<Episode 14>
It became part of my daily routine to arrive at work in the morning and see the reservation system already full.
After word spread about the red bean bungeoppang that lets you taste flavors vividly, people also started talking about the cream bungeoppang with sleep-inducing effects.
Ah, and recently, articles about our bungeoppang shop have even come out.
<“10,000 won for one bungeoppang? That’s cheap!” Hunters crowd in despite 3-hour waits>
<Even hunters are doing open runs! “Haneul’s” bungeoppang that you can only eat if you reserve at dawn>
As rumors spread everywhere that we sold bungeoppang for awakened people, curious customers began flocking to the shop.
And because of that, weird people occasionally showed up too. Like right now.
“Reservations are closed? Just give me one already!?”
This man had been shouting in front of the shop for a while now, insisting with ridiculous logic that, “I overslept and missed reservations, but I want one, so hand it over right now.”
“I’m sorry, but we only operate through reservations.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Just give me one you already baked!”
This wasn’t getting through to him at all. There were already mountains of pending orders, yet he kept insisting I make his first.
If I accepted this guy’s order, it was obvious that more people would start showing up without reservations, expecting special treatment.
I bowed my head once more in apology and continued baking bungeoppang.
‘He’ll probably get tired and leave eventually.’
But this troublemaker turned out to be more persistent than expected. He suddenly started flaunting authority nobody asked about.
“Do you even know who I am!? One word from me and you won’t be able to do business here anymore!”
Ah… so he was such an important person.
I nodded with an indifferent expression. Got it, so please give up and leave already.
“You think I’m doing this because I want to eat this cheap bungeoppang!? Huh?”
You literally are, though.
There was nothing to gain from provoking him further, so I silently continued making bungeoppang.
Bright red dyed hair, piercings hanging everywhere… he looked difficult at first glance.
“You said you’re F-rank, right? Do you even know my rank before acting like this?”
Since his threats weren’t working, he started bringing up ranks.
As if that wasn’t enough, he aggressively kicked at the shop like he was about to smash it down.
‘Wait! This shop might actually break!’
It had been upgraded, sure, but it still didn’t feel completely sturdy yet. Concrete buildings collapsed from hunters waving their hands around… so our shop would definitely…
“This great one shall step in, nya.”
“H-Hanyang! Stay still!”
Hanyang, who had been watching the situation while grilling toast behind me, lazily walked forward.
The red-haired troublemaker stumbled backward the moment he saw Hanyang.
“Wh-what the hell is that pig-looking cat? It talks?”
“You dare call this great one a pig!? Unforgivable, nya!”
“Hanyang, you’re the one who needs to calm down!!!!”
Apparently embarrassed that he’d gotten scared, the troublemaker ground his teeth in frustration.
“You’re mocking me right now!?”
Then, unable to hold back any longer, he kicked our shop with a bang.
‘No, it’s gonna collapse–huh…?’
“AAAAARGH! MY LEG!!!”
Aside from wobbling slightly, the shop was completely fine.
Wow. It looked flimsy on the outside but was actually super sturdy.
“So it’s because this is an item too….”
“Unlike its appearance, its durability is excellent, nya!”
Nothing was broken at all. At this point, it felt like even a typhoon wouldn’t damage it.
While I curiously inspected the shop, the troublemaker, whose face had turned as red as his hair, strode toward us with his fist raised high.
“You bastards making fun of me!?”
‘Ugh, I’m getting hit…!’
I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for the pain.
But instead of pain, I heard the troublemaker scream.
“Whew, what’s with this guy? You startled me, so I ran over.”
Thankfully, it seemed a passing hunter had stopped him.
Clutching my pounding heart, I slowly opened my eyes to thank whoever helped me… then froze at the unreal appearance before me.
“…Hunter Kang Min?”
Soft pink hair floated like dandelion fluff. His face was so small, and his features so perfectly arranged, that I questioned whether we were even of the same species.
Standing there was someone with visuals so flawless he looked like a living ball-jointed doll.
‘Wow, he looks even crazier in person.’
As he noticed me staring blankly and smiled softly, I could swear flower petals sparkled behind him.
I rubbed my eyes hard several times before I could properly look at him again.
“Umm… are you okay?”
He tilted his head while looking at me. His silky curls scattered gently with the motion. I nodded blankly.
“Y-Yeah, uh… I’m okay. Thank you.”
His name was Kang Min. He was my friend Shinhye’s favorite former idol and current hunter.
He had originally been the main vocalist of the famous idol group “BeYou,” but after suddenly awakening, he quit being an idol and became a hunter instead. Since it was the first time such a high-ranking hunter had come from a popular idol group, the internet had gone wild for quite a while.
He was famous in a completely different way from Hunter Lee Hyunwoo.
“Ugh, ngh! W-wait, my arm!”
