Our Cafe is Open as Usual - Chapter 77

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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 77

“You have quite keen eyes.”

A low and gentle voice.

I knew this voice.

The man I had encountered at Volman’s clothing store.

The one who said only what he wanted to say and disappeared, making me wonder if I had seen a ghost…

‘…Deep blue.’

The Crown Prince of the Jenen Kingdom!

I had vaguely realized his identity during the ‘Red Tulip’ gathering.

“So there were even rumors that all of Noren’s deep blue fabrics were offered to that person…”

Deep blue.

The moment I heard those words, he was the person who came to mind. That color like embracing the night sea was not easily forgotten.

Millen’s reaction also played a part.

“An unlucky face comes to mind. If you see that guy again, deal with him appropriately and avoid him.”

Someone Millen knew and someone worth dealing with appropriately.

For Millen, who claimed to be the highest existence except for the gods, it meant this person was worth dealing with.

Millen wouldn’t even look at nobles, calling them bothersome.

So only royalty remained.

Among them, there would be only one deep blue person who frequently went on inspections these days.

At least someone with that kind of atmosphere… it would be ridiculous to say he wasn’t the Crown Prince.

I turned my head toward where the voice came from. There stood the same man I had seen at Volman’s clothing store.

Not flashy but neat. A deep blue man who gave the completely opposite feeling from Millen.

I quietly looked at him and let out a hollow laugh.

‘…What kind of coincidence is this?’

Did the gods help?

‘How do the people I need keep popping up everywhere I go?’

I wondered whether to call this good luck, divine help, or both.

‘If they’re going to help, they could help more dramatically…’

No, there’s no more dramatic help than meeting the Crown Prince on the street…

I was complaining for no reason, but then realized the truth and changed my attitude. There would be no better help than this.

When I showed no reaction, the Crown Prince continued speaking with a faint smile.

“Do you know exactly what happened 5 years ago?”

“…I was in the countryside then, so I don’t know well.”

“So that’s why you said such things. If you had experienced that incident, you couldn’t have spouted nonsense about the building being old. Though you might say it was unharmed.”

“…What happened?”

The Crown Prince stood beside me and tilted his head. His neatly tied deep blue hair brushed his shoulder and fell into the air.

“How do you know about it?”

“…I only heard that a natural disaster occurred. Everyone was reluctant to talk about the details.”

“You can’t just call that a mere natural disaster…”

The faint smile on his face gradually disappeared. Deep blue eyes became waves pouring over me. Like punishment for my ignorance.

“More than half of Noren was destroyed. That wasn’t just a natural disaster. It was the beginning of destruction.”

Like a song with nothing jarring about it, he spoke softly. However, the content was utterly chilling.

Destruction.

I had seen something similar to that word recently.

What would happen if I failed the Hidden Quest.

‘…World annihilation.’

Annihilation or destruction, the conclusion was the same. It meant the end of this world was slowly approaching.

‘I never dreamed I’d hear this story from the Crown Prince…’

How exactly is the game progressing?

Is it okay for a game character to know such facts? No matter how I think about it, it seems like only greater chaos would arise.

I gulped and looked at the Crown Prince.

Even after uttering such terrifying words, he looked quite peaceful.

He slowly shifted his gaze to the building. Following his gaze, I also looked at the building.

“That day, except for buildings around the temple and royal palace, most collapsed beyond repair. Fortunately, divine power remained, so we could restore them quickly. Before the chaos spread further.”

“…So that’s why buildings around the temple show more traces of time than other places.”

“Most were newly built. That’s why Noren looks intact despite what happened.”

Hearing his words and looking again, I saw the buildings anew. No, I felt the world’s annihilation too directly.

‘…One wrong move and everyone dies.’

I shouldn’t have just thought of it as collateral.

I thought they were holding the world as collateral because my life wasn’t enough, but that wasn’t it.

The world’s annihilation was closer than I thought, and people had already suffered.

Now I understand why people consider the events of 5 years ago a natural disaster and don’t bring up the story.

‘It was all omens.’

The natural disaster 5 years ago and the beverage disaster that started then.

Nothing else has happened since, but people must be living with anxiety.

But suddenly a miracle occurred with the Divine Artifact.

‘Since I appear to be overcoming the beverage disaster…’

A big reaction occurred.

For the people here who had experienced all those omens, it wasn’t a change they could ignore.

Only now did I begin to feel the weight of the Hidden Quest given to me.

‘…If I fail, everyone dies.’

It wasn’t just a game to pass over carelessly.

If I failed, all the people I had formed connections with here would be swept away and killed by terrible disasters.

No, if I moved too slowly, another debuff might cover them. The debuff wasn’t completely over.

Even if it’s a game… not everything I’ve built here is false.

Rather, I’m having more valuable experiences than in reality.

Precious memories created by precious connections…

I’m not heartless or selfish enough to ignore those.

In the midst of this.

‘…I can’t die either.’

If I died, the Hidden Quest would automatically be marked as failed.

Because there would be no one to carry out the Quest!

So one year.

Since I received it a month ago, for the remaining 11 months… I must succeed in the Hidden Quest.

‘The debuff that disappears if I succeed in the Hidden Quest probably means… something like the natural disaster from 5 years ago.’

I had simply thought it was a reward related to my debuff, but the reality was bigger.

The slowly fitting pieces of information made me dizzy.

What was fortunate was.

‘Parhan said so.’

The gods are helping me…

So the people I need keep appearing at the right times.

Of course, the price is enormously high.

But what can I do?

Now that I know the real situation, I have no choice but to move desperately.

‘…But this is really a scam game.

They said it was a cafe management simulation game…!’

I barely breathed through my blocked throat and slightly lowered my head.

I felt the Crown Prince’s blue gaze. He let out a light laugh and said.

“While the return of the Divine Artifact is cause for celebration, the fact remains that it’s still dangerous. So you should be careful too. If you say such things in front of people, you might get stoned.”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

This was truly appreciated.

How many people have fallen into ruin just from speaking carelessly?

I would be in situations where I’d need to be careful with my words going forward, so his advice was definitely something I needed.

I bowed deeply to him, expressing my sincere gratitude.

This was the proper courtesy toward the Crown Prince that I should have shown from the moment we first met.

He watched me quietly, then spoke with what seemed like regret.

“So you figured out my identity. Well, if that gathering was held at your cafe, you must have heard about it.”

“…Your information network is really fast.”

“Rather than being fast, it’s been a while since Mrs. Manfredi told me there was someone she found appealing. She stopped by this morning to chat about it.”

So she found me that appealing…

If she went straight to the Crown Prince to talk about it, I can’t even fathom how much she liked me. It felt oddly embarrassing.

I scratched my cheek with my finger and spoke.

“Mrs. Manfredi looked favorably upon me. It’s something to be grateful for.”

“It certainly is something to be grateful for. She’ll become a great backer for you.”

“I don’t expect her to be my backer.”

The backer I want is much bigger than that.

I recalled the fundamental reason why I had tried to make contact with the Royal Court.

‘To properly deal with that bastard, I need to become friends with the person at the very top.’

I had lost my way temporarily because of the Main Quest, but my ultimate goal was still to become close with the Royal Court.

And right before my eyes was the person closest to that objective.

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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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