SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon - Chapter 109

It occurred to me.

Since the atmosphere has been like this in the Hunter Market, some Hunters may also have a strong and weak tendency.

I, who was treated coldly as an F-class, received a different hospitality than before. It’s a typical cider situation, but I didn’t feel like boasting about how satisfying it is.

I just felt sick of it.

“I only sell coffee to people who get a numbered ticket by standing in the line.”

After saying that, I got up.

Come on, let’s finish our errands and go.

“More than that, I’d like to go to the consignment shop.”

“Yes? Hunter Kwon Rieul-nim, there are many items in our Hunter Market that are better than the lower-class items sold in consignment shops. Originally, it’s not items that anyone can see, but I’ll show them to you right away.”

“No, I have business in the consignment shop area.”

The staff was persistent. After repeating similar recommendations and specifications several times, I was able to escape from that VVIP room or whatever they called it.

“It’s not fun here.”

Ash muttered with a sullen expression. I totally agree with his statement.

I managed to leave thestaff who said they would guide me in person and entered the consignment shop area.

It’s the second time I’ve been here. When I first came, it was empty, but now various stalls have been opened, making it quite crowded. I headed to the shop in the most corner, inconspicuous of all. There were several items for beginners on the shelf, but no other customers were seen.

The shopkeeper greeted me with a bright smile.

“It’s been a while.”

“Grandma, how have you been?”

It was Grandma Kim Deokyi.

“Today you came with a cute little boy. Do you want this Grandmother to give you candy?”

“I’m not a kid….”

Ash didn’t seem to like the expression ‘little boy‘, but he quietly took candy. There was a rolling sound of candy in his mouth.

To find a way to deal with ticket scalpers, the person I consulted with was Grandma Kim Deokyi. Although she is retired now, I guessed that she would know how to do it because she is a Master in the production industry.

My guess was correct. Grandma Kim Deokyi said this after hearing the explanation over the phone.

— Hmm. If that’s the case, you can use that item.
“Oh, do you know how to handle it?”
— Yes, come visit me sometime

“Then, I’ll visit you at the workshop.”
— No. Let’s meet somewhere other than the workshop.
“All right. Where should I go?”

Grandmother Kim Deokyi called me to this place, the consignment shop area of Hunter Market.

I found out that after retirement, she is hiding her identity and selling items for beginners as a hobby. Indeed, when I first met Grandma Kim Deokyi here, she was hiding her identity….

“But doesn’t anyone recognize your face?”

She is a famous Master Craftsman who is the representative of the 1st generation Hunters. That’s what I asked, but the old lady shook her head.

“Hohoo … surprisingly, people don’t look at other people’s faces very well.”

So far, no one has noticed her identity.

I stared at Grandma Kim Deokyi again.

Even though we were indoors, she wore a sun visor and silly Paisley-patterned pants with a gray arm sleeve on the arm. It was hard to recognize her as a craftsman by usual eyes.

Perhaps Grandma Kim Deokyi is enjoying the real life of a powerful woman.

No, rather … a secret connection who gives mysterious power to the main character seems to be more suitable to describe her.

One day, just one person, Grandma Kim Deokyi will give a rare item to a Hunter who treats her politely.

I’ve heard a lot about this development of, uh, if you know, you know. It’s the first law of the protagonist. Be kind to ordinary-looking old people.

I glanced around. A Hunter, who happened to meet my eyes, quickly approached us.

Hoo, is that him?

I watched him with excitement, but….

“Where is the bathroom here?”

Not at all. It seems that a person who has the main character traits doesn’t appear that easily.

“Oh, here. I brought what you said.”

I handed over the stainless steel thermos from the inventory. Inside, there were several cups of cafe romano.

Item: Cafe Romano (★★★★☆)
Status: Good (Time Remaining: 01:00:00)
Effect: Increases enchantment success rate by 200% for 1 time, and prevents item damage in case of enchantment failure.]

The effect of this coffee is as follows.

When I talked about the effect, Grandma said she wanted to try it. Since I came to see her for the first time in a long time, I have made it generously.

“Thank you … huu.”

Kim Deokyi, who was reading the status window of the cafe romano, sighed.

“If I had this coffee, I wouldn’t have had to break items like before….”

It seems that she has been heartbroken when she recalled the items that she had cracked during the enchant process. I hope she can use it usefully.

“This is the item for Miss Rieul.”

On the surface, it was a pen that looked like an ordinary digital pen. Soon after I received it, the status window appeared.

[Item: Sign Pen of Binding (★★☆☆☆)
Don’t forget to write your name on things.
When used, an item binding effect occurs to the first owner.]

“I made it in a hurry, but the effect will work.”

“….! Thank you!”

Binding refers to a phenomenon in which the item becomes completely the property of the owner. Simply put, it is similar to writing a name on an object. Items with your name on them cannot be sold to others. In other words, it’s non-transferable and non-tradeable.

Great. This is enough to drive out the resellers.

“Hohoho….”

Just by imagining the merchant panicked while holding a numbered ticket with binding effect, I laughed unconsciously. I put the sign pen into the inventory with a wicked smile, then Grandma suddenly spoke.

