<Episode 3>
The next day, I opened the shop early, dragging along the half-asleep cat.
“Why are you in such a hurry, nya? Yaaawn, I’m tired, nya….”
“I’m holding a tasting event today. That means I need to prepare everything in advance!”
As I poured batter onto the oiled pan, it sizzled, and a savory aroma rose into the air. I didn’t hold back on the sweet red bean paste, filling it generously from tail to head.
After adding more batter on top and cooking both sides to a golden brown…
“Tada! Bungeoppang complete!”
“They’re definitely getting more presentable, nya.”
Thanks to yesterday’s bulk-order customer, it seemed my skills had improved a lot.
I placed the perfectly golden bungeoppang on the tray and kept baking the rest diligently.
“Huh? Aren’t you the bungeoppang shop owner?”
“Hello, Team Leader!”
Carrying an armful of freshly made bungeoppang, I headed to the Management Bureau, where Team Leader Yoon Kanghyuk, whom I met yesterday, greeted me.
“Are those by any chance for me?”
“Yes! That’s right. You said they were delicious yesterday.”
I grinned and handed them over. Slightly flustered, he accepted them and smiled happily.
“Haha! Actually, I was thinking about bungeoppang since this morning. Thank you–I’ll enjoy them!”
As he laughed heartily, even his sunglasses bounced a little. We’re indoors, but he still insists on wearing sunglasses…
Then a familiar question came from nearby.
“Team Leader! Are those the bungeoppang you mentioned yesterday?”
“The ones you said you could taste…?”
“So it wasn’t a lie?”
As expected. Considering the size of the Hunter Management Bureau, there was no way that only one security officer worked there.
‘And if he’s a team leader, he must have team members.’
If it were just a regular employee, maybe not… but when a team leader praises something as delicious, it naturally gains credibility.
“Would you all like to try some? I brought plenty.”
Seeing their curious gazes, I smiled brightly. They nodded as if entranced.
And as they carefully took a bite…
“Wow! I can actually taste it!”
“It even tastes good!”
“This is amazing!?”
The same exclamations from yesterday burst out. I cheered inwardly.
‘I knew it would work.’
There was a simple reason hunters didn’t eat bungeoppang. Even if they did, they wouldn’t taste anything!
And no guarantee forcing them like yesterday would always end well.
‘Worst case, it would just ruin the shop’s image.’
So I decided to use other hunters’ reactions instead. Thankfully, I had Team Leader Yoon Kanghyuk, who had already tasted it yesterday, making it easier to get started.
More and more people were already glancing over this way.
‘The key to tasting events is giving just enough to make them want more.’
I took out a plate I had brought, cut the bungeoppang into bite-sized pieces, and stuck toothpicks into them.
Then, smiling brightly at those who made eye contact, I held out the plate.
“We’re holding a tasting event for our opening… would you like to try?”
***
The tasting event was, quite literally, a huge success.
At first, the hunters hesitated, watching each other, but once a few reacted, they swarmed in, each grabbing a piece of bungeoppang.
“Sweet and soft… what’s the name of your shop?”
“It’s ‘Haneul’s.’ We just opened right in front of the Bureau!”
I didn’t miss a beat, enthusiastically promoting my shop’s name and location.
For the record, I came up with the name in a rush. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with anything better.
“How much is one?”
“Ah, 10,000 won!”
“10,000 won for one bungeoppang!?”
There was a lot of buzz about the price. Everyone widened their eyes when they heard it.
Of course, not because it was expensive.
Because it was too cheap.
“No way! I’m going to buy this every day.”
“Me too! What time do you open?”
“I open at 8 a.m. Please drop by before work!”
I had brought over 20 pieces, but with the crowd gathering, they were already running out.
I was prioritizing those who hadn’t tried one yet when suddenly it felt like the indoor temperature had dropped by three degrees.
‘Did someone open a door? It’s chilly.’
As I shivered, I realized the area around me had gone strangely quiet.
Why is everyone staring at me…?
“What exactly is going on here?”
“Gasp!!!”
