Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 178

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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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It’s a café run by the Heir to the Dark Guild.
Episode 178
As Biedler held me, he too began sinking deeper into the pool of black liquid.
Perhaps my struggle was a hindrance, for some of the viscous substance shaped itself into a blade-sharp form and lashed out at Biedler.
“Ugh….”
“Your Highness!!”
He could have freed my hand and dodged, but he didn’t let go.
His flank was pierced cleanly, and blood began to pour from the wound.
“Why would you go this far….”
I stared at Biedler’s face, contorted with pain and confusion.
“What does my life matter? It’s better if even one more person survives.”
“Now I understand what you mean to me. That’s why I won’t let go.”
The tighter Biedler held me, the stronger his grip became. When his hand alone wasn’t enough, he shifted to his wrist, pulling harder.
“Let’s go back together.”
With each exertion, his wound tore further open. Watching it was agonizing.
Desikan wouldn’t release me easily, so I could think of only one way for us both to escape the pool unharmed.
“Grandfather….”
If only Grandfather were here, surely everything would be all right. I was about to release Biedler when—
“Did you find me?”
I heard Grandfather’s reassuring voice from directly behind us.
Whether Desikan’s power had weakened or not, Grandfather had arrived just in time, piercing through the black veil.
‘We’re saved.’
My mind held only that thought.
Biedler must have felt the same, for the moment our eyes met, we both laughed.
It was absurd to find humor in such a moment, but now that Grandfather had arrived, I knew everything would be all right. My heart settled.
High Priest Ripeved appeared as well. He was limping, his leg clearly injured, yet he too had survived.
As he recited a Prayer Incantation and unfurled his Holy Power, the force binding me began to loosen.
The Holy Swords scattered around us responded to the High Priest, surrounding the black pool with brilliant light.
“Desikan’s spirit was already shattered when the Seal was established six hundred years ago. With his true body gone, only annihilation remains. This is his final thrashing.”
Breaking his Shackles and manifesting here had been a poison for Desikan himself.
“This cannot be. It cannot end like this!”
Desikan shrieked from within the pool and thrashed again, churning the black liquid’s surface in another attempt to attack.
But this time, Grandfather blocked him.
Trapped now within Grandfather’s Magic and the High Priest’s Holy Power Barrier, Desikan could do nothing.
“Six hundred years I waited, only to fall to creatures like you. Do not think this is the end. The Demon Realm still—”
Desikan’s curse-like cry was cut short mid-sentence.
The pool that had tried to devour Biedler and me spread naturally outward, and its surface rapidly receded.
I spat out the liquid in my mouth and gasped, bracing myself on my palms, when Biedler suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
Startled by his abrupt action, I froze.
“Your Highness?”
“You’re safe… thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.”
Biedler’s fingers, wrapped around my head, were trembling faintly.
Not knowing how to respond to his uncharacteristic behavior, I could only blink.
“What are you doing to my granddaughter?”
“I… well….”
A moment later, apparently startled by his own actions, Biedler cleared his throat, released me, and stepped back.
Grandfather regarded him with displeasure, yet he still helped me—staunching the blood from my wound without much fuss.
“We need proper treatment the moment we return. I’ve suppressed the Miasma, but if left untended, the wound will fester.”
“Understood.”
After basic care, Biedler examined me carefully and wiped away the mud clinging to my cheek with his sleeve.
“Are you all right? Any injuries?”
The tenderness in his gaze was too much to meet directly, so I lowered my head slightly.
“It’s not I who is injured—it’s you, Your Highness.”
“Nonsense. This is nothing.”
For someone saying that, his lips were remarkably pale.
“Sit down. I have Bandages.”
Though the bleeding had stopped, I retrieved Bandages to cover his gaping wound, wrapping them carefully around his waist.
With my hands necessarily close to his body, we drew near, and Biedler sat quietly, watching me intently the whole time.
Unable to bear that weighty gaze any longer, I finally sighed and asked first.
“Do you have something to say?”
“You. That habit of sacrificing yourself at every turn—you need to break it.”
“You would have done exactly the same, given the chance.”
“You’re always rushing forward into danger. It’s fine when I’m watching, but I worry about what you’ll be doing when I’m not around.”
“Why would you even worry about—”
I’d meant to say it coldly, but his expression was so forlorn that I simply held my tongue instead.
Utterly exhausted, I sat down on the ground and pressed my back against his.
