Chapter 2: Cafe Part-Time Job

It’s not easy to get sued just by playing a game.

Well, unless you’re doing something extremely stupid, like making inappropriate comments towards someone of the opposite gender in games like Catch Mind.

Still, there was always a chance, no matter how small.

If Lee Yeram were rich, it might be different.

But there was no way she could be, considering she and her brother were living in a one-room apartment.

“We’re already barely making ends meet.”

Sure, there was still some money left, but that didn’t mean I could waste it on legal settlements.

That’s why I stepped in.

“Objectively speaking, it looks like we already lost the game, so I’ll focus all my energy on chatting.”

I didn’t really know much about the game, “Leore,” but seeing how the enemy kept pushing into our base, it seemed like we weren’t in a winning position.

“Yeah, the game’s already over.”

Yeram agreed, and I slowly started composing my message.

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: Excuse me, Corki.

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: Could I ask what I did to make you so upset?

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: May I know why you’re angry?

I tried to ask as politely as possible.

And then—

[All Chat][PureClassBB][Corki]: You came to my lane and used your Q to steal all my farm.

[All Chat][PureClassBB][Corki]: And now you’re pretending you don’t know?

The other person typed furiously, clearly feeling wronged.

But I didn’t really understand what they meant.

I wasn’t asking to figure that out anyway.

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: Oh, I see…

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: That must’ve been frustrating for you.

I offered some sympathy.

Judging by what they were saying, Yeram had probably done something wrong.

[All Chat][PureClassBB][Corki]: Ugh, forget it. I’ll just block you.

[All Chat][PureClassBB][Corki]: Why would I bother talking to a person like that?

[All Chat][buttholeandNidaleeSpear][Graves]: Alright, have a good one~

With that, I finished the conversation and turned away from the keyboard.

Yeram was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“That person was really angry, so just block their chat and play quietly. If you get sued, I’ll be the one in trouble.”

Normally, I’d help Yeram out, but lawsuits were a whole different matter.

It’s not something to brag about.

Hopefully, she understood what I meant.

“Ah, okay.”

Yeram seemed to calm down, and there were no more typing sounds from her side.

It was better to resolve things peacefully.

Hmm.

With that thought, I turned off the lights.

I was starting work tomorrow, after all.

It wasn’t a job I had done before, and since it was my first day, I figured I should get there early.

There’s nothing worse than getting scolded by the boss for not knowing the job well.

“Yawn.”

With that, I fell asleep.

Tweet-tweet.

(The sound of birds chirping in the morning.)

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside.

It wasn’t because the birdsong was so beautiful, but because it was so annoying that it woke me up.

With so many trees around, the sound of birds had reached the level of noise pollution.

Coo-coo. Coo-coo.

Occasionally, the irritating cooing of pigeons could also be heard.

Feeling irritated, I shut the window.

It had been open all day, so it should be fine to close it now.

“Yawn.”

It had been a while since I woke up early, so I couldn’t help but yawn.

Is this what people call the “Miracle Morning”?

With such random thoughts in mind, I tidied up the bedding scattered on the floor.

Yeram must have gone to school, as she was nowhere to be seen.

Once she finishes her college entrance exam, I’m really going to make her work hard.

‘Who dares to boss around their noble older brother?’

Isn’t it normal for siblings to take care of each other?

What’s happening to the world?

Feels like it’s on the brink of collapse.

Come to think of it, it might have already collapsed.

Tap, tap.

I cleared all the bedding off the floor and put it into the wardrobe.

Since it’s a one-room apartment, the wardrobe was small too.

If only I had more money, I could move into a better place.

It was such a shame.

“Better save money.”

Though I had some left in my account, using that to find a new place would leave me starving.

That’s why I was still living in this one-room apartment.

If only I had more money, life would be so much easier.

I finished cleaning while dwelling on these unnecessary thoughts.

With the place being so small, cleaning wasn’t that hard.

‘What should I wear?’

