Chapter 12: The Free Tasting Event
“We didn’t do much for Liria, so is it really okay for us to accept this?”
“This is too much of a burden. We didn’t do anything for Liria at all.”
“It’s perfectly fine. You all were kind to Liria from the very first moment you met her, and you’ve been an immense help with business. Liria trusts every one of you.”
Having a translation ring and a subspace bag would indeed make running a business far easier.
But if they weren’t registered, there was always the risk that someone who knew their true value might try to steal them.
And there were people who would threaten your life or rob you without hesitation.
Yet registering them with one’s own mana meant only the registered owner could use them.
Once registered, it became nearly impossible to take the items away, offering excellent protection against theft.
People without mana couldn’t register anything, but those who had now reached a mana level of one could finally do so.
Moreover, the low mana consumption meant even those with minimal mana could use them without issue.
One reason mana herbs were so expensive in Selenia was the subspace bags themselves.
They had proven incredibly convenient for merchants.
“Ah, I’m so moved by this precious mana herb.”
“It’s truly amazing. Only Liria can remove the seal, huh?”
“Being able to register as the owner is wonderful.”
The subspace bag Liria had given them could hold up to one hundred tons.
Once registered to the owner, no one else could feel its weight.
Already-registered subspace bags required magical power far beyond what their creator possessed to remove the seal.
In truth, only Liria could ever remove the seal on her own subspace bag.
Unless there was a time-manipulation specialist stronger than Liria in all of Selenia, the bag was absolutely safe.
“Why are you all being so kind to us? We didn’t do anything for Liria.”
“We can see the good and evil in others.”
“Good and evil?”
“Yes. We can see the good and evil of the other person. Good humans glow blue, bad ones glow red.”
Liria and Silvia could tell at a glance whether someone was kind or cruel.
Everyone carried both good and bad hearts inside them, no matter how they tried to hide them.
That was why they had been friendly from the start and followed Liria straight into the cafe without hesitation.
Only now did they understand why Liria had followed them from the beginning and signed the contract so quickly.
To Liria, they had simply appeared as good people.
“Since Liria has decided to trust you, I will trust you too.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“I will remember your names.”
Dragons did not remember the names of humans, for they were of no value to remember.
They met countless humans every day, and there was no need to remember every single one.
The girls had no idea how significant it was that Silvia remembered their names.
“By the way, how old are you two?”
“Liria is twenty years old.”
“I’m sixty?”
“This race hasn’t even had its coming-of-age ceremony yet?”
“Elves have their coming-of-age at twenty, and dragons do too at twenty.”
“Silvia isn’t a hatchling anymore?”
“Normally elves and dragons reach teen level at twenty and slowly grow into adults. I’m still a hatchling, but I’m at the teen stage and have already had my coming-of-age.”
“Liria’s appearance is like an elf teen. She looks much younger than that.”
“Liria was very small even as a child, so she was incredibly cute.”
“You saw Liria’s childhood photos? I’m so jealous.”
“I bet you were friends since she was little.”
“If I had met you all earlier, I would have taken photos of Liria’s childhood. It’s a shame.”
“It’s too bad Liria doesn’t have any childhood photos.”
Silvia wanted to see every single one of Liria’s childhood photos.
Of course Liria was adorable now too, but Silvia wanted every age.
Even now, Liria’s appearance was perfect.
She slipped perfectly into one’s arms and never tired of being hugged all day.
And Liria loved physical affection, which made it even better.
“The tasting event will end in ten minutes. Everyone, let’s head out.”
“We prepared five hundred takeout coffees, so they might run out quickly.”
“Six thousand won per cup… that’s three million won.”
“Just thinking about it is mind-blowing.”
“The scale of this free tasting event is enormous.”
When they stepped outside the cafe, a crowd was already waiting. Kim Gayoung opened the door.
Seeing the massive coffee machines Liria had provided, Kim Gayoung knew the tasting would end very quickly.
Each machine could draw fifty cups from a single bean.
Kim Gayoung addressed the line of people.
“Hello. We’re starting the Elf Cafe free tasting right now.”
“From now on, I’ll hand out tickets. Never lose them.”
“Our coffee tastes sweet but contains no syrup at all. Even people with high blood sugar can enjoy it safely.”
“Currently we’re pricing the coffee at six thousand won.”
“The six thousand won price isn’t final yet. It may change depending on the situation.”
“We’re also planning to create an official website for Elf Cafe. Please come visit often.”
People wondered what kind of coffee cost six thousand won a cup and tasted so sweet without syrup.
And above all, they were stunned by Liria herself.
Was she really an elf dressed in cosplay for a child?
Using a child for business cosplay was questionable, yet the costume suited her perfectly.
Still, some people felt uneasy about it.
No one imagined Liria was actually an elf.
“Making a kid wear cosplay…”
“Liria is the cafe owner.”
The crowd was stunned by Liria’s words.
A child who looked no older than ten was the owner?
It sounded like a joke, but her tone made it clear she had chosen the cosplay herself.
People guessed Liria’s parents must be the owners.
“The name Liria suits you perfectly.”
“The gender change is super fast.”
“Can’t help it. It really suits you. And the cosplay looks like you wanted to do it.”
“I feel the same way.”
“I’m sure Liria’s parents are the owners.”
“I think so too.”
While waiting, staring at cosplay Liria, the time passed surprisingly pleasantly.
Liria sat on a chair with Silvia, watching the people.
Kim Gayoung and her team began handing out the tickets and serving the coffee.
“Wow, this is amazing! Why is it so delicious?”
“All the coffee I’ve ever had before was just water. This is something else.”
“No syrup? It has this unique sweetness.”
“I was exhausted from not sleeping well last night, but I feel completely refreshed.”
“It’s because of that cute elf girl. I forgot I was tired.”
“Really? It’s like just looking at her lifts the fatigue away.”
“The coffee tastes great and the mood is good. I’m glad I came.”
Everyone thought their fatigue had vanished because of the cute Liria.
But the same effect worked on everyone.
Everyone felt refreshed just by seeing Liria.
It was too strange, even for psychological effects.
“The coffee is delicious, the fatigue is gone, and that elf girl is incredibly cute.”
“I have to come here often. Six thousand won? A little expensive, but it feels worth it.”
“Excuse me, can I take a photo of that elf girl?”
“You may take photos.”
“She said she became Liria.”
Liria coolly allowed the photos.
Even if she hadn’t, the official website would spread them eventually.
Sharing them now would help promote the cafe.
People began snapping photos of Liria.
Being able to photograph cosplay Liria made the wait time incredibly enjoyable.
They couldn’t hide their joy at having something to brag about to friends or coworkers.
“I came out of curiosity after hearing a free tasting event was happening at a newly opened cafe, and I’m glad I did.”
People immediately changed their phone backgrounds to the photos of Liria they had taken.