Chapter 1014: It Was Beautiful From Far Away.. (26)

Human nature is remarkably fickle.

That was the shared thought of the people entering during the very last admission slot that day.

When they'd first won the lottery, they'd been ecstatic.

"Wow! We got in!"

"Seriously?"

"Wooooooah!"

Back then, though, they hadn't known.

They hadn't known how difficult it was to spend an entire day waiting.

"Should we at least go sightseeing around Gurye?"

"The timing's awkward. The roads are probably going to be packed later too... I heard it takes an hour just to get through Goblin Street."

"Really..."

"And we need to line up before our entry time if we want to get into NewBlack's restaurant."

They couldn't fully relax enough to visit Gurye County's other attractions.

What if traffic delayed them and they missed their admission time?

The thought alone was depressing.

For that reason, most people spread mats around Goblin Street or reclined the seats in their parked cars, listening to the radio and staring blankly at the sky.

"Why is time moving so slowly...?"

"I know."

"Ah, my battery's dead. You got a power bank?"

"I'm using it right now."

And so, after waiting since dawn, evening admission finally began.

The moment guests from the earlier time slots entered, a line immediately started forming at the main gate of Goblin Street.

People were so exhausted that even when someone near the front briefly stepped away to use the restroom and returned, they were met with suspicious stares.

"Is that allowed? Shouldn't they have to go to the back and line up again?"

"No, restroom breaks are fine."

"Hmm. We got in line late because we went to the restroom..."

Even when staff explained that nothing violated the rules, people responded sharply.

A perfectly natural reaction from anyone who was tired and worn out.

"All right! We'll begin admitting guests! No running!"

And so entry began.

Naturally, the Goblin Restaurant run by NewBlack already had a completely full waiting list from guests who had entered earlier.

Those who came in afterward looked around with hollow expressions.

"Whew... I knew this would happen. What should we eat?"

"Cellini Pizza?"

"Want to try The Kitchen over there? That's the place we couldn't reserve before."

"We should go somewhere run by foreigners. You need a plane ticket to eat overseas, after all."

Fortunately, the food served by the world's greatest chefs was genuinely incredible.

"Wow... holy crap... this is pizza?"

"Then what have I been eating all my life?"

"This is insane. I thought it'd be salty, but they adjusted the seasoning perfectly for Korean tastes."

Pizza baked personally in a wood-fired oven by one of Italy's foremost culinary masters.

Along with countless other dishes.

Before long, smiles returned to everyone's faces.

Whether they ate at Goblin Restaurant or another chef's establishment, guests looked at one another with amused, slightly smug expressions.

Goblin Restaurant is probably good too, but NewBlack aren't professional chefs. We probably had the more satisfying meal.

Ah~ they must be so jealous we got to eat something this delicious. But we got to see NewBlack up close~

Either way, everyone ended up satisfied.

There was just one problem.

"Ah, it really was delicious."

"Yeah..."

Once they were full, the exhaustion hit like a truck.

The guests gazed wistfully at the setting sun.

"It's nice, but..."

"Exactly."

It was undeniably an experience people would envy.

World-famous chefs who normally supervised kitchens rather than personally cooking had prepared meals for them, and they had even gotten to watch NewBlack from afar.

Complaining about that would probably get them scolded by everyone else.

You weren't even original lottery winners. The staff picked you on-site at their own discretion. Shouldn't you have expected that much?

They let people in who weren't supposed to get in, and now you're complaining? LOL

But still...

Was it really worth waiting since dawn...?

After experiencing Goblin Street firsthand, their feelings were complicated.

Beyond the pop-up restaurants, there honestly wasn't much to see.

You took a few commemorative photos in front of some sculptures, and then there was nothing left to do.

Eat, and that was it.

"..."

"..."

Unlike guests from other time slots who had entered immediately, those who had waited since dawn found themselves hit by an odd sense of emptiness.

It was then.

[Attention, visitors of Goblin Street. Are you enjoying your time with us?]

An announcement echoed through the speakers installed throughout Goblin Street.

[We have a brief announcement.]

People immediately perked up.

Because it was NewBlack's leader speaking.

Just hearing the voice made them picture a bright smile behind the microphone.

[You all waited a very long time today, didn't you? That's why NewBlack prepared a special event just for you.]

[Dun dun!]

[At 8 PM tonight, as the final event of Goblin Street...]

