<Episode 43>
[(Photo) Today I ate the Spicy Fish-Shaped Bun. Its color is much more intense than the other buns. My tongue did feel a slight tingling sensation, but whether this is what people call spiciness is…(omitted)]
I looked at the message without bothering to hide my smile.
Ever since that day, Hunter Lee Hyunwoo had been sending me lengthy reviews of the fish-shaped buns he ate.
‘He’s surprisingly cute, honestly.’
Ari, who had been sneaking glances at my phone screen from behind me, asked suspiciously,
“Hunter Lee Hyunwoo? What exactly is going on between you two?!”
“W-What do you mean, what’s going on! We’re just close coworkers.”
“Liar. You’ve been grinning at your phone this whole time!”
Hurriedly stuffing my phone into my pocket, I pushed Ari toward the counter.
“R-Right! Customers will start pouring in soon. Let’s skewer the fish cakes first!”
“Geez. You never answer my questions!”
“Tsk~ Who has time to fool around?”
Fortunately, customers began flooding in not long afterward.
After working frantically like that, I barely knew how the day ended.
‘Whew… I desperately want my bed.’
Thankfully, I didn’t have training today.
I wanted nothing more than to dive into the soft bed in my dormitory, but those plans were ruined by a visitor waiting near the dorm.
“You’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting quite a while.”
“…Manager Shin?”
It was Manager Shin from NP Investment Partners, the man who had once offered me a twenty-billion-won investment.
He had come looking for me again.
“Has your mind changed at all in the meantime? I came with an even better offer.”
“My answer hasn’t changed. I’m sorry.”
Despite my firm response, he smiled and took a step closer.
“I heard you recently went through an unfortunate incident. Our investment conditions also include personal protection for the creator.”
Instinctively, I touched my neck.
The wound had healed completely, but the sensation of a blade digging into my throat was still vivid.
‘Was Manager Shin really behind it?’
The Hunter Management Bureau had continued investigating, but apparently, whoever was responsible had covered their tracks so cleanly that no additional evidence was found.
Still, my instincts whispered that the man standing before me was the culprit.
Taking a cautious step back, I shook my head.
“I don’t know what you mean by that, but if you’re trying to scare me into accepting investment money, it won’t work.”
“Scare you? Not at all. I’m simply concerned.”
“Please don’t come looking for me anymore. I’ve already signed a contract with the Bureau.”
“What do you mean by–wait a moment!”
I walked past him and headed back to the dormitory.
I could hear him calling after me, but thankfully, he didn’t follow.
‘Investment? As if I’d ever take it.’
I stuck out my tongue in the direction where Manager Shin was standing.
I thought that after rejecting him so firmly, I’d never receive another investment offer.
That is, until a few days later, when Deputy Director Park Seongcheol summoned me.
***
“This is kopi luwak. It was imported with great difficulty from overseas. The aroma is excellent.”
I stared briefly at Deputy Director Park Seongcheol as he closed his eyes and savored the scent of the coffee.
He was well into his mid-fifties, but thanks to the youthful appearance characteristic of Awakeners, he looked to be in his early forties.
His neatly combed hair and silver-rimmed glasses gave him the appearance of a cold, calculating man who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.
‘Ugh. This atmosphere… is so uncomfortable.’
It was early morning, before opening the shop.
Someone had suddenly knocked on the door and insisted that a person wished to see me.
I had tried to refuse because it was so early, but they stood firm at the entrance, saying the matter was important.
In the end, I had no choice but to follow them here… to the Deputy Director’s office.
“Do you dislike coffee?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Then please, drink. It’s made from very rare beans.”
The corners of his lips curled upward gently as he offered me coffee.
For some reason, the smile made goosebumps crawl down my spine.
After merely wetting my lips and setting the cup down, he immediately posed a question.
“How is the shop doing? It seems to be quite popular among hunters.”
“It’s doing well. The new menu we introduced recently has been receiving a good response too.”
“Hm. I see.”
He slowly nodded.
“You recently signed a contract as a Bureau-affiliated hunter, correct? As the Bureau’s Deputy Director, I suppose I’ll have to ensure your convenience going forward.”
I laughed awkwardly and avoided his gaze.
