Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: A New Boss
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A New Boss
Dante, who had been in the corner, was the first to run and stand before the man.
The trio of executives scrambled after him.
Dante didn’t call them executives; he called them the three vermin.
The three vermin jostled to stand in front of the man, and Dante subtly stepped back.
Not knowing what might happen, it was wise to let those fools go first.
Dante stared at Philippe’s head, lying alone on the floor below.
To think that Philippe was dead…
Dante had always thought of Philippe as a spider.
A spider that spun a dense web and sat motionless upon it.
Dante knew how tight and intricate that web was, so he never imagined Philippe would fall from it.
Even when this man opened the door and walked in, that thought hadn't changed.
Though the man was large enough to fill the doorway, drenched in blood, his eyes gleaming fiercely.
Dante had been certain that Philippe's dense web would once again immobilize his opponent.
Perhaps the three vermin had similar thoughts, simply watching with their arms crossed.
But the colossal man had swung his sword lightly, and Philippe's head had flown off in an instant.
Even as Philippe had boasted of his web, mentioning the “Count, a 1st-grade administrator, the Abbot, the Imperial Family,” the man hadn’t shown a shred of hesitation.
Dante glanced at the man from the corner of his eye.
He pieced together the clues etched on the man's body to reconstruct the night's events.
The scarred face and mismatched armor matched the description of the man who had robbed three gambling dens today.
The sword at his hip belonged to the drunken knight who had been guarding the front.
And conveniently, this place was empty because the city had been turned upside down.
Could that truly be a coincidence?
Dante, who had grown up scavenging rotten food in the back alleys, did not believe in coincidences.
‘If that’s the case, the reason the city is in such chaos is…’
The conclusion drawn from piecing everything together made Dante’s body tremble slightly.
Everything that happened tonight pointed to this man.
“Alright, contestant number one. Introduce yourself, state your strengths, and what sets you apart from the others.”
The man said, tearing a piece of Philippe’s silk clothing to wipe the blood from his body.
“In…introduce myself? I am! An executive of the Solitary Wolf, Kal the Human Crusher! I’m good at smashing heads! And threats!...”
Watching Kal the Human Crusher, who claimed to have smashed over a hundred heads, shouting like a new recruit, Dante swallowed hard.
Dante narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what the man wanted.
He had been smiling while facing Philippe, so it wasn't revenge.
His playful conversation with the executives meant it wasn't some petty sense of justice either.
Despite turning the city upside down, fighting a knight, and taking Philippe's head, the man's objective remained unclear.
That was what made it even more terrifying.
He seemed like a natural disaster, devoid of will.
“Alright, next. Contestant number three.”
“I can abduct any woman without leaving a single clue! If you wish it, boss…”
Dante decided to focus on what was right in front of him for now.
“Then, finally, contestant number four.”
“My name is Dante. I was in charge of the Solitary Wolf’s practical operations.”
As the man nodded, Dante continued.
“The ‘Count, 1st-grade administrator, and Abbot’ that Philippe mentioned earlier will certainly not care, as long as the money they receive remains the same.”
Dante swallowed his dry saliva and went on.
“In fact, they’ll probably be pleased, since Philippe has been crossing the line with one problem after another recently, as long as we keep lining their pockets as usual. Furthermore, since bribing them was my job, I can ensure no problems arise.”
The man’s eyebrow, which hadn’t moved an inch, twitched slightly upward.
“You cowardly bastard!! If that’s how you’re going to play, I have something to say too! If you want, I’ll smash that Count’s head! When it comes to smashing heads, I’m the best…”
“I have something to say too! The 1st-grade administrator! I’ll kidnap that bitch and bring her to you!”
“Me too…!”
Sensing a crisis, the three vermin raised their voices.
Dante noticed the man was looking at him, so he stepped back, pulled out two hammers, and held one in each hand.
He then quietly approached the vermin, who were still busy boasting about their grotesque talents.
Even then, the man’s eyes were still on Dante.
His silence confirmed to Dante that this was the right answer.
Dante swung the hammers at the heads before him. *Thwack!* With a crisp sound, one fell, while Kal the Human Crusher, who had a particularly thick skull, turned around, bleeding.
“You traitorous bastard!”