No way.

Wait... is this...?

[-There will be a NewBlack mini concert.]

The moment the words left the speakers, an enormous roar erupted.

"WAAAAAAAH!"

Everyone reacted the same way.

Strangers high-fived each other.

Some threw arms around each other's shoulders and jumped up and down.

"This is insane!!!"

"They've lost their minds...."

"Wow. They saved the best for last!"

Their exhaustion vanished instantly.

It felt like finally receiving a reward after enduring hardship.

Even the sunset over Gurye County suddenly looked beautiful.

"Look. They're setting up a stage."

The production crew began assembling a temporary stage, and people immediately lined up in front of it.

Regular audience members received cushions from the staff and sat on the ground.

Older guests settled into chairs that had been prepared separately, smiling contentedly.

Everyone's eyes sparkled.

Goblin Street, the greatest tourist attraction in the world!

Newniverse is a god.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day today. Haha~

Meanwhile, the chefs who had finished serving customers emerged one by one from their restaurants.

Including Chef Bobby Ross, whose towering frame stood well over six feet tall.

The world-renowned chefs folded their arms.

"Heh heh."

"The time has finally come...."

Suspicious smiles spread across their faces.

A perfect opportunity to appeal to Korean consumers.

I've been waiting for this.

They hadn't come to Goblin Street solely because of NewBlack's name value.

They were businesspeople.

This was an important opportunity.

Chef, Newniverse has become an extraordinary phenomenon in Korea recently.

Ever since the cooking special began, Newniverse had only continued gaining momentum.

Appearing during the climax of such a popular show was a chance to engrave their names into the minds of Korean audiences.

"The people of this country are truly serious about delicious food."

The chefs smiled as they imagined the profits they could earn if they later opened restaurants in Korea.

Naturally, they seized the opportunity.

Flap—

Banners fluttered in the breeze as snack booths sprang up around the area.

[Bobby Ross's Special Popcorn]

[Free Cola!! At least take some cola~!]

People flocked to the snack booth operated by the giant Black chef.

Whenever he smiled, his white teeth practically sparkled.

"Kam-sa! Bobby happy!"

As he handed out popcorn, he playfully flexed his left and right pectorals for the guests.

The crowd burst into laughter.

The other chefs quickly followed suit.

"Authentic Argentinian milanesa~!"

"Come try our ice cream~!"

"How about a cold draft beer?"

Snacks from all over the world appeared everywhere.

People crouched on the ground, holding everything from Dante Cellini's elegantly prepared fried pizza to countless other treats.

"So tasty...."

"This is seriously amazing. How can a snack taste this good?"

"Ahh. This is nice."

Smiles spread across everyone's faces.

The weather happened to be perfect.

Even though it was midsummer, the evening air felt pleasantly cool.

A gentle breeze drifted through the street.

The exteriors of restaurants themed after countries around the world created a unique atmosphere.

"Wow...."

Once darkness fell, it became even more striking.

A restaurant resembling a traditional Argentine home painted in vibrant colors.

A diner glowing with neon signs, looking exactly like the kind of place Americans might eat pancakes.

"It really feels like Goblin Street...."

"It does."

A street that felt distinctly Korean while simultaneously containing pieces of cultures from around the world.

Just as everyone started thinking that the name Goblin Street fit perfectly—

"Huh?"

"Wait...?"

Cheers erupted from the front rows.

People began standing up.

Those in the back rose as well, then immediately screamed.

"Huh?! Ah!?"

"Hey! It's NewBlack!"

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Handsome young men wearing black T-shirts like something they'd wear during a concert encore stepped onto the stage.

"The cutie has arrived~!"

The maknae, wearing the red bandana often seen on celebrities in restaurant variety shows, beamed brightly.

"Hello. Hello, hello...."

"WOOOOOOOAH!"

A handsome man with lean muscle visible beneath his short sleeves bowed repeatedly while waving to the crowd.

Rather than the bear-like image people had imagined, he resembled a sleek wolf.

He's handsome.

Junghyun...!

Then another handsome young man with a slender frame walked onto the stage.

Perhaps because he wasn't wearing makeup, he looked especially pure and delicate.

His ears reddened as he stepped forward.

"King of Singers! King of Singers!"

"It's the King of Singers!!"

People whispered among themselves while watching his face turn red.

"Wow, Ri Hyuk must not be wearing foundation today."

