SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon-SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon — Special Side Story 6

Translated by cabinfourtranslations.

[Chatting] Finally found it lol (1)Upvotes: 34 / Downvotes: 0

Writer: SugarLick

(Photo)

Saw that cat in a dungeon today lol

I even got a pic v

— ddd***: Wow, awesome

It was a pretty ordinary chatter post with lots of upvotes, but only a single comment.

Attached was a badly shaken photo of a cat…….

“…Hmm?”

The pattern of the fur looked far too familiar.

That perfectly balanced calico coloring. Doesn’t it look a bit… like our cat?

Then

“Meowwww…….”

Through the crack of the open door, Mieum slowly poked her head in. She strolled over like nothing was wrong and plopped down onto the cushion.

“Mieum, where have you been?”

“I just went for a short walk, waeoong…….”

A walk? When she never even leaves the TV’s side?

“More importantly, I’m hungry! Feed me, waeolg!”

“Geez, okay. I got it.”

I generously poured cereal into Mieum’s bowl and even added some snacks. But in no time, she wiped out both the food and the treats, then pushed the bowl forward with her front paw.

“Give me another bowl, waeolgh.”

Our cat does have a big appetite, sure, but eating all that and still wanting more?

“You’re eating a lot today?”

“Waeooong …… I exercised, so I’m hungry.”

Exercise. Now that I thought about it, Mieum did look a bit thinner than usual … or maybe not…….

Anyway, I refilled the bowl, and Mieum ate happily, making soft chomp chomp sounds.

‘…Hmmm.’

I looked back and forth between the photo on the Hunter Channel and Mieum.

Eh, no way…….

Right?

It’s not you … right, Mieum-ah?

***

“Thank you so much for taking the time to come today.”

“Oh, it’s no big deal. Of course I should help.”

“Sniff If……. I don’t get that, who knows what she’ll say to me…….”

“Cheer up. I’m sure you’ll win.”

This place was the International Hunter Hall in Sangam-dong. Normally, it hosted forums or meetings organized by the Dungeon Management Office, but today the atmosphere felt completely different. There were almost as many civilians as hunters, and family groups stood out in particular.

The signboard, lavishly decorated with flowers, read: ‘The 1st Cosmic Transformation! Magical Hunter Karin Fan Event’.

That’s right. I was currently at an event for the recently super-popular children’s tokusatsu drama Karin.

Thanks to its popularity, a flood of merchandise designed to tempt kids had been released, to the point where parents had started calling it Bankrup-rin.

The reason I, someone who wasn’t even a Karin fan, was here was simple. It was a favor from Han Yiseong, the deputy guild leader of the Cheongna Guild.

His daughter’s birthday was coming up soon, and apparently she desperately wanted the Miracle Cosmic Power Transformation Stick, Aurora Version, which was being sold in limited quantities through a raffle at today’s event.

One raffle ticket per person. If you didn’t win, you couldn’t buy it no matter how much money you had.

“But does it really have to be the Aurora version? They still have the regular version in stock.”

“It has to be Aurora. She said if I don’t get it, she won’t give me a kiss on the cheek every morning anymore.”

“I … see. Hang in there.”

Back in my day, it was magical girls. Kids these days like transforming magical hunters, huh.

Anyway, I’d received a lot of help from Han Yiseong in the past. This wasn’t exactly a difficult request, so I agreed to help with the merch raffle.

Standing around me, each holding a raffle ticket, were the twins Joo Shinwoo and Joo Shinhee, Ash, and several others from the Cheongna Guild. Everyone had come at Han Yiseong’s request.

‘I hope his daughter realizes how hard her dad’s trying…….’

Originally, Ki Yoohyun was supposed to come too, but something urgent came up, so he was running late. He said he’d arrive before the raffle drawing, so I’d probably see him soon.

“There are more hunters here than I expected.”

Apparently, all the main cast of Karin were active-duty hunters. Maybe because of that, roughly a third of the people here looked like hunters at a glance.

There were plenty of familiar faces, but one person stood out in particular…….

“Mm-hmm, so you’ve arrived ……. How are things looking…….?”

Ju Noeul, who’d been busily walking around the venue, spotted me and came over.

“…Noeul-ssi! Hello. You’re incredibly popular today.”

The Royal Guild, which Ju Noeul headed, was also Karin’s main sponsor.

I’d heard they’d made quite a profit thanks to Karin’s massive success recently. Maybe that’s why Ju Noeul looked so incredibly giddy.

“They’re going into production for season two soon ……. Season two will be broadcast simultaneously in 36 countries worldwide…….”

