My café's opening was just around the corner. I'd finally finalized the menu, and honestly, I couldn't wait to open. But I also knew that once things kicked off, I'd get busy, maybe too busy. So before that happened, I decided to give myself a one-week break.
This would probably be the only break I'd get for a while, especially since I couldn't afford to hire anyone yet. I'd be doing everything myself, cooking, cleaning, serving, the works.
I rode the bus, pulling out my phone as I settled into the seat.
Lately, I'd been getting into reading web novels. I wanted to start something new and finish it before my break ended.
The one I was reading now was about a guy who got dragged into hell through a dungeon and ended up stuck there for years. After surviving the impossible and becoming a king in hell, he finally returned to Earth, only to realize that only a few months had passed here.
He was ridiculously overpowered. Most people were like ants to him.
What I liked most, though, was how he just wanted a simple life. He tried to open a bar and stay out of trouble... but of course, trouble kept finding him.
Poor guy. I could totally relate. Well, minus the OP part.
When the bus came to a stop, I hopped off and glanced around. I still had to walk a bit to get to the park, so I kept reading a few more chapters on the way.
Someone bumped into me, making me drop my bag. The contents spilled onto the sidewalk.
"Sorry," the man said, bowing slightly.
I quickly bowed back. "It's alright."
For a brief second, he just stood still and stared at me.
It wasn't a casual glance.
His eyes lingered too long and still. I felt a chill crawl up my neck.
Creepy.
I shifted my gaze elsewhere, pretending to check my phone. But just before I looked away, something on his hand caught my eye, a faint black tattoo on his finger. A small triangle, barely bigger than a grain of rice. It was so subtle that anyone else would've missed it.
I wouldn't have noticed it either... if he hadn't kept staring.
He looked like he wanted to say something more, but instead, he turned around and disappeared into the crowd without another word.
Weird.
I shook it off, pressing the lock button on my phone as if that would clear the moment from my mind.
Anyway, I finally made it to the park, and the first thing I did was speed-walk to an empty bench. Most were already taken by couples, families, and groups of friends—it was the weekend, after all.
I unwrapped the egg sandwich I'd bought from the convenience store, ready to finally enjoy some peace.
But just as I lifted it to my mouth—
Thud!
A shadow dropped from the sky and landed right beside me.
I flinched so hard I nearly threw my sandwich.
Sitting there like she hadn't just descended from the heavens in broad daylight... was Hyein-nim.
I blinked.
She didn't even look at me. Just sat there, eyes down, breathing heavily like she'd been running a marathon mid-air.
What in the world was Hyein-nim doing?
Should I... say something?
But before I could open my mouth, I noticed her hands.
They were trembling.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She said she was fine, insisted, actually, but I could tell she wasn't. Anyone could tell she wasn't. Her face looked pale, like she'd just seen a ghost and all the blood had drained from her cheeks.
I wasn't especially interested in making her feel better. Everyone hits a point in life where they feel down. But the moment she mentioned a curse, it became my business.
Anyway, I don't even know what I said after that—I just started spouting nonsense the moment I found out someone she knows is cursed.
I want to test my ability.
Somehow or someway, I found myself on the way to her guild—apparently, the guild leader was cursed. I guess the hunter forum really wasn't lying when they said she was.
When we walked into the guild, I could feel the stares of the members on us. Not surprising, considering she's an S-class ranker, one of the top in the country. I somehow keep forgetting that fact.
"I've told her about you. She's waiting inside," Hyein-nim said, and I swallowed nervously.
I was about to meet the guild leader of Baekwha, someone who hadn't made a public appearance in what felt like forever.
It was a bit nerve-wracking.
I stepped inside, shaking, and in front of me were two people. One was a woman standing like a secretary, dressed in a sharp suit. The other was, I'm assuming, the guild leader, Jiyeon.
She looked awful. Like a walking corpse.
"Excuse me..." I spoke quietly, walking toward the chair across from the guild leader.
"Hyein-ah says you might be useful," she said. "But I'm not sure how an F-rank like you would be. If you dare deceive us in any way, you'll be dead."
God... She's scary.
"Uhm... I'd like for it to be just us two. If that's okay?" I glanced at the secretary, who immediately scrunched her eyebrows in disapproval. She definitely didn't like the idea and was clearly suspicious of me.
"If you think for a second—" the secretary started, ready to chew me out, but Hyein-nim dragged her away without a word.
