CH 71

He awakened at the age of 18.

The rare awakening of an A-class Healer, his young age, his status as the son of guild leader of the White Silver Guild, and his splendid appearance … all those factors made his awakening appeared on the headlines.

“Wow, oppa, you’re amazing!”

The admiration of his two-year-old cousin, who often quarreled with him, was enough to excite the young Kwon Jiwoon.

After awakening, because of the training and the interviews, time went by busily. Especially after he entered a dedicated training facility, he had little contact with the outside world.

He thought it didn’t matter. His father trained him to the point where he felt a little impatient, and it was hard to catch up with the progress.

His younger sister was 16 at the time.

Kwon Jiwoon finally realized his position when an incident occured.

Suspicious men attacked the house where they lived at the time, taking advantage of the absence of Kwon Jiwoon and his father, Kwon Seokmin. They were armed with illegal weapons that were not readily available, and they were thoroughly concealed their identities. Further investigations was unable to identify their backgrounds.

It wasn’t a stalker or an accidental offense. It was clear that it was deliberately intended to kidnap Kwon Rieul.

The purpose, surely, is Kwon Jiwoon himself.

That day, Kwon Rieul had gone to their grandmother’s house, probably because she’s bored waiting for her family who rarely returned.

What if Rieul didn’t go to their grandmother’s house and stayed home? Or what if she came home a little earlier?

He felt like he was losing his footing. The day before, he remembered talking about being close to his cousin without much thought.

It may not be directly related, but at that time, Kwon Jiwoon could not escape the idea that Kwon Rieul was almost in danger because of his words.

After that, it wasn’t long before his father went missing.

As he succeeded in his father’s footsteps and took over the guild management, Kwon Jiwoon began to distance himself from Kwon Rieul. He sent his subordinates for security purpose, but just like with any other relatives, there were only a handful of direct contact between them.

“Please take good care of Rieul.”

…. but the idea that they should keep their distance has not changed even now.

Kwon Jiwoon eventually put his phone down from his hand and took a sip of coffee in the cup instead.

“……it’s bitter.”

Since it was left unattended for a long time, lukewarm coffee splashed his mouth.

The coffee that his sister gave him back then was delicious.

Knock knock. The subordinate who came in after knocking handed out some documents.

“Deputy guild leader, these are documents related to next week’s guild leaders meeting.”

“I see … the guild leader of C&L will also come.”

Only the boring stuff continues. Kwon Jiwoon sighed.

***

Beep, beep, beep….

“He’s not answering the phone….”

The signal went on endlessly. I waited a little longer, but there was still no connection, so I put down my phone.

“What’s going on?”

“Huh, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head at Ash’s words and went back to the counter.

The person I just called is Kwon Jiwoon. The last time we met was when the dungeon broke out at the farm, I was concerned that I couldn’t tell the story properly.

However, as expected, the call I made with a big heart was not answered.

Hmm, he must be busy.

‘Well, it’s always been like this…’

There’s nothing to be disappointed about because I didn’t have any expectations.

Anyway, it’s been a few days since Ash started his part-time job at Cafe Rieul. There were still many customers, but the situation has stabilized a lot. At least every night before going to bed, I don’t have to contemplate the meaning of life and work.

He was lying in front of the store when we first met, so I thought he was weak, but Ash did a really good job.

From time to time….

“Why should I, Asmodeus, the Demon King who brings twilight to the world, have to suffer such humiliation?”

“Kukh, if I regain my strength, I will wipe out all human beings.”

“Chocolate Sauce from Hell? No wonder it tastes good, it’s an elegant and wonderful name.”

I’m embarrassed by this eighth grade syndrome.

Well, at that age, let’s respect his worldview.

I bent my knees, made eye contact with Ash, and smiled. I gently stroked Ash’s hair while the boy was planning to wipe out humans with meteor using the sleeping power in his left arm.

“I see. Ash is awesome.”

“….Cih!”

Even though I said nice things, Ash turned his head away with an angry expression.

“Waeooongg (You were wrong this time).”

Why me?!

“Kkyuu, kkyuuu!”

I interpreted Lime’s words with the slime language translator that I had stuck in the drawer.

‘Right, she’s right.’

No, why me?!

Until yesterday, you guys were attacking and bickering with each other, so why are you taking sides at times like this? Suddenly, I felt lonely….

Well, let’s get back to business.

“The menu you ordered is here.”

“Here, next order.”

“I’m done organizing.”

The hand moves without stopping. Although there was no smile and the words he said were short, he finished the work with accurate hand movements and quick actions.

Ugh, it’s so dazzling. I can’t look straight ahead.

Perhaps Ash is the Light and Salt of the cafe part-timer world, and the savior of the single self-employed person.

“Ash, you’re like an angel!”

“…..! What do you mean……! How could you say such an insult to Asmodeus!”

That’s his setting….

“Ah, yes, I understand.”

“Don’t answer half-heartedly.”

“I apologize, Ash-nim.”

“……Hmph!”

He turned his head sullenly, but I saw the corners of his lips rising slightly.

What an unfriendly, cute little guy.

***

It was time to close the business after almost running out of the prepared ingredients for today.

“Ash, I’ll make you a cafe mocha. Let’s rest.”

Nod. Instead of answering, Ash nodded his head and quickly sat down in front of the table. He hummed with his chin up, and when he caught me staring, his face reddened.

“What, wha-what are you listening to!”

“Huh? Nothing?”

“Then … forget it.”

“Hm, hmm, humm, next is heumm, right?”

“……! As expected, you heard it! Go away!”

“Then you don’t need a cafe mocha?”

