“Ash, I’ll be back.”
“……”
Ash stared at Kwon Rieul’s back as she left. The door closed, and she was quickly out of sight.
“You look heartbroken, incarnation.”
“Kkyuu!”
The animals approached his feet and talked to him.
“It’s not like that.”
Despite his reply, his expression remained gloomy.
Kwon Rieul. To protect that stupid human being and to stay with her, Ash has put in a lot of effort. Specifically, eating well, sleeping well, exercising moderately, indulging in adult hobbies, etc. The twins also told him that eating lots of spinach can help him grow taller.
‘They would never lie to me, would they?!’
He ate all the spinach without leaving any leftovers, but he didn’t grow at all. The height marker he carved on the wall every morning remained the same for several days.
As he continued to drink Rieul’s coffee, Ash’s body had accumulated a considerable amount of magic power.
However, he was only an ‘entity’ that has been disconnected from its main body. Unless he annihilates himself, it’s impossible for him to find his original, wonderful body, not this imperfect one. At this rate, no matter how hard he tried, the stupid human will only think of him as a child.
That’s the case even with this incident. Someone who has experience working in a cafe and can infiltrate the enemy base. Wasn’t he right next to her?
But Kwon Rieul didn’t even consider Ash as someone to take with her on the infiltration mission, because in her mind, he’s the one who needs to be protected.
Ash remembered what happened last time in Yongsan.
“Ash, it’s all right. It’s all right … I’ll be back soon.”
A gentle hand stroked his forehead. Her face was covered in dirt, but she was smiling as if she’s trying to reassure him. A steady gaze.
Something in his chest ached when he thought of it. He never wanted to see such a face again.
It frustrated him. He wanted to help her, but what could he do on his own……
“……!”
Suddenly, Ash remembered something. There were humans he could mobilise, even in his current state. They could help him in case of an emergency.
Thud! Ash jumped to his feet.
“Where are you going, waeoong!”
“Kkyuu, kkyuu!”
Without stopping at the call of the animals, the boy left the store with a confident stride.
***
Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. The headquarters of the Demon King ‘Twilight’ Cult was located there.
After confirming the existence of the demon Asmodeus, the atmosphere of the Twilight Cult changed drastically. It was no longer necessary to spread illegal propaganda materials such as “The Demon King is real” and “The Demon King will be resurrected soon“. They also stopped doing missionary work in front of the station once a week.
The truth is not dependent on the beliefs of foolish humans, it simply exists. The Demon Asmodeus is real, even if you don’t shout it out loud.
Once the Cult knew that there was the Demon King in this world, there was only one thing to do.
The world is equal in the name of the Demon King. Therefore, it was their mission to make the world that belonged to him more beautiful.
Free meal service, education service, nursery school service, etc. … the members of the Demon Cult Twilight were eager to participate in various volunteer activities.
“What? Demon King Cult? Where is it?”
“No proselytising is allowed in the building. Volunteer work? You want me to believe that? Get out.”
“I don’t believe in cults.”
However, due to the preconceived notions, there was no place that accepted them.
The head priest of Twilight sighed as he tried to volunteer at a nearby nursery school again today, but the children shunned him. The courtyard of their headquarters was opened as a children’s playground, but no one was using it. The empty swings swayed and creaked in the wind.
Did he choose the wrong path? He just wanted to make the world beautiful….
It was then that a shadow fell on the head of the old man, who bowed sullenly.
“Foolish humans!”
“Heuk! Ah, aren’t you Asmodeus-nim!”
He had only seen him once, but he had never forgotten him. A pale face tinged with cynicism and futility … Pale?
He must have eaten well in the meantime for his complexion has improved. The plump cheeks had gained weight and rounded out. What’s more, he looked cute in his woollen beret and coat.
It’s not exactly a look suited for the Demon King, but…….
Eating is important. Anyway, it’s good to see he’s getting healthier.
The plump-cheeked Ash declared sternly, “Here you are. I have a task for you.”
“I … I will absolutely do it.”
“Please give us your order, Asmodeus-nim!”
Led by the Cult’s leader, the believers at the base gathered and bowed before Ash.
What is the Demon King’s command? To finally cleanse the tainted world? To perform the forbidden arcane arts of legend? Or……
In silence, everyone’s eyes turned to Ash.
“Take this first.”
Ash pulled out several monster-shaped miniatures from his bag. He’d had so much fun making them that there was no place for them in his room anymore, but it would be a shame to just throw them away.
Before mentioning the real purpose, he intended to ask these humans to deal with the miniatures.
Just then.
A child from a nearby nursery school who had been avoiding the demonic cult Twilight approached them, pointing to an overly realistic-looking monster miniature, and asked, “Wow! It’s a toy! Can I play with it?”
