Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Sixth Sense
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"Oh, these turned out great!"
I admired the dishes laid out on the dining table.
Pork and potato stew.
Omurice.
Stir-fried eggplant and seasoned dried radish for health.
And finally, the star of the show: beef and bean sprout stir-fry.
All that practice watching WaiTube had paid off.
"But isn't this a bit too homey?"
I'd considered trying something flashier, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
Better to master home cooking first, then gradually ramp up the difficulty.
"Someday I'll master Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine to become a true culinary master."
It might make me sound like I dreamed of being a chef instead of a cafe owner.
But cooking was for smooth relationships.
My preparations to become the cafe owner of my dreams were proceeding separately.
"Villain organizations come in handy sometimes."
The 2 billion won I'd received as hush money for the apology.
In my past life, I'd have bought crypto or stocks, but money gotten for free should be spent quickly to improve your financial luck, so I'd invested it straight into the cafe.
From standard kitchenware to artifact-grade cooking tools—I'd bought it all, so once delivery arrived, the cafe would be fully stocked.
"I'll hire staff once Yu-ra sis comes back."
If I hustled a bit, I could open by the end of the week.
But Yu-ra sis was my girlfriend and investor—couldn't hold the opening without her, right?
"Alright, time to dig in!"
The food was delicious.
Maybe because I'm such a chowhound, as long as it wasn't outright bad, I could eat anything—and that made it taste even better.
Which is why... I ended up straying from my original goal.
"It can't just taste good to me."
The key was for it to taste good to sis.
Cooking wasn't about satisfying myself—it was about satisfying others.
"Hmm, if it's mouthwateringly delicious even for a chowhound like me, it'll be the same for sis, right?"
Alright, new goal.
Make it so good even I—a chowhound—am blown away.
First, finish eating what's here.
That's what I resolved...
"Ugh!"
But I could keep cooking forever—my stomach was only one, and my body small.
I couldn't finish it all and left more than half behind.
"I-I'm gonna die..."
I couldn't remember the last time my stuffed belly hurt this much.
I'd barely started serious cooking, and already an obstacle.
You improve by making food, but I couldn't eat it all, so I had no choice but to leave some.
Leftovers could go in the fridge, but some would lose flavor chilled.
Plus, the fridge would fill up fast, so I needed another way.
"Share with the neighbors?"
I shook my head immediately.
After barely seeing their faces, suddenly showing up with food?
Suspicion before gratitude, probably.
"If it were a woman, she'd take it—but she'd think I like her, so no."
So, who would accept scraps without issue...
And wouldn't mind some goodwill?
"...One person comes to mind."
Lee Seo-yeon, discharged from the hospital recently.
She'd been rewarded handsomely for saving me—incentive pay and a Brave Citizen award.
The guild had given her extended leave out of gratitude too, so she'd come running if I called now, right?
"Hm?"
Just as I was about to call Lee Seo-yeon, "Yu-ra Sis♥" popped up on the screen.
"Sis, what's up?"
-Just curious what you're doing.
"Hmm, nothing much."
Better hide that I was cooking.
Wanted to surprise her when she got back!
-Just checking, but you haven't been drinking, right? Drinking alone is bad for you.
"Of course not. I don't even like alcohol much."
Lately, sis had been acting weird.
Every call, she'd ask if I'd been drinking and advise against it.
I knew why—I'd used hypnosis to recover the memory of what happened when we drank together.
That's why I was on the wagon now?
'...Drinking with sis should be fine, right?'
Ugh, why was I suddenly craving booze?
Not sure about other stuff, but wine sounded good.
Was I a European noble in my previous previous life?
-Yeah, good. Relieved. Schedule's almost done, heading back soon... Miss you.
"Me too. Should've done video call. Nah, that wouldn't work."
-Why?
"Your beauty's too dazzling—I might go blind."
-Pfft! What? Then we couldn't meet in person?
"I'll wear sunglasses, so don't worry."
Ah, being lovers meant she accepted cheesy lines—and it was fun.
"Handle the rest of your schedule, sis. Jet lag means you'll arrive at dawn or late night?"
-Hehe, probably.
"You know the passcode? Even late, just punch it in and come over."
-You want me straight to your place?
"Of course."
We'd become lovers, but saw each other less than before.
I missed her badly—and she felt the same.
-I can see Jun-hyuk's sleeping face.
"I'll show you as much as you want, so hurry back."
-Okay, got it.
