Chapter 14
Secretly Beating Monsters Without My Friend Knowing
Sori decided to serve warm lemon tea first. She quickly scanned her surroundings. Fortunately, as John had said, he was quietly staying in the corner.
“But hasn’t the restaurant changed a bit? Did you redo the interior? The vibe’s nice. Those carvings on the door are interesting. It feels kind of Renaissance!”
As expected of her friend—she noticed the restaurant’s level-up right away. Her aesthetic sense was sharp.
“Ah, it felt a bit old.”
“So you fixed it up after taking over?”
“Something like that.”
Minjeong looked around the restaurant with curious eyes. Then her face fell.
“I’m thinking of quitting everything and opening a café or something.”
She looked utterly exhausted as she sat down.
“Is work that hard? Want me to go yell at them for you?”
At Sori’s uncharacteristically enthusiastic joke, Minjeong let out a small laugh.
C-Table Guest’s Mood has changed to -50!
Seeing the number with her own eyes made Sori feel an intense urge to comfort her.
“Seriously. Being a public servant and all that—it’s useless.”
Minjeong gulped down her water.
Even in a world where Gates had opened, many still envied public servants. But after the Gates appeared, public service had consistently ranked as one of the toughest jobs.
Especially places like the Dungeon Management Bureau—without conviction, it was nearly impossible to endure. Many employees weren’t Awakened, so those sent on field duty to dungeons risked their lives even with security escorts.
And yet, ironically, applications to the Bureau still overflowed.
People expected they’d learn all sorts of things about dungeons (including conspiracy theories) or get close to famous Hunters.
But reality was…
“I feel like I’m going to die. I’ve worked overtime every day for two weeks. I only just started leaving on time yesterday. And next week I have overtime again.”
Minjeong took a sip of the lemon tea Sori had just brought.
Famous Hunters? Not a chance. In reality, you were either buried under paperwork or risking your life in a dungeon. If you didn’t die, you were lucky.
“Lately there are so many unregistered Hunters I’m losing my mind.”
Minjeong buried her face in her hands.
Unregistered Hunters… could she mean—
“You know, recently there’ve been all these weird Awakened people popping up—not the usual Hunter types. You’ve seen them too, right?”
‘She’s talking about me…’
“Ah. Haha. I think so? Maybe?”
Sori swallowed nervously.
“There was even someone who Awakened as a cleaner or something. Anyway.”
Awakened as a cleaner? That was impressive.
Then again, someone had Awakened as a ‘Manager’ once…
Sori quickly shook her head, goosebumps rising.
“Anyway, because of those Awakened people, things have been a mess lately. Even if they gain skills, they’re totally different from combat skills. What are you supposed to do in a dungeon with a cleaning skill? Right?”
“Y-Yeah, that’s true.”
‘But I killed monsters with cooking skills?’
Granted, it was just a tutorial dungeon.
“But some people have these fantasies about dungeons. They barge in trying to fight monsters and then we have to send rescue teams. Ugh.”
Minjeong looked genuinely fed up.
“And since they’re technically Awakened, punishing them is tricky. Isn’t that selfish? Am I wrong, Sori?”
“Yeah, that’s selfish. Who knows what could happen in there?”
Sori nodded confidently. After all, she’d only entered a tutorial dungeon—not a real one.
And she had no plans to ever enter one.
…Right?
She gulped and took a sip of water.
But behind Minjeong, something kept moving.
‘John?’
She’d told him to stay still. What if he suddenly spoke?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—
A Slime (F) has appeared outside a dungeon zone!
An unexpected message blocked her vision.
‘What the—?!’
“Ah—!”
She almost screamed, barely clapping a hand over her mouth. Minjeong looked at her in confusion.
“No—it’s just… today’s already the 15th. Haha.”
“Oh, right. Half the month’s gone and all I’ve done is work…”
C-Table Guest’s Mood has changed to -95!
‘My mood’s at -95 too!’
This was the inside of the Happy Restaurant. A peaceful place.
Yet slimes were wobbling around, their mouths puckered.
What was going on?
Kang Sori had only just completed her first tutorial dungeon. Of course she panicked in a situation like this.
‘How are slimes inside the restaurant?!’
It was an emergency.
Minjeong, oblivious, continued sipping her tea while several slimes hovered just behind her.
Sori hesitated. Should she tell her?
She knew they wouldn’t attack unless provoked.