Kal the Human Crusher swore as he drew the hammer from his belt, and Bael, the torture expert next to him, grabbed Dante’s neck with a brutish hand.
It was painful, unable to breathe, but Dante looked straight at the man.
The man smiled faintly, swung his sword, and the two large men were instantly split in half, collapsing to the ground.
“Oh, much better than I expected.”
Muttering to himself, the man swung his sword at the one who had been knocked out by the first blow to the head.
Having turned three into six, the man twirled his sword, flicking off the blood.
“Right, you said your name was Dante?”
“...Yes.”
Dante forced his trembling voice down as he answered.
“You’re the final winner. Starting today, you’re the boss of the Solitary Wolf, so work hard.”
“Th-thank you. I will do my best.”
Dante had to do his best not to stagger as the man patted his shoulder.
“By the way, that guy earlier mentioned the Imperial Family too?”
“Ah, that was just him exaggerating about an imperial knight who came to the gambling den once. As far as I know, we have no ties to the Imperial Family.”
Dante answered quickly, without a moment's hesitation.
“Right, what would a bunch of thugs have to do with the Imperial Family…”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Well then, you’re the boss now, so do a good job.”
“Yes!”
He had finally claimed the position of the Solitary Wolf’s boss, a role he had dreamed of, yet he didn't feel happy. His neck felt cold, as if he were lying on a guillotine.
“Ah, could you package up those heads, including Phi- that one, nicely for me? I have somewhere to send them as a gift.”
“...Yes.”
The man's talk of gifting human heads terrified Dante, but he desperately tried not to show it.
Even Philippe would lower his voice or furrow his brow when giving such an order, but this man was as calm as if he were asking for a glass of water.
That was even more frightening.
It seemed like these things were nothing to him.
Dante picked up an axe from the ground and brought it down on the necks of the fallen. *Crunch.* A disgusting sensation traveled up his arm, and the recoil made his hand tingle, but he didn't stop.
After harvesting four heads, Dante brought over a box that had been prepared as a gift for the Count and neatly placed them inside.
“Don’t just throw them in. Put something in there so they don’t rattle around.”
“Yes!”
He wasn’t sure what that meant, but Dante answered first and, guessing, grabbed a handful of nearby silk clothes and stuffed them into the box.
Since it was a gift, with trembling hands, he arranged the four heads prettily to face the corners of the box, then crumpled the silk clothes between them to hold them in place.
The man’s satisfied nod seemed to indicate it was the right answer.
“Make the wrapping look nice, too.”
“Yes!”
Dante couldn't understand it, but he didn't ask twice.
Just in case the smell of blood lingered, he sprayed it with the perfume that was meant for the 1st-grade administrator.
After confirming the fragrance wafted out even with the lid closed, he wrapped the box in silk.
His hands trembled with fear, causing the wrapping to keep slipping, so it took quite some time.
He placed the box, which he had wrapped more carefully than any gift for the Count, gently to the side.
Meanwhile, the man was wiping the blood from his sword with a piece of silk that had fallen to the floor.
“It’s all… finished.”
“Good work, Boss Dante.”
“...Yes.”
Dante swallowed hard.
“So… what do I do now?”
He didn't want to ask, but not knowing what the man wanted, he had no choice.
The man, who had been cleaning his sword, looked up at Dante.
Dante swallowed hard at the sight of those deep eyes.
“Just handle it well.”
“...What?”
Forgetting his fear, Dante questioned the man’s words for the first time.
“I said, handle it—*well*.”
The man especially emphasized the word “well.”
Dante didn't understand, but he nodded as if he did.
The man, smiling with satisfaction, added as if he just remembered something.
“Oh, and look after the 3rd-grade administrator, Shone. And find a new post for the gatekeeper, Gerek, somewhere like a knitting guild.”
‘Gerek? Does he mean the dim-witted Geureun?’
They were still incomprehensible commands, but at least they were more specific than before.
3rd-grade administrator Shone.
He needed to create his own connections anyway.
As for someone like Gatekeeper Geureun, he could just set him up with some knitting clan.
They weren't difficult orders.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’m glad the new boss seems like he’ll do a ‘good’ job. Right?”
“...Yes.”
Dante kept nodding.
“Don’t make me come all the way back here again.”
The man muttered, and just then, the burning city came into view through the window behind him.
