I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 11



Only Krnovel

Episode 11

What he ordered, looking extremely restless, was an Americano.

I was thinking of recommending a mint drink that would have an instant effect.

‘It would be worse to talk about it now.’

I don’t even know if mint drinks work for panic attacks.

I didn’t say anything because I thought it would be better to just take it easy rather than making a fuss about it.

Later, when he’s calmed down a bit, I’ll sneak over and tell him it’s an open event.

After somehow finishing her order, Go Na-eun hurriedly found a seat and left the counter.

I can’t tell if he’s surprised or embarrassed.

More than that… … .

Why did I know the name Go Na-eun?

I have no interest in idols or the entertainment industry at all.

‘Ah. That guy.’

Somehow I remembered.

Among my former teammates, there was a guy who was really into idols.

He was an unusual guy who lived in an unpopular second-tier league.

And that guy used to say a lot, that now he’s famous as a national idol, but he wasn’t like that when he liked them. He said that they were all his children that he raised.

That was why I remembered the name ‘Gonaeun’.

It was one of them.

─’My favorite is this girl, Go Na-eun. She’s really trying so hard to pull up a team that’s falling apart. Is that a good thing?’

The guy said he was dragging a worthless team by the scruff of the neck.

So, the team is a second-tier team, but Go Na-eun is a solo player and is top-tier even among the first-tier teams, so I was talking about it with spit flying from my mouth.

Since she’s the eldest daughter, she does all the work by herself, but the members get along well.

I wasn’t really curious, but I heard it so much that my ears got calluses.

‘If he was someone who couldn’t do his job, I would have criticized him right away.’

I didn’t say anything because I did a good job.

‘I hope you’re doing well now. Now that I think about it, I think I contacted you after you retired.’

He retired before me.

And then he contacted me and asked me to do something together.

At that time, I wasn’t interested in anything other than the company, so I just didn’t meet him.

I was thinking of taking a look now, but… … .

‘It’s a bit awkward to contact you now.’

I will live well.

Although he was an otaku, he was a talented guy and would be successful wherever he went.

anyway.

It was amazing to see the Gonaeun I had heard about back then in person, but her condition seemed quite bad.

‘Panic attack of burnout at a young age. How did it happen…?’

They say that the idol world is a place that rivals the law of the jungle.

I guess it’s not like that everywhere, but it might still be a bit harsh for young children.

“The drink you ordered is here.”

“yes yes!”

Startled by even a small sound, he pulled his hat down low and took his drink.

It was a pity to see that sight.

But it was ambiguous to say anything like that.

That makes sense, he’s like a malicious fan who follows a star around.

You’re suddenly comforting me as I’m trying so carefully to hide my identity.

‘Are you Go Na-eun? You must be having a hard time with burnout and panic disorder.’

It was obvious how the reaction would be if I said the same thing.

In times like this, wouldn’t it be better to just keep quiet and pretend not to know?

instead.

“customer.”

“yes yes!?”

“I’m sorry, but I have some things I didn’t finish earlier, so I’ll have to step away for a moment. Is that okay? I’ll be in the backyard anyway, so if you need anything, just call me. If you need anything, just ring the bell here.”

“Ah! Yes! Okay, thank you!”

I am so grateful.

Just in case, I told him where the bathroom was and left the backyard.

* * *

Go Na-eun is tired.

After a long period of training, he debuted, but his results were mediocre.

So the team didn’t get off the ground.

That doesn’t mean I gave up.

He got the spotlight instead of the team.

And the schedule kept piling up.

Even though it was an individual event and not a team event, it is still receiving attention in the broadcasting industry.

I went out alone to every place I was called to and worked hard to promote the team.

If we do that, there will come a day when all of our members will shine together.

But at some point, it began to become a burden, climbing up my back and weighing on my shoulders.

While my personal schedule was increasing, team schedules and practices also overlapped.

The rate at which I got tired was getting faster and faster.

An irregular lifestyle was natural.

‘I want to sleep. I want to rest.’

