How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 4

—————

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

—————

Chapter 4
“Phew, finally it’s over!”
Kim Min-woo, a B-rank Hunter, tore off his protective gear the moment he stepped out of the Gate, his voice ringing out. It had taken a full four days to clear the Gate and make the journey back.
“That last part was really touch and go, wasn’t it?”
“Tell me about it. I thought we were done for!”
“Well, we made it back alive, so that’s what matters.”
The Gate’s rank had been typical, but this time the clearance proved unusually difficult.
Still, we returned safely, and that was a relief. The team members playfully bumped each other’s shoulders in celebration of our safe return.
“Everyone did great work. Let’s just file the report and head home.”
At the team leader’s words, they nodded vigorously.
After four days without proper bathing or eating, exhaustion was written plainly across their faces.
“Speaking of which, aren’t you all hungry?”
“Well, I suppose so….”
“Should we grab something to eat at the Awakened-Only Restaurant?”
At someone’s suggestion, their eyes lit up. The interior of the Gate had been brutally cold, and the thought of hot broth was certainly appealing.
The problem, however, was that they were all Awakened, and every Awakened-Only Restaurant nearby was absolute garbage.
“Let’s not go back to that place from last time. They basically dumped capsaicin into everything.”
“They insist that if it’s salty and spicy, it counts as Awakened food!”
“Ugh— and the prices they charge….”
Many establishments exploited the fact that Awakened individuals couldn’t taste properly, operating with complete disregard for quality. In fact, they all did it.
The standard approach was to make everything salty, sweet, and spicy regardless of flavor, use identical ingredients, and charge several times the normal price simply by slapping “Awakened” on the label.
Yet despite all this, because they were always wanting more, they would still visit and try any place that bore the “Awakened” designation.
“I never knew that losing the ability to taste could be this torturous….”
Sun Da-eun, the youngest member who had awakened just over a month ago, murmured dejectedly.
Since awakening, no matter what food she ate, it felt like chewing dry sand or eating underwater—everything tasted bland and textureless.
Forcing yourself to eat worked for a time or two, but eventually eating itself became torture.
This was precisely why so many Hunters simply consumed meal replacement pills instead of eating proper food.
“I just want to taste real food one more time.”
“Tell me about it. Why hasn’t anyone invented an item for that….”
We trudged forward with heavy hearts.
Since becoming a Hunter, my bank account had grown steadily, but unable to taste food, the joy in life had been cut in half.
‘I should just go home and sleep….’
The suggestion to stop at a restaurant had been abandoned long ago.
We made our way toward the Management Bureau. And the moment we arrived, we witnessed something utterly unbelievable.
“What are all these people eating? Is something wrong with my eyes?”
“No. I see it too.”
“I see it as well….”
Everyone passing by was holding some kind of food in their hands. Some were even letting out admiring sighs—”mmm”—as if it were delicious.
Da-eun couldn’t help herself and stopped one of the passersby.
“What is that you’re holding?”
“You don’t know what this is? It’s a pastry from Ha-neul’s! Ha-neul’s pastry.”
“…Ha-neul’s pastry?”
Apparently, a street vendor had set up shop in front of the Management Bureau a few days ago, and the pastries they sold were items—magical goods that tasted sweet regardless of whether you were Awakened or not.
“You can actually taste it!?”
“Ah, so you just got back from a Gate. This has been all the rage lately.”
The passerby kindly tore off half of the pastry they were holding and offered it to her to try.
She accepted the still-warm pastry and cautiously bit into the end.
“Well? How is it? Can you really taste it?”
“There’s nothing weird in it, right??”
“Say something!”
As her silence stretched on, those around her couldn’t help but ask.
Da-eun slowly raised her thumb.
“This is insane! Incredible!!”
Da-eun’s face flushed with excitement, and she bounced on her feet. The exhaustion that had weighed on her features moments before vanished in an instant, replaced by radiant joy.
‘That reaction… it’s genuinely delicious.’
