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The restaurant was created to release Satin’s demonic energy. Demonic energy cannot be discarded. It must be released into a living being. Hunters were suitable targets for consuming Satin’s demonic energy.
He would lure the hunters with delicious food. He would infuse Satin’s demonic energy into the food. By having the hunters eat it, he would deplete Satin’s demonic energy. It wouldn’t be dangerous.
Weren’t they hunters who lived by fighting monsters in dungeons?
It was a simple attempt, and the result was surprising. He had tried it, trusting the hunters’ stamina, but an unexpected situation unfolded. Satin’s demonic energy worked differently on them.
Thanks to that, he had been able to calm Satin’s demonic energy without worry for the past ten years. It was a great achievement to have come this far. Satin was young. It wouldn’t be strange if her interests shifted elsewhere.
“I’m not going to cook anymore.”
“Why? Are you bored of it now?”
He had to find a way to consume Satin’s demonic energy, and fast. Satin was rubbing the bed with her finger. Was it a picture? Or was she writing something?
“It’s fun.”
Fun? So she wasn’t bored?
“Then why didn’t you cook? The customers are all hungry and making a fuss.”
“Why do you only talk to my sister?”
Audrey’s words came back to him.
‘She must have been upset that you were only talking to me.’
Was it true? Was that why she was acting like this?
“I talked to your sister? What do you mean?”
“You did earlier. When you were talking in your head, you only talked to my sister and didn’t even call me.”
“That? That wasn’t talking, it was an order.”
“An order? What’s that?”
“An order from a boss to an employee. That’s not a conversation. How can an order be a conversation?”
“An employee?”
“Right. Audrey is an employee, so I give her orders to get work done.”
“What about me?”
You? Satin’s eyes sparkled. Mixed with tears, they were bluer and more transparent. He had seen that color at some beach.
“You’re family.”
Satin’s lips parted. She bit her lower lip slightly.
“I’m family? And my sister is an employee?”
“Of course. You didn’t know? I’m so disappointed.”
“Are the customers still in the restaurant?”
“Yes. They’re probably eating the food Audrey made.”
“No!”
“What?”
“Satin will cook for them!”
Satin ran down the stairs with a clatter. Demonic energy flowed from behind her fluttering hair. Her demonic energy was getting stronger and stronger. Gyeol watched her back for a long time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The restaurant was turned upside down.
“Oh! What’s going on!”
“Satin’s back!”
Old man Hans spread his arms.
“Welcome, princess.”
“Get out of the way, I’m busy.”
Satin pushed him aside and went into the kitchen. The customers pushed aside their bowls and looked at her.
“It was worth the wait.”
“We can eat Satin’s food today.”
“My bones were aching, so I thought I was done for today. Now I don’t have to worry.”
Audrey smiled and put her arm around Satin’s shoulder. “Good girl, our Satin.”
“Sister. Do you know what?”
“What?”
Satin looked at Audrey as she washed the rice. Her expression was much more relaxed.
“He likes you a little.”
“Really? I didn’t know.”
“But he likes me much, much more!”
Audrey burst out laughing. “That’s great! How did you know?”
“I’m family, right? And you’re an employee. That’s not right, is it? If you live together, you’re all family.”
“Did he say that?”
“Yes! He said that because he likes me more.”
“You’re right. He really does like our Satin more.”
“But I hope he talks to me next time too. I was sad because he was only talking to you.”
“Alright. I’ll tell him too.”
Satin quietly hugged Audrey.
“I’m glad you’re a good person.”
Audrey also thought as she stroked Satin’s hair. Right. I’m glad too. Because you’re a good child. And because Gyeol is a good person.
Bang, the restaurant door opened. It was Kim Jang-han, a regular employee of the Hunter Management Agency.
“Is the boss here?”
Audrey looked at him in surprise. “Yes, he is. What happened with the report earlier?”
“It’s about that. I’d like to see the boss. I need help!”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Gyeol was lying on the bed, leaning against it. It had been a few days since he had sent Satin to Audrey’s room. But she still came into this room from time to time.
It wouldn’t be easy to be separated, since they had been together since she was young. But he had to get her used to it, little by little. Before it was too late. He heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Audrey rushed up.
“The people you caught in the dungeon, their bodies have changed.”
“How?”
“Their bodies turned black and hardened, but they’re not dead. The Hunter Management Agency is looking for you urgently.”
Someone shouted from the first floor.
“Please help us! Hunter! The concentration of black mana has become seriously high!”
Black mana. People still didn’t know its real name. A name that shouldn’t be here. Gyeol got up and went down the stairs. A man in a suit greeted him.
“I’m Kim Jang-han of the Hunter Management Agency.”
It was a face he had been seeing every day lately. He had thought he was a newly Awakened hunter, but he was a public official.
“Black mana has been detected in the bodies of the gang arrested at the Mapo Dungeon. And its concentration is at a serious level.”
Satin was in the kitchen. “Let’s talk outside.”