“Ah, is the audition for the new character happening today as well?”

“That’s right. The participants are quite impressive…….”

I heard they were holding an open audition to cast Karin’s new sidekick for Season 2. The audition prize was an artifact sponsored by the Cheongna Guild, and it was apparently rare enough that the Hunter Channel had been buzzing about it for a while.

Ki Yoohyun, on the other hand, had brushed it off, saying it was just something he found gathering dust in the warehouse.

“Ahem, ahem! It’s been a while.”

“I see Hunter Han Yiseong is here too…….”

“Ahem! Hunter Ju Noeul, since we provided the prize and all, couldn’t you maybe set aside just one Aurora version stick for us?”

“That won’t do. The raffle will be conducted fairly.”

Ju Noeul flatly rejected Han Yiseong’s request.

“Ghhk…….”

What a pitiful sight, a father’s retreating back.

The merch raffle would take place after the audition. With nothing else to do, I decided to watch the audition while I was here.

I found a seat with a good view of the stage, and a thought naturally crossed my mind.

‘I wanted to bring Mieum along too’

Han Yiseong had given me plenty of tickets, and since Mieum had been watching Karin diligently lately, I thought she’d enjoy it.

But she’d been gone since morning, nowhere to be seen.

I suppose cats have their own social lives to lead.

But she’d been going out a lot more lately, and she hadn’t been pestering me to play with her either. It made me feel a little lonely.

‘She’s not actually going into dungeons, right?’

The shaky cat photo I’d seen on the Hunter Channel kept bothering me.

Just as I was deciding to grab Mieum later and interrogate her about where she’d been running off to.

“It’s starting……”

Fwah—!

The lights in the hall went out all at once, and the stage lights came on.

“Hello! I’m your host for today, MC Choi Sera!”

The MC came out and cracked a few well-timed jokes to liven up the mood before announcing the start of the audition.

The format was simple: contestants came up one by one, performed a set acting scene, then defeated a VR monster that appeared on stage.

Scoring was split evenly between the judges’ panel and votes from the child audience members.

At first, I watched with my heart pounding, but I soon got bored.

Most of them weren’t professional actors, so their acting was fairly monotonous. Some contestants got so focused on defeating the VR monster that they forgot to act at all.

“At this rate, it’ll be hard to choose a winner…….”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

Just as I was thinking of killing time at the merch shop until the raffle.

“Next contestant … Miss Choi Rona. Please come up to the stage!”

A familiar name was called.

As a girl with fluttering silver hair floated up onto the stage, the children in the front rows erupted into cheers.

A gentle breeze blew from somewhere, and snowflakes danced in the air.

“Ultimate Move! Cosmic Power Ice Storm—!”

Fwaaa—!

At her gesture, an icy tempest raged, and the VR monster fell to the ground in an instant.

Lastly, she performed a buoyant two-and-a-half-turn, added a final spin for good measure, and finished with a flawless, graceful landing.

It was perfect.

“Choi Rona, fighting!”

“W-wait! Oppa? I told you not to come!”

“Our Rona was clearly the best, so isn’t there no need to watch the rest? Just pick Rona and wrap it up!”

“I-I don’t know who that is, so please escort him out quickly.”

“…Let go of me! Rona-ya!”

There was a small incident where someone caused a scene and got dragged out, but regardless, she was clearly the most well-received candidate so far.

“Looks like it’ll be Rona.”

“Probably so…….”

But the audition wasn’t over yet.

“Wow, the atmosphere’s really heating up! However, we still have our final participant. The last contestant, Jijon! Please come up to the stage!”

Huh? Jijon?

Surprised by a name I hadn’t heard in a long time, I looked up.

Sure enough, that Jijon was standing on the stage.

I never expected to run into him again in a place like this. And right after Choi Rona, no less. Would he be able to pull it off?

“And we have one more person … correction, one more animal? Ah, they’ve requested anonymity. Please welcome Anonymous Cat-nim to the stage.”

“Huh?”

No, wait … Hold on?

I stared, eyes wide, at the chubby cat waddling up onto the stage.

That pattern, that plumpness, that smug expression … there was no way I could be mistaken.

“Waeooolgh.”

And that weird cry too…….

“…Mieum-ah?”

“Alright, our last contestant, please give us a few words about your resolve.”

“I’ll do my very best to stand proudly beside Hyerin-ssi, no, I mean, Karin!”

“Thank you. And now, let’s hear a word from your partner as well.”

“Waeolgh.”

Mieum-ah ……. what are you doing up there?

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

Translator’s Corner:

I’m back…..

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