Chapter 41
Whoosh-
At that moment, black smoke appeared before Cha Seung-pyo’s eyes.
A pitch-black suit, sunken eyes with heavy shadows, pale skin, and crimson lips.
“Long time no see, Team Leader Cha Seung-pyo.”
“Team Leader Cha Byung-hwan?”
Cha Byung-hwan, team leader of KarMa Entertainment’s Sales Team 2, responsible for Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu.
And the reapers from Gangnam-gu who followed Cha Byung-hwan.
“What brings the Team Leader of Team 1 here? Causing such a commotion in my jurisdiction… tsk.”
“I came to help the deceased find peace. I apologize for the unintended disturbance.”
“A reaper who claims to help the deceased brings a spirit carrying a gil (吉) charm?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“You will explain. I’ll be reviewing the incident report on this mess.”
Cha Seung-pyo answered with a bitter smile.
“I’ll submit it without fail.”
“Leave this to us. Finish what you came to do, Team Leader Cha Seung-pyo.”
“Thank you.”
Cha Seung-pyo sheathed his sword and gathered Sook-hee and Kim Deok-bae into his arms.
Whoosh-
As they dissolved into smoke, the vengeful spirits at Nonhyeon Station seethed, spewing thicker miasma in their fury.
“Hiding like rats only to scramble over a single gil charm—pathetic.”
Team Leader Cha Byung-hwan of Sales Team 2 snorted and tightened his grip on his chain scythe.
His eyes glinted sharply as he addressed the spirits.
“We’ll continue this discussion in the underworld.”
Whoosh-
Jeong Jik-han, wiping a mug, turned at the sound behind him.
“Huh? Back already? Did you not find—”
He froze mid-sentence, breath catching.
Sook-hee and Kim Deok-bae wept in each other’s arms, their sorrow palpable.
Their longing carried such weight it bordered on anguish—an emotional depth beyond measure.
Ignoring the scene, Cha Seung-pyo slumped onto a barstool with a troubled frown.
“May I have a coffee?”
“Ah—yes.”
Jeong Jik-han hastily brewed a fresh Americano and handed it over.
A chill radiated from Cha Seung-pyo’s torso—not from the cold outside, but the lingering miasma of spirits.
“What happened out there?”
“Things… became complicated.”
“If it’s complicated—”
“It’s not your concern. The complications are mine alone.”
“What?”
When Jeong Jik-han reacted as though personally affronted, Cha Seung-pyo waved him off with a thin smile.
“Evil spirits ambushed us at Nonhyeon Station. Because of the gil charm you gave Sook-hee.”
“Ah…”
“It’s fine. That charm is why I could bring Kim Deok-bae here.”
“Then… it’s resolved?”
“Yes. Sook-hee and Deok-bae are safe.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
As Jeong Jik-han set down his towel, Cha Seung-pyo swept his bangs back and sighed.
“Gangnam-gu reapers detected the miasma and intervened.”
“And that’s an issue for you?”
“Yes. I’ll face penalties for overstepping my jurisdiction and causing a disturbance.”
Jeong Jik-han’s brow furrowed.
Why punish someone trying to do good?
The living world’s laws were flawed enough—must the underworld’s rules also spike his blood pressure?
As he opened his mouth to argue, Sook-hee and Deok-bae’s voices drifted over.
“Noona… I still smell that day. Feel the cold, the fear. Letting go of your hand—it haunts me. I wake screaming, terrified of being alone…”
“Hush. It’s over. We’re together now.”
“Noona… I missed you. So much it felt like my heart was tearing apart.”
This wasn’t the time for underworld policy debates.
Jeong Jik-han checked the clock—nearly 1 a.m. Sook-hee, as the Hour of the Rat’s guest, needed to depart soon.
He turned to Cha Seung-pyo.
“If I refill their coffee, can the Hour of the Rat’s guests stay until the Hour of the Ox?”
“Yes.”
Anticipating a lengthy reunion, Jeong Jik-han approached the pair.
“Sook-hee-ssi, another coffee?”
“Ah… is it time already?”
“Stay awhile longer. I’ll bring more.”
“Could my brother…?”
“Of course.”
With a gentle smile, he served them fresh vanilla lattes and Americanos.
[Jeong Jik-han’s ‘gil (吉)’ has been delivered to the deceased Kim Sook-hee.]
[Jeong Jik-han’s ‘gil (吉)’ has been delivered to the deceased Kim Deok-bae.]
After seating them by the window, he returned to Cha Seung-pyo.
“If you’re punished for this, doesn’t that mean the underworld’s laws are flawed?”
“Rules exist to be followed.”
“Flawed rules must be changed. If anything happens to you because of this—I won’t accept it.”
“Would you say that to King Yeomra himself?”
Cha Seung-pyo’s teasing tone drew no smile from Jeong Jik-han—only steely resolve.
The barista believed it: for the dead and the dutiful, unjust laws needed fixing.
Sensing his seriousness, Cha Seung-pyo matched it.
“I’ll handle my problems. Don’t fret.”
“Ask for help if you need it.”
“Even if it risks consequences for you?”
“Know why those who’ve crawled up from rock bottom are fearsome?”
At Cha Seung-pyo’s puzzled look, Jeong Jik-han smirked.
“Consequences? Loss? We don’t care.”
