By Zephyria Eui-jae carefully moved the hair dye and stacked it on the table, then bowed his head deeply with sincerity.
“I really… like it. Thank you.”
“I knew you would.”
Honeybee struck a pose like the side profile drawn on the hair dye packaging. This time, Eui-jae also applauded with all his heart. After enjoying the attention for a while, she said as if she remembered something, “Oh, right, rice wreaths are good too. I paid extra to change it to Icheon rice for the king. As soon as I heard the news this morning, Team Leader Han and…”
“Where did you hear the news?”
Eui-jae was most curious about that. Where did Honeybee and Team Leader Han, who sent the wreaths first, hear the news? And where did the Hunters, who were now rushing in with a barrage of gifts disguised as appeals not to close the Hangover Soup Restaurant, hear the news? Honeybee, who had widened her eyes, nodded as if she understood.
“Team Leader Han, explain.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Team Leader Han pushed up his glasses and began to explain.
“Guilds plant informants and scouts in Awakening Centers. It’s to scout talent quickly and efficiently. If there’s a good talent, a report comes up immediately, and they start working to recruit them.”
“I don’t think I’m a good talent.”
“How can you say such a disappointing thing? Even before your Awakening, Cha Eui-jae was the type of talent we definitely wanted to bring to our Guild.”
Team Leader Han said firmly. Honeybee also supplemented the explanation from the side.
“Originally, scouts only look at Management Bureau-run centers, right? They hardly pay attention to places like the Gwangjin-gu temporary center. The direct-run centers are much better.”
That’s probably true. Awakened who want to show off their ability and receive a high grade will be thoroughly examined at the direct-run centers. Team Leader Han continued.
“But a Rift broke out in the Gwangjin-gu temporary center. In the middle of the city, and even a Rift that appeared without warning at the Awakening Center, so all the agencies’ attention was focused there. It’s a problem directly related to the public’s anxiety.”
Of course, that’s true. It’s natural to be anxious if a sudden Rift occurs that even the Rift Management Bureau didn’t foresee. This time, it was especially unlucky that it was created in the Awakening Center, so everyone had no choice but to focus their attention there.
“Everyone started scraping together information about what happened. Then they found Cha Eui-jae’s name on the list of survivors.”
So, if it weren’t for the Rift, he could have quietly registered and gotten out as Min-gi Seo planned.
Eui-jae suddenly felt a vein bulging on his forehead and his temperature rising as he listened to the story. According to Team Leader Han, everything went wrong because of that damn Rift. The butterfly effect of the Rift was truly amazing, and it ended up putting Eui-jae at a Hangover Soup Restaurant fan signing event.
‘Damn Rift.’
The fan signing event ended in an hour. Eui-jae couldn’t even think about cleaning up the gifts and staggered to the kitchen to prepare for the evening business, completely drained.
Moreover, Eui-jae was deprived of even his small amount of energy when the busy Jung-bin made a personal visit in the evening.
“Hello? Congratulations on your Awakening.”
What Jung-bin handed over was a paper bag with the Awakened Management Bureau logo on it. It looked like it contained official documents, so it was a visual that he didn’t dare to touch. Bae Won-woo, who was sitting in the corner eating Hangover Soup, grumbled.
“What’s that? A summons, a warning, an envelope that looks like it contains a fine notice.”
“Haha, surely not.”
‘He must have received one before.’
His words contained details that only someone who had experienced it would know. Eui-jae accepted the envelope with a slightly bitter face. It was thicker and heavier than he thought, wondering what they had put inside. Jung-bin smiled gently.
“Would you like to open it? I’ve filled it with only what Cha Eui-jae needs.”
‘I don’t want to.’
But his hand was diligently opening the paper bag. And Eui-jae’s expectations were somewhat correct.
『Hunter Basic Guide for New Hunters』
『Hunter Tax Payment Guide for New Hunters』
『Welfare Policies for Hunters』
『One-Touch! How to Use the Hunter Market』
『Awakened Special Act at a Glance』
Various pamphlets and thick books that seemed like they would be placed in government offices poured out. It seemed like small jeers were pouring out from the surrounding Hunters. However, Jung-bin still had a soft smile on his face.
“Originally, after completing Hunter registration, you have to listen to various explanations from a Management Bureau Hunter… but Cha Eui-jae didn’t get to hear them due to an unforeseen accident, right? So I’ve brought you a selection of only a few things you need to know.”
So this is how much you need to know. Hunters these days really had a lot to know. Eui-jae’s face was filled with melancholy.
‘Shit, being a Hunter isn’t easy these days.’
“Please read it when you have time, and if you don’t understand something or have any difficulties, please contact me anytime.”
Jung-bin took out a crisp business card from his suit pocket and placed it on top of the pamphlets.
Awakened Management Bureau Field Response Team 1
Team Leader Jung-bin
In fact, Jung-bin’s business card would be the greatest gift for a Hunter without power or backing. Even though he has a friendly image through numerous public service advertisements, an S-class is an S-class, and he is the 4th ranked Hunter in Korea, who is not easy to meet. The Hangover Soup Restaurant is also likely to have Hunter-related problems. An ordinary Hunter would have been moved, but…
‘I should seal this as is.’
