In a secluded corner of an obviously old alley, there was a restaurant operating without even a signboard. The only clue as to what kind of place it was was a "Hangover Soup" sticker attached to a creaky iron sliding door, yet the place was packed. The inside was as busy as it was crowded outside, with people lining up.
The only items on the menu were a fifteen-thousand-won hangover soup and alcoholic beverages. Near the menu on the wall, there were some faded posters and autographs taped up haphazardly. Not celebrity autographs, but rather;
[Hangover Soup Restaurant – Hunter Bae Won-woo]
[It's a great restaurant! – Hunter Yang Hye-jin]
They were autographs from hunters.
Among the crowd, a young man with black hair skillfully navigated his way. Wearing a gray hoodie and a black apron with a soju brand logo, he nimbly moved through the narrow shop, even with a tray full of boiling hot stone bowls in both hands.
"The hangover soup is ready."
"Oh, thank you."
"Boss, we need two more hangover soups here!"
"Alright."
"Also, add two bowls of rice, please."
"Sure, coming right up."
The young man memorized the table with his eyes and busily headed to the kitchen. Just then, a man with a shaved head asked in a booming voice from behind.
"Excuse me, can we get another bottle of soju?"
"No, you've already had two bottles of soju."
"What are you talking about? This is only our first bottle."
"I saw you put the empty bottle in the inventory earlier. No more."
The young man pointed to a spot next to the simple menu with his index finger. The hastily scribbled note on an A4 paper in black marker showed the firmness of its writer.
[Soju limited to two bottles per table]
[※ To prevent nuisances and fights]
The young man gathered empty dishes and stone bowls from the next table and went into the kitchen. As the shaved head man awkwardly pulled out the empty soju bottle from his inventory, the man opposite him scolded him, saying he knew this would happen.
"See, I told you, it's not allowed. That part-timer is very strict about how much we drink. It's always two bottles."
"He's sharp as a hawk. I slipped it in quicker than when I catch monsters. Isn't he a hunter?"
Correct
But the man opposite shook his head.
"I heard from Team Leader Han that he already asked and the guy said he's just an ordinary person."
"What? Is that the trend now? Hidden-power hunters? Or is he unregistered?"
"Come on, you know how severe the penalties are for unregistered hunters. And if he were a hidden-power hunter, he'd be raking in money in dungeons, not working part-time at a hangover soup joint."
The young man's back flinched for a moment, but the shaved head man didn't seem to notice. Instead he nodded in agreement.
"True. Those hiding their power are always after some grandstanding."
"Team Leader Han is waiting to recruit him once he awakens. If he's this good before awakening, he'd be at least a B-grade after."
With the murmuring voices of the hunters behind him, the young man who entered the kitchen poured water into the dishwashing basin and chuckled. 'I bet I awakened before you did. Instead of bringing in some far-off veteran hunter...'
