I opened the door to my building, strangely feeling a little bit at ease now that I was back here.
It hadn't even been that long since I moved in, yet this place already felt like home.
Maybe it was because I just came back from hell.
How was I supposed to know it was an S-rank dungeon? I thought S-class meant something a little more... chaotic, scary, life-threatening. Like a pool of lava with only narrow rocks to walk across. One wrong move and you'd be toast. Literally. I expected to be sweating so badly that my skin would start melting off.
Instead, I got chased around a cold, damp maze with a terrified kid screaming in my ear and the scent of monster drool permanently seared into my memory.
Still... at least I made it out. Just a burn on my back and legs that feel like I climbed a hundred floors.
After getting discharged, I stopped by the boy's room. He was okay. Nothing serious, just in shock. Which made sense. I was the adult, and I was barely holding it together.
His mother was already there when I arrived.
Apparently, she'd lost sight of him at the grocery store for just a moment. Turned around, and he was gone.
She looked for him, searched the aisles, called his name, but never realized a dungeon portal had spawned right outside the store.
It wasn't until the announcement came that she understood what had happened. Should I call her lucky? That she went towards the back exit instead?
When the raid team pulled survivors out, she was crying so hard I thought she might collapse.
She thanked me over and over, bowing until her back must've hurt, her voice trembling with relief.
But honestly... I was glad. That kid had someone waiting for him. A warm house, a worried mom, probably a stuffed rabbit or two in his bed.
She handed me a business card before I left. She said to call if I ever needed anything. I shoved it in the pocket of my pants. Not that I'd ever use it. That would be... burdensome.
I'd rather not meet again.
Kind people like her make you feel small in a good way. Like you're not sure if you deserve their thanks, but you're glad someone like them exists in the world.
I closed the door behind me, kicked off my shoes, and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
"Ugh... I think I just aged ten years." I mumbled.
The ceiling stared back at me. For a few minutes, I just lay there, soaking in the peace and quiet.
No sounds of stomping and shaking or the screams of monsters. No system messages. Nothing.
『 ૮( '• ˕ •' )ა 』
...Okay, almost no system messages.
"Leave me alone," I muttered, rolling onto my side. "If you're not gonna tell me anything about you then don't talk to me."
I peeked above my pillow, just in case it gave me another emoticon that might just be my signal for a 'yes' but there was nothing again.
Seriously, "Would it hurt you to answer? I strive for a peaceful life. Even if I find out what you are, who am I gonna tell, hmm?"
Aish. Whatever.
Let's check my rewards first.
『 You have escaped the S-Rank Labyrinth Dungeon.
Rewards Earned:
‣ +2 Luck
‣ Skill Acquired: Blessed From Coffee! 』
What's this?
『 Skill: Blessed From Coffee! (U) 』
『 Passive – Activated through touch.
When the user comes into physical contact with a cursed individual, the curse may be lifted, only if they genuinely like coffee. 』
Another useless unique ability?
Well... I guess it's not completely useless.
At least clearing an S-rank dungeon comes with something.
I sigh and I opened my status window. I'd never really looked at my stats before, mostly because I assume it'd be depressing.
But I did survive an S-rank. I can at least peek at it.
『 Name: Seo Elena
Rank: F
Title: Owner of ██ (U), ??? (Locked)
Constellation: N/A
Abilities: Gentle Heart (U), Blessed From Coffee (U)
Stats
— Strength: 5
— Agility: 7
— Vitality: 7
— Focus: 14
— Luck: 21 ▲
— Me▓▓▓▓ S▓▓▓: 3% 』
...Hm?
What the heck is that?
Why is that part blocked out? Is the system glitching? And what do you mean locked? Why is it locked? Arghh! Is this system purposely frustrating me?
Forget it. There's no use to thinking about it too much.
Still—what's with these stats?
Everything else is weak, and my strength is basically nonexistent. I could probably get knocked over by a strong breeze.
But my luck... that's ridiculously high.
Am I supposed to be happy about this?
What am I, blessed by the RNG gods? Should I try hitting the lottery with this?
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
Inside a dungeon, a man with dead eyes fought alone.
Black and white swords were strapped to his back in an X, untouched, because he didn't need them.
He used only his fists, tearing through monsters with terrifying ease inside the A-rank dungeon.
