By Zephyria Trigger
Lazy sunlight streamed through the gap in the glass where the faded red Hangover Soup lettering sticker was affixed.
The Hanover Soup Restaurant, in the midst of ingredient preparation time, was unusually quiet today. Ha-eun had gone to play at a friend’s house, there were no ingredients lacking, and the meat was simmering perfectly on its own.
Thanks to that, Eui-jae was sitting alone at the counter, flipping through a paper newspaper for the first time in a while. The moderately warm sunlight, the familiar advertising CM song flowing from the CRT TV, the rustling texture brushing his fingertips. Only welcome and nostalgic things. Just like before the Day of the Rift.
‘…….’
Eui-jae pressed his temple with his fist and tilted his head.
Is that why Hunters come here so often? The world has changed, and even they themselves have changed, but is it to relive the existence of ordinary days in the past?
‘Well, it could just be because the Hangover Soup is cheap….’
Eui-jae shook off the sentimental thoughts that had surfaced after a long time. He judged that it was more efficient to enjoy the peaceful afternoon and leisure he had encountered after so long, rather than indulging in sentimentality.
‘But it really has been a while.’
Since when was it? Since when did he start getting seriously involved with Hunters like this? As if waiting for it, a gorgeously beautiful face smiling with twisted lips appeared before his eyes. Thinking of Lee Sa-young’s face, which flaunted a flamboyant presence like a bright red rose, Eui-jae let out a deep sigh.
‘Why is everything Lee Sa-young, everything.’
He should have admitted long ago that his peaceful life had crossed the River Styx from the moment he encountered him. Tsk, Eui-jae clicked his tongue, folded the newspaper, got up, and stretched.
Still, thanks to Lee Sa-young, he was able to realize what he really wanted. Eui-jae, who had picked up a broom, spread his palm wide. A golden line, visible yet invisible, flickered on his skin.
Cha Eui-jae wanted to protect people. He never wanted to experience losing someone precious powerlessly again. Why hadn’t he realized such an obvious and simple fact until now?
As if someone had put a blindfold on him….
Clatter, the dustpan caught on his foot and overturned. Eui-jae was startled and readjusted his grip on the broom, then let out another deep breath. Just in time, a Bureau of Rift Management hotline public service announcement with Gas masks was playing on TV.
Everything from head to toe is Lee Sa-young. Eui-jae glanced at the Gas mask and started sweeping.
Thus, even after capturing an S+ class Golem in one shot and revealing that he was J, Cha Eui-jae’s quiet daily life did not change significantly.
Open the store, watch Lee Sa-young on TV, take care of Ha-eun, take care of Grandmother’s health, watch Lee Sa-young on TV, close the store. The Hangover Soup still sold well, the customers who came were the same, and their attitudes were the same. Ominously so.
Several days had passed since he declared his two-job status, but Eui-jae’s daily life was only quiet. It was even quieter than usual. Lee Sa-young, Yoon Ga-eul, Hong Ye-seong, and Jung-bin were nowhere to be seen.
Well, he thought they must all be busy with their own circumstances. The Awakened Management Bureau would be pushing them hard. He figured they would all manage on their own.
And one day, new news arrived at the store. In human form.
“Hello, customer.”
Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo, who had come suddenly, was standing upright at the entrance today as well, wearing a black suit and sunglasses.
Yes, the quiet life crusher has finally come. Eui-jae wasn’t surprised and opened the door. He, who had cleverly arrived during ingredient preparation time, held out a heavy paper bag.
“This is a gift.”
“Why a gift all of a sudden?”
“Ah, I went on a business trip to Daejeon. While I was there, I bought something for Eui-jae-nim as well. It’s bread.”
“Daejeon?”
“Hong Ye-seong-nim said he wanted to eat fried soboro from a certain bakery in Daejeon, so I wondered if he had gone to Daejeon after escaping, so I went. It was delicious.”
Choi Goyo’s phone remembered the text message that had arrived. Min-gi Seo’s text message that arrived after Hong Ye-seong’s escape, Choi Goyo who had shot out like an arrow as soon as he saw the text message.
It seemed that they had formed a Hong Ye-seong tracking team and set out to find Hong Ye-seong. Even though the runaway was chewing on boiled eggs without a care in the world!
He was going to look at Min-gi Seo with pity for having suffered in the middle of the night, but seeing that Min-gi Seo’s thin cheeks were a bit plumper and his complexion was rosy…
‘It looks like he ate well and had fun?’
