Chapter : 7
What the hell are you saying, you crazy bastard…….
I muttered under my breath, then jolted upright with a gasp. My mouth was drenched with drool.
“Why am I sleeping on the floor?”
As I wiped my mouth in confusion, I blinked at the scene in front of me.
“Kyahahaha!”
“Is that really true?”
“I saw it clearly! I swear!”
What on earth was going on?
I crossed my arms and looked at them. One was the hamster I’d been looking for, and the other was—
“Ugh.”
A sigh slipped out on its own. Just seeing that face was enough to roughly understand the situation.
“Come to think of it, I talked for a bit yesterday and then just fell asleep, didn’t I?”
Sleeping roughly on the café floor made my shoulders ache……
I rotated my shoulders in an exaggerated stretch and pulled a long face.
“How should I keep that guy from leaving?”
“Should I just lock him up so he can’t go anywhere? Dig a basement here?
Maybe change the game genre to ‘grimdark’?”
I stared at him with a dangerous glint in my eyes.
That man—the one who tried to force-sell me potions yesterday and claimed he had business with me.
The helper I needed most right now.
“…Tool Artisan, Millen Bash.”
“I’ll definitely catch you.”
I briefly recalled the moment I learned who he really was.
* * *
About four hours earlier.
I looked at the man who said he had business with me with deep suspicion.
“I knew something was off when he tried to shove potions down my throat.”
Sensing my gaze, he frowned in annoyance.
“Hey, Layla Token. Now’s not the time for you to be giving me that suspicious look.”
“Then why don’t you start by telling me who you are?”
“Well, sure.”
He brushed his hair back and lifted the corner of his lips into a smirk—a smile that said, Go ahead, regret hearing this.
“I’m Millen Bash, a tool artisan who makes magical tools. I’ve been Basha’s business partner for many years.
So ease up on the suspicion. Believe it or not, I’m here because she asked me to look after you.”
“What? A tool artisan?”
So he was the one who made the Master Craftsman’s All-Purpose Hammer?
It felt like getting hit in the head.
“Ah!”
“Now that I think about it, when I first received the diamonds, Hugh said a tool artisan would be coming soon!”
The game had given me hints all along…… but the overwhelming first customer made me forget.
Ahem. I cleared my throat awkwardly and held out my hand to him, offering a handshake as a gesture of reconciliation.
“Oh, Hugh did mention it. I just didn’t expect you to come so soon. Sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“Can’t be helped if you have no eye for talent.”
“…Ah.”
“More importantly, after seeing the state of this café, I’ve completely lost the desire to help.
Honestly…… I regret coming here at all.”
This is Basha’s café?
He ignored my hand with open mockery.
And at that moment—
Ding!
As if it had been waiting, the quest window appeared.
Tutorial!
– The First Step to Becoming a Café Owner!
- Name the café (✔)
- Restore the café building (✔)
- Interior decoration (-)
– Use [Tool Shop] (-)
– Use [Furniture Shop] (-)
Reward: 10 Diamonds, 1,000 Gold
* Obtain the Tool Artisan’s Token to use the [Tool Shop].
* The [Furniture Shop] must be visited in person to activate.
“…I need a token?”
And I had already blown my first impression, and now I had to get that token from that obnoxious tool merchant?
Clenching my teeth, I forced a bright smile.
“Don’t forget. I have to make this café the best within one year.”
Otherwise, I die.
There was no time to curse the game or wallow in resentment.
I had to finish the tutorial, properly open the café, draw in customers, and make it the best.
This was a necessary step in that process.
“I’ll get that token.
No matter what— and as soon as possible.”
Smiling kindly, I began plotting how to keep him here. Judging by his mood, Millen looked ready to walk out at any second.
After spinning my thoughts, I clapped my hands to grab his attention.
“Oh, you don’t have to help me or anything…… but shouldn’t you at least say hello to Hugh before leaving?”
“…Ah. Since I’m already here, I suppose I should see Hugh. Where is he? He’s not the type to leave this place.”
“Got him!”
I grinned.
“Hugh isn’t here right now. You’ll have to wait a bit.”
“…What?”
“Well, I’m going to sleep for now. I can’t exactly drink another potion.”
I glanced at my energy gauge. 30%. It had dropped fast despite only talking—probably because I’d used an energy drink earlier.
