"According to the Korea Hunter Association, the dungeon was first detected early this morning. The area was immediately evacuated, and a raid team was dispatched shortly afterward."
The footage switched to a group of hunters emerging from the dungeon entrance.
"Fortunately, the raid was completed without any civilian casualties. The Association has confirmed that the dungeon has been successfully cleared."
A news anchor appeared on screen, holding a tablet as she continued with the next report.
Seo Elena turned off her phone just as the others arrived.
"I'm surprised you two came together this morning," she remarked, looking between Prometheus and Diana. They had both arrived unusually early, just before the café was due to open.
"It's a coincidence," Diana replied casually.
Elena glanced at her ears.
Diana had never been particularly honest about her feelings when it came to romance. She could keep a straight face and deny just about anything, but her ears were another matter entirely.
They had a habit of turning bright red whenever Prometheus was involved.
Quite the shy one, despite how she usually carried herself.
"Should we take the cover off before the others start coming into the building?"
Atticus arrived shortly afterward, setting his backpack down near the counter.
A few weeks ago, Elena had discovered that the entire guild building, along with the organization itself, had been placed under her ownership.
Naturally, only those directly involved in the transfer knew the full details. Elena herself had yet to fully grasp just how much had been handed over to her.
For the time being, she was simply happy to have a wonderful place where she could serve coffee
Of course, only the people directly involve in the process knew about it. As far as everyone else was concerned, the guild continued operating as usual.
She had been quite pleased with the arrangement. After all, the location was excellent, and having a café inside a building frequented by hunters meant she would never have to worry about a lack of customers.
And so, after giving it some thought, she'd decided to add one more thing to the café's name.
Shurelia.
"Okay, let's open up for the day."
The day had gone by much like any other.
The café seemed to grow more popular with each passing day, so much so that they often had to close earlier than planned because they would run out of ingredients.
Seo Elena had even hired a few more employees to keep up with the growing number of customers. Having Diana, Atticus, and Prometheus around was no longer enough.
Of course, not everyone came for the coffee.
Every now and then, hunters would stop by in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Han Jinhyuk. Perhaps the café's growing popularity had more to do with his presence than the drinks themselves.
Regardless, the biggest change in Elena's recent life had been the Baekhwa sisters.
The three of them had started visiting the café more frequently, often taking the opportunity to strike up conversations with her. What had initially been brief exchanges had gradually turned into something resembling a friendship.
"Oh, hello. Would you three like your usual?"
The Baekhwa sisters approached the counter with smiles and nodded.
"By the way, I just got back from a day trip to Hawaii. I brought you some of the famous chocolates from there."
Jiyeon handed Elena a bag.
"Unnie, I got you something, too."
Hyein promptly handed her another bag.
Just as Elena was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by the gifts, Chiyeon stepped forward and offered her one of her own. Her expression remained as serious as ever.
"For you."
Elena looked down at the three bags now gathered in her hands.
"Thank you. But... did all three of you go to Hawaii?"
"No? I was the only one who went. When I told these two that I'd bought you something, they decided to get you gifts, too."
Jiyeon shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Elena let out an awkward chuckle.
She still wasn't quite used to receiving so much attention from the three sisters, especially when they had only recently begun getting closer. Still, she couldn't say she disliked it.
They were all kind in their own ways, and spending time with them was surprisingly enjoyable.
"We'll get going now, then. Someone's here to see you."
"Huh? Who?"
Elena's confusion was quickly answered when Han Jinhyuk walked into the café.
The moment he appeared, whispers and excited murmurs spread among the customers. A few even turned in their seats to get a better look at him.
Jinhyuk paid them little attention and headed straight for the counter. When he reached Elena, he smiled.
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Oh, I have to work..."
"She's free tomorrow," Diana cut in, nearly making Elena stumble over her words. "Actually, she's free right now, too."
"What? Unnie, the café..."
"Look at the kids. We've got plenty of newcomers now. We don't need you hovering around here all day." Diana waved her off. "So go on. Take a break, my damn workaholic child."
Elena stared at her in disbelief.
Jinhyuk, meanwhile, was looking at her expectantly. With both of them waiting for her answer, she could only let out a defeated sigh.
"Yes. I suppose I am free right now."
"Good."
Elena untied her apron and set it aside before grabbing her bag. Jinhyuk waited for her, then held out his hand.
She hesitated for a moment.
They were in the middle of a crowded café, after all. Quite a few people were already watching them, and accepting his hand would only give them more to talk about.
But then again, perhaps she was worrying too much.
She placed her hand in his.
Maybe it was time she stopped being so conscious of what other people thought.
