How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 13

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

【Chapter 13】
Title: Is there something going on between Lee Hyun-woo and the Pastry Shop Owner…?
I went to buy pastries last time and their conversation was oddly suggestive lol
Like, why did he leave without saying anything… Is there something between them?
-The pastry shop in front of the Management Bureau?
└Yeah
-That’s impossible lol The pastry shop owner is supposedly F-rank
└So what if they’re F-rank;;>
└It’s because of the rank difference, why are you even sweating over this..
-Actually I saw it too… Something about needing to return clothes
└Oh so that’s why? Did they borrow clothes too?
-Did the pastry shop owner have some kind of leverage? What is it?
-How did they even meet? There’s no connection between them at all
-Who asked why they left without saying anything? Could it have been Lee Hyun-woo?
└Yeah that’s right… He seemed angry and was saying something
-How would Lee Hyun-woo lend out clothes? Unless his clothes suddenly caught fire…
Title: But are they really dating? Doesn’t that seem unlikely?
What did the pastry shop owner do to deserve this?
-Huh? What are you suddenly talking about? Is there something between them?
└They’re supposedly dating hh
-Please don’t write posts like this, they just had a conversation that’s all
└How many people actually have private conversations with Lee Hyun-woo
└This is facts…
-Even if they were dating, Lee Hyun-woo wouldn’t lose out since he’s S-rank
└What good is S-rank lol His personality is garbage
└It’s because of awakening side effects
└Why are you always bringing up awakening side effects… Are you a Lee Hyun-woo fan?
-*FACTS* They’re not dating X Just close friends O
But isn’t Shop Owner afraid of Lee Hyun-woo the Hunter? Just having him nearby was incredibly intimidating.
└Seems fine since they’re F-rank. They barely have any mana reserves?
-But is it okay to use real names and talk about this here?
└That person is a noble S-rank so they’d never come to a place like this lol
* * *
“Welcome… Oh? Jung Ha-neul!!”
“Shin Hye, your sister’s here!”
-Ding
As I pushed open the cafe door, Shin Hye, who had been brewing coffee, widened her eyes at the sight of me.
I had come to meet Shin Hye, my closest friend, for the first time in a while on this weekend.
“What, you could’ve at least called ahead!”
“I called, but you didn’t pick up.”
“…Ahem. Want some coffee?”
Of course. Iced vanilla latte for me.
After placing my order with practiced ease, I glanced around the cafe. Vintage decorative pieces I hadn’t seen before were scattered throughout.
It was a cozy cafe that unmistakably reflected Shin Hye’s taste.
“How’s business been lately?”
“Don’t even get me started. Some vlog featured this place and now foreigners keep showing up. I’ve even started taking phone calls in English, can you believe it?”
Though it was still morning and relatively quiet, she complained that once afternoon rolled around, there wasn’t a moment to breathe.
Business was still thriving, it seemed.
“What about you? You said you’ve been busy.”
“Ah… well, the thing is. I actually awakened.”
“WHAT!?!?”
At my sudden announcement, Shin Hye’s eyes widened as large as lanterns.
It was understandable. Both she and I had lived lives far removed from awakening.
“That can’t be right! You suddenly awakened? When exactly?”
“Not long ago. I’ve been so caught up in everything since then that I missed the chance to tell you.”
Shin Hye prepared the coffee at lightning speed and plopped down right beside me.
“What’s your rank? What rank are you?”
Ah… the rank question.
I awkwardly averted my gaze and whispered softly.
“Umm…”
“What was that?”
“Ummm…”
“What?? I can’t hear you!”
F-RANK!!!!!
When I blurted it out loudly, Shin Hye covered her mouth with an “oh my.”
Hey, lower your hand. You’re laughing right now, aren’t you?
“Hehe, yeah. You did awaken, technically, pfft, but…”
“Just laugh all you want.”
“Really? Pahahahahaha!!!!!”
Watching Shin Hye roll on the floor laughing while clutching her stomach was irritating, but I would have laughed just the same if she’d told me she awakened as F-rank.
‘F-rank is pretty rough, though. The Hunter Management Bureau won’t even accept them.’
In reality, it was barely any different from being an ordinary person.
Some people didn’t even call F-rank awakeners by that title.
“Whew, it’s been so long since I laughed this hard… But congratulations anyway. At least you awakened, right?”
“Forget it. It’s already too late anyway.”
After laughing for a while, Shin Hye wiped away the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. Once she’d composed herself, apparently satisfied that she’d had enough fun at my expense, she spoke.
“Speaking of which, about that spot where your parents’ shop used to be—the sign changed a bit but someone’s still running it. Did you know?”
“No? I only heard that the building owner’s daughter or something was running it.”
Shin Hye shook her head and opened her phone’s gallery.
She’d been so shocked passing by that she’d taken a photo.
“Look, look. They’re incredibly similar, aren’t they?”
“…And this is really too much.”
My parents’ restaurant was called Jeong Dam-eun Restaurant. But the new shop that took its place was called Jeong Dar-eun Restaurant.
I’d noticed it from the moment she emphasized not to touch the interior at all… but this still wasn’t ethical business practice.
