Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 122

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

It’s a café run by the heir to the Dark Guild.
122
“Hundreds of years of carefully guarded treasures, stolen all at once… It’s a disgrace to the 5 Great Houses. We’ll recover them without fail.”
Ever since hearing that the Sacred Objects contained the essence of the Demon Realm, the whole affair had struck me as deeply strange.
If someone were collecting forbidden Sacred Objects with some hidden agenda…
‘That can’t be it.’
I pushed the excessive worry aside and looked toward Hestanya.
“We’ll find them.”
“Now that we’ve come this far, surely the High Priest will tell us something.”
“Are you waiting to see the High Priest?”
“Yes. It’s been a week already. Just one more day to wait now. I only managed to move it forward by making a substantial donation.”
“I see.”
I’d just left the High Priest’s chamber, and I laughed awkwardly. I’d unexpectedly confirmed the Power of the Seal.
“When are you leaving? Stay a few more days and go with me.”
“I’d like to, but I have matters to attend to, so I’m leaving today.”
“It would be so much faster and easier if you went with me…”
Hestanya held on to me at length, worried about how difficult it would be for me to cross the Desert alone.
Since it couldn’t possibly be faster or easier than returning with Grandfather, I managed to pry her off.
“I hope you find the answers you’re looking for.”
“Thank you. I’ll stop by the shop when I get back.”
Hestanya put her Long-Veiled Hat back on and nodded goodbye to me.
Stepping out of the Great Temple, the sun was beginning to set.
I turned my back to the sky turning red and climbed the hill where I’d parted with Grandfather, leaving Helitria behind.
Almost at the same moment, Grandfather, who’d been moving about in cat form, appeared.
“You seem to have much on your mind.”
“My head is tangled.”
I sat down on the hill, gazing into the distance with my chin resting in my hand. Grandfather sat quietly beside me.
“Did you hear my conversation with the High Priest?”
“I didn’t go that far. Gregory would have noticed me.”
“Have you met him before?”
“Yes. It was when Gregory was still young.”
I told Grandfather everything we’d discussed in the reception room and all I’d learned about Cayden without omission.
I don’t know how he’d heard it, but he already knew what I’d spoken about with Hestanya.
“So an Immunity Ability is needed to connect different dimensions… I’m hearing this for the first time.”
“It seems the Temple Order, the Mage Tower, and the Imperial Palace each hold different information.”
I asked Grandfather carefully, sensing he was lost in thought.
“What kind of people were your parents?”
“To be honest, I know very little about them. They were nobles with a small territory, but the estate fell apart when I was young.”
“If they were nobles, wouldn’t there be a family registry?”
“Back then, buying and selling lower titles was common. I think my parents obtained their title the same way.”
“That’s unfortunate. If we traced it back further, we might be able to learn something.”
“When I look at the progression—from Lilith and me to Seniel and you manifesting abilities—it does seem significant. Even among the 5 Great Houses, abilities appearing across generations like this is rare.”
Hearing the mention of the 5 Great Houses brought the conversation with Hestanya back to mind.
“It feels odd that Sacred Objects guarded for centuries were stolen so recently.”
“But that’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”
Grandfather drew a firm boundary for my worry.
“Let the unfinished wars of the past rest. As for the Demon Realm as a dimension—just listen to satisfy your curiosity and let it go.”
“Normally I would. But Cayden is involved so deeply, isn’t he? I can’t get the image of Cayden’s tomb underground out of my head.”
Cayden, who always comforted me with his bright demeanor. To learn that the reason he lived so diligently each day was to be buried in that place. It made me furious.
“I don’t understand talk of fate or the will of the gods. I’m just angry. How can it be like this? How did Cayden even accept it?”
As I swept my disheveled hair roughly aside, Grandfather gently arranged it and patted my shoulder.
“Let’s try to save him. I’ve gathered almost all the materials needed for the medicine now.”
“Was that why you were away from home so much lately?”
He wasn’t often visible at the shop even in his cat form, so I’d wondered what he was doing.
It seemed he’d been gathering materials for Cayden’s medicine.
Grandfather gently held my hand and spoke.
“Have you satisfied all your questions?”
“Only half. Even the High Priests didn’t know how I could meet a Sealed Being or why I could hear his voice.”
