Yokai Come to the Countryside Café

Chapter 28: Buster Call

After the guild event, the café had been spending its days without much change.

If I had to name anything unusual, it would be the unexpected work meeting that made me go in on an off day, and the day I sent someone out because Sanyi hadn’t been visiting much lately.

But today was a little different.

Early Saturday morning.

Normally, I wouldn’t even be awake at this time, but I had already opened the café and was sweeping and mopping the floor.

That’s because today was the day.

【Mobile Game "Path of Heroes" Free Board】

-Dangsari Café: Path of Heroes 1st Official Meetup Announcement [43]

Just like they say, strike while the iron is hot—since so many users were gathered in Path of Heroes, I thought now was the perfect time for a meetup and posted it on the forum.

The meetup location: here at Dangsari Café.

Participants already included thirty-two people, comprising National Intelligence Service agents and shamans familiar with the café.

Normally I avoid bothersome things, but this time was different.

The phrase “If I’d known, I might’ve attended a meetup once” kept popping up in the posts from Yongman, who had been guarding the board alone.

Of course, since most users were the shamans Yongman had met, it was practically like having daily meetups already—but it still couldn’t compare to one with an official title.

Hanging up banners, taking photos, and building memories with them would surely be delightful for someone like Yongman, who lives a long life.

The cost of those memories? Just some lost sleep and a small expense for ingredients.

And I didn’t even need to go shopping for the ingredients.

-Vroom. Screech.

“Quick delivery!”

“Yes, I’m coming out right now!”

“Where should I put the boxes?”

“Just stack them anywhere at the entrance.”

“Okayyy.”

The driver, who got out of the old delivery truck, threw the boxes onto the ground and sped off.

I was a bit late getting out since I was grabbing some drinks to offer.

“Wow! The boxes are stacked as tall as me! This one’s green onions... coffee and snacks...”

“People in business are really something else.”

Most of the ingredients we had stockpiled for the shamans were already used up.

Obviously, a lot of the ingredients used at the café were hard to find in regular markets.

Buying them online one by one wasted delivery fees, and the local supermarkets didn’t sell them either, so I was saved by an old sticker under the counter that read “All Coffee Supplies,” with a phone number.

("Oh dear, so the old hag at Dangsari Café is still at it! How much do you need this time? Since I’m far away, I’ll just shoot it over with a quick delivery again, yeah?")

Understanding the sharp-tongued grandma’s rapid-fire, accent-heavy dialect took a lot of focus, but the result was worth it.

She sold all the rare ingredients used in the café, ones I couldn’t even find online. Even sending a quick delivery early on a weekend morning—her professionalism made me feel guilty.

As I was sweating and hauling boxes since morning, I spotted a familiar figure approaching in the distance.

“Huh? That’s the Fox-Grandfather!”

“Perfect timing. Could you help me bring these inside?”

“Why, you rascal! Is that any way to greet someone?”

“Grandpa!”

“Oh ho, that’s more like it. Ria, you’re much better than this brat.”

Thanks to Ria hugging him right away, the Elder’s sour expression quickly softened.

Still, we had a lot left to prepare, despite the cheerful mood.

“You’re out of your mind, you really are. Because of you, the NIS had a mess trying to choose who to send.”

“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Now please finish cutting the green onions. We still have a mountain of veggies to prep.”

“It’s this afternoon, isn’t it? Why are you rushing when the sun’s just come up?”

“This is the first time I’ve had this many guests. Could you also take care of the onions?”

“Gah! Why do I always get stuck doing this kind of work?”

I quickly stepped out of the kitchen, worried he’d blow up and catch me in the crossfire.

A basin full of vegetables for the ramen, pre-portioned coffee and tea, and even sweet potatoes for dessert.

Everything was ready—now all that was left was to wait.

For the slightly special guests about to arrive at the café.

And on the same day, there was someone—or rather, some yokai—preparing for the meetup as well.

“Yongman, are you out of your mind? Why are you running around the field like this?”

“Sorry. Things are a bit urgent today.”

“What is it? You going on a date or something?”

Choi-Pro made a playful face and wiggled his pinky finger.

“There will be women there, but...”

“What, what? For real?”

Yongman, who would normally just scoff, said something completely unexpected.

“Foreman! Foreman! Yongman says he’s meeting girls today!”

“Is that true?”

“Yongman’s going on a blind date?”

“He’s still so young—what blind date? It’s probably just a meetup, right?”

“No, I’m not meeting a woman…”

Choi Pro’s booming voice pierced through the heavy equipment noise and echoed across the construction site, drawing the workers one by one.

“Hey, but what about your clothes? You didn’t even have a bag earlier. Are you going home to change?”

“Clothes? I’m wearing them now.”

“This guy’s crazy. Who the hell meets a girl dressed in work clothes? Hurry up and drop this and freshen up. Come with me to buy some clothes.”

“I’m really fine.”

“No, you’re not fine!”

Ever since the misunderstanding that he was meeting a woman, Yongman’s excuses hadn’t worked even once.

On the workers’ backs climbing up and down the stairs were bags of mortar and bricks that Yongman should have been carrying.

