Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A café operated by the Dark Guild’s heir.
Chapter 101
“If there’s anyone connected to my daughter’s death, no matter who they are, I have to find them and repay them to the end.”
Meyson’s tone grew strangely calm as he murmured this, pulling out documents and beginning to focus on them with frantic intensity.
I too swept my eyes along the bookshelves, my attention sharpened in search of anything that might yield answers.
Meanwhile, Biedler, who had been examining the room alone, stopped before a wall and suddenly called out to me.
“Rosia, here.”
I tore my gaze from the shelves and walked toward Biedler.
In a corner where no bookshelf stood, another Magic Circle—similar to the one by the entrance—was drawn on the wall.
“This is…….”
I stared at it with a grave expression, then slowly brought my palm toward it, wondering if touching it might trigger something.
But this time nothing changed. Disappointed, I withdrew my hand and called to Meyson.
“Do you know what this is?”
“It seems to be something that was used to travel somewhere. There should be another end still remaining.”
“Can it be restored?”
“It’s been broken for a long time, so it will take some time… but yes, it’s possible.”
Meyson examined the Magic Circle carefully, his brow furrowed.
Then he stroked his chin and suddenly pushed us outside.
“The space is cramped. While I fix the Magic Circle, it would be better if you two left.”
“Will you be all right on your own?”
“Yes. I can feel Lily’s presence here. It feels like I’m meeting my daughter for the first time… I want to spend time here at my own pace.”
Though his appearance was still that of a man in his twenties, for the first time Meyson seemed to me like a grandfather.
I gazed at the deepened light in his eyes for a moment, then nodded and left with Biedler.
As we climbed the Ladder and closed the door, the Magic Circle shone with light and the handle disappeared.
Biedler, too, must have had much on his mind, but he kept my side without speaking, out of consideration.
As we walked together, I felt that now was the time to reveal my true identity to Biedler.
If my mother had been the overseer of the Mana Stone-filled mine we were searching for, things would become even more complicated going forward, and I couldn’t fabricate any more lies.
I hadn’t expected to tell Biedler before Seniel, but I resolved myself and called to him.
“Your Highness. There’s something I need to tell you.”
Biedler’s crimson eyes fixed on me. I saw my reflection in them as I parted my lips.
“I didn’t intend to reveal it like this. But I’m a Prince.”
When Biedler’s expression didn’t change, I spoke again, deliberately and clearly.
“A Prince of Raven.”
“I knew.”
His response was so unexpected that I was the one left bewildered.
After a moment’s silence, I blinked and asked back.
“You knew? Since when?”
“Not long ago. I found out when we crossed paths during the Guild War.”
Even though I hadn’t meant to deceive him, I was at a loss for words—I was guilty of having done so. But the fact that he’d known all along was quite a shock.
“Then you knew the whole time that the café was being used as a contact point between Raven and Aide……?”
“Yes.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“My voice and appearance were different because of medicine. How did you recognize me?”
“This.”
Biedler, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and spun around.
We were now close enough to nearly collide, and he looked down at me.
“There’s no way I couldn’t know.”
Standing this close, I felt the full weight of his presence keenly.
And I understood what he meant. At this distance, I thought, I too would recognize him even if he changed his appearance.
In that moment, many thoughts flooded through me.
I had deceived him; he had pretended not to notice.
Many emotions passed between us in the gaze we held, but I turned my body slightly to his side and averted my eyes.
“I didn’t mean to deceive you. I didn’t approach Your Highness with any ulterior motive.”
“I believe you.”
“Don’t you have any questions for me?”
Everything truly had been coincidence, but now a member of the Raven Guild—with whom I’d even formed an alliance—had been lingering at his side while concealing her identity.
It was a situation where he could have doubted me endlessly, yet Biedler asked nothing of me and simply shook his head.
“To me, you are Rosia before you are a Prince of Raven. And you are Seniel’s older sister.”
“…….”
“I have nothing to ask. If later you feel there’s something you want to tell me, I’ll listen to you then, slowly.”
If it were me, I would have doubted everything that had passed between us.
I was taken aback to realize we’d built such trust, yet grateful for it.
To me—confused and adrift after confirming the truth about my mother—his faith, his refusal to question me, became a comfort.
“Then I’ll speak freely now. I think that Magic Circle on the wall is connected to the location the Map was pointing to.”
“You’re saying it’s a mine?”
“Yes. The mine where my mother was the overseer—that’s the one.”
