Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 163

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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 run by the Dark Guild’s Successor.
Episode 163
***
That evening, well past midnight.
An uneasy feeling kept me from falling asleep easily.
I gazed out the window at the mountain landscape, trying to calm my mind.
Then came a knock. Tap, tap. Someone at the door.
“May I come in for a moment?”
It was Biedler’s voice.
“Of course.”
I unlocked the door and let him in. He wore casual clothes, as if he’d been getting ready for bed.
“So you chose the cabin too.”
“You did as well?”
Biedler looked around the room and nodded.
“It felt most comfortable when I stayed at your café. I wanted to recall those days.”
As I sat on the edge of the bed, Biedler pulled up a chair and sat across from me.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“Just… I can’t fall asleep.”
Normally, I would have sent him away without a word, but I didn’t this time.
I couldn’t sleep either. So we sat in silence, talking about this and that.
“That rooster.”
“Armstrong?”
“Yes. And the chicks. Do you think they’re all right?”
I let out a small laugh—I never expected to hear Biedler worry about chickens and chicks.
“Grandfather put a spell on them, so they should be well hidden.”
“That’s a relief.”
“The Mana Stone Mine was taken before we could even use it once.”
“Yes. We went through so much trouble organizing the Guild just to obtain it.”
A bitter smile crossed Biedler’s lips.
“But now you have a solid force behind you. Even if you can’t return to the Imperial Palace, you could hold a position. Master of the Dark Guild isn’t a bad role.”
“Think so? Once the Guild gets serious, Raven will have something to worry about.”
“That’s unlikely. Raven isn’t the sort to be caught by a fledgling organization.”
As I spoke seriously, Biedler’s expression softened.
“Sitting like this… it feels like we’re back at the café.”
“Once we resolve things tomorrow, we should be able to go back. Come visit us again.”
“I will.”
I hoped desperately that tomorrow would pass without incident.
Through our eyes meeting, I felt that Biedler harbored the same fervent wish.
“…I should get some sleep now. Rest well.”
“You too.”
After we finished talking, Biedler glanced back at me once more before leaving the room.
“Sleep now. Tomorrow can’t come if you don’t.”
After the door closed, I extinguished the light and forced myself to sleep, pushing aside the unease.
***
The next day.
Biedler, Seniel, and I gathered in the hall, waiting for the people returning from Helitria.
The two of them were warming up, training in a corner.
I twirled a short sword in my hand, watching the hourglass flow.
Then Hella approached me.
“A message has arrived for Rosia.”
“Thank you.”
I took it and checked the note—a message from Raiely.
It seemed they’d tried to send a raven, but since it couldn’t enter the Mage Tower, it had been inspected and delivered directly by hand.
After reading the contents, I frowned.
“Guild members we sent for reconnaissance have gone silent?”
Biedler approached, studying my expression, and asked.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
“We sent several guild members to the Verdian Territory… and they’ve all vanished. It’s getting more suspicious.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Verdian too. I was planning to check on it on the way back—want to come along?”
“Let’s do it.”
Given what happened to the guild members, it seemed safer to go with others than alone. I agreed to accompany Biedler.
Hella, who had brought Raiely’s message, approached again.
“Everyone is asked to gather at the Greenhouse.”
We, who had been waiting for this signal, immediately stepped onto the moving platform.
We rose to the level of the Greenhouse, opened the door, and entered to find people returning from Helitria along with the Elders all assembled.
I caught a glimpse of two Holy Swords placed on the round table. I exchanged glances from a distance with Cayden, who stood guard over them.
“Raise the Barrier.”
At my grandfather’s command, the Elders moved to their positions and began casting Magic.
As the Magic spread across the top level, a solid barrier formed.
Then my grandfather walked over and called me and Seniel aside.
“Rosia, and Seniel.”
It was rare for him to call us by name alone, so I nodded.
“I want you two to leave this place.”
“Only us?”
Seniel’s brow furrowed.
“We will do our best to destroy the force. I believe we will succeed, but… I cannot know what will happen.”
My grandfather extended both hands and took mine and Seniel’s in turn.
“I don’t wish to see you two in danger. If you’re nearby, my heart will be at unease.”
As I hesitated for a moment, Seniel quickly refused.
“If things fail here, the world is doomed anyway. There’s nowhere for us to run to, Grandfather.”
“Even if it troubles you, watching over us—please ensure you succeed. You promised you’d protect us.”
“…I didn’t expect you to refuse.”
My grandfather’s grip tightened as he stared intently at our faces.
“If anything dangerous happens to me, do not come near me under any circumstances. If you promise me that, I will allow you to stay.”
