Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Not a Cat, a Civet!
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"Th-this is supposed to be a cookie...?"
"No matter how I look at it, it just seems like... that thing..."
Three cookies with an ominously dubious appearance were placed on the table of the Management Bureau's female employees.
I glanced at the president's face, wondering if she was pranking us with failed batches, but...
She looked astonishingly serious.
The employees couldn't bring themselves to ignore her eyes brimming with expectation.
Lately, thanks to the Harnella flower tea, these three had seen a massive boost in work efficiency, even earning them the Employee of the Month award.
The higher-ups who used to shoot them dirty looks for hogging the break room coffee had changed their tune, and even the bureau chief would pat their shoulders in passing.
So, it was only natural they'd want to live up to the cafe owner's expectations.
But.
'This... no matter how I look at it...'
A light beige base dotted with patches of dark brown here and there.
And in between, some unidentified red liquid trickling down.
'Looks like bloody shit...'
The visuals were so intense that their hands hesitated to reach out.
"If you try them and give me your honest feedback, I'll throw in a little gift too!"
With her bright smile and promise of a gift, the female employees exchanged glances and finally nodded.
They all bit into the cookies that resembled... that on the table at the same time.
Crunch-
Crunch-!
As the cookies shattered with a crisp sound, question marks floated above the employees' deeply wrinkled faces.
'How can something that looks like this taste this good?'
They'd grown up in different neighborhoods, with completely different personalities and tastes.
But there was one thing they all shared.
When it came to desserts, they were dead serious.
A perfect texture—crisp on the outside, chewy and melting on the inside.
The deep buttery flavor paired with a fragrant tartness.
And that mysterious aftertaste wrapping around the tip of the tongue after the intense sweetness.
'...This is shocking.'
It was so mind-blowing that every cookie they'd eaten before felt like a fake.
If they had to nitpick a flaw, the sweetness was a tad strong, so pairing it with black tea or something would make it perfect.
Otherwise, flawless.
Just then, three cups of unfamiliar flower tea appeared on the table.
"We're out of Harnella flower tea ingredients today, so I had to serve Lumina flower tea instead. This one's on the house!"
Swallowing their disappointment at the lack of Harnella tea, they took a sip of the new flower tea.
The lingering intense sweetness in their mouths blended seamlessly with the Lumina tea's bittersweet, refreshing aroma.
The employees reflexively took another bite of the cookie.
Then another sip of tea, and the harmony that bloomed in their mouths.
It was a perfectly calculated balance, as if designed that way.
"Would these cookies work as a dessert...?"
The president's question drew vigorous nods from the Management Bureau employees.
"They'll sell like hotcakes, no doubt."
The taste was perfect.
But that fresh-out-the-bowl poop look... was a bit of a hurdle.
"I can guarantee the taste, but... the appearance..."
"The visuals create a high barrier to entry. Once people try it, though, their minds will change..."
That's when the youngest employee spoke up.
"If the cookie's looks are the problem, why not just smash them up?"
All eyes turned to her, as if asking what she meant.
"Break them into bite-sized finger-food pieces and serve them as a freebie. Once they taste it, they'll be hooked for life."
She had a point.
Serving them 'like failed batches' would lower the entry barrier.
Customers could enjoy the complimentary treat without pressure.
"That sounds perfect...!"
Deeply moved by the youngest employee's idea, Yi Chrog suddenly dashed to the counter and returned with three potted plants.
"Oh? It's Lumina Bells!"
Perhaps because they'd made such a huge splash in Korea recently, all the employees recognized the flowers and fawned over them.
"Not the artificial Lumina Bells—these are genuine ones!"
As Yi Chrog proudly set the three pots on the table with a beaming face, a subtle shadow fell over the employees' expressions.
Deep down, they wanted to shout, 'Competition's still fierce—how did you get these!?' or 'Jackpot! Gotta stock up on mana with these!'
But they couldn't.
"Um, President... We really appreciate it, but we're all non-awakened, so we don't need mana..."