At that, Dante nodded with genuine sincerity.
He couldn't even imagine what state the city would be in if the man were to return.
As someone who was rather fond of Karzan, Dante felt a sense of mission welling up in his chest.
‘Handle it well… so the man never has to visit again.’
Dante repeated it to himself over and over.
The man had called him boss, but Dante knew the truth.
This man held his leash.
The quick-witted Dante understood that very well.
***
“Wake up.”
His body was shaken, and Shone blearily opened his eyes.
“Aaaaaah!!”
The horrifying face of a demon right in front of him made Shone scream in shock.
Looking closer, he saw it wasn't a demon, but Aron.
“Oh, it was you, Aron. I thought you were a demon.”
“What? You little punk.”
Aron chuckled and lightly smacked the back of his head.
In response, Shone yawned widely and shook his hands and feet.
“The sun’s already up there. Isn’t it time for work?”
“Aaaah! I’m late! This is terrible!!”
At Aron's words, Shone let out a long scream.
No wonder the world seemed so much brighter than usual!
Shone hastily got to his feet.
Only then did he realize he had been sleeping on the street.
No wonder his body felt so stiff!
But that wasn't what was important.
If that jerk Piyor found out he was late, how much would he gloat!
Just then, his body lifted into the air.
He turned his head to see Aron holding him up by the scruff of his neck.
“I’m late! I’m late!”
Shone shouted, kicking his feet that couldn't reach the ground.
“Take this with you.”
Aron handed him a large box.
It was a luxurious-looking box, tied securely with silk.
The fragrance wafting from the box was so sweet that Shone buried his nose in it and sniffed.
What is this?
Curious, Shone gave the box a little shake.
A rattling sound came from the incredibly heavy box.
“Don’t open it here. Open it when you get to work.”
“Why?!”
“Just because.”
At Aron's simple answer, Shone nodded.
Well, if the person who gave the gift said so, what could he do?
“Alright, off you go.”
Aron and the large man behind him waved.
‘Who is that person, anyway?’
Since he was in a hurry, Shone just bowed his head, hugged the box to his chest, and ran with all his might.
Then he noticed that the city was different from usual.
‘Was there an attack last night?’
Parts of the city were in ruins. There were more than a few people lying on the streets, bleeding profusely, and collapsed and blackened buildings were everywhere.
Something huge had clearly happened.
‘My god! To be late on a day like this! I’m dead!’
Everyone was probably gathered for an emergency meeting, and of all the days to be late, after never being late once. Tears of frustration welled up in his eyes.
He ran until he was out of breath and arrived at the city hall.
Seeing the usually bustling corridors empty, Shone’s heart pounded.
‘I’m dead. I’m really dead.’
Shone wiped away a tear streaming from his right eye.
It felt as if the tiny crack of opportunity for promotion had been sealed shut and nailed down.
‘Still, it was fun. With Aron…’
What had they done?
His memories were a jumble, and Shone tilted his head.
He was sure they had done all sorts of thrilling and fun things, but he couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.
‘...It must have been a dream. It’s impossible.’
Shone pouted and climbed the stairs.
Was this what a condemned man felt on his way to the guillotine?
His pounding heart calmed into resignation.
First, as soon as I open the door, I’ll bow my head to the floor and…
“Oh? Isn’t it the great citizen Shone?”
Just then, the voice he hated most called out to him. It was the damn brat Piyor, covered in freckles with buck teeth.
“Don’t tell me you’re late? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter for a commoner like you. I’ve been working hard since dawn because my promotion is just around the corner... I’m so envious.”
The brat’s grating voice made Shone clench and unclench his fists.
“Ah, I bet our great citizen Shone was late, so he hasn't heard the news yet?”
“What news?”
“That I’ve been nominated for promotion to 2nd-grade administrator next month.”
*Grind.* Shone couldn't help but grind his teeth.
At that, Piyor laughed mockingly.
It was absurd.
He was more diligent than the brat, did better work, had better grades, and was more sociable.
And yet that freckle-faced Piyor was a candidate for a 2nd-grade promotion!
“So practice in advance. I like my shoes to be shiny.”
Piyor’s taunting as he tapped his shoe turned Shone’s anger into despair.
The limits of his birth were insurmountable.
