Chapter 4:
Several days passed, and Seo Jae-yi’s mood plummeted.
Her worries from that day had materialized.
The customer she had drenched hadn’t returned, even after five long days.
“Did I perhaps spray him with salt water?”
Should she have insisted on getting his contact information? Should she have knelt and begged?
Moreover, not a single customer had visited her shop since that incident!
She had so many beautiful flowers, many of which were unique and unavailable elsewhere!
“Why are there even fewer customers now?”
Seo Jae-yi muttered dejectedly, clutching her phone. A blunt reply came from the other end.
—Well, there could be several reasons.
Seo Jae-yi’s eyes widened at the words of her cousin, Seo Won-yeong, whom she hadn’t spoken to in a while.
“Like what?”
She asked urgently, and Seo Won-yeong responded with a tone that suggested she should already know the answer.
—It’s because of the Haeil Guild next door. They’re sucking away all the good energy from your shop. The location is bad.
“Gasp!”
Seo Jae-yi’s face fell as she considered this unforeseen reason. Seo Won-yeong clicked her tongue disapprovingly over the phone.
—That’s why I told you to come near our house. It’s much better here.
“I-is that so?”
Seo Jae-yi’s ears perked up at her cousin’s enticing suggestion.
Should she relocate the shop now? She didn’t have any regular customers anyway…
As she pondered, the door chimed, and someone entered.
A customer?
Seo Jae-yi’s head shot up, only to be met with a familiar face, and her excitement turned into disappointment.
“Hey, don’t be so openly disappointed.”
It wasn’t a customer, but Moon Soo-hyun, a Haeil Guild member and the vice-captain of the raid team she used to lead.
—Oh, it’s Moon Soo-hyun?
Seo Won-yeong’s voice came over the phone, laced with disapproval. Moon Soo-hyun’s reaction was no different.
“Seo Won-yeong, are you badmouthing our guild again? I can practically see it.”
—Unnie, come to our house this afternoon. Mom made some side dishes for you.
Seo Won-yeong completely ignored Moon Soo-hyun and spoke only to Seo Jae-yi. Despite Moon Soo-hyun’s protests, Seo Jae-yi sided with her sister since she wasn’t a customer.
“Okay, I’ll close the shop early and come over.”
—Okay, I’ll be waiting.
Without uttering a single word to Moon Soo-hyun, Seo Won-yeong bid farewell to Seo Jae-yi and promptly hung up. Moon Soo-hyun clutched her chest dramatically.
“Honestly, she only cares about her own sister.”
“Of course, she’s my sister.”
Seo Jae-yi’s unabashed defense of her socially inept sister was incredibly irritating.
“Anyway, why are you here? Doesn’t the Haeil Guild have any work these days? Are you going to let Taesan take the top spot?”
“Don’t utter such blasphemous words! We’ll never let Taesan, that bunch of beans, take first place. So don’t you dare say that again.”
Moon Soo-hyun grimaced as if the mere thought was repulsive.
While the Haeil Guild held the undisputed top position in Korea, the Taesan Guild was perpetually in second place.
Consequently, Taesan was often referred to as “Kongsan” (Bean Mountain), a derogatory nickname stemming from their perceived lack of skill and their relentless, yet futile, attempts to surpass Haeil.
This was further emphasized by the dignified Haeil Guild Leader’s complete disregard for them. Of course, the less-than-dignified Haeil Guild members retaliated whenever Taesan provoked them.
“And if that day ever comes, the person who will personally burn Taesan to the ground and restore Haeil to the top spot is talking nonsense.”
And the one who led those less-than-dignified guild members and relentlessly pummeled Taesan was none other than Seo Jae-yi. That was how she earned the nickname “Haeil’s Reckless Firestarter.”
“If you have nothing better to do, go and turn Kongsan into a barren wasteland. Why are you here?”
“Why else would I come to a flower shop? I’m going on a date with my sweetie today, so make me a bouquet.”
Oh my! She wasn’t a subordinate slacking off, but a customer who had finally returned after five days! Seo Jae-yi immediately jumped up and rubbed her hands together excitedly.
