A red brick building built on a deserted road.

There was a man watching the cafe located 3 minutes away from the Dungeon Gate of the Great Dungeon Abyss.

His age is early 40s. The recorder and camera were hidden in a vest with several pockets. There were also a cannon phone and a fake ID in his bag.

Due to frequent overtime work, the area under his eyes were dark and the beard grew jagged on his chin. Theres also a peculiar scar on his forehead.

However, only his eyes were gleaming as he looked around.

It must be there.

The mans name is Kim Taewoon. 42 years old, single. His occupation is a reporter for the weekly magazine Hunter Scope.

Hunter Scope is famous for its Hunter paparazzi, groundless rumors, and gibberish gossip. It is a weekly magazine that cannot be said to be high quality information source.

Kim Taewoon also made money by covering such frivolous rumors. He receives money and writes articles that the client wants. Its a standard and exemplary giraegi. When it comes to money, the ethics of journalists are not taken into account.

However, not long ago, an ugly rumor came into Kim Taewoons ear. Some guilds smuggle special monsters from dungeons.

At that moment, his reporters hunch shone. This is a big deal. If he digs this properly, he can get rid of the stigma of being a yellow press journalist.

. or he can rip off a generous sum of money by keeping his mouth shut.

The news he heard while investigating the rumors one by one was the birth of a new S-class Hunter.

Now that everyone is curious about this sacred S-class, the coverage is a race of speed. Kim Taewoon immediately began investigating Choi Yichan by all means.

And he found out that the Hunter went to and from the cafe in front of that dungeon gate every day. Paparazzi, no, it was the result of a field investigation.

Well, its worth stepping back.

Anyway. The fact that an S-class hunter was suddenly doing a part-time job at a cafe, not doing anything else, gave off a strange smell.

S-class! There are fewer than ten S-class hunters in Korea. Whatever you do, you will make more money than that.

An S-class hunter who wants neither money nor power?

There can be no such thing. Im sure hell do something bad in the back.

Kim Taewoon himself is an F-class hunter. The darkness of the Hunter industry has been deeply affected him. In addition, due to his long career as a journalist, he has become a cynical person who does not believe in human goodness.

His long-forged, sharp sense of a reporter shone.

Come to think of it, there were reports that the smugglers were using cafes and shops as a hideout. There was also information that a fairly high-ranking Hunter was behind them, so they couldnt easily dig it up. While following Choi Yichan, he once found a suspicious person. Unfortunately, he missed it.

Each piece of information seems far apart at the first glance, but when you put them side by side, they pointed to one answer.

If its big enough for an S-class hunter to move directly, it must be a smuggling of a rare monster, the Long-tailed Phoenix.

Yes, that place is definitely the hangout of the smugglers.

So, Kim Taewoon was currently in the process of infiltrating Cafe Rieul.

Choi Yichan just went into the cafe. Clearly, there must be something in that place.

Damn it I cant see whats going on inside.

He hid himself in a close spot, but Choi Yichan cant be seen because he was covered by an exquisite angle.

The secret camera and recorder, which are artifacts for coverage, are always useless at times like this.

..

..

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He waited for a long time, but there was no news from inside.

Gulp.

Kim Taewoon raised his body.

You cant rely solely on these artifacts to catch the scoop. A journalist is a person who runs on his own feet.

Thats a cafe in that case.

It would be natural to approach it by pretending to be a customer.

Kim Taewoon approached the cafe, pretending to be an ordinary customer.

Ring. The bell hanging on the door rang to announce the arrival.

.

But the moment he entered, an awkward silence fell. A pair of careful eyes glanced over him.

Bingo.

As expected. It looks like an ordinary cafe, but its fake. Its a space with a different purpose, so theyre wary of new customer.

Sometimes a lie is more plausible than the truth. Kim Taewoon could not have guessed the truth that Rieul was only thrilled because he was the first (not an acquaintance) guest who came on the opening day.

With a natural step, he opened the door and looked through the menu.

Ah, welcome!

Quickly, the owner of the cafe approached the counter. She was a woman with a soft impression and a normal atmosphere.

Huh, this kind of person was involved in illegal monster smuggling in the shadows. Kim Taewoons eyes became sharp.

Would you like to order?

Then, Ill have this.

Kim Taewoon pointed to any menu on the menu board.

Whats unusual is that the price is set in ruby. Maybe its some kind of password.

The S-class hunter, Choi Yichan, was sitting alone in a seat near the counter. Kim Taewoon looked at him carefully. After all, he intended to investigate him by pretending to be an ordinary customer.

After paying 2 rubies without hesitation and sitting down, the menu came out soon. It was an iced Americano and cookies.

He didnt really want to eat it, but he could feel the owners gaze from behind.

..!

When their eyes met, she turned her head and avoided. No matter how you look at it, there is a hint of doubt about this. If he doesnt eat, he will look suspicious.

Mmm.

