<Episode 11>
Where am I?
The sharp smell of disinfectant snapped Ria awake, and she bolted upright from her seat.
‘Ugh, I shouldn’t get up this suddenly.’
She instinctively braced herself for the headache that would follow and held her head. But then…
“…It doesn’t hurt?”
The pounding headache that used to hammer at her brain was gone. The occasional ringing in her ears, too. Even her sore, aching eyes felt smooth, as if they had been oiled.
What on earth is going on?
As she blankly retraced the situation, a doctor approached, checking her chart with a smile.
“You were asleep for a whole day. After resting well, your fatigue must have eased quite a bit, right?”
“…I was asleep that long?”
“Yes. So deeply that you wouldn’t have noticed even if someone passed by right next to you.”
When she checked her phone, the date had indeed advanced by one day from the last moment she remembered.
Only then did she recall the fish-shaped pastry she had eaten last. The shop owner had really been telling the truth.
Neither famous hunter-exclusive hospitals nor expensive items had been able to make her sleep. But that pastry… the small snack filled with yellow cream… had done exactly that.
“…My body feels light.”
She slowly clenched and unclenched her fists. Her body felt light, almost as if it wasn’t her own. The persistent headache and tinnitus that had plagued her were completely gone.
Still in a daze, she picked up her phone as it buzzed.
[Is it evening in Korea right now? I thought of you at dawn and sent a message.]
[(Photo) Luna says she misses you! Don’t just train… come visit Australia too.]
In the photo, her friend smiled brightly alongside Ria’s dog, Luna.
More photos followed, her friend enjoying a home party with Ria’s parents.
Since coming to Korea, her friend had kept contacting her, but Ria hadn’t been able to reply. She still felt weak and pathetic.
But now that the suffocating fatigue had disappeared, her friend’s messages finally reached her.
[We all miss you, Ria.]
“I miss you too…”
The youthful version of her friend from her first awakening was gone… now she had grown into a mature adult, smiling brightly.
Only then did Ria realize that the friend who once cried for help had already overcome the past and moved forward. And that’s what her friend wanted, wasn’t to be protected by her.
“Why did it take me so long to realize…?”
With her once-clouded mind now clear, she could finally see how foolish she had been.
Consumed by the nightmare of her first gate, obsessed only with growing stronger while abandoning all the people who loved and cared for her.
She gently traced her phone screen, then nodded as if making a decision.
‘Yeah. It’s been too long since I’ve gone home.’
When she first left, she had sworn not to return until she became stronger. But now, she missed her friends and parents too much to endure it any longer.
As Ria grabbed her coat, a nearby doctor rushed over in alarm.
“Hunter! Where are you going all of a sudden? You still have tests left!”
Ria smiled… a relieved smile, freed from the weight that had been crushing her.
“There’s something more important than tests.”
“Something more important…?”
“I’m going to apply for the vacation I’ve been putting off.”
***
It had been a full day since Hunter Ria collapsed. I heard she woke up, but…
‘Who knew the fish-shaped pastry would be that effective!’
In the meantime, a familiar face visited the shop… Hunter Yoon Kanghyuk, the one who helped others recognize the true value of our pastries.
“Wow, I can’t believe this place got so crowded. Amazing.”
He looked around in surprise from behind his sunglasses.
“I still remember you begging me to try it just once.”
“Right? I guess word spread that it was good thanks to you, Team Leader.”
Nearby security team members greeted him politely.
“The shop changed a bit?”
“We even got new menu items!”
“We upgraded recently.”
Unlocking a new menu naturally upgraded the shop as well.
Before, it felt like it could be blown away by the wind. Now… it was just a little sturdier.
‘If I keep upgrading, it’ll become a proper shop someday.’
Maybe one day it could even turn into a grand building. Just imagining it made me smile.
“Huh? That’s Hunter Ria.”
“She’s coming this way??”
When I looked up, Ria, her hair tied high as usual, was walking toward the shop.
Even without words, I could tell the cream pastry had worked.
‘She’s glowing.’
Her gloomy expression and dark shadows were gone, replaced by a bright, refreshed face. Anyone could tell she had slept deeply.
And it wasn’t just me who noticed.
“Was she always like that?”
“She looks really happy today.”
“She always looked so tense before…”
Whispers spread around.
Before I knew it, she had reached the shop… and suddenly hugged me tightly.
“Ugh–”
“I’ve never slept that deeply before! Thank you so much!”