Every employee here had failed to awaken.
"Even so, just keeping them nearby has a calming effect on the mind and body. Super useful for when you get pissed off at work or feel stressed!"
"Really!?"
"Lumina Bells have that kind of effect too??"
The employees' faces lit up in an instant.
One of them shyly smiled and spoke up.
"President, we actually prepared gifts for you today too... Hehe."
With that, the employees pulled out their presents.
The one who'd majored in art before the world changed had hand-painted a wooden signboard.
The one who'd sold knickknacks and accessories had crafted cute little display items perfect for the counter.
They wished for the cafe to thrive safely for years.
For every visitor to leave with happy memories.
Handmade with that heartfelt wish, stitch by stitch.
"We don't make much money, so this is the best we could do... Haha. Feels kinda shabby compared to your pretty cafe."
Yi Chrog accepted the gifts with both hands, flashing a lovely smile.
"Not at all—they're beautiful... Thank you so much..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ To start the 'secret dealings,' there needed to be regular customers who met three conditions.
They had to love the cafe.
They had to be trustworthy.
They had to have tight lips.
The Management Bureau women, who stamped in every single day since their first visit, seemed like the perfect fit, but...
'Some of them haven't awakened yet.'
Non-awakened folks were a sticking point.
Everything worth selling in the 'secret dealings' was useful only inside gates.
What were the conditions for awakening?
Did those who hadn't awakened yet have to live as non-awakened forever...?
Countless questions tangled in my mind, swirling chaotically.
Unable to sort my thoughts, I headed home when a familiar face waved at me from the alley corner.
"Healer!"
It was Bloom Guild Master Song Yu-hwa.
"Healer! Are you using the gifts I gave you well? Which one's your favorite?"
She bolted over at the sight of me and dove straight into the topic without catching her breath.
"Uh... well, actually..."
"Eek? You haven't even opened them yet!? Those things are super expensive!!"
Truth be told, ever since she moved in as my neighbor, those boxes tucked in the basement corner had been nagging at me a bit.
So, it was time to be honest.
"Sorry. I still have no intention of joining a guild, so I should return the gifts..."
Song Yu-hwa furrowed her brows, her face turning fierce as she shot back.
"Oh my? Look at you, Healer. Are you seriously thinking my gifts were bribes to join the guild?"
She immediately pouted her lips.
"I just wanted you to like me... You could've accepted them no problem... They're really expensive, you know, hiiing..."
Complete with some aegyo on top.
I quickly nodded to soothe her.
"Ah, got it...!"
The moment I got home, I hauled the boxes from the basement to the living room.
A musty smell tickled my nose.
'Who'd have thought the day to open these would come.'
Carefully opening the top box revealed a bracelet-like protective device surrounded by intricate magic engravings.
"...What is this."
The instant my hand touched the bracelet.
My eyes went wide on their own.
⚔ ARTIFACT ⚔ ■ Elysion Reflector
- High-grade bracelet based on ancient defensive magic. - Deploys a 'reactive barrier' automatically in response to the user's threat detection. - Can auto-activate up to 3 times per day. ■ Grade: A-Rank Artifact
■ Type: Bracelet Magic Protector ■ Engraved Magic: [Guardian Shield], [Ether Resonance], [Safe Reflection] 'Jackpot...?'
As soon as I brought the bracelet to my wrist, it slithered around it like it recognized its owner.
The material, which I'd expected to be rigid, was surprisingly soft and warm.
Opening the second box next.
A soft glow filled the room.
A silvery-white necklace, as if carved from compressed moonlight, shimmered before my eyes.
⚔ ARTIFACT ⚔ ■ Hermes Signal
- High-grade artifact centered on the rare spirit stone 'Lumen Core'. - Contains a 'composite barrier' that reacts instantly to the user's vital danger signals. - In emergencies, deploys a 'full-body shield' to maximize wearer survival. ■ Grade: S-Rank Artifact
■ Type: Necklace Composite Armor ■ Engraved Magic: [Protection Field], [Dispersion Core], [Estelle Shield Circuit] ...I hadn't expected items this good inside the box.
