The students immediately lost their minds.
“Yes!”
“Let's go!”
“A quest!”
“A castle!”
The teacher pointed proudly toward Tae.
“And this gentleman shall guide us.”
The children cheered again.
Tae bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for helping me.”
Several students saluted him.
One even shouted,
“Don't worry, sir! We'll save the apples!”
Tae couldn't help laughing.
As the children celebrated, he made a mental note to ask Zeon to avoid writing anything heartbreaking in the fortune cookies.
The last thing he needed was thirty six children crying over predictions.
A few minutes later, Tae returned to the truck and explained the plan to Mansu.
Mansu listened quietly.
Then he nodded.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I think this is either a brilliant idea or an absolutely terrible one.”
“Probably both.”
“Fair enough.”
Together, they unloaded the crates.
The teacher and Mansu helped distribute apples into the children's backpacks while Tae handed them out one by one.
One little girl suddenly looked up at Mansu.
“You're the princess's grandpa!”
The other children immediately swarmed him.
Within seconds, he was surrounded by tiny arms hugging his legs.
Mansu burst into laughter.
The innocence of children was impossible to resist.
“This is the best delivery route I've ever had,” he muttered.
Once everyone was ready, Mansu gathered the students together.
“Listen carefully.”
The children immediately formed a circle.
“The path we're taking isn't a normal path.”
Several students leaned forward.
“It'll be darker than the streets.”
More gasps.
“The sunlight barely reaches it.”
A few children clung to each other.
“There will be cats.”
The children nodded.
“Dogs.”
Still acceptable.
“Rats.”
Immediate horror.
“But don't panic.”
Mansu raised a finger.
“You must stay together.”
The children listened carefully.
“Follow the person in front of you.”
He pointed dramatically toward the alley.
“And whatever happens, do not leave the line.”
“Why?” one child whispered.
“Because if you get lost in there,” Mansu replied gravely, “even Dora the Explorer won't be able to find you.”
The children looked absolutely terrified.
The teacher looked like she was trying not to laugh.
Despite their fear, however, the idea of delivering apples to a princess's castle was far too exciting.
So nobody backed out.
“Adventure!” one child shouted.
“Adventure!” the others echoed.
And so the strange procession began.
Mansu leading.
The teacher behind him.
A line of children carrying apples.
And Tae bringing up the rear, making sure nobody wandered off.
It was probably the strangest delivery route in the history of the town.
And somehow, it was working.
As they made their way through the narrow alleyways, Ryu Minjae called Tae again.
“We haven't seen your location move much for the last fifteen minutes,” Minjae said. “What's happening?”
“There was an accident,” Tae replied. “But don't worry. We should be there in another fifteen minutes.”
“Yeah, I heard about it,” Minjae replied. “I still can't believe it was caused by a raccoon.”
Tae laughed.
“I know, right? Earlier this week I saw a news article about a dog getting arrested.”
Minjae immediately burst out laughing.
“The one sitting in the back of the police car?”
“Yes!” Tae exclaimed. “That one exactly.”
Both of them laughed.
Then Minjae sighed dramatically.
“I really shouldn't be laughing. Everyone here is stressed about the apples.”
“We're almost there,” Tae reassured him.
“Good. See you soon.”
The call ended.
“Alright, everyone,” Mansu announced. “Stay together.”
The children nodded.
The teacher followed closely behind him while Tae remained at the very back of the line, keeping an eye on everyone.
Mansu, the teacher, and Tae each carried a sack of apples on their shoulders.
As they walked, Tae noticed a few children quietly taking bites from the apples they were carrying.
The moment they saw him looking, they froze.
One little boy looked ready to cry.
“Sorry,” he whispered.
Tae blinked.
“For what?”
“The apple.”
Tae looked at the half-eaten fruit in the child's hand.
Then he smiled.
“It's okay.”
The child looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Really.”
The entire group visibly relaxed.
“If you're hungry, eat one,” Tae said. “Don't be shy.”
Several students immediately took cautious bites.
Mansu glanced back.
“Are you sure about that?”
Tae nodded.
“They still have more than enough apples.”
He gestured toward the sacks.
“These kids are literally helping them make the dessert. I think they've earned an apple. And if it’s not enough, I’ll look into it myself”
Mansu chuckled.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“You're right.”
The children cheered quietly and continued munching on their apples.
Eventually, the group reached the back entrance of the Oceanic Rooftop Hotel.
Inside the hotel, Minjae had been tracking their live location.
When he saw the marker finally moving closer, he immediately gathered several chefs and staff members.
“They're almost here,” he announced.
The exhausted staff looked relieved.
Together, they waited outside the back entrance.
Minutes passed.
Then one chef frowned.