But what if Minjeong screamed and made things worse?
What if all five attacked at once?
Then the system window popped up.
Emergency Quest!
You have encountered your first crisis.
Your friend in front of you has never seen a monster. Protect your friend from the slimes without letting her notice!
Quest Name: Protect Your Friend (0/1)
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Reward: 150 EXP, Free Armor Exchange Coupon (1-time use), ???
Failure: Be eaten by a Corrupted Slime
‘Without letting her notice.’
Sori felt slightly reassured. The method was clearly stated.
‘How merciful. Maybe because I’m still a beginner.’
Though being eaten by a corrupted slime was…
‘Kind of brutal.’
She remembered the tutorial dungeon. When she said the skill name in front of a slime, it died automatically.
The problem: she had to say it without Minjeong noticing.
Could she do it?
Only one option: blend the skill names into conversation.
Praying for success, she began.
“You’ll try the food I make today, right?”
“You can actually cook?”
C-Table Guest’s Mood has changed to +20!
Minjeong’s voice brightened with curiosity.
‘Is that a sign she wants to try my cooking?’
Her heart pounded—whether from nerves or excitement, she couldn’t tell.
“Of course! How about steak? I’m really good at steak.”
She spoke to Minjeong but kept her eyes on the slimes.
“Steak? Really? Isn’t it hard to cook properly?”
“It’s hard, but—”
One slime edged closer to Minjeong.
Sori sped up.
“It’s not that hard if you use ‘Instant Sear’! It turns golden in no time!”
Slime (F) defeated!
50 EXP gained!
Obtained: Grilled Slime (F) x1!
‘Phew.’
First one down.
“Wow. Do you use fresh meat or frozen?”
Minjeong continued, unaware.
“Fresh—and then I ‘Instant Freeze’ it!”
Slime (F) defeated!
50 EXP gained!
Obtained: Frozen Slime (F) x1!
‘This is ridiculously easy.’
“You must’ve practiced a lot.”
“Well, to avoid burning it and use ‘Instant Sear,’ you need practice!”
Slime (F) defeated!
Slime (F) defeated!
Slime (F) defeated!
In moments, she gained 3 grilled slimes and 2 frozen ones.
‘Five servings secured.’
Time Remaining: 17:38
The timer stopped.
Congratulations!
Quest ‘Protect Your Friend’ completed!
Please claim your reward.
She’d done it.
She’d claim the reward later. For now, she focused on Minjeong.
Forget the old Sori who was hopeless at cooking.
“So, can you wait a bit?”
“Why?”
“Some fresh meat just came in. I’ll make you a steak.”
Minjeong looked shocked.
“You’re really cooking?”
C-Table Guest’s Mood has changed to -90!
‘Wait—weren’t you excited?! Why -90?!’
Apparently she’d just enjoyed the conversation.
“The previous owner taught me well. Customers say it’s good.”
“Hm. Fine. I’ll try it.”
Reluctantly, Minjeong agreed.
“The nerve of you, Awakened brat!”
As soon as she entered the kitchen, John exploded.
“What?”
“Do you not know the crime you’ve committed?!”
“What crime?”
His quills bristled.
“Why were slimes roaming inside the restaurant?!”
“Oh… that. Why’s that my fault?”
Red-faced, John jumped onto her shoulder and tugged her hair.
“Ow! What are you doing?!”
“You foolish Awakened! Who told you to leave the dungeon door open?!”
“…The door?”
She realized.
“Oh. I did leave it slightly open…”
When she’d come out of storage, she hadn’t fully shut it.
“But—!”
She still had a defense.
“The tutorial dungeon is a goldmine! Slime meat’s super easy to get. No need to buy it for 150 gold at the Hunter Market.”
Plus, she needed practice before attempting a boss.
“That doesn’t mean you leave the door open!”
“I thought they wouldn’t come in.”
“When the door is open, the barrier does not work! Didn’t you know that?!”
“Ow! Stop hitting me. What barrier?”
John crossed his arms arrogantly on her shoulder.
“What do you think keeps this building safe despite being connected to a dungeon?”
“It’s protected? Oh—okay, okay! So you closed it?”
“I risked my life closing it because of you! Therefore, present the Strawberry of Majesty once more!”
He hopped furiously.
Sori sighed. At this rate, all her money would go into a hedgehog’s mouth.
If only she could freely enter whichever dungeon she wanted.