Kim Taewoon first took the butter cookie. The sweet smell of sugar and butter made his stomach hungry. Come to think of it, he skipped lunch. As if attracted by the smell, he took a bite of the cookie.

Crispy.

The cookie with plenty of sugar and butter melted softly in his mouth.

Once he ate, he couldnt stop his hands. As the sweetness filled his mouth, he took a sip of the iced Americano. Originally, he didnt like coffee very much, but it went well with these cookies.

One bite of a cookie, another sip of coffee.

The empty stomach filled up and the head calmed down. The migraine that had always bothered him has subsided. Feeling sad that the cookie plate was empty, he raised his head.

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!

Before he knew it, Choi Yichan had disappeared. He was also meticulous to leave without any noise.

Shh, I missed it.

Kim Taewoon thought as he bit his tongue in frustration.

Then, hell have to come back tomorrow.

He couldnt figure out which one was greater: the regret of the loss or the joy of eating these cookies again.

***

On the first day of Cafe Rieul, I was very happy.

Thats because a customer came to the cafe. Its not someone I know, but a real customer.

It was a man in his 40s wearing a fishing vest and a field jumper over it. Its obvious that hes passing by and hes like, Huh? Theres a cafe here. Shall I take a short break?. Hes that kind of customer!

As expected, thanks to the signboard, the cafe seems to have stood out.

I was excited to finally have a first customer.

Waeoooong (When did you say that you didnt want to work hard)?

Thats one thing, this is another matter.

I dont intend to work hard, but the fact that there are no customers in my newly opened store it made me feel sad.

Choi Yichan, who saw a customer coming in, sneaked up and sat in a corner. I felt sorry for his unwillingness to be noticed.

Anyway, this monumental first guest ordered the Iced Americano and Butter Cookie Set with a blunt expression on his face.

Thats right, it has a stress-reducing combo effect, so its a perfect menu for tired people.

The menu was quickly prepared and handed out to the customer. And, anxiously, I watched the customers eat the menu.

..!

Oh, our eyes met. I quickly averted my gaze with embarrassment. I was curious about his impressions, but its rude to stare at the customer too much.

The customer also came to the cafe the next day.

The next day, and the next day.

[Cumulative Sales: 12 Rubies]

Thanks to this, the sales were gradually gathering.

I was happy to have a regular customer for a while.

Huum..

Kiyaoo, why are you like this!

Huum..

I have a new problem. Its because of the regular customer in question.

That man, he must have a different purpose. Waeooong.

Kyuu!

At Mieums outrageous remarks, Lime added a cry of agreement.

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Meooong, he comes at the same time every day and order the same menu. Its suspicious!

Kyuu, kyuuuu!

Maybe hes just a big fan of butter cookies.

Waeoong!

Pakpak!

Mieum lifted her front paws and punched me. Haha, but now I can avoid it without looking. Mieum, who missed a shot in the air, said again.

Who will come all the way to the Dungeon Gate like this every day just because he likes butter cookies! Meoong, I bet hes coming because he has a different purpose.

Thats true, but.

Different purpose, what can it be?

That man must be a member of the Dungeon Smuggling Organization, kiyaooo! He chose this place as a place to make a deal, avoiding other peoples eyes. But the other party he was supposed to make a deal with had already betrayed him. He comes here every day, unaware of that fact, meooong..

Whats the evidence?

Its the feeling of this body!

. I shouldnt have asked.

No wonder she watched Midnight Mystery Drama, The Whereabouts of the Missing Hunter until late last night. Thats the story of the drama.

I opened the oven while thinking that I should refrain this imaginative cat from watching the drama in the future. A sweet and savory smell sprang up. Just when the freshly baked butter cookies are transferred onto the plate, there was the sound of the door opening.

Speaking of the devil.

Oh, welcome!

This one, please.

Today, at the same time, this customer came and ordered the same menu and sat down at the same seat.

Choi Yichan broke a cup today and went out, saying he would return without strength. The customer sneaked a look at Choi Yichans usual place, but without saying anything, he accepted the iced Americano and butter cookies.

As the customer took a bite of the cookie and drank the coffee, a twinkling bar appeared above his head.

The bar was filled with light . and it stopped.

Its the same today.

This is my concern.

The bar of light that represents the satisfaction that rises above this guests head. Its about 60 percent based on eye measurement. It stopped at the same level every day with only slight differences.

In other words, this customer is not completely satisfied with the menu.

Maybe the coffee doesnt taste good?

No, it cant be.

I had such doubts for a while, but the chances are low. Iced Americano and butter cookies are in perfect condition today.

Then what on earth is unsatisfactory about this menu?

The customer had an atmosphere that was somehow difficult to approach and had an expression of dont talk to me. But today, I decided to be brave.

Excuse me, sir, maybe do you not like the menu?

Translators Corner:

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Giraegi () is a compound word of (gija: means a journalist, reporter and editor) and (tsuraegi : means a trash). It refers to a person who significantly lowers the level of journalism with false facts and exaggerated inflated articles in Korea and has a significant lack of expertise as a journalist.