"Look at that blush. So cute...."

Then Biju stepped onto the stage, drawing another explosion of cheers.

The member who could be called the star of the Newniverse cooking special floated forward with graceful steps.

"Woooooah...."

People finally understood why the members always said that everything around Biju seemed to dance.

The stage lights made even the dust sparkle, and whenever Biju passed by, the particles seemed to sway with him.

It felt less like walking and more like gliding effortlessly through water.

"WAAAAAAAAH...."

"Unbelievable. I've never seen NewBlack this close before."

Everyone swallowed nervously as the world's biggest boy band stood before them.

Then—

"!"

"!!"

A man carrying a guitar stepped onto the stage.

Silence fell.

Five full seconds.

And then—

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

"WOOOOOOOAHHHHH!"

A handsome man so striking that he seemed to stop people's breathing for a moment stepped forward.

The venue erupted.

The underlings smiled proudly as they positioned their leader in the center and gathered around him in formation.

"Ahem."

Wooju tapped the standing microphone.

[Ahem.]

His voice immediately echoed through the speakers.

[Is everyone having a good time?]

"YEEEEES!"

[I suppose we should greet you properly. Two, three....]

[Hello! We are NewBlack!]

Thunderous cheers and applause followed.

As NewBlack greeted the audience, the chefs selling snacks drifted toward the production staff area.

"Want Uncle to put you on his shoulders?"

"Yes! Kyaaaaaaa!"

Bobby Ross lifted Luna Cellini onto his shoulders, while the other chefs watched with fascination.

"What a rare sight. A NewBlack performance."

"Did you know? Scalped tickets for the best seats at a NewBlack stadium concert supposedly sell for ten thousand dollars."

"My goodness...."

The chefs raised their phones and began recording.

At the same time, curiosity filled their minds.

Interesting.

They're definitely different from ordinary singers.

They had heard plenty of explanations about NewBlack.

Not merely a popular boy band, but one of the most universally beloved stars in Korea.

Looking at the audience, they finally understood.

The age range is incredible.

Elementary school children.

Teenagers.

College students.

Young office workers.

Middle-aged couples.

Elderly grandparents.

Everyone looked at NewBlack with the same expression.

Affection.

Pride.

Fondness.

A nationally beloved group....

An extremely rare position in modern times.

The chefs found themselves thinking of the great superstars who had existed in the West during the 1960s and 70s.

As NewBlack's status rose another level in their minds—

"Hmm."

"Hmmmm...."

Watching the crowd's reactions, a new idea slowly began forming in their heads.

The mini concert had originally been scheduled to last forty minutes.

"Everyone! You want an encore, right?"

"Encore! Encore!"

"One more song!"

One hour.

"More encore?"

"More!"

"Let's go!"

One hour and twenty minutes.

"Encore?"

"Encore...."

One hour and forty minutes.

Yes.

Only when the audience collectively started thinking Uh... maybe... did the mini concert finally come to an end.

"I want to keep going...."

"We can still do more. What a shame...."

The problem was that we were the ones getting increasingly excited while the audience, who had already spent an entire day exhausting themselves, could no longer keep up.

Still, it was incredibly fun.

Ri Hyuk sang one of his Mission Singer competition songs again.

We took requests.

By the time we'd spent nearly two hours bouncing around like we were at a karaoke after-party, I finally felt my stress melting away.

The endless cheers felt wonderful.

Although...

There had been one slightly embarrassing incident.

-Wooju, you're truly a gain!

-Huh?

-A gain!

After finishing a folk song, I tilted my head at a middle-aged man's shout and unconsciously put imaginary cat ears on top of my head.

-Meow?

-I said gain! A singer-poet! Not cat ears, man!

Even now, I could still hear the audience's laughter ringing in my ears.

Ri Hyuk chuckled.

"It refers to someone who sings well or composes songs well. Similar to a master vocalist or troubadour."

"I knew that. I just misheard him."

"Meow."

"Hey!"

Ri Hyuk fled and hid behind Junghyun.

From behind Junghyun, Ri Hyuk and Jiho alternately popped out like a game of whack-a-mole.

"Meow."

"Meow."

Even Junghyun joined in.

Watching them mock me, I could only shake my head.

At least Biju—

"Kyaahaha!"

—was outright watching the recording and laughing.

Anyway, after finishing Goblin Street's final performance—

"All right. Let's wrap up."

