Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 166

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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 Heir of the Dark Guild.
166
“No! Stop!”
By the time I cried out, the damage was already done.
And lingering in my ears, alongside Grandfather’s voice, was another sound—clear and unmistakable.
‘It’s a shame. We’ll meet again soon.’
In my confusion, the barrier vanished. I ran to where the sphere had been.
The floor was gouged deep from the impact. The Holy Knights descended when they saw Gregory alone in the crater below.
I stood frozen, watching as Gregory was helped back up.
“You’re bleeding.”
Biedler appeared beside me and pulled out a handkerchief, lifting my hand and wrapping it carefully.
I must have cut myself when I struck the barrier, though I hadn’t felt it at all.
I stared at my hand in silence, and Biedler seemed to want to speak but closed his mouth instead, standing quietly beside me.
“Sister.”
Seniel’s voice trembled as he called to me.
The tears I’d been holding back broke free, streaming down my cheeks.
My chest felt unbearably hollow—like the day I heard that my parents had passed away.
My vision blurred with tears as Seniel embraced me, his shoulders shaking.
“I lost him right before my eyes. I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life.”
“It was Grandfather’s choice.”
“He said once his task was done, we’d go back to the café together.”
That everyday life in the café was no longer a place I could return to.
If I’d known our time together would be so short, I would have been kinder, more honest—regret flooded through me.
Memories of my first moments with Grandfather came flooding back.
Even the image of him following us around in cat form brushed through my mind.
“He appeared out of nowhere, and now he vanishes just as suddenly, on his own terms.”
“Exactly. If this was going to happen, I should never have grown attached. Wait—no, cancel that. I’m glad I met him. Really glad.”
Seniel sniffled and smiled, though tears still gathered in eyes so like Grandfather’s own.
I held Seniel close, and as he buried his face in my shoulder, I gently stroked his hair.
“Me too.”
I’d walked this world alone for so long, and to have someone to lean on—I couldn’t deny how much that had meant.
Knowing someone was always watching over me felt more reassuring than anything else.
But the fact that I’d never once told him this weighed on my heart.
Still, the chaos around us wouldn’t allow us to sink into sorrow for long.
After Desikan vanished, his human servants crept toward the exit in a bid to escape, but the demon beasts only grew wilder, surging toward me.
Juliano, who’d slipped away like an eel, even summoned another High-Rank Demon Beast and smiled with satisfaction.
“I’ll take you with me instead.”
Watching the High-Rank Demon Beast roar menacingly, I clenched my teeth and gripped Seniel’s shoulder.
“Let’s deal with these first.”
“Right. I won’t let them have their way.”
We both drew our swords and moved into the cluster of fighters surrounding the High-Rank Demon Beast.
“You can step back if you need to.”
“We’ll handle this.”
Biedler and Cayden exchanged worried glances and spoke, each offering a word.
But I had nowhere to channel the fury that burned in me now that Desikan—the one who’d taken Grandfather—had vanished, and the High-Rank Demon Beast would have to do.
That’s when—
A brilliant white light shot from behind like an arrow and pierced clean through the High-Rank Demon Beast.
It resembled a massive arrow of pure radiance. The demon beast, impaled by that light, never got a chance to strike before it dissolved into nothing.
“You will rampage no longer.”
Gregory’s voice rang out loud and clear.
Now fully conscious, he fired Light Arrows forged from Holy Power, and with each shot, demon beasts fell in streams.
The speed at which passages opened up left my jaw hanging.
Even Biedler lowered his sword arm, clicking his tongue in admiration.
“So this was the extent of it all along.”
“I’m speechless.”
“To think such power couldn’t stand against Desikan.”
The more I felt Gregory’s strength firsthand, the heavier my heart became.
Everyone tried to hide it, but fear of Desikan had wedged itself into the corner of every mind.
Then it happened.
As the others fled to escape the Light Arrows, Juliano threw a Magical Net at me once more.
I’d been watching him carefully, so I twisted away with ease—but this time the net changed direction mid-flight, still pursuing me.
“It’s like it has a will of its own.”
Bewildered, I ran toward a Holy Knight standing nearby.
Feeling the Demonic Energy radiating from the black net, the Holy Knight stepped forward, sword layered with Holy Power.
I thought it would tear apart as it had before, but this time was different.
The moment the Holy Knight’s blade touched the net, a small Portal opened and swallowed him whole.
He vanished without a trace. In an instant.
“Damn it. Lucky for me—that was the last one.”