“This won’t do. I need to go confront her right now.”
I hastily downed the vanilla latte in front of me and stood up from my seat.
I’d always known that woman was strange, but she really crossed the line.
“Go give her a piece of your mind and come back! Jung Ha-neul, fighting!”
Encouraged by Shin Hye’s support, I took a taxi to the shop.
As the familiar building drew closer, the heat radiating from my chest intensified until my head began to throb.
‘Not content with kicking me out suddenly, she even copies the sign? Where in the world does something like this happen!’
When I arrived in front of the shop, I let out a hollow laugh.
At first glance, you wouldn’t notice the difference. The fact that she’d even copied the font and position of the sign was malice at its worst.
I marched forward, ready to burst through the door and demand answers.
“Oh my, isn’t that Ha-neul?”
“That’s right, it is. Ha-neul!”
At that moment, I turned at the familiar voices calling from behind me, and there were the Neighbors who had looked after me since childhood. The Beauty Salon Owner, the Cafe Owner, the Real Estate Agent… the neighborhood people who had cared for me with sympathy as I left in disgrace.
“My goodness, our Ha-neul. You must have been through so much heartache—your face has become so thin.”
“You’re doing well, right? We were so worried when you suddenly left.”
“Yes, I’m doing well. You’ve all been well too, haven’t you? I’m sorry for not keeping in touch.”
“Oh, don’t apologize!”
As they continued asking about my well-being, their gazes naturally shifted to the shop behind me. Soon, bittersweet smiles spread across the faces of the women and men.
“Ha-neul… you came because of that shop, didn’t you?”
“Yes. When I heard she’d copied the sign exactly, I couldn’t help myself.”
At my response, the Beauty Salon Owner clicked her tongue in displeasure.
“Don’t even get me started. How can someone lie without batting an eye, claiming to be the original? She deserves divine punishment.”
“Sigh, but don’t let it upset you too much. I heard the gukbap tastes completely different now. None of the neighborhood people even go near the place. Only outsiders who don’t know any better show up.”
The Neighbors gently patted my shoulder and offered their comfort. That’s right. Even if she took the shop, she couldn’t take the taste. Somehow my heart felt much lighter, and I offered my gratitude.
“Thank you. But since I’ve come all this way, I’d like to say something to her.”
“Should we help you?”
“No, I’ll do it alone.”
I bowed respectfully and then pushed open the shop door with force. The Building Owner, who had been standing at the counter and made direct eye contact with me, suddenly frowned deeply.
“…What! You! What do you think this place is!”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be here?”
“Ahem! Well, yes. Are you here to eat? Gukbap?”
Wow, this woman really is shameless.
She showed no embarrassment about having taken my parents’ shop without a word.
And though she’d said her daughter was running it, the daughter wasn’t even visible—the woman herself seemed to be the owner. Did she covet our shop so much that she had to lie about it?
“Excuse me, ma’am. Aren’t you sorry toward me at all?”
As I raised my voice, the people in the dining area began stealing glances at us.
The Building Owner, her expression troubled, tried to drag me outside, but I held my ground firmly and cried out.
“You suddenly evicted a well-running shop, put up a similar sign, and now you’re operating it—doesn’t that feel good to you?!”
“Goodness, you startled me! Why are you shouting like that!”
“Did I look like I’d stay quiet?”
When I refused to leave and began to cry, she started with threats about not returning the deposit, then made a habit of bringing her husband to the shop daily to interfere with business. She even spread vicious rumors disparaging the establishment.
Eventually, unable to withstand all of it, I gave up the shop—and now she was operating it by copying everything exactly.
‘…How hard did my parents work to build this?’
Looking closely, she was selling the exact same menu and layout.
I looked directly into the Building Owner’s eyes and spoke.
“It’s your building, so you’re free to do as you wish, but you can’t pretend this is the same shop as my parents’ Gukbap Restaurant.”
After slowly surveying the interior of the shop, I continued.
“Change the sign immediately and tell customers this is a different establishment.”
“Ha, you’re quite the character, miss… Stop saying strange things and get out! Before I call the police for business interference!”
The Building Owner, her lips pressed tightly in anxiety, shoved my back roughly. I brushed off her hand and walked out on my own.
‘…They said if I make a wish, I can get the shop back, right? For now, I have no choice but to wait for that moment.’
Right now, I didn’t have the power to reclaim the shop. I closed my eyes briefly, overwhelmed by helplessness.
‘Why does Mother always stay at the shop? Doesn’t it wear her down?’
‘When customers eat Mother’s food and become happy, Mother feels good too.’
‘Then what about Father?’
‘Father is naturally happy because Mother is happy~’
‘Ugh, what… that’s so corny.’
Suddenly, a brief conversation with my parents from childhood came to mind. Their hearts devoted to customers’ happiness. Did that Building Owner have such sincerity in her?
‘There’s no way she does.’
I lifted my head and gazed at the shop. A strange new sign hung above the establishment that bore my parents’ fingerprints.
Looking at that sight, I made a silent vow—I would reclaim this place, my parents’ shop, with my own strength.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————