Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 85

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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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This is a café run by the Heir of the Dark Guild.
Chapter 85
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A few days later, I returned to the Village to check on Arno.
I’d brought money in case he needed it, and my pockets felt heavy with the weight.
“If it’s not enough, I can always withdraw more from the Capital.”
I hadn’t touched the money sitting in the Bank Vault even once.
The shop was doing so well that there was no need to draw from the bank.
I reached the Shopping District marveling at how easy it was to make money.
While I was in the Village, I stopped by the Grocery Store as well.
“Welcome! Oh my, what a lovely young lady! What can I help you find?”
“I’m looking to make homemade jam.”
“Jam? Then you’ll need sugar.”
“I’ll take some.”
“How much?”
“Um… one container.”
I asked for a whole container, thinking I’d make plenty, but the Sugar turned out to be more expensive than I expected.
The weight in my pockets decreased considerably, and I felt a flutter of unease.
“I should have brought more money.”
The merchants in the Shopping District remained kind to me.
As I walked, I studied their expressions, and they all seemed bright and unclouded.
The Village’s lively atmosphere was unchanged, and all the cracked walls had been patched with boards and repaired.
Content that Arno had kept his promise to me, I continued deeper into the district when suddenly a calico cat darted out in front of me.
“…? A mouse?”
The cat had a mouse in its jaws.
It padded along and set the mouse down with a soft thunk in front of the General Store Owner.
“What on earth is it doing?”
I blinked in surprise at this unfamiliar behavior, and the General Store Owner smiled warmly and explained.
“What do you think? It’s showing gratitude.”
“Gratitude?”
“I’ve been feeding it, and now it brings me mice. Out of appreciation, I suppose. Such a clever thing, isn’t it?”
The pride in the Owner’s voice was unmistakable as she petted the cat brushing against her leg.
“So cats can show gratitude too. My own cat back home…”
It had never brought me even a single ant, much less a mouse.
Watching the scene unfold, I felt a strange mixture of betrayal and envy.
“What did you feed it?”
“Oh, me? Well, I don’t follow any set diet. I just give it whatever’s around. This one seems to adore Lettuce leaves.”
I made a mental note to buy some Lettuce on my way back and try it with my own cat.
“Do you raise cats yourself?”
“No, I don’t.”
Even if I feed it, that doesn’t mean I’m raising it. I shook my head firmly and walked past the General Store.
I arrived at the Community Hall and knocked on the door.
“Is anyone here?”
I wasn’t sure if Arno was still inside or if the Village Chief had returned, so I waited, but there was no response.
I tried the doorknob on a whim, and it opened without resistance.
“…The door wasn’t even locked?”
The interior of the Community Hall had completely changed from when I’d visited days ago.
The table where money had been stacked was now full of thread, metal, and wooden boards.
Wood shavings were scattered everywhere as if work had been abandoned midway.
“What is all this?”
Puzzled by the strange combination of materials, I took a seat in one of the chairs.
I’d barely sat down when Arno came through the door.
“Big Sister!”
“Why are you calling me that?”
“What else should I call you? Boss?”
“…Just call me that.”
“Yes!”
Arno grinned widely.
“I heard you’d come to the Village while I was working, so I ran right over. I figured you’d be here.”
“Working? What kind of work?”
“Oh, I’m at the Thread Workshop now. The Village Chief got me the position.”
The way Arno lowered his voice while looking around was almost mischievous.
Had he always been this spirited?
He seemed like a completely different person from when I’d last seen him. Now he actually looked his age.
“See this Scarf? The workshop grandmother knitted it for me.”
“…But it’s not cold enough to wear a scarf yet, is it? You must be sweltering.”
Sweat was beading on his forehead—I’d wondered why he was wrapped up like that in this weather, and now I had my answer.
“But I love it. It’s the first gift I’ve ever received with so much care put into it.”
There was such excitement in Arno’s voice, and he looked so genuinely happy that I couldn’t help but smile.
“Should I knit something for you too?”
“Can you knit?”
“I’m learning now. Since there’s so much thread around, they say it’s perfect for a side job. Everyone teaches me so patiently.”
Then Arno told me about the past few days.
He said he’d gone to the Village Chief first and told him everything.
He admitted honestly that he’d come to harm the Village for money from bad people, but now he wanted to turn over a new leaf and settle here.
He was allowed to stay at the Community Hall, with the understanding that only the Village Chief would know the truth.
He then sought out everyone he’d hurt, apologized sincerely, and made restitution, after which they accepted him.
