Chapter 188
SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon
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[Chatting] I’m a newbie, please help me check if this item is good or not (42)
Upvotes: 2 / Downvotes: 23
Writer: StrongestWizardJjang
(Photo)
Hello, I am a newbie who awakened last week hehe
I picked this up, is it good????
Item information does not pop up in the system;;;
Please let me know~! hehe
— OO: That’s a trash
└ StrongestWizardJjang: heol, you’re being too harsh T_T
└ OO: Trash is called trash. What else should I call it
└ StrongestWizardJjang: problematic;; are you discriminating against newbies???
└ OO: Put it in a trash can and separate it for recycling, go go
— tom***: It’s a miscellaneous item^^;
└ Lime Love Team: I thought we had cleaned up all the trash during last week’s volunteer work, but it’s still there ㅇㅅㅇ
— FLIGHT: Beginners often mistake it for ether ore. It’s a stone fragment left over from the collapse of the dungeon. Just take it to the Dungeon Management Office and they will collect it for free.
└ FLIGHT: How to distinguish between ether ore and stone fragments [Link] Please refer to this.
└ StrongestWizardJjang: ㅠㅠㅠㅠ eh, well, that’s a good idea
— StrongestWizardJjang: Then, what kind of equipment a wizard should buy??? Hunter Market is too expensive even with the Welcoming Newbie Discount Coupon;;ㅠㅠ
└10th Year Hunter: WOAH AWESOME HAHAHA I finally see the day where Hunter Market gives out discount coupons
└ cut***: They must be feeling nervous lately, hahahahahahahaha, they’re so damn nice these days, it’s a burdensome
└ MM: Compare the prices of the Hunter Market and the Item Public Market before making a purchase
— Jeju Guild No. 1: Do you have any more photos? Post some more
└ StrongestWizardJjang: (Photo) (Photo) (Photo) Here it is
└ Jeju Guild No. 1: Not that kkkkk Is there any photo that shows the background clearly other than a close-up taken from each angle of the stone fragment? haha
└ StrongestWizardJjang: I uploaded it, but what’s wrong with you? Hunchan newbie check seems too harsh,, (Photo) is this enough?
— Jeju Guild No. 1: Hmm,, if you zoom in on the picture, there’s CFR in the background,, but there is no sign of it being under construction??
└ app***: Awesome aaaaaaaa is the construction finally over?????????
└ HingHungHong: Seems right???? Last week, there was also a sign saying ‘under construction’ in front.
└ OO: are they finally making a comeback ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ the fact that I’ve realized in the meantime … thatI wasn’t a human, but a slave to coffee yeah.. Please reopen quickly and save this slave
└ HUNCHAN KIMI: This Slave No. 2 here, holding my breath until the Cafe reopens ( )’x’( )
└ dda***: Slave No. 3, holding my breath too ( )’x’( )
└ Lime Love Team: There will be an opening notice soon???? can’t wait hahahaha
— StrongestWizardJjang: Can’t you guys see my replies??? Why do you keep talking about something else when I ask you to recommend some wizard equipment ㅜㅜ What is CFR? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ HingHungHong: Were you born yesterday????? How can you not know CFR while scrolling Hunchan? ㅡㅡ this seems like a troll
└ StrongestWizardJjang: I’m not a troll ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
— StrongestWizardJjang: Oh, are you talking about the cafe in that picture??? I was passing by there yesterday and got some coffee. The owner was very kind.
└ Pink Jelly Lover: What??? Really??? Crazy;;;
└ StrongestWizardJjang: yes hehe she told me that she was practicing some new menu so gave me a drink to try hehe
└ OO: New menu omg ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ pin***: Awesome,, The 1st place Hunter who is most envied by the veteran Hunchaners is StrongestWizardJjang
└ FLIGHT: I’m curious about what the new menu is. I’m really jealous. Haha. Please make a review. I’ll give you a full set of wizard equipment.
— StrongestWizardJjang: So it’s a famous store? There’s nothing much I can say for a review haha First of all, it smelled really good, and the color was pretty too. After I finished drinking it, she asked me if I wanted another drink, and when I said yes,s he gave me another drink. And the conclusion was that it was delicious hehe
└ app***: this is the most uninformative post among the Hunchan posts I read today;;
└ Jeju Guild No. 1: Not that, please tell us what the menu name is and what’s in itㅡㅡ
└ Lime Love Team: I feel the pangs of jealousyㅇㅍㅇ My heart is darkening … Let’s meet up for a real-life fight ㅇㅍㅇ
└ HingHungHong: To be jealous of newbie is pathetic;;
└ Lime Love Team: How can I not be jealous when they claimed they tried CFR’s new menu?
