✧･ﾟ:* ⋆｡°✩ ʚɞ ✩°｡⋆ *:･ﾟ✧

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The familiar but very annoying chime of the alarm rang through the small apartment, awakening you from the depths of sleep. Groaning, you groggily reach out to silence it, wishing for just a few more minutes under the comfortable cocoon of your blankets. But duty called, and you had a job to get to. It had been a few months since you found yourself transported into the world of ‘Solo Leveling’, and somehow, amidst the strangeness of it all, you had secured a job at the quaint little bakery down the street, ‘Sweet Crumbs’.

You blinked up at the ceiling as the final remnants of sleep slipped away. The smell of baked goods and coffee was already etched into your morning routine, and found yourself looking forward to the simplicity of it. After navigating the complexities of living next door to Jinwoo and Jin-ah and trying to suppress your knowledge of the future, the mundane comfort of the bakery was exactly what you needed.

After a quick shower and a change into your work uniform, and grabbing your work apron which was pink with polka dot print and made your way downstairs. The streets were still mostly quiet at this hour, the morning light casting long shadows as the city slowly started to wake up.

By the time you arrived at ‘Sweet Crumbs’, Mrs. Kang was already inside, you grin, Mrs. Kang was on it! Her silhouette was visible through the large glass windows as she bustled around the kitchen preparing the first batch of baked goods. Unlocking the door with your own key and relocking it as it shut behind you.

"Good morning!" you called as you hung up your bag on the hook by the entrance.

"Ah, Y/N! you’re just in time," Mrs. Kang greeted you warmly, wiping her hands off on her apron as you peeked out from behind the kitchen door. "We’ve got a busy morning ahead of us. The usual morning rush, plus I promised Mr. Lee that we’d have extra pastries ready for his meeting."

You nodded, already tying the apron around your waist and bending down to wash your hands "I’ve got it covered. We’ll get everything ready in time."

Mrs. Kang smiled, her round face crinkling with warmth. The older woman had become something of a friend to you since you started working at the bakery. You guys had quickly bonded over shared love of sweets and the easy camaraderie that came with long shifts together.

" You're a lifesaver, Y/N," Mrs. Kang said, giving you a playful nudge as you passed while holding a tray of freshly made buns. "I don’t know how I ever managed before you started working here."

You placed the tray in the display case. "I’m sure you were doing just fine before I came along."

"Maybe, but it’s much nicer having you here," Mrs. Kang replied with a wink before disappearing back into the kitchen. It was difficult to fight the smile overcoming your face. It was nice, having a life outside the story you were trapped in.

The morning rush was just starting to pick up as the bakery filled with the usual chatter of early risers looking for their morning fix of coffee and pastries. You worked the counter with practiced ease, your hands moving swiftly as you filled orders, brewed coffee, and exchanged pleasantries with the guests. 

It wasn’t long before the door chimed open again, and Y/N looked up to see a familiar face walk through the door. Jinwoo, dressed in his usual black hoodie and jeans, looked tired, if not looking a little tensed as he made his way to the counter.

"Morning," he greeted you with a small smile.

"Good morning, Jinwoo," You greet back, your own smile widening at the sight of him. " You look like you could use some caffeine. The usual?"

"Please," Jinwoo said with a tired chuckle. "Long day ahead."

You nodded, understanding all too well. you quickly prepared his order, black coffee, just the way he liked it, and slid the cup across the counter. "Here you go, on the house," you said with a wink.

Jinwoo blinked in surprise, glancing down at the cup. "You don't have to do that. I can pay "

"Nah, don’t worry about it," You waved him off. "Hunters get one free coffee a day, remember? It’s the bakery policy."

Jinwoo hesitated for a moment, seemingly contemplating whether or not it would be worth it to argue with you, but he then smiled softly. "Thanks, Y/N. I appreciate it."

"No problem," you replied, leaning your elbows against the counter. "So, what’s on the agenda today? Another raid?"

"Yeah, a small one," Jinwoo said, his expression unintentionally souring before it smoothed out. "Just an E-rank gate, nothing too dangerous." 

You nodded, although he would be alright since he is the protagonist of ‘Solo Leveling’ you still couldn’t help but worry, if you remember correctly he just barely had enough mana to become a hunter. You hum before giving him an encouraging smile.

"Well, stay safe out there," you said. "And if you need a post-raid snack, you know where to find me."

Jinwoo laughed, the sound soft but genuine. "I’ll keep that in mind."

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As the morning rush began to die down, You found yourself with a bit of down time. Mrs. Kang had retreated to the back to handle some paperwork, leaving you lonesome in charge of the front. It was during these quieter moments that you had discovered a newfound passion cake decorating.

It had started a few weeks ago when Mrs. Kang had asked you to help with a last-minute custom order. You had hesitated at first, unsure of your abilities, but after a few tries, you found that you actually enjoyed the process. There was something soothing about the careful precision it required, the way you could lose yourself in the intricate designs and patterns.