H-Hunter… I can’t breathe…
Thankfully, she let go before my ribs shattered.
“With the headache gone, I feel like I can do anything.”
She murmured emotionally, saying she had always had headaches since awakening, but after one good sleep, they vanished completely.
It was worth the risk of entering the gate.
“Oh, and this is a gift.”
“A gift?”
She handed me a shopping bag.
Inside was a large box.
“What is this?”
“It’s payment for the pastry. With a little extra sincerity.”
She smiled playfully.
It definitely felt like something expensive. I nodded and stored it in my inventory.
“Where are you going, by the way?”
Now that I looked, she had a large suitcase.
“I’m going back home.”
“Home… Australia, right?”
“That’s right. It’s been a long time.”
A hint of longing appeared on her face.
“I don’t know why I was so obsessed with getting stronger. I guess my mind got stiff from not sleeping.”
“I’m going to rest properly this time. Then I’ll come back and run again.”
The anxiety that once filled her face was completely gone.
‘Her expressions are so much richer now.’
Before, she was like an expressionless doll. Now, her smile made her look far better.
“I’ll bring you a gift from Australia. Look forward to it.”
“Oh! Hunter, wait a moment!”
I stopped her before she left.
I packed some cream pastries into a bag and handed them to her.
“Keep these. Eat them on nights you can’t sleep.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she carefully accepted them.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy them.”
“Come visit anytime when you’re back!”
“Of course. I can’t live without these anymore.”
She hugged the bag tightly and waved as she left.
I waved back, hoping her nights would no longer be long and painful.
“…Am I seeing things? Did she just smile?”
“Team Leader! I saw it too!”
“Same here… I thought I was imagining it!”
The security team murmured in shock.
Even Team Leader Yoon kept taking off and putting on his sunglasses, thinking they were faulty.
Everyone was clearly shocked by her change.
I clapped my hands.
“Alright, everyone! Don’t be late–grab your pastries!”
“Wow, it’s already this late!”
“Let’s eat quickly and get back!”
The hunters checked the time and quickly took their pastries.
Then, with a cheerful sound effect, a mission completion window appeared.
—
”MISSION COMPLETE!”
‘Sleepless Night’ mission complete
Reward: 1,000P [Claim Now]
—
The moment I pressed claim, 1,000 points were added.
Nice. Shopping after work today.
***
“Finally, shopping time~”
As soon as I got home, I lay on my bed and opened my laptop.
Now that I had points, all that remained was to buy the items in my cart.
“Have you decided what to buy?” Hanyang asked.
“Hmm… It’s hard to choose.”
I glanced at Hanyang happily eating a treat.
I had added over ten items to my cart.
‘I can buy two… maybe three at most?’
First, the fish-shaped pastry mold was a must.
It had upgraded from a 2-slot to a 3-slot mold, but it still wasn’t enough.
After adding a 6-slot mold, I had 700P left.
‘Shelves that keep filling… and an auto-packaging item…’
All of them sounded incredibly useful.
But I had already made up my mind.
The reservation item.
—
”Ding-dong! Your food is ready!”
: You’ll be automatically notified when the food is done!
—
‘With this, no more waiting in line!’
Every time hunters asked how long it would take, it stressed me out.
Working alone, I couldn’t easily contact customers even if I took reservations.
But this item would solve everything.
‘You can even set reservation limits, and notifications are automatic!’
Worth every point.
I spent all my remaining points and bought it.
“Excellent decision,” Hanyang nodded.
“Alright, let’s go!”
As soon as I hit purchase, my points dropped to 0.
Even though it was necessary, it still stung a little.
“Will I get more points later?”
“Of course. But you’ll have to enter another gate. Are you okay with that?”
“…Now that I’ve done it once, maybe it’s not so bad.”
At first, I never wanted to go. But now…
“Still, next time I’ll prepare better.”
“You’re already thinking about gates before even getting a mission. Impressive.”
“…I can’t help it. I keep thinking of items I need.”
Shelves! Robot hands! I want them all!
As I added more items to my cart, I looked forward to next time.
“By the way, when will my order arrive?”
Right then…
“W-What is that outside!?”
A man wearing a large hat was standing outside the window.
I jumped in shock.
This is the third floor?!
“Oh, it’s already here,” Hanyang said calmly.
The man slipped through the window, tossed a box inside, and said, “Delivery.”
“…Delivery?”
I stared blankly between the box and the window.
Don’t tell me…
Since it’s “Underworld.com,”… the delivery guy is a grim reaper?
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