I had no idea what he actually wanted to talk about.
‘I did reject NP Investment Partners’ offer rather bluntly a few days ago.’
According to Hunter Lee Hyunwoo, Deputy Director Park Seong-cheol was the true owner of NP Investment Partners.
Perhaps he was stepping in personally after the investment proposal failed.
‘But he already knows I belong to the Bureau. Would he really take that kind of risk?’
“Ah, one moment.”
As he reached into his jacket, I swallowed nervously.
If he pulled out another investment proposal, I would reject it immediately.
Our shop didn’t need investment money.
However, what he took out was not a contract.
It was a small medicine packet.
“I skipped breakfast. Please excuse me.”
After briefly asking for understanding, he poured several pills into his mouth and washed them down with water.
The packet had the English word ‘Nutrafill’ printed on it.
‘So that’s Nutrafill… the meal replacement pill…’
Noticing my gaze, he smiled while looking at the packet.
“Ah, this product? It’s an innovative pill containing all the nutrients needed for a single meal. You simply swallow it without needing to experience taste, making it convenient even for Awakeners.”
He added that he rarely had time for proper meals, so he kept entire boxes of them around.
“Though these days, with your shop around, there’s no real need to survive on pills anymore.”
“Our shop?”
He nodded and took a sip of the now-lukewarm coffee.
“The items you create are revolutionary. To think that even hunters who have lost their senses can experience such powerful flavors. Remarkable.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Tap. Tap.
He lightly drummed his fingertips against the table.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke again.
“However, any expert would operate differently. Since this is your first business, it seems you don’t fully understand the value of your items.”
Leaning toward me, he began explaining just how valuable our items were and how their rarity could be utilized more effectively.
“If I were in your position, the first thing I’d do is reduce supply. Eliminate all ordinary hunters who visit your shop and sell exclusively to the top one percent of elite hunters.”
“…Why would you do that?”
At my question, he let out a scoffing laugh.
As if he were looking at a child who knew nothing about the world.
“Why? Because those people would gladly pay ten million won for a single fish-shaped bun. If they can purchase a miracle with money, they’ll pay any amount.”
“…”
“But look at what you’re doing now. Ten thousand won per piece? Honestly. This isn’t a business… it’s child’s play.”
One corner of his mouth twisted upward.
“The creator determines an item’s value. If anyone can get it, its rarity disappears.”
The truth was, I already knew.
I knew the things I made weren’t merely food.
They were something close to miracles.
‘Wow… I can actually taste it!’
‘This is the first time I’ve experienced flavor since Awakening.’
The widening eyes.
The slightly parted lips.
The tears that gathered.
The expressions of wonder on the hunters’ faces when they bit into our fish-shaped buns flashed through my mind.
Abandon all of them and sell exclusively to the wealthiest one percent?
Wasn’t this exactly what the Director had warned me about?
I shook my head firmly.
“I don’t want to do that. At that point, I wouldn’t be selling ‘food.’ I’d be selling ‘privilege.’”
“Privilege? You clearly don’t understand the value of what you’re creating–”
“I do understand.”
I lifted my head and met his gaze.
“I know exactly how special my food is. I know how much money it could make.”
After taking a breath, I continued.
“But I believe people create that value, not money. To me, everyone’s happiness is more important than charging ten million won for a single piece.”
And my ability wasn’t truly mine alone.
It was a gift bestowed upon me by an unknown being named Hanyang.
Using it solely to satisfy my greed would be wrong.
‘And if I followed the Deputy Director’s advice, my parents watching from heaven would be furious.’
Thinking of my parents, I smiled faintly to myself.
They had always valued people more than money.
‘And because of that principle, I became who I am today.’
I didn’t want to abandon the values my parents had taught me just because I wanted to make more money.
After hearing my answer, he let out a low laugh, almost like a sigh.
“How amusing. The thing you’re trying to protect is merely ‘the happiness of the majority.’ A very fitting answer from someone who has only recently Awakened.”
He lightly shook his head and looked directly at me.
“But you’ll learn soon enough.”
“That your efforts are utterly meaningless.”
The moment I heard those words, I subtly curled the corner of my mouth upward.
‘You’re getting anxious now, aren’t you?’
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