‘Her expression is different from when she ate those mass-produced foods made for Awakened people.’
‘Where did she say it was sold? Ha-neul’s?’
This pastry was the real thing. The moment I realized it, our entire group bolted toward the street vendor’s stall at the entrance of the Management Bureau as if we’d all agreed on it beforehand.
“…Wait. Is this the entire line?”
“I heard it was popular. This is no joke.”
We gaped at the enormous queue snaking around the shop.
* * *
This was hell. Pastry hell, to be precise.
Since opening, I hadn’t stopped baking pastries for a single moment, yet the line showed no signs of shrinking. If anything, it seemed to be growing.
“Boss, how much longer?”
“Just a moment! I’ll have it ready soon!”
My shop, which had once been so quiet that flies were the only visitors, had gradually gained word-of-mouth recognition after the free samples, transforming into a popular establishment where people now had to queue to eat.
But there was one critical drawback: my pastry mold could only make two at a time.
‘That’s why I can’t keep up with the pace.’
The maximum I could bake in one go was just two. No matter how hard I worked, there was no way the line would ever disappear.
Even with the purchase limit of one pastry per person.
The moment each golden pastry finished baking, I wrapped it and handed it to the customer.
“Here’s your pastry.”
“Wow, finally!! Thank you so much!”
After their long wait, the customer took a huge bite of the pastry.
“Gasp! It’s… it’s delicious!”
The customer covered their mouth in amazement, then closed their eyes and slowly savored the taste of the pastry.
Those watching swallowed hard, their mouths watering.
“Well, I suppose I can wait another thirty minutes.”
“I even took a half-day off work for this.”
“I’m definitely eating some today.”
Normally, these fish-shaped pastries required hours of waiting if luck wasn’t on your side, yet the line never seemed to dwindle—and there was a reason for that.
It was the visceral reactions of the customers buying them.
People savoring the pastries with genuine delight, gasping in amazement. Some were even moved to tears by the experience.
‘Seeing reactions like that, I’d be curious enough to buy one too.’
I rubbed my aching lower back and poured more batter into the molds. With everyone eagerly waiting, I couldn’t afford to rest.
Ugh, I’ll need to slather myself with pain relief patches again tonight. The moment that thought crossed my mind, a cheerful chime rang out—a System notification.
A gift for the hardworking proprietor!
I’m granting you the skill ‘Iron Constitution (B)’.
Iron Constitution? And it’s B-rank, no less?
I clicked, and it displayed: ‘While in the Shop, Stamina increases by 200%’.
It was limited to the Shop, which was disappointing, but it was exactly the skill I needed right now.
‘Perfect. Let’s get serious about this.’
I clenched my fists and steeled my resolve.
After that, it was an endless cycle. Baking pastries, bagging them, handing them over. As I repeated the motions endlessly, my speed gradually improved.
‘This is actually kind of fun.’
It felt like I was playing some kind of fish pastry tycoon game with an endless stream of customers.
I smiled to myself at that silly thought. Just then, the next customer approached.
“Welcome!”
“Ugh. Why do I have to wait this long for… huh? Jung Ha-neul?”
“…Gong Ju-hee?”
The moment I saw her face, my expression darkened. Her name was Gong Ju-hee. We’d been in the same class during our third year of high school.
Her nickname was “Princess.” It was a fitting name, given her talent for looking down on others as if she were royalty herself.
‘Looks like she hasn’t changed a bit.’
She gasped in surprise and covered her mouth, then quickly scanned our Shop.
“I was wondering who’d be running such a shabby place… and it’s you.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while.”
“You’ve been well, right? Oh, wait. Doesn’t look like it.”
She shrugged as she took in my apron and headwrap.
“So you awakened too? What’s your rank?”
“F-rank. Why?”
“Oh my! F-rank? I’m C-rank.”
Ju-hee’s lips curled into a smug smile. Yeah, must be nice being C-rank.
I waved my hand dismissively. I didn’t have time for this pointless conversation.
“So. You buying pastries or not?”
“…What?”
“If you’re not, could you step aside?”
I pointed behind her with my finger.
There are plenty of Hunters waiting behind you, and I’m rather busy.

—————

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

—————