You have earned a combo bonus by finding the perfect combination.
Reward: System Update]
An alert window flickered in front of me.
Still half-asleep, I stared blankly at the window.
I remembered failing to get information on the Dark Ether item yesterday and then opening the thick *Dungeon Ecology Encyclopedia* again.
And...
...
I must have fallen asleep like that.
“Ugh...”
My neck was stiff from sleeping in an awkward position. I heard a crack when I stretched.
An achievement, huh? But Ji-na has been gone for a whole day already. Why now?
Isn't the system too slow? It always sends notifications promptly when it wants to assign me tasks, but it's slacking off by sending reward notifications late.
[We apologize for the service delay.]
Oh, right...
The system's tone was slightly different from usual.
Though I was skeptical, it wasn't a critical situation. I rubbed my stiff neck and chose to claim the reward.
[Finally, a qualified candidate ready to grow into a café owner.
The system update is starting.
1, 5, 10... 100% complete.
The Dimensional Shop function has been unlocked.]
Hmm? What's this?
“Finally unlocked that function! Why-ung!”
While I was still groggy and blinking at the alert window, Miumi butted in.
“What's this Dimensional Shop?”
“It's a shop that transcends dimensions, specially prepared by the great System □□ □□□. You can buy items that are hard to obtain through the system.”
“Hmm...”
“Why-oo!”
Miumi suddenly raised her front paws and gave me a meow punch.
“Your reaction is lukewarm! React more enthusiastically!”
“Waaah.”
“It lacks soul!”
“But I don't really need anything right now...”
Paw! Miumi's front paw hit my back again. As I pushed her away, I paused.
Wait, items that are hard to obtain?
Unlocking this shop function at this moment, maybe the Dark Ether item is in there.
The system can be helpful sometimes. I feel a bit guilty for all the complaints I've had.
I was fully awake now. I immediately accessed this new function.
‘Dimensional Shop.’
[Dimensional Shop
Welcome! This shop connects the gaps between dimensions.
You can purchase items that you need, Qualified Candidate.
Item refresh time: 24:00:00 remaining]
I skipped the exciting description and checked the item list.
“Hmm, fresh milk for 1 ruby...?”
[Fresh Milk: 1 ruby
Rich Cream: 2 rubies
Chocolate Sauce: 5 rubies
Cinnamon Powder: 3 rubies
...]
But there were only ingredients, and they were all for coffee drinks.
Items that are hard to obtain?
“Why are there only these?”
Paw! Miumi's front paw hit me again, but this time I dodged by turning my body.
“'Only these'? I've selected items suitable for the Qualified Candidate!”
“...These?”
“Meow, what items would be suitable for a café owner? Ingredients for drinks, of course.”
But milk is sold in supermarkets too.
I was about to lose interest and close the shop window when...
[Special Offer] ♨HOT♨ D/I/M/E/N/S/I/O/N/A/L S/H/O/P§ Special Sale for New Users
Buy now and get 100% off! No scams! New items added daily! Various rare items coming soon!
Enter now ☞E.N.T.E.R☜ Click
...
The marketing is so desperate it almost makes me cry.
Well, if you put it that way... I checked the detailed view of an item.
[Item: Fresh Milk (★★☆☆☆)
Milk obtained from a rare A-grade Golden Triangular Horn Cow.
It has a rich flavor different from ordinary milk.
Improves the quality of drinks.]
The other items were similar, all with descriptions about improving drink quality.
I had some rubies left from the last quest, so maybe I'll buy a few. I definitely need milk, and...
Ingredients piled up on the table like a mountain.
[20 rubies have been paid.]
Whoa, I overbought without realizing it.
It was too late to regret; the 20 rubies had already been converted into ingredients. There was no refund button in sight.
Is this a shady shop...
At first, I blamed myself, but being able to buy café ingredients through the system was a convenient feature. Improving drink quality means better effects.
Right, I bought them because I needed them. I quickly rationalized it.
[Main Quest: The Barista's Path (2)
You are now a proud barista.
Complete and sell the basic 5 café menu items (Café Latte, Cappuccino, Café Mocha, Vanilla Latte, Caramel Macchiato) to expand your menu.
Complete the basic 5 café menu items: 0/5]
Reward: Experience (200 exp), random recipe, ???]
Since I had bought the ingredients, I decided to complete the 5 drink quests I had been putting off.
Endlessly searching through the *Dungeon Management Encyclopedia* was too boring. Moving my hands might spark some good ideas for finding items.
