Chapter 3
At the vague answer, Cha Seung-pyo wet his lips thoughtfully and asked with a curious expression:
"Are you curious?"
"Of course. What if I served tea thinking their grudge was resolved, only for the deceased to become wronged? They might turn into evil spirits instead of passing on..."
"You’re worried about the dead, not yourself?"
"Partly concern they’ll lash out, partly just... it nags at me."
Cha Seung-pyo studied Jeongjikhan with amused interest, stroking his chin.
"Fascinating."
"Huh?"
"On paper, I pegged you as ruthless—a weed clinging to survival at all costs."
"Me?"
Do they keep personal records in the afterlife too?
Then again, they’d need files to judge sins and assign punishments.
Now that he thought about it... Weed fit.
He’d done every odd job imaginable to pay debts.
Crossing his arms, Cha Seung-pyo continued:
"Moo-chi must’ve had reasons to save you."
"..."
"However reckless he is, he avoids meddling with names on the Underworld’s registry."
As Jeongjikhan bit his lip, Cha shoved hands into his pockets:
"I’ll understand once I see your work here."
Jeongjikhan scratched his stubble, unsure how to respond.
"If issues arise, contact me."
"Is this number on your card... from the living world?"
"Naturally."
Jeongjikhan cleared his throat and turned to Clause 5:
"‘Contract period: 10 years, adjustable to 5 based on performance.’ Too vague."
"How so?"
"Does good performance shorten it to 5, or bad performance?"
"Ah! Needs clarifying."
Cha grabbed a pen, strode to the counter, and amended:
Good performance → 5 years
Average → Original 10 years
(Choice to retire early or complete term remains.)
Snapping his pen shut, Cha added:
"This job is both blessing and punishment for cheating death."
"..."
"Whatever Moo-chi’s motives, prove your worth here."
"Understood."
5 years if I excel, 10 otherwise. Either way, I gain.
A stable income—250 monthly, housing included. More blessing than penalty.
Only 4 hours nightly left days free for side jobs or saving to invest.
His ultimate goal? Family happiness.
That required funds—overseas trips with Mom, sibling’s financial security.
As a middle-school grad, wealth-building options were limited. Hence his self-taught investing: stocks, real estate, virtual portfolios.
This café gig was just an unexpected detour, not a derailment.
After signing, Cha instructed:
"Café operations manual’s in the drawer. Salary every 5th. Earn ‘good karma’ (善業) here—use it wisely."
"How?"
"Check your KarMa Entertainment profile. Hands-on beats explanations."
"And hoard that karma—it dictates your afterlife quality."
Jeongjikhan nodded, recalling Kang Moo-chi’s briefing.
Cha glanced outside. "Duty calls. Contact me anytime."
With a bow, he dissolved into smoke.
Grim reaper business? Spirit hunting or soul retrieval?
No matter. Time to learn café operations.
His first café job since 21. Minimum-wage part-time gigs hadn’t been worth the grind.
"Café for the deceased..." Could this be his life’s pivot?
Smack! He slapped both cheeks.
"Let’s do this."
The manual covered coffee machines (use right-side for staff, left for patrons—same beans, different effects?), weekly KarMa bean deliveries, and ironclad hours: Open by 3 AM?
The Hour of the Ox (1-3 AM)—when spirits roam.
Northeast-facing entrance, the "Ghost Gate" direction. No wonder living eyes saw a wall.
Korean buildings avoided northeast entries. Superstition? Maybe. But construction crews still prayed to earth spirits before breaking ground—he’d witnessed it firsthand.
Ding! A chime heralded blue text:
[Welcome, Jeongjikhan. Karma Entertainment Assistant ‘Nahan’ at your service.]
[Summon me to check karma or shop.]
"Check karma."
[Good Fortune (吉): 32
Great Fortune (大吉): 0
Minor Misfortune (小凶): 0
Great Misfortune (大凶): 0]
"Earning Good Fortune?"
[Help others—seat-giving, driving courtesy, etc.]
Huh. His bus seat offers barely moved the needle.
The karma store offered:
Wealth Luck
Career Luck
Health Luck
Curse (煞) Attacks
[Warning: Cursing others backfires—500 Good Fortune spent = 500 Misfortune gained. Increased hardship/disease risk.]
A mutual destruction pact. Useless for someone with no enemies.
[5,000 Good Fortune → 1 Great Fortune
5,000 Misfortune → 1 Great Misfortune (3+ years = calamity)]
Jeongjikhan closed the menus. Time to clean the left-side La Marzocco—three groupheads, no cleaning key needed. Pod system, not grounds. Familiar yet alien.
Portafilters here, grinder there... Inventory check: 20 mugs, 15 glasses. Prep area left of register.
Sunset through east windows. Northeast entrance confirmed—Ghost Gate aligned.
This café doesn’t just serve spirits—it’s built to welcome them.
