Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Regained Memories
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‘Can I regain...?’
‘Not many customers today.’
Since I started working as a waiter here, the cafe had gotten busier.
But there were still days like this with hardly anyone around.
‘Should be easy until closing time.’
On days like these, I could casually sweep the floor and play on my smartphone.
The cafe owner was cool with it, so it was like sucking on honey—nice.
‘Shall I check the news?’
The first thing I looked at was the news, all because of Choi Yu-ra, who hadn’t come by lately.
[Gate Breaks occurring more frequently. A sign of an EX-Rank Gate?]
[Experts: 37% chance of eliminating an EX-Rank Gate with current national forces.]
[Gate Breaks up 180% from last year. Is it really a sign?]
[Wildfire in the outskirts of A City. No casualties, fortunately.]
Gate Break.
If a regular gate was like a dungeon where beings from another dimension hung out.
A Gate Break was more like a beachhead.
‘Monsters come bursting out the moment it appears.’
Sure, a normal gate would eventually spill monsters if left alone.
But hunters wouldn’t just stand by, and there was plenty of time, so it hardly ever happened.
‘Gate Breaks are different, though.’
No one knows when or where they’ll pop up.
Monsters charge out immediately, causing the most casualties.
‘The silver lining is that high-rank gates don’t appear as Gate Breaks.’
The monsters from Gate Breaks topped out at D-Rank.
Still dangerous as hell for civilians or non-hunters.
My parents in this life died to ones like that—no need to say more.
‘An EX Gate, though...’
Normal gates ranged from F to S-Rank.
An S-Rank Gate meant five S-Rank Hunters in a party could clear it without much trouble.
EX-Rank Gates were another story.
‘All the hunters in the country have to throw everything they’ve got at it.’
Unlike other gates, they had blood-red entrances.
They showed up once every decade or so.
Super rare, but when one did appear, it was do-or-die for the nation.
Of the ten EX Gates so far, all but the first country it hit got cleared with full national effort.
Even then, tons of high-rank hunters died every time—insanely tough.
‘Sacrifices like that, and you still had to take it down fast. The first case woke everyone up.’
That first case? China.
A hunter superpower back then, but their first EX Gate caught them off guard—they couldn’t gauge its power.
Kept challenging it and failing.
Most gates gave about a year before breaking, but EX Gates? Just one month—for reasons unknown at the time.
Failed to clear it due to lack of info.
It broke, monsters flooded out, and turned China to ash.
‘They managed to clean it up after, but the damage split the country into pieces.’
China wasn’t one nation anymore—several.
From school memories, I think it was seven?
‘Anyway, that EX Gate precursor bullshit is why Yu-ra can’t come to the cafe.’
Last time I saw her was three days ago.
With Gate Breaks popping off everywhere—not just the EX Gate scare—her guild had her staying there 24/7.
Screwed my second date plans and any progress. Frustrating.
‘I wanted to push things further.’
Get things going until she confesses, then accept.
I’d made up my mind after last time to date her, but it wasn’t easy.
‘I’d love to confess first, but...’
One of this era’s biases: women should confess like ladies.
For her pride, I’d wait quietly.
‘If she takes too long, screw pride—I’ll do it. Hurry up, Yu-ra.’
Checked the news, thought about Yu-ra, and closing time was an hour away.
Normally, she’d be here by now.
Empty cafe felt lonely.
“Welcome.”
Right on cue, a customer.
Flashed my work smile and turned.
‘Huh?’
Short cut bordering on bob, glossy black hair.
Black eyes staring back, face vaguely cat-like.
First time seeing her, but she felt familiar.
‘Where do I know her from?’
Luckily, she was pondering the menu, so I racked my brain.
‘Build’s familiar too. Like I’ve really seen her.’
Then she ordered.
“One espresso, please.”
Her voice clicked it.
Looks a bit different from before.
Voice a bit different too.
Put them together...
‘What?’
Go Jin-yo, Yoon Seo-ah.
‘Did she regain her memories?’
It hit me.
＊＊＊
They say everyone has at least three doppelgangers.
But one in the same country, same area.
Coming to my cafe? Odds?
‘Tch, it’s Yoon Seo-ah for sure.’
No chance they’re related.
She was factory-made.
‘Did she really get her memories back?’
I’d erased them with a one-off hypnosis.
Strong mental fortitude could recover them?
‘Hmm, no clue.’
Even if she did, no big deal.
I wiped her memories because she was trying to atone by clinging to me.
‘If she was gonna expose my skill, she’d have done it already.’
Weeks passed, no rumors about me.
Either she doesn’t plan to, or thinks it wasn’t a skill—something else.
Anyway, I glanced at her sipping her espresso.
‘Hmmm... not Yoon Seo-ah?’