"Please help my sister," she said.
I didn't even say I could...
Once the two of them were gone, I was left alone with the terrifying guild leader, whose sharp eyes never left me, like she was reading every inch of me.
"You're very interesting," she said. "My constellation likes you."
...I didn't like the sound of that.
"I-Is that so? Haha..."
How should I even start this? Do I just tell her? But I don't want this ability to get out. What if it turns out to be some rare skill that makes me so famous that people start locking me up and doing some crazy experiment...
"...Do you like coffee?" I asked her.
She tilted her head in confusion. "Why is that the first thing you—" she cut herself off, pausing for a moment.
From the way her eyes seemed to focus on something invisible, I could immediately tell she was looking at the system.
Was it her constellation?
They're not ratting me out or anything... right?
[ I do not like this human. ]
I pretended I hadn't seen the message and kept my eyes on the guild leader.
"I like coffee, yes. So, what?"
"Please hold my hand," I said, holding mine out toward her.
At first, she didn't move. She just stared at my hand, floating there in the air between us. Then, her eyes flicked to the side again—checking with her constellation, probably—and finally, she placed her hand on top of mine.
For a moment, we just sat there in silence, awkwardly holding hands.
Then, as seconds passed, her expression shifted drastically. Her complexion looked... better. At the very least, she wasn't swaying anymore. The dark veins running under her skin had lightened, and her grip on my hand suddenly tightened.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"W-what?" I stammered, swallowing a very nervous spit. I tried to pull my hand away, but she was crushing my bones and not budging.
"How do you know my constellation? Who are you, really?"
[ Kill this creature. She is annoying me. ]
"You're hurting me..." I whimpered.
Realizing it, she flinched and let go of my hand, clearing her throat in awkwardness.
"Do you have a skill that removes curses? My constellation says to ask you."
"Oh... Well, something like that."
She looked like she wanted to question me more, but thankfully she didn't. However, instead, when the other two came back inside, the shock look on their faces mixed with happy and crying emotion made me feel like I was glad I went here. That I went to check it out.
I've heard rumors that they're all sisters, but they don't look alike at all. Could they be blood-related siblings or just family?
"Thank you.. Thank you," Hyein-nim looked like she was ready to give her life to me, getting on her knees and arms on the floor, her head bowed on the ground. The tears on her eyes were making a pool on the floor...
She doesnt have to do all of that....
"Uh... it's okay. I'm just glad she's all better now..." I replied awkwardly. I wasn't really expecting thanks, since I came here with a different intention.
I just wanted to know if my skill actually worked or not.
"Is there anything you need? Money? A house? A car? Maybe an exclusive contract with our guild?" This time, it was Chiyeon-nim who spoke.
It was a good opportunity to ask for something I wanted. But... was it really right to take money from them when I'd barely done anything?
I don't know...
"I do need money so I can improve my place..." I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. But I forgot—hunters had miraculous hearing. Even a small whisper, from this distance, reached them.
I hope that's okay. . .
"How much do you need? No... how much do you want?" Jiyeon-nim asked.
"U-uh, I mean... I-I have a café I'm looking to renovate. Maybe..." I hesitated. I didn't want to be too greedy and waste their hard-earned money. "1,378,630 won...?"
"What?" Chiyeon-nim and Jiyeon-nim scrunched their brows in displeasure. I knew it. They wouldn't be happy with such a large sum. Maybe I'd overstepped my boundaries.
"Sorry... how about 413,574 won?"
Hyein-ssi stepped closer and held my hands. "My noona's life is worth way more than that. And as our savior, we can't pay you such a small amount. What about ten million won? Maybe twenty million, for now? Our funds are a little short since we've been bringing in healers from the States... Please forgive us."
I think I'm gonna faint. T-ten million won... just to remove a curse?!
"No, no, it's okay! That's a little..." Too much. Way too much.
"Hyein-ah, do you hear her? It's too little. You're right—we shouldn't have asked. Here, take our guild card and spend it on whatever you wish. Our funds are your funds. We trust you with our lives, so please accept it."
Huh?
I stared at the black card being handed to me. It was glowing for some reason, practically blinding me. Was it really this easy to hand someone your guild card without any procedures? W-what about security?! How could they just trust me with something so important?!
"Please, accept it!" Hyein-ssi bowed at a full ninety degrees, leaving me no room to refuse.
"O-okay... thank you..."
What am I even supposed to do with this...?