And perhaps, if the time was right, she could finally tell him how she felt.
After they left the building together, they found Han Jinhyuk's luxury car waiting outside.
He drove them to his other residence, and before long, Seo Elena found herself back at his home.
"What are we doing here?" she asked curiously.
Come to think of it, hadn't she been visiting his homes more often lately than he had?
"Come with me."
He led her inside, walking straight toward the door that connected to his personal dungeon.
"Are we going back in there...?"
Elena looked at him in confusion. And who could blame her?
What kind of man asked a woman if she was free, only to bring her to a creepy, damp dungeon that smelled terrible?
But when Jinhyuk opened the door, there was no darkness waiting on the other side.
Instead, a bright, open landscape stretched out before them. Lush green trees swayed gently in the breeze, and a beautiful stretch of blue sea shimmered in the distance.
The grass beneath their feet looked so soft that Elena instinctively slipped off her shoes before stepping onto it.
"What... is this place?"
"My personal dungeon. I thought we could spend some time here, just the two of us."
"It's beautiful..."
Elena slowly took in the scenery, hardly able to believe that such a place existed behind the door she'd always associated with a gloomy, damp dungeon.
As they continued walking, she spotted a picnic setup beneath the shade of a tree. A blanket had been spread across the grass, with an assortment of delicious-looking dishes arranged neatly on top.
"When did you prepare all this?"
She stopped for a moment, then glanced down at her clothes.
"No, wait. I'm not dressed for this at all. Should I go home and change first?"
Jinhyuk gave her a faint smirk.
"Why don't you just ask me?"
"Oh!"
Before she could say anything else, a gentle sensation passed over her body.
In the next instant, her jeans and top had been replaced by a beautiful white dress. Her brown hair had been gathered into loose braids, with a delicate ribbon tied at the back. A plaid shawl rested over her shoulders, keeping her warm against the slightly chilly breeze.
"Hehe, you're like a magician." Seo Elena chuckled amusingly.
"I can do far more than a magician ever could. Just ask me for anything you want and I will grant it."
"Then... I'd like to come back here again, can we?"
"You can come back whenever you want, Yena. My home is yours."
Was that a confession?
It certainly sounded like one, but Seo Elena wasn't entirely sure. She has never dated before, so her knowledge in romance was zero.
She cleared her throat and turned to face him properly. If she wasn't sure, then she'll just have to convey her feelings instead.
"I..."
But her words were caught in her throat.
She hadn't expected this to be so difficult. She had imagined saying it countless times, but now that the moment had actually arrived, she found herself struggling to get the words out.
"I like you!"
The words finally escaped her mouth.
Elena could only stand there, staring at him. Her heart was beating so loudly that she was almost certain he could hear it.
Jinhyuk looked at her.
And continued looking at her.
Why wasn't he saying anything?
Had she caught him off guard? Was he trying to find a polite way to turn her down?
The possibilities began piling up in her head, and the longer he remained silent, the more she wanted to take back what she'd just said.
"Ah, no. You don't have to reply to that."
She hurriedly looked away.
"I just wanted you to know. So don't feel like you have to say something just because I—"
"Yena."
She stopped.
"Why are you confessing to me?"
"...What?"
Jinhyuk tilted his head slightly, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Are we not in a relationship already?"
"...What? Huh? Since when?"
Since our first kiss.
That was what he wanted to say.
But Elena didn't remember that moment, and he had no intention of making her recover memories she had lost. He didn't want her to feel that she had to return to the person she'd once been, or that their relationship had to continue simply because of something that happened in before.
He wanted her to choose him without the painful memories of the past.
"No. I'm sorry." He started.
His unexpected words made Elena's heart sink.
Sorry?
Had she misunderstood everything after all?
But before she could say anything, Jinhyuk gently took her hand and continued.
"I should have told you sooner." He looked straight into her eyes. "I love you, Seo Elena. Across every timeline, through every reality, I will find my way to you. No matter how many times the world changes, you will always be the one I search for."
Elena couldn't find the right words to describe how she felt in that moment.
She had imagined what it might be like to hear him reciprocate her feelings, but she hadn't expected him to say something so poetic.
Wasn't this a little unexpected coming from him? He was far more romantic than she'd ever imagined.
Still, her fingers tightened around his. Their hands remained intertwined, as if neither of them wanted to let go.
"I don't know what to say now."
Jinhyuk smiled faintly.
"Then let's seal our promise here."
He gently cupped her cheek, his gaze lingering on her eyes before he leaned closer.
Elena closed her eyes, meeting him halfway.
And beneath the endless sky, with the sound of the waves reaching their ears, the two shared a kiss that promised them something neither time nor fate could take away.