Ch.126Cheongyang Buldak Tteokbokki

“Standby! Cue!”

When the signal to start filming sounds on the set,

and the camera light comes on.

‘I am Toro.’

Matsusage Yukata becomes Kurata Toro.

Not an actor but a hardworking salesman.

Not a gourmet or drinker, but a big eater and teetotaler.

Based on thorough method acting,

The Noble Gourmet instantly appears before the camera.

“I’ll be in your care.”

“Yes, I’ll send you the highest quality.”

“I’ll trust only you, Kurata-san.”

A warm business conversation.

Today’s sales scene was quite short because there was a special guest.

“Grumble!”

In the middle of wrapping up the business conversation.

When the writer pulled out the pre-written sound effect sign.

“Hmm… haha, how embarrassing.”

Kurata Toro touched his stomach as if embarrassed.

“Haha, it’s a perfectly normal phenomenon. Besides, the time is right.”

Glance.

At the other’s words, Kurata Toro checked his wristwatch.

12:30 PM.

It was indeed a time when it wouldn’t be strange for his stomach to cry out for food.

‘But this is my first time here.’

If he were to monologue, it would probably be something like this.

It was one of Matsusage Yukata’s long-standing habits.

Since The Noble Gourmet featured a lot of monologues,

he would constantly talk to himself, wondering what kind of narration to add.

Anyway, after muttering like that to himself, Toro looked at the other person.

Then, as if they had been waiting.

“Ah, if you’re wondering about lunch… would Korean food be okay?”

“Eh, Korean food, you say?”

“Yes, yes, strictly speaking, it’s not super traditional Korean… more like Korean home cooking.”

An unexpected menu.

Toro, who was very open-minded about food, enjoyed this kind of novelty.

“You must be recommending something really delicious.”

“Yes, actually… this is a secret only known to people in our neighborhood….”

What could they be trying to say, leaning in like this and lowering their voice?

With such anticipation, Toro leaned in to hear the other person’s voice.

“…They say the owner couple used to be Michelin chefs.”

“What? Michelin, you say.”

How could someone who claims to be a gourmet not know about Michelin?

‘So it’s Michelin-level Korean food.’

It was a structure that couldn’t help but create expectations.

“I’d really like to know the name of the restaurant.”

“Ah, I’ve been keeping you without telling you that, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

“It’s called ‘Our Home’.”

“Our Home.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s called Our Home. It gives a really cozy feeling, just like the name.”

“Oh, I must visit.”

Hearing that story.

‘I’m… getting hungry.’

Toro clutched his hungry stomach and abruptly stood up from his seat.

And simultaneously.

“Cut! Good. I think we can end it here.”

The initial filming ended quickly.

The filming of The Noble Gourmet wasn’t long to begin with.

Most of the dialogue was between the restaurant owner and customers other than Toro,

and about 80% of the protagonist Toro’s lines were monologues.

Plus, since it was location-based filming, there was no need for set production.

It could literally be described as ultra-fast filming.

“Something feels good about today, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, even the extras seem somehow intense but natural?”

“Hmm… this might be….”

The production manager, Aitake Ura, fell into deep thought while watching the filming site.

‘It’s too early to jump to conclusions, but.’

If this filming all goes well,

and the response when it airs is good.

‘I wonder if we could just take this whole thing and make it into a feature film.’

Of course, he knew how premature this thought was.

It was simply predicting the outcome based on the atmosphere of the first shoot.

But on the other hand, he felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

A sense of success, you might say.

Something indescribable was coiling in the center of his chest.

‘Let’s keep watching and think about it.’

Whether it was just a feeling or a conviction based on years of experience.

To confirm this, Aitake Ura radioed in.

“Is everything ready at the restaurant?”

“Yes, all ingredients are prepared, and the preliminary work is done.”

“Understood. Then we’ll move right away!”

“Yes!”

Is everything in Kim Donghu’s hands now?

‘I wonder what kind of performance he’ll show.’

It was a moment of great anticipation.

+++++

“We’ll start filming as soon as Aitake-san arrives.”

“Yes.”

I nodded at the staff member’s words and looked around.

‘It’s definitely different from Korea.’

Since this was my first shoot abroad,

I naturally thought about the differences from filming in Korea.

‘So this is what they mean by the difference in production scale between Japanese and Korean dramas.’

Starting with the number of staff, the number of cameras, filming equipment, and so on.

There was a definite difference.

But for The Noble Gourmet, this turned out to be a huge advantage.

Since it’s basically a quiet, healing-concept drama.

It’s highly specialized in concise direction.

“I’ll be in your care.”

A light greeting before entering the shoot.

Although it was my first filming in Japan, I wasn’t particularly nervous.

‘After all, acting is the same no matter where you are.’

Even if the location has changed, the job remains the same.

With that thought, I was relaxing when.