— Pro-Class: WAAAAA GUYS there’s news that CFR has reopened!! Number ticket ticketing is now open!!!
└ pin***: Wow, finally!!!! ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
***
“What?”
Kang Hyunwoo didn’t immediately understand what he had just heard. When he questioned with wide eyes, Kim Jina explained again.
“The Commissioner is scheduled to visit the headquarters today.” Kim Jina also looked puzzled when she said that.
“No … what’s the matter with the man who’s been holed up on Jeju Island investigating the Hallasan Mutation Dungeon and rarely shows up?”
“I didn’t know that much, but I received an order to hurriedly arrange the protocol.”
“Huh….” Kang Hyunwoo frowned, having a sudden headache.
The Dungeon Management Office had a relatively flexible atmosphere for a national organisation. This was because there were so many unpredictable things that could happen, such as cracks. Still, it wasn’t like they were just some random outsiders, they needed to make proper arrangements for a visit from the Commissioner. The problem was that Kang Hyunwoo, who had been working on the field ever since he was recruited as an A-Class Hunter, wasn’t used to this type of job.
“What do you mean protocol, what do you want me to do? Haa, maybe clean the office…….” Kang Hyunwoo trailed off as he looked at Kim Jina’s desk, where books and papers were invading human space. At least it had been reduced by more than half thanks to digitalisation. Before that, documents were sitting on the seat and people could only stand.
“Haha…..” Kim Jina smiled shyly and started to clear the tower of books.
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“….Aack?!”
A voice from behind her startled Kim Jina. The Commissioner had entered the office without any notice.
“Make yourself comfortable. Relax.”
How many people could feel comfortable after hearing him say that? The Commissioner turned around in front of Kim Jina, who was standing in an upright posture, and looked around.
“This is why I tried to come in secret, but I guess there’s no such thing as a secret in this world.”
“What brings you here?” Kang Hyunwoo asked, greeting the Commissioner.
“You make it sound like I’m not supposed to be here.”
“That’s not true, it’s just that you rarely visit this office.”
“It’s a personal business, so don’t mind me.”
“If you say it’s a personal business, then…….”
At that moment, Kang Hyunwoo noticed the folder the Commissioner was holding.
‘No way, is that….’
The large writing at the top of the front page bothered him. But the Commissioner quickly flipped the folder over, hiding the front page from view. He pushed Kang Hyunwoo’s back to the inner archive and said, “Let me borrow Team Leader Kang Hyunwoo for a moment.”
“Yes, sir!”
Click. The door slammed shut. The archive room was filled with papers and books. The Commissioner pulled out a chair and sat down.
Kang Hyunwoo offered him a cup of coffee. The Commissioner refused, telling him that he was going to have a good cup of coffee soon. After quenching his thirst with cold water, he got straight to the point.
“I heard you turned down the promotion?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Why? I’m sure there were other offers from the political world, but I heard you turned them all down?”
“Haa … If you’re just going to talk about this stuff, I’m going to return to work.”
The Commissioner was unfazed by Kang Hyunwoo’s stiff answer and continued, “Is it because of Agent Kim Jina?”
“……”
The blinds were drawn on the windows of the archive, blocking the view outside. Nevertheless, Kang Hyunwoo absentmindedly glanced outside.
“That’s not it…….”
Kang Hyunwoo thought back to his last quest, the Sealing of the Demon God. At that time, the biggest emotion he felt was helplessness. In front of a Demon God who had clearly transcended human strength, he had been unable to do anything.
Perhaps he had been too arrogant all this time. He thought he could save people after working on the front lines for so long. There had been calls for him to quit the field work and be promoted to a managerial position. The political circles wanted to recruit him because of his good image. Upon his return from the quest, Kang Hyunwoo refused all those offers and decided to stay in the frontline.
He wanted to use the helplessness he felt that day as a foundation to grow further, so that he could become a better Hunter and save more people.
Kang Hyunwoo shared these thoughts carefully. It was the first time he had ever revealed this to someone else.
