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Chapter 45




Chapter 45
“What’s this? Oh
 cups?”
The envelope was filled with disposable paper cups and plastic cups. It looked like there were about 500 of each.
But they weren’t ordinary cups. The name ‘Cafe Leeul’ was printed in the center of each cup.
“I said I was going to open a cafe soon. I thought you might need takeout cups, so I made them.”
“Thank you! Grandma!”
Indeed, not all customers would drink inside the cafe.
I hadn’t thought about takeout customers, but these cups were definitely necessary.
[Item: Custom Takeout Cups (★★☆☆☆) x 1000
Type: Disposable Cup
Note: Preserves the state of the beverage. (2:00:00)]
Not only that, but they had a good effect as well.
Beverages made with skills only last 30 minutes, but these cups could maintain the beverage’s state for a longer time.
“If you need more, just let me know. I can make more.”
“Ahaha
 I’ll ask for more when I need them.”
There were 500 cups for hot beverages and 500 for cold beverages, making a total of 1000 cups.
And this quiet place was in front of the major dungeon, *Abyss*.
Would I ever use all these cups
?
Hmm
 maybe in about three years?
“Great place.”
“Haha
 thank you.”
Grandma lightly marveled after taking a tour of the cafe.
Actually, the shop was quite chaotic at the moment. On one side, coffee was being roasted, and on the other, the sap from the dungeon sugarcane was being solidified.
Miyumi and Lime, who had just finished eating, were running around the floor. Oh, stop running and be careful.
“Mew, nya!”
“Whyyyyy!”
Tada, thump, thump, thump.
...
Embarrassed, I quickly changed the subject.
“Ah! Look at me. I haven’t even brought you coffee yet. Grandma, what would you like?”
“Hmm, then I’ll have something sweet and refreshing, please.”
“Yes!”
Something sweet and refreshing. I glanced at the recipe list and thought for a moment. There’s ice cream coffee, but it might be better to try a new menu.
Alright, I’ve decided. Checking the ingredients, I found I had everything I needed.
I decided to make an iced caramel macchiato.
The method for making a cold drink wasn’t much different from making a hot one.
After adding caramel syrup, ice, and cold milk, I made a separate milk foam and placed it on top of the cup.
Then I poured the espresso and sprinkled caramel drizzle on top.
I handed the finished drink to Grandma.
“Grandma, here’s your iced caramel macchiato.”
“Thank you. 
Oh.”
She stopped mid-sentence and looked out the window.
“What’s wrong? Is there something
 Oh.”
The sky, which had been clear in the morning, was now gray. Snowflakes began to fall one by one, and soon they were falling heavily.
Already
 the first snow?
It was only the end of October. I thought it would be a while before the first snow.
Surprised by the early snow, I looked up at the sky, and my phone vibrated loudly.
It was a ominous notification.
* * *
Kiyuhyun walked through a narrow alley without hesitation.
“Wait, let’s go together, Guild Master!”
“I told you not to call me Guild Master outside!”
“That’s not important right now!”
There was no time. The twins, Jusinwoo and Jusinhee, quickly followed Kiyuhyun, who was already far ahead.
The surroundings were a typical apartment complex. It was far from the subway station, but the rent was cheap, so it was mainly inhabited by students and young working adults.
The road lined with similar-looking apartments continued, and Kiyuhyun moved without hesitation.
After walking for a while, he stopped in front of a building.
“...”
The twins, who had followed Kiyuhyun, spoke up.
“Is the suspect here?”
“What a bad guy, trying to kill Grandma!”
“But if it was just an attempted murder, the *Dungeon Management Office* would investigate it. Guild Master
 or Hunter, is there a reason you’re looking for him personally?”
“Idiot! Guild Master
 or Hunter, is going to beat that bad guy up!”
“Are you the one who’s an idiot? Does Guild Master
 or Hunter, act without thinking like you?”
His head throbbed.
“...Quiet.”
At Kiyuhyun’s words, the twins shut their mouths with a huff, their eyes darting around nervously.
As they climbed the stairs of the quiet apartment, Kiyuhyun fell into thought.
The attack on his master, Kim Deokgi, had happened before the regression as well.
The timing was different. The incident in the first cycle happened a few months later, which is why he had let his guard down.
How could he be so foolish, even after regressing to the past?
Kiyuhyun recalled the image of Leeul, who had smiled and said it was nothing despite the burn on her palm. If he hadn’t led her to the workshop, this wouldn’t have happened.
...So the injury was his responsibility.
In the midst of his regret, he noticed the weapon that had been left at the scene.
It wasn’t an ordinary knife. It was a hunter’s sword, well-maintained despite its low rank. The name was engraved on the hilt, as if inviting someone to find it.
However, even a foolish criminal wouldn’t leave a weapon with their name on it at the scene. It was likely that someone had intentionally left it there.
Moreover, the unique ether on the weapon was troubling.
Thick, dark
 and unpleasant ether.
He had smelled this before. It was a trace amount, but his sensitive senses didn’t miss it.
‘Then
 the owner of this sword might already be in trouble.’
His destination was the top floor.
As he knocked on the door, he read the ether flow on the other side. However, there was no sign of anyone inside. Kiyuhyun opened the door without hesitation.
“No one’s here.”
“This
 looks like armor.”
Jusinhee picked up a piece of clothing from the dirty floor. It had an elaborate design, reminiscent of a peacock.
“...We’re too late.”
“Did he run away?”
“He’ll soon be wanted, so it looks like he fled.”
The room was a mess, with furniture and miscellaneous items scattered everywhere. It seemed he had left the house in a hurry after the incident.
Or perhaps he had staged it to look that way.
Indeed, there was no other option. The causality rate and other complicated factors made him reluctant to use it, but

