Our Cafe is Open as Usual - Chapter 4

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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 4

“Just put it directly into the inventory, how troublesome.”

It seemed like it wasn’t automatically given like the first reward.

I pressed the [Accept] button firmly without hesitation.

Ding!

With a clear sound, a small pouch appeared above my hand.

“They’re giving it more properly than I thought…”

The window telling me to accept the reward had made such a big fuss.

I immediately opened the pouch to check its contents.

Transparent gems that gave off a subtle, brilliant light were packed full inside the pouch.

“So these are diamonds.”

Where should I use these to get a good reputation?

I muttered while carefully picking up one diamond. Then Hyu, who had been sitting quietly on my shoulder, jumped in surprise and shouted.

“Gasp! Be, be careful, Master! That’s incredibly precious! With that, you can buy tools from the Tool Artisan. He only accepts diamonds…!”

“Tool Artisan? You mean… the person who made the hammer?”

“Yes! He’s an incredibly amazing person. He’s also someone who used to run this cafe with Basha. He’s currently away looking for tool materials, but… he’ll be back soon!”

Hyu nodded while clenching his fists tightly. His restless expression, as if urging me to quickly put the diamond away, was quite cute.

‘Ah.’

So these diamonds are meant to be used for the Tool Artisan?

I nodded slowly.

That’s when it happened.

Energy remaining: 15%.

Please recover energy through sleep.

A system window suddenly appeared before my eyes.

There were no flashy light effects or sounds ringing in my head.

I tilted my head slightly and read through the status window’s contents.

“…Energy?”

Come to think of it, I think it was written in the [TIP!] on the game loading screen…

Usually, energy in games like this refers to the total amount a game player can be active within the game. In other words, it means the ‘stamina’ that the game forcibly imposes on the player.

So when energy is completely used up, the player becomes unable to act.

Therefore, in games like this, the quality of gameplay depends on how efficiently you use your energy.

‘I can’t allow even an ounce of waste.’

That’s what it means to be Korean.

I slightly raised one corner of my mouth and rolled my eyes.

“Since I have 15% energy left, hmm… I should only move until 5% remains.”

If I had my way, I’d want to move until my energy dropped to the 1% line. Like the feeling of using your phone until the battery is at 1% before plugging in the charger…

But today is my first day after possessing this body.

‘I need to check how the system works too.’

I brushed away the status window that appeared before my eyes with my hand and picked up the hammer again.

“I should prepare a decent place to rest.”

But at that moment.

“Oh! Are you open for business here?”

A spine-chilling voice reached my ears.

It was a sound more horrifying than a ghost’s wailing.

“…I must have heard wrong, right?”

No way, surely not.

I trembled all over and tried hard to ignore the voice I heard.

‘I didn’t notice a single person passing by while fixing the building, so how could I be hearing human voices?’

Hyu was also sitting on the stairs with a bright expression as if he had no idea what was happening. I was about to stroke my chest and let out a sigh of relief.

However.

“Excuse me? I heard human voices from inside?”

“Right? They said they’re open for business?”

Human voices were heard again, and I froze in place. There weren’t just one voice, but two!

“…Ah.”

I think I knew why those people came to this newly restored building.

‘I shouldn’t have fixed the sign!’

I covered my face with my hands and squeezed my eyes shut.

It’s my fault for carelessly fixing the sign that was hanging split in half at the entrance. Even though the interior is a mess, the exterior clearly looks like a cafe to anyone…

“Haah…”

I ran my hand down my face and made a determined expression.

I wanted to pretend I didn’t know about the customers. However, I couldn’t just turn away customers who came on their own before we even opened.

Isn’t this a good chance to make them regulars! At least since we’re not doing business yet, I should tell them to come back when we properly open later.

I took a long breath and turned around.

I could see two men and women peering around in front of the building from the yard. They were wearing silver armor as if they had just finished training somewhere nearby.

‘…Armor?’

Could customers wearing armor appear in a peaceful game where you just work at a cafe to death?

‘Hmm, maybe knights exist since it’s a romance fantasy world setting? Well, that could be possible.’