A break was desperately needed.

I wonder if it’s because of overload.

At some point, this was the only thought that came to mind.

But would this be noticeable?

“Sister, I think you need to get some rest.”

It was then that I was practicing like any other day.

The youngest, who had been staring blankly at himself, said.

“Huh? What are you talking about? Our single album music show is just around the corner.”

Since he had never done that before, he waved his hands and denied it, thinking he might have been too obvious.

Okay then.

“No, Naeun-ah. Sohee is right. Your face looks terrible these days.”

“That’s right. Get some rest, unnie. Do you come straight to the practice room after a broadcast ends these days?”

The members came one by one and listened to the youngest’s words with worried looks on their faces.

“What are you talking about? I’m really okay.”

“Not at all. Do you know that you wake up abruptly these days even when you’re sleeping? You startle at the slightest noise.”

“When did I… … .”

I tried to deny it even with my only friend of the same age, but it didn’t work.

“Is your schedule clear tomorrow? Don’t practice and rest. Please. You’ve practiced enough, so you’ll be fine.”

“I told you, it’s really okay.”

“We are not okay.”

At those words, the younger siblings nodded and gave silent pressure.

Even personal managers.

“Naeun-ah. I should rest tomorrow too. I should go home too.”

“Ugh!”

So I ended up having a forced day off.

“But what should I do?”

Now I’ve forgotten how to rest.

I want to get some good sleep, but strangely, I can’t fall asleep here.

─There’s a cafe that I used to go to with my dad. You should go there too. It’s supposedly healing. Anyway, there’s a valley nearby, so it’ll be good for clearing your mind. Should I ask my dad where it was?

It was in the middle of the night when the words of my youngest who said he liked to travel came to my mind while I was struggling to sleep.

I came out like that without a destination.

Without thinking, just going with the flow.

As I was going into a place where there were no people, I came across a secluded forest.

I got lost for a moment and panicked, but I was able to get there with the owner’s help.

‘Tiger shelter.’

Unlike what I had heard, the owner was a young man.

Strangely enough, the first thing I felt when I got here was a sense of comfort.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I don’t know why, but just like the youngest said, I felt like I could breathe a little easier being here.

A break that feels like a long-awaited break… … .

“uh?”

As I was resting alone like that, I suddenly raised my head because of a strange feeling.

Then a small window appeared.

But on the window where light should have come in, there was a soft-looking rice cake stuck to it.

What is that?

He felt the pull that had led him down the lonely path again.

I got up from my seat without realizing it.

And then I remembered.

When I first saw the owner here, I thought there was something on the roof… … .

To the place where I climbed up the ladder as if possessed.

‘ah!’

There was a space decorated just like in the dream I had truly desired.

* * *

On one hand.

I was momentarily speechless at the sight of the lush garden grass I discovered in the backyard.

Is this the wrong path to take?

But it was already too early to go back.

Finally, I exhaled into the grave I dug for myself and took the equipment out of the warehouse.

‘I can’t help it. I have to do it anyway.’

Let’s just do it without thinking about it.

And after quite some time had passed.

“Whoa!”

I finally finished organizing everything.

It would have been a lot of work if it weren’t for the mint drink.

Another thing I learned thanks to you.

‘There’s less time left.’

The working time is about 2 hours.

Then the reduced time should have been 2 hours, but it was reduced by 4 hours, which is twice that amount.

What this means is that the mint drink has a total recovery effect.

It’s not absolute time.

‘It’s strangely reasonable.’

The ability is like a fantasy, you know.

Anyway, after clearing all the weeds in the backyard, the outline of a small vegetable garden came into view.

However, the treasure hunt that was expected was a dud.

If you take out the mint, there’s only one thing left.

That’s right,

[carrot]

─Effect (lasting): Improves eye health, increases vitality.

This was it.

‘Why a carrot out of nowhere?’

Was the garden really just for use as a garden, not for use in the cafe?

Picking and eating various crops?

I think there were things like lettuce, cabbage, and radish.

