Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 186

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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.
Chapter 186
I pressed down my trembling heart and flipped the notebook backward.
Though the final pages were badly torn, they contained a record of how my father had discovered the connection between the mines and the Strophane Clan.
“Juliano.”
I never thought I’d see this name written in my father’s notebook. My grip on it tightened.
“Apparently Juliano pulled off a similar scheme ten years ago too. That incident where a nearby village disappeared.”
“That’s around the time my parents passed away.”
It was too strange to dismiss as mere coincidence.
“Maybe your parents got caught up in that accident back then. You said they died suddenly, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I only thought it was an accident.”
Since they were already gone, I couldn’t know the exact cause of death, but the moment the thought struck me that it might not have been an accident, shock and fury welled up inside me.
I’d bitten my lip so hard it split, and I tasted blood.
“Even if something did happen to them, you’ve already avenged them. Brilliantly.”
Sophia came closer and wiped the blood from my lip, meeting my eyes.
“…You’re right.”
I steadied my emotions and ran my fingers over the notebook bearing my father’s handwriting.
“Thank you so much for bringing this to me.”
“It’s your parents’ legacy. If I find anything else, I’ll bring it.”
I nodded slowly and closed the notebook, tucking it away safely.
“Your family is really something, isn’t it? When you think about it all.”
“I know.”
A grand magician for a grandfather. A mother talented enough to be sought by the Strophane Clan. A father who rose through the ranks of Raven.
Sophia and I laughed together, and my mood finally lifted a little.
“By the way, you’re someone magic can’t touch, right? Raiely was bragging about how she saw you deflect magic.”
“Why would she brag about that?”
“Because it’s amazing.”
The abilities I’d wanted to hide—Raiely and Sophia were proud of them, puffing out their chests with admiration.
“And you have magical power too, apparently. If I were you, I would’ve aimed to become a Grand Magician like Meyson. But instead you’re running a café with talents like that.”
“Pretty cool, isn’t it?”
I smiled slightly, and Sophia shook her head as though she couldn’t help it, holding up both thumbs at once.
“Yeah. You’re amazing, my friend!”
My eyes widened at the word “friend.” But I didn’t deny it.
“Hehe. I’ve got to get going.”
She stood up and brushed off her wrinkled dress as she spoke.
I walked her to the door, asking as we stepped outside.
“How’s Raven these days?”
“Busy. Thanks to the Prince. We’re expanding the number of regions where we’ve set up branches, so the organization’s grown. We’re being selective about which jobs we take now.”
“Everyone doing well?”
“Of course. Your reputation skyrocketed after all this. Everyone wants to see you, so come visit soon.”
“I will soon.”
“Oh! This place is one of our branches too, right?”
“Yeah.”
Confirming that I still belonged to Raven, Sophia laughed and waved goodbye.
After Sophia left, I made my way to the back yard where my parents’ graves were.
I sat by the grave and plucked away a few weeds that had grown in the meantime.
“At least you two were together, weren’t you?”
Whatever the reason for their deaths, the fact that my parents had been together at the end brought me some small comfort.
“If there’s any lingering resentment you couldn’t resolve, visit me in a dream. I’ll listen to everything.”
I murmured to myself and pulled out my father’s notebook, slowly reading through the sections I’d skipped before.
Imagining what my father must have been like in Raven, where he’d been my predecessor.
***
After I properly opened the café, customers began to trickle in.
While Cayden prepared the ingredients, I leisurely started cleaning when an early customer arrived.
“Boss!”
Hestanya walked in carrying a large, bright bouquet of flowers.
“Welcome. It’s been a while.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve been swamped with work.”
Hestanya let out a deep sigh.
Looking at how her chubby cheeks had hollowed out, I could tell she’d been through a lot of stress.
“I heard you’d reopened the café and rushed over. I’m so relieved there’s no damage. The building looks exactly the same.”
She seemed to think the café was fine based on the building’s unchanged exterior.
I didn’t bother correcting her and handed the bouquet to Cayden before sitting at a table with Hestanya.
“Seniel played a huge role this time around. You must have worried so much with your only younger brother caught up in such danger.”
“Well, yes. I did.”
“Desikan and whatever that strange beast was, and the Demon Realm on top of it all. I thought all that stuff only existed in legends, but it actually happened. I was terrified.”
Hestanya hugged herself and shuddered as though the chills still hadn’t left her.