“Huh, hmm. Do as you please.”
After Ash’s permission was given, the child waved wildly at their friends in the distance.
“Hey! Hurry up and come. Here’s a toy!”
“Wow!”
“This thing looks so real!”
“It really is. It has magic in it … and it can move. Like this.”
“Wow! Which one is the strongest?”
“I’ll take the dragon!”
Soon, the courtyard of the Demon Cult Twilight was filled with the laughter of energetic children. It was exactly the scene the Cult leader had dreamed of when he turned the courtyard into a playground.
‘Keuheuk. He’s making this old man’s wish come true. As expected, Asmodeus-nim….”
As he watched the playground filled with children, he thought to himself.
I will follow him for the rest of my life.
***
The interview for the part-time job was over in a flash. We were three people who didn’t look like the best fit for the job. However, the cafe manager only confirmed that our limbs were fine and made the hiring decision right away.
Great. Now, the three of us must thoroughly investigate the inside of Super Buff Coffee.
“Wait.”
Just as I was about to pump my fist, the manager stopped us.
“Hey, umh, Choi Yicham-ssi?”
“….yes?”
Choi Yichan turned his head nervously. Had he raised suspicions?
“Choi Yicham-ssi, I need you to organise the warehouse. That’s great. I really needed someone to do that.”
“That … yes, sir.”
As expected, the concept of a former martial artist was unreasonable.
Choi Yichan left the party as he was deployed to the warehouse. I waved to the back of his head as he trudged away in his torn shirt.
“Next, is Ki Yooheon-ssi?”
The manager’s relentless personnel arrangement was not over yet.
“Ki Yooheon-ssi, from now on, you are Mister Glory.”
“Yes? What’s with that latter name?”
The blond-haired, blue-eyed Ki Yoohyun frowned.
“Mr Glory is supposed to be a foreigner who came to study abroad because he liked our cafe’s coffee.”
“What?”
“You’ll be in charge of organizing the interior and greeting customers. Please make sure to mix English appropriately when guiding.”
Such a chauvinistic concept in today’s world?!
“What? Pardon?”
“Yes. You’re good.”
And with that, Mister Glory a.k.a. Ki Yooheon was dragged away, leaving the party. I was left alone.
“The last one is … Kwon Nieun-ssi.”
“Ye-yes, here!”
The manager’s sharp glare was directed at me, and I hoped I wouldn’t be placed in a strange place. To uncover the secret of coffee, I need access to the beverage’s manufacturing site. With the two S-Classes having gone their separate ways, I’d have to be in charge of making the drinks.
‘That’s why I wrote down my cafe experience on my resume…..’
In reality, it’s not a cafe (part-time) experience, but a cafe (owner) experience, but let’s overlook the trivialities.
“…..”
“…..”
The longer the silence lingered, the more anxious I became. Had I been found out?
At that time when my anxiety was maximized, the manager who had been looking at me with sharp eyes for a long time suddenly asked me a question.
“Do you like Sanity Finch?”
“Yes?”
The name of a band I’d vaguely heard of popped into my head.
“That t-shirt, that’s from Sanity Finch’s first world tour, right?”
Was it? But if I said I didn’t know, it would raise suspicion, right?
“Ah, yeah, yes! My favourite song is Sapphire Sword.”
I put in the only song title I knew because it was used as an opening for a game I used to play. However, it seems that I chose the wrong answer.
“Ho, ho, you picked that maniacal song. You’ve got good taste.”
“Yes?”
Hair combed without leaving a single strand of bangs, angled shirts and pants. However, when I looked closely, the manager was wearing a ‘Sanity Finch’ badge on her jacket. She was a fan.
“Follow me, Kwon Nieun-ssi. You deserve to be in our crew.”
“…yes?”
“Just trust me and follow me. I’ll make you big.”
With the appearance of such a reliable boss, the manager winked.
***
Kiiiek, bang!
Late at night, I opened the door of Cafe Rieul and entered. The illusion was automatically dispelled and I returned to my original form.
“Kkyuuu!”
“Waeolg, what a smell!”
The animals grumbled at the strong smell of alcohol on my body.
“Are you home now?”
Despite the late hour, Ash was still awake and waiting for me. I was grateful.
I dragged my heavy body to a chair. There, I laid my forehead on the table and sobbed.
“Heu, huhuhu, heuk…..”
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Ash … I, you know me.”
I wrapped my arms around Ash and leaned my head against him. Ash frowned at the smell of alcohol coming from me, but didn’t pull away. For your information, I didn’t drink a drop.
“Tell me what’s going on, those bastards……!”
I blurted out with 100% sincerity, drooping my tired head.
“Ash, I … I hate going to work…..”
