Chapter 489. Epilogue (1/2)

Several months passed since the treaty was signed.

Paradise was enjoying a well-deserved peace. The Federation and humanity were heading toward a better future without any big incidents or quarrels.

Well, there was one incident. It was a rather big one that raised quite a bit of commotion in Paradise. It was Seol Jihu retiring from Valhalla.

He did not retire from Paradise. Not long after the Half Century Treaty was signed, Seol Jihu resigned as Valhalla’s representative and left the organization.

Valhalla’s representative. In Paradise, it was a position that held more power than the six kingdoms and exerted more influence than the Seven Sins.

Since he stepped down from such a position on his own, it was only natural for all sorts of rumors to spread.

Some said that Seol Jihu was tired of Paradise and would retire. Others suggested that Seol Jihu would found a new organization to lead the unification of Paradise.

However, the reality was different from everyone’s expectations.

Seol Jihu made a home in the corner of Eva’s alleyways. In a form that no one expected.

*

A constant stream of foreign races visited Eva as always. As the city served as a bridge connecting the Federation and humanity, it was flourishing and thriving by the day.

“Eva feels a little different than Haramark.”

One man looked around the streets while walking. He was a tall, black man who could easily be playing for the NBA.

“It’s to be expected.”

An old man walking next to him responded. He was slender and short, drawing a stark contrast from the first man.

“Eva is the only city that was unscathed from the destruction of the final war.”

The old man spoke as he stroked his long, white beard.

“It is also the city that accepted the Federation the earliest, and the entire city was blessed with fortification. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the capital of humanity is no longer Scheherazade, but Eva.”

“Hmm…. It isn’t as if I haven’t heard this before, but I have to admit. It feels rather strange.”

“Haha, I’m no different. But that’s just how the world works! You might go to sleep one night and wake up to a completely different world. I’m sure we aren’t the only ones who feel this way.”

The old man laughed.

Right, the two men were none other than Edward Dylan and Ian Denzel.

They had revived thanks to Seol Jihu, regained their memories, and were now actively participating in the revitalization of Paradise.

They had come to Eva today to visit a certain person.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough chitchat! Let’s hurry! Didn’t we come to see Eva’s specialty?”

“Huh? No, we….”

“It’s a chilly day, let’s hurry! If we’re late by a minute, we’re going to have to wait for 20 minutes more!”

Ian hastened his steps, pushed forward by the blowing cold wind. Dylan tilted his head as he followed after Ian’s fluttering gown.

“This is the place.”

Soon, Ian stopped.

“We have to stand behind them. This must be the line.”

Dylan blinked. A long line of people was stretched out from an alleyway all the way to the main street.

It was nothing like seeing a bus stop at rush hour. A massive crowd of people was lined up like the crowd that gathers at the airport during the holiday season.

“I know what you want to ask.”

Ian quietly said.

“You want to ask whether Eva’s specialty is so good that it’s worth waiting for in such long lines?”

Dylan subconsciously nodded his head.

“Then, I will answer without a moment of hesitation.”

Ian grinned.

“Yes.”

“...Still, this line is a little too long.”

“It can’t be helped. That’s how popular this place is. Education, friendship, and blood-relation. The royal administrator of Eva, who doesn’t care about any of these, personally advertised this place as Eva’s specialty product. There must be a reason it was given such a title.”

“Well, if I wait in the cold for several hours, I’m confident I can eat anything as if it’s the best food in the world.”

“Haha, but things aren’t so bad now. Before, you couldn’t eat even after waiting in line for four hours.”

“It was that bad?”

“People refused to get up once they sat down. So now there is a limit of two bowls per person, and they have to leave after 45 minutes from sitting down.”

“45 minutes. That’s pretty tight.”

Dylan shook his head.

“Well, you’ll change your mind once you take a bite.”

At that moment, Dylan saw a couple walking out of the restaurant.

“Wow, that was amazing.”

“See? At first, I thought it was famous only because of the master’s name, but….”

Seeing the merrily chatting couple, Dylan made a flustered expression. He recalled getting in line not too long ago, but there were already dozens of people standing in line behind him. The couple that just left the restaurant also got back in the line. They were all eagerly waiting for their turn.

“I guess I have nothing to lose by giving it a try.”

Dylan shrugged.