Biedler nodded in agreement, his expression growing troubled.
“What will you do? All the records in the Basement are Strophane’s secrets. They’d become essential information for Your Highness. Will you reveal them?”
“If I reveal that, your mother’s honor will be dragged through the mud.”
Since I’d already thought that far, I simply stared at him, and Biedler came to a halt.
“For now, let’s keep it between us. I’ll make a trip to the Capital.”
“You’ll come back? Your body is healed now, so I could contact you through the communication network instead.”
“I’m curious too about where that Magic Circle in the Basement leads. I’ll be back soon, so take care of yourself.”
“…Understood.”
Biedler stared at me, his hand hovering uncertainly, then patted my shoulder lightly and turned to leave.
***
After returning to the Temple, I sat quietly behind Cayden, who was deep in prayer, and watched him.
‘Always so devoted.’
Seeing him pray several times a day without fail, at the appointed hours, struck me as admirable, yet left me melancholy.
I wondered if the God he believed in so desperately could not heal his illness.
In the solemn atmosphere, I too gathered my thoughts about my mother.
Lost in contemplation, unaware of time’s passage, I looked up when Cayden finished his prayer and noticed me.
“You’re back? Your expression looks troubled.”
“Yes. I found traces of my mother.”
“What kind of traces?”
“There was a Basement beneath the café that my mother left behind. I found out some things I didn’t know about her.”
“It seems you found out something you didn’t want to know.”
“There seem to be far more sides to my mother than I knew. I’m a little afraid I won’t be able to accept them.”
Cayden sat in the adjacent chair and warmly enfolded my hand.
“You can stop if you’re afraid. It’s enough to know her only as you remember her. You don’t have to know everything about family.”
“…….”
“Besides, you have a grandfather now. Lean on him.”
I lifted my head and looked at Cayden.
“Meyson will stand steadily by your side. I’m so grateful that such a person appeared.”
I still hadn’t opened my heart to this grandfather who appeared so suddenly, nor did I know how much I could trust him.
To be honest, Cayden meant far more to me right now than Meyson did.
The way Cayden spoke made it feel as though he were entrusting me to Meyson, and something in me tightened with emotion.
“Don’t talk like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like someone who’s leaving. You do that sometimes.”
I gripped Cayden’s wrist firmly as he sat beside me.
“Is it because of that thing inside your body that’s eating away at you?”
“…It’s not like that.”
Watching his expression darken abruptly, I tightened my grip.
“I’ll ask Meyson about it.”
“What?”
“He’s a Grand Mage. Even if the Temple can’t treat your illness, he might find a way.”
For a moment, Cayden’s eyes wavered greatly, but then he shook his head and refused.
“The outcome is already determined. I can’t change what’s already been decided. If I entertain futile hopes… I’ll only be disappointed.”
Hearing Cayden’s words, I was shocked to realize it was more serious than I’d thought.
“You’re not… dying, are you?”
“…….”
“Answer me. Is it that serious?”
Cayden turned his head to the side, completely avoiding my gaze.
From his reaction, I realized something was gravely wrong, and my heart grew anxious.
“What do you mean, futile hope? Treating an illness… isn’t that just wanting to live?”
“It’s Internal Temple Matters that I can’t discuss, but I was always meant to be like this from the beginning. That’s my purpose.”
Hearing Cayden’s words, heavy with resignation, I finally couldn’t hold back and raised my voice.
“How can you accept that so easily? You have to try everything possible!”
“Rosia…….”
“I know nothing lasts forever. I don’t think you and I will spend our whole lives like this either. But still.”
I looked at Cayden and continued.
“Let’s at least try. I’ll ask Meyson. There might be a way to cure you. So stop talking like someone who’s already given up everything. Please.”
Without realizing it, my last words came out thin and trembling.
Only then did Cayden look back at me, meeting my eyes.
He looked as though everything was fine, as if he’d truly given up on everything, and it was hard to face him.
“I understand. Since I understand, won’t you smile for me? Don’t look sad.”
Wondering if he truly had a terminal illness, I felt myself tearing up again, but Cayden smiled as if nothing were wrong and gently pulled me up.
“Let’s eat dinner first. I’ll prepare it.”
“All right.”
What exactly was this Internal Temple Matters that Cayden was hiding? What incurable disease was he carrying?
I couldn’t understand it at all, but I suppressed my emotions and resolved to ask Meyson about it first.

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