So when Yongman finished work much earlier than usual, the team leader handed him two thick envelopes.

“Here, take these with you.”

“Why are there two envelopes?”

“This one’s from us, to buy clothes. So your lady doesn’t run away when she sees you.”

“We only chipped in ten thousand won each. Just take it.”

“But still…”

“Just take it! My wrist’s about to snap.”

Though Yongman hesitated, Choi Pro forcefully shoved the envelope into his hands, but Yongman couldn't bring himself to move.

It was due to a complex and subtle emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time.

For them, ten thousand won wasn’t a small amount. It was earned through rough, grueling labor, the kind often dismissed with the derogatory term “nogada.”

The money inside that envelope, gathered from each man’s effort, was not just a bunch of ten-thousand-won bills.

But before he could fully process the overwhelming feeling, Choi Pro grabbed Yongman’s shoulder with a rough hand and forced him into his old SUV.

“Man, back in the day, when I went to Seomyeon, women would line up in rows to see me. I even got business cards from people wanting me to model. Your face isn’t as good as mine, but your long legs mean you’ll look decent if we style you up. Just trust me.”

It was a memory that didn’t inspire any confidence. Even to Yongman, who didn’t care much for human appearances, Choi Pro’s features and body proportions didn’t exactly scream popularity.

By the time Yongman had heard all about Choi Pro’s exploits in Seomyeon, Gwangalli, and Haeundae, they arrived at a secondhand clothing store near the construction site.

“Wow, look at these colors. All the A-tier stuff is here. You’ve hit the jackpot today. Try this. No, not that one, this one!”

Thanks to Choi Pro’s nimble hands pulling clothes from the racks and holding them up to Yongman’s body, Yongman found himself completely transformed in the blink of an eye.

A slightly pilled, bright red Adadas jersey, a black beanie, and flared jeans—the centerpiece of the outfit.

It was the perfect revival of a Y2K-era youth.

Decked out like that, Yongman rode in Choi Pro’s car—despite repeatedly insisting he was fine—and arrived at the café slightly late.

‘One, two, three, four… Are they all here?’

But even after dolling himself up, Yongman couldn’t summon the courage to step into the bustling café.

It was too different from the usual place he came just to talk about Path of Heroes with someone.

A massive banner hung overhead, and every table was packed with people.

He didn’t think he could bear the stares that would follow if he walked in like this.

‘Damn it. I should’ve just skipped today and come right away tomorrow. Being late just makes it harder to go in.’

And so, Yongman lingered outside the window for a while.

“Imoogi Ajusshi, what are you doing?”

“Whoa! You scared me! How long have you been there?”

“Since a little while ago!”

The person who had been looking into the café with him was none other than Ria.

“Why aren’t you going in?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. But what’s that in your hand?”

Caught off guard by the question that hit the mark, Yongman quickly diverted the topic to the item in Ria’s hands.

“I made it well, didn’t I? Hehe.”

Though he couldn’t say for sure, it looked like the kind of paper craft a kid her age would make.

She had cut A4 paper into long strips and chained them together. She had made so many that, even with both hands full, it nearly dragged on the ground.

“Need help?”

“Yes!”

“You’re decorating with it?”

“Ajusshi said today’s a party. But Sanyi is hibernating, so she can’t come for a while. So I’m decorating her house too.”

“I see…”

Yongman barely managed to respond, suppressing the lump in his throat at Ria’s answer.

The admirable heart of a child who didn’t know her friend had died.

Yongman had no idea that the dog called Sanyi was actually alive—and was, in fact, a hibernating raccoon dog—so this misunderstanding only grew out of control.

“Don’t you have any other friends?”

“Hmmm, nope! Sanyi is Ria’s only friend.”

That wasn’t a lie either. Everyone else was just called Ajusshi or Halabeoji.

He was no exception.

In loneliness, he had used even the Yeowiju, a gem formed over a thousand years of waiting, to protect a game. All for the sake of his old companions who might someday return.

But this poor child wasn’t even allowed the chance to wait.

All she could do was eventually accept the death of a friend, once this innocent time passed.

‘Still, the café owner must be really thoughtful. She’s not even related to her, yet she lets the kid call her Ajusshi. Wait a second.’

As he absentmindedly patted Ria’s head out of pity, Yongman suddenly sensed something was off.

“Ajusshi, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… you decorated so well.”

‘There’s no soul. It’s just an empty shell. Has this child really been raised like this all this time? That’s why they needed the Yeowiju. So that’s what it was.’

When something exists for a long time, it begins to hold meaning. Sometimes it holds auspicious energy, or even a malevolent curse.

But just because it holds meaning doesn’t mean it becomes alive.

The café owner inside, busily serving food, had taken the child in despite knowing that.

Even sought him out to find a way to fill her with a soul.

And it wasn’t just the child that had been embraced.

‘I changed too, by staying near that café owner. I’ve received so much…’

“Imoogi Ajusshi, are you crying?”

“Who’s crying! Now that you’re done, go inside. I’ll be in soon.”

“Okay!”

After hurriedly wiping away his tears, Yongman still had to spend quite a bit of time outside the café blowing his now-stinging nose.