Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 124

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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.
Episode 124
Cayden moved to the side and sat across from Biedler.
Both of them turned to look at me at the same time.
“Sit.”
“Sit here.”
Since each was pointing to the seat beside them, I shrugged and took the center seat.
It was the head of the table, so Biedler’s gaze flickered slightly, but it seemed more comfortable than sitting next to either of them.
“During the day, I saw a young man wandering around the mountain. Is he connected to the prince?”
“What did he look like?”
“He had green hair…”
The moment I heard the description Cayden gave, I recalled the aide who was always with Biedler.
“Roy? You brought him here?”
Biedler looked flustered and glanced away.
Every time he came to the café, I’d thought it strange that he came without his aide.
I stared at him incredulously, wondering if he’d been hiding Roy somewhere so I wouldn’t see him.
“Roy always follows me around.”
“Where is he staying?”
“He’s been staying in the village.”
“That’s inefficient. You might as well lodge in the village with him.”
Biedler shook his head firmly.
“He needs time to rest.”
Fair enough. If you kept an employee by your side all day and didn’t even guarantee them sleep time, that would be dreadful.
As I was processing this, Cayden cut the bread with a small knife and distributed pieces to each of our plates.
“I made plenty, but I’m not sure if there’s enough.”
“Sorry for barging in suddenly.”
“The more people sharing good food, the better. You’re always welcome.”
I began cutting the dish Cayden had placed on my plate with a knife.
With so many varied ingredients, the flavors were rich. I ate with such enthusiasm that my brows furrowed in concentration, and my plate was empty in no time.
“They say cooking is a matter of talent. This tastes better than the formal meals at the Imperial Palace. I could finish a whole plate of this myself.”
“Have more.”
Cayden smiled brightly and distributed additional portions equally to our plates.
Cheese stretched luxuriously from the cut surface, and my mouth watered involuntarily.
Whether this dish happened to suit Biedler’s taste particularly well, he scraped his plate clean while lavishing praise once more.
“I think you might be better suited to cooking than serving as a priestess. You should have opened a restaurant instead of a temple.”
“For whose benefit? I prefer things as they are now, with it all to myself.”
I shot Biedler a look that said that would absolutely not happen.
Then, oddly, I felt as though this moment would be remembered for a long time.
It was just an ordinary meal with more people than usual—nothing extraordinary.
Yet somehow I sensed it would become one of those moments Grandfather had spoken of, the kind worth remembering.
Then Biedler casually dropped a remark.
“Seniel has taken leave. He stopped by the main house and is heading straight here.”
My appetite vanished instantly.
I glanced sideways at Grandfather, who was sitting on the sofa in the hall reading a book.
“…There’s a lot to talk about.”
So much had happened since Seniel entered the Imperial Palace.
With so many deferred conversations, I didn’t know where to begin or how to untangle them.
“Do you plan to reveal what happened with Raven?”
“I have to. You know about it, so I can’t hide it from Seniel.”
I worried about how Seniel would take the erased memories from the training facility and all the things I’d hidden from him during this time.
“Will he resent me?”
“Why would he?”
“Because I lied for so long. Seniel was always sincere with me.”
“He’ll be disappointed, certainly. That’s a perfectly natural emotion.”
…….
“After that, he’ll feel sorry—for the time you endured alone.”
Nothing was resolved, but Biedler’s words, acknowledging what Seniel would feel, calmed my anxious heart and brought clarity.
I resolved that when Seniel returned on leave this time, I would bare everything without reservation.
The moment the meal ended, I washed the dishes thoroughly and handed them to Cayden.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Prince.”
“You will.”
I followed Cayden out. As I opened the door, I felt Biedler’s gaze trailing after me.
The cold wind hit the moment we stepped outside, so I put on the coat Cayden had brought.
Cayden happened to be wearing the same coat, which made me smile.
“How many of these do you own?”
“About ten.”
From what I’d observed of Cayden, he was always unassuming and disciplined. The fact that he wore the same clothes constantly might reflect that nature.
“Let’s go to the temple. I’ll walk you there.”
I walked the mountain path with Cayden. The night in the mountains was very dark, so Cayden created a small light to illuminate the way.
“How was Helitria?”