“Why is it still taking so long?”
Another chef sighed.
“Please don't tell me they got lost.”
Before anyone could answer, a staff member pointed toward the alley.
“Wait.”
Everyone turned.
Then they saw them.
A long line of children emerged from the alley.
Some were carrying apples in their hands.
Others were happily eating them.
The teacher walked alongside them.
Mansu carried a sack over one shoulder.
Tae followed behind, making sure nobody wandered off.
The entire kitchen staff froze.
One chef stared at the children.
“The kids ate the apples?”
Another chef immediately started calculating numbers in his head.
“How many apples were there?”
“How many are left?”
“How many caramelized apple toppings can we still make?”
A third chef looked moments away from a nervous breakdown.
“We need backup desserts.”
He grabbed his own shoulders.
“Get yourself together.”
Nobody listened.
Meanwhile, Minjae was staring at the scene in complete disbelief.
“Wow.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“They literally ate our dessert before we even had a chance to wash, peel, or cut it.”
Tae walked over casually.
Then he pulled one of the children forward.
“Open your backpack.”
The child obeyed.
The backpack was packed with apples.
Minjae blinked.
“Oh.”
The children were delighted to know that they had helped ensure the princess's party went smoothly. They spent the rest of the time giggling excitedly, already discussing how they would tell the children who had missed it. The mere thought of retelling the incident to everyone filled them with excitement.
Tae pointed toward it.
“We'll need some carts.”
The chefs collectively sighed in relief.
“Thank goodness.”
Within minutes, empty rolling carts were brought outside.
The children proudly emptied apples from their backpacks into the carts.
More apples appeared from tote bags.
More from pockets.
More from hands.
The chefs stared in amazement.
“Where were they hiding all of these in those tiny backpacks?”
“No idea.”
Soon the sacks were unloaded as well.
The staff immediately wheeled the carts into the kitchen.
The entire back area erupted into controlled chaos.
Some chefs washed apples.
Others peeled them.
Others sliced them.
Everyone moved at top speed.
The dessert had been saved.
Once the final apples had been delivered, the teacher handed Tae a card.
“Call me when you have the goods.”
“The goods?”
“The fortune cookies.”
Tae laughed.
“I will.”
Minjae happened to overhear the conversation.
A mischievous grin immediately appeared on his face.
“Wow.”
Tae looked at him.
“What?”
“You've got serious rizz.”
Tae nearly choked.
“What?”
Minjae pointed at the teacher.
“I knew girls would be crazy about you.”
Tae groaned.
“It's not like that.”
“Sure.”
“No, really.”
Minjae laughed.
“I'm jealous.”
Tae looked horrified.
“Why?”
“Because whatever you're planning to give her sounds expensive.”
Tae rubbed his temples.
“No.”
He pointed toward the departing group.
“They helped us.”
Then he pointed toward the hotel.
“I'm getting them Zeon's fortune cookies as a thank-you.”
“Oh.”
Minjae paused.
“That's actually wholesome.”
“Thank you.”
“I was still teasing you, though.”
Tae sighed.
“I figured.”
After a moment, Tae looked around.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“Aren't you a little young to be working here?”
Minjae laughed.
“I don't work here.”
Tae looked confused.
“You don't?”
“My father is one of the co-owners.”
“Oh.”
“Most of the time I just hang around the kitchens.”
Tae blinked.
“Shouldn't you be in school?”
“Probably.”
Minjae shrugged.
“But I do well academically.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“My parents don't mind if I skip occasionally.”
“That still doesn't answer my question.”
Minjae laughed.
“They support my dream of becoming a chef.”
Tae nodded.
“That's actually really cool.”
“Right?”
Before the conversation could continue—
“RYU MINJAE!”
A chef's voice echoed through the kitchen.
Minjae winced.
“Uh-oh.”
“Peel the damn apples!”
Several chefs pointed at him aggressively.
Minjae sighed.
“Duty calls.”
Tae laughed.
“I think you're needed.”
“Unfortunately.”
Minjae smiled.
“It was nice talking to you.”
“Likewise.”
Then Minjae disappeared back into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Mansu's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression immediately changed.
“...What?”
Tae looked over.
“What's wrong?”
Mansu slowly lowered the phone.
“The traffic authorities towed the truck.”
Silence.
“Towed?”
“Yes.”
“Because we left it in traffic.”
Another pause.
“And we have to pay the towing fee.”
Tae stared at him.
Mansu stared back.
The two remained silent for several seconds.
Finally, Mansu sighed.
“Well.”
Tae nodded.
“Well.”
“What now?”
Tae shrugged.
“I guess we're off to another adventure.”
Mansu laughed.
“At this point, what other choice do we have?”
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