CH 48

A red brick building built on a deserted road.

There was a man watching the cafe located 3 minutes away from the Dungeon Gate of the Great Dungeon Abyss.

His age is early 40’s. The recorder and camera were hidden in a vest with several pockets. There were also a cannon phone and a fake ID in his bag.

Due to frequent overtime work, the area under his eyes were dark and the beard grew jagged on his chin. There’s also a peculiar scar on his forehead.

However, only his eyes were gleaming as he looked around.

‘It must be there.’

The man’s name is Kim Taewoon. 42 years old, single. His occupation is a reporter for the weekly magazine Hunter Scope.

Hunter Scope is famous for its Hunter paparazzi, groundless rumors, and gibberish gossip. It is a weekly magazine that cannot be said to be high quality information source.

Kim Taewoon also made money by covering such frivolous rumors. He receives money and writes articles that the client wants. It’s a standard and exemplary giraegi. When it comes to money, the ethics of journalists are not taken into account.

However, not long ago, an ugly rumor came into Kim Taewoon’s ear. Some guilds smuggle special monsters from dungeons.

At that moment, his reporter’s hunch shone. This is a big deal. If he digs this properly, he can get rid of the stigma of being a yellow press journalist.

…. or he can rip off a generous sum of money by keeping his mouth shut.

The news he heard while investigating the rumors one by one was the birth of a new S-class Hunter.

Now that everyone is curious about this sacred S-class, the coverage is a race of speed. Kim Taewoon immediately began investigating Choi Yichan by all means.

And he found out that the Hunter went to and from the cafe in front of that dungeon gate every day. Paparazzi, no, it was the result of a field investigation.

‘Well, it’s worth stepping back.’

Anyway. The fact that an S-class hunter was suddenly doing a part-time job at a cafe, not doing anything else, gave off a strange smell.

S-class! There are fewer than ten S-class hunters in Korea. Whatever you do, you will make more money than that.

An S-class hunter who wants neither money nor power?

‘There can be no such thing. I’m sure he’ll do something bad in the back.’

Kim Taewoon himself is an F-class hunter. The darkness of the Hunter industry has been deeply affected him. In addition, due to his long career as a journalist, he has become a cynical person who does not believe in human goodness.

His long-forged, sharp sense of a reporter shone.

Come to think of it, there were reports that the smugglers were using cafes and shops as a hideout. There was also information that a fairly high-ranking Hunter was behind them, so they couldn’t easily dig it up. While following Choi Yichan, he once found a suspicious person. Unfortunately, he missed it.

Each piece of information seems far apart at the first glance, but when you put them side by side, they pointed to one answer.

If it’s big enough for an S-class hunter to move directly, it must be a smuggling of a rare monster, the ‘Long-tailed Phoenix‘.

Yes, that place is definitely the hangout of the smugglers.

So, Kim Taewoon was currently in the process of infiltrating Cafe Rieul.

Choi Yichan just went into the cafe. Clearly, there must be something in that place.

‘Damn it … I can’t see what’s going on inside.’

He hid himself in a close spot, but Choi Yichan can’t be seen because he was covered by an exquisite angle.

The secret camera and recorder, which are artifacts for coverage, are always useless at times like this.

“…..”

“…..”

He waited for a long time, but there was no news from inside.

Gulp.

Kim Taewoon raised his body.

You can’t rely solely on these artifacts to catch the scoop. A journalist is a person who runs on his own feet.

‘That’s a cafe … in that case.’

It would be natural to approach it by pretending to be a customer.

Kim Taewoon approached the cafe, pretending to be an ordinary customer.

Ring. The bell hanging on the door rang to announce the arrival.

“….”

But the moment he entered, an awkward silence fell. A pair of careful eyes glanced over him.

‘Bingo.’

As expected. It looks like an ordinary cafe, but it’s fake. It’s a space with a different purpose, so they’re wary of new customer.

Sometimes a lie is more plausible than the truth. Kim Taewoon could not have guessed the truth that Rieul was only thrilled because he was the first (not an acquaintance) guest who came on the opening day.

With a natural step, he opened the door and looked through the menu.

“Ah, welcome!”

Quickly, the owner of the cafe approached the counter. She was a woman with a soft impression and a normal atmosphere.

Huh, this kind of person was involved in illegal monster smuggling in the shadows. Kim Taewoon’s eyes became sharp.

“Would you like to order?”

“Then, I’ll have this.”

Kim Taewoon pointed to any menu on the menu board.

What’s unusual is that the price is set in ruby. Maybe it’s some kind of password.

The S-class hunter, Choi Yichan, was sitting alone in a seat near the counter. Kim Taewoon looked at him carefully. After all, he intended to investigate him by pretending to be an ordinary customer.

After paying 2 rubies without hesitation and sitting down, the menu came out soon. It was an iced Americano and cookies.

He didn’t really want to eat it, but he could feel the owner’s gaze from behind.

“…..!”

When their eyes met, she turned her head and avoided. No matter how you look at it, there is a hint of doubt about this. If he doesn’t eat, he will look suspicious.

“Mmm….”

Kim Taewoon first took the butter cookie. The sweet smell of sugar and butter made his stomach hungry. Come to think of it, he skipped lunch. As if attracted by the smell, he took a bite of the cookie.

