Our Cafe is Open as Usual - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 23

The incident came unexpectedly.

And by chance, too.

I blinked my eyes. I couldn’t even begin to fathom what was happening.

But what was certain was the Quest window that appeared before my eyes.

??’s Arrangement

-Pray.

Reward: Coffee Machine

Upon Failure: ^%$#

* * *

About 2 hours earlier.

The Central Square of the capital was still crowded with people. No, there were even more people gathered than usual.

They were all forming an endless line toward the temple, waiting for their turn.

All of them had reverent faces filled with expectation.

The reason they were standing in line was simple.

It was because.

“Ah, so Dael Temple is finally opening today.

That’s why only that many people came to the cafe.”

It was the day the doors of Dael Temple, which had been closed all this time, were opening.

Thanks to that, only exactly 21 customers came to the cafe. Even then, none of them stayed to watch the sunset over the Reed Field before leaving.

At first, I thought they were leaving early because my coffee tasted strange.

‘Yeah, it was strange.’

I had definitely practiced intensively from when I returned to the cafe from Frizia’s Furniture Shop until morning, barely managing to raise the taste to [Ordinary but Memorable Coffee].

The All-Purpose Kettle was simpler to use than I thought. This was a method I figured out on my own.

You can’t be trapped by the prejudice that just because it looks like a kettle and is called a kettle.

This was a moka pot that just looked like a kettle!

‘It was fortunate that I knew how to use a moka pot.’

It was a skill I learned from the cafe owner when I worked part-time at a private cafe.

The coffee taste from a coffee machine or moka pot would be about the same… while thinking it was peculiar.

But I never knew I’d end up using it like this. While using the All-Purpose Kettle, I praised that cafe owner from back then.

‘Thanks to you, I’m using it well!’

With the usage method I mastered that way, I combined the amount of water and coffee beans. That’s how I barely managed to reach the taste of [Ordinary but Memorable Coffee].

If I research a little more, I might even be able to aim for [Coffee Full of Sincerity] like before.

So I was in quite a confident state.

It was coffee that even earned Millen’s praise that it was drinkable!

But everyone just drank their coffee quickly and left, which wasn’t disappointing at all.

I wondered what they had left in the capital that made them return so hurriedly.

So I also cleaned up the cafe and came to the capital!

Because I was curious about what was happening in the capital!

‘Right, right, it’s about a week until opening, so I need to be sensitive to the capital’s situation.

I have my thoughts too!’

To find out what was happening in the capital, and also to check out the competing cafes I hadn’t been able to examine before.

I came out to the capital for multiple purposes.

Naturally, I brought Millen and Hyu along too.

I tried to explore the capital while enjoying some alone time after a long while… but Millen stopped me.

“You’re really trying hard to become a corpse.”

He spoke firmly while explaining about the capital, Noren.

Noren, the capital of Jenen Kingdom, was quite large.

Bigger than Seoul but smaller than Tokyo. That would mean Jenen Kingdom was prosperous, but the situation was different now.

Millen explained that only part of the capital, where Dael Temple and the Royal Palace were located, had people interacting.

He also said that Jenen Kingdom had been gradually withering away due to climate changes that started five years ago.

Because of this, even though the capital should have good security, I heard warnings several times that it would be dangerous to go into deep alleys or places with few people.

Since I planned to go around various parts of the capital this time, Millen’s guidance was essential.

The only problem was that Millen, who had to provide guidance, wasn’t in a very good mood.

“Using high-quality personnel like me for just capital guidance… Basha would be shocked if she heard.”

“You said you absolutely couldn’t let me go alone, Millen.”

“I’m afraid you’ll die screaming in the streets. Then I wouldn’t have the face to look at Basha. Right, Hyu?”

“Oh! Of course! If something happens to Master, Hyu would be very upset and sad too!”

Hyu, who was sitting on Millen’s shoulder, waved his short arms. When his body tilted forward and he almost fell, Millen caught him.

“Hehe, thank you, Mr. Millen. Hyu almost got in big trouble before Master!”

“…What a high-maintenance person and hamster.”

For a moment, weariness flashed across Millen’s expression. Someone who used to live for his own pride suddenly became a sitter for an adult and a hamster… I decided to understand.

But there was one thing that puzzled me.

“Millen, but… aren’t there any cafes or public houses here? I see quite a few regular restaurants, but I don’t see places selling alcohol or coffee.”

“Ah, I didn’t explain that either. Due to the incident five years ago, all cafes and public houses closed down. Basha’s Cafe was the one place that managed to hold on.”

He said it so casually that I was the one who got flustered.

Such a big incident that all cafes and public houses in the capital closed down! I can’t fathom how big the natural disaster from five years ago was.

That naturally raised questions.

“Why did they all close? Coffee beans and alcohol ingredients are available. Even if not, there should have been other types of tea.”

“That’s…”

Millen looked at me and drew out his words before stopping.

“You’ll experience firsthand why all the cafes and bars closed later.

Lailah, you’ll experience it too when you open your cafe.”

My spine suddenly felt chilly.

‘That’s a curse, right? It’s definitely a curse, right? He’s cursing me to fail even before opening!’

I glared at Millen with triangular eyes.

Even so, Millen didn’t react at all. Rather, he let out a small laugh.

“Just wait and see. I’ll never fail.”

“Well, we’ll see. Whether you’re really… Basha’s successor will be determined then.”

“I am her successor. I’m her granddaughter and inherited the cafe.”

“…Sigh, never mind.”

Millen shook his head and completely turned his gaze away from me. Thanks to that, I was the one who felt wronged.

‘Right now, this is a matter of life and death for me.’

If this fails, I die too!

My fighting spirit ignited for no reason. Millen had a natural talent for getting under people’s skin.

My lips pouted. There were too many people around, raising my discomfort level. I was one step away from becoming a personality wreck.

“Phew.”

I let out a long breath and looked around. Before I knew it, we had arrived at the Central Square of the capital.

‘Ah, there was a reason my discomfort level was rising.’

There were too many people.

The square was packed with people without room to step. It was the perfect situation to get swept away by waves of people and become lost if you weren’t careful.

“…Hmm.”

And now that I realized this.

“…Where’s Millen?”

I had only looked away for a moment, but Millen was nowhere to be seen.

He was a flashy person from head to toe and tall, so he should definitely catch my eye if he were nearby… but he was completely invisible.

Whether I got swept up by people or Millen got swept up by people.

I shook my head and walked toward Dael Temple without any plan.

The temple was the place I knew best, wasn’t it? I was also acquainted with Parhan, who was somewhat of a religious leader.

So it was the perfect place for Millen, who would realize he lost me, to come looking for me.

However, there was something I had overlooked.

“…How do I even get into the temple?”

There were an enormous number of people trying to enter the temple. At this rate, even with my connection to Parhan, it seemed impossible to get in.

I stopped as close to the temple as I could manage.

‘If I stay here, I’m bound to run into someone.’

I had been standing there for about 20 minutes like that.

“…Excuse me, might you be Lady Leilah Token?”

A young man in white priest robes approached and spoke to me. At the same time, I found myself nodding without thinking.

I knew well that I should ignore strangers… but strangely, my body moved on its own.

The strange phenomenon didn’t end there.

The priest guided me inside the temple. And again, I followed as if entranced.

And so.

“…Huh?”

When I came to my senses, I was standing before the massive statue where the miracle was said to have occurred.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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