# Chapter 2 - A Different Toast
The next day, four o'clock in the afternoon.
Jun-ho brought his cart back to Bujeon-dong.
But today, something was different.
Since waking up that morning, his head had been filled with knowledge.
Griddle temperature.
Bread thickness.
The amount of margarine.
The ratio of eggs to cabbage.
The order in which to add the carrots.
When to flip the eggs.
Even the precise amounts of sugar and sauce needed to keep the sweet, salty, savory, and sour flavors from overpowering one another.
It all felt like knowledge he had practiced for decades.
"Hey, Jun-ho."
Kim Man-sik looked at him from his fortune-telling table.
"You've blinked dozens of times since you got here. Are you possessed?"
Jun-ho glanced at him. "Uncle Kim, you can count how many times I blink?"
"A gwansang expert never misses even the slightest change."
Jun-ho pointed at the stain of sauce on the man's cheek.
"Then why didn't you notice the gochujang on your face?"
Kim Man-sik hurriedly wiped his cheek.
"...I was testing your powers of observation."
"Sure you were."
The school bell rang from the elementary schools around the area.
The vendors immediately began preparing.
Parents started arriving.
Some children walked out holding their mothers' hands.
Before long, the tteokbokki and fish cake vendors were busy.
Lines also formed at the other toast carts.
Jun-ho waited.
Five minutes.
No customers.
Ten minutes.
Still no one.
"Hot toast!"
He began calling out.
"Original Toast, 3,500 won! Ham Toast, 4,000 won! Ham and Cheese Toast, 4,500 won!"
A mother walked past him carrying toast from another cart.
The female vendor not far away chuckled.
"That young man is still selling?"
One of her customers replied, "I bought from him once."
"How was it?"
"Well... once was enough."
Jun-ho heard them.
'That's brutal.'
Kim Man-sik laughed without bothering to cover his mouth.
"Become my apprentice. I guarantee you'll make more money."
"I'd rather go broke honestly."
"You disrespectful little brat."
Just as Jun-ho was about to lose heart, a young woman stopped in front of him.
She was wearing a white blouse and black skirt, and carrying an office bag.
"Excuse me."
Jun-ho immediately straightened up.
"Yes!"
"One Ham and Cheese Toast."
"Certainly. 4,500 won."
The woman looked around.
"There's no line here, so please make it quickly. I have to get back to the office."
The words cut deeper than she realized.
Jun-ho forced a stiff smile.
"Of course."
He picked up a slice of bread.
The moment his hand touched the spatula— something changed.
His body moved naturally.
He melted a small amount of margarine.
He poured the egg mixed with cabbage and carrots onto the griddle at the perfect thickness.
Sizzle!
The oil began crackling immediately.
Jun-ho shaped the egg into a square without a single wasted motion.
Kim Man-sik stopped playing with his fortune-telling cards.
"Huh?"
Jun-ho flipped the egg.
Exactly once.
The ham went in.
He toasted the bread on the other side until it turned golden brown.
A little sugar.
Ketchup.
Special sauce.
He placed the cheese on at precisely the right temperature, letting it melt without making it too greasy.
The woman watched as well.
"Your movements are different today."
Jun-ho himself had no idea how to answer.
His hands kept working.
Less than three minutes later, the toast was finished.
Jun-ho froze.
In his hands was a golden Gilgeori Toast with a crispy exterior.
The egg, cabbage, ham, and cheese were arranged perfectly.
Its aroma rose with the hot steam.
Kim Man-sik stood up from his chair.
"Jun-ho."
"What?"
"Are you sure you made that?"
"I'm wondering the same thing."
The woman was taking a phone call and didn't see their expressions.
Jun-ho slipped the toast into a paper wrapper.
When the woman returned, its savory aroma filled the air.
She paused for a moment.
"That smells amazing."
Jun-ho almost told her that the aroma was coming from her order.
But she had already handed him the money.
"Thank you."
She took the toast and hurried away.
Jun-ho watched until she disappeared.
Ding!
The system panel appeared.
[Mastery successfully used.]
Jun-ho stared at his hands.
Then he looked at the cart.
Then at his spatula.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"This..."
He picked up another slice of bread.
"...might really change my life."
But five minutes passed.
There were no new customers.
Jun-ho stared at the empty street in front of his cart.
His smile disappeared.
"At least give me someone to test it on first."
Kim Man-sik burst out laughing.