A gloomy expression settled on my face as I stared at the remains of the building.
I had just opened today. So why... why did my café have to disappear like this?
A shaky breath left my lips as I crouched down, picking through the debris. My hands trembled slightly as I gathered what I could, my thermal coffee tumbler, my wallet... things that felt far too small compared to what I'd lost.
How could this happen...?
My stats said I had high luck. Does this look like luck to you? Maybe the system made a mistake. Maybe it was supposed to be negative instead.
"Elena... we're really sorry about your building." Chiyeon let out a long sigh.
"Where is your home? We'll take you there first and handle this mess," she said, already pulling out her phone.
I let out another quiet sigh, my shoulders slumping.
"...This was my home."
At that answer, silence followed.
I hadn't planned for anything like this. I just thought it would be easier and cheaper, to live and work in the same place. A small café, a small life. That was enough for me.
Wake up, open the cafe, make coffee.
Maybe visit other cafés on my days off, figure out how they brewed their drinks, watch a few dramas when I had time.
That was it. That was all I wanted.
"...Stupid system," I muttered under my breath.
Who would force a weak healer like me into a fight against a monster like that, where even the strongest hunter in the world is struggling? How am I supposed to contribute anything here?
I wasn't even contributing anything at all, I was just standing there while these top rankers fought for their lives.
I didn't bother checking the rewards. I already knew it would just give me a headache.
The blue screens kept flickering at the edge of my vision, but I ignored all of them.
Whether it was the system or the constellations, I was too exhausted to care right now. All I could think about was the money and time I spent and wasted.
"Don't worry, Elena noona. Chiyeon noona already has accommodations ready for you!"
I looked up at the girls, then over at Jinhyuk, who was standing off to the side as if waiting for his turn to speak.
He probably has a lot of questions, so let's address the most important one.
"You can keep the sword," I told him. "It's not something I need."
"Where did you get it?" he asked, arms crossed.
I was too exhausted to come up with a proper explanation, so I just muttered, "The storage room. Anyway... I'll take you up on the offer, Chiyeon-ssi."
Honestly, I needed a break. Who could stay sane after seeing their café reduced to rubble like this? It looked less like a store and more like a battlefield—no, a hunting ground.
"Yena."
The way Jinhyuk said my name made me pause. For a moment, the exhaustion slipped away.
Did he even realize the effect he had on me when he said it like that?
How could someone so unfairly handsome say my name so gently?
"I'll build you a new café," he said. "So just rest for now."
I blinked, caught off guard. I was about to ask why, why he would do something like that, but Jiyeon cut in before I could.
She came rushing toward us, slightly out of breath, as if she'd run the whole way here. Wasn't she extremely busy preparing for the auction?
"Hey, who do you think you are? We're the ones who are going to rebuild her café."
Looks like Chiyeon had already filled her in.
Jinhyuk barely reacted. "I've already assigned people. It's your fault for being too late."
Jiyeon's expression darkened, and she looked ready to attack, but Chiyeon and Hyein quickly stepped in to stop her.
"How could someone like you even know anything about cafés? Just leave!" Jiyeon snapped.
I let out a sigh and pressed a hand to my head.
Are these two sworn enemies or something...? Why are they always arguing?
"It's okay, Jiyeon-ssi. You've already done enough for me," I said gently. Then I glanced at him. "And Hyuk-ah, you don't have to do that either. I'll figure it out."
Jinhyuk gave me a strange look before nodding and turning away.
Jiyeon, on the other hand, stayed quiet with a pouty face, even as we got into the car.
Was something wrong with her?
Something definitely felt off. I could sense it the entire ride to the hotel they had arranged for me.
She didn't say a word until we arrived.
"By the way," she suddenly spoke up, "why do you still talk to me so formally?"
"What?"
She glanced at me, her expression softer than I expected.
"I feel a little sad, seeing how close you are with Han Jinhyuk," she admitted. "What about us?"
From the front seat, Chiyeon gave a small, silent nod, as if he agreed.
"Uhm.. Then," I said after a brief pause. "Jiyeon?"
Saying her name like that felt unfamiliar. She was older than me after all, dropping the formality didn't come naturally.
But still...
She smiled.
"Good," she said. "Now get some rest."
I nodded as Jiyeon and the other two siblings headed off in different directions.
Don't tell me... was it really the way I addressed her that bothered her?
A small chuckle slipped out as I watched them disappear.
Since Jiyeon rushed all the way here, she must still be buried in work.
I felt a little guilty.
But at the same time... a strange sense of relief settled in my chest. No one had ever fussed over me like that before.
Not when I was younger, at least—
...Huh?
I frowned slightly.
Come to think of it, I couldn't remember much about my childhood.
Was it just because I was tired?
No... it's normal not to remember everything, right?
Still...
Something about it felt off.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Today had been more overwhelming than I thought.