In the end, no matter what he did, this was his limit, while that guy would climb higher even while lazing around.
‘Then before he gets promoted, I should beat him up… Huh? What am I thinking…’
Shone tilted his head, looking at his fists that kept clenching, unlike their usual selves.
“By the way, what’s that box you’re holding?”
Piyor asked, pointing to the box from Aron with his sharp chin.
“Mind your own business.”
“Pfft... Whatever. But should you be standing around like this? I’m just out on an errand for the 2nd-grade administrators, but you’re late, aren’t you?”
“You…!!”
At that, Shone dashed into the meeting room.
“...The three organizations engaged in an all-out war yesterday. The exact damages have not been calculated, but it seems they had some sort of rule among themselves, as they thankfully didn't touch the civilians. Unlike the other two organizations, we currently have no contact with the Solitary Wolf. They’re not the type to stay quiet after something like this, so we need to find that bastard Philippe as soon as possible…”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Shone bowed his head low as he entered.
The moment he saw the meeting room, Shone barely managed to stifle a scream.
Everyone from the city hall was gathered.
Even the 1st-grade administrators, who were rarely seen.
“Who is that?”
Sarshan, a 1st-grade administrator, asked in an annoyed tone.
“3rd-grade administrator Shone! I am truly sorry for being late!”
Shone bowed his head low once more.
The sound of clucking tongues from around him pricked the back of his head.
“What is that box?”
Sarshan muttered, and everyone’s gaze fell on the large box in Shone’s hands.
“It’s… a gift from a friend.”
Shone answered forcefully, hiding the box behind his back.
It was a gift from a dear friend.
It wasn't something to be shown off in front of others.
“Lacks sense, too.”
Everyone murmured in agreement with Sarshan’s words, and Shone’s face grew hot.
“Hurry up and sit down!!”
A 2nd-grade administrator who had never liked Shone barked.
At that, Shone hurried to an empty seat.
As if his luck couldn’t get any worse, the seat was right next to Piyor.
“You’re really foolish. Your career as an administrator is over anyway, why not quit and find a job befitting your station? Like a stonemason, or a baker. There are plenty, right?”
The brat just wouldn’t stop taunting him.
Usually, he would have brushed off such words, but today his hands were particularly itchy.
‘…What’s wrong with me?’
Shone tilted his head at his own change.
He didn't know why, but it felt like planting his fist in that guy’s face would solve the problem.
“How clueless can you be to defy a 1st-grade administrator’s words for some stupid gift? If I were you, I would have taken off not just the box, but my clothes too. Is there something good in there?”
Just then, the brat sneered and reached for the box.
‘This bastard!!’
Shone’s drunkard father had always said: a man's honor is his life. Even if you have no money, you must have honor.
He was the worst kind of father, putting his friends' affairs before feeding his own child, but Shone still loved him.
Shone hadn't inherited much from his father.
Hair the color of something between brown and orange.
The habit of falling asleep when drunk.
And stories about honor.
Shone promptly thrust out the fist containing his father's legacy.
*Thwack!* The first punch he had ever landed on someone's face hurt more than he expected. He was the one who threw it, yet tears welled up in his eyes. Shone grabbed his own fist and let out a little ‘Ahooo-’ sound.
‘Ha! How do you like that! The taste of my fist! He’s probably in pain, with blood pouring from his nose!’
Contrary to Shone's expectations, Piyor was staring at him with wide eyes, as if wondering what had just happened.
In the midst of it all, the brat’s hand pushed the box.
Seeing the tilting box head towards the middle of the meeting room, Piyor hastily grabbed the ribbon.
However, since he had grabbed the ribbon, it just came undone smoothly, and the box opened.
*Thud- tumble, tumble, tumble.*
‘Huh?’
The box tipped over, and its contents spilled out.
A hush fell over the meeting room at the sight of its contents.
Four heads, their silk wrappings stuck to them with blood, rolled into the middle of the room. *Tumble, tumble.*
But their faces were familiar.
Kal the Human Crusher, Virn the Maiden Snatcher, Bael the Torture Expert—they were the executives of the Solitary Wolf.
‘…Is that?’
Finally, the head that was on top rolled to a stop.
‘Philippe?! Why are they in the box Aron gave me?’