“Seniel really is admirable for facing such a terrifying existence and saving the world. You must be so proud of him.”
“Yeah. He’s grown a lot. I am proud, but he’s so reckless—charging at wyverns without a second thought. He’s far too aggressive.”
“My goodness, you speak as though you witnessed it yourself.”
Instead of answering, I smiled lightly.
“Do you remember when we met in Helitria?”
“I do.”
“That stolen item was connected to all of this. My family had to take responsibility for negligent management, and I’ve been dealing with the aftermath for a while now. It’s been exhausting.”
All of the Five Great Houses who lost Sacred Objects were entangled in this incident in some way.
Though I received a mitigation of punishment by declaring support for Biedler, it was leverage that would haunt us for a long time.
Hestanya wiped away tears as she told me how the world had come crashing down while her parents were detained for questioning.
“Are you going to keep the café open now?”
“I am.”
“That makes me so happy. This place has been my sanctuary. I’m thinking of starting our gatherings again.”
She went on to complain about how Seniel’s popularity had surged even more, making it difficult to manage the influx of new members.
“It’s upsetting, actually. I feel like I’m drifting further from Seniel.”
It was then that the café door opened again.
Hestanya, who’d glanced back at the sound, went pale.
“S-Seniel…!”
Hestanya hastily grabbed the hat she’d set aside and used it to cover her face, squirming with embarrassment.
“What’s wrong?”
“My face is all puffy today and I don’t look pretty. If I’d known I’d see him, I would’ve worn proper makeup.”
“You look lovely as you are.”
“Thank you for saying so, but I can’t let Seniel see me like this. See you next time!”
Seniel wasn’t even paying attention, but Hestanya slunk away and bolted out of the café.
“What was that?”
Seniel pointed at the departing Hestanya, puzzled.
“She’s a fan of yours. You know her—Hestanya, from one of the Great Houses.”
Hearing Hestanya’s name, Seniel flinched and furrowed his brow.
“Something wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just here because your brother had something to discuss with you.”
There was no need to ask who he meant. Biedler had just walked in.
His eyes, which had softened at the sight of me, turned sharp the moment he locked gazes with Cayden.
Biedler’s expression grew confused as he looked back and forth between me and Cayden.
“What’s the situation here?”
Cayden stepped out from behind the counter first and greeted Biedler.
“It’s been a while since we last met. I’m grateful for your help back then.”
“The gratitude should be mine. Thanks to you, I was able to destroy Desikan. As the Prince of the Empire, I thank you sincerely. How are you feeling? I heard you didn’t wake up for a long time.”
“I’m still in treatment.”
“But I’m curious why you’re here.”
Biedler’s eyes sharpened with interest.
“It’s because of the medicine Meyson makes. I’m also helping out here in the meantime.”
Biedler looked back at me with a hurt expression, as if questioning why I hadn’t told him this.
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable, so I hastily pulled out ingredients.
“I’ll make what you usually have.”
“Set that aside for now. Let’s talk separately.”
“Of course.”
I stared blankly, and Biedler rubbed his temple, glancing behind him.
“Outside. Just the two of us.”
“…Alright.”
Puzzled about what he wanted to discuss, I tilted my head and followed Biedler out of the café.
As we walked, Biedler spotted my garden plot and crouched down.
“What’s this?”
“Lettuce and green onions. I planted them myself.”
“You’ve grown them well.”
He seemed awkward, making small talk before touching the back of his neck and standing again.
When Biedler turned to face me, tension was written all over his face.
Something important seemed to be on his mind, and I found myself tensing up as well.
His lips seemed dry as he licked them, hesitating several times before finally speaking.
“Couldn’t you have discussed it with me before you left that time?”
“I did consider it, but you’re not my superior, so I thought it was better to politely decline the offer to join rather than tell you directly.”
“After you disappeared, I felt far more disappointed than I expected.”
Did he really just say he was disappointed?
I tilted my head in disbelief at words I could hardly believe had come from Biedler’s mouth.
“So you have no interest in the Knights Order?”
“Not right now, no.”
“What about me?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you have no interest in me?”
My flustered face reflected back in his crimson eyes.
“…I’m not sure what you mean.”
The only interpretation that came to mind for why Biedler would say such a thing.
But I tried to convince myself it wasn’t that. That it must mean something else.
“I like you.”
My desperate efforts to reinterpret crumbled under Biedler’s straightforward confession.

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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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