Just like Ian said, the line moved quickly. Still, he had to wait two hours until they could get in. When he entered the alleyway after turning the corner, a new hell opened up. It was so bad that he felt liberated when he entered the small, shabby restaurant with only seven or so tables inside.

“Whew, finally. What was the name of this place again? I saw the sign but didn’t get a chance to read it.”

Dylan asked while rubbing his flushed palms.

“It’s Seol Jihu Ramen? With the question mark included. Apparently, in Korean, ‘-ramen?’ is a shortened way of saying, “What if it was…?” So the name is a play on the actual word, ramen, and that shortened question.”

Ian laughed, commenting on the name’s wittiness.

“...Uh, okay.”

Dylan replied awkwardly. After waiting just a little longer, a party that was sitting at the table in front of the kitchen stood up.

“There’s an open table.”

Just as Dylan began to walk forward to sit down...

“We’re here!”

A three-person group, led by a red-haired woman, cut in front of them. Dylan was about to raise a complaint before seeing a familiar face and holding himself back.

“Daddy~”

Eun Yuri looked for her daddy the moment she walked in.

“Hey! We’re here! Aren’t you gonna say hi?”

Chohong spoke audaciously while laughing. Judging by the angry protest in the background, they seemed to have ignored the line and walked in.

“Ah, welcome.”

A woman dressed as a waitress carefully walked up. The trio shut their mouths after taking a look at the rose-gold-haired woman walking over while patting her stomach. The problem was that her stomach was protruding out.

“W-What?”

Chohong blinked rapidly.

“Ah…. I’m due soon.”

Teresa blushed bashfully.

“Hold on just one moment. I’ll clean the table for you. My darling told me to rest, but I wanted to move around….”

She smiled and then wiped the table off with a cloth.

Eun Yuri looked at her fixedly before flying forward. Then, she pressed down on Teresa’s stomach.

“Ah-!”

A large pillow fell out of Teresa’s top.

A silence filled the atmosphere for a moment.

“...Chet!”

Teresa clicked her tongue as if it was a shame before quickly cleaning up the table and disappearing.

“That woman’s starting to lose it.”

Chohong spoke dumbfoundedly before walking up to the chair.

“Anyway, we’re gonna sit here! Sorry, Dylan and Old Man… eh?”

However, she stopped before she sat down. It was because a finger pointed at the three of them and then at the door.

“The line.”

A clear voice came out.

“Ah, hey, the line’s too long….”

“Nope, you have to get in line like everyone else.”

Chohong’s protest didn’t do anything.

“Aren’t you being too harsh, dear? Aren’t we all comrades?”

“Former comrades. Am I still Valhalla’s representative?”

Phi Sora’s protest did not work either.

“Daddy….”

“Why am I your daddy, Miss Eun Yuri?”

Eun Yuri’s attempt to gain sympathy was futile as well.

“All customers are the same. Not even the Seven Sins are an exception.”

A resolved reply came out.

“T-Then what about them!?”

Phi Sora pointed to the corner of the restaurant. Two women were busily eating ramen at a table. There should be a limit of two bowls per person, but more than ten bowls were stacked on top of each other on their table.

“You’ll know if you look at the wall.”

Just like the head chef said, a piece of paper was hanging on the wall.

The notice said the following:

—I, Seol Jihu, for committing a grave sin to Claire Agnes in front of everyone, will allow Claire Agnes and one companion of her choice to enter the restaurant without a wait, and until I am forgiven, Claire Agnes and her companion of choice will get unlimited meals at the restaurant.

“Miss Agnes is an exception because of my wrongdoing.”

Phi Sora shut her mouth. What Seol Jihu did that day was indeed out of line. She heard that even Hoshino Urara, who was there at the time, cackled and called him a madman.

“You guys are holding up the line.”

Tap, tap, tap, tap. The head chef placed the Spear of Purity, with which he was cutting green onions, on his shoulder.

“Do you want to leave quietly and wait? Or do you prefer to be guided out forcefully?”

Although Seol Jihu stepped down from his former position, his abilities did not go anywhere. As formidable energy began to flow out, the trio lowered their tails.

“Okay….”

Phi Sora, Chohong, and Eun Yuri turned around dejectedly.

“Agnes, do you want to know something?”

Watching the trio trudge away, Cinzia had a proud expression.

