SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon

Oh Seoho claimed that it is possible to transform someone into a different person entirely through illusion. However, he continued, the average person would have a hard time adjusting to an unexpected change in appearance. There was a risk of feeling uncomfortable around others if you were in disguise for a few days, even if it was only for a short time.

For that reason, he said, he used illusions that didn’t change our original appearances too much.

It makes sense to me, but….

My pink hair and green eyes are still too noticeable. As for my outfit, I look like I should be on stage, not working at a cafe.

I looked in the mirror again and asked timidly, “Isn’t it too flashy?”

“No, you should do this much. Dress fancy and hide your original impression.”

I looked at Oh Seoho with suspicious eyes, “Is this a reflection of your taste?”

“As expected, my best friend! I knew you’d look good with blond hair! And pink, what a fantastic combination!”

That’s right. No wonder he strongly recommended this pink hair.

Still, it served the original purpose of not being recognisable, so we decided to go with it.

It was almost time to leave. I braced myself and headed for the door.

“Ahs, I’ll be back. Mieum and Lime, take good care of the house.”

“…Yeah.”

“Waeoong!”

“Kkyuu!”

Tiling! As soon as I left the door, the system notification rang.

[Main Quest: The Coffee Spy Operation]

Mission Possible!
You’ve decided to infiltrate a suspicious cafe!
However, there are many obstacles in your way. Can you find the secret of the coffee without getting caught?

Disguise Yourself: (Completed)
Discover The Secret Of the Coffee: (Incomplete)

Time Remaining: 7 Days
Reward: EXP (500 exp), Random Recipe, Ether-Wiki Update]

Still, the phrase “many obstacles” feels uncomfortable.

Anyway, the quest has begun.

***

Somewhere far away, at the same time when Kwon Rieul are in disguise and intend to infiltrate the fake cafe.

“Heuph, cough, cough!”

Kwon Seokmin opened his eyes.

“Ugh! Transcendents have no mercy these days, no mercy. I really thought I was going to die this time.”

Kwon Seokmin slowly looked around. A small room that looks like a prison. It seemed to be underground.

As long as he can’t figure out the whereabouts of the Grimoire, Aeon can’t kill him. Convinced of that, he had been deliberately captured. He had even taken precautions against mind control….

“I didn’t think they would knock me out by just ignorantly hitting me. Ddang, transcendents these days have no grace, no class at all. Aigoo, what if my stiff shoulder gets worse.”

He grumbled in a lively voice, but he felt empty because there was no one to listen to him.

“…….”

He didn’t feel any presence even though he made a loud noise. They must have really locked him up.

Hmm. What else can this old man do to cause trouble?

It’s funny, it doesn’t matter what he does, it won’t change the ending of this world.

He didn’t have a watch, so he didn’t know the exact date, but Christmas must have already passed. He was going to give a good boy a Christmas present, but he was late.

“It can’t be helped. Instead, let’s give new year’s money to the good boy.”

Kwon Seokmin took off the Santa costume he was still wearing and threw it on the floor, then picked himself up and tried to break the lock on the prison door.

“Euh….?”

But his left leg didn’t move. He looked down and saw a giant shackle around his ankle. He tried to hit it with force, but it won’t budge. The lock was powered using ether.

“Huuh….” Kwon Seokmin sighed.

‘Ddang. If I knew this would happen, I should have gone to the escape room cafe and practiced.’

He’ll have to get this out of the way first.

***

Me, Ki Yoohyun, and Oh Seoho. Three of us were all dressed in colourful outfits with no unified concept, heading towards the Super Buff Coffee on the Guild Street.

Bump! I didn’t see the person coming from the opposite direction and our shoulders collided. The other person took a step back and immediately lowered his head.

“Oops! I’m sorry.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry … eh?”

I was surprised as I lowered my head back. It was because the opponent I bumped into was Choi Yichan.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

At first, Choi Yichan didn’t recognise me. After a quick bow, he walked past me and continued on his way.

Oh, that’s interesting. The illusion is really working, even Choi Yichan, who knows my face well, doesn’t recognise me.

However, after a few steps, Choi Yichan turned back to me, puzzled.

“Umm … is it not?”

He looked at me and tilted his head. He turned around, took a few steps, and stopped again.

“……?”

What is this? It’s not like he’s a dog chasing its own tail. He looked at me and turned his head again and again.

I asked Oh Seoho in a small voice, “You said people won’t recognize me.”

“That’s because he has good eyesight, he’s an S-Class.”

At this rate, he’ll keep circling around me. When Choi Yichan looked into my face for the seventh time, I spoke first, “Yichan-ah, I’m Rieul.”

“What? What do you mean …. Huh? Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“What happened to your hair and clothes? You look like you could be in a metal band right now.”

“That’s…….”

I had some time to spare before my part-time job. Since it would be difficult to contact him in the evening for the time being, I asked for Ki Yoohyun’s understanding and briefly explained the situation to Choi Yichan.

However, Choi Yichan’s reaction was far from what I expected.

