episode_0633

633

Si-woo walked past the wide lobby in the center and headed toward the stairs before reaching the corridor with the elevators.

The standing sign placed between the stairs and the railing looked like it could be found in front of an old medieval inn or general store.

The blackened wooden board was densely studded with iron decorations, and the sharply curved metal frame exuded an antique yet sophisticated feel.

The name “The Witch and the Cats” was engraved on it in Gothic-style golden letters, and decorations resembling melted red wax flowed along the edges.

Below that, a large, thick board was attached.

The board, painted in black and written on with chalk, was decorated with various recommendations for drinks and desserts, making it look like a signboard from a teahouse in a fairy tale.

The most noticeable phrase was written largely at the top center of the board.

‘Limited Event Today – One Drink (Any Drink) + Tarot Reading + Raffle Coupon = 8,000 won’

‘Check Your Destiny.’

The attractively handwritten phrase reflected the lights inside the building and sparkled, and a small flower drawing was drawn around the edge.

The phrase “tarot reading” reminded Si-woo of the crystal ball reading he had received from Seul-gi at the magic academy last time.

Could this also be an event linked to the academy?

The stairs leading to the basement felt like a secret passage connecting to the backstage.

Recalling the image of the cafe that Cheol-jin had told him about, Si-woo slowly stepped down the stairs.

**

As he descended the stairs, a long corridor decorated to resemble a forest appeared.

Si-woo looked around and slowly walked forward along the maze-like corridor.

Passing through a forest path intertwined with moss and vines, Si-woo finally reached the small world in the basement.

The cafe’s name was elegantly engraved on the wide, transparent glass door.

With a slightly pounding heart, Si-woo placed his hand on the glass doorknob.

Then, taking a deep breath, Si-woo opened the glass door and entered the cafe.

Chime!

Along with the cheerful chime bell sound, a spell-like scent tickled his nose.

The subtle herbs, vanilla, and a slight touch of spice gently embraced Si-woo like magic.

The cozy interior in a medieval European style, with warm lighting, came into view at a glance.

A temperature of somewhat dreamy energy, different from everyday life, was transmitted to Si-woo’s skin.

“Welcome~”

The female employee who was standing at the counter smiled quietly and greeted Si-woo when she saw him.

A face and voice that made it difficult to guess her age… and her expression…

The faint wrinkles spread around her eyes and mouth subtly revealed the time she had lived.

Rather than simply looking old, she had a deep and solid weight somewhere.

Could she be the female employee who Cheol-jin had been guided by?

She has more of an owner’s vibe than an employee…

Her slender face with attractive eye smiles, neat silhouette, and affable and soft voice spread as if enveloping the narrow hall space.

Si-woo nodded and greeted her.

She had the aura of a middle-aged woman, but inside, she possessed a grace, dignity, and beauty that young faces did not have.

She was wearing a suit and had her hair styled in an antique braid.

Her body drew sleek yet elegant curves, and each of her movements exuded a quiet charm.

In particular, her chest, which seemed to be filled to the brim, reached Si-woo with a natural composure and poise, rather than an artificial display.

Her movements left a lingering impression, as if time itself had stopped for a moment.

The moment he made eye contact with her, Si-woo’s penis, which he was covering with his bag, throbbed violently.

The sensation of déjà vu that came as if soaking him touched Si-woo’s cheeks, as if reviving forgotten senses.

Along with the unfamiliar déjà vu, he felt an irresistible attraction, as if he would one day become intertwined with her like fate.

Her face was definitely a face he remembered seeing somewhere.

No! Even if he had never actually seen her, she felt like one of the people he knew.

Si-woo stared awkwardly at her face, as if frozen for a moment.

He wondered if she would show any reaction to him…

With an unfounded expectation that she might speak to him in some special way…

She smiled and raised her eyebrows slightly, as if puzzled.

In response to her reaction, the sense of sexual expectation and subtle certainty he had felt a moment ago turned into shame, heating up Si-woo’s face.

Si-woo quickly looked around the cafe, as if to gloss over his gaze.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he began to look around the cafe as if he was looking for a seat.

The bar-shaped counter and the cooking area, which stretched out in a long line, neatly occupied the center of the cafe, and tables were sparsely placed at regular intervals, as if surrounding them.

The narrow space on the hall side that was in contact with the counter felt quite deserted.

There weren’t many people crowded in, and only occasional quiet movements created small noises in the space.

Customers seemed to be sharing silent solitude and peace, absorbed in their respective daily lives…

And across the space in front of the cafe counter, two separate doors could be seen.

Doors made to divide men and women to go inside…

Behind them, there seemed to be an internal space separated like another world.

Faint conversations and light laughter leaked through the doors.

“Shall I guide you inside~?”

The middle-aged woman standing at the counter spoke to Si-woo, who was looking around.

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

Si-woo answered her words absentmindedly.

At her gesture, a hall employee who was serving while moving through the tables like air approached.

Neatly tied hair, a clean shirt, a simple black apron, and a pencil skirt with a side slit.

She was wearing sneaker shoes on her feet.

The clothes that fit her body naturally gave a clean yet eye-catching sophisticated impression.

On the border between modern pragmatism and an antique atmosphere, her clothes felt somehow heterogeneous yet naturally harmonious.

“Would you like to follow me?”

The employee gestured and spoke with a soft smile.

The atmosphere of the space seemed to soften with just that clear smile.

Si-woo bowed to the middle-aged woman at the counter once more and then followed the employee toward the entrance to the interior.

Inside, after walking through the curtains of the men’s entrance, all sides were covered with dark cloth.

A small room where the curtains hanging on both doors served as a boundary, giving the feeling of being cut off from the world.

The low lighting and the strange energy that glided through the air created a mysterious atmosphere that was a step away from reality.

Small lockers were neatly attached along the wall, like lockers in a dressing room, and a basket was placed on the table next to them.

It was a setting that seemed to have been arranged with consideration for guests to temporarily leave their belongings or items they had.

The small but systematic space gave the impression of entering a ceremonial place rather than just the inside of a cafe.

This was definitely a place prepared for storing clothes and luggage when the blackout cafe was open.

He had heard about the blackout cafe from Cheol-jin before, as if passing by.

Like a clue casually thrown about a secret place, it was a story that he had nonchalantly dismissed at the time.

And at lunch today, he was able to hear the details about this place once again through Cheol-jin’s mouth.

The ledger and slave contract handed over by Se-jin’s sister, the group meeting of Se-hee’s sister that he became involved in under the guise of dieting, the strange things that happened around Si-woo…

The moment he finally found the clue to how all of those things were intertwined with the academy…

The space in the story, which had only been imagined until now, began to take shape in front of his eyes.

An unknown tension flickered on Si-woo’s face.

“It’s faint, but… is this your first time today?”

The employee smiled softly and spoke to Si-woo, who was curiously looking around.

“Yes? Ah… yes…”

Si-woo paused for a moment at the unexpected question, then answered awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

What does “faint” mean? Like the déjà vu that Si-woo was feeling, does it mean that she seems to have seen him somewhere, but her memory is hazy?

Or is it a greeting ment that she carefully sets up in order not to commit a possible discourtesy to a customer who may have visited several times?

“This place also serves as a blackout event cafe during the day~ At that time, smartphones and other items are prohibited from being brought in, so we are storing them separately!”

The employee was smiling kindly and explaining in detail, as if trying to resolve Si-woo’s curiosity.