BRH 37

They installed simple rank testing devices in public offices, financial institutions, and other places with high foot traffic, greatly expanding the scope of testing by requiring consent and passage through security checkpoints.

Whether it was somewhat effective or not, 28 Unregistered Beings were discovered in the past month alone. From the Hunter Management Bureau’s perspective, it was like getting something for nothing.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Ha Do-heon. The information Ha Do-heon wanted hadn’t surfaced even a speck.

Information about Goblins, Double Dungeons, or the rank of monsters from Upgraded Dungeons. Something about the crown.

‘Tch… the Hunter Management Bureau is still hiding information about Upgraded Dungeons.’

As a result of Ren and Mut’s investigation, Dungeon upgrades had occurred in as many as 12 locations in the past month. However, the Hunter Management Bureau was not publicizing this, quietly forming attack teams with Hunters belonging to the Bureau to barely contain them.

It was something they couldn’t do for long anyway. The Hunters belonging to the Hunter Management Bureau consisted of only one S-rank, 43 A-ranks, and about 150 B-ranks, so there were limitations in manpower. Judging by the increasing trend in rank, a 6-rank Dungeon would likely appear soon, and with the power of one S-rank, they wouldn’t be able to close the Dungeon.

‘If I call other S-ranks for help when that happens, I’ll probably get a lot of flak for not disclosing it from the beginning.’

Well, whether the Hunter Management Bureau gets flak or is criticized, that’s separate from Do-heon. Do-heon can take action before things get to that point.

Ha Do-heon just needed to comfortably serve customers and gather information in this peaceful and slightly bustling place. After lying low for about two months, around autumn, he could leisurely go and stop the Second Great Disaster and hole up in a Boss Castle with good water and air to prepare for the Third Great Disaster.

Meanwhile, he could occasionally come out to the city to solve cases, find Goblins, and quietly take down high-rank monsters. Then everything would be resolved in a peaceful and rational way.

Yes, Ha Do-heon’s plan was perfect in every way. Yes, everything was good… but.

“Here’s your Hunter sandwich and cappuccino.”

“Oh, thank you.”

But why does Moon Tae-yi keep coming here so often…?

Ha Do-heon looked down at the softly smiling man with a listless face. It had been fifteen days since he started. This man was sitting here as if he was going to set up a home.

Moon Tae-yi’s hair, sitting by the sunny window, sparkled. The sight of him holding a glass with a gentle face made this place feel like a high-end European cafe. Recently, the window seat had become Moon Tae-yi’s designated spot, and even when it was empty, Hunters would only sadly lick their lips and not sit there.

After someone sat there, saw Moon Tae-yi appear in front of them, and ran away with their plate, a tacit rule was established among the Hunters. This is Moon Tae-yi’s designated seat, and you’re screwed if you sit there.

“Do-heon-ssi, aren’t you hungry? Why don’t you eat a sandwich while you work?”

“I’m working right now, Tae-yi-ssi.”

“Really? Is it just my imagination… you look free.”

People avoided his dark eyes, which scanned the store with his chin resting on his hand, and buried their faces in their bowls. How could the store be so quiet, with only the strange sounds of slurping and smacking lips? Ha Do-heon didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Um, Tae-yi-ssi. Aren’t you busy? I heard a lot of Dungeons are appearing these days. As an S-rank, aren’t you, like, being called everywhere?”

“I took a vacation. I thought I’d check out Do-heon-ssi’s new workplace. It seems safer than Dungeons.”

…What vacation? That’s complete nonsense… No, usually S-ranks are busy day and night, right? With Gates and Dungeons appearing all the time, it doesn’t make sense that Moon Tae-yi, one of only three S-ranks in Korea, took a vacation.

But then again… strangely, the Dungeons seem a bit quiet these days. Like a volcano that’s quiet right before it erupts.

As Ha Do-heon was lost in thought with a tray in his hand, Moon Tae-yi gently grabbed the tip of Do-heon’s hand.

“Do-heon-ssi, your belt is untied. Do you want to come here? I’ll tie it for you.”

“Where? Oh, it is.”

Ha Do-heon looked around his waist and put down the tray. The waiter’s apron tied behind his back was half undone. He reached out to roughly tie it, but Moon Tae-yi’s actions were faster. No, it was more like nimble.

Because he reached out his arms as if hugging his waist from the front, Do-heon’s body was trapped in his arms. Moon Tae-yi was sitting, and Ha Do-heon was standing. His hand, which gently brushed past his waist, untied the apron string and placed the cloth against his iliac crest again. After positioning it, he leisurely fiddled with his hands and tied it tightly.

The series of actions was so natural that Ha Do-heon could only stand there awkwardly with his arms raised.

“Do-heon-ssi has a strong frame, but his waist is slender. Who gave birth to something so pretty… Did the heavens give it to us?”