After hearing everything he had to say, the Commissioner spoke in a light tone, “Well, Hunter Kang Hyunwoo, you can decide your own path as a Hunter.”
“……Then why did you ask?”
“Before that, take a look at this.”
The Commissioner pulled out the first page of his precious folder and held it out to Kang Hyunwoo. Kang Hyunwoo scanned the paper with his eyes and grinned.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Isn’t it? I travelled all the way from Jeju Island for this.”
“Yes. This plan, I’ll cooperate.”
***
“Hunter James!”
“…….”
The Hunter called out. But James pretended not to hear him, engrossed in his work. The Hunter pushed through the bushes, got closer to James, and spoke again in a loud voice.
“Hunter James, when are you going to get back to the US?!”
“You don’t have to say it so loud, I can hear you just fine.”
The first reply he’d heard after following James for a long time sounded grumpy. The Hunter slumped down across from James and grumbled in a low voice, “Don’t just listen, please give me an answer. When will you return … Uh, what’s that?”
James was sitting on the ground, picking at a small patch of green grass. He cut off the base with a small knife and put it in an envelope. Looking at him closely, the Hunter realised he was properly dressed, complete with a sun visor on his head.
The Hunter was stunned. He wondered what James was doing in this secluded dungeon, but all he was doing was cutting grass. He looked at James, who was picking at the bright green grass, and asked shakily, “Why are you picking those weeds? Are you staying in Korea just to pick grass?”
“What do you mean weeds? It’s an important item, so don’t step on it carelessly.”
“Please take a look. We just got a call from the White House. They want to know when you’re scheduled to return home.”
“……………”
“Don’t tell me … Hunter James, you’re not planning to get naturalised in Korea, are you? That would create an international conflict!”
“That’s not true, don’t worry.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, but ……. No, then why are you in Korea?”
“I’ll return when the time is right.”
“When is that right time?”
“I’m waiting too.”
“….Yes?”
“……..”
No answers were given. The Hunter kept asking questions, but the conversation hovered in the same direction. James wasn’t going to leave until he finished what he had to do. But The Hunter desperately needed to confirm when James would return to the United States today. He had no other choice but to watch him gather grass.
“Haaaa…..”
Last month, an unprecedented Gate outbreak occurred in Seoul. The visiting Hunters, including James, postponed their return home to help clean up the situation. So far, it’s been fine. From a humanitarian perspective, it was natural for the Hunters to help the citizens.
But they had no idea that James would not return home until today, more than a month after the crisis was over. Furthermore, he hasn’t responded to any communication from the U.S., simply telling them to wait.
The whereabouts of national hunters was a sensitive issue. The United States wanted reassurance that James wasn’t going to move to South Korea. As a result, he got caught between the tensions that were brewing between James and the Government.
It was quite boring to watch someone else pluck grass. Then Hunter suddenly noticed something strange, and began to ask, “Hey, why aren’t you picking that grass?”
“That’s just weeds.”
“This is also just weed.”
“Hoo.” James rolled his eyes, as if he’d never seen such ignorance before. The Hunter felt wronged. He was about to ask what the difference was between this weed and that.
Rustle. A noise came from the ground.
“……….!”
The Hunter turned around in alarm. He hadn’t said anything he wasn’t supposed to tell others. But it was the first time he hadn’t noticed someone until they were this close. Had he unintentionally lost his senses while hanging out and eating in Korea, or was this person actually quite skilled?
Rustle, rustle. A woman with long red hair emerged from the bushes. Her right eye was noticeably covered by a black patch.
When she spotted James, she spoke in a tired tone, “I was wondering why you were out here, but it seems you were gathering mugwort.”
“Yes. I was told that if I brought them back, I’d get a mugwort latte.”
“Oh my, that sounds delicious.”
The woman seemed to know the identity of the weed. For some reason, the Hunter felt left out.
He was about to ask again what this weed was, but an old memory suddenly flashed through his mind. Red hair, an eye patch covering her right eye.
“Do-dont tell me … are you the Great Hand of the Underworld, One-eyed Azalea?!”
Translator’s Corner:
Say goodbye to the Hunchaners because this is the last time you’ll see them…………
I don’t know if you noticed or not, but a lot of those Hunchaners had already appeared on the real-life setting : D the one with Jeju in their username is implied to be the Commisioner of the Dungeon Management Office : D