Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 111

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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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It’s a café run by the Dark Guild’s successor.
111
“Let’s go inside.”
I helped Cayden to his feet and led him through the door.
Once he was seated on the sofa, he leaned back against the cushion and curled into himself, refusing to budge.
I exhaled softly and turned away.
“I’ll make you some warm tea. It’ll help calm you down.”
“Don’t go.”
Cayden, still behind me, suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me down beside him.
I could have easily freed my hand, but caught off guard, I simply sat there—and before I knew it, I was seated at his side.
“Just for a moment. Just let me stay like this for a bit.”
“…Alright.”
Cayden rested his face against my shoulder, his thick hair tickling the nape of my neck.
I tilted my head slightly to the side and lowered my hand to the sofa, only to feel it brush against his right hand.
He immediately placed his hand over mine.
His hand, which was always warm, felt icy cold today.
“You’re cold.”
I turned my palm upward to share warmth, and our palms met.
As the chill seeped into my hand, I sat still, hoping my warmth would reach him in return.
Cayden gripped my hand with all his strength, interlocking his fingers as though it were a lifeline.
“What happened?”
“I was doing my usual work, but today… it was too much for me to handle. I saw him.”
“Him?”
“…I’ve never felt like this before. It was like something boring into my mind, taking control… drawing out every bit of malice inside me to the surface….”
As he spoke, Cayden’s eyes lost focus again, growing hazy.
I said nothing and simply listened to his rambling words.
“I’ve sensed him before, but never this close. It’s growing stronger.”
Cayden turned his face to look at me, his pale violet eyes trembling.
“…I thought about giving up everything because it was so painful. But then your face came to mind.”
With his other hand—the one not interlocked with mine—he reached up and slowly caressed my cheek.
“You always make me want to keep living, Rosia.”
“Cayden.”
I called his name with concern, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
“Thank you. I feel calmer now. I was right to come find you.”
“You look exhausted. Don’t sleep here—go to a proper bed. There’s Seniel’s room.”
“I want to be close to you. Would it be alright if I slept beside you?”
I was about to refuse—of course I should refuse—but those pleading eyes swallowed my words whole.
“If that’s not possible, I’ll sleep in front of your door.”
“…Like last time. Under the bed would be fine.”
Only then did Cayden’s eyes widen and break into a broad smile. Though the shadow lurking behind that smile never fully disappeared.
I was afraid for the first time—afraid of what darkness he was hiding behind that smile, afraid of what burden he was carrying.
I was bringing a blanket to spread beside the bed so Cayden could sleep when I suddenly felt a gaze on me.
Turning, I found Meyson leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at me intently.
“What are you doing?”
“Girl, what is this situation? Why is that bastard in your room at this hour?”
His eyes, full of disapproval, bored into Cayden beside me.
“He just arrived. As you can see, he’s not in good shape.”
Meyson looked at Cayden, whose face remained pale and expressionless, and sighed.
“It’s gotten worse. Tsk, tsk. He’s losing his vitality. He’ll die at this rate.”
I shot Meyson a sharp look, and he cleared his throat before asking again.
“Why are you spreading out a blanket?”
“I’m planning to let him sleep here.”
“Sleep here? In the same room?! There are other beds available, so why in the same…!!”
Meyson grabbed the back of his neck and roared. I frowned as I finished unfolding the blanket.
“Every time you raise your voice like that, my head rings. If you’re going to keep staying here, you’re forbidden from yelling in front of me.”
“I’m sorry, girl. You startled me. But even so, two adults sleeping in the same room is a bit much, isn’t it?”
“You slept with us many times when you were a cat.”
Now that I thought about it, Meyson had indeed slept beside Cayden and me several times in his cat form.
“That was… different.”
“You saw nothing happened. If you’re still worried, why don’t you sleep here too?”
Cayden had already settled quietly onto the blanket I’d spread out.
Seeing that, Meyson apparently decided something wasn’t right. After deliberating seriously for a while, he shifted into his cat form.
“Hmph.”
“Meow!”
The sound he made was fierce, but as a cat, it only came out cute.
“Sleep well, both of you. Cayden, you too—rest well.”
“You too, Rosia.”
As I turned off the light, the last thing I saw was the plump cat sitting stubbornly between Cayden and me.
***
As always, Cayden rose before dawn, neatly folded the blanket he’d used, placed it beside the bed, and left the café.
I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep, until after he’d gone—only then did I open them and fall into thought.