An ill omen crept over me, but I had no choice but to agree.
“Master, we are ready.”
Called by the Elders, my grandfather released our hands and walked to the center.
“Older sister, something feels wrong.”
Seniel stared blankly at the hand my grandfather had held.
“Let’s take our positions.”
I took Seniel’s wrist and pulled back. Biedler moved to stand beside us.
“Then we shall begin.”
My grandfather and three High Priests took their places before the round table inscribed with a Magic Circle.
Slowly, they removed a box layered with Mana barriers and placed it upon the table.
“Opening it now.”
Gregory opened the box. The force trapped inside burst forth violently, sending a fierce wind through the Greenhouse.
My grandfather, who had prepared beforehand, used his Mana to contain the force.
A map was withdrawn.
The thick miasma it poured out was distinctly different from what I had seen before.
“We will now destroy the Sacred Object.”
Since even a slight mistake could prove dangerous, everyone watched intently, maintaining maximum focus.
In the tense silence, Gregory, who held a Holy Sword, brought it down upon the map.
“Screeeeee!”
With an earsplitting, bone-chilling shriek, black smoke erupted from the map.
The map crumbled to dust in an instant, and the smoke, unable to escape my grandfather’s Magic Circle, spiraled around the perimeter.
“Everyone, recite the Incantation!”
At my grandfather’s command, the Elders at their stations raised their staffs.
Blue light streamed from their staffs and converged into a single beam.
The light consumed the black smoke, and the miasma began to weaken—or so it seemed.
“M-Master. My Mana feels unstable. I can’t control it—”
Elder Klajin, whose nature was Darkness, cried out, and indeed, powerful darkness flowed from his staff.
It merged with the black smoke and consumed the light from the other Elders.
Through the crack in the Magic opened by Klajin, part of the black smoke escaped.
The smoke, now freed from restraint, began attacking people indiscriminately.
“No! Cayden!”
A High Priest called out loudly for Cayden.
Cayden rushed forward as if he had been waiting, and slashed at the smoke with his sword.
The smoke lost its power and dissipated. At the same moment, Elder Klajin collapsed and lost consciousness.
“Klajin!”
“Master, what should we do?”
“Leave him be for now. It seems he was affected when we reinforced the Barrier on the box last time. He will recover.”
Biedler and Seniel, who knew little of Cayden until now, inhaled sharply at the sight.
“How did he do that?”
“He was that strong?”
“It’s because he’s Cayden. He received the power to Purify miasma.”
“…Your café harbored nothing but people concealing their true identities.”
Having overcome the crisis, my grandfather quickly gathered his Mana and drove the smoke toward the round table.
Gregory, in sync with this, drove a Holy Sword he had prepared into the smoke with tremendous force.
Flash—
Light and Darkness collided, and a tremendous power erupted. Everyone was pushed backward.
“Ungh.”
I staggered back a few steps, regained my footing, and held my ground.
“It will take time. The Holy Sword and the miasma are locked in a stalemate.”
As the miasma struggled against the Holy Sword’s pressure, the High Priests also poured their Holy Power to the fullest.
Then came a sound. Wiiiiing—
A loud alarm resonated throughout the entire Mage Tower. The Elders cried out in alarm.
“Intruders?!”
“The Barrier has been breached.”
Noticing this change, my grandfather squinted in frustration.
“To think they would target this moment. Everyone, go below and repair the Barrier. Contain the situation.”
“But, Master—”
“This is only a matter of time. Descend at once and protect the mages from further harm.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll return shortly. Hold on. Both of you.”
The High Priests and attendants who had come with them hastened to leave the Greenhouse with the Mage Tower’s Elders to render aid.
“The force that attacked the Barrier carries a thick miasma. It’s Desikan… him.”
“He’s come to liberate his own power directly. But he should still be Sealed—how is he wielding such strength?”
Listening to the High Priests’ conversation, I grabbed Biedler and Seniel.
“We’re going too.”
There was nothing more we could do here. Trusting in my grandfather and the High Priests, we descended to the first floor where the lobby lay.
“They keep pouring in without pause.”
“These Beasts are stronger than any we’ve faced before.”
“They look absolutely terrifying.”
Unlike Biedler and me, Seniel, seeing the Beasts for the first time, muttered in shock.
But then Biedler stood still, staring at something.
His eyes widened as if he had witnessed something he shouldn’t have. Following his gaze, I spotted a familiar figure among the Beasts.
It was Juliano.
“Juliano? Why is he here?”
He wasn’t even wearing a mask—he displayed his face openly and boldly.

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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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