Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 49

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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.
49
“……For now, let’s watch a bit longer. If we see more direct changes, then I’ll make the trip to Alein Mountain myself.”
“I’ll relay that.”
Gregory and the other high priests were monitoring Alein Mountain’s movements from multiple angles.
They periodically dispatched messengers and received reports from Guardian and the shrine priests in nearby villages, always taking care.
Yet they had not received any word that the Seal had been broken.
So it was judged that there was no cause for alarm yet.
“Has Guardian made any separate requests?”
Martin paused from reading the report and scratched his head.
“Yes, he’s requested fresh food ingredients.”
A look of bewilderment crossed Gregory’s face.
“Has he taken up cooking as a hobby? Well, maintaining one’s sanity in that place would be ordeal enough. Have the best ingredients procured and sent to him.”
Frederick nodded and took down the instructions carefully.
“Ah, have you all heard? The Tower Master has declared his retirement. The mages are keeping it quiet, but word has already spread.”
“……How to put it. It’s not good. I can feel the world shifting.”
Gregory let out a deep sigh as he listened to Martin and Frederick speak.
“I can only pray that the end of this long Seal does not fall upon our generation.”
“The Lord will surely watch over us.”
“May peace endure unbroken.”
The three clasped their hands together and offered prayer toward the statue of the Lord.
***
Today is the day the Imperial Knight Order entrance examination, held in closed session, comes to an end.
I thought that if it was Seniel, she would rush over the moment she saw my note, so I waited at home without going out.
Sure enough. As afternoon came, the door flew open. She must have hurried straight from the exam, still wearing her test uniform.
“Number 6?”
The number on Seniel’s clothing appeared to be her test number.
“Sister!”
“Wait. Wipe your sweat first.”
I pushed away Seniel, who had rushed over covered in sweat and tried to embrace me, tossing her a towel.
Seniel stood before me and wiped her sweat diligently with the towel, giggling all the while.
“What’s this? Did you come to cheer me on?”
She seemed so pleased that I had come to see her. Like a child. My lips curled up at the sight of her joy.
“Among other things. How did the test go?”
“I did well. I probably passed first in my group, right?”
Seniel set down the towel she’d used to dry herself, her hair now fluffy, and looked up at me to ask if she could embrace me now.
“Come here.”
“Yes!”
She rushed over and hugged me so tightly my breath caught, then finally pulled away, satisfied.
“When is the second exam?”
“Normally it’s a week later, but this time it might be delayed.”
“Why?”
“The Crown Prince’s inauguration ceremony has been moved up. They seem busy with preparations.”
At the mention of the ceremony, my eyes sharpened.
Once the First Prince becomes Crown Prince, Bidler’s position will become even more precarious than it is now.
Knowing that, even Seniel, who mentioned the ceremony, didn’t seem pleased about it.
“It looks like Empress Clione pulled some strings.”
“Right. It’s not something that should be rushed, but the Imperial Palace has been in an uproar over the date being moved up.”
I’d known this day would come eventually, but now that it was upon us, I felt a heaviness settle in my chest.
But since there was nothing I could do about it right now, I accepted it and extended my hand to Seniel.
“Do you have time today?”
“If sister asks, I’d make time even if I didn’t have any. Why?”
“There’s somewhere I want to go with you.”
“Is it a date?”
“Let’s say it is.”
I’d waited partly to see Seniel, but really I’d been planning to get our parents’ tombstones made together.
I’d tell her about Mother when the timing was right. She had a right to know what I’d found.
“A date with sister is so good.”
Seniel laughed with wide eyes, unable to hide her excitement.
Now that I thought about it, I’d only ever seen Seniel indoors. We’d never gone out together.
The thought that this was our first outing together made me giddy too, but I couldn’t take her out like that.
“You’re not actually planning to go out dressed like that, are you?”
“Yes!”
I grabbed Seniel as she tried to slip her arm through mine and head for the door, then pulled out a cloak and wrapped it around her.
“No way. You’re too famous.”
“Why don’t we just spread the news then, sister? We can’t keep hiding forever anyway.”
“It’ll only cause problems. People will gossip about you having family from before the adoption.”
“I don’t care.”
“I care.”
If I became known as Seniel’s sister now that she was so famous, someone like Hestanya might start digging into my past.
As long as I was still one of Raven’s guild members, I preferred to keep a low profile.
“Why can’t I call my own sister my sister?”
“Just put the cloak on.”
I put the cloak over the reluctant Seniel’s head and asked her about Hestanya.
“Do you know who Hestanya is?”
