Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 123

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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 successor.
Chapter 123
“I always love hearing your worry, Rosia.”
“I wish there was nothing for you to worry about.”
As I muttered this, Cayden smiled softly and draped his overcoat—which he’d set aside—across my shoulders.
“Wear it on your way back. You look cold yourself.”
“If you give away your only overcoat, what about you?”
“Only one? I have several of the same. I guess it just looked that way.”
“Oh…”
I’d always seen him wear an identical overcoat over his priest’s robes, so I’d assumed he had just the one.
“See you this evening then.”
I returned to the café with the fruit basket and immediately began trimming the produce.
“I wonder how many customers we’ll have today.”
Once my preparations were done, it was exactly time to open. I went outside, flipped the sign, and began service.
The afternoon slipped away while I moved about busily.
“The sun’s already setting.”
After seeing off my last customer, I was tidying the kitchen when my hand found the knife resting on the cutting board.
“…I suppose I need to peel some apples.”
Now when I hold a blade, my first thought isn’t to threaten or strike—it’s to trim fruit.
This life, untainted by blood, grows more familiar each day.
“Maybe I really should retire.”
I was studying my palms with this thought, convinced I could never return to being a guild member with such a mindset, when the café door opened.
“We’re actually closed tod—”
I’d meant to say we weren’t open, but I stopped short at the familiar face.
“You’ve timed this well.”
Biedler stood in the doorway in formal attire, evidently having come straight from a meeting. He smiled faintly at me.
“I’m back.”
Wondering if this café was truly meant to be his place of return, I simply watched him in silence rather than respond.
Unbothered by my cool reaction, Biedler walked in and set a large bundle beside the cutting board.
“I happened to pass by.”
The name of the bakery I’d most enjoyed in the Capital was written on the wrapper.
When I untied the ribbon wrapped prettily around the package, it revealed a bounty of colorful desserts inside.
“Welcome.”
My eyes lit up as I belatedly greeted him properly.
“I knew you’d like it.”
Biedler chuckled and gathered up the luggage he’d left by the door, then naturally disappeared deeper into the café.
While waiting for him to return, I pulled out what looked like the most appetizing item—a strawberry cake—and ate it.
When Biedler returned to the kitchen a moment later, he’d changed into more comfortable clothes.
“How long will you be staying?”
“That’s the plan.”
“You didn’t even ask if there might be another guest in the room.”
“Were you planning to take anyone else?”
“It’s a guest room, after all.”
I set down my fork and spoke as though it were obvious, at which Biedler narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
“I should have your name carved on the door.”
“If you’re not planning to stay forever, don’t do something like that.”
Biedler walked over to my side, pulling his mouth into a smile.
“What if I am planning to stay forever?”
“Then buy the café.”
“You won’t sell it anyway.”
Of course he was right.
Finished with my cake, I settled onto the sofa with a satisfied expression.
Biedler went into the kitchen where I’d been and started boiling water. He moved as naturally as if it were his own home.
Watching him, I asked quietly.
“How was the meeting?”
“The Empress has taken complete control of the Imperial Palace. At the New Year’s gathering, the Elder Brother will deliver a congratulatory address alongside His Majesty.”
“Isn’t that rather fast?”
“It is. But no one objected.”
“…At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly handed over the throne.”
“That’s the mood developing.”
Biedler poured hot water into a teacup where he’d placed tea leaves, then brought the cup over and sat beside me.
“His Majesty gave me this and asked me to investigate it.”
He withdrew a bottle from his pocket containing a beverage of unknown origin.
As I stared at the bottle, understanding struck me like lightning.
“Could it be a beverage laced with the poison that seeped in from Strophane?”
“That’s what I suspect.”
“How did it end up with His Majesty?”
“It’s been a beverage the Empress has given to His Majesty directly for several years now. He consumed it unknowingly. Judging by His Majesty’s various symptoms, he’s already in a state of intoxication.”
So the Empress had been poisoning the Emperor directly all this time.
I was startled by her boldness, greater than I’d imagined.
“Would you like me to tell you where I sent the last sample for testing? If it’s the same components, they’ll know immediately.”
“That would be helpful.”
I quickly wrote a letter of introduction and address for Ben in the Swampland and handed it over.
“If someone from the Elder Brother’s faction goes, they might hesitate. Ask Raven instead.”
Biedler nodded and carefully pocketed the letter and bottle again.
“What will you do once the results come back?”