Especially once Arno and his gang started helping with work, the atmosphere shifted to one of welcome.
“You work at the Thread Workshop—what about the rest of your gang?”
“They all work at different shops. One’s at the Blacksmith, one at the Woodworking Shop, and one at the Restaurant.”
“They’re adapting fast.”
“The villagers are thrilled that young people have come to such a remote place.”
It’s true—in a Village like this, you rarely see young people coming to settle. Most just pass through.
Now that young people have appeared and are helping with work and learning skills, the Village must feel secure.
It seemed like they were breathing new life into the Village in a way quite different from before, and I felt reassured.
“Don’t betray those people. Emotional wounds cut far deeper than financial loss.”
“…Yes. It’s the life I’ve always dreamed of. Earning what I work for, eating my fill. I love this honest labor so much.”
“You’re doing well.”
“Hehe. I love this Village. I want to keep living here.”
Watching him grow up so quickly into a mature young man, I found my hand reaching out to his head without thinking.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should, but since he deserved it, I gave him a gentle ruffle.
“Have you received any orders?”
“Yes, this morning.”
The smile faded quickly from Arno’s brightened face.
“What did they say?”
“They want me to take control of the Village. They said to use violence if necessary to secure contracts with all the shops and report on what’s happening here.”
What would they even want to know about a place like this?
Puzzling over it, I asked Arno, “So what are you going to report?”
“For now, I’ll just send money since it’s only been a few days.”
“Here. Tell me if it’s not enough.”
I handed over the money I’d brought and left the Community Hall.
With my business done, I stopped by the Dumpling Shop on my way back.
Since it was winter and business was brisk, James was working alongside Mattan today.
“Welcome…”
James saw me and quickly looked away, his head bowed.
Mattan chuckled at his reaction and greeted me warmly.
“So glad you came. What did you buy?”
“I’m making homemade jam.”
“Are you adding it to the menu? Then you should get flour too. You could make bread.”
“I haven’t gotten that far yet…”
“I’ll come by next time and show you how.”
I nodded and pointed to a steaming plate of Dumplings.
“I’ll take all of those.”
While waiting for the order to be wrapped, I casually asked Mattan, “How’s the Village been? You were worried about those strange types showing up.”
“Oh, it’s all fine now. At first I was angry because my son got hurt, but it turns out they had their reasons. I really hope they settle here and live well.”
Arno had said he’d only told the Village Chief the whole story.
Seeing that Mattan knew about it too, I realized the whole Village must have gotten the general gist by now.
In a small place like this, secrets never stay secret.
Still, I was glad to see the changed attitude toward the gang and smiled contentedly.
“Here… some Dumplings for you.”
I took the Dumplings from James, who still wouldn’t meet my eyes, and tried to pay, but Mattan waved me off.
“No need to pay. Just take them.”
“I’d rather pay.”
I’d decided not to accept anything for free anymore. I pressed the money into her hand, grabbed just the Dumplings, and turned to leave.
I was walking toward the Inn where I’d tied up my horse, heading back to the shop, when I spotted an Old Beggar asking for alms.
“I’ve never seen a beggar in this Village before.”
I’d bought too many Dumplings anyway, so I thought I’d give him a few and moved toward the Old Beggar.
I was about to set the Dumplings down quietly and leave when the Old Beggar looked up at me with a vacant stare.
Burn scars covered every exposed bit of skin—his jaw, the lower part of his face, a glimpse of his throat. His arms and legs bore similar marks too.
He must have survived a terrible fire, I thought, and reached down to place the Dumplings.
But then—
“Hg-hgaaack!”
The Old Beggar suddenly screamed.
His body trembled violently, and he scrambled to his feet, fleeing in a panic.
He even abandoned the alms box he’d been using.
“That’s… remarkably suspicious.”
It seemed like he recognized me and was running away, so I followed him, if only out of politeness.
Fortunately, we were in an Alley with no one around.
His back was bent, and he could barely walk properly. His leg was injured too—he was limping badly.
He stumbled several times but pushed on into the Alley, until finally reaching a dead end.
“Stop right there.”
“D-Don’t come… hgaa… I’m not… I’m not…”
“Not what?”
No matter how much I searched my memory, I couldn’t place his face. Yet his reaction to seeing me was so extreme.
“Where have you seen me before?”
“Please… spare me…”
The closer I came, the more he writhed and muttered like a madman, curling up on himself.
“Is he mentally disturbed?”
I was about to turn back—he seemed to be in such agony—when the Old Beggar’s faint murmuring reached my ears and lodged there.
“L-Lili… I’m sorry…”

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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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