Eui-jae was not.
At that time, Bae Won-woo stood up from his seat with a confident face.
“That’s why you can’t be a civil servant. You only give things to study as gifts! Guys, come on in!”
Clap, clap, with the sound of applause, the door of the Hangover Soup Restaurant opened and people with all kinds of equipment rushed in. The already full Hangover Soup Restaurant was so full that it felt like it would burst. What is this doing now? Eui-jae narrowed his eyes and looked at Bae Won-woo as if demanding an explanation.
Bae Won-woo swept back his short sports hair and said confidently.
“I, Bae Won-woo, the number one regular at the Hangover Soup Restaurant. I have prepared what the Hangover Soup Restaurant needs most as a gift for the part-timer’s Awakening.”
‘What is it?’
“That is…He raised his thumb magnificently.
“Automatic Self-Serve Kimchi and Side Dish Bar!”
“Automatic Self-Serve Kimchi and Side Dish Bar?”
“…What is that?”
The Hunters, who had unknowingly repeated after him, began to whisper. Automatic Self-Serve Kimchi and Side Dish Bar. What kind of word combination is this, like soy sauce marinated crab macaron dumplings? Just looking at the words, it seems like you know what it is, but in some ways, you have no idea.
In the first place, how can it be automatic if it’s a self-serve bar? Bae Won-woo smiled as if he saw the confusion on Eui-jae’s face.
“Don’t worry. It’s a masterpiece made by Wave Guild engineers with thorough calculations. Can I use some space over there?”
“Yes? Yes.”
The place Bae Won-woo pointed to was the space next to the water purifier, where an empty chair was placed. Bae Won-woo nodded, and the Wave Guild engineers rushed over and started making something.
After a while, a white machine was completed on the chair. Just by looking at it, it looked like a coffee machine in a coffee shop, or a slightly wider water purifier. And the very center of the machine was empty in a circle.
“What is that?”
“Isn’t it just a coffee machine?”
“Oh, how can you say such a disappointing thing! It’s a work of art infused with the blood, sweat, and tears of the Wave Guild creators.”
Bae Won-woo strode up to the machine and took something out of his Inventory. It was a large Mana Stone the size of a thumb!
“Wow… look at the size of the Mana Stone.”
“It’s so big.”
“You could buy a house with just one of those, right?”
It was when the Hunters were admiring the unusually large and beautiful Mana Stone. Bae Won-woo inserted the Mana Stone into the machine with very careful hands. At the same time, a blue light came on on the machine’s button. Geeing, the machine made a turning sound. Bae Won-woo greeted with an exaggerated pose.
“Mana Stone support was provided by Wave Guild Leader Lee Sa-young.”
‘What a waste of money.’
Eui-jae watched the Mana Stone installation show with a subtle sense of déjà vu. I think I’ve had the same thought before. But since he didn’t hate getting it for free, his expression had already relaxed.
“Alright, part-timer. Put the kimchi, radish kimchi, and Cheongyang peppers in here. Now, just press the button and the side dishes will come out in the right amount! You don’t have to take care of them one by one!”
Huh? This might be tempting. Eui-jae was possessed and brought the kimchi container and Cheongyang pepper container and put them into the machine as the engineer told him to. The eyes of the Hunters at the Hangover Soup Restaurant were focused on Cha Eui-jae.
If you put a bowl and press the button… kimchi is put into the bowl in the right amount!
“Oooooh!”
“As expected of Wave Guild!”
“Hey, it really works.”
“But if it’s moving with Mana Stone, isn’t the cost-effectiveness really bad? It’s better to connect an electric cord…”
When someone interrupted, Bae Won-woo scolded with a stern expression.
“Shut up! This is what you call emotion.”
“It seems closer to wasting money than emotion…”
“If anyone disrespects the Hangover Soup Restaurant, you can insist that there’s an automatic self-serve bar that runs on Mana Stone here.”
In fact, just looking at the visual, it seemed like I should say an advertising line like kimchi comes out of our house’s water purifier. But the regular Hunters were blinded by the satisfaction of being able to reduce one of the busy part-timer’s tasks and cheered.
However.
“I’ve been thinking about it as I watch.”
“Yes?”
Jung-bin, who was watching the regular Hunters, poured cold water on them with a smiling face.
“Doesn’t it look like an automatic pet feeder?”
The next day at 5 a.m., the sliding door of the Hangover Soup Restaurant opened with a creak. Eui-jae, whose face had become very sharp from losing weight, stuck a roughly scribbled warning on A4 paper on the door.
!!!Hangover Soup Restaurant Will Not Close!!!
Wreaths, Gifts, Banners Prohibited
Asking the Part-Timer About Their Grade Prohibited
Soliciting the Part-Timer to Join a Guild Prohibited
Head Hunting Prohibited
If you violate even one of the above, entry to the Hangover Soup Restaurant is prohibited