Sleeping was the right call. If I ran out of energy again, who knew when I’d wake up?
“I’ll sleep for just four hours.
After that, I’ll figure out how to keep the tool artisan here.”
Leaving the baffled Millen behind, I flopped onto the floor and closed my eyes. Sleep came easily.
“…What kind of woman is this?”
I heard Millen mutter, but I was already fast asleep.
* * *
And now.
Having woken up, I watched Hugh and Millen and started thinking. Then I jumped up and walked over to them.
They continued talking, seemingly unaware of my approach.
“Hugh is so happy to see you again, Sir Millen!”
“I’m happy to see my little cutie again too. But why are you so skinny? Is your owner not feeding you?”
“Ah! Hugh is an adult now—he can eat on his own!
I even ate properly by myself yesterday! And Master is busy with café work!”
“Huh? Too busy to even feed a hamster?”
Millen’s gaze turned to me. So he did notice.
That hit my conscience hard, and I pressed my lips together like a guilty criminal.
Even if I forgot my own meals, I should’ve taken better care of Hugh…… so that’s why he disappeared to eat yesterday.
I stroked Hugh’s head apologetically. Watching us, Millen frowned.
“Let me ask you something. Are you even eating properly?”
“…Um.”
“Hah. I knew it.”
Millen let out a deep sigh.
“I never should’ve come here in the first place……”
He muttered under his breath, then looked at us as if we were a headache.
“Get ready. Both of you.”
“…Why?”
“You have time to ask ‘why’? Hurry up and prepare to leave. I can’t stand watching this pitiful sight any longer, so I’ll at least treat you to one meal.
What were you even trying to do without eating?”
He rattled on in disbelief. I could imagine how we looked to him—probably like beggars.
But I had no intention of correcting him.
“He’s offering to keep me around—why stop him?”
And he was buying food too.
Just thinking about eating made my quiet stomach churn. I smiled brightly.
“I’ll get ready right away, Sponsor! Hugh, say thank you!”
“Gasp! Thank you very much!”
“…That’s enough. Get ready. There are no restaurants nearby, so we’re heading to the capital. You have exactly five minutes. One second late, and I leave without you.”
“Okay!”
At my booming reply, Millen shook his head.
“…Hah.”
With a deep sigh.
* * *
Meanwhile, the capital of the Kingdom of Zenen, Noren, was filled with festival energy.
“Hey, did you hear the news? A miracle happened! A miracle!”
“I already heard! Everyone here gathered because of it. They’re all hoping to see the statue.”
“They say it’s not on display yet.”
“But the miracle itself is what matters, isn’t it? Enjoy the festival.”
Of course it was.
The broken divine statue had been restored!
It wasn’t fully perfect yet. The glow was still weak, and there were a few scratches left.
But a miracle was still a miracle.
The miracle that occurred the previous day spread rapidly, filling the city with joy. And within a single day, it turned into a full-blown festival.
The most crowded place by far was the plaza in front of the temple.
Though the restored statue hadn’t been revealed yet, people flocked to witness the miracle. At the same time, offerings piled up before the temple.
From sacks of wheat to jewels and gold……
Knights were even dispatched to guard the offerings—sent specially from the royal palace for a temple without holy knights.
“Oh, are you Sir Walter?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“Excellent timing. Truly excellent.”
Farhan, High Priest of the Dael Order, clasped his hands tightly as he looked at Walter. In his eyes, Walter appeared like a savior. With more work than he could handle, help had practically walked in on its own.
After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, Farhan shifted his gaze to the piled offerings. Walter followed his gaze.
“There is something I’d like you to do.”
“Guard the offerings?”
“Yes, that’s correct. However, there is one more thing I’d like to ask—would that be possible?”
Walter nodded.
Farhan smiled broadly and explained.
“If coffee—the beverage known to be favored by the god—comes in, please set it aside separately. None has arrived yet…… but if it does, I ask that you do so.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, Sir Walter. In fact, I received a revelation at dawn.
A revelation to offer coffee!”
Watching the overjoyed Farhan, Walter thought of Yonggary Café.
“Yonggary Café…… strange name, but the coffee was excellent. Makes me want another cup.”
At that moment, he had no idea that the very next day, he would drink Yonggary Café’s coffee again.
Right here, of all places.