“Portals can’t be opened here. What did you use? Where did you send that Holy Knight?”
“None of your concern! If you’re curious, follow me!”
Juliano shrieked with rage, thrashing wildly.
I was certain he had no more tricks up his sleeve, so I charged at him.
A nearby Mage came to my aid, firing lightning in Juliano’s direction.
Startled, Juliano clutched something in his hand and simply disappeared.
It was a matter of inches.
“I should have caught him.”
My outstretched hand met only empty air. I looked around in frustration.
Biedler was collecting bodies nearby and searching through them, so I approached.
“Look at this. These are the humans who were in league with the summoners. They all have this.”
I saw a small but distinct tattoo shaped like a sailing ship, and by now I wasn’t surprised in the least.
“Sailing.”
“Yes. We should have investigated them more thoroughly when we first discovered Sailing. What happened to Juliano?”
“He slipped away right in front of me.”
“He knows more than anyone else. We have to find him.”
What had been suspicion before was now certainty—Juliano’s appearance here confirmed that Sailing and the Strophane Clan were connected.
“I wonder how the Empress will respond.”
“Perhaps she’ll claim ignorance?”
“Or she truly doesn’t know. Either way, I intend to find out.”
I nodded and looked grimly around me.
The Mage Tower stood with holes punched through it, floors collapsed, covered in rubble.
We’d managed to hold it, but it looked like nothing more than ruins.
“It’s a mess. Always like this after a war.”
Biedler smiled bitterly, his gaze sweeping across the devastation with regret.
There had been so many demon beasts that I couldn’t count the shimmering cores scattered across the floor.
For now, there was a lull, and everyone had collapsed in exhaustion, except for Cayden, who was moving about with purpose.
I walked slowly toward him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sensing considerable Demonic Energy. Even in that brief moment, when things shifted to the Intermediate Realm, it seems souls flowed in as well.”
Cayden pulled out a bottle of Holy Water and poured it over himself as he spoke.
“Purifying Demonic Energy is my role. It’s nothing compared to what I did in Alein.”
“You’re not the type to stop just because someone asks you to, so I won’t try to stop you. Just don’t overdo it.”
“I will. And about your grandfather… I’m truly sorry.”
Cayden had spent much time with Grandfather while we lived in the mountains.
Without needing many words, we both understood each other’s grief. I mustered a smile and let him go about his work.
Inspired by Cayden’s quiet dedication, the Mages began to stir and gather together.
Especially the Elders, who’d been grieving over Grandfather, divided up roles and regions, leading groups of Mages in different directions.
Soon the Barrier around the Mage Tower was repaired, and the rubble was cleared away entirely.
Under the collective effort of so many, the tower rapidly returned to its former state.
***
A few hours later.
Once the Mage Tower was restored, we gathered in a hastily prepared conference room.
Aside from Grandfather, everyone here was the same as yesterday.
The tower’s Elders kept glancing at Grandfather’s empty seat, wiping away tears.
In particular, Wyatt, the current Master of the Mage Tower, repeatedly blew his nose into his handkerchief.
In the heavy, dark silence, Gregory spoke first.
“Everyone worked hard today. Desikan’s appearance in that place was entirely unexpected. If it hadn’t been for you—the entire Continent would have fallen into chaos.”
Respect brimmed in Gregory’s voice as he spoke of Grandfather.
“Everyone must be wondering what became of your grandfather.”
I waited for Gregory to continue, clenching my fists, then glanced at the handkerchief Biedler had wrapped around my hand.
“Desikan is sealed in the Intermediate Realm. If someone was dragged there in a human body… they couldn’t survive.”
He spoke indirectly, but the meaning was clear—Grandfather was dead.
Then Cayden offered a different perspective.
“High Priest, as you say, a human body cannot endure that place. But what if… someone created a Barrier to protect them?”
“They might be able to survive to some degree. But would Desikan allow that?”
“This is merely speculation, but it’s possible that Desikan is protecting your grandfather.”
Everyone reacted to Cayden’s theory with skepticism. Some even scoffed.
But Cayden pressed on, looking directly at me as he explained.
“Desikan intended to take Rosia. If he needs her, he would surely keep your grandfather alive to use as bait.”
At Cayden’s conclusion—that Grandfather might be alive—both the Mage Tower and the Temple began murmuring amongst themselves, exchanging opinions.
I had already reached a similar conclusion after much deliberation, so I drew a breath and spoke with resolve.
“I will go to the Intermediate Realm.”

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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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