“Haha, I’m sorry. I’m a bit late. Shall we start right away?”

The production manager, Aitake Ura, entered the restaurant.

While thoroughly checking the setup before filming began,

he gave me a look asking if I was ready.

“Yes, we can start right away.”

“Good. As discussed beforehand, we’ll start with the extras.”

“Yes!”

After the extra’s response, Aitake Ura went outside the restaurant,

and shortly after.

“Alright, standby, cue!”

The signal to start filming sounded.

“Uuuugh!”

As written in the script,

the scene begins with Kim Minjun’s mother’s labor pains.

“Contractions? Are they contractions?!”

Hearing Korean dialogue in a Japanese drama,

with that thought, I instantly summon Kim Minjun from within.

“Hospital! We need to go to the hospital first!”

“R-right, hospital! Hospital! Dad will take Mom to the hospital! Son, you watch the restaurant!”

“You want me to watch the restaurant in this situation?!”

“Y-yes! Anyway, the restaurant! I’m counting on you!”

Rumble rumble.

The situation unfolds as quickly as the urgent conversation.

Mom and Dad rushing off due to labor pains.

And the son left alone with an empty restaurant.

They told him to watch the restaurant, but.

“What restaurant at a time like this.”

Coming to my senses belatedly, I went outside to close the restaurant door.

But once I got outside, I hesitated.

“Um, umm….”

Conflicted between thinking I should go too and believing they left the restaurant to me because they trusted me.

At that moment.

“Grumble!”

With the writer’s sign, I turned my head in the direction the sound was supposed to come from.

And there.

“…Ah, are you not open for business?”

A tall man was standing there with a very hungry expression.

+++++

Toro was surprised.

‘Huh, what… someone’s coming out?’

A man and a woman.

The woman appeared to be pregnant, and the man was clearly her husband.

Judging by how they were checking her belly as they left, it seemed she was having contractions.

‘A couple leaving the restaurant… could they be the owners?’

The fact that the owners had urgently left the restaurant

meant the same thing as not being open for business.

‘Does that mean I can’t eat!’

While feeling disappointed.

“Are you seriously telling me to watch the restaurant by myself?!”

Someone who appeared to be their son came out.

But.

‘Isn’t he too handsome?’

His face was radiant.

Not just his face shining,

but an overall aura as well.

‘He’s incredibly handsome.’

But that admiration was short-lived.

Grumble!

His stomach clock cried out for food again.

So honestly, even knowing it was unlikely, Toro asked.

“…Ah, are you not open for business?”

Of course they wouldn’t be.

Look at the situation.

While mentally arguing with himself.

“W-we are. But the menu might be different from usual, is that okay?”

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Toro smiled brightly.

“Yes, yes, that’s fine.”

“Um… then please come in.”

“Excuse me.”

The restaurant was indeed warm and cozy as described earlier.

‘It really feels like being in a warm foreign country.’

While the interior definitely had a Korean feel,

it wasn’t alienating at all but rather felt familiar.

In a place like this, it seemed impossible to go wrong with any order.

‘The menu is very clean and… neat.’

The letters were printed or something, making everything easy to read.

A very clean and efficient atmosphere.

There wasn’t a hint of stuffiness.

‘But didn’t he say many menu items aren’t available right now?’

Since the owner couple had left,

what the son could make on his own would be limited.

While thinking that and checking the menu.

“Huh, why is Minjun alone today?”

Customers suddenly poured in.

It seemed this was exactly lunchtime.

“Ah, something came up, so I’m cooking today.”

“Oh, so we’re eating Minjun’s cooking today?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Ooh… then should I try that?”

“Are you really going to order that?”

That? What’s that?

Toro subtly leaned toward the customers.

It seemed he might get a hint about the son’s menu here.

“Since we can only eat it when Minjun is here, it would be a loss to miss out.”

As if anticipating it, the customer

swallowed and named the menu item.

“One medium-sized Cheongyang Spicy Chicken Tteokbokki!”

“Yes! Order received!”

Cheongyang Spicy Chicken Tteokbokki?

‘What’s that?’

Toro, with a what-the-heck attitude, called out the same order.

“Ex-excuse me… I’d like one too, please.”

“Yes! What size?”

“Do you have the smallest size?”

“We have mini, would you like that?”

“Ah… yes. And also… I’d like to know what other menu items you have.”

“Ah, I forgot about that. It’s been a while since I watched the restaurant alone, I’m sorry.”

Soon a crooked handwritten menu appeared,

and water and wet towels were neatly arranged, and right then.

As if the cooking was about to begin in earnest.

Whoosh!

A spectacular fire show caught Toro’s eye.

In fact, Toro, or rather Matsusage Yukata, was seeing Kim Donghu’s cooking for the first time.

Because watching beforehand would diminish the expectation and weaken the reaction.

But this.

‘This is… this is really amazing?’

It was beyond imagination.