SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon-SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon — Special Side Story 4

Translated by cabinfourtranslations.

“Waeooolgh!”

Another weekend morning.

Just after the long-awaited live broadcast of ‘Cosmic Transformation! Magic Hunter Karin’ ended.

Mieum let out a sharp scream while staring at the screen of a tablet PC (borrowed from Rieul).

The reason was simple……

She had just seen the notice stating that cats, other animals, and monsters would not be allowed to enter the upcoming ‘Karin’ fan event.

“Waeooong! What kind of law is that?!”

What kind of cat is she?

Isn’t she the cat who protected the secret of Transformation Magic Hunter Karin and received a true token of friendship in return?!

She was a more passionate fan of ‘Cosmic Transformation! Magic Hunter Karin’ than anyone else, yet she couldn’t go just because she was a cat? How unfair was that?

To make matters worse, in today’s episode Dios appeared in a brand-new outfit.

A new outfit! A new costume!

From the changed colors and design, fans had already begun theorizing. This was a sign. Dios would soon return to the side of justice!

At such a crucial moment, not being able to see Dios just because she was a cat.

Was a cat really supposed to live with this kind of injustice?!

“Waeoong …… I can’t just back down like this.”

Mieum rummaged under a cushion and pulled out the token of friendship she had received from Karin. Hanging it around her neck, she sprang to her feet.

“I’m going to protest and demand that they let cats into the fan event too, meow!”

Mieum poked her head outside and checked the situation again.

Today, that kid Kim Ash had come to the cafe. Even though he’d shown up, he’d been fidgeting restlessly for a while now, like he had something he really wanted to say.

“That’s it, waeooong!”

She spotted a sheet of paper hidden behind Ash’s back.

On the white, square paper, the words ‘100 points’ were written in big letters. It looked like a recent test score report.

Mieum barely managed to suppress her instinctive urge to pounce on the fluttering paper.

Right now, she had more important business than playing with paper.

“Ash, what’s wrong? You got something to say?”

“This … I-I’m not trying to brag or anything … just because!!”

The moment Rieul tilted his head and reached out to take Ash’s report card,

Now’s the time.

Dash!

And so, once again today, Mieum bravely set off into the outside world.

***

The second one was easier than the first.

“Kitty, you can’t go in there!”

“…Nnyaa!”

“Huh? I swear there was a cat here just now … huh?”

After slipping onto the subway while dodging the station staff’s eyes, she even managed her transfer with practiced ease.

“This much is nothing, waeolgh!”

Filled with pride, she emerged from the exit at Digital Media City Station,

“H-Huh? Isn’t this Cat-nim!”

She ran into Jijon again.

The Jijon she met after a week was exactly the same as ever; that is to say, he still dressed in peacock-like flashy clothes and holding a pink rod (Karin’s Miracle Cosmic Power Transformation Stick ver.3, reissue edition, retail price 82,300 won).

“It’s been a while, waeogh.”

“What brings you out today? Are you going to buy merch again?”

“No, waeoooolgh! This is no time for that!”

“Huh? Did something happen?!” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He was clumsy in many ways, but at least he treated cats with proper respect, which Mieum found likable.

In a much better mood, Mieum explained her plan to Jijon.

She was going to the pop-up store to protest the ban on cats at the fan event. She was even ready to stage a sit-in if necessary.

But after hearing the whole plan, Jijon suddenly planted his hands on his hips and burst out laughing.

“Bwahahaha! So that’s what happened!”

“Human, are you laughing right now! Kyagyaok!”

Powpow!

A heavy meow punch landed squarely in Jijon’s stomach. Collapsing to the ground, Jijon spoke with a pained look on his face.

“Urgh … your punches are still brutal as ever … ahem. Anyway, Cat-nim, you can just trust this Jijon.”

With that, he pulled a folded sheet of paper from his clothes. On it were the words: ‘Audition Round 1 Preliminary Results’.

“Muhahaha! I, I passed the audition prelims!”

“Hooo, that’s unexpected. Waeooong…….”

Honestly, she had assumed he’d fail.

Mieum, who couldn’t care less about Jijon’s audition results, sat there in a perfect loaf position1 and let out a long meow. But then.

“This is all thanks to Cat-nim’s special training! So I’ll invite you, Cat-nim!”

“Waeooong? Invite me?”

“Each finalist gets one invite to give away. With that, even a cat should be allowed in.”

“U-Nnyaa…….”

That meant … the legendary invited ticket she’d only ever heard about?

“Then, by any chance, the waiting room too……? Waeoong…….”

“Of course! If it’s Cat-nim, you’re welcome anytime!”

“Unyaaa…….”

That meant she might go to the dressing room and accidentally run into Dios!