Today, I was starting work at a café.

I’d never worked at a café before, so I was a little worried.

I didn’t even know how to use a coffee machine.

Sure, I could learn once I got there, but still, the worry lingered.

“I hope no customers come today.”

If the boss heard that, they’d probably slap me across the face.

I grabbed the neatest outfit from my closet: a sweatshirt and jeans.

It was a plain and simple look.

But I liked it.

That’s exactly why I bought it, for a plain and simple outfit.

Just as I was thinking that, my phone buzzed.

Ding-ding.

The alarm went off, reminding me that I had an hour left until my shift started.

It was time to get going.

I double-checked to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and left the house.

“Ugh, what the hell are you saying? You crazy woman.”

“This is really messed up.”

Since the café was near an all-girls high school, I could see students in uniforms here and there.

‘Aren’t they supposed to be in class?’

It seemed like it was well past school hours.

I knew the school’s schedule precisely since it was the same high school Yeram attended.

Well, I’m sure those kids have their own reasons.

Judging others hastily was a bad habit.

With that thought, I opened the door to the café where I was supposed to work.

And then—

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Ah, yes.”

A woman with a tough, no-nonsense look greeted me.

I usually try not to judge people based on first impressions, but this time, it felt like an exception.

I didn’t understand the expression “someone who looks like they could kill a person” until now, but at this moment, it hit me hard.

“Since you’re here, put your stuff over there, and let’s get to work.”

“Yes.”

There was no way I could refuse her. She looked intimidating.

“Did you say you don’t know how to make coffee?”

“I’ve never worked at a café before.”

“Okay, I’ll teach you everything from now, so pay attention.”

“Yes.”

The boss started explaining step by step, from how to operate the coffee machine to how to prepare drinks.

Thankfully, it was simpler than I had imagined.

I was nervous, thinking I might not understand it all at once.

Then—

“Now, give it a try. From start to finish.”

The boss sat down in a nearby chair and stared at me intently.

It was clear she wanted me to try exactly what she had just taught me.

Well, I had learned for a good 30 minutes, so I figured I should be able to manage.

With that thought, I started making coffee diligently.

“Here you go.”

It was a simple iced Americano.

I didn’t want to try making a fancy drink right away, as that felt too overwhelming.

Better to start with something easy.

Slurp.

The boss took a sip of the iced Americano I had made and said,

“Hmm… not bad.”

She smiled, though her smile was still a bit intimidating. But a smile’s a smile.

I decided to take it as a positive sign.

No need to be scared. After all, I wouldn’t be doing this alone.

“Ah, really?”

I had been trembling, thinking I’d be stuck doing all the work alone, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

I felt the tension drain from me.

“Do you know how many students flood in after school? How could anyone handle that alone?”

“That’s true.”

How would I know that?

I muttered a small complaint internally, and the boss, after staring at me for a moment, opened her mouth.

“By the way, you look a lot like someone who comes here often.”

Apparently, Yeram must come here frequently.

I knew which school Yeram attended, but I had no interest in where she usually went. There was no reason for me to know.

With that thought, I replied.

“My sister does go to this school.”

“Hmm, I figured. You two look quite alike.”

Just how often does she come to this café for them to remember her face?

Here I am, working hard to earn a living, while my sister…

It felt unfair.

I almost wanted to start explaining the hardships that Brazilian laborers endure while harvesting coffee beans.

“Does my sister come here often?”

“Yeah, she comes by with a friend quite a bit.”

“A friend… so she has one. I thought she didn’t.”

She always comes straight home after school, so I assumed she didn’t have any friends.

The fact that she did was quite a revelation.

While I was silently marveling at this, the bell hanging on the door jingled as someone walked in.

“Hello!!!”

It seemed like the woman who just entered was the person I’d be working with from now on.

I already felt like sighing.

“Ah, yes…”

Waving my hand absentmindedly, I silently wished that she would at least be easy to work with.