In the heavy silence that had descended upon the room, Shone recalled the memories of last night.
And he realized that what he thought was a dream had been real.
‘Ah, promotion? Not a chance for a commoner like me. Unless I bring them that bastard Philippe’s head.’
He now understood why Aron had called this a gift.
With Philippe and three of his executives' heads—
Shone felt his shoulders straighten on their own.
His chin naturally lifted, and his expression became grave.
He looked at Piyor, who was still gaping, looking back and forth between him and the gift, not yet understanding the situation.
“My shoes are a bit dirty.”
Shone thrust out his shoe, which bore clear marks of the previous night.
“...We found him. Philippe.”
Sarshan, the 1st-grade administrator, muttered. Shone turned his head and met her eyes.
Her gaze was somewhat like that of someone looking at a dog that had brought back a bone splendidly, which made Shone pout for some reason.
***
‘I’m exhausted.’
I wanted to lie down and sleep right away, but I still had things to do.
It was a relief that the guy named Dante was quick on his feet.
He swore he would ‘handle’ the cleanup and send a ‘reasonable’ amount of gold ‘well.’
I sniffed myself to see if I smelled.
A grotesque odor, a mix of blood, sweat, and gunpowder, hung about me.
I headed to the scrub magician that Boss Dante had told me about, one who supposedly used cleaning magic with astonishing skill.
The scrub magician’s place was a tiny shop, with only him sitting inside.
When I entered, he let out a ‘Heek!’ and flinched. When I showed him a gold coin from my pocket, he immediately started bowing as if he’d seen a king.
To that, I said with kingly gravity, ‘Show me your best,’ and he replied energetically like a loyal subject, ‘Yes, I understand!’
—*This insolent…*
‘Be quiet. It’s a waste of money.’
I silenced the suddenly shouting tenant and spread my arms.
“It is said that not a single speck of dust was brought with you at your birth…”
The scrub magician chanted a strange spell, pointing his crooked staff at me.
Then, like a wet towel in a spin dryer, all sorts of things shot out from around me.
Red blood, grime, dried sweat that had turned into natural salt, and more mixed together and splattered on the floor. A foul stench filled the air.
‘I feel like I’ve been born again.’
My eyes shot open with a freshness that ordinary showers or baths couldn't provide. Even the gunk stuck to my armor was gone in one go.
“Huuuhhh…”
The guy was panting heavily, sweat pouring from his forehead like a knight who had just fought a life-or-death battle with his nemesis.
It looked like he had put all his strength into the spell.
I drooled as I looked at the guy, who was trembling so hard he looked like he might collapse at any moment.
‘If I make this bastard the mini-fridge’s master…’
It was a desirable skill.
I quickly scanned the shop. Despite his incredible magic skills, the shop was shabby and unimpressive.
Furthermore, his gaunt face made it clear that business was not good.
It made sense. The uncivilized people of the Middle Ages were unlikely to spend money on getting clean.
“How much?”
“One… no, 20 silver.”
It was definitely expensive. Probably only nobles before their wedding night would hire him.
“Hey, you.”
“Ye…Yes?!”
“Do you make house calls?”
I took out two gold coins from my hefty pouch and rolled them between my fingers.
The guy swallowed hard and nodded as if mesmerized.
“I have a scrub magician I’m raising. If you come and teach him a few spells, I’ll give you gold.”
“...Yes! If you wish, I will teach him all my magic!”
I tossed him a gold coin, and he caught it deftly, his eyes widening.
“When you’re ready, come to Casedic Castle and ask for Aron.”
“Yes! I’ll just move my residence to Casedic Castle!”
There was no need for that, but I didn't stop him.
“W-wait a moment.”
As I was about to leave, he stopped me.
After catching his breath, he chanted a spell and pointed his staff at me.
Then, an opaque energy enveloped my scorched, scratched, and ruined armor, making it gleam.
The scratches remained, but it shone handsomely, as if it had been polished all night with an oiled cloth.
“Huuuuk—”
After finishing the spell, the guy collapsed forward as if he had used up all his strength.
I took out another gold coin, put it in his mouth so no one would steal it, and stepped outside.
By the time I had wandered around, giving out bonuses and words of encouragement for future friendships, the sun was high in the sky.