“Are you going to such a suspicious place with those suspicious people?”

“Yoohyun-ssi and Hunter Oh Seoho aren’t suspicious. Their identities are clear.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Yichan-ah.”

The unfriendly gaze turned to the man standing next to me. Ki Yoohyun smiled bitterly.

Even a fool could tell. Choi Yichan is wary of Ki Yoohyun.

“Yoohyun-ssi, I need to talk to Yichan for a moment.”

I grabbed Choi Yichan’s arm and dragged him to the corner.

“Yichan-ah, what’s wrong with you?”

“….I don’t think it’s safe.”

“It’s okay. It’s just a cafe in town. I’m not going alone.”

My purpose is to spy. I don’t intend to go any further than finding the ‘coffee secret‘ that the quest asks for.

However, Choi Yichan still had a dissatisfied expression on his face.

“If those suspicious people are behind this, as you say, there’s no telling what could happen.”

“Don’t lie to me. You just don’t like Yoohyun-ssi.”

“It’s just … I don’t trust him.”

From the old days, Choi Yichan has been a terrible liar. Occasionally, when he lied, his eyes flickered and it was obvious.

Just like right now.

“Yichan-ah, what do you know?”

“…….”

He stubbornly keep his mouth shut. This is the reaction of someone who knows something. It’s been a while since Choi Yichan became an S-Class, so I wonder if he’s heard something from somewhere.

“If you know anything, tell me now. I’ll listen.”

“Something like that … no.”

I think I was a little upset by Choi Yichan’s response. I didn’t hide my frustration.

“Really? Then I’ll do as I please.”

“…! Rieul-ah.”

“Yichan-ah, I know you’re stopping me because you’re worried about me. There must be a reason why you don’t like Yoohyun-ssi, but Yoohyun-ssi is the one who helped me.”

“…….”

“More than anything, I want to do it.”

Suddenly, I remembered what happened before the regression. I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about my job. Nevertheless, I worked late every day. The work was a good excuse to ignore the problems I wanted to ignore, like my relationship with Kwon Jiwoon.

I turned my back on real problems and died at work without enthusiasm. That’s the end of my ridiculous first life.

I briefly looked at the blinking quest notification in the system window. Compared to that first life, how fortunate I am now to be able to face the problems I need to solve.

I looked up at him quietly and said, “I want to do this.”

“…….”

After a long moment, Choi Yichan nodded. I gently squeezed his hand and slowly released it, happy for a moment that he understood what I mean.

“Then I’ll come with you.”

“What? That’s…….”

“……That’s a great idea!”

Suddenly, Oh Seoho stuck his head in.

“Don’t you usually get told that you have no tact?”

“That’s why I chose a job where I don’t have to worry about it.”

“I see…….”

“Well, three is better than two, and since he’s an a S-Class, he’ll be a force in case of emergency. They’re understaffed, so they won’t turn you down.”

Having summed up the situation so neatly, Oh Seoho snapped his fingers. His illusion changed Choi Yichan’s appearance.

If I had to describe his new appearance in a word, it would be a black-haired fighter. Black hair, black eyes. A long scar across his cheek. It looked like a slightly ruggedised version of the same face.

But the way he looked…….

“Oh, why are you tearing his clothes?!”

It’s kind of raunchy.

Maybe it was to fit in with the fighting concept, but he was dressed to show off his hard muscles. His shirt sleeves were torn off, showing his arm muscles.

“I’m fine….” Choi Yichan said.

The visual stimulus is too strong to show that sturdy body as it is.

I asked Oh Seoho, “Can’t you change his body shape?”

““How do you see my illusions? Of course I can. However, illusions do not change reality, but deceive the senses.”

Snap. Oh Seoho snapped his fingers. The next moment, Choi Yichan’s body turned into a skewer.

“If I change their body shape, the person will feel uncomfortable and their movements will be awkward. Try walking.”

Choi Yichan slowly walked around the room. His steps were clumsy as he felt his shrunken arms and legs.

“Hmmm. I definitely shouldn’t do that.”

Snap. He snapped his fingers again. Choi Yichan returned to his original shape. For some reason, his clothes are even more torn, revealing even more muscles.

“Wow! It suits you. Let’s go with the concept of a former martial artist who quit due to injury and is looking for a job.”

“……why would a cafe hire a former fighter?”

“Because they’re short-staffed.”

I’m not in a position to worry about the enemy, but is that cafe okay?

“I’ll keep your name Choi Yicham.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit of an obvious pseudonym?”

“For your information, they are Ki Yooheon and Kwon Nieun.”

“Haa….”

Ki Yoohyun, no, Ki Yooheon, sighed.

That’s how…….

Kwon Nieun, a pink-haired girl who likes metal bands.

Ki Yooheon, dressed like a popular Instagram model.

Choi Yicham, a former martial artist who quit due to injury.

Three job seekers and a guide, with a concept that didn’t feel unified at all, arrived in front of Super Buff Coffee.