I turned my head to look into Grandfather’s eyes, eyes so like my own.
“What should I do now?”
“For now, I’d like you to look at that sunset.”
At the word sunset, I tilted my head and turned to look where Grandfather pointed.
I’d been lost in thought before and hadn’t noticed, but the entire open view had turned red—like a painting.
“…It’s beautiful.”
“It is, isn’t it? If you don’t look at what’s right before your eyes, you’ll only lose it.”
The sunset turned even our pupils red.
“I hope you won’t miss the present while worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. It will be the same even when you return to the mountains.”
My confused heart, which had wavered without direction, suddenly became steady.
Grandfather had spoken indirectly, but it was clearly telling me not to worry pointlessly and to focus on the present.
Thanks to him, I cleared my worries and relaxed my body with a much lighter heart.
“Of all the sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life, this is the most beautiful. I think I’ll remember it for a long time.”
“I will too. I regret so much now that I didn’t make more moments like this.”
And with a voice full of many emotions, he spoke quietly.
“As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that life isn’t much of anything. What I find myself dwelling on isn’t what I’ve accomplished over my whole life, but just these ordinary moments.”
……
“I wasn’t able to do it, but I hope you’ll make many moments you’d want to remember.”
“I’ll try my best.”
The sunset that had turned the vast land red finally faded once the sun completely sank below the horizon.
“Let’s go home now.”
With my thoughts cleared and my heart lighter, I stood first and extended my hand to Grandfather.
***
By moving without rest to return quickly, when I reached the shop I was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.
“Finally back.”
Seeing the familiar exterior of the shop, I relaxed and released the tension from my body.
“You must be tired.”
“You’ve done the hard part. Thanks to you, I traveled comfortably.”
Walking toward the door, I noticed two yellow chicks happily hopping about in the yard and paused for a moment.
“Grandfather.”
“Hmm?”
“About those two—why haven’t they grown?”
When I stared at them persistently, Grandfather scratched his head and avoided my gaze.
“Because you found them cute.”
“Found them cute?”
“I cast a spell to slow their growth.”
“You can do that?”
“I slowed their development.”
Though I’d found their fluffy appearance adorable and looked at them every day, I’d never imagined such magic was at work.
“It won’t harm the chicks. Their lifespan will actually increase.”
“Is there a way to undo it?”
“No. If you leave it alone, they’ll eventually grow into chickens.”
Shocked, I picked up the chicks and put them in the coop, when my eyes met Armstrong’s.
Feeling oddly apologetic, I quickly shut the coop door and went inside the shop.
The next day.
After sleeping soundly through the night, I emerged into the living room feeling refreshed.
I pulled back all the curtains on the windows and stretched.
I drew fresh water from the spring for the shop, then checked the wall clock. There was still about an hour before opening.
“I should stop by the Temple.”
I headed to the Temple to get fresh fruit for the beverages.
I also meant to let Cayden know that I’d returned.
As I opened the Temple door and stepped inside, I saw Cayden deep in prayer before the statue of the deity.
I gazed quietly at his face, which shone brightly as it absorbed the sunlight streaming through the window.
Even while praying, he coughed intermittently and winced in pain.
He’d been making that expression more often lately. Seeing how much his condition had deteriorated filled me with ache.
“Are you all right?”
“Rosia!”
At my voice, Cayden opened his eyes and stood up with a radiant smile.
“Did you have a safe trip? When did you arrive?”
“Last night.”
As we faced each other and smiled with our eyes, Cayden opened his hand and reached toward me.
“What?”
“You didn’t bring me a gift? You went so far away. Didn’t you think of me?”
Panicking because I hadn’t thought to bring anything, Cayden laughed and said he was only joking.
“How have the High Priests been?”
“They all looked well. They asked me to give you their regards. They said they’d visit soon.”
“Here?”
“Yes. We have a lot to talk about, but… let’s discuss it over dinner later. The shop opens soon.”
“You came for fruit, didn’t you? Come with me.”
Cayden went to the kitchen and filled a basket with fresh fruit for me.
I took it and was about to leave when I paused, went back to Cayden, and buttoned his vestments properly.
“Dress warmer. You’ve been coughing a lot lately.”
I knew the cough wasn’t from the cold, but I wanted to say it anyway.

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