Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 108

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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 run by the successor to the Dark Guild.
108
Biedler had wandered over to the adjacent seat and pulled up a chair, letting out a small cough.
“I’m starving. Well then, I’ll dig in.”
With that, he ladled a heaping spoonful of stew and began eating ravenously.
“This is delicious. It keeps reminding me of the food from the Temple.”
“I was sorry you left without saying goodbye. I’m happy to see you again like this.”
“I was planning to come back soon anyway… I apologize. I stayed at the Temple for days and then left so abruptly like that.”
I stared in surprise at the two of them conversing peacefully.
I’d thought Biedler would devour Cayden with those looks of displeasure he usually gave him, yet here they were, sharing such a calm meal.
For the first time, I found myself curious about what had happened while I was unconscious.
Cayden even scooped some of the nearby salad onto a separate plate and placed it before Biedler.
“You seemed to enjoy this last time.”
“Your cooking is so good that everything tastes appetizing.”
Biedler accepted it without protest and ate naturally.
“You two… what is this? When did you get so close?”
“Close? We just got used to each other’s faces after eating together a few times.”
“We waited together for Rosia to wake up, so… a little bit that way.”
And so the meal wound to a close.
After we finished eating and cleared away the dishes, an awkward silence settled over the empty table.
“Cayden, it’s time for your evening prayers. And you must have had some business bringing you here so late.”
In the end, I was the one who asked first, looking between the two of them.
“Yes. I should head to prayers. But will you be staying here at the Temple again?”
“No. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here. Rosia, do you have a vacant room? I’ll cover the lodging fee.”
Biedler gestured toward the back of the expanded café and asked.
“Here? You should go to our Temple. Rosia has many guest rooms there as well.”
“My faith must be weak—I kept tossing and turning in bed the whole time I was at the Temple.”
A peculiar tension passed between Biedler and Cayden, who faced each other.
‘So that’s how it is. Getting close, my foot.’
I shook my head and recalled the vacant rooms in the café.
“We do have a room available. How many days?”
“I have to return to the Imperial Palace in a week, so about five days, I’d say.”
“The room next to Meyson’s and the one across from it are vacant. Choose whichever you prefer.”
“Next to Meyson’s?”
“Do you dislike that?”
“No, no, not at all.”
The moment he entered the café, Biedler dashed toward the luggage he’d left by the entrance, gathered it hastily, and positioned himself as though ready to enter a room that very instant.
“There are plenty of rooms at the Temple too…….”
Cayden gazed at me with an uneasy expression.
“Come stay too. You don’t have to sleep in the common room anymore—whenever you like.”
“Understood. Then I’ll head back to the Temple.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Biedler’s expression had grown more relaxed as he saw Cayden off at the door.
Cayden turned back toward me as if he wanted to say something more, then let out a sigh and left.
I was about to follow him out, worried by that expression, but Biedler slammed the door shut.
“Then I’ll head to my room.”
“Wait a moment.”
I stared at the closed door briefly, then stretched my arm to block Biedler’s path.
“There’s a condition if you’re going to stay here.”
“What is it?”
“While the café is open, try not to come out to the hall.”
“That’s not a difficult request. But I’m curious about your reasoning.”
“Even though we don’t have many customers yet, we can’t be too careful. If word gets out that you’re staying here, it could cause problems, couldn’t it?”
Biedler nodded, seeming to understand.
“I can manage that. I was planning to spend my days wandering the area anyway. I have a lot of unfinished business.”
“That works then.”
I led him down the newly built corridor and showed him the two vacant rooms.
“We might run into each other otherwise… the room next to mine would be better.”
“Feel free to make yourself comfortable.”
I was about to leave, but Biedler quickly spoke up.
“What happened with the Magic Circle in the basement?”
“Meyson fixed it that same day.”
“Have you used it?”
“Yes. It led to the Mine, just as expected. I went and took a brief look around.”
I’d been planning to explain it all slowly, but Biedler seemed eager, so I told him right away.
“Was it truly a mine where you could harvest Magic Stones?”
“To the point where Meyson was astonished. The entire canyon was scattered with Magic Stones.”
“So the rumors about the map were true.”
“Yes. And my mother’s records as well.”
We leaned against the wall and stood facing each other in silence for a moment.
“All that’s left is deciphering the letters on the map. We’re almost there.”
“Is there any progress?”
“Not yet… I was thinking of continuing to search for the letters here as well.”