Someone had appeared behind me without a sound, making me jump. And then I was stunned.
‘Wow… people can really look like this?’
Dark black hair, a towering height that made me crane my neck, a face so unreal it looked like it came out of a shounen manga, and even eyes with a distinct golden hue.
Wait… this person?
“…L-Lee Hyunwoo Hunter!?”
It was Lee Hyunwoo, the only S-rank hunter in the country, someone who appeared on TV no matter what channel you turned to.
He looked down at me indifferently.
“I asked what this situation is.”
“Ah! Hunter, well… this person opened a shop in front of the Bureau and is holding an event–”
“An event? Handing out food of unknown origin?”
Team Leader Yoon Kanghyuk stepped forward to explain, only to become Lee Hyunwoo’s target.
‘Ugh… I feel bad.’
Before I knew it, everyone who had filled the area had disappeared.
“You said you opened a shop. And right in front of the Bureau.”
Frowning, he looked at the bungeoppang on my plate.
I spoke quickly.
“Hello, Hunter! My name is Jung Haneul.”
I carefully held out the plate.
“This is an item I made… special bungeoppang that even hunters can taste.”
“You said it has taste?”
I nodded vigorously.
“Would you like to try one? Everyone said it was delicious.”
At first, everyone had looked just as suspicious as he did, but after one bite, they completely changed.
I smiled inwardly.
‘Even if he’s S-rank, he’s still a hunter. Once he tastes it, he’ll change.’
But his actions shattered my expectations.
“I have no interest in eating unidentified substances. It could be poisoned.”
With a frown, he walked past me indifferently.
His tone made it sound like I was offering poison.
“W-wait, poisoned…!?”
I quickly turned to stop him, but my legs tangled, and the world tilted.
‘Ugh, I’m falling!’
I barely managed to regain my balance… but not the bungeoppang. The pieces on the plate scattered everywhere, rolling across the floor.
“…There were still five left.”
Regretful, but what’s done is done. I crouched down to pick them up.
Then I saw someone’s shoes… combat boots.
Looking up, I saw Lee Hyunwoo staring down at me.
“No one has ever succeeded in overcoming the side effects of awakening. Yet you suddenly appear, claiming to have created an item that restores taste…”
He nudged a piece of bungeoppang near his foot with the tip of his shoe.
“That’s rather suspicious.”
What do you mean, suspicious!?
You haven’t even tried it!
“Team Leader Yoon Kanghyuk.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
With a cold expression, he said:
“The role of the security team is to block external threats. That includes distributing unidentified food that could be poisoned.”
“I apologize. I’ll be more careful.”
As he walked away, I stared at his back in disbelief.
Once he completely disappeared from view, I picked up the last piece of bungeoppang and grumbled:
“Is he always like that?”
“Haha… he can be, yes….”
Yoon Kanghyuk forced an awkward smile, as if he’d been through this more than once.
I looked around to make sure there were no crumbs left on the floor and continued:
“I didn’t expect him to be like that! It’s not like I did anything weird, but he kept glaring at me….”
“Well, he awakened at a young age and suffered from side effects for a long time. Those side effects can really wear a person down.”
Apparently, he had awakened before even finishing middle school. And as the country’s only S-rank, at that.
Yoon Kanghyuk shrugged, saying that considering that, his sensitivity was understandable.
“…Still, I don’t get it.”
“That’s fair. Anyway, it seems the tasting event is already having an effect. You’ve got customers at your shop.”
Lowering his sunglasses slightly, Yoon Kanghyuk glanced outside.
My shop? I don’t see anything.
As I tilted my head in confusion, he winked.
“It’s just one of my abilities.”
“You can see that far? That’s amazing!”
“More importantly, shouldn’t you go? People are waiting.”
Oh no! I can’t keep customers waiting!
I bowed quickly in thanks and ran toward my shop.
Then I froze at the sight of the crowd gathered there.
“Boss! What took you so long?”
“I want to order bungeoppang… can I right now?”
“Do you have any ready? How long is the wait?”
What the… why are there so many people?
I covered my mouth.
At last, the real business had begun.
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