“Finally, you have regained the true power of the ring.”

Her eyes were on the Cthugha’s Ring.

“Yes? Ah, right.”

When I first received Cthugha’s Ring from Grandma, the status window was like this.

[Cthugha’s Ring
Type: Accessories
Effect: Unusable.]

However, after meeting Cthugha in the dungeon and signing a contract, the status window of the ring got updated.

[Cthugha’s Ring (★★★★★)
A token of a contract with The Eternal Living Flame, Cthugha
When used by the appropriate user, Cthugha can be summoned.]

I haven’t summoned Cthugha because there’s nothing to do yet, but I can feel a different power than before just by wearing it.

The ‘stone containing his power’ that became the material of this ring was handed over to my grandmother by Cthugha. The stone revolved around and ended up in my hand. Could this be a mere coincidence?

Sure, solving the problem of ticket scalpers was an important matter, but the real reason I visited Grandma Kim Deokyi today was because I wanted to ask about the ring.

“Grandma, please tell me.”

“…..”

“How did you come to make this ring?”

***

On my way home from Hunter Market, I was lost in thought. I remembered what Grandma Kim Deokyi said to me a while ago.

“The stone that became the material of the ring was given to me by Park Heesun-ssi as the price of lending her the hand mirror.”

Ah, that hand mirror. I found it inside the cabin in the space at the request of Grandma Kim Deokyi. We made Choi Yichan’s pendant with the broken mirror.

“I succeeded in making Cthugha’s Ring, but I couldn’t use that power.”
“….”
“When I asked Park Heesun-ssi, she said the ring was properly completed properly. She just said the right owner hasn’t shown up yet. She asked me to deliver the ring to the appropriate user.”
“Don’t tell me … is that me?”

Grandma Kim Deokyi nodded. However, it was vague how she came to know that I was the right user. She told me that it’s like she heard a voice telling her I was the one.

In the end, I asked.

“What was my grandmother like?”
“Let me see … she was too far away to be called a friend, so I don’t have much to say. One thing is for sure….”
“….”
“She was someone who saw things you wouldn’t normally see.”

A dim gaze reached me. The last words were filled with longing.

Hmm. There is something in common between the descriptions of my grandmother by people (and non-person) who remember her.

First, she wasn’t an Awakened. It wasn’t a development of ‘Is My Grandmother The Strongest Hunter of The First Generation?’ or ‘I Became The World’s Strongest Through My Bloodline‘.

Actually, I was looking forward to it, so it’s a pity.

However, it is certain that the grandmother had some mysterious power. Cthugha told me that she could read the stream of the stars. For now, t is unknown what exactly that power is.

Heck, if they’re going to return me to the past, I wish they could have sent me back to when my grandmother was still alive.

‘I miss my grandmother….’

Looking back, the reason I awakened was also because I went to my grandmother’s store.

Now it is just used as a place to grow crops, but the space in the store is also strange. Why there is a space like that in a building?

Maybe I move along the path my grandmother prepared for me?

‘Career planning should have been decided in consultation with the person concerned….’

If so, what is at the end of this? A one-on-one battle with a crazy pseudo-religious man? Saving the world?

Aye, this isn’t the case, though. I can help people clearing the dungeons through my cafe, but I’m only a helper.

Haha, ha…..

Only a helper … right?

Ah. Talking about the crazy pseudo-religious man.

When I decided to officially publicize Cafe Rieul, an unmanned security system was installed around the store. The crime prevention bell Ki Yoohyun gave me is also a valid security tool.

I prepared for the worst, but fortunately, I haven’t seen him yet. I hope he keeps not showing up like this….

“Look over there.”

At that time, Ash pulled my collar slightly. Gosh, I’ve been lost in my own thoughts for too long.

“Sorry. I was thinking about something else for a second. Let’s go. ….? What’s the matter?”

“……that.”

What Ash pointed to was a large electronic display board installed on the building opposite the road. It just so happened that the news was coming out. A news tap explaining road traffic conditions passed by, and Choi Yichan’s face appeared on the screen.

Soon there will be a big caption underneath.

The S-Class Hunter Choi Yichan, 6th in the Ranking … confirmed to join The White Silver Guild.

Ah. It’s finally been officially announced.

I stood there with Ash and calmly watched the news screen. The news dealt with the information quite heavily, saying that the game of the Domestic Hunter Guild is blah blah blah.

The reason for my indifferent response is simple. I heard about it in advance yesterday.

Choi Yichan, who was finally freed from the Dungeon Management Office, stopped by our store yesterday. It had been almost a week since we returned from the dungeon.

I couldn’t say anything because it’s Choi Yichan’s own business. It is said that he was only released after taking tests on strength control training and related norms ranking, as well as ranking measurement in his re-registration.

Hunter Registration … I finished it very quickly….

Before visiting the Hunter Market for the first time, I went to the community center to register as a Hunter. When I informed them that I was an F-class, I was handed over to the person in charge right away.

“Miss, please write your personal information here and give me your ID Card. Don’t forget to complete the safety training online within the period. Here’s your pamphlet.”

….that was the end of it.