Deciphering the letters on the map had been one of the things Biedler had been devoted to.
He’d even packed his belongings, thinking he might learn something more if he were at Alein Mountain.
“Oh, I met Seniel at the Imperial Palace. He didn’t know anything yet.”
“Meyson was having a hard time adjusting to life at the Imperial Palace, so I decided to tell him when he comes back on his first leave.”
Biedler nodded and stared at me intently once more.
“Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?”
“…No. I want to organize my thoughts a bit more before I speak.”
“That’s fine.”
I considered whether I should mention that Arthur had come looking for this place, but decided there was no need to stir things up before bed, so I bowed politely and left the room.
***
The next morning.
“Meow!”
Meyson, who had come to the hall in cat form, cried out upon spotting Biedler drinking tea.
Biedler flinched, set down his teacup, and immediately stood, offering Meyson a respectful bow.
“Good morning, Meyson.”
Meyson must have felt he couldn’t deal with Biedler in his cat form, as he shifted his shape at once and opened his eyes fiercely.
“What are you doing here again? This early in the morning, no less.”
“I’ll be staying for a few days.”
“What?!”
I shrugged at Meyson, whose eyes demanded an immediate explanation.
“I told him to use the guest room you made. The mountain’s still too cold for camping.”
“Now, child, this won’t do. A grown man and woman living under the same roof… and that one especially, with all those dark schemes hidden inside. Don’t you know that?”
At some point, Meyson had begun calling me “child.”
The title had seemed terribly awkward at first, but by now I’d grown accustomed enough to let it pass.
“Is that so?”
When I stared hard at Biedler and asked, he shook his head firmly.
“No. As leader of Aide, I simply asked because this seemed the most practical solution.”
Then Biedler walked over to Meyson’s side and asked very seriously.
“Meyson, might I also visit the Mine?”
“Such shamelessness.”
Meyson openly complained that he didn’t appreciate Biedler constantly making requests of him.
Yet he seemed willing to grant this favor, gesturing down the corridor as he walked.
“Come along. Child, will you go too?”
“I’ll pass. You two go ahead.”
The Mine wouldn’t look any different in the span of a few days anyway, and I needed to prepare—it was almost time to open the café.
“Then we’ll be back.”
“Be careful.”
My mother’s basement could only be accessed through Meyson’s room.
Meyson had set up multiple barriers so that no one could approach it without his permission.
After the two of them disappeared into the basement, I flipped the open sign and finished cleaning.
As I was drawing back the curtains and brushing off my hands, Biedler returned alone.
I waved my palm in front of Biedler’s vacant-looking eyes and tilted my head.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you just go to the Mine?”
“I did go. I imagined it from what you told me yesterday, but seeing it in person… I can’t help but be amazed.”
“You’ll need to plan in advance how to harvest and process all those Magic Stones going forward.”
“That’s exactly why I created Aide. I’ve already thought through several methods.”
Just as Raven kept multiple dark sorcerers in the Swamp, Biedler also seemed to have reliable assets of his own.
“If a large quantity of Magic Stones suddenly floods the market, people will definitely find it strange.”
“True. Especially high-grade Magic Stones—their annual yield is regulated…….”
“Without a better method, it would have to be the Black Market.”
“I’ll put some on the Black Market, but I’m thinking of exporting the rest to other kingdoms.”
“Can you manage that?”
He was talking about crossing the sea. I opened my eyes wide in surprise at such an unexpected approach.
“I have someone in mind. Once I finish deciphering the map, I’ll discuss it with Raven again.”
I nodded, then glanced at the wall clock and jumped, gripping the knife.
“It’s almost opening time. You need to go.”
“You’re kicking me out like this?”
“If you don’t like it, move out.”
“…Fine. I’ll drop it.”
Biedler muttered in a tone of disappointment, glancing at the knife I was clutching.
When I stared back without changing my expression, Biedler sighed and rushed to his room, packed his things, and headed out.
***
That evening.
As I lay down in bed to sleep, the Communication Device flashed red.
“What’s the matter?”
I sat up and connected the Device, and Sophia’s excited voice came through.
“Rosia! You were right. Those letters on the map! They’re Demon Realm Script.”
“You deciphered it?”
“Yes! I thought it would be difficult since so few people study such a rare language. But I found one eccentric who studies it. The decryption should be finished within days.”
I thought of all the different attempts we’d made to interpret the map up until now.
With the end finally in sight, I too grew animated and leaned my face close to the Communication Device.

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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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