I focused on the ‘???’ in the quest reward section.
Like the sudden update of the Dimensional Shop, the system must have hidden features. The quest might provide unexpected hints, and the ‘???’ could be a good item.
Right, instead of worrying, let's do what we can.
I don't want to work hard, but finding a way to save Choi Ichan is a different matter.
Once this problem is solved, I can run the café more leisurely.
With plenty of coffee beans and other ingredients, I won't need to enter the dungeon anymore. I was one step closer to opening a relaxed and free-spirited café.
Before that...
“Food, I want food! Why-ung!”
“Mew!”
Miumi cried, scratching her empty food bowl. Lime followed suit.
“Human, I'm hungry!”
“Mew!”
“Right, right...”
Unable to resist Miumi's nagging, I checked the pantry, only to find the cereal was all gone.
My neck was still stiff from sleeping on the book. I decided to go to the convenience store, even though it was a bit far.
“I'll be right back, so wait here.”
“Food, I want food! Why-ung!”
“Mew!”
Chased by the animals' urging, I went outside.
I don't ask for much. If there was just a convenience store in front of the dungeon gate, it would be great. This place is probably the only spot in Seoul without a convenience store. Ideally, there would be a chicken place too.
I walked while having such unrealistic thoughts.
It was late October. The crisp morning air felt refreshing.
I had just bought cereal and some rice rolls for myself at the convenience store and was on my way back.
I stretched and did some stretching exercises while looking at the endless stone walls of the Great Dungeon *Abyss*. My sore shoulder felt a bit better.
Then I sensed someone nearby.
‘Who is it?’
I turned to look.
The people I sensed were Ki Yoo-hyun and Han Eun-seong.
I considered acknowledging them, but they were having a serious conversation. I ended up hiding myself. I wanted to avoid them, but I had to pass in front of them to get back to the shop.
I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Should I make some noise?
But here,
‘Ahem, hmm, it's been a while.’
If I suddenly appeared, it would be incredibly awkward. I would look suspicious.
How can I appear without being awkward? I was thinking when I heard voices. The atmosphere was tense.
“Those guys again. They're causing trouble.”
“The possibility of the cult's involvement...”
“The cult was destroyed...”
“Some remnants might still be alive...”
“We need to find them by today... What to do when we find them... Hand them over to the Management Bureau...”
“We need to deal with it immediately...”
Deal with? What to deal with?
I couldn't hear the rest, but the tone of ‘deal with’ was quite chilling. It definitely wasn't about garbage disposal or bank transfers.
“...”
It was too late to appear naturally. I should retreat. I could go around.
Swallowing hard, I was about to move back when—
Bang!
“Ah, aah!”
The concrete brick wall I was hiding behind exploded. The solid bricks turned to dust in an instant.
If I had moved two steps to the side, it would have been my head, not the bricks.
“Who's there?”
A cold voice came from above me.
“...Hic.”
I clamped my mouth shut. The shock made me hiccup. I was in a half-crouched, half-standing position, peeking out from behind the wall.
I felt a frozen gaze looking down at me. Ki Yoo-hyun asked in a slightly exasperated tone.
“What are you doing there?”
“Hic, hic... hic.”
I couldn't speak due to the hiccups. I tried to hold my breath, but the hiccups continued to torment me. I covered my mouth with one hand and pointed to the direction of the shop with the other.
“...What?”
“Hic, hic.”
Our shop is right here, what are you doing here? It came out as hiccups instead of words.
The atmosphere didn't improve at all. Sharp eyes scanned me.
Wait, there's a skill I can use in this situation...
‘Smile.’
[Skill ‘Smile’ activated.]
My lips curved into a perfect business smile.
“...”
“...”
Still silence. I couldn't tell if it was effective. I tried again.
‘Smile.’
[Skill ‘Smile’ activated.]
Ki Yoo-hyun's expression softened slowly.
A slight smile changed the atmosphere significantly. His well-defined eyes formed gentle curves, and his eyelashes cast shadows in the morning sunlight.
His face was so beautiful it was hard to look at. It was really scary just now.
“I'm sorry, I startled you.”
Did he try to blow up my head? I had that thought, but I accepted his apology.
“Ah, ahem. It's okay. Be more careful in the future.”
At that moment, Han Eun-seong, who had been looking at me and Ki Yoo-hyun with a cautious expression, bowed and greeted me.
“Ha, it's been a while...”
It had been a while since I saw Han Eun-seong, the hunter, after the cave bear incident.