“What … you’ve already taken out the ingredients, so you can’t throw them away.”

“Ahaha, yes, yes.”

I handed him a cup of cafe mocha with plenty of Chocolate Sauce from Hell, which Ash called an elegant and wonderful name. The moment he took a sip, the bar of light filled up.

He really likes cafe mocha. He tried to drink it with a bad expression every time, but it was obvious.

The cafe door opened when Ash was almost done emptying his cup. The long-awaited guest came.

“Ah, come on in.”

“Eonni, hello.”

“Hello, noo━”

“Don’t call her noona, you idiot!”

“Why only you can call her that, you idiot!”

“I got permission from Eonni!”

They were the twins, Joo Shinwoo and Joo Shinhee, and Ki Yoohyun.

I heard that the twins recently went to a dungeon with high difficulty. What does someone need to do when they come back from a dungeon?

“Meong (What)?”

“It’s Dungeon Detox.”

“Kyakyaoong (No, that’s not it. The dungeon isn’t even poisonous)!”

“Kkyuu!”

It’s poison. It’s not good for your health.

Not long ago, I got caught up in a dungeon again unintentionally, as someone with dungeon trauma and dungeon allergy, I’m pretty sure about what I’m talking about since I also have a recurrence of dungeon phobia.

“Waeoong….”

“Kyuu….”

I could feel the cold gazes on the back of my head.

That’s why, for Dungeon Detox, I closed the cafe a little earlier than usual and invited the twins.

Ki Yoohyun … well, I guess he just came with them as their guardian. Even if I don’t invite him, he’s a person who shows up very often.

“……!”

“……!”

The twins, who were about to enter and sit down, were startled when they found Ash. They looked at Ash with a cautious expression and widened their distance.

Ash also looked at the twins with his signature cynical eyes.

Is it because they’re at the same age? They must be shy.

“This is Ash, who has been working part-time here since last week. Ash, these are Hunter Joo Shinwoo and Joo Shinhee. Please be friendly to each other….”

“…….”

“…….”

No, it wasn’t that they’re shy. It was actually like wild water beasts being wary of each other and measuring the opponents. The moment the fight seems to begin right away and the →+[Attack] is about to fly.

Joo Shinhee ran up to me and hugged my waist.

“We’re Eonni’s closest friends!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jo Shinwoo nodded a beat late.

“We watched anime together. Did she also allow you to call her Eonni?”

“….Cih.”

Ash, who turned his head with a sulky expression, added in a small voice. There was also a subtle, but not completely hidden, smirk on his face.

“I live with her.”

“……!”

“Really?!”

It’s true. Ash looked like he had nowhere else to sleep. When I hired him as a part-timer, I gave him a room on the back of the first floor.

As soon as I said yes, Ash and the twins started a nerve war over me again. Mieum, lying on her belly on the floor, added the observation review.

“Waeoooong (You’re so popular with kids)!”

“Ha, haha…..”

With the kids circling around me, I felt like I have entered an illusion world of Hahaverse.

‘All The Kids in My Store Like Me’, something like that…..?

“You got a part-timer.”

Ki Yoohyun slowly added more words.

“I also wanted to work part-time here. It’s a pity I don’t have the opportunity.”

No, why are you interfering? Besides, how could I use a guild’s Hunter as part-timer….

“Adults like you shouldn’t be jealous of children.”

“….Yes.”

After a long time, I was finally able to separate the twins and Ash and seat the guests in the table.

Instead of coffee, I put a bunch of magic sugar, pots, baking soda, and other ingredients. on the table instead of coffee. There is also a gas burner and a spirit lamp.

Joo Shinwoo asked with his eyes wide open.

“What are you making with this?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Since the twins came to the cafe for the first time in a while, it would be better to try a new menu than the existing one. Dungeon detox requires special experience.

All of sudden, customers began to flock to the cafe, and there were quite a few new recipes. I haven’t finished making it yet because I’m exhausted every day after the cafe is closed.

Huh, in a game, isn’t there a section where the progress is suddenly fast? A section where the level goes up at once or items come in a lot. It feels like I’m in that section.

‘Cafe in My Hand.’

I glanced through the recipe list. Among the many new recipes, there happened to be a good one to enjoy together.

It’s Dalgona Coffee.

In my life before the regression, there was a time when a recipe of the same name was popular. It was a recipe that added sugar and water to instant coffee and stirred it for a very long time.

‘My hands really hurt…….’

Unlike the usual coffee-making, the drink I will be making today has a recipe that requires me to break real dalgona into coffee. I was going to make dalgona for this coffee one by one. After all, it’s fun to make dalgona.

I placed a ladle and the spirit lamp in front of the twins, one at a time. Ki Yoohyun decided to help the twins because it could be dangerous.

In the past, when this place was my grandmother’s store, I was scolded for burning a ladle while trying to make dalgona. After hitting me hard on the back, she told me that’s not how to do it. It reminded me of that time.

“Do you want to try, too, Ash?”

“….it’s fine.”

However, he replied bluntly as if he was not interested.

“Really? I have one ladle left, but there is no one to make it … Ash, can you help me?”

“Then … it can’t be helped.”

Ash quickly picked up the ladle.

Really, he’s really an unfriendly and cute guy.

Translator’s Corner:

Light and Salt (빛과 소금): It is one of the parables that Jesus gave when teaching the Sermon on the Mount. It is taken from the phrases “you are the light of the world” and “you are the salt of the earth.” The meaning of this parable can be seen as living like the light that illuminates the dark world and the salt that purifies the corrupt world.

Dalgona is a Korean candy made with melted sugar and baking soda. It became popular again recently because of Squid Game.