Looking at the few carrots, it seems like they may have planted several different kinds but then abandoned them because they were too bothersome.

“About five.”

There are five stems, so the ones below should be the same.

anyway.

It didn’t seem like much of an income, but it still had something special.

First of all, this also had an effect like mint.

And one more thing that is different from mint.

The word ‘continuous’ was also attached to it.

There was no such thing with Mint. The effect of Mint would be reduced by half or less when stacked.

On the other hand, I don’t know how long that will last… … .

‘This ability doesn’t talk nonsense.’

Maybe longer than that.

Even the carrot stems looked the freshest I’d ever seen.

Should I say that it looks somewhat lively?

It might have been possible to survive among those bushes if it was that big.

‘So the other crops just died, pushed out by the weeds?’

It was a new possibility.

Even if you find out now, it won’t be of much use.

Anyway, I was able to learn that in order to utilize the garden, you have to organize it well and on time.

I took good note of this too.

‘hmm.’

One unfortunate fact is that this doesn’t seem to be of much help to the guests inside either.

Can’t help it?

‘But still, maybe… … .’

Would non-status related effects like that guest also have an effect?

If you have any questions, you should ask them right away.

The garden has been cleared and quite some time has passed.

I decided to go inside and check.

I went inside the cafe and it was very quiet.

Are you sleeping?

It turned out well.

Instead of going to the table, I decided to watch the show from the kitchen.

‘Carrots are a bit weird. Let’s try mint.’

I made a mint chocolate frappuccino.

And just as I had first thought, I took a quick look to gauge the timing of the open event… … .

But there isn’t any?

Was it quiet because there were no guests?

‘Did he go? No. He still has his backpack?’

Where did you go?

As I was looking around, I suddenly felt a gaze and raised my head.

Then I met eyes with Rangi, who was looking at me with pity through the window in the ceiling.

Why is he doing that?

‘ah!’

Just in case, I went out to the empty lot.

As expected.

I was wondering where he went, leaving his backpack behind.

Thanks to Langi, I found the missing guest.

It was right on the roof.

When I came out to the vacant lot and looked up, I saw him lying on a bean bag and sleeping very soundly.

Why are you doing that over there… … .

‘for a moment?’

Before that question, one effect occurred to me.

This is the effect of [Little Shelter on the Roof].

It was to relieve sleep disorders and stabilize the mind and body… … .

Now that I think about it, that’s what that person needed the most right now.

He had dark circles even bigger than his big eyes, so it was clear that he hadn’t slept well.

But now he was sleeping like that.

Is there really a need to wake him up?

It occurred to me that this was another way to use this shelter.

‘There must be a reason why there is such a thing as creation of a territory.’

It’s there for you to use, but you just leave it there to satisfy your curiosity.

I was only thinking about the drink and I missed it.

also…….

I needed to think a little deeper about this special place and its abilities.

anyway.

The guests seemed to be fine.

But Rangi looks upset that his seat was taken away.

As if I didn’t want to wake the guest, I quickly climbed onto the guest’s lap.

And then he suddenly fell face down.

Even just looking at it from afar, it felt very cozy.

It was as if I could hear Rangi’s grumbling and the guest’s soft breathing.

“Hmm.”

The sight of the guest hugging the warm lap of the guest makes it seem as if he can feel the temperature.

‘… … You volunteered. I’ll give you some churu later.’

Of course, the person involved, Rangi, was dissatisfied with the position.

He just opened his mouth and whispered, as if he understood.

No. He just gave up and lay down.

Both the guest and Rangi were dumbfounded.

As I looked at that sight, I realized something else.

‘This place… … isn’t just a place to drink.’

This place was literally a shelter.

Anyone who is tired can come and rest.

Thinking again about the meaning of the name my grandfather gave me… … .

They both came inside quietly so as not to wake anyone up.

Then I checked the text window in my reflection in the mirror.

Before I knew it, the mint drink had almost taken effect.

I have to drink what I made.

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