Black suit, stiff expression.
Crisp posture, cat-like but sharp eyes, pale skin—total cool city girl vibe.
‘Worlds apart from that airhead.’
Yeah.
Elegantly lifting the espresso cup like a refined customer...
“Pfft!”
...maybe.
She sprayed coffee all over the table like a mister.
Face scrunched up—no trace of the act—as she called to me.
“Um, part-timer...? This tastes off. Too bitter.”
“Espresso’s supposed to be like that.”
“Oh, uh... right! I knew that. Been a while, forgot.”
Lifted the cup elegantly again, but her face soured.
“Ugh...”
“Too bitter? Add some sugar. Sugar sticks are on the table.”
Eyes darted, spotted them, ripped open a bunch and dumped them in.
Why order espresso then?
Room hermit—only mix coffee, never real stuff?
“Nice cafe. No pre-sweetening, sugar on the side for tastes. Thoughtful.”
“......”
No city girl vibe anymore.
Oblivious, she pulled a book from her bag.
『The Wealth of Nations』
Propped against the city view outside, started reading quietly.
Without the espresso fiasco, she’d scream intellectual city girl.
“......”
If you’re reading, read properly.
Bored already, kept glancing out the window.
Thought she hid it well, but yawning reflected in the glass.
‘Time to nail it down.’
Pulled out my phone to test if it was Yoon Seo-ah.
Opened search, muttered.
“Yoon Seo-ah.”
“!?”
Her shoulders jumped.
Book dropped in shock, turned to me trembling.
“I-I’m not Yoon Seo-ah, I’m Lee Seo-yeon?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Shoved my phone screen at her.
“Reading this fun book lately. Old, author name faded. Searched it—Yoon Seo-ah. Was just mumbling.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Name change or something? Original name Yoon Se...”
“No! Never!”
She changed it.
Or reclaimed her real name.
Yoon Seo-ah was now Lee Seo-yeon.
‘Confirmed. Yoon Seo-ah—no, Lee Seo-yeon.’
Regained memories too.
Back at the counter, watching her, my heart went all fuzzy.
‘Regaining memories means... she felt that strongly about me?’
Anger or desire.
Strong emotions override hypnosis—I knew that.
So what emotion made her recover lost memories?
‘Gotta be good ones.’
That’s why no exposing my skill.
Bad first meeting, so using the memory wipe for a fresh start.
Showing a cool side to win favor.
‘Cute.’
Knew she was a vicious cyber bully.
She repented, atoned, apologized to victims—but past doesn’t vanish clean.
Pushing that aside, I felt something special for her.
‘First real hypnosis success story.’
Real repentant criminals bond with their guards, right?
Saw a doc where ex-cons stayed bros post-release.
Probably that feeling.
‘Tease her a bit?’
“Pretending” to read, but everyone knows Wealth of Nations sucks.
Tried it in my past life.
Ultimate no-fun humans can’t endure—already nodding off.
“Oh, you’re into The Wealth of Nations.”
Casually swept near her table, struck up chat.
Drool strand about to fall—sucked it up like spaghetti.
“You know it...?”
“Of course. I enjoyed it too.”
Read it, yeah—total bore, forgot the contents.
One thing stuck: the famous line.
“The invisible hand, right? That blew me away.”
“......Yeah? Highlight for sure.”
“What’d you think? The invisible hand? Adam Smith’s genius?”
“......”
Yoon Seo-ah—no, Lee Seo-yeon—went mute.
Eyes rolled, then bullshitted.
“So good. Invisible Hand skill isn’t great, right? But using your smarts strategically? Wow.”
“Right?”
“Yeah. Even crap skills can be infinite power depending on use—gives hope to everyone. Awesome.”
Pinched my thigh.
Don’t laugh.
Seo-yeon, if you bring a book, at least check what it is.
“So, what do you do? Reading that, business side?”
“Huh? Business? Why—oh, no! Kinda! Not business, freelance security consultant.”
“Oh, security consulting. What field?”
“On break now. Vacation, sorta...”
“I see.”
Cut off, resumed cleaning.
Glanced—she was searching her phone.
“Argh...!”
Figured out invisible hand.
Face beet red, about to burst.
“......I’ll head out. Always open till this time?”
“Yeah.”
“Then... see you next time.”
Lee Seo-yeon fled.
I watched quietly, then pulled out my phone.
‘Coming back, huh?’
Special feelings for me, some goodwill.
If she wants to hide, I could play along—tease her, add spice to daily life.
But...
[Yu-ra.]
I knew better than anyone what went down between her and Yu-ra.
Hiding this? Betraying Yu-ra.
[Go Jin-yo came to our cafe.]
Didn’t want to betray Yu-ra.
A moment later, reply.
[I’m coming now.]