While I was lost in thought, the troublemaker I’d forgotten about spoke up again.
His arm had been twisted behind his back by Hunter Kang Min, and judging by how pale his face had gone, he seemed to be in considerable pain.
Clicking his tongue, Kang Min spoke quietly.
“I’ll let you go if you apologize.”
“I-I’m sorry! My arm, my arm’s breaking! Aaaagh!”
Unable to endure the pain, the guy started pounding the floor with his free hand, and Kang Min slightly loosened his grip.
The troublemaker scrambled to his feet, staggered backward, then turned around and bolted away. Even while fleeing, the fact that he glared at me instead of Hunter Kang Min was ridiculous.
“…Should I go catch him again?”
“It’s okay. Even if you brought him back, I don’t think he’d apologize sincerely anyway.”
His eyes looked damp, like he’d almost cried. I just hoped he’d be too embarrassed to ever return.
Thinking about the now-vanished troublemaker, I thanked Kang Min.
“Thank you for helping me. That could’ve been really bad.”
“Ah, no, not at all! It was nothing!”
He waved his hands shyly while smiling. The way his eyes curved when he smiled was really pretty. No wonder Shinhye sent me photos bragging about him every day.
“I’m Jung Haneul. You’re Hunter Kang Min, right?”
“Wow! You know me? Actually, I know you too. You’re really close with our leader, right? Right?”
If he meant Kang Min’s leader, then Hunter Lee Hyunwoo? Saying we were close felt a little questionable…
But before I could say anything, he noticed Hanyang staring at him with a sullen expression, and his eyes lit up.
“What’s with that cat? Earlier, it looked like it was talking! Is it an item? I’ve never seen an item like that before. It’s seriously cute and fascinating!”
“Ah, this cat isn’t an item. He helps me–”
“So this is where you make the bungeoppang? Can I try one too? Ah! You take reservations. Already sold out? Wow, it’s really popular. Noona Ria did mention it, though!”
“Ah, yes, well….”
Why did the topic change every three seconds?
Unable to keep up with the conversation, all I could do was occasionally throw in responses like, “Ah, I see.”
‘This feels exactly like a fan signing event.’
Except I was the celebrity and Hunter Kang Min was the fan…
Apparently, even during his idol days, Kang Min had been loved for his hyperactive puppy-like personality.
Looks like becoming a hunter hadn’t changed that. Interesting.
“But there’s no protective setup around this shop.”
“Protective setup?”
“Yeah! If you’re dealing with hunters like us, it’s good to at least have self-defense items. So if someone like today shows up, you can go swoosh! and threaten them or something.”
Would hunters really get scared if an F-rank like me waved around an item? I imagined an ant brandishing a sword and shook my head.
“With my rank being this low, wouldn’t it be pretty useless? That guy earlier said his rank was super high too.”
“That guy earlier? Hmm, I don’t think his rank was that high. At most D-rank?”
“…He talked like he was at least B-rank.”
Since I looked clueless, he’d probably just exaggerated to act tough.
Still, he was of a higher rank than F-rank me. I shook my head.
“Or how about commissioning a crafted item? Customized just for you, noona!”
A crafted item. Now that was tempting.
Especially since I now had that large magic stone Ria Hunter had given me.
When he saw my interest, he handed me a business card and winked.
“I’m going to the Hunter Market this weekend. Want to come with me?”
“Hunter Market?”
“Yep! If you’re friends with our leader, then you’re basically my friend too! I happen to have an extra ticket, so if you’re interested, I’ll give it to you.”
It was an enticing offer. Since I knew absolutely nothing about items, going together with A-rank Hunter Kang Min would definitely help far more than going alone.
When I nodded, he smiled brightly and told me he’d give me the ticket when we met that day, telling me to contact him once I arrived. Before I knew it, we’d already arranged a meeting time.
After he disappeared, Hanyang let out a deep sigh.
“He’s the type who sucks all your energy dry, nya.”
“Seriously… my head’s spinning.”
“I’m truly thankful you aren’t that talkative, nya.”
Hanyang clicked his tongue with a completely drained expression. Apparently, chatty humans were exhausting.
And a few days later, I arrived at the harbor in Incheon, where the Hunter Market was being held.
Even though it was only 11 a.m., crowds of people were already packed around the entrance.
Hunter Market usually referred to online stores, but sometimes, offline markets like this were held too. And among them, the biggest was the Incheon Market.
Since high-quality items were gathered there, only people with entry tickets were allowed inside.
‘…The scale is seriously insane.’
I was looking around in amazement at the unfamiliar sight when I heard a familiar voice from the distance.
It was Hunter Kang Min, the one who had invited me.
“Noona! Over here! Here!”
“Hunter Kang Min!”
I waved with a smile, but then noticed a tall figure standing beside him.
It was Hunter Lee Hyunwoo.
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