CH 45

“What is this? Woah … cups?”

The bag was full of disposable paper cups and plastic cups. At a rough estimate, it looked like 500 each.

However, it wasn’t an ordinary cup. The name ‘Cafe Rieul’ stamped on the center of the cup caught my eye.

“You told me that you’re opening a cafe soon. I made it because I thought you would need a takeout cup.”

“Thank you, Grandma!”

After all, not all customers drink in the cafe. I didn’t think of a take-out customer, but it was a must-have item.

[Item: Custom Takeout Cup (★★☆☆☆) x 1000

Type: Disposable Cup

Note: Preserve the condition of the drink. (2:00:00)]

Not only that, but it also had a good effect. The retention time of drinks made with skills is only 30 minutes. However, if I put it in this cup, I can keep the drink for a longer period of time.

“If it’s not enough, tell me anytime. I will make more for you.”

“Ahahaha … please do it then.”

500 for hot drinks, 500 for cold drinks. A total of 1000 cups. In addition, this quiet place is in front of the Great Dungeon Abyss..

The day come when I use up all these cups…..

Hm …. In about three years?

“It’s a wonderful place.”

“Haha … Thank you.”

Grandma, who looked around the cafe, admired it lightly.

In fact, it was quite crowded in the store now. On one side, I was roasting coffee in a roaster, and on the other, I was solidifying the sap of dungeon sugarcane.

Mieum and Lime, who just finished eating, even ran around the floor. Seriously, don’t run, I’m surprised.

“Kyuu, kyuuuuu!”

“Meoooong!”

Tadadak. Tong, tong, tong.

………………………………………………..

Embarrassed, I quickly turned away.

“Ah! Silly me. I haven’t even served coffee yet. Grandma, what do you like?”

“Well, then I’ll have a sweet and cool one.”

“Okay!”

Sweet and cool. I thought about it for a while while looking at the recipe list. There’s ice cream coffee, but it’s better to make a new menu.

Yeah, I’ve decided. I checked and found all the ingredients. I decided to make an iced caramel macchiato.

Cold drinks were also not much different from hot drinks in the way they were made. Add caramel syrup, ice, and cold milk, then froth the milk separately and place it on the glass. Then, pour in the espresso and sprinkle with caramel drizzles.

I handed the finished drink to Grandma.

“Grandma, here’s the iced caramel macchiato.”

“Thank you … ah.”

While taking the glass, Grandma looked out of the window.

“What’s wrong? What’s there … ah.”

The sky, which was clear in the morning, suddenly turned gray. Then, one by one, snowflakes fell from the sky and soon began to pour.

Already … the first snow?

It’s only the end of October. I thought there would be some more time until the first snow fell.

I looked up at the sky in bewilderment at the earlier-than-expected snow, and my phone vibrated loudly.

It was an ominous notification.

***

Ki Yoohyun made his way through the narrow alleyway without hesitation.

“Wait, let’s go together, guild leader!”

“He told us not to call him a guild leader outside!”

“That’s not the point now!”

There is no time. The twins Joo Shinwoo and Joo Shinhee quickly chased after Ki Yoohyun, who had already become so far away.

The surrounding area was an ordinary villa village. Although it is far from the subway station, the rent is so cheap that it becomes a neighborhood where mainly students and young office workers live.

On the road leading to similar villas, Ki Yoohyun moved his legs without hesitation.

How long did he walk? Soon, he stopped walking in front of a building.

“…..”

The twins who followed Ki Yoohyun immediately opened their mouths.

“Is the suspect here?”

“The bad guy who’s trying to kill an old lady!”

“However, a simple attempted murder would be investigated by the Dungeon Management Office. Guild leader … no, is there a reason why Hunter-nim is looking for it himself?”

“You idiot! Guild leader … no, Hunter-nim is trying to kill that bad guy himself!”

“Are you stupid? Guild leader … no, do you think that Hunter-nim is as mindless as you?”

His head was throbbing.

“….Quiet.”

At Ki Yoohyun’s words, the twins shut their mouths. He rolled his eyes and look around.

As he walked up the stairs of the deserted villa, Ki Yoohyun was lost in thought.

The incident in which Craftsman Kim Deokyi was attacked also happened in the past timeline. However, the timing was different. In the first timeline, it was a few months later, so he let his guard down.

How foolish of someone like him, who even returned to the past.

Ki Yoohyun recalled the image of Kwon Rieul, who smiled while saying that she’s okay, even though she had burns on her palm. It wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t escorted her into the workshop.

…. So, the wound is his own responsibility.

While looking at the scene in such regret, he found a weapon dropped there.

It wasn’t an ordinary knife. Although the grade was low, it was a sword dedicated to hunters that had a good length of use. The sword’s handle was engraved with a name. It’s as if it’s there for someone to find it.

Still, no matter how stupid the criminal is, he will not be thoughtless enough to abandon a weapon with his name on it. It was highly likely that someone left it on purpose.

Furthermore, the unique ether on the weapon was weighing on his mind.

Dark, black … unpleasant ether. He had smelled something like this somewhere. Although it was a small amount, his sensitive senses did not miss it.

‘Then … the owner of this sword may not be safe already.’