“Magnificent. I began to understand why people believe in gods.”
I recalled the space that had felt sacred and the overwhelming atmosphere of the temple.
“How are the High Priests doing?”
“Well. They asked me to give you their regards.”
As we walked the mountain path, I told him step-by-step about the conversation I’d had with Gregory.
“In the end, I couldn’t find out why I can go there, or why I hear the voice.”
“You went so far but gained little.”
“That’s not true.”
When I shortened my stride, Cayden slowed his pace to match mine.
“I learned about the seal and the existence of the Demon Realm. And more than anything—I heard everything about what you do.”
I watched Cayden’s expression as I spoke. He was smiling as always, but his eyes looked sorrowful.
“So every night you came to the café and slept, you performed Purification?”
“That’s right. In that underground space where Rosia came down.”
“Does that hurt you much?”
“It varies each time. Before, it was bearable, but over the past few months, the spirits and demonic beasts have been raging to such a degree that…”
He didn’t finish, but the way his expression twisted at merely recalling it made me feel how agonizing it must have been.
I know well how suffering endured without anyone to lean on—suffering borne entirely alone—can drag a person to the very bottom.
Thinking of Cayden, who had weathered all this alone on this empty mountain until I arrived, my heart ached.
“From now on, tell me. If it’s hard, say it’s hard. If the Purification went well, say so. Anything at all. Don’t bear it alone.”
“It’s the fate given to me, so I’ve never had complaints. But knowing that someone understands… it really moves me.”
Whether because our strides matched or because Cayden drew closer, our hands nearly brushed.
My attention fixed on where we’d nearly touched. My body temperature rose strangely, so I linked my arm through his to avoid brushing again and spoke.
“If you ever want to run, tell me. I’m not a devotee of your temple. I’ll run away with you.”
“Really?”
Cayden laughed softly. His face in the firelight looked truly joyful.
“Do you know something?”
“What?”
“Meeting Rosia is the greatest gift of my life.”
“I’m not that great a person.”
“If I hadn’t become a Guardian, I wouldn’t have met Rosia, would I?”
“That’s true. You wouldn’t be here.”
“I’m glad I became a Guardian.”
Even though he was working while burning away his own life span, his death already looming.
“So I won’t run. Someone has to do this work, and my work helps keep Rosia safe too.”
Yet he spoke such words with so pretty a smile.
I had no answer for him.
Fortunately, we emerged from the rough terrain and flat ground appeared, and the temple came into view.
“We’re here. Go on in.”
“I’ll walk you back. It’s dangerous to go alone.”
“Then what did we come here for?”
When he suggested we turn back together and I tilted my head in confusion, Cayden grinned.
“To walk together a little longer.”
In the end, Cayden walked me all the way back to the café before returning alone to the temple.
I entered the café with a muddled head, and I saw Biedler sitting quietly in the hall, his presence subdued.
“What are you doing?”
“Resting.”
With that, he rose from his seat.
“I have business and will leave before dawn. I thought you might look for me.”
“I understand.”
With that, Biedler went into his room.
“Was he waiting to say that?”
Otherwise I would have just assumed he was out, but I thought it was pointless and tidied the scattered hall.
***
The next day.
I woke when I felt dim light filtering through the window.
After tidying my bedding, I came out, and Grandfather was sitting on the sofa reading a thick book.
“You’re awake?”
“Yes. You’re up early.”
I stretched and sat on the sofa. Then Grandfather closed his book and turned toward me.
“Shall we measure your mana? Morning after a good sleep is always best.”
“How do I do it?”
“Take a deep breath in, then breathe out.”
I did as Grandfather instructed and took deep breaths.
After several deep breaths, my breathing became calm, and Grandfather took my right hand.
“I’m going to infuse mana. You’ll feel some discomfort.”
At the mention of directly infusing mana, I hesitated and looked at Grandfather.
“The High Priest also tried to infuse Holy Power into me, but it didn’t work well. Will mana be different?”
“From the way you refine Mana Stones, you must have mana in your body. Trust me.”
With that, he infused mana through his hand. My palm tingled, and gradually energy spread throughout my entire body.
I looked at Grandfather to see if things were progressing properly, but both his eyebrows began twitching in rapid succession, and his expression grew increasingly grave.

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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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