"Wrap-up time!"

We organized the dishes we'd put in the industrial dishwasher before the concert, quickly cleaned the dining area, and closed the restaurant.

"Should we do the accounting back at the lodging?"

"Yes."

We packed our belongings and headed out.

Grrrrrrumble—

"What should we eat? Ramyeon?"

"Sounds good."

"I think I'd still enjoy it even if the noodles get soggy today. Crack an egg into the broth and..."

We were chatting while locking the doors of Goblin Restaurant.

That was when Gu Jaeyoung was waiting for us in the garden.

"Great work, everyone."

"I'm so glad it's over. We seriously thought we were going to die...."

"You all worked hard. Really."

"You too, PD."

We exchanged hugs and patted each other on the back.

Then Director Gu asked,

"You're hungry, right?"

"Yes!"

"I thought so. That's why we prepared something special."

"Huh?"

The moment we followed him into Goblin Street's central plaza—

"!"

"!!"

An avalanche of delicious aromas hit us.

Meat sizzled over open flames.

Tables across the plaza were covered with food.

The chefs waved.

"Come on over! We've been getting everything ready."

"We grilled meat~!"

"I asked Dad to make the dish the oppas like most!"

I nearly burst into tears.

Then Junghyun muttered in shock,

"How did I fail to detect this?"

"You've been smelling food all day. Your nose is probably numb, Junghyun."

"That's dangerous. It reduces my chances of survival."

"...A grave problem indeed. Fortunately, this is twenty-first century civilization, where deadly epidemics are no longer the primary threat."

I patted his shoulder and ran forward with a shout.

Gu Jaeyoung grinned.

"I was thinking about what to prepare for you guys after all your hard work, and one phrase came to mind."

"What?"

"The best meal is one someone else makes for you."

We burst out laughing.

He stroked his beard.

"And if that's true, then meals cooked by the world's greatest chefs must be the best of all."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Thank the chefs. They agreed immediately."

"Thank you~!"

The underlings and I enjoyed the feast together.

Instead of stuffing ourselves with meat as usual, we sampled the chefs' dishes buffet-style.

The atmosphere felt like a joyful festival.

A perfect ending to Goblin Restaurant.

"This is nice."

"It's seriously amazing...."

We drank grape-flavored soda instead of wine and chatted with everyone around us.

The chefs, initially a little awkward, became increasingly talkative after a glass of wine or beer.

Korean chefs mixed somaek and offered it around.

It felt surreal seeing some of the world's greatest chefs—people who would rarely gather in the same place—sitting on scattered chairs and chatting casually.

The festival unfolded around us.

Everyone smiled.

It felt like adventurers celebrating around a campfire after defeating a powerful enemy.

"You guys really worked hard."

"You too, hyung."

We raised our glasses in a toast.

Looking up at a sky unusually full of stars, we all smiled.

It's over.

It's really over.

Goblin Restaurant.

Business officially concluded.

After Goblin Street's operations ended successfully—

While NewBlack celebrated and enjoyed the festival, others were only just beginning their work.

"Hmm."

"Hmmmm."

Government officials and stakeholders connected to Goblin Street now found themselves tangled in complicated considerations.

What do we do now?

NewBlack had fired the starting gun.

The question now was how to operate Goblin Street successfully from here onward.

"...Excuse me?"

The officials blinked in confusion.

One of the world's most famous chefs—Bobby Ross—had contacted them.

"...You want to open a snack stand in Goblin Street?"

Together with the restaurant he planned to establish in Seoul, the chef wanted to invest in Goblin Street as well.

Why?

Why would he...?

And that wasn't the end of it.

One after another, chefs began proposing various investments connected to Goblin Street.

The officials could only stare blankly.

Normally, after a seasonal event ended, operations would continue on a much smaller scale.

That had been their original vision.

A cute, modest little Goblin Street.

Then—

Fwoooooomp—

It started expanding.

The officials who had initially been delighted by their good fortune watched as Goblin Street continued swelling before their eyes.

Uh...?

Uhhhh...?

In their ears, a familiar melody seemed to echo like a hallucination.

Gabi gabi dotgabi

Odokkabi

A place destined to become one of Gurye County's premier tourist attractions.

Against a backdrop of beautiful hanok architecture, visitors would experience snacks and foods from around the world.

At that moment, Goblin Street was truly being born.