After that, she tried to hang up first—no, you first—we bickered for 10 more minutes until an event staffer calling for her finally ended the call.
"Alright then..."
I called Lee Seo-yeon right away.
She picked up before three rings.
-Jun-hyuk?
"Seo-yeon, long time no see. Feeling better?"
-Yes! Much better. But... what's up?
"Just grateful you saved me, and I haven't thanked you properly. Made some food if you're free—eaten yet?"
-...Huh? F-Food? No! Haven't eaten!
"Good. Come now?"
-N-Now...? G-Give me thirty minutes!
"Take your time. Just before it gets cold."
-Yes! Definitely before it cools!
After hanging up, I realized I really hadn't thanked her properly for the rescue.
Not just home cooking—make something else too.
"She didn't have to save me, so it's like self-harm extortion, but whatever."
...Hold on?
Didn't Lee Seo-yeon remember I could use hypnosis?
I'd erased her memory, but she knew me and came—so she must know about my skill too?
"...She saved me without knowing hypnosis specs?"
If she knew how overpowered hypnosis was, that situation wasn't that dangerous.
Or she knew and threw herself anyway out of worry...
"...That's kinda cute."
Gotta make extra meat sides.
"WaiTube master, help me out."
＊＊＊
"Wooow!"
Lee Seo-yeon clutched her smartphone and rolled on the bed.
"Ah! Not the time!"
Whatever she'd been brooding over, she'd wasted her leave like a shut-in without proper showers—now she dashed to the bathroom.
Moments later, the ragamuffin vanished; an alluring beauty emerged, towel-wrapped, bounding into the living room.
"Hair! Dry the hair!"
Ignoring damage, she blasted it with max heat to dry in seconds.
Then slipped into casual-but-curvy clothes prepped for this, and headed out.
'Ugh, but is it okay to meet?'
Meeting Jun-hyuk thrilled her, but unease sprouted in her heart.
She didn't know what it was, so post-discharge, she'd holed up without contacting him, agonizing alone.
"Still don't get it..."
One thing clear: feelings toward Yoo Jun-hyuk.
Not liking or love—something heavy, like a burden.
It slowed her steps slightly, but she steeled herself and pressed on.
"Maybe seeing him will make it clear."
Empty-handed okay?
Glancing around, she ducked into a nearby bakery.
'He's handling the meal, so I'll bring dessert.'
Bread for dessert? Cake it is.
Something special, ideally.
Browsing cakes, she spotted the perfect one.
"Rum cake? What's that?"
"Baked cake soaked in rum for moisture. Stays fresh long, tastes great."
"Cake with booze on top?"
"Yes. Strong rum, so some alcohol, but unless eating one alone, you won't get drunk."
"Oh..."
Definitely special.
She grabbed one—then two more, just in case.
'It has alcohol, but Jun-hyuk's an adult.'
Should be fine.
＊＊＊
Southern US Hunter Association.
Choi Yu-ra had just finished her speech and was heading to the next venue.
"!?"
Right before boarding the vehicle, she shuddered.
'Bad feeling.'
Before, she'd dismiss feelings as just feelings.
But now Choi Yu-ra was an EX-Rank Hunter.
A reinforcement skill user too—body abilities enhanced, senses sharpened.
'Feels like something's happening to Jun-hyuk.'
Among heightened senses was an ordinary person's impossible "sixth sense."
'Not over yet after all.'
That's why.
Her constant calls checking on Yoo Jun-hyuk and warning against drinking.
Whenever she worried, her sixth sense urged her to warn him off booze.
'Call again?'
Wanted to call once more, say something—but they'd talked today, repeating might make him think she was paranoid.
She suppressed the instinctive warning.
"...Manager. Cancel the rest of the schedule."
Instead, she decided to act.
"Huh? Choi Yu-ra Hunter, just three more stops."
"Please. If it happens again, I'll prioritize the canceled ones. Just this once."
"Uh, well..."
Events important, but.
Choi Yu-ra chose to trust her sixth sense.
'What is this feeling?'
Not like his life was in danger.
Different from that—something murky, sticky...
Like Lee Seo-yeon not grasping her emotions.
Choi Yu-ra didn't fully know what her sixth sense meant.
"And book a flight to Korea too. Guild jet's in two days, can't take it now."
One thing certain.
She wanted to go to Yoo Jun-hyuk right now.
"Ugh, changing schedule so suddenly..."
"If push comes to shove, use my name."
"No way I can name-drop Choi Yu-ra!"
Of course, her managers bore the hardship.