“Lately, I’ve been very proud to have you as my subordinate.”

“If it is because of this restaurant, then I will have to agree.”

Agnes replied proudly as well.

“Don’t forgive him, ever.”

“Of course.”

The duo laughed among themselves before digging into another bowl. Once the trio that cut in line left, Dylan could finally see the head chef’s face.

“Welcome! Take a seat right here!”

Seol Jihu greeted them with a bright smile, wearing a white chef’s uniform and a white bandana.

He wasn’t alone either. There were two women next to him wearing the same outfit.

They were Baek Haeju and Seo Yuhui.

“Sorry for the long wait. Come warm yourselves up a little.”

Teresa came back out in a waitress’ uniform and put down two teacups on the table.

“Great, great! I’ll go with the Seol Jihu Ramen!”

“Just the ramen? Or do you want the special?”

“Do you even need to ask? Of course, I want the special!”

“Mm… I’ll take the same thing.”

Dylan raised his hand meekly.

Seol Jihu smiled.

“Two Seol Jihu Ramen Specials!”

Then, the two women next to him hummed, “Two Seol Jihu Ramen Specials~”

“Long time no see, you two. This is the first time you’re coming to my restaurant, right, Dylan?”

“Old Man keeps talking about it. The wait was a killer.”

Dylan replied casually, making a subtle jab at Ian.

“Fufu, I can’t wait to see your shocked face.”

Ian retorted and then took out a thick book.

“How’s Haramark doing?”

Seol Jihu asked while pouring water into a pot.

“Not much different. Well, it’s much more relaxed than before.”

“It would’ve been good if Dylan joined Valhalla too.”

“The new representative did come to see me a few times.”

“Kim Hannah did?”

“Yep. I would be lying if I said I didn’t consider it. But I like the way things are now.”

“No problem. Doing what you want is best.”

Seol Jihu moved busily while chatting with Dylan.

Then, the conversation halted. Only the sound of Ian moving his pen was heard.

Seeing Seol Jihu, who was moving and making ramen with great fluidity...

“Seol.”

Dylan suddenly said.

“I recently discovered a ruin.”

Seol Jihu glanced at Dylan.

“Master Ian also confirmed its existence. Since it’s in uncharted territory, it will be fun exploring it.”

Dylan continued.

“I came to ask if you were interested….”

Dylan crossed his arms.

“But it looks like you’re already having fun.”

A smile emerged on Seol Jihu’s face.

“After I killed the Parasite Queen… I felt kind of empty.”

Seol Jihu said.

“I didn’t know what to do since I no longer had a goal. It was like I burned myself out.”

Looking at a stopwatch, he put the noodles in as soon as the alarm rang.

“I actually thought about retiring, but…”

Cracking open an egg, he continued.

“When I thought about it more, I realized there was still a lot that had to be done.”

Ian raised his head and looked at Seol Jihu.

“Not things that I have to do, but things that I want to do.”

Things I want to do. Ian murmured to himself before moving his pen again.

“Dylan.”

Seol Jihu looked up and stared at Dylan.

“This is how I live nowadays.”

“....”

“It’s fun. I enjoy it, and I’m happy.”

Seo Yuhui turned to the side and smiled bashfully while looking at Seol Jihu.

Baek Haeju also revealed a faint smile while preparing the ingredients.

“...Yeah, I can tell.”

Dylan smiled as well.

“Then it looks like your story ends here.”

Tak. Ian put a period and spoke cheerfully.

“You’re still writing that novel?”

“Of course! I actually thought today would be the last chapter. Looks like I was right.”

Ian closed the book.

“I’m thinking about ending the main story here and moving on to side stories.”

“Oh, that sounds good!”

Seol Jihu laughed and put out a tray with both hands.

“Here’s your order!”

“Oooooh, do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?”

Ian rubbed his chopsticks together in joy.

And after smelling the spicy aroma that wafted out with the rising steam, Dylan’s nostrils also flared up.

Slurp.

Then, the moment he took a bite…

“!”

He jolted.

What happened next was the same for Ian and Dylan.

Slurp, slurp!

The duo slurped up the noodles in the blink of an eye, eating kimchi with their left hand, licking their fingers, and eating rice with the leftover soup.

Gulp, gulp!

Finally, they gulped down the remaining soup from the bowl.

“Puhaaa!”