“You mean that Hestanya from the Five Great Houses? The one with the round cheeks?”
“That’s the one.”
“How could I not know her? She follows me everywhere I go. She’s annoying.”
I felt relieved that Seniel at least had some sense about it.
“She even found my café.”
“What?”
Seniel’s face hardened at my blunt words.
“……I didn’t think she’d be able to find you. I’m sorry. I’ll tell her to stay away from you.”
“You don’t need to do that. Just be careful. She seems to be obsessed with you.”
Seniel said she’d long since started ignoring Hestanya.
“But isn’t she cute? And if you got along with her, there’s no harm in it — her family is quite prestigious.”
Hestanya was troublesome, but in a situation like this where I had much to investigate, her position could be useful. So I tested the waters, but Seniel remained unmoved.
“I’m not interested in romance.”
A sudden thought occurred to me, and I gave Seniel a suspicious look.
“Is there perhaps a man you like?”
“Are you insane?”
“If you like someone, gender doesn’t matter to me. I’m on your side.”
“No, no, sister!”
I laughed and opened the door, but a wall appeared before me. Or rather, a person.
“……?”
I looked up to see who it was, and my eyes met with crimson irises that bore a familiar, practiced disdain.
“Your Highness?”
“What are you doing here?”
Seniel, who had come up behind me, also recognized Bidler and let out a surprised voice.
I glared at Seniel. My look said: why did you lead him here? Seniel shrugged her shoulders innocently.
“I finished the exam today and came out. I’ll rest for a few days.”
“I know. I went to meet you after the exam ended, but I was told you’d received a note and rushed home, so I came here.”
“Is there something urgent……?”
Bidler didn’t answer Seniel’s question, merely looking me over as I was about to leave.
“Where are you headed?”
A carriage was visible behind Bidler. It was a plain one, perhaps to hide his status as a prince.
I quickly changed my mind about shaking him off. If I was going to move with Seniel, having that carriage would be convenient.
“Your Highness, do you have any plans after this?”
“No.”
“Would you like to come with us then?”
At my proposal, Bidler’s pupils dilated. Then his lips curved and he turned his head sharply away.
“Well, if you wish it. Though I am a very busy man, I shall do as you ask.”
“Then let’s get in the carriage. Seniel, get in.”
I quickly boarded the carriage before Bidler could change his mind.
Soon the two of them followed, and once the curtains were drawn, we could travel through the streets in cozy, quiet privacy.
‘Should I buy a carriage instead of a horse?’
And so Bidler came to accompany me on the way to get our parents’ tombstones made.
***
At the same moment.
After Rosia left the mountains, Cayden, left alone, decided to seriously purify the Demonic Energy for the first time in a while.
In the basement of the temple, there is a small hot spring through which Holy Water flows.
Arriving at the spring before his task, Cayden removed all his clothes.
Despite his lean appearance, Cayden’s entire body was covered in fine muscle. And there were countless scars he could not hide.
“……It will be a long day. May I endure it once more.”
Cayden entered the hot spring and cleansed his body, restoring his Sacred Force.
Shortly after, he emerged from the spring with water still dripping from him and changed into clothes that had been prepared at the altar.
Soon a white barrier formed around Cayden.
As he absorbed it, Cayden grasped the sword laid out on the altar.
It was the sword he had received from the temple last time, and an Artifact.
With all preparations complete, he knelt before the statue of the Lord one final time and prayed earnestly.
“Grant me thy blessing.”
Determination burned in Cayden’s eyes as he rose.
He left the hot spring and walked down the passage that led from the temple basement.
As he headed somewhere, a heavy door appeared, barred with chains and locked.
He inserted the key he carried, and with a click, the lock opened. He ran his hand along the chains and pushed the door open.
Suffocating heat and darkness descended upon Cayden.
Cayden entered without hesitation. Flicking his fingers, a flame sprang up, and he used it to illuminate the passage as he walked slowly forward.
As Cayden stepped into this alien world, thick vines continued to catch at his feet.
They were the same thick, massive vines that Rosia had encountered.
Sticky black smoke kept rushing at Cayden, but a thin Defensive Barrier deflected the smoke.
Yet the Demonic Energy that filled this place and the damp, oppressive miasma made Cayden suffer, and he grimaced in discomfort.
The space gradually began to expand. As if he had reached another world entirely.
And at the end of the passage lay a Barrier separating this space from the next.
Cayden gripped his sword with force and familiarly entered the Barrier. At that moment, Demonic Beasts surged at him from all directions.

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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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