“Welcome, customer! What kind of flowers would you like?”
“Those pink callas over there are quite lovely. Mix those with some other suitable flowers.”
“I’ll prepare it right away. Please have a seat on the warm chair I’ve prepared for you!”
“After half a year, our leader has become a slave to capitalism…”
Ignoring Moon Soo-hyun’s lament, Seo Jae-yi began selecting and arranging the flowers.
She poured her heart and soul into creating this bouquet, her first in five days. Moon Soo-hyun should be grateful.
“Here you go, it’s done!”
Seo Jae-yi presented the bouquet, neatly finished with a ribbon.
Moon Soo-hyun, who had been texting her sweetie, was speechless upon seeing the bouquet wrapped in bright red paper.
She had momentarily forgotten that their raid leader lacked both common sense and dexterity!
“Red is the color of passion, perfect for a lover. I’ve even made it extra full as a special service.”
It was so passionate that it threatened to ignite their relationship and burn it to ashes.
“Leader, my sweetie and I are still doing well. We’re not breaking up today.”
“Huh? I don’t want you to break up either.”
Then why would you give me this horrendous thing to give to my sweetie? Good heavens.
“…Thank you.”
However, the fear of the Firestarter’s abilities prevented her from voicing her true feelings.
In the end, Moon Soo-hyun could only swallow her tears, pay, and leave the shop.
People glanced at her as she clutched the bouquet from hell, but she couldn’t bear to discard something her precious leader had made.
…I’ll keep it for myself instead of giving it to my sweetie.
Moon Soo-hyun shed a tear and made a phone call.
—Kim Yoo-sung speaking.
A deep voice answered from the other end. It was Kim Yoo-sung, the Guild Leader of Haeil and the top S-rank Esper in Korea.
“It’s Moon Soo-hyun. I just left the Leader’s shop.”
Moon Soo-hyun continued, glancing at the bouquet with a grimace.
“Judging by her still-terrible dexterity, there’s nothing unusual to report. Her complexion is good, and she seems to be in good spirits.”
Her visit to Seo Jae-yi’s shop today wasn’t solely to purchase a bouquet for her sweetie.
Following Guild Leader Kim Yoo-sung’s orders, Haeil Guild members would often visit the flower shop disguised as customers to check on Seo Jae-yi’s condition.
Of course, Seo Jae-yi was completely unaware of this. She still believed they were simply visiting out of boredom.
—Good work.
“If you’re so worried, why don’t you go yourself? Why do you keep sending helpless guild members? Besides, that shop is only surviving thanks to the Guild Master’s power.”
—Why? Did Seo Jae-yi say something about me?
“Not exactly, but… Wait, don’t tell me you’re not going because you’re sulking that the Leader isn’t looking for you? Because you’re feeling hurt? Wow, I never knew our Guild Master was so sensitive.”
Moon Soo-hyun exclaimed, as if she had stumbled upon a monumental secret. Just as she decided to spread this juicy gossip, a cold chuckle came from the other end.
—Do you want to be demoted?
“…I apologize.”
—Continue observing her. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately.
“Yes, sir.”
The call ended abruptly. Moon Soo-hyun clicked her tongue and grumbled.
“If you’re so worried about the Leader’s health, why don’t you just stay by her side? Sigh. If only she had a compatible Guide.”
How cruel fate was. It had been eleven years since her awakening, and she still hadn’t found a suitable Guide.
Glancing back at Seo Jae-yi’s flower shop, Moon Soo-hyun clutched the bouquet tightly and quickened her pace.
【Title: Anything interesting happening these days?】
【Haeil and Kongsan used to fight all the time, but it’s been quiet lately. I thought they were going to keep going at it until Kongsan became a barren wasteland. What’s Haeil up to???】
【Comments】
—I’m not the only one who’s bored. I miss the days when Kongsan, after being thoroughly thrashed by Haeil, would get so mad they’d sue everyone. Those were the good old days…
└Back when we couldn’t even call Kongsan “Kongsan” and had to call them “Bean Mountain”…
—But seriously, what’s Haeil doing?? Taesan is still desperately trying to surpass them, but Haeil is eerily quiet. Did something happen?
