A small café, with just a few folding tables and four chairs set up outside.

Every table was full, and a line stretched from inside the shop all the way out to the street.

Curiously, despite the kiosk being available, everyone insisted on ordering at the counter.

When I edged closer to take a peek inside, I saw why.

“Here’s your drink~ Please enjoy it~~.”

That drawn-out tone.

Dark navy curls tumbling all the way down her back.

And a chest so… formidable, it was impossible to ignore.

Bella Ball from Ucheon Academy was busy working behind the counter.

Most of the male customers accepted their drinks with dopey, smitten looks plastered across their faces.

Even showing up late, it’s still this crowded. Talking to her is going to take a while.

With no choice, I waited on the side for thirty minutes.

Finally, the café closed.

The customers who had still been waiting looked reluctant, sneaking glances at Bella before giving up and walking away.

I waited until the crowd dispersed completely, then stepped inside.

“Huh?”

Bella froze mid-cleanup, eyes wide as she stared at me.

“Nam Yein!?”

“Hey.”

I lifted my hand in a casual wave.

She lit up with a bright smile and hurried over, giving me a quick once-over.

“Doesn’t look like you’re hurt anywhere~~.”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“But is it really okay for you to be out and about like this~~?”

“Forward has bigger problems than worrying about me right now.”

“Ahhh, I guess that’s true~~.”

“What’s going on? Who came?”

From the back, Lee Sohyang appeared. The moment she saw me, her eyes widened.

“Oh? Isn’t that Nam Yein.”

“Hello, Sister.”

“The question is whether you’re okay. Don’t just stand there—come inside.”

She stepped past me to scan the street outside, then briskly pulled down the shutter.

“You don’t need to worry that much. Forward won’t be sending anyone here.”

“There’s always a chance.”

Her paranoia made sense. She herself was still in hiding.

If anyone recognized her unchanged face, her cover would be blown instantly.

“So. What happened?” Sohyang looked at me sharply.

“This collapse of Forward… you’re the one pulling strings behind it, aren’t you?”

“Eh? Really~~?” Bella tilted her head, blinking at me.

“Why do you think that?”

“Ever since you exposed Black Hound on TBC, Forward’s downfall has snowballed. The Black Hound leader was arrested, new mana stone tech was announced, Gwangcheon’s corruption was exposed, and their hellish research came to light.”

“That’s just their karma catching up.”

“Don’t give me that.” Sohyang scowled.

“The reason the mayor tolerated Forward this long was because he had no leverage. You’re the one who handed him that leverage.”

“Nam Yein~~?”

“I’ve also heard rumors that the mysterious Craftsman signed a contract with All Around to provide gear. That’s you too, isn’t it?”

Ohh.

She’d sharpened her instincts to survive.

Honestly, someone like her belonged in the Peacekeeping Force more than behind a café counter.

Though maybe it was just her age and experience speaking.

Not that I’d say that out loud—she’d probably bite my head off.

“If that’s true, Sister, then you owe me one.”

“What?”

“I dismantled a threat to your safety. That makes you indebted.”

“…”

Her lips twitched, while Bella just looked back and forth between us, still utterly lost.

“…Hmph. Your mouth could keep swimming even after being cut off. So why are you here? Surely not just to say hi.”

“Of course to say hi. And also, I had something to tell Bella.”

“Me~~?” Bella pointed at her own face.

“Hmph. Then sit. If I owe you, I can at least make you a drink.”

“That’s cheap repayment, don’t you think?”

“Shut up and drink.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I obediently sat down. No point provoking her further.

She’d already nailed it—I hadn’t come just to greet them.

“Bella.”

“Yes~~.”

I gestured to the chair across from me. She sat and looked at me expectantly.

“I heard from Rio that you declined joining the group.”

“Ahhh. That’s why you came~~?”

I nodded.

“Because of the café?”

“That’s right~~. I couldn’t come to Master’s shop for almost two weeks because of HAUT, so now there’s no time for anything else~~.”

“Not even on weekends?”

“It’s busier on weekends~~. I have to help from morning till night~~.”

Hmm… tricky.

It was my idea for her to learn potion work here.

What now…?

I could cut her out as a combat member.

After all, Eleanor was also a companion character but wasn’t included in the group.

I liked her, but she wasn’t much use in battle.

But Bella… leaving her out meant losing a skilled supporter.

And in the fight against Latessai, healers and support-types were precious.

“A group?”

I turned. Sohyang was standing there with a tray of three drinks.

She set it down, pulled over a chair, and sat.

“I’m putting together a group,” I said. “Mainly HAUT participants, with the goal of training and pushing each other’s skills.”

“Pushing each other’s skills? From what I saw at HAUT, your team and the others were worlds apart. Sounds one-sided to me.”

“Teaching is learning too.”

“Hmph. Cocky, aren’t you?”

“It’s not wrong though, is it?”

I glanced at Bella.

Sohyang snorted again.

“But Bella says she’s too busy here to join.”

“Oh, it’s not Master’s fault at all~~!” Bella blurted.

“I just love learning potion-making more~~. My time with Master is more precious than anything~~.”

“…I see.”

Hooh.

I caught Sohyang’s lips twitch upward, just for a moment.

Bella’s mind was set.

A potion addict like her wouldn’t listen to persuasion.

Which meant—she wasn’t the target.

“What do you think, Sister?”

“Me?” Her eyes widened slightly.

“I don’t think Bella should be buried in potion-making just yet.”

“What do you mean by that~~?”

Bella blinked, wide-eyed, as if she’d just heard something unthinkable.

“I mean that to truly master potions, you need more than just knowledge—you need real field experience. Let me give you an example.”