“……”
"If something is dirty, I don’t tolerate it—I confront it head-on.
If you're at rock bottom, shouldn’t you endure it even more?
Everyone’s different, but that’s how I am. If something’s unfair, I push back. Isn’t KarMa Entertainment adapting to the times? Then outdated rules need to be revised even more."
Cha Seung-pyo didn’t respond.
But not long after, he chuckled softly and shook his head repeatedly.
"Mr. Jeong Jik-han seems like a genuinely good person, but seeing him like this, he doesn’t seem all that gentle."
"Why do you think I’m polite?"
At Jeong Jik-han’s question, Cha Seung-pyo tilted his head in confusion.
Jeong Jik-han crossed his arms and continued.
"It’s not because of my innate nature or because I’m just kind-hearted."
"Then what is it?"
"It’s easy to recognize people who know how to respect others. To those people, I show respect in return."
"......"
"Why should I show courtesy to those who don’t deserve it?"
When Jeong Jik-han raised the corners of his eyes and retorted, Cha Seung-pyo scratched his forehead instead of answering.
He then sighed and asked,
"Is this an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?"
"It doesn’t matter if the other person is strong or weak. If someone deserves to be bitten back, I bite back; if they deserve respect, I respect them."
Cha Seung-pyo fell silent, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Most patrons of the Café of the Dead were either inherently good or refrained from belittling others.
Perhaps this was why Jeong Jik-han’s temperament shone even brighter here.
If the café had only welcomed evil spirits...
It would’ve been chaos.
Cha Seung-pyo laughed dryly and asked,
"You’re terrifying when you say things like that, Mr. Jeong Jik-han."
"I despise people who feel no guilt for their mistakes and blame others instead."
"Heh, ‘despise’ is a strong word..."
"I’ve been grinding through manual labor since I was 17 to repay 300 million won in debt. I’m neither naive nor ambiguously righteous."
"Your standard of ‘righteousness’ seems exceptionally high."
"The higher the standard, the harder it is to ignore those who cross it."
Cha Seung-pyo pursed his lower lip, nodded slowly, then stood up.
"Understood. I’ll actively seek your help if needed in the future."
"Anytime."
With a faint smile, Cha Seung-pyo left the café.
As the clock neared 1 AM, the guests of the previous hour rose to leave, replaced by newcomers.
Jeong Jik-han brewed coffee while observing Suk-hee and Kim Deok-bae.
Two hours wouldn’t be enough to unravel 70 years of stories.
If time ran short... he planned to grant each an extra "fortune" and take them to a secure officetel safe from evil spirits.
There, they could finish their conversation and convert their two fortunes into return passes for the café.
Let’s rest a bit.
After serving the new guests, he settled into the counter chair, savoring the quiet.
A few patrons entered at 2 AM.
Jeong Jik-han briefly explained the café’s purpose and took their orders: one americano, one café mocha, one vanilla latte.
He’d learned something while working here: guests from the previous hour often had deeper karma or more virtuous deeds than those of the current hour.
The latter could only stay two hours, but the former could remain longer through coffee refills.
Guests seeking ascension fared better arriving earlier—their chances brighter, though some, like Suk-hee, carried profound regrets.
As he tidied mugs and glasses, Suk-hee and Kim Deok-bae approached the counter.
Kim Deok-bae sank into a barstool and called softly,
"I heard from my sister... how much you’ve done for us. Truly... thank you."
He bowed so deeply his forehead touched the counter.
Jeong Jik-han waved his hands frantically.
"Ah, no! This is my job. Please lift your head."
"I don’t know how to repay this kindness."
Kim Deok-bae’s eyes were bloodshot, eyelids swollen red—a mirror of Suk-hee’s tear-streaked face.
She gazed at Jeong Jik-han with glistening eyes, then smiled warmly.
"Jik-han."
Clasping his hands in hers, she beamed.
"Thank you."
Her warmth melted Jeong Jik-han’s anxieties about Cha Seung-pyo, replacing them with calm.
"I’m glad. Helping you brings me joy too."
"I wish I could give you something... I’m sorry I have nothing."
"Don’t worry. Accepting gifts would violate Clause 3 of my contract."
"But you have a dokkaebi token. It’s fine."
"Rules are rules."
"Earlier, I heard you say you’d confront flawed rules head-on?"
"That... I was just worried something might happen to Team Leader Cha."
Rubbing his neck awkwardly, he avoided her gaze. Suk-hee smiled faintly.
"When I ascend, I’ll pray for you and Team Leader Cha."
"Since when did you switch from grumbling to sounding so sage? It’s unsettling."
He lightened the mood with a joke. Suk-hee chuckled, recognizing his intent.
"I’m just... deeply grateful. I never imagined receiving such grace."
"......"
"Because of you, I finally understand what it means to wholeheartedly wish for someone’s peace and happiness."
Jeong Jik-han bit his lip and bowed his head.
Her warmth soothed him like a gentle balm.
"I won’t tell you to keep striving for the dead. Just live well, Jik-han. Stay healthy and happy. That’s enough."
"Ms. Suk-hee..."
"Thank you. For the first time in 70 years... my heart feels light."
"......"
"Is this... relief?"
A soft glow began to emanate from Suk-hee and Kim Deok-bae’s chests.