- They're really expensive, you know, hiiing...
Song Yu-hwa's words echoed back.
She must've shelled out a fortune preparing each one.
With more unopened boxes left, I couldn't even guess what else was in them.
'Accepting these as gifts feels...'
A bit burdensome, honestly.
But right now, with mysterious wild beasts lurking in the forest I had to visit regularly, I desperately needed ways to protect myself.
In that sense, the bracelet and necklace from Song Yu-hwa were exactly what I needed.
'...What should I do to repay her.'
She'd probably refuse money...
I needed to find a way that'd truly help her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
Wearing the protective bracelet and necklace, plus a newly discovered ring, I headed back to the forest.
"Hmm... why can't I find any...?"
I'd wandered the woods for quite a while, but not only were there no Harnella flowers—there wasn't even the faint vibration I felt when rare harvestables were detected.
In the end, I pushed deeper into the more humid areas.
Finally, I reached a forest thick with massive ancient trees.
Bzzzzt-
The weapon in my hand began trembling violently.
It was incomparable to the subtle vibrations from yesterday.
The orb at the weapon's tip was the same.
Its dim glow had turned into a brilliant radiance.
At the same time, an inexplicable heat emanated from my finger.
"Is it because of this ring?"
The thin silver ring on my right index finger was faintly heating up, then cooling, in cycles.
A one-use artifact that boosted equipment efficiency by 60% for about 5 seconds.
I'd worn it wondering if it'd apply to my 'Nature Resonance' ability too... and it seemed to have hit the mark.
Following the direction of the tremors, I slowly advanced, the vibrations growing so intense they climbed up to my wrist.
Something was straight ahead.
I kept following the vibrations.
There, huddled beneath a massive tree stump, I spotted some plants.
🌿 RARE PLANT 🌿 [Ebner Awakening Ginseng]
- Extremely rare plant that grows wild only in shady, humid areas near the roots of ancient trees. - Thin, long leaves; stem encircled by faintly glowing rings. [Effects]
- Temporarily stimulates the nervous system and mana circuits, forcibly unlocking awakening potential. - Awakening ability type determined randomly based on individual's psyche, environment, and biology. 'Forcibly unlocks awakening potential?'
My heart pounded the moment I saw it.
'Then, our cafe regulars too...'
A subtle anticipation welled up inside me.
But then.
Rustle, rustle-
Crunch-
A presence stirred behind me.
I reflexively harvested the ginseng, pocketed it, and whirled toward the sound.
The bizarre wild animal I'd encountered yesterday stared at me with huge round eyes.
"What an odd-looking thing. Kinda human-like, though."
The human words spilling from the animal's mouth sent chills down my spine again.
But today's me was different from yesterday.
With an A-rank artifact bracelet and S-rank artifact necklace.
The gear protecting me kept the vague fear at bay.
Thanks to that, I could observe the strange creature before me with calm composure.
'A cat?'
Considering the abnormally overgrown ginseng and plants around...
Maybe the forest animals had grown huge from some influence too.
'A stray cat?'
As I narrowed my eyes to inspect it, the big cat seemed to read my mind and suddenly yowled.
"Not a cat! I'm a civet!"
...A talking cat was surprising enough, but an indignant one was even more fascinating.
Curiosity overtook any fear now.
"What's your name?"
"Why should I tell a human?"
With a haughty huff, the cat turned tail.
Swish swish-
Its hip-swaying strut was so cute that my lips curled up unwittingly.
That's when.
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, I spotted matted red fur and a deep gash along its lower back.
A grave wound that made me wince just looking at it.
'Can't just let it run off like that...'
I glanced down at my palms.
'I wonder if Heal works on animals...?'
No guarantees, but I had to try.
Nodding quietly, I cautiously followed the direction the cat had vanished.