Money used to be a problem.
No, the problem.
I'd ration syrups, beans, and buy ingredients just cheap enough not to ruin the flavor. Not good enough to be called "premium," but not bad enough for customers to complain.
Okay. Maybe it leaned a little more toward "cheap."
Whatever. Those days are over!!
With the card given to me by the Baekhwa Guild, I have a little more funding now. So, I'll delay the opening of my café for a bit longer—at least until I perfect these cardamom buns.
I've been obsessed with them lately. I saw a photo online once, and it looked perfect next to a cup of coffee. Just imagining the taste makes my mouth water.
RUMBLE—
Suddenly, the ground beneath me began to shake.
Then, a blue translucent screen popped up in front of my face.
『 Emergency Quest Triggered! 』
『 A dungeon break has occurred. Please proceed to assist in closing the gate.』
"...Huh?"
I blinked. I wasn't hallucinating. I pulled out my phone, and sure enough, the news was exploding.
BREAKING NEWS: C-Rank Dungeon Break in Central District. Civilians urged to evacuate. Hunters dispatched.
Live footage showed chaos. Monsters tearing through the streets. Smoke rising in the background. Hunters are clashing with beasts while dragging wounded civilians to safety.
I swallowed hard.
"...What the hell?"
I wasn't just a normal civilian, sure. I had some stats. Compared to an average person, I was at least a bit stronger.
But that didn't mean I was hunter strong.
No way I could take on a monster on my own.
I'd just get in the way. I'd slow everyone down, or get in their way, and probably just die.
And yet, the system window didn't close.
『 Time Limit: None 』
『 Reward: Skill – Aerial Healing 』
『 Failure Penalty: Death 』
"..."
I stared at the screen.
Then blinked again.
Then cursed.
"Hey! What do you mean, death?! Why the hell would I die just for not going?! That doesn't even make sense!"
I huffed and puffed into the air, looking like a lunatic to any poor soul walking by.
"There's no way I'm going! Kill me if you want!"
No answer.
Just the same silent, glowing blue screen.
Why is it still there? Is the system really trying to push me to go to a dungeon? But I'm not even... Wait...
"System, can I just stay outside and assist in healing?"
『 (ᴗ_ ᴗ.) 』
"What does that mean?" I groaned.
Considering that the system hadn't changed at all, there was a good annoying chance that the system might've said "no" as a response.
Curse this system.
『 Take advantage of this situation. You need to be stronger to protect yourself, Ophelly. ]
I raised my brow at the odd name. "Is that my new nickname now?"
『 ... 』
『 It has a nice ring to it.』
I shook my head and proceeded to pack my stuff in a small backpack and headed out.
When I arrived at the scene from a distance, I was so terrified. It was chaos. Total chaos everywhere that I was afraid I'd get injured in a cross fire.
God damn it. Curse this stupid system. Why does it have to be me?
I took a deep breath, gripped my backpack, and sprinted to the entrance of the dungeon.
『 ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ 』
"I don't want to hear anything from you! How dare you make me go inside a dungeon!" I shouted.
Just as I reached the entrance, I noticed a familiar back ahead of me. Was that... Chiyeon-ssi?
I rushed forward to catch up, but someone grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. Damn it...! Who was it?!
I turned to face the culprit—and froze. It was the secret L-rank hunter. "J-Jinhyuk-ssi?"
"What are you doing, trying to go in there?" His eyes were full of genuine worry.
I scrambled for an excuse but came up empty. I was never good at thinking on the spot. "Looking around?" I forced a smile.
"This is a dangerous dungeon. You can't go in there."
I have to.
"I can decide that. You don't have to worry about me, Jinhyuk-ssi."
"Why would you want to go in there? It's dangerous for a weak hunter like you."
Because I'll die if I don't. And I'll probably die if I do.
"I have my reasons..." I trailed off—then a brilliant idea popped into my head. "How about you come with me? Protect me?"
His expression said it all. He was baffled. Yeah, I got it. I didn't want to go in either. But this was my life on the line. I needed to make my own contribution somehow.
Please say yes. I need an L-ranker like him to guarantee my safety.
『 You have made a good choice. Make sure he says 'yes'. 』
『 ??? is now watching. 』
I'd been doing a good job ignoring Tree-nim until now, but that familiar, dreadful notification made my stomach drop.
Another constellation? Why? What's so interesting about my life? Are they coffee lovers or something? That's literally the only unique thing about me...
"Do you realize your life will be at risk the moment we enter? Even if I'm a B-rank, I can't protect you all the time."
Yes you can. You're an L-rank.
"I know."
He sighed. "I'm curious. What reason could you possibly have to risk your life like this? Please... stay behind me."
"If only you knew..." I murmured.