A few meters away, a man stood still, completely unharmed, casually scrolling through an iPad.
Kim Taewon. A-Class hunter. Known for his speed, but right now, he's not even lifting a finger.
"Guild Master," Taewon called out.
"Speak." The guild master replied with a cold tone.
"A newly awakened hunter in Korea went missing a couple days ago. He was an A-rank awakener, unaffiliated."
"Who reported it?"
"They say it's his mother. She last saw him by the noodle stand at Mirang District where the dungeon opened."
"..."
The guild master said nothing.
Instead, he stepped forward and crushed the skull of a charging beast with a single punch.
"We're going to Mirang."
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
"Hey, if you're not gonna tell me anything about the system, then can't you help me which numbers are the winning numbers?"
No answer.
I exhaled, standing behind the counter of my future café, sleeves rolled up, hair tied in braids on the side, and surrounded by a ridiculous number of coffee cups lined up like soldiers, each one filled with a slightly different version of the same drink: an americano.
Today's mission was to finalize my Americano recipe.
People always underestimated it. They treated it like the lazy man's coffee. Just hot water and espresso, right?
But an americano lives and dies by how it's made. The ratio, the order you pour, even the beans and the roast—it all matters. I've loved this drink for years, and I've gotten good at making it my way. But now that I was going to sell it, I had to think beyond just what I liked.
I liked mine dark and bitter, with a triple shot and no sugar. Just enough strength to bring me back to life on a bad morning, really.
But customers have different tastes.
Some would want it mild. Some sweet. Some would ask for milk, even though that technically turned it into something else entirely. And don't even get me started on the people who'd ask for sugar before they even tasted it.
I brought the latest version to my lips. Double shot. 1:2 water ratio. Reverse pour—water first, then espresso to preserve the crema. Slightly floral beans. Not bad. Actually... this one might be a winner.
Still, I scribbled a quick note in the margin of my notebook:
Offer a basic version + customizable options.
I wanted people to actually taste the coffee. Maybe I could add a small card next to each drink explaining the flavor profile and how to adjust it. Something friendly, not too complicated.
...That's too much. I'd probably lose business on the first day.
I let out a sigh and dropped my head onto the counter with a dull thud.
Right then, the oven dinged behind me.
The cinnamon rolls must be done.
I pulled the tray out of the oven and placed it carefully on the counter. Half the rolls were coated in a shiny vanilla glaze, still slowly dripping down the sides, while the other half were left bare, just in case someone preferred less sweetness.
I pinched off a piece from the edge and popped it into my mouth and nearly shivered.
This is surprisingly good?
I'd always assumed making desserts would be harder than coffee, but it turns out the rolls were the easier part. At least, that's one priority task off the list.
I was reaching for the coffee when a barely-there tremors beneath my feet. My balance shifted just slightly and I froze.
It was faint, but it was definitely there.
...Please don't tell me that was the dungeon again.
"Nope. Not going. I'm just gonna ignore that."
『 New Quest! 』
I stared at the blue screen in front of me, and raised my brow. What? Why are you giving me a quest now? Leave me alone!
"I'm not doing it. I see nothing. I hear nothing. I feel not—"
The ground shook again, but a little more noticeable this time.
『 (˶˃⤙˂˶) 』
"So now you want to speak to me?"
『 ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧』
I sigh, "Do I even have a choice at this point?"
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
I stared at the staircase beneath me.
This isn't a bad idea... right?
The system is mostly trustworthy.
I mean, it did help me survive an S-rank dungeon. That's gotta count for something.
Strangely, the same system that was always nagging me to hurry up was now completely silent—as if walking down these steps on my own made it lose interest.
It's still surreal, though.
A dungeon beneath my café.
But there weren't any monsters last time, so... it should be fine.
Eventually, I reached the familiar space below. The soft, ethereal glow from the lake bathed the small area in light.
The pedestal in the center, previously empty ever since I'd taken the coffee grinder, now held something again.
...?
I narrowed my eyes.
"Are you doing this?" I asked the system.
No response.
I stepped closer and picked up the object.
A simple, silver coffee mug. Something that you can probably buy online for cheap. Still, it was perfect for an office job. Just drink coffee on this thermal cup while you're working and it suddenly heals you.
But I'm not a corporate worker anymore...