“Even if you say that, I still get off at 8 today.”

“I’ve never thought about being a bad employer. I might have to think about it.”

“No, don’t even think about it… It’s just today, just today. The replacement employee had a family emergency and will be an hour late, what can I do?”

Moon Tae-yi’s daily routine of clocking in at Morning Star Cafe started and ended similarly to Ha Do-heon’s. When Ha Do-heon went to work, Moon Tae-yi came to the store an hour later. After that, he would sit in the store until Ha Do-heon’s shift ended and walk him home.

For fifteen days, that routine hadn’t changed. Hunters who knew already figured out Moon Tae-yi’s routine of being a cafe fixture and came during the times he wasn’t there. Why? Because if you call the part-timer more than three times, Moon Tae-yi will stare at you!

There was a time when Moon Tae-yi’s confession incident was heavily reported. The article disappeared without a trace in a day, but even Moon Tae-yi, who could fly and crawl, couldn’t stop the rumors that spread by word of mouth.

There was a time when Hunters speculated and guessed among themselves about the confession partner, who was known as a B-rank Hunter, saying she was a woman, he was a man, and often used it as a topic of conversation, but now everyone was silent about Moon Tae-yi like they had swallowed honey. Why? Because they know that B-rank Hunter now!

“Then Do-heon-ssi must be hungry. Since you’re working an extra hour.”

“…Well, I guess I’ll be eating late. But I’m not hungry right now?”

“Okay, here. Take the sandwich.”

“No, I said I’m not hungry.”

“You like cappuccino, right? Here, take it with you, you’ll get thirsty.”

Moon Tae-yi, who had been fiddling with his waist, sat Ha Do-heon next to him and held out the sandwich to his mouth. After refusing and pulling his head back for a moment, Do-heon slowly raised his eyes as he looked at the sandwich filled with egg salad and jam.

“…Then I’ll just eat one.”

Wouldn’t it be better to eat quickly and work? Ha Do-heon, holding one side of the sandwich wrapper, took a big bite. The sweet and savory contents between the soft bread filled his mouth. When Moon Tae-yi slid the cappuccino over, he blew on it and gulped it down.

He rested his chin on his hand and gently smiled as he leisurely watched Ha Do-heon’s profile. As if wanting to play with him, he raised his finger, gently grabbed the softly flowing hair, and rubbed it.

Pfft!

The Hunters who were glancing at the scene spat out half of what they had in their mouths. Those who couldn’t spit it out patted their chests and looked for water.

‘What… what are they doing? What if the owner comes out?’

Afraid that the owner might come out, everyone looked at the kitchen with anxious hearts and fidgeted. As if planning to grab the food and stick to the wall if necessary, people came out holding their bowls halfway.

Then someone caused an accident.

“Oh my! What are you doing!”

“Huh? Me? What did I do… Oh no! The food!”

“Ah, hot! Ah, let go!”

Someone quietly got up to avoid the corner and bumped into an employee, and the freshly prepared food was spilled on the employee’s shoulder. The employee, burned by the steaming food, jumped up. The Hunter frantically wiped the clothes with his arms, trying to smooth things over.

But by then, the Hunters around them had already picked up their bowls, quietly stuck to the wall, and the hall was empty. And at the same time as the hall was empty.

Bang-!

Someone came out of the kitchen with a knife. What’s more, the man was holding a long sashimi knife!

“Which you son of a bitch is messing with our part-timer?”

“Huh? Uh, uh? Oh, no! It was a mistake! A mistake!”

“A mistake? Hahahaha! Everyone says that at first. It was a mistake. Then I have to watch my part-timer run away and shed tears of blood. Are you going to take responsibility for that?”

The owner’s eyes, holding the sashimi knife, gleamed with madness. The Hunter was surprised and hiccuped. Even though the man was an A-rank Hunter and belonged to a top guild with defensive skills, the Morning Star Cafe had a nullification skill that suppressed even the abilities of an S-rank.

This place was a gray area. Due to the owner’s special skill, all stats were nullified in his home ground! Before he knew it, the man’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

“I, I’m sorry! I said I was wrong?!”

“Get out! You son of a bitch, get out right now?! No, kneel down and apologize to the part-timer, you bastard!”

“Excuse me, I’m sorry! I’ll come back later and apologize again! This crazy owner-!”

The man, who ran around the hall three times, opened the door and ran out of the store. Only then did the owner, Chun Seo-hyuk, wipe his forehead with a relieved face, put the sashimi knife on his shoulder, and slam the door shut.

Moon Tae-yi, who had been sitting by the window and leisurely watching the funny sight, suddenly smiled.

“Seeing that, I feel really reassured. I can leave Do-heon-ssi to the CEO.”