I pulled a vial of potion from my inventory.

“A petrification cure potion~~,” Bella said immediately.

“Right. The same basic potion sold by most alchemists. But this one has a flaw. Can you tell what it is?”

“A flaw…?”

She tilted her head from side to side, clearly stumped.

“May I take a closer look~~?”

“Go ahead.”

She held the vial up to the light, gave it a little shake, then uncorked it and sniffed. Finally, she even took a small sip.

“Ugh…”

Bella scrunched up her face. She thought long and hard before sighing.

“I don’t get it~~. This is just an ordinary petrification cure potion. There’s no flaw~~.”

I glanced at her pouting lips, then turned my eyes elsewhere.

“What do you think, Sister?”

“…”

Lee Sohyang had been watching with arms crossed. Bella, who had been focused only on the potion, finally noticed her master’s stern gaze and hunched her shoulders.

“He’s right,” Sohyang said, looking at me.

“Bella needs field experience.”

“Master??” Bella shot to her feet in shock.

“Bella. Join Nam Yein’s group.”

“….”

Her lips trembled as though she wanted to argue, but in the end, she bit down on them. Frustration filled her face.

“Then tell me~~,” she said, glaring at me.

“What exactly is the flaw in this potion?”

“It’s simple.” I pointed to the vial.

“The flaw is that it’s in a bottle at all.”

“Eh?? What’s that supposed to mean~~?”

“How do you use a potion?”

“Well, you drink it, or pour it, or…”

“And what if someone’s arms have already turned to stone?”

“What??”

“And what if all their companions are petrified too? Think. How would the potion be used then?”

Bella froze.

Sohyang spoke up.

“Experienced hunters know that if there’s a monster capable of petrification, you don’t keep the potion tucked away in your inventory. You hang it from your belt or slip it into your inner pocket. That way, if your hands become useless, you can throw yourself down and smash the vial to trigger it. You always act with a partner, but in a fight against monsters, anything can happen.”

“….”

Bella still looked stricken.

“Brewing safe and effective potions is important, but knowing the situations they’ll be used in is just as critical. Bella, you’re still young. Still only a trainee. This is your time to gain experience. So go join the group.”

“Master…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve always run this café on my own. And I’ll still be here, waiting. There’s so much I haven’t taught you yet.”

“…Alright~~. I’ll do as you say.”

“That’s better.” Sohyang smiled.

“What are you looking at me like that for?”

“It’s nothing. Just… I’ve never seen you smile like that before.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Just drink.”

Her tone was brusque again.

I finally picked up the glass I’d been ignoring.

Inside was a transparent, sky-blue drink.

I sipped it through the straw. A refreshing taste spread across my tongue.

“Well?”

“….” Both Sohyang and Bella watched me intently.

“Are you… experimenting on me?”

“Just answer.”

I grinned.

“It’s good. I feel energized.”

“And what else?”

“My heart’s beating a bit faster than usual.”

“There’s still room for improvement~~.”

“Right. The side effects remain,” Sohyang said bluntly.

So they weren’t even trying to hide it.

I left the café after saying my goodbyes.

They’re making it exactly as expected.

I thought back to that blue drink. Not perfected yet, but only a matter of time.

All that’s left is figuring out how to get my hands on it.

I mulled over the possibilities on the bus ride back to the hotel.

Two days later.

Thursday evening.

I was in my hotel room, buried in crafting gear.

All Around’s second order had arrived, along with the materials.

This time it was forty pieces of equipment.

As I happily watched my Craftsman experience soar, I was working on the twenty-seventh item when—

Bzzzt.

My phone vibrated on the bed.

The caller ID read: Abel.

“Hello?”

[Yein, it’s me. Abel.]

“Senior Abel. Good evening.”

[I wanted to ask you something. I heard the mysterious Craftsman is your friend. Is that true?]

Nope. That’s me.

And I’m literally in the middle of making your order right now.

“Yes, a friend. Why do you ask?”

[You know your friend’s been making gear for our guild, right? As part of the deal for us helping the city.]

“Yes, I’m aware.”

[Was that your request?]

“Not exactly. My friend offered. Said Forward had to fall for me to be free.”

[I see. The guild’s in an uproar. Everyone says the Craftsman’s gear puts both Hunter Market goods and demonic relics to shame. I got one myself. A pair of greaves—exactly the stats I needed.]

“My friend’s talented, no doubt.”

[That’s for sure. Now the guild’s seriously considering making your friend our exclusive Craftsman.]

“Ah. That… won’t be easy.”

[Right. Normally, he only supplies that shop, Platinum Wings, right?]

“Correct.”

[That’s why I’m calling. Could you put in a word?]

So that’s what this was about.

[We’d accept any terms your friend set. We don’t expect free gear. We’d pay fairly—more than fairly, if need be.]

Hmm. An exclusive contract with All Around, huh.

[The mayor said the Craftsman only deals through you. That he himself has never even met him.]

“He’s a peculiar one. But I’ll ask.”

[Thanks. And the guildmaster wants to meet you. When you have time, drop by.]

He’d mentioned that before, in a message.

“Understood. I can’t this week, but I’ll visit early next week.”

[Great. I’ll let the guildmaster know. Have a good evening.]

“You too, Senior.”

When the call ended, I stared at my darkened screen.

Time to consult Eleanor about this.

Two days later.

Saturday.

I brought the others with me to Cheon Jiweon’s house.

The moment we rang the bell, the door opened.

“Welcome.”

Wearing an apron, Jiweon greeted us with a broad smile.

The aroma of cooking wafted out to meet us.

(End of Chapter)