The destination was the top floor.

He knocked on the door and at the same time read the etheric flow through the door, but there is no sign of activity inside. Ki Yoohyun opened the door without delay.

“Nobody’s here.”

“This … it’s like an armor.”

Joo Shinhee picked up a clothes from the messy floor. It has a colorful design reminiscent of a peacock.

“….We are a step late.”

“Did he run away?”

“The wanted will be issued soon, so it appears that he has fled.”

The room was a mess due to the daily necessities and clutter. The owner appeared to have left home in a hurry after causing the incident.

Or made it look like that.

There’s only one way. He doesn’t want to use it that much because it’s dealing with causality and everything.

Ki Yoohyun sighed lightly and looked around the small room.

“Stay away.”

“…..!”

The twins took a couple of steps back with a nervous expression. After confirming that they were far enough apart, he used the skill.

His skill name, The Power of White Light.

It is a unique skill that placed Ki Yoohyun at the top of the ranking. However, few people know exactly what skill it is. Only the fact that it deals with space was known.

It was the first time for twins who hadn’t been in the guild for a long time to actually see them.

[The Blessing of ███ ██ applies.]

[Skill: The Power of White Light (S) is activated.

[※ Caution: Excessive intervention may be resisted by causality.]

At the next instant, the mass of the air changes. Although it was definitely the same space, the air was heavy unlike before. The twins felt as if a transparent curtain was blocking them.

Fine particles of light surrounded the entire room, and soon the extended senses began to read information.

There is only one thing. The ether buried in the sword found at the scene.

[Matching information found.]

Ki Yoohyun picked up an object that had been thrown away unnoticed in one corner of the room.

It was a small ornamental decoration that usually attached to a sword. The moment he saw the clear star shape carved in the center, Ki Yoohyun’s eyes became fierce.

“…..Guild leader?”

No matter how long time has passed, there is no way he can’t recognize this. This is the symbol of the Stellar Wisdom Order..

It’s a clear evidence that the enemy has already begun to move.

The moment the corner digs into his skin, who’s grasping the decoration tightly and forgetting about the pain….

“….Oh!”

Joo Shinwoo looked out of the villa’s window and sounded surprised.

“What’s wrong with you? … Ah.”

It snowed. The clear sky was cloudy before they knew it, and thick snowflakes fell.

“It’s a special day. The first snow is already here. It’s a bit fast.”

“Ugh, there’s going to be traffic.”

Ring. Suddenly, their phones vibrated.

[Safety Guide Notice <Dungeon Management Office>]

Today at 13:17, an F-Grade rift occurred in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon.

Residents in the vicinity are requested to evacuate as soon as possible, and please use the detour road as it is under two-way traffic control.]

The tension that had been around for a moment soon subsided. Grade F rifts are not uncommon, and the risk is low. The response team of the Dungeon Management Office alone will be sufficient to rescue victims and stabilize the dungeon.

But as soon as they saw the next message that came one after another, they all froze.

[Safety Guide Notice <Dungeon Management Office>]

The rift in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon has been upgraded to Grade A. It’s presumed to be a dark attribute mutation dungeon.

Crisis alert has been raised to “Severe”.

The area is scheduled to be closed, please evacuate as soon as possible.]

“Uh, uh, what should we do?”

“A-grade attribute mutations like this …  I’ve never seen something like this before.”

“It’s a dark attribute. The location is also very bad. People … uh, what should we do?”

“Hunter Joo Shinwoo, Hunter Joo Shinhee.”

The twins, who were pale and bewildered, came to their senses at Ki Yoohyun’s call.

His dark eyes sank coldly, and there was no agitation in his expression.

The twins’ earlobes reddened at the thought that the guild leader, whom they had long admired, showed such a calm yet unsightly appearance.

“Haa, this isn’t the time to be leisurely looking for the culprit. Let’s go back to the guild right away.”

“Yes!”

Before leaving the villa, Ki Yoohyun once again grabbed the star-shaped decoration tightly.

His heart was beating wildly.

***

I picked up my phone that was constantly vibrating.

Even unlocking the phone was difficult because my fingertips were shaking. I could only check the text after sliding my hand several times.

[Safety Guide Notice <Dungeon Management Office>]

A-Grade dungeon shockwave occurred in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. The area is under lockdown. Evacuate as soon as possible.]

Several texts poured out over a short period of time all informed the crisis.

I immediately called Choi Yichan, but he didn’t pick up the call.

I knew this day would come and I imagined this moment several times, but I couldn’t calm down my nervousness.

Wait … what time is it now? What time was it when I handed the pendant to Choi Yichan yesterday?

The condition for acquiring the skill ‘The Light that Illuminates The Darkness’ is to possess the item for 24 hours. The time is close. If 24 hours hadn’t been passed yet, he wouldn’t have gotten the skill.

Inside the dungeon, the situation changes rapidly every minute and every second.

If it’s too late to acquire the skill and the same thing happens again…..

“Miss Rieul, are you okay?”

“…..”

“Miss Rieul!”

I barely raised my trembling head to the sound of Grandma calling.

Swoosh, something came into my mouth.

When I unintentionally picked it up, it turned out to be the straw of the iced caramel macchiato.