Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 89

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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 heir to the Dark Guild.
Chapter 89
The moment I understood who Juliano was referring to, my fist clenched hard.
I had to steel myself to keep my expression from changing.
‘Mother.’
Juliano knew my mother.
“It’s an honor to resemble someone the Minor Duke knows. Who is this person?”
After composing myself, I smiled brightly and met Juliano’s eyes.
“A foolish woman. She lacked cunning despite her talents.”
Juliano’s gaze softened as he spoke dismissively of my mother—he seemed lost in memory.
“The resemblance is truly striking.”
Even as Juliano settled onto the sofa, he continued to stare at me intently.
“Isn’t it? I thought the person from that portrait you showed me had stepped right out of the canvas. I was startled when I saw her at the shop too. Such a coincidence, isn’t it?”
Aileen sat on the sofa, and I took a seat beside her, asking carefully.
“Do we really look so alike? I’d love to meet her sometime.”
“That won’t be possible. She’s dead.”
Juliano’s voice turned icy. He clicked his tongue as if to dismiss the mood and drained his water in one gulp.
“Why did you choose to start a shop on that mountain, of all places?”
“I happened to find an empty house. I had been planning to recuperate on the mountain due to an old ailment, but… somehow the small venture grew into what it is now.”
It was a prepared excuse.
“An empty house, you say. There was a house there? What of your parents?”
“Both were commoners without a family name. They were quite ordinary—born in a small rural territory called Haron in the east.”
“I see.”
I’d already arranged my identity laundering long ago for my work as Raven.
The records show no adoption, no parental death.
It seemed Juliano had already investigated me; he held documents and nodded as he cross-referenced them with my story.
“Have you given thought to business prospects?”
“Of course. I never imagined such an offer would come my way. I’m grateful beyond measure.”
I smiled warmly to match the mood. Juliano’s expression softened, and he patted the space beside him.
“Come sit closer.”
The sofa was already spacious enough—why insist?
Uncomfortable, I glanced at Aileen.
But Aileen, always taking Juliano’s side regardless, pulled my arm and drew me up, seating me beside him.
“It seems Rosia has truly won your favor. Let me help attend to her.”
“Ah, yes.”
I forced a smile while keeping as much distance as possible from Juliano, who made no attempt to hide his attempts at closeness.
“Read through the contract. If the terms displease you, I’ll raise them.”
As I examined the contract, Juliano openly stared at me from beside.
He reached over and touched my hair; I wanted to say something but held back.
“It’s exactly as you mentioned—recipe and ingredient provision, plus royalties.”
A final clause had been added: “We shall cooperate as much as possible in matters of mutual interest,” but this seemed harmless enough.
“I’ll sign it.”
I picked up a pen and signed immediately, eager to distance myself from Juliano.
Juliano signed beside my name, and we divided the contract between us.
“Will you stay at the mansion for a few days? There’s likely much we should discuss regarding the business.”
The offer to stay at the mansion tempted me, but if I agreed now, he’d likely summon me to his bedchamber immediately, so I hesitated.
“I’d like to, but I have other commitments. If you invite me again another time, I promise I’ll stay then.”
“A pity. But you must come again. I’ll host a party in your honor.”
“Thank you.”
I felt the weight of Juliano’s lingering gaze, but I feigned ignorance and sipped my coffee.
Pressing my advantage, I asked brightly with exaggerated obliviousness.
“By the way, is the family head also at the mansion? I greatly admire those heroes. I can scarcely believe I’m in the same space as their descendants.”
“My father… is not someone for the likes of you to speak of!”
Juliano’s expression twisted with anger at the mere mention of the family head.
“You’ve ruined the mood. Leave.”
“I apologize.”
The atmosphere chilled at his abrupt change.
I bowed my head in feigned alarm while Aileen quickly grabbed my arm and hurried me out of the reception room.
Once outside, Aileen sighed and reproached me.
“I told you not to cross Juliano’s temper. Especially matters concerning the family head are forbidden.”
“I’m sorry. I think I got carried away.”
“Next time, be more careful. If there is a next time.”
As she spoke, Aileen gave my shoulder a couple of light taps.
“I’ll send someone to your shop. We’ll hand over the recipes and ingredients then.”
She stayed behind at the mansion while I climbed into the carriage alone.
As I headed toward the front gate, I realized I couldn’t leave like this and pulled the carriage reins.
The carriage halted, and the attending coachman opened the door.
“What is it?”
“The garden is so beautiful. Might I take a brief look? Just a moment, yes?”
“…Very well.”
Fortunately, he didn’t refuse—perhaps because I was Juliano’s guest.