Crispy.

The cookie with plenty of sugar and butter melted softly in his mouth.

Once he ate, he couldn’t stop his hands. As the sweetness filled his mouth, he took a sip of the iced Americano. Originally, he didn’t like coffee very much, but it went well with these cookies.

One bite of a cookie, another sip of coffee.

The empty stomach filled up and the head calmed down. The migraine that had always bothered him has subsided. Feeling sad that the cookie plate was empty, he raised his head.

“……!”

Before he knew it, Choi Yichan had disappeared. He was also meticulous to leave without any noise.

‘Shh, I missed it.’

Kim Taewoon thought as he bit his tongue in frustration.

Then, he’ll have to come back tomorrow.

He couldn’t figure out which one was greater: the regret of the loss or the joy of eating these cookies again.

***

On the first day of Cafe Rieul, I was very happy.

That’s because a customer came to the cafe. It’s not someone I know, but a “real customer”.

It was a man in his 40s wearing a fishing vest and a field jumper over it. It’s obvious that he’s passing by and he’s like, “Huh? There’s a cafe here. Shall I take a short break?”. He’s that kind of customer!

As expected, thanks to the signboard, the cafe seems to have stood out.

I was excited to finally have a first customer.

“Waeoooong (When did you say that you didn’t want to work hard)?”

“That’s one thing, this is another matter.”

I don’t intend to work hard, but the fact that there are no customers in my newly opened store … it made me feel sad.

Choi Yichan, who saw a customer coming in, sneaked up and sat in a corner. I felt sorry for his unwillingness to be noticed.

Anyway, this monumental first guest ordered the ‘Iced Americano and Butter Cookie Set’ with a blunt expression on his face.

That’s right, it has a stress-reducing combo effect, so it’s a perfect menu for tired people.

The menu was quickly prepared and handed out to the customer. And, anxiously, I watched the customers eat the menu.

“…..!”

Oh, our eyes met. I quickly averted my gaze with embarrassment. I was curious about his impressions, but it’s rude to stare at the customer too much.

The customer also came to the cafe the next day.

The next day, and the next day…….

[Cumulative Sales: 12 Rubies]

Thanks to this, the sales were gradually gathering.

I was happy to have a regular customer for a while.

“Huum…..”

“Kiyaoo, why are you like this!”

“Huum…..”

I have a new problem. It’s because of the regular customer in question.

“That man, he must have a different purpose. Waeooong.”

“Kyuu!”

At Mieum’s outrageous remarks, Lime added a cry of agreement.

“Meooong, he comes at the same time every day and order the same menu. It’s suspicious!”

“Kyuu, kyuuuu!”

“Maybe he’s just a big fan of butter cookies.”

“Waeoong!”

Pakpak!

Mieum lifted her front paws and punched me. Haha, but now I can avoid it without looking. Mieum, who missed a shot in the air, said again.

“Who will come all the way to the Dungeon Gate like this every day just because he likes butter cookies! Meoong, I bet he’s coming because he has a different purpose.”

That’s true, but…….

“Different purpose, what can it be?”

“That man must be a member of the Dungeon Smuggling Organization, kiyaooo! He chose this place as a place to make a deal, avoiding other people’s eyes. But the other party he was supposed to make a deal with had already betrayed him. He comes here every day, unaware of that fact, meooong…..”

“What’s the evidence?”

“It’s the feeling of this body!”

…. I shouldn’t have asked.

No wonder she watched “Midnight Mystery Drama, The Whereabouts of the Missing Hunter” until late last night. That’s the story of the drama.

I opened the oven while thinking that I should refrain this imaginative cat from watching the drama in the future. A sweet and savory smell sprang up. Just when the freshly baked butter cookies are transferred onto the plate, there was the sound of the door opening.

Speaking of the devil.

“Oh, welcome!”

“This one, please.”

Today, at the same time, this customer came and ordered the same menu and sat down at the same seat.

Choi Yichan broke a cup today and went out, saying he would return without strength. The customer sneaked a look at Choi Yichan’s usual place, but without saying anything, he accepted the iced Americano and butter cookies.

As the customer took a bite of the cookie and drank the coffee, a twinkling bar appeared above his head.

The bar was filled with light …. and it stopped.

‘It’s the same today….’

This is my concern.

The bar of light that represents the satisfaction that rises above this guest’s head. It’s about 60 percent based on eye measurement. It stopped at the same level every day with only slight differences.

In other words, this customer is not completely satisfied with the menu.

Maybe the coffee doesn’t taste good?

No, it can’t be.

I had such doubts for a while, but the chances are low. Iced Americano and butter cookies are in perfect condition today.

Then what on earth is unsatisfactory about this menu?

The customer had an atmosphere that was somehow difficult to approach and had an expression of ‘don’t talk to me’. But today, I decided to be brave.

“Excuse me, sir, maybe … do you not like the menu?”

Translator’s Corner:

Giraegi (기레기) is a compound word of 기자 (gija: means a journalist, reporter and editor) and 쓰레기 (tsuraegi : means a trash). It refers to a person who significantly lowers the level of journalism with false facts and exaggerated inflated articles in Korea and has a significant lack of expertise as a journalist.