- Mr. Hunter! Congratulations on becoming the seventh S-class Hunter in the Republic of Korea!
- Ah, hahaha... Is that so? Well... Thank you.
- First, could you please tell us your name and give a brief introduction?
- I'm Choi E-chan. Um... I'm 23 years old, and, uh, I'm type B.
A gentle laugh spread around. It wasn't a hostile or dismissive atmosphere. At the point of being a new S-class, anything he said would be met with cheers.
Moreover, among the top-ranked S-class Hunters who never show their faces and the famous grumpy ones, Choi E-chan's fresh and innocent appearance would feel refreshing.
- You just came out with a gate stone. Did you defeat a dungeon boss? Could you tell us how you did it?
- Well, I'm not really sure what happened. Something started talking, then something else appeared, and before I knew it...
- Before you knew it...?
- Yes, so I just kept killing the monsters that appeared, and then the gate stone, that stone, appeared.
- ...
The reporter, who had been bombarding him with questions, was momentarily taken aback by this statement.
[Breaking News] New S-class Hunter... "Just killed the boss, and it worked."
...That kind of article would come out.
- Ahem, Mr. Choi E-chan, now that many guilds will want to recruit you, is there any guild you'd like to join?
- No, I'm not sure about that yet.
- Ah, Mr. Choi E-chan, are you planning to form a new guild?
- Huh? No, that's not it. Um...
- It's already been announced that <C&L Corporation> and Royal Guild are interested in recruiting you.
If he had given a proper answer, he could have refused the interview, but Choi E-chan continued to fumble through his responses.
He was not used to being in the spotlight, and the enthusiasm of the interview scene was overwhelming.
- Ah, breaking news! <Cheongra Guild> Hunter Han Isung has just announced that he will recruit you without any conditions.
At the bottom of the news screen, a large subtitle read, "Big 3 Guilds Seek to Recruit New S-class... What Will His Future Hold?"
It's a real mess.
Choi E-chan was thoroughly caught up in the reporter's interview.
- I appreciate the offer, but I have something I need to do first, so I won't join a guild for now.
- Could you tell us what that is?
- It's a bit... personal.
- Ah! Is it a secret mission?
- No, it's not that. I, I'm trying to help a friend...
- So, you're already affiliated with a group!
- Not exactly...
I understand they're after a scoop, but this is going too far. At this point, I felt sorry for Choi E-chan.
I thought I should file a complaint about the aggressive interview and stood up.
"Grandma, I'll make some new coffee."
After confirming he was safe, I felt my throat was dry. I decided to drink coffee and watch the rest of the interview more comfortably.
I quickly made two new iced caramel macchiatos and returned to the television.
Taking a sip of the rich and sweet coffee, I looked back at the screen...
What happened while I briefly looked away from the TV?
- Yes, I'm affiliated with <Cafe Reul>, so I won't be joining a guild for now.
"Cough, cough?!"
Why... did my name come up there?
Chapter 5. Lemonade Without Lemons
Korea No.1 Hunter Community - Hunter Channel
Free Board
- No ranking, no guild chasing. Flame wars in dungeons
[News] (HunterSCOPE) The Star of the Korean Hunter World, Choi E-chan, Who Is He? (17)
Likes: 0 / Dislikes: 2
Author: Pro-level
Last week, a new star was born in the Korean Hunter world. The protagonist is none other than S-class Berserker Choi E-chan. We delve into the details of his background... (Read more)
Dungeon: Duplicate
rho***: Duplicate
Healer Needed: Jb jb -_-
Pink Jelly: No duplicate posts in Hunter Channel, read the notice
└rho***: SB, this has been posted more than five times today
ㅇㅇ: I'm seeing it for the first time?
Legend13: So what if it's a duplicate; just read it. The whole community is in a frenzy over the new S-class, why are you being picky here?
ftf***: These guys are glued to Hunter Channel 24/7, hoping for more fun
└ㅇㅇ: 2222 lol
Mangseok Jonbeo: Choi E-chan, S-class Berserker, is so cool. Is there a chance for Mangseok to rise?
└jka***: You mean Choi E-chan, right?
└ㅇㅇ: Choi E-chan has a chance, but not Mangseok
└Mangseok Jonbeo: SB...
ㅁㅁ: Where do you think he'll go? Guess!
└Toughie: Wow, how would it feel to choose among the Big 3? -_-
└Lime Love: He'll definitely go to Royal, right? It suits him well
└ㅁㅁ: You sound like you're from Royal;
Golem Give: What did Light E-chan say at the end of the interview?
└del***: Huh? What happened?
└Golem Give: Light E-chan said he was affiliated with somewhere
└ㅇㅇ: Oh, the sound cut out
└Golem Give: Damn, the broadcasters
└ㅇㅇ: lol, you couldn't keep up with the excitement of seeing Light E-chan in person
└Golem Give: SB, lol
* * *
"I'm sorry..."