It seemed closer to having gone on vacation than a business trip. Well, the evil boss would be busy too, so he must have been enjoying life. Eui-jae folded his worries and sympathy. Min-gi Seo, who seemed more energetic than ever, slammed the bag on the table and opened his mouth seriously.
“There were many delicious-looking breads, but since it’s for a gift, I bought it as a gift set. Please tell me if there’s any bread you liked or want to eat after trying it. I’ll buy it for you.”
“No, you don’t have to go that far.”
“No.”
Min-gi Seo shook his head and said seriously.
“From a few days ago, the Wave Guild’s Combat Support Team 1 has been operating as a close backup team for you, customer. That’s our Guild Leader Lee Sa-young’s order.”
“…Yes?”
Eui-jae looked at Min-gi Seo with a dumbfounded face. But Min-gi Seo’s pale face was utterly serious. Combat Support Team 1, the elite team of the Wave Guild to which Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo, Romantic Opener, and Choi Goyo belonged. Was it not a team that supported the Guild members?
Min-gi Seo raised his sunglasses.
“There’s no need to be surprised, J. We have the team name Combat Support Team, but in fact, we’re the Guild Leader’s direct lackey team. We do everything we’re told. This time, that’s just backing you up, customer. Oh, and we’re also working very hard to keep the Rankers quiet!”
‘Lackey….’
Eui-jae, seeing Min-gi Seo’s appearance with a bright smile and a thumbs-up, looked at him with a hint of pity. Hmm, Min-gi Seo cleared his throat, looked around, narrowed the distance, and whispered.
“To explain this matter briefly, the Awakened Management Bureau has no intention of revealing J’s return. The Invasion Dungeon itself is not a well-known existence, and this time, an unprecedented Dungeon Restructuring phenomenon has occurred, hasn’t it? It’s the first time in the world, this.”
“Yes.”
“The title of being the first is not always a good thing. No matter how serious the country is about ranking and lining up, being the first in such a thing is… well.”
Min-gi Seo rubbed his chin with his finger and spat out briefly.
“Rather, it evokes fear. Is this going to happen again? Anxiety and fear.”
The public is swayed more easily than you think. Fear is the best emotion to wield people at will. Min-gi Seo, who was watching Eui-jae’s expression, carefully continued.
“Well… the Bureau of Rift Management doesn’t want to create unnecessary anxiety either. There was also the unprecedented situation of a Rift appearing at the registration center.”
Eui-jae was there too. Eui-jae put his hands together and put them on his forehead. Incidents were happening wherever Eui-jae went. As if his very existence was a trigger. Min-gi Seo picked up the vegetable crackers that Eui-jae had given him and ate them. He shrugged his shoulders after swallowing what he had been chewing on.
“Even with the System in place now, it’s unrealistic… but anyway, if unrealistic things happen repeatedly and with close frequency, it’s bound to be unsettling. Especially for ordinary people.”
“…….”
“Anyway, the Hunters who witnessed J all insist they don’t know who it is, and since he happened to appear in the Invasion Dungeon where the Restructuring phenomenon occurred, it’s hard to announce it openly. Besides, you said it yourself, didn’t you? That if something like this happens, you’ll appear again.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I think they’re a little relieved because of that.”
It was a strange thing to say. Eui-jae raised his head and looked at Min-gi Seo. Min-gi Seo was smiling cynically.
“Trust in J, something like that. That J would never abandon us.”
“…….”
“Well, but.”
Min-gi Seo rested his chin on his hand and muttered while thinking deeply.
“I’ve been thinking hard about it. Dungeon Restructuring is said to be the first time… but in fact, it seems that similar phenomena have occurred before.”
“Yes?”
It was a bombshell to say suddenly. Eui-jae whispered, suppressing his voice.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“It’s as it sounds. Dungeon Restructuring refers to the phenomenon in which the form of the Dungeon suddenly changes and the grade rises, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Um… I’m going to say something rude for a moment, please forgive me.”
Min-gi Seo, who had been slurring his words, cleared his throat. Black eyes beyond the sunglasses stared intently at Eui-jae.
“Haven’t you already experienced it once before, J?”
Thump, the hand gripping the table tightened. A blue light was swirling in the cool black eyes looking down at Min-gi Seo. The back of his neck cooled involuntarily. But Min-gi Seo continued to speak firmly.
“The West Sea Rift was initially judged to be Grade 5 immediately after its creation, but I know that it was upgraded to Grade 1 Rift immediately after J’s team entered.”
“…….”
“Isn’t the phenomenon itself similar to the Invasion Dungeon? Of course, the West Sea Rift gradually grew larger over time, though.”