Chapter : 15
At the same time, in a certain furniture shop.
“What on earth….”
Millen lowered his body, hiding his embarrassment.
Then, a child came into his line of sight.
Fiery red hair. Eyes that reminded him of someone.
So this child was…
“When did you have a daughter, Freesia?”
It was the child of Freesia Robotong, the owner of Freesia’s Wonderful Furniture Shop, who had said she was too busy with work to come to the shop.
Anyone could immediately tell this child was hers—the resemblance was uncanny.
“So that’s why you’ve been busy. At least you could’ve said something.”
His incredulous gaze fell on Iliana and Freesia, who were standing beside the child.
Iliana remained indifferent and quickly turned her head. Freesia, still maintaining her short hair, shrugged her shoulders.
“I thought you already knew everything. Millen, there’s nothing you don’t know, right? Besides, I told Basha about it. So don’t blame me entirely.”
“…Hmph, Basha.”
Millen didn’t particularly like children.
They didn’t communicate well and were just bothersome. Some had criticized him for not remembering his own “tadpole” days, but he had been perfect since childhood.
As a result, he found this situation extremely annoying.
“…Hah. If it weren’t for that cult leader, it would’ve been Leila here instead of me.”
If it were her, she would have laughed foolishly upon seeing the child—or been kind to a young customer.
Millen let out a long sigh.
“This is all my fault.”
A self-mocking smile spread across his face.
“How did it end up like this?”
The answer was simple.
“I have something to do this afternoon, so… I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise with Iliana. So… Millen, could you go with Hoo instead?”
It was at Leila’s request.
When he first heard her request, Millen thought, Ah, she must’ve finally gotten the token and is rushing off.
Reading his bewildered expression, Leila hurriedly added:
“It’s the shop you recommended, so you probably know them. Please, just this once. I don’t have anyone else I can trust… only you, Millen.”
After receiving the token, Leila had started addressing Millen more comfortably. Dropping the “Mr.” after his name was proof of that.
Anyway, Leila pressed Millen’s conscience with the most pitiful expression she could muster.
So…
“So, Freesia. What do you want from Basha… no, Leila?”
He had come all the way to grant her request—accompanied by Hoo.
Hoo was already captured by the child and was showering her with affection.
The sound of Hoo and the child laughing filled the shop. Since Hoo was larger than an average hamster, he seemed to make a perfect playmate for the child.
Millen briefly looked at Hoo and then straightened up. Freesia’s gaze followed him upward.
“Ugh, you’re so lanky. Hard to look up at you. Come inside. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Let’s do that.”
“Iliana, take care of the kids.”
Seeing Iliana nod brightly with a smile, Freesia gestured for Millen to follow her.
Millen exhaled deeply and followed her.
Freesia Robotong.
She was a furniture artisan even Basha acknowledged. Her craftsmanship was almost as skilled as Millen’s, which made Basha cherish her work. It had even made Millen a bit jealous.
But the moment he saw her furniture, Millen had no choice but to admit her skill.
Furniture that moves the heart.
Furniture that captures both the user’s taste and feelings.
Freesia created these effortlessly.
Therefore, Millen remembered her as a rather useful person.
So, when he decided to give Leila the token, the first person who came to mind was Freesia.
Surely, she would also become a good connection for Leila.
However…
I went to the trouble of bringing them here, and she’s not even here.
Returning again, he found a child now existed.
Her daughter seemed about five years old.
Rather than feeling upset that she hadn’t mentioned it, he felt stunned. And that astonishment would linger far longer than he expected.
Freesia had stopped in the workshop at the back of the furniture shop. Unfinished wood and strong-smelling chemicals were scattered around.
“You still haven’t organized things.”
“So what? I know where everything is, don’t worry.”
“What if the child gets hurt?”
“…My daughter, Lumi, is forbidden from entering here.”
It made sense given the dangerous items, yet strangely, her expression was filled with sadness.
The reason soon became clear.
“Lumi is sick right now. It’s been a year already.”
“A year? She doesn’t look sick at all.”
“She’s unusually fine today, so I brought her along.”
“Then?”
“…Well, you see.”
She spoke in a voice filled with sorrow and began her long story.
She explained that Lumi had fallen seriously ill a year ago. Unexplained high fevers every night and seizures made it impossible for her mother to manage the shop properly.
Then she looked at Millen with a desperate expression.
“But there were days when Lumi wasn’t sick.”
“…When?”
“When Basha visited. He gave Lumi a certain drink. It seemed to have an effect on her.”
“…I see.”
“So I wanted to request that drink. For Basha’s granddaughter.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the world seemed to ripple for a moment.
Though those present didn’t notice, the world had clearly reacted.
Millen closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and brushed his hair back.
This seemed like a problem only Leila could resolve. In that case, there was no reason for him to stay.
“I’ll talk to her again after bringing Leila here.”
As the sunset bathed the sky, the first meeting with Freesia ended.
After the sun had completely set, people began leaving the café one by one. Some promised they would return.
I smiled with satisfaction.
I had earned quite a bit of money.
I sold twenty cups of 15-gold drip coffee…
A total profit of 300 gold!
Right now, with expenses piling up, this income was very precious.
I carefully put today’s earnings into my pocket and checked the system windows that had appeared earlier.
First:
Special Quest!
Day 1 Success!
- Rewards provided.
Reward: 1 Diamond
It was the success of the special quest.
Only one day out of ten, but as they say, the first step is half the journey. The remaining days didn’t worry me. More people would come, not fewer. Word spreads fast.
I put the diamond in my pocket and checked the next window.
“Oh…”
A reed field has been added to the café’s attractions.
- People who see the reed field will have increased favorability toward the café.
So that’s what it was. Unexpected results popped up, surprising me a little. This game seemed to hide a lot of features.
No, if I had just played once, I’d know all this, right?
Thinking back, I felt unfair. If I had known more about the game, it would have been much easier.
I closed the system window with a sullen expression and noticed the last remaining window.
Freesia’s Request!
- Fulfill Freesia’s request within 48 hours
(47:59:59)
Reward: Freesia’s favor & 1,000 gold
Failure: Unable to use Freesia’s Wonderful Furniture Shop
I stared at the system window and couldn’t help but smile widely.
I knew it would work.
Sending Millen and Hoo was the right choice.
This is like auto-farming? Something like it.
I still remembered Millen’s expression when I asked—annoyed and reluctant yet forced to comply.
Hoo was excited, claiming she was going on a date with Millen. He clearly hadn’t seen Millen’s face.
I’ll have to praise them when they return!
I also planned to tell him about today. If I shared today’s results, Millen would recognize me even more.
I began tidying up the café after the guests left, smiling with satisfaction.
Some time passed.
“Leila.”
Millen returned.
But he looked quite serious.