Choi E-chan bowed his head.
Today is the opening ceremony of <Cafe Reul>.
The opening ceremony isn't anything special.
A while ago, Choi E-chan brought a potted plant with a "Congratulations on the Opening" ribbon, and he made a lot of butter cookies.
"I'm really sorry."
Despite my repeated assurances that it was fine, Choi E-chan apologized again.
"I didn't mean to... When the camera was suddenly thrust in my face and they started asking questions, I didn't know what was happening..."
"It's really okay, I promise."
Choi E-chan was apologizing for what he said during the interview a few days ago, when he suddenly mentioned being affiliated with "Cafe Reul." In the midst of his confusion, he had recalled his promise to help me.
Choi E-chan, looking embarrassed, slumped into the inner seat, his long legs sticking out.
Choi E-chan, who hadn't decided which guild to join, was essentially a target in the hunter world.
He said he turned off his phone because of the constant calls, and even people came to his house, so he had to move out of his place.
I told him he could stay here for a while if he had nowhere to go, but...
"The first and second floors are separate, so you can use them independently."
"No, no, no, that's... How can I do that!"
Choi E-chan firmly refused.
"Where are you staying now, then?"
"Don't worry. On this vast land, life flows with the wind!"
"..."
Is he okay...
Instead, I decided to hire Choi E-chan as a temporary part-time worker during the day.
Hiring an S-class Hunter as a part-time worker... somehow, it made me feel like we had become a great cafe right after opening.
Choi E-chan looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a weary expression, but ultimately, he was the one with the power. If he wanted to, he wouldn't have to deal with these annoying people.
In the hierarchical hunter world, a new S-class Hunter like Choi E-chan could easily brush off such issues. He could be as arrogant as he wanted. The top-ranked Hunter, for example, had completely blocked all interviews.
However, Choi E-chan didn't seem to have that intention. It seems that only certain people are suited to being arrogant...
"Are you not planning to join a guild?"
If he joined a guild, they could handle the media for him, which would be better for Choi E-chan, who couldn't say no to anyone.
"Uh, no, it's fine. Not really."
"What about <Cheongra Guild>?"
It was a bit surprising that <Cheongra Guild> wanted to recruit Choi E-chan. They were a small, elite guild that rarely took on new Hunters.
Hunter Han Isung is a good person, and Ki Yuhwan, while sometimes strange, is also a good person, so they might be a good fit for Choi E-chan.
However, Choi E-chan shook his head firmly.
"Ugh... No, it's fine for now."
Well, if he doesn't want to, there's nothing I can do.
He's just overwhelmed by the sudden media attention. Choi E-chan will do well wherever he goes.
"Kyaoong (One more time! One more time!)!"
"Kyuut, nyuut!"
Choi E-chan was playing with Mimi and Lime, tossing them in the air and catching them with both hands. His juggling skills were impressive.
"Ugh, uuuu (Ugh, I'm dizzy)..."
"Kyuut..."
They both looked like they were having fun.
Well, for now, let's just say he's in charge of playing with the temporary animals.
After playing with Mimi until her eyes were spinning, Choi E-chan said,
"But I was surprised to hear that you're an Awakened."
"Ahaha..."
I had revealed to Choi E-chan that I was an Awakened.
It wasn't that I deliberately wanted to tell him, but it just came up. While explaining the effects of the coffee jelly to Choi E-chan, who had just returned from the dungeon, it naturally came out. There was no reason to lie to him.
"Something... happened when I ate that coffee jelly..."
"What happened inside?"
It's very rare for an Awakened's rank to jump several levels or for their class to change. I was very curious about what had happened to him.
Choi E-chan tilted his head in confusion.
"Well... I'm not really sure. Something started talking, then something else appeared, and before I knew it..."
Hmm, I have no idea either...
Even after he explained in detail, trying to recall his memories, it was hard to interpret his vague description without any proper names.
What exactly was "something"?
Still, the important thing is that he came back alive.
Actually, I was a bit worried and hopeful that mentioning "Cafe Reul" in the breaking news, which had the highest ratings, might bring in more customers.
"Is this the cafe the new S-class Hunter mentioned?"
"How amazing must this place be for a new S-class Hunter to mention it?"
"Give me everything on the menu from start to finish!"
"Me too! I was here first!"
What do we do now?
I don't really want to work that hard...
However, contrary to my worries, only Grandma Kim Deok and a few passersby had stopped by, and the newly opened cafe remained quiet.
[The name of <Cafe Reul> has been spread among many people.]
[Converting gained recognition into reputation... Complete]
[Name: Cafe Reul
Rank: F
Reputation: 5, Popularity: 0]
...I was worrying for nothing.
It's a relief, but I feel a bit disappointed.
The quest to meet 10 customers naturally made no progress. Is the quest difficulty set too high by the system?
While I was lost in these thoughts, I didn't notice someone targeting this place.