Today, you were working on a simple birthday cake for an order. It was a vanilla sponge with strawberry filling, and the customer had chosen to decorate it with delicate pastel flowers made from buttercream. Your hands moved deftly as you piped the icing, you mind focused on the task at hand.

You were just finishing up when the door chimed open again, and looking up you see Jin-ah and her friend Han Song-Yi walk in, their school bags slung over their shoulders.

"Hey, Y/N!" Jin-ah called, waving as you approached the counter.

"Hey, Jin-ah," Y/N greeted with a smile. "And your Han Song-Yi, right?"

Han Song-Yi, a somewhat reserved girl with chin-length hair, nodded enthusiastically. "Thats right, Jin-ah’s told me all about you ."

"Good things, I hope," Y/N said with a teasing grin.

"Of course," Jin-ah replied, rolling your eyes playfully. "We just got out of school and thought we’d stop by for a snack before heading home."

"Well, you ’re in luck," You said, sliding the display case open. "We’ve got fresh pastries and cookies. Take your pick."

As Jin-ah and Song-Yi deliberated over their choices, You couldn’t help but smile at the easy banter between the two friends. It reminded you of your own school days, simple, carefree, (no rent or taxes to worry about) and full of laughter.

After making their selections of some cookies and two iced teas, Jin-ah and Song-Yi sat at one of the small tables near the window, chatting animatedly about school gossip. Their chatter blended into the background and you were called to the back by Mrs. Kang.

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It was nearing the end of the day when the door chimed open once again. You were in the middle of cleaning the back counter, starting preclean up, ready to close up for the day, when you looked up and froze. A woman had just entered the bakery, herface partially obscured by a pink baseball cap pulled low over her head. She moved with quiet steps as if to hide she just walked into a building

Your heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned.

‘No way. What is she doing here? On this side of the city!’

There, standing in the middle of the bakery, was none other than Cha Hae-In. The famous S-rank Hunter. One of the most powerful Hunters in Korea. And she was here, in ‘Sweet Crumbs’, trying to keep a low profile.

You blinked, your mind racing as you tried to process the situation. You had read all about Cha Hae-In in the novel and manhwa, and now you were standing right in front of her, as she looked around the bakery, pondering what to order.

‘Don’t freak out, just keep calm about another major character, randomly appearing.’

You cleared your throat and stepped forward, forcing a polite smile onto your face, all the while trying not to scream. "Hello, welcome to Sweet Crumbs. Can I help you with anything?"

Cha Hae-In glanced up, her expression neutral as she approached the counter. "I’ll just take a box of your cinnamon rolls," she replied, her voice soft but firm.

"Of course," You quickly boxed up the order. Your hands were steady, but inside you were practically screaming. Cha Hae-In was standing right there. How were you supposed to act normal?

Just as you handed over the box, the door chimed open again. This time, it wasn’t a friendly face. Two masked men entered, their expressions hard and their eyes scanning the bakery with an intensity that immediately set the atmosphere on edge. One of them, tall and broad-shouldered, had a hand tucked suspiciously into his jacket.

Your heart rate spiked. ‘Oh no.’

The men exchanged a glance before the taller one stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Empty the register. Now."

You froze, like an idiot you had froze. You had been in this world for a few months now, but this was the first time you had encountered something like this. Your mind raced, trying to figure out what to do.

But before anything else could even happen, Cha Hae-In moved.

Faster than anyone could blink, the S-rank Hunter closed the distance between herself and the would-be robbers. There was a blur of motion, and the next thing anyone knew, both men were on the floor, groaning in pain, their weapons two small knives clattering to the ground.

Cha Hae-In stood over them, her expression calm and unreadable as you brushed an invisible speck of dust from her sleeve.

"Don’t bother," she said, hervoice cool and unbothered. "It’s not worth it."

You stared in stunned silence, your heart pounding in your chest. The entire encounter had lasted no more than two seconds, and now both men were incapacitated, their robbery attempt thwarted before it had even begun.

Cha Hae-In turned to you, her expression softening slightly. "Are you okay?"

You blinked, still trying to process what had just happened. "Y-Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks to you ."

Cha Hae-In nodded once, then glanced back at the two men, who were still groaning on the floor. " You should call the police."

You quickly nodd, fumbling for your phone as you dialed the emergency number. Your hands were shaking slightly, but you managed to keep your voice steady as you reported the attempted robbery.

As you hung up, you looked back at Cha Hae-In, who was already making her way toward the door, her box of cinnamon rolls in hand. You hesitated for a moment sneaking a peak at the burglars. Cha Hae-In had tied the two up with some rope she apparently had left over from a dungeon???

So everything should be fine till the police get here. You go into the back and exhale as though you were holding your breath the entire time. Hiding your face in your hands you couldn’t stop from trembling. Who would’ve thought the first threat to your life would be by people. Not the monsters in dungeons.

But now isn’t the time for panic, not when things are about to go down.