I nodded lightly and then approached the arched window they were peering through.

And then I raised my voice loudly.

“We’re not open for business yet… mmph, mmmmph!!”

However, as if someone had artificially blocked my mouth, I suddenly couldn’t speak properly.

At the same time.

Ding!

<Welcome, customers!>

Your first customers have arrived.

You can’t send customers away empty-handed!

-Receive first customers

-Serve first drink to first customers

Reward: 100 Gold

*Upon failure, you will return to the beginning.

As usual, a system window appeared before my eyes.

“…Hah.”

A hollow laugh escaped at the absurd Quest content.

‘They want me to receive customers in this construction site.’

There aren’t even chairs or tables for customers to use, and there are no ingredients to make drinks!

I glared at the system window while gritting my teeth.

Even though they say starting a business is like diving headfirst into bare ground, this is… like creating something from nothing.

And…

‘…It says I’ll return to the beginning if I fail?’

Damn, this is crazy.

I couldn’t even skip it casually. Since I absolutely had to receive the first customers, it was maddening.

I exhaled deeply while pressing my lips tightly together. Then Hyu, who had rushed over to my side at the sound of the customers’ voices, started reading the situation.

“Ma, Master…! What should we do? Should I bring whatever tools are left in the cafe?”

“…Is there anything left?”

All the objects inside the building are completely destroyed.

When I muttered weakly, Hyu jumped up from his spot.

“Hyu saw earlier, there are some usable things left! Basha originally had all her tools sent to the Tool Artisan for repair, but… still! Hyu will bring them right away!”

Ju, just wait a moment!

With these words, Hyu rushed toward what used to be the kitchen. I watched where Hyu disappeared and then turned my head.

‘Stay calm.’

Since Hyu said he’d bring useful tools, I just need to handle customer service now.

‘Let’s take orders first and then think about the ingredients.’

He must have told me to serve customers because we can get the ingredients.

I couldn’t keep customers waiting outside any longer. I put on the most friendly-looking smile I could manage.

I thought it would be awkward since it wasn’t my original face, but controlling the corners of my mouth was easier than expected. I also refined my voice to sound as clean as possible.

After muttering quietly a few times, I saw Hyu running out from the kitchen.

The preparations were complete. I opened the mini bar window and shouted as kindly and brightly as possible with a smile.

“Welcome, customers!”

It was time to greet our first customers.

* * *

In front of a red-roofed building with dim light coming out.

Two people paced anxiously in front of it.

“At this point, they’re definitely not open for business, Lev.”

“No… My intuition is telling me they’re open, Valter.”

“Are you really going to be stubborn about this?”

“It’s not being stubborn.”

Lev glared at Valter with narrowed eyes.

‘Who’s the reason we’re making this fuss here right now!’

Wasn’t it because of Valter’s sudden complaint about being too thirsty that they stopped their return to the capital?

Still, the fortunate thing was that contrary to expectations that there would be nothing to find.

“Oh! Look over there. There’s a cafe?”

“…Here? This place should still be dangerous, shouldn’t it?”

A cafe existed.

As if inviting them to come in.

They headed toward the cafe with the feeling of discovering an oasis in the desert. Judging by the dim light seeping out, they thought it was open for business.

But the cafe they actually arrived at was strangely quiet.

The exterior looked quite decent, but the interior… didn’t feel like a place that would be open for business. Yet strangely, Lev felt like this cafe would be operating.

Since this kind of intuition was usually right, Lev ignored Valter’s opinion—that is, his opinion to just leave—and waited.

“Welcome, customers.”

Then the mini bar window opened and a kind, gentle response came back. Through the opened mini bar window, the cafe interior was clearly visible along with a woman who appeared to be the cafe owner.

Lev was quite flustered.

‘They’re open for business even with the interior in such a mess?’

So he asked.

“Are we perhaps visiting when you’re not even open for business?”

Then the cafe owner answered very cheerfully.

“Not at all! Our cafe is operating normally. So please feel free to order, customers.”

The answer was cheerful, but somehow it seemed like she was gritting her teeth.

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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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