I looked at my cafe that I stayed up day and night for two days straight, arranging all the bakeries I made inside the glass display.
It wasn't big.
Actually... calling it small would be more accurate.
Four tables inside. Six, if I counted the ones I set up outside for when the weather was nice. And then the counter where people can sit at so they could watch everything being made right in front of them.
I had spent some of my left over funds from quitting my job since I couldn't bear to use the black card Jiyeon-ssi gave. Honestly, it was a little intimidating considering that this thing is something people could never even think about ever owning.
I sigh... it would be nice if I could purchase better curtains and more plants but is it really okay to use the card?
I don't know... I'll think about it later.
"What do you guys think?" I asked the constellations. My eyes drifted to the menu board that showed what drinks we provided.
[ Drinks ]
• Sumi Blend(Hot / Iced)
• Cha cha Matcha
• Vanilla Latte
• Milk Tea
• Honey Lemon Ade
I tapped the chalk lightly and moved down the board, writing the next section.
[ Bakery ]
• Cinnamon Bun
• Blueberry Muffin
• Butter Croissant
• Macaroons
『 Under The Oak Tree 』
Such little availability.
"That's true. But since I'm just a small business, this is more right. Besides, I have no part timers so I'll be doing most of the baking and the brewing."
Most cafés usually have more variety. Seasonal items, signature desserts, things that made people come back just for that one thing. As for mine, I had something special.
[ Today's Special ]
Burnt Basque Cheesecake
"Okay... I should be ready to open." I smiled to myself as I headed for the door, flipping the sign to Open.
Since I was a new business with no promotion whatsoever, and practically hidden among other bakeries nearby, I wasn't expecting any customers.
They say if you keep your expectations low, you won't be disappointed.
"Oh! Are you open now, noona?" Hyein called out, already waiting by the door with Chiyeon.
"Yeah, come in." I smiled, stepping aside to let them through. "Where's Jiyeon-ssi?"
"Ah, Jiyeon noona is swamped with work right now. The national auction is coming up, so she's been running around preparing for it."
The national auction?
The kind of place you could only enter with an invitation or the right connections?
Wow... Jiyeon-ssi is more influential than I thought.
"Is she planning to buy something?" I asked, a little curious.
"Probably. We always attend every year since we got invited. Wouldn't hurt to see what they have."
I see.
"Anyway, what would you like to order?"
They both ordered the special dessert. It seemed like Hyein preferred matcha, while Chiyeon went for a sweet americano.
Since they were my only customers for now, we chatted while I prepared their drinks. I ended up putting a little more care into each step than usual, focusing on getting everything just right.
"How is it?" I asked nervously, watching as the girls took a bite of their cheesecake and paired it with their drinks.
I've been practicing so much lately to improve my baking, and honestly... I think I might actually have a knack for this.
Am I secretly talented at café-related things?
Is that why all my skills are tied to it?
"This..." Hyein paused for so long that I started to get worried. "Wait—this is so good! I need to post this!"
Chiyeon simply nodded with a small smile before completely devouring both her dessert and drink in less than a minute, then immediately ordering another one.
I blinked.
Chiyeon had always seemed more composed compared to Hyein, so seeing her have such a strong sweet tooth was... unexpected.
Just as I was clearing their plates, the door opened again.
Customers.
Familiar ones, actually.
"Hyuk-ah?"
Everyone's eyes widened and turned toward me at once.
"No, but since when did you two get so close?" Chiyeon's grip on her glass tightened, looking like she might crush it at any second.
Chiyeon... please don't break my dishes...
"Yena."
Jinhyuk looked straight at me, and I flinched without meaning to. At the sound of that name, I unconsciously rubbed my thumb against my fingers.
What is wrong with him?
Why would he say that in front of everyone?
"Hey! Who do you think you are, calling our Elena like that?" Hyein snapped, slamming her fist onto the table.
Please don't break my table too...
"I'm here to order an americano," Jinhyuk said flatly, completely ignoring her.
"Americano for me too. Triple shots, please. I'm going to need it," Mr. Kim added dryly. He looked just as worn out as when I first saw him.
Being a guild master must be tough. Fighting...
"Ah, I'll take two of your specials, and just water," Minwoo said casually.
I moved quickly to prepare their orders. Since most of the desserts were already made, it didn't take long.
"By the way, are you going to the auction too, Minnie?" Hyein asked, turning toward Minwoo.
Minnie?
Minwoo turned in his seat. "Yeah. I'm going with Jinhyuk hyung. Why, you want to be partners instead?" he teased.
"You guys know each other?" I asked.
"Ah, noona, we grew up in the same orphanage. We're basically childhood sweethearts~"
Jinhyuk cut in immediately. "Who are you calling noona? Do you want to die?"
Minwoo only grinned wider, completely unfazed. "Wow, you're scary today, hyung. What, you want to monopolize noona?"
"I'm older than you, so it's okaay." I smiled.
Considering his baby face and the fact that he grew up with Hyein, there's no way I'm younger than him.
"See?" Minwoo pointed at me like he had just won. "Elena Noona said it's fine."
"You're asking to die," Jinhyuk said coldly.
"Hyung, you're being too sensitive," Minwoo shot back.
Mr. Kim let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples as he took a long sip of his americano, eyes still fixed on his laptop. "Can you both lower your voices? I haven't slept in two days."
"Jinhyuk, don't you think you're overworking Mr. Kim? Look at him, he looks pitiful." I sighed.
If he's the guild leader, shouldn't he shoulder some of Mr. Kim's responsibilities? Or at least assign someone else to help the poor man?
"He's fine. He loves money and work," Jinhyuk replied nonchalantly.
...but that really didn't look like the face of someone who loved either.
"It's been so long since I've raided a dungeon... I'm starting to miss it," Mr. Kim said with a sigh. Then, under his breath, "Who am I? Where am I?"
"Strangely enough, every time I'm around Ms. Seo, I feel like my energy improves though." He added and the others reacted.
"So it wasn't just me! Elena Noona, do you have some kind of passive ability?"
I choked on my own Americano that I drank.
"W-What?" I coughed, grabbing a napkin and waving my hand. "No, I don't—why would I have something like that?"
"Are you okay?" Hye-in narrowed her eyes.
"Y-yeah I just drank my coffee too fast," I shot back.
"No, but it's true. I feel better too. My fatigue... it's noticeably reduced." Mr. Kim comments.
Please stop talking, all of you.
"You know" Hye-in looked like she was thinking deeply. "It's like when I walked in, I just felt lighter."
Ah.
This is troubling.
And Jinhyuk,
...why is he so quiet?
I avoided their curious gaze, focusing very hard on brewing my own drink.
"It's probably just because you're all tired," I continued. "So even a small change feels big."
"So—" I faltered as a faint tremor rippled beneath my feet, drawing all of our attention. What was that?
"Something's approaching fast." Minwoo said, and the others immediately went on guard. Seeing them this serious made my chest tighten.
There are S-rankers here... what could possibly go wrong? And Jinhyuk is an L-ranker, the strongest hunter in the world!
"Get her out of here!" Jinhyuk shouted, but it was already too late.
The source of everyone's tension appeared before us.
A humanoid monster stood there with a single eye and silver hair that fell over its face like it belonged to something almost human.
Almost.
"...What the hell is that...?" I whispered.
I didn't need to be told.
Even without understanding its strength, I could feel it.
The suffocating pressure in the air... the way everyone's expressions turned grim in an instant...
This thing was dangerous.
No.
It was beyond dangerous.
But what unsettled me the most wasn't the creature. It was the screen.
The system that always appeared in soft blue light—
Now burned a violent red.
『 Run. 』