It was the time I had promised to meet Orange.
I went into ‘The Pig That Choked to Death,’ which Shone had told me about. It was quite crowded and noisy.
I slipped a gold coin to a waiter and said, ‘It’s noisy,’ and the waiter grabbed a stick, shouted, and chased the customers out.
The waiter pushed all the surrounding tables aside and led me to the largest one in the center.
I told him to guide the orange-haired beauty here when she arrived, then sank into the chair.
As the noise faded and silence took its place, my eyelids grew heavy.
The tension left me, and the fatigue of the previous night washed over me all at once.
I gripped the hilt of my sword, drawing it slightly, and closed my eyes.
***
‘…Of all the days for me to be here.’
Nova let down her tied hair and muttered a curse.
Apart from the fatigue, the chaos of the previous night had actually worked as a positive factor.
The previous night's turmoil was a clear weakness of Karzan, and Nova was not foolish enough to miss such a glaring vulnerability. On the contrary, she was more like a venomous snake that strikes.
Nova picked apart the contract's security and Karzan's management, rewriting the agreement they had discussed the day before from scratch. It was filled with conditions far more favorable to Casedic.
By the time the war of pens was over and she shook hands with her crestfallen counterpart, the sun was on the verge of setting.
Nova, who hadn't had a single bite to eat, finally felt the pangs of hunger and remembered something she had forgotten.
‘Ah! Aron.’
It was long past the lunch she had promised him.
Aron was probably long gone, but Nova hurriedly packed her things and headed to the meeting place.
‘What, there are no customers.’
Am I in the wrong place?
Nova tilted her head and entered.
“Waaaaah!! This way, please.”
A waiter, smiling brightly for some reason, led her inside.
All the other tables in the establishment were pushed aside, and in the very center was an unusually large table, where a familiar suit of armor was seated.
Aron was sound asleep. He was sleeping so deeply that he didn't even wake up when Nova sat across from him, snoring away.
It was the first time she had seen Aron's unguarded face, and it felt strange.
Beneath the scars that covered his face and his confident smile, she could see a hidden youthfulness and gentleness.
With his mouth shut instead of running as usual, he had the face of a rather serious—and handsome—man.
For some unknown reason, Nova found herself staring at Aron's face for a long time before he let out a ‘Hmph!’ and startled her, making her quickly lower her gaze.
‘What am I doing?’
Her face feeling strangely hot, Nova shook her head and took out the contract she had brought.
I’m just too busy with unfinished work to have time to eat, that’s all.
Nova muttered to herself, ignoring the stabbing hunger in her stomach, and slowly reviewed the contract.
She did her best to keep her eyes, which kept drifting forward, fixed on the papers, checking for anything she might have missed.
The quiet restaurant was filled only with the sound of snoring and the scratching of a pen.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to her.
‘…What was he doing last night to be sleeping so soundly?’
Nova’s eyes sharpened again as she glared at Aron.
***
“What are those two doing?”
Huna, a waiter at ‘The Pig That Choked to Death,’ muttered in disbelief.
“Shh! They’ll hear you outside.”
At the owner’s words, Huna barely suppressed the urge to scream.
It hadn't been a bad day.
A man he’d never seen before came into the restaurant, said something to the owner, and the owner paid the other customers double to leave.
And since the big guy just slept as if this were an inn, without ordering anything, there was nothing to do.
Normally, he would have been running around until his feet were sweating, but today all he had to do was turn away incoming customers. It was an incredibly lucky day.
However, the man hadn't woken up even after closing time.
Huna had held on to the hope that the woman the man was waiting for would arrive, and they would eat and leave.
Then, the orange-haired beauty the big guy had mentioned appeared, and he even cheered with joy.
When the woman sat across from the man, he thought it was finally over.
But the woman didn't wake the man up; she took out a bundle of papers and started reading.
Unable to bear it any longer, Huna was about to go out when—
“I’ll give you each five extra silver for today. So everyone, keep your mouths shut.”
At the sight of the bundle of silver coins the owner produced, everyone beamed.
“Would you like a cup of warm tea?”
Huna, who had half-taken off his apron, tied it tightly again and asked.
The owner gave him a sour look, but Huna just smiled even more brightly.
It turned out they were the kindest customers he could have ever asked for.