Kiyuhyun sighed and looked around the small room.
“Step back.”
“...!”
The twins took a few steps back, their faces tense. After confirming they had enough distance, he used his skill.
Skill name: Power of White Light.
It was the unique skill that had placed Kiyuhyun at the top of the rankings.
However, almost no one knew exactly what it did. Only the fact that it involved space was known.
For the twins, who had not been in the guild for long, this was their first time seeing it in action.
[□□□ □□’s blessing is applied.]
[Skill: Power of White Light (S) is activated.
[※ Caution: Excessive intervention may trigger resistance from the causality rate.]
In the next moment, the air’s density changed. Although it was the same space, the air felt heavier. The twins felt as if a transparent barrier was blocking their path.
Tiny particles of light enveloped the entire room, and soon, his expanded senses began to read the information.
He was looking for one thing: the ether on the weapon found at the scene.
[Matching information found.]
Kiyuhyun picked up an object that had been discarded in a corner of the room, unnoticed.
It was a small decorative pendant for the sword. The moment he saw the clear star shape engraved in the center, his eyes turned fierce.
“...Guild Master?”
No matter how much time had passed, he would recognize this.
The emblem of the *Order of the Wisdom of the Star*.
Clear evidence that the enemy had already begun to move.
Forgetting the pain as the edges cut into his skin, he tightly gripped the decoration.
“...!”
Jusinwoo, looking out the window, let out a surprised exclamation.
“What’s wrong? ...Oh.”
It was snowing.
The sky, which had been clear, was now overcast, and large snowflakes were falling.
“This is unusual. The first snow is early this year.”
“Ugh, the roads will be congested.”
Zing. His phone vibrated suddenly.
[Safety Alert <Dungeon Management Office>
A F-class crack has occurred in Gwacheon, Suwon at 13:17 today.
Residents in the vicinity are advised to evacuate immediately. Two-way traffic control is in effect. Please use alternative routes.]
The tension that had built up quickly dissipated. F-class cracks were not uncommon and posed low risk. The *Dungeon Management Office*’s response team would be sufficient to rescue victims and stabilize the dungeon.
However, the next message that arrived made everyone freeze.
[Safety Alert <Dungeon Management Office>
The crack in Gwacheon, Suwon has been upgraded to A-class. It is believed to be a dark-attribute variant dungeon.
The crisis alert level has been raised to “Severe.”
The area will be sealed off. Please evacuate immediately.]
“What, what should we do?”
“A-class attribute
 I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Moreover, it’s a dark attribute. The location is also bad. People
 what should we do?”
“Hunter Jusinwoo, Hunter Jusinhee.”
The twins, who had been pale and flustered, regained their composure at Kiyuhyun’s call.
His black eyes were cold, and his expression showed no hint of confusion.
The twins’ ears turned red, embarrassed by their uncomposed behavior in front of the guild master they admired.
“Ha, we can’t just leisurely look for the criminal. Let’s head back to the guild immediately.”
“Yes!”
Before leaving the apartment, Kiyuhyun tightly gripped the star-shaped decoration once more.
His heart raced.
* * *
I picked up my phone, which was vibrating nonstop.
My fingertips were trembling so much that it was difficult to unlock the phone. After several failed attempts, I finally managed to read the message.
[Safety Alert <Dungeon Management Office>
An A-class dungeon shockwave has occurred in Gwacheon, Suwon. The area is being sealed off. Please evacuate immediately.]
Several messages had flooded in, all warning of the crisis.
I immediately called Choi Eichan, but as expected, he didn’t answer.
I had anticipated this day and had imagined this moment many times, but I couldn’t calm my trembling.
Wait
 what time is it? What time did I give Choi Eichan the pendant yesterday?
The condition for obtaining the skill ‘Light that Shines in Darkness’ is to possess the item for 24 hours. The time is tight. If 24 hours haven’t passed, he wouldn’t have obtained the skill.
The situation inside the dungeon can change drastically in a matter of seconds.
If he doesn’t get the skill in time and something similar to the regression happens again

“Ms. Leeul, are you okay?”
“...”
“Ms. Leeul!”
At Grandma’s call, I finally lifted my trembling head.
Something was put in my mouth. Unconsciously, I realized it was the straw from the iced caramel macchiato.