“I’ll corner the Empress. Now that they’ve begun moving, there’s no time for hesitation.”
This meant the peace we had now wouldn’t last much longer.
Leaning against the back of the sofa, I noticed a bag Biedler hadn’t taken with him.
“What’s that?”
“Mana Stones extracted from the mine. I found a few suitable miners and had them try it as a test.”
The mine work had progressed considerably in the time I’d been to Helitria.
Sophia would have told me through the communication channel, but I remembered forgetting to check it last night and just went to sleep.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
I walked to the corner, opened the bag, and peered at the Mana Stones packed inside.
Just then, my grandfather appeared from nowhere and bent down beside me to look.
“Mid-grade quality. There was some damage in the extraction process.”
“None of them had experience mining Mana Stones, so they struggled at first. It will improve with time.”
Grandfather didn’t even acknowledge Biedler’s words, only stared intently at the stones.
Since this was the first time I’d seen him show such obvious interest in an object, I couldn’t help asking.
“Do you need Mana Stones?”
“As one’s Rank increases, cultivation requires more and more Mana Stones. That’s why I’m always short.”
Though he always said he’d cut ties with the Mage Tower, the sight of the stones brought his disciples to mind.
“This is fortunate. If you could arrange it, couldn’t we trade directly with the Mage Tower?”
“Could you do that?”
Sensing his opportunity, Biedler also entered the conversation.
“Unofficial trade with the Mage Tower is impossible.”
Even as he said this, he seemed reluctant, his hand moving to his chin.
“If it’s not official, it could work, couldn’t it? Just procure an additional amount and distribute it to trustworthy people.”
“…I’ll decide after seeing how much is produced each month. I’ll at least inquire about it.”
When Grandfather said he’d inquire, it was as good as done.
Better than selling on the black market, I thought, and exchanged looks with Biedler.
“Child, would you like to try handling the Mana Stones?”
Grandfather was curious whether I could actually refine them.
“It might not work. I’ve only done it once before.”
Somewhat tense, I carefully took out a single Mana Stone from the bag and gripped it firmly in my palm.
Unlike in the laboratory, there was no brilliant light—instead, the stone glowed softly.
“Did it work?”
Grandfather took the stone I’d handled, examined it, and marveled.
“It’s truly transformed. To accomplish this in an instant. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
Grandfather’s eyes shone brightly as he turned to look at me.
“Child, have you truly never learned Magic?”
“I didn’t have that environment growing up.”
“You have an extraordinary aptitude. You must take after me.”
With a grinning expression, he set down the Mana Stone and spread his shoulders wide.
“Won’t you learn Magic from me? I’ll train you to be the greatest mage.”
“I’m not interested.”
At my blunt refusal, Grandfather’s expression fell and his shoulders drooped again.
“Still… Magic is useful. You’ll find many uses for it if you learn.”
Pretending to listen, I reached for another Mana Stone, at which Grandfather gasped and snatched it from my hands.
“Using too much power at once is dangerous. I don’t yet know how much Mana you have, so be careful.”
“It wasn’t difficult at all.”
I’d only gripped the stone. Surely it took no more effort than peeling fruit with a knife?
But Grandfather refused and threw the bag behind him, while Biedler simply closed it up entirely.
“Tomorrow we’ll measure your Mana. And I’ll teach you how to control your refinement ability.”
“Can’t we do it now?”
“The sun’s set. Rest is part of work too.”
Grandfather was the strongest person here. He was the only one who could teach me about refinement.
Reluctant as I was, I accepted his word and deferred to tomorrow.
Apparently mistrusting my restraint, Grandfather put the Mana Stones completely out of sight and left the café.
As I watched the closed door, Biedler lowered his voice and asked.
“It’s still before dinner, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Seeing his relieved expression, I had a reasonable suspicion he’d returned partly for Cayden’s cooking.
Evening came, and Cayden arrived at his usual time.
He hummed as he entered the café, then stopped short at the sight of Biedler sitting in the hall.
“Were you here too, Your Highness?”
“I arrived a short while ago.”
I accepted the dish Cayden had brought. It was a round, thin, broad flatbread topped with various ingredients and an abundance of arugula.
“I’ve never seen this dish before.”
“It’s Focaccia with various toppings baked on top. With plenty of cheese as well.”
Though unfamiliar, the savory aroma and appealing appearance already had me anticipating it eagerly.
Biedler seemed equally entranced, approaching the table where the dish sat and taking the first seat.

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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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