He took Kim Jang-han outside the restaurant.
“How high is the concentration?”
“If it were ordinary mana, their bodies wouldn’t have been able to handle it and would have melted. They’re all from the Hwanryong Guild. It’s classified as a new religion internally.”
“And?”
“This is confidential information, but it seems that within the Hwanryong Guild, black mana is called demonic energy.”
Were these guys really crazy? He had just passed the 10-year mark of the Demon King’s advent, and now humans were looking for him themselves?
“I know you’re very interested in dimensional rifts. The Hwanryong Guild’s objective is to open a portal to the Demon World.”
The gate to the Demon World wasn’t something that could be opened from this side. So he had left them alone, but it was getting troublesome. He couldn’t let the connection to the Demon World grow. Kim Jang-han’s face was grim.
“Our information on the demonic energy they’re talking about is weak. Could you help us? It was detected in the bodies of the Mapo Dungeon gang, and the concentration is very serious.”
“Their bodies changed?”
“That’s right. They turned black and hard like charcoal, but they’re still breathing.”
“All seven of them?”
“Only one is fine. He’s been isolated.”
“We need to find their headquarters.”
“The agency is also tracking them. It would be great if you could go and check on their condition with us. Please.”
“Why are you asking me specifically? There are many high-ranking hunters in the government.”
“The food.”
“The food?”
Kim Jang-han’s eyes shone calmly.
“The food is sincere. When I eat at your restaurant, I feel reassured. I believe in that feeling.”
“Satin is the one who cooks.”
“You manage the restaurant. Everything is under your control, isn’t it?”
Kim Jang-han. Despite his shabby appearance, he had clear eyes. Many people’s personalities changed after Awakening. It was getting harder to find an Awakened whose heart he could see into. He needed a party to close the Sahara Gate.
Now that he had stopped the Demon King’s advent, this was his chance. He had to hurry up and gather suitable people to form a party.
“Will you go?”
“I will.”
“Thank you!”
Gyeol got into Kim Jang-han’s jeep. The car sped up and headed towards the Hunter Management Agency in Yangjae-dong, Seoul.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The director of the Hunter Management Agency, Hwang Do-ik, had a headache. The only survivor whose body hadn’t changed seemed to be unintelligent.
“Are you a fool?”
“I studied well.”
An investigator slapped the back of the man with the tiger tattoo’s head.
“Answer properly. The director is asking.”
“I did answer properly. I have a four-year degree.”
“You little bastard… That’s not what I’m talking about. You passed the test and were appointed as a priest, but you don’t even know what your organization does? Does that make sense?”
“I heard it was a dark organization that implements justice! A secret priestly order that saves humanity from destruction. Isn’t it cool?”
“You implement justice by capturing people and offering them on an altar?”
“I really didn’t know that. I was taught that we weren’t offering them on an altar, but that we were receiving the Demon King’s gift in advance.”
“That’s strange from the beginning. You’re going to save humanity, but you’re receiving gifts from the Demon King!”
“That’s all a misunderstanding. The Demon King is the creator of the universe, and a being who cherishes and loves humanity.”
The investigator looked at the director. “This bastard is a fool.”
Director Hwang Do-ik looked up at the ceiling. The only survivor who could provide information on the Hwanryong Guild was an idiot.
He gestured for the investigator to step back and sat in front of the man with the tiger tattoo.
“What’s your name?”
“Ho Tae-bong?”
“Is that your real name?”
“It is?”
This bastard.
“Why do you keep raising the end of your sentences?”
“Because I’m in a bad mood. Why do you keep suspecting me even when I tell you the truth?”
The investigator behind him slapped the back of his head. He had misjudged his strength, and the blow was too strong. Ho Tae-bong, who had been holding it in, suddenly boiled over.
“Why do you keep hitting my head?”
Ho Tae-bong stood up and swung his arms, and the chains of the handcuffs broke. Director Hwang Do-ik kicked the table, sending him into the wall.
Ho Tae-bong nimbly bounced up and took a Taekwondo basic stance, the lower block.
“Even if you’re from the government, I won’t stand for it if you keep doing this.”
The investigator who had been watching burst out laughing.
“Director. Let’s stop. The more I look at him, the more he seems to be without malice.”
Director Hwang Do-ik bit his lower lip and looked at Ho Tae-bong’s face. I’ve seen this guy somewhere before.
“Sit.”
“You won’t hit me?”
“I won’t.”
“Then I’ll sit.”
“Sit down.”
Ho Tae-bong glanced at the investigator and slowly pulled up a chair and sat down. Director Hwang Do-ik tapped the table with his fingers.
“You know me, don’t you?”
“……”
Ho Tae-bong’s eyes wavered.
“Speak. It’s okay.”
“I can’t say.”
“I’ll take responsibility. Speak.”
“……My teacher told me not to say anything?”
Look at this bastard. Director Hwang Do-ik raised the corners of his lips and looked at Ho Tae-bong’s face.