└Well, the Firestarter retired…
└What??? The legendary Firestarter of Barren Mountain fame retired?? Why?? WHY??????
└Because she doesn’t have a Guide… I heard she almost overloaded.
└Ah, right. That was last year, wasn’t it? She pushed herself too hard during a Rank 2 dungeon raid.
└Wow. She still hasn’t found a Guide… Then she must be struggling right now.
└Yeah… I hope she gets lucky and finds a Guide so she can come back.
└I really liked her… I wonder how hard it must be for her right now.
└Seriously… I hope she’s doing okay.
A popular dessert cafe in Seoul.
“I’ll take one of each slice of cake. And macarons too.”
Completely oblivious to the people online reminiscing about her, Seo Jae-yi pointed at the cakes in the display case with a bright smile.
“Please wait a moment, ma’am.”
Delighted by the arrival of a big spender, the cafe staff hurried to pack the cakes.
The thought of bringing delicious cakes to her sweet-toothed cousin, Won-yeong, filled Seo Jae-yi with warmth.
‘Huh?’
As she waited excitedly, a strange energy suddenly washed over her.
This sticky, unsettling feeling…
‘A Gate?’
There was no mistaking it. It was the energy signature emitted during a Gate’s emergence.
Then could it be?
“Aaaaagh!”
“Quick, call the Guild!”
Screams erupted outside the cafe. Through the transparent glass windows, she saw people fleeing in panic.
“A G-Gate has appeared! Run!”
Seo Jae-yi frowned at someone’s shout. As she suspected, it wasn’t her imagination.
“Everyone, run!”
The faces of the cafe patrons turned pale. Those with quick reflexes had already escaped. Even the staff packing the cakes looked anxious.
A sudden emergency. Amidst the chaos, Seo Jae-yi paused to think.
‘Hmm. Thanks to the water-drenched customer, my overload level is down to 50%. I should be able to use my abilities a bit, right?’
In other words, she was considering entering the Gate.
If the Haeil Guild members knew, they would be horrified. Unfortunately, none of her comrades were present.
Beep!
Just then, an alarm blared from the Esper-exclusive receiver on her wrist.
The display, which normally resembled a regular watch, turned red, and a short message appeared.
【Sudden Dungeon Emergence!】
A sudden dungeon, estimated to be Rank 4, has emerged near 170, Eonju-ro 170-gil, Seoul. Nearby Espers, please subdue the dungeon immediately!
It was a message sent to all Awakened individuals by the Korean Awakened Management Association.
“Ugh, I’m not good with sudden dungeons.”
There were three main types of dungeons: Predictable dungeons, whose emergence could be anticipated; Fixed dungeons, which remained permanently once they appeared; and Sudden dungeons, which materialized without warning.
Seo Jae-yi grimaced, recalling the time her overload level had surged to 80% while dealing with a sudden dungeon a year ago.
Still, a Rank 4 dungeon shouldn’t be too much of a problem for a short while.
“M-ma’am, are you an Esper?”
The staff, noticing the Esper receiver on her wrist, stared at her with wide eyes. Hope flickered in their previously despairing faces.
Seo Jae-yi smiled gently.
“My skills are nothing special, but I can hold them off until other Espers arrive.”
After a casual reply, she tapped the incessantly beeping receiver. The red display vanished, replaced by a new message.
【Dungeon Subjugation Participation Confirmed — S-rank Esper Seo Jae-yi, Haeil Guild】
【Warning! Current Overload Level is 50%. Exercise caution when using abilities!】
Retirement was just a formality; her Esper abilities hadn’t disappeared, so there was no issue with entering the dungeon.
Besides, even in her weakened state, how could she turn a blind eye to those looking at her with such desperate hope?
“It’s not a Breakout, so there’s no danger. Please don’t worry and finish packing the cakes. I’ll come back for them when I’m done.”
Winking at the staff, Seo Jae-yi stepped out of the cafe.