“He’s come in that state before. What exactly does he do at the Temple? And who is ‘he’?”
My questions were endless, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask the suffering Cayden.
Now that I was awake anyway, I washed up and headed out front.
Biedler, busy preparing breakfast, greeted me.
“You’re hungry, I’m sure. I made something for you too.”
“Thank you.”
As I sat down at the table, Biedler set a plate of fried eggs in front of me and stared.
I felt the weight of his gaze and looked back at him, blinking slowly.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“I saw the priest come out of your room this morning.”
He must have encountered Cayden in the entrance when he arrived at the café this morning, having been nowhere to be seen all day yesterday.
“Yes. He slept in my room.”
“What?”
Biedler, who had been sitting across from me drinking water, spat it back out.
I frowned and picked up a napkin to wipe the water from my face.
“My apologies. That was quite a shock.”
“It’s fine. You should wipe yourself off too.”
As I handed him a napkin, Biedler wiped his plate and asked in a strained voice.
“Slept together? I thought you two weren’t like that. And if you’re not like that, isn’t it even more problematic?”
Watching Biedler’s eyes waver, I popped the fried egg into my mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
Somewhere along the way, it seemed I’d picked up Cayden’s habit of phrasing things in a way that invited misunderstanding. I added an explanation.
“Literally just sleeping. I slept in the bed, and Cayden spread a blanket under it.”
“Then why?”
How should I explain the reason?
I couldn’t think of an explanation to give to someone else, so I remained silent and continued eating. Apparently frustrated, Biedler muttered to himself.
“No matter if he is a priest, sleeping in the same room is dangerous. The way that priest looks at you is clearly…….”
Growing tired of his needling, I picked up an apple from the table and cut him off.
“Meyson was there too.”
“Really? Then that’s a bit better.”
Only then did his expression relax.
I took a knife and peeled the apple swiftly, dividing it in half with Biedler.
Crunching into the apple, which had stayed fresh even two days after receiving it, I spoke.
“About today’s summit—you know about it, right?”
“Yes. I went to Ade yesterday to prepare for it.”
Now I understood why he’d been absent all day. I nodded and popped the rest of the apple into my mouth.
“We’ll meet at noon.”
“Does that mean I should go?”
“Yes. Business hours will be starting soon.”
…….
Biedler looked at me and let out a small sigh, as if to say I was being unreasonable. Then he picked up the apple and stood.
I opened the café that morning and began conducting business.
There weren’t many customers, but after operating for a while, I closed the doors at noon on schedule and flipped the sign.
I locked every door and drew double curtains over all the windows in the café.
Both Ade and Raven were to send three representatives each, so I took out six cups in total and arranged them on the counter.
“Let’s keep it simple.”
I was adding crushed raspberries to spring water I’d drawn that morning when I suddenly remembered the drink Biedler always had.
“…That’s all he ever drank.”
I prepared five cups identically, but for Biedler’s, I made the drink using his usual recipe—the one he’d gotten wrong.
After finishing everything and moving the cups to the table, Meyson walked over and pointed to one of the drinks with his eyes.
“May I have some?”
I hadn’t expected him to stay, so I asked in surprise.
“You’ll be joining us?”
“If you permit it. I can be of help.”
Indeed, having him—a Grand Mage—examine the map would be to our advantage.
Besides, Sophia had been wanting to see him.
I nodded and prepared one more drink.
When the time came, Raven’s elite arrived first.
Their faces were covered entirely except for their eyes by masks, but I recognized them immediately.
‘Riley and Sophia, and Obelia—the one who dislikes me.’
I broke into a broad smile at the sight of them. The moment Sophia entered the café, she leaped forward and threw her arms around my neck.
“Rosia! I missed you so much! Hearing your voice just made me want you more.”
I ruffled her hair affectionately before managing to pry her away to my side.
“Where’s the Grand Mage? Is he here?”
“So it wasn’t me you wanted to see, but him?”
“Hehe. Both, kind of.”
“He’s over there, sitting on the sofa. We have the summit soon though, so you can see him later.”
“Got it.”
Sophia’s eyes sparkled excessively as she looked over at Meyson sitting some distance away.
Riley greeted me with a light tap on my shoulder instead of words.
“Let’s talk separately after the summit. We have a lot to discuss.”
He seemed to be restraining himself since he’d come in his position as the guild master, but the warmth in his eyes as he looked at me remained unchanged.

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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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