The next morning, the invitation was still there.
Black envelope.
Gold ink.
Smelled faintly of ozone and tax evasion.
I had tried everything. Sticking it in the freezer. Shoving it under the mop bucket. Even giving it to Spicy to incinerate, except the thing just laughed at his flames and floated right back onto the counter.
"You can't avoid it, you know" Dungeon said lazily, half-materializing from the shadow of the snack shelf. It crossed its arms like a smug landlord. "This isn't optional."
"Everything should be optional" I grumbled. "Dentist appointments. Taxes. Family visits and apparently, dungeon networking events."
Dungeon's mouth quirked. "Ah, but this one comes with consequences. Fail to show, and..."
It dragged a finger across its throat.
I gagged. "Could you not do the horror-movie thing first thing in the morning?"
Mirae entered just then, holding a tray of steaming dumplings for the food side of the store. She looked between me, the envelope and the Dungeon, then sighed like a tired older sister.
"Still pretending you can ignore it?" she asked.
"No" I lied.
She set the tray down and crossed her arms. "So. You're going."
I made a face. "Why do you sound so happy about my imminent doom?"
"Because" she said, poking me in the chest, "you need to stop sulking and start acting like the owner of this place. The store's bigger now. You have actual customers who depend on you. Even... goblins."
"HEY!" the Goblin Coupon Gang chorused from behind the counter.
They'd set up a glittery cardboard standee that read: "VOTE MANAGER FOR BEST SHOP" in crooked letters.
"We believe in you, Manager!" one goblin shouted.
"Win big prize, get big coupons!" another added.
Mirae pinched the bridge of her nose. ""...Do I even want to ask?"
"No" I said quickly.
"So what exactly is this meeting?" Mirae asked once the goblins were distracted taping coupons to Spicy's back.
I opened the letter again, reading aloud.
"Annual Dungeon Shop Meet: mandatory attendance for all current contractors, proprietors and bonded dungeons. Formal attire required. Consequences for absence will be... regrettable."
Mirae blinked. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"That sounds... ominous."
"It's always ominous!" I shouted.
"I run a convenience store in a magical murder labyrinth! Ominous is my default!"
Dungeon chuckled darkly. "You'll meet others like you, Hanseok and their dungeons. Some will be curious. Others... less friendly."
"Less friendly?" I repeated.
"Rivalries" it said simply. "Resources are limited. Success breeds enemies. You have done... well."
It said that last part like a warning, not a compliment.
"Well" Mirae said firmly, "you're not going alone."
I nearly dropped the envelope. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I'm coming." She brushed off my protest before I could get it out.
"Someone has to make sure you don't get killed or accidentally sign us up for another expansion loan or sell your soul for instant ramen."
"That happened one time!" I shouted.
"And you still owe me lunch money" Dungeon muttered.
Just when the moment was getting serious, the Goblin Coupon Gang unveiled their "gift."
"Manager! We made you armor!" their leader shouted proudly.
I turned to see them holding what looked like fifty expired coupon booklets glued together into a vest.
"It's enchanted with savings!" one goblin explained.
"Twenty percent defense boost on Tuesdays!" another yelled.
"And the pockets double as snack storage!"
I buried my face in my hands.
Mirae was laughing so hard she had to sit down. Even Dungeon looked dangerously close to smirking.
That night, I finally signed the envelope with a shaky hand. It shimmered, vanished into thin air, and left behind only a single line of glowing script on the counter:
"Attendance confirmed. See you soon."
I exhaled, feeling like I'd just signed my own death certificate.
Mirae set a hand on my shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Spicy hopped onto the counter. "Papa's doomed."
The goblins cheered. "Victory coupons!"
Dungeon, of course, just smirked. "Oh, this will be fun."
And me?
I was already regretting everything.