Though the coachman accompanied me, I was able to tour the garden.
I wanted to scout escape routes for a later infiltration, and I spotted a small cabin deep within the garden.
It was hidden by dense trees and invisible from the path.
“What is that?”
“Juliano’s private study. Let us go. He despises others seeing it.”
A hidden personal study, then.
I memorized the route quickly, resolved to explore it on a future visit.
“Yes, let’s go.”
Though I’d learned little of substance at the mansion, at least I’d mapped the grounds; what mattered now was what came next.
“Travel safely.”
The coachman dropped me in the town.
I stopped at the checkpoint to retrieve my horse and slipped out of the territory.
“Next time I’ll plan for a longer stay. As distasteful as it is, I need to win Juliano’s favor.”
Once I confirmed no one was watching, I retrieved the poison bottle I’d found in the study.
“To the swampland.”
The distance was so great that a round trip by horse would take at least another week.
I had no choice but to use my last Transportation Magic Stone.
And it was the long-distance variant—the most expensive kind.
“I’ll bill Raven for this.”
***
The swampland within Skandas Forest is both a sanctuary for Dark Magic practitioners and a hotbed of all darkness—where every illicit transaction occurs.
The streets here are filled with criminals and fugitives, operating without law; ordinary people never venture here.
Yet for Dark Guilds like Raven, it is indispensable; we have long procured various potions from this place.
Having visited several times before, I made straight for the home of a Dark Magic practitioner with whom Raven had a long-standing relationship.
“Ben!”
I knocked on the door bearing Ben’s name among the tightly-packed dwellings.
When no answer came, I kicked the door roughly with my foot.
Ben often worked on potions and would only hear loud noise.
“Who is it?”
Ben finally opened the door irritably, then tried to shut it immediately.
Thick smoke was indeed rising from inside—he’d been brewing something.
“Come on. You know who I am.”
“Not in that outfit. What in the world have you been doing?”
Ben grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, then locked the door.
“I heard Queen died and you took charge of some branch. Related?”
“No. This is personal.”
“You should be careful coming to the swampland.”
“I’m in a hurry. Tell me what’s in this.”
I handed over the bottle, and Ben examined it with interest, holding it up to the light.
“Where did you get this?”
“From the main mansion in Strofan.”
“Oho? Must be something rare.”
Fascinated, Ben’s eyes gleamed as he pulled on research gloves.
“Lie down there for a while. This will take several hours.”
“I’m fine standing.”
“Your eyes are red.”
“…Then I’ll ask you to hurry.”
I collapsed onto a cot in the corner of the shop and fell asleep instantly.
Hours later,
Ben shook me awake, saying the component analysis was complete.
As I rubbed my eyes and sat up, a blanket tumbled away—Ben must have covered me.
“What was it?”
“Poison. Specifically, basilisk body fluid mixed with a sedative compound.”
“The symptoms?”
“In large doses, instant death. But in very small amounts… fed gradually, it causes diminished intelligence, addiction, and total dependence. The addiction is so strong the victim can never break free alone.”
Who was meant to receive this?
Whoever the target, if the destination is the Imperial Palace, this was no trivial matter.
“Write me a written opinion.”
“Leaving so soon?”
“Yes. Oh—you have a Transportation Magic Stone, right? Give me one.”
“You left one here?”
“Bill Raven. I’ll need it to get back.”
“…Sigh. Take it.”
I left the swampland with the Transportation Magic Stone and written opinion Ben provided.
***
As the cabin came into view, I quickened my pace without thinking.
I opened the door almost running, but the air was so frigid, devoid of any warmth—my breath clouded before me.
“……”
Cayden, whom I’d expected to find waiting, was nowhere to be seen.
The cat was absent today as well.
Stepping into the empty cabin with no one to greet me, I felt oddly unsettled.
I wandered around aimlessly, then sat heavily on the sofa, disappointed.
This was normal, yet the absence of someone who usually waited for me left me hollow.
“Look at this. That’s why I told you not to wait.”
I felt a pang of longing, then was startled by my own reaction.
“Did I just… feel lonely?”
Half a year already.
Eating every meal together and seeing his face daily had somehow made me regard Cayden like family.
“Should I check the Temple?”
Busy with various matters, I hadn’t paid him much attention lately, and looking back, he’d been sleeping at the cabin far less frequently.
He often helped as an assistant during the day and I saw him in the evenings, but something felt distant.
“…No. He’s probably resting.”
I shook my head and headed to my room when my foot struck a bowl.
It was the lettuce bowl I’d filled for him before leaving—now completely empty.

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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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