Sure, she loved Dios most when he appeared impeccably dressed in ‘Cosmic Transformation! Magic Hunter Karin’, but casual-clothes Dios, relaxing offstage, was also an unmissable sight for any true fan.

What’s more, sitting on Dios’s lap, being petted, or playing one-on-one hunting games with him was no longer just a dream.

“…U-unyaaa.”

At the rainbow-tinted fantasy of Dios in casual clothes holding a fishing rod and playing with her, Mieum’s mouth went slack.

“But……”

But then, Jijon’s gloomy muttering shattered the rainbow-tinted fantasy. Mieum wiped the drool from her paw and asked,

“W-What is it?”

“To be honest, I don’t feel confident about the finals ……. I wonder if someone like me can really make it…….”

“Waeolgh! Human, you are my direct disciple, personally trained in the Ultimate Cosmic Power. Have confidence!”

Worried that a discouraged Jijon might drop out of the finals and take her invited ticket down with him, she did her absolute best to cheer him up, but.

“The thing is, there’s a really tough rival in this Karin audition.”

“A rival? Waeolgh.”

“Someone you probably know too, Cat-nim. Her name is Choi Rona…….”

“Waeoooong … That white-haired human?”

Choi Rona was the only younger sibling of S-Class Hunter Choi Cedric and a student at the Hunter Academy. On top of that, she happens to be a silver-haired beauty with mysterious powers.

‘Her personality’s a bit odd, though, waeooong…….’

Of all people, his rival is that white-haired human.

‘Cosmic Transformation! Magic Hunter Karin’ was a children’s show. And kids tended to prefer flashy, pretty things.

A mystical girl floating gracefully in midair with flowing silver hair versus a male Hunter in his early thirties who’s basically just a guy in a flashy peacock outfit.

Obviously, the former had the advantage.

“She’s not an easy opponent, waeolgh.”

Thud.

At Mieum’s firm statement, Jijon dropped to his knees. He grabbed her chubby little paws and began to plead pitifully.

“Cat-nim! Please, teach me!”

At that moment, something glinted on Jijon’s chest. Looking closer, Mieum saw he’d laminated and kept Hyerin’s autograph he’d previously received.

“…You’re really doing the most, human, waeolgh.”

“T-Truth is, this Jijon fell in love with Hyerin-ssi at first sight that day! I want to become a Jijon who can stand proudly by her side!”

“Waeoooong…….”

Instead of giving a quick answer, Mieum fell into deep thought.

Whether a human fell in love at first sight or not was none of a cat’s concern.

“For the finals, I have to submit a video of myself in actual combat in a dungeon. Please, film it with me!”

“Waeoooong…….”

She wanted that waiting-room access that comes with the invited ticket, but dungeon filming sounded like a pain.

Besides, Rieul had said today’s afternoon snack would be homemade seed hotteok2. This didn’t quite seem worth sacrificing snacks for…….

Seeing Mieum’s hesitation, Jijon grew even more desperate.

“Cat-nim, our combo attack back then worked really well, didn’t it?”

“Waeolg. Well, that’s true.”

“And it’s basically a rule that every Transformation Magic Hunter needs a cute and adorable mascot by their side.”

“M-Mascot? Waeooong…….”

For reference, Karin had a small, adorable baby Cerberus by her side.

Mieum loved Karin, but the rise of the dog faction because of it had always rubbed her the wrong way.

“A cute, adorable Cat-nim would make the perfect mascot!”

She was tempted.

Mieum was an undeniably introverted, homebody cat.

But she was also, secretly, a cat who craved attention.

She’d even appeared in a drama once, but all of that had become past glory after it ended…….

Maybe this was her chance.

A chance to assert the power of the cat faction, gain fame, and become a celebrity cat filming collaboration challenges with Dios!

“Wa, waeooong. Just this once. Lead the way.”

“Bwahaha! As expected of Cat-nim! Just leave it to me!”

***

“…Hmm?”

A long-awaited day off at Cafe Rieul.

While taking care of the cleaning I’d been putting off,

I discovered an unexpected item beneath the cushion Mieum always sat on.

“This is……?”

If you enjoy this translation, you can treat me to a cup of coffee through https://buymeacoffee.com/cabinfour ♡

Translator’s Corner:

It refers to a cat sitting with its paws tucked neatly under its body, resembling a loaf of bread. ↵︎씨앗 호떡 (Seed Hotteok) is a combination of various kinds of grain seeds such as peanuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and walnuts inside hotteok. Hotteok itself is a type of filled pancake known as a popular street food in South Korea. ↵︎

So who’s here already read the manhwa? I’m still preparing my heart for every minor details change…..

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