Desikan had destroyed the terrain so completely that there was barely anywhere to lean.
“Will Cayden be all right?”
I watched as High Priest Ripeved worked to revive Cayden.
“What he did will never be forgotten. We’ll elevate him to hero status, and the Imperial Palace will spare no resources to aid his recovery.”
I nodded and observed as Grandfather and Elder Wyatt set about restoring the surroundings.
“It’s finally over, isn’t it?”
“So it seems.”
“It feels strangely hollow.”
Perhaps it was because we were sitting back to back, not facing each other.
Or perhaps it was exhaustion reaching its limit, and having endured so much.
My true feelings spilled out unbidden.
“The ending of great trials is always like this. Yet one learns to be grateful that the emotion felt at the close is emptiness, not sorrow.”
“That’s true.”
I recalled that Biedler and Seniel had lived through multiple wars.
Though I’d tried to keep my distance while operating as Raven, deliberately withholding affection, his words resonated deeply—I had felt exactly that way every time I lost comrades.
“I hope there are no more trials like this.”
“If you become Emperor, Your Highness, such a world might come to pass.”
But this time, no reply came back.
“Child, you’ve suffered greatly.”
Grandfather, finished with his work, came and gently stroked my hair.
“You too, Grandfather.”
“It was all you. Had you not come to rescue us, we would already be trapped in the Middle Ground. I’m proud of you.”
Looking into my Grandfather’s blue eyes, I felt my own begin to burn.
It was like something a parent would say. My suffering melted away, and a smile naturally bloomed on my lips.
“Let’s go now.”
I took Grandfather’s offered hand and rose. Biedler, who had been leaning on me, swayed behind.
“Tsk, tsk. Such weakness.”
Grandfather still looked displeased with Biedler, but he helped support him as we all got to our feet.
Only Cayden, still unconscious, remained carried by Elder Wyatt, while the rest of us emerged safely outside.
Though “outside” was hardly the right word—Desikan’s rampage had torn the terrain so thoroughly that all around was open to the sky.
“The sky is bright.”
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a blue sky like this.”
The red, dim sky was gradually brightening, turning an ever-deeper blue.
The proof that Desikan had vanished and the connection to the Demon Realm was truly severed.
We gazed up at the clearing sky in wonder.
“Never did I think the ordinary sky I saw every day would be so precious.”
“We nearly lost it forever.”
“To feel the bright sunlight again is such a relief.”
That was when it happened.
A torrential downpour began falling from the clear sky.
As if to wash away everything, the rain poured in heavy sheets, drenching us all in moments.
Yet I didn’t mind.
I brushed back my completely soaked hair and looked up at the sky when suddenly my vision was blocked.
Turning, I saw Biedler had opened his palm above my head to shield me.
“What are you doing?”
“You’ll catch cold.”
“A hand won’t shield much.”
It was only large enough to cover my face, so I let out a small laugh, but Biedler didn’t lower his hand.
“Let’s move to the Mage Tower together. Must be the years catching up—whenever it rains, my knees start to ache.”
Elder Wyatt, still carrying Cayden, tapped his knees as he spoke.
“Young man, tsk.”
Grandfather tutted at him in exasperation and activated a Teleportation Stone.
Our bodies lifted briefly, and we arrived at the Mage Tower’s lobby.
As I wrung out my dripping clothes and hair, Grandfather cast a light spell beside me.
The water evaporated, and all of us dried completely in an instant.
“……!”
“Well? Has your interest in Magic grown?”
I nearly blurted out yes in response to Grandfather’s casual demonstration, but caught myself.
“What about Seniel?”
I suddenly remembered—Seniel was to tend to Verdian Territory and follow after, but what if our paths had crossed?”
“I’ll find and bring him myself. First, everyone needs urgent treatment.”
Biedler, whose complexion had turned dangerously blue and whose condition looked poor, was hurried first into the Mage Tower’s treatment room.
Cayden, still unconscious, couldn’t be carried by the injured High Priest Ripeved, so someone else was sent to bring him along.
Grandfather reassured me as I watched their retreating figures with worry.
“I know one of the High Priests here has exceptional healing ability. He’ll be fine.”
“Yes. He’ll wake up.”
“More importantly, child, you should take some medicine as well.”
Grandfather’s expression grew grave—the most serious I’d ever seen—as he began pulling materials from his pocket and spreading them before me.

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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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