Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 149

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

A café run by the Heir of the Dark Guild.
149
“I noticed something was wrong with the barrier while we were eating. The demonic energy rising from below grew stronger, so I went outside and saw three Holy Swords used for the seal.”
“Three of the five Holy Swords have appeared. That means the barrier is on the verge of complete collapse. We’re in extreme danger.”
Baggett added his weary voice to Cayden’s words.
“I was worried about Rosia nearby, so I went to the café—but the entire building was wrapped in vines with no gaps. There was no sign of life from inside, so I was on my way down searching through it.”
The mention that the barrier was about to break completely echoed louder than anything else.
We’d anticipated as much from the thickened miasma and the vines moving of their own accord, but the situation was graver than we’d feared.
“We saw a fire and were coming back from the village.”
Cayden and Baggett turned their heads to look at the flames still leaping into the air.
“We were about to head there ourselves…”
“It’s already too late.”
I chose my words carefully, exchanging glances with Biedler—unsure how to speak of the horrors we’d witnessed.
“There’s a barrier over the village that drains life force. Everyone inside was pierced by the vines and killed… and the priestesses from the Temple suffered the same fate.”
“It seems they wanted to erase all traces of the village’s existence. They even used an Artifact that produces intense fire.”
Baggett covered his face and moaned as he listened to Biedler and me.
“Ah. Again. The same tragedy has repeated itself.”
The word “again” confused me, and I looked at Baggett questioningly.
“Ten years ago, something similar happened nearby. Then too, all the villagers died and the village vanished.”
“Was that incident also related to the seal?”
“Yes. We concluded it was the work of a group that worshiped the Demon Realm. They tried to break the seal by stealing people’s life force. The sacred objects they used were actual artifacts of the seal itself.”
“What happened to that group?”
“When we tracked them down, they’d already committed mass suicide. We found no further activity and concluded they’d ended their lives in failure. We thought it was over… but…”
The thought occurred to me that they’d merely feigned their end while continuing to exist, and this incident might be part of a plan far older than we imagined.
Just then, a portal opened beside us and Grandfather returned.
“Ah, you’re all here.”
Grandfather had been checking on Cayden and Baggett when he suddenly stopped short.
“Grandfather?”
He stared sharply into empty air, his lips moving soundlessly.
He seemed to be using Silent Magic, but I couldn’t tell what it was, so there was nothing I could do to help.
As I continued to watch, a bead of sweat fell from Grandfather’s chin.
“Something feels wrong.”
Baggett stopped me from approaching Grandfather and moved closer himself instead.
He grasped Grandfather’s arm and drew out what looked like a sacred necklace in his other hand, beginning to pray.
I didn’t know what he was doing, but when Holy Power and Demonic Power were used simultaneously, a strong wind erupted around the two of them.
Only then did Grandfather move his arm and wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Thank you.”
“It seems you’re carrying something dangerous. Am I right?”
At Baggett’s question, Grandfather immediately produced a box—the very box containing the map.
Even though Grandfather must have sealed it with magic, a thick miasma emanated from it.
Baggett, immediately recognizing what lay inside, grew tense and draped the necklace over the box.
“It’s fortunate that you’re keeping it, Meyson. If that too had been stolen… then truly, all would be lost.”
He wrapped the necklace charged with Holy Power around the box repeatedly, and even as he did, continued praying—his voice betraying his unease.
“I haven’t felt such pressure in decades. Is this the power of the sealed being?”
“The seal isn’t even fully broken, yet they wield such force. Seeing them exert this much influence without even a physical form… the moment they regain their body, this world will perish.”
After directly feeling that power, Grandfather’s demeanor shifted entirely from before.
His eyes—serious in a way I’d rarely seen—turned toward the mountain.
“Is there no way to destroy it altogether?”
“If there were, we would have done so long ago. No matter what method we’ve tried, the sacred objects infused with their power cannot be broken.”
“A safe place to keep it?”
“There is the Sacred Realm, where we can suppress demonic power and which overflows with holy strength. But for now, I’d prefer that you continue to hold it, Meyson.”
Sensing the conversation would grow long, I spread out some cloth on the flat ground, starting a small fire.
The faces of the dead villagers flickered in the dancing flames.
I wasn’t alone in those thoughts—everyone’s expression had darkened.
