying a word.

A little while later, the black bear came back with a steaming bowl.
Plop.

It was really ramen! And there were chopsticks and a spoon, too.

Although there was no kimchi.

‘This beautiful broth and noodles! It has to be ramen!’

With trembling hands, the man picked up the spoon and tasted the broth.

Gulp.

“This, this, this taste!”

Tears streamed from his eyes.
The spicy, salty, rich, and spicy flavour swirled in his mouth.

It was an extreme, stimulating taste only MSG could create.

‘This is it! The taste of the ramen my little brother used to make 10 years ago!’

Why didn’t I appreciate it back then!

Slurp! Slurp!

The man quickly devoured the ramen as if he hadn’t eaten in ten days.

When he licked up the last drop of broth,a deep sense of longing remained.

“What a shame. I think I could eat ten more bowls.”

It was at that moment.

[System Notification: You have eaten the spicy ramen (★★★☆☆) made by the skilled chef, Ira Hye.

Your fullness increases greatly.

Your movement speed will increase by 11.2% for 15 minutes.]

[Achievement Unlocked: You have eaten ★★★ rated food for the first time in the Tower of Trials.

Because of how deeply impressed you were, your strength increases by 3 permanently.]

“Whoa…! Amazing! This is crazy!!!”

Strength increased!

Even with expensive potions or armour upgrades, strength stats usually increase only by a little.

But this time, it increased by 3!

For the man, who was a paladin, this was an incredible stroke of luck.

Tap, tap.

The black bear tapped his shoulder again.

“Groan.”

The man flinched!

The bear pointed at the warning notice.

[★ Absolute silence inside!]

The man covered his mouth with both hands, overwhelmed by emotion.

At the same time, in the kitchen of the Dungeon Snack Bar.

The only chef and owner, Ira Hye, was in trouble.

Felix, the guild leader of the top-ranked “Black Blade” guild, asked in a kind voice:

“Hye, have you thought about it?”

“W-What about?”

“Joining our guild.”

“Ah…”

I rolled my eyes.

My cheeks were burning.
To be honest, this was an inevitable reaction.

His handsome face was just too close!

Felix asked in a deep voice:

“Do you still need more time to think about it?”

“Well, I’ve been so busy gathering ingredients. I think I need a little more time to think about it.”

“I think you said the same thing two weeks ago. You’re really a cautious person, aren’t you?”

“Haha, I guess so.”

For a Korean, saying “I need to think about it” is pretty much the same as saying “no.”

But it seemed like Felix didn’t understand that.

‘Or maybe he’s pretending not to understand.’

How was I supposed to refuse the words of the guild leader of the top-ranked guild in the Tower?

I took a deep breath.

Before I knew it, Rick had appeared next to me.

“…….”

Felix stared at Rick with sharp eyes. Rick, too, looked at Felix coldly.

I could feel a tingling sensation on my skin.

Felix smiled faintly.

“Interesting. A Slayer who should have reached the 70th floor by now is still stuck on the 50th floor.”

“You’re one to talk. After you took my healer, I thought you’d easily break through the 70th floor.”

“Taking a healer, huh? I’d appreciate it if you didn’t slander Imella’s decision like that. Anyway, I’d prefer it if you didn’t interfere with me and Hye. As you can see, we’re having a very important conversation.”

“You’re the one interfering. Hye and I have already promised a future together.”

…Me?

I stammered, trying to speak.
I had said I wanted to climb the Tower with him, but I didn’t mean it like that.

‘And I said that before I knew Rick was the unofficial #1 ranked player in the Tower!’

Rick suddenly handed me a basket.

That’s when I smelled the sweet fragrance.

It was a basket of strawberries.

“These are snow strawberries picked from the top of the Northern Continent’s Frost Mountain on the 55th floor. You’ve been craving strawberries since a week ago.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Didn’t they say that a Snow Orc army lives at the top of Frost Mountain?

I swear I heard that their average level is 100.

Then Rick delivered the final blow.

“If cooking is inconvenient for you, should I feed you like last time?”

“…!”

I wanted to immediately cover Rick’s mouth.

“Ahem, Felix, I already have plans. I’ll think about your suggestion slowly…”

“Felix? That title feels too distant. I told you my name, Jang Sae-in.”

“Well, everyone on the Tower calls you that, haha.”

“Hye also uses her real name. I’d like it if you called me by the name I use on Earth.”

“…”

Rick grabbed the end of my sleeve and gave it a little shake.

“Hye, are you going to keep dealing with him? You promised me your time this morning.”

I wanted to scream: Stop twisting our breakfast date into something weird!

Felix and Rick exchanged glances.
Zzzt.

I could almost see sparks flying between them.

I was about to be squished between two of the Tower’s top-ranking players.

Help me, newbie!

I-I need to calm down.

I can’t let them see me get intimidated here, Ira Hye.

I managed to pretend to be calm.

The two men in front of me were convinced I was a high-level player.

And not just any player—I was a hidden chef with a third-class job upgrade!

The problem is that the whole Tower’s climbers misunderstand me like this.

The Tower’s only hidden chef.

Owner of a myth-grade weapon. A secret top-ranked player.

I couldn’t even think of correcting the misunderstanding that had snowballed.

If they found out that I was just a low-level newbie who dropped to the 50th floor due to a system glitch…

I’d be kidnapped without anyone noticing, only to cook ramen all day.

There wouldn’t be a better buff slave for levelling up than me.

I made a silent promise.

At this point, I had to keep up the “I’m weak” act until I reached the 99th floor!

Sigh, so this is how it all started…

To explain that, I’d have to go back three months.