I was absently toying with the cloth wrapped around my hands when Biedler, breaking the heavy silence, spoke.
“About the sky. Is that also related to the seal?”
“The Demon Realm and our world are drawing closer together. As their power grows stronger, they’re pulling the Demon Realm toward us.”
Cayden answered heavily.
“Until the seal is restored to its original state… the sun won’t rise.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
At Biedler’s question, Baggett looked between Grandfather and him, as if he’d been waiting for this.
“To restore a seal that has fractured this severely, the Temple’s strength alone is insufficient. Just as it was in the past, the Mage Tower and the Imperial Palace must combine their power.”
Baggett’s voice rose.
“The High Priestess will come to manage this situation. I understand the Imperial Palace refused to cooperate for political reasons. Please see to it that the Imperial Prince ensures their cooperation this time.”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
“And Meyson, please guard the sacred objects until the High Priestess arrives. Inform the Mage Tower of everything. I’ll escort the High Priestess there myself.”
“…I’m just a retired old man now, but I’ll use what strength I have left.”
Having finished, Baggett rose with a somewhat lighter expression.
“We’ll go clean up the village.”
“You won’t be able to enter.”
Cayden rose to follow Baggett, answering in his stead.
“We can manage with Baggett’s abilities. As an inspector, he has no trouble entering anywhere.”
And with that, he glanced back at me with a gentle smile.
“You said it before, didn’t you, Rosia? That ordinary life could shatter at any moment. You were right. Looks like today is that day.”
The simple, ordinary days I’d spent since coming to the café flashed through my mind.
The thought that I might never return to those times made my chest ache.
Nothing is eternal.
I’d always known it, always reminded myself, but this sudden parting was hard to accept.
“Meyson. I’ve grown quite fond of you during this time, and I’m sorry it has to end like this. Thank you for doing so much for me. And you too, Your Highness. Please both watch over Rosia.”
Cayden’s request might have been presumptuous, but this time, even Biedler didn’t object—he simply nodded.
“Take care, Rosia. Stay well always.”
I didn’t accept Cayden’s farewell, meeting his tender gaze without a word.
“Don’t speak as if you’ll never see me again. Once we’ve recovered the café and the Temple… let’s gather and have a meal together then.”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
Cayden quickly blinked away the tears gathering in his eyes and smiled, bowing his head.
“Then we’ll go.”
And with that, Baggett and Cayden left.
“I should have reminded them to take their medicine. I forgot.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll see them again.”
At my quiet murmur, Grandfather, reading my anxious heart, gently soothed me.
Then Biedler, who had been sitting beside me, stood and extended his hand to me.
“I’m going to the Imperial Palace to report what I’ve seen and form a response team. Won’t you come? You can’t return to the café anyway.”
I looked at his outstretched hand, tempted to take it, but shook my head instead.
“I need to go see Raven. There must be things the Guild can do. And I should tell them what’s happening.”
“Then I’m counting on you.”
Biedler, understanding this was something only I could do, turned away without hiding his disappointment.
“Don’t rush into anything dangerous. As soon as we’ve made a plan, I’ll come find you.”
After promising to see each other again, Biedler opened a portal and vanished.
In an instant, everyone had gone, leaving only Grandfather and me.
“Child, you don’t have to strain yourself. First, let’s go to the Mage Tower with me.”
At the sight of his hand extended again, I smiled genuinely despite the circumstances.
“I’m being loved, aren’t I?”
“Hm?”
“Cayden rushed around worried about me. Your Highness held out his hand asking me to come along. And Grandfather… I can feel that you all care about me.”
I’d always built walls, trying never to open myself to others.
Yet somehow, these people had seeped into my heart, and they felt infinitely precious.
“I’m not straining. I’m moving to protect what’s precious—because it’s you.”
“Child.”
“You can always come find me. Don’t worry and focus on your work.”
Grandfather looked at me with deepened eyes, his expression tender and proud. He drew my head close and stroked it gently, then nodded.
“Stay in touch with this every day.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
I received a small Communication Artifact and plenty of Teleportation Mana Stones from Grandfather.
“Be careful.”
After sending Grandfather off to the Mage Tower, I turned back to look at the mountain one last time, then covered the fire with earth.
Then I set out to find the Guild’s new headquarters, whose location Riley had told me.

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