Cafe Eclipse Takes Root at Jewelry Academia
The cafe has moved to Jewelry Academia. It's the pride of Jewel City, the world's largest elite academy. Only those with blood, sweat, and tears, dazzling talent, and luck that surpasses others can enroll—complete with that grandiose phrase.
Just looking at the students attending makes it easy to understand why they'd want to brag. Magical girls Ruby and Sapphire, plus a bunch of other big names anyone would recognize at the drop of a hat.
'Well, probably even the school staff don't know about Ravi and Sophia.'
Anyway, the students at Jewelry Academia are rigorously training to combat the endless stream of monsters and evil organizations dreaming of world conquest. And somehow, in this cradle of young heroes destined to lead the future, I've ended up opening a cafe.
"Oh my, looks like a new shop is moving in."
"Hmm. According to Miss Amber, it's definitely called a cafe..."
"I want to try something called cheesecake!"
I keep hammering away, ignoring the young ladies who don't even know what a cafe is. The school handled the construction, so all that's left is the interior decor and hanging the sign.
'How the hell did Lapis sneak a Silver Unit branch into a prestigious school like this?'
They built the cafe without a hint of suspicion, so it doesn't seem like they've caught on to Silver Unit. Well, planting the roots of evil in secret like this is a talent in itself. Fitting for the Silver Unit boss.
'Infiltration successful, at least...'
Our mission from the Operations Support Division—me and Amber—is to investigate and record the movements of magical girls Ruby and Sophia. If possible, eavesdrop on conversations at Jewelry Academia too. You never know where valuable info might leak.
"Seeing you at school, Senior, feels kinda surreal?"
"Amber?"
As I hung the sign reading 'Cafe Eclipse' above the entrance, she'd snuck up behind me without a sound.
"Whoa~ I was always too far to walk here without it being a hassle, but this makes it easy!"
"...You look pretty thrilled."
I get how she feels. Commuting by train every time must've been exhausting. I was thinking the same thing myself. Never dreamed we'd move inside the school grounds, though.
It's a real shame that my salaried slacker days are officially over.
"No wild joys needed, no deep despairs either. A plant-like peaceful life was my goal..."
"What kinda nonsense is that? Quit yapping and hammer!"
This is why rookies suck. Can't even reference comics since they won't get it.
In the end, Amber chatted up a storm and wandered off somewhere, leaving me to work quietly alone.
"That's enough for today."
Whether I bust my ass or slack off, the paycheck's the same. No motivation anyway—might as well goof off a bit.
I wandered the school grounds during class time when no students were around.
'Jewelry Academia, huh.'
On the surface, it just looks like your standard prestigious university. If I had to praise something, maybe that all the buildings are brand new?
But this is where the world's elites gather to hone their mana.
'The air's different from my old college.'
I feel kinda alienated. Like I'm discarded among all these top-tier kids.
Suddenly missed Amber's face. Hell, anyone I know would do right now.
Walking around campus like this, maybe I'd run into someone? Like Ravi or Sophia.
'No, I shouldn't run into them.'
Those two are Silver Unit's arch-nemesis magical girls. No matter how bored I get, wanting to see them would be wrong.
Sophia's still manageable, but Ravi would be especially dangerous.
Lost in such pointless thoughts, I suddenly sensed someone behind me.
I whipped around on instinct—and there stood—
"O~hoho! Amber told me! You're that coffee chef, right?!"
"Who the hell are you..."
Not Amber, not Ravi, not Sophia. Some girl I'd never seen before.
More importantly, first time seeing someone actually laugh "ohoho" for real. Can I brag about this?
"'Who?' How rude! You can't mean you don't know me?!"
Long white hair cascading down, huge stature, and a voluptuous figure to match. With tits that big, she should ring a bell, but nothing comes to mind. Have we met?
"Then memorize it now—it's not too late! I'm Brilliant Ashte Diamond, heir to the Brilliant family! Everyone calls me Lady Diamond!"
"Brilliant? You're their daughter?"
The name of a multinational conglomerate with branches worldwide. They dominate heavy industry, construction, finance, sports, semiconductors—you name it. Hard to find someone who hasn't heard of them.
"Hmph. Now you know who I am? Gaze upon me in awe!"
For someone flaunting her noble blood, she's awfully loud about it.
'Full-name intro's a first around here.'
People in this world don't flaunt family names much. Centuries of magic wars scrambled family histories into a mess.
Only a few ancient clans can proudly wave their banners.
This girl's got serious pride in hers, though...
"More importantly, classes are still going. You sneaking out?"
"A top student like me gets special exemptions!"
Class exemptions. Jackpot info from an unexpected source.
Even world-saving magical girls have classes as students—they could hold them back. Especially if they're hiding their identities.
'So they ace their grades to skip classes and fight without interruptions.'
Explains how Ravi and Sophia pop up everywhere without fail. Mystery solved.
"Coffee chef, enough chit-chat—guide me to this Eclipse place! I've always wanted to try a proper cafe!"
Diamond struck a triumphant pose, her massive breasts jiggling with a plump.
"It's not done yet... but follow me."
Too annoying to deal with—I'll brew her a coffee, serve cake, and send her packing. Not because of her chest. Nope.
"Ah, Diamond-chan? Of course I know her. She's my friend, to begin with."
Back at Silver Unit HQ, I was grilling Amber for info on Diamond.
"You call her Diamond-chan?"
Cute nickname. Gotta use it next time we meet.
"She's super famous at school. Daughter of that Brilliant conglomerate. More surprising you met her, Senior."
"She showed up outta nowhere, so I gave her coffee and cake and shooed her off."
Her devouring that cake was a sight. She'd be a total beauty if she just shut up.
"Uh... just to check, any chance she's a magical girl?"
Deja vu hit me with unease, so I asked.
"Pfft, no way. I'd know if she was."
She's the one who missed Ravi and Sophia in her class, so not super trustworthy. But no known magical girl linked to Diamond, so odds are low.
Amber looked a bit troubled as she added,
"She's not a magical girl, but... she's crazy strong. Almost on Sophia's level."
"Sophia's level?"
Mind-blowing. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a magical girl who's mowed down thousands by mastering mana efficiency.
Guess her "top student" claim wasn't bluffing.
"Yeah, and she's got everything else too. Killer family, and those huge—"
"You've got a great family too. Shame about the chest."
"Gah! Don't rub it in!"
Anyway, no need to watch her closely. As long as we don't poke, she won't bite back.
"More importantly, cafe's done. Set it up to open tomorrow..."
"Ooh, fast work."
Problem's the customers.
First day might draw a crowd, but to juggle the mission, we gotta thin 'em out gradually.
"Can't focus on work if it's packed 24/7."
"Sure, but your real motive?"
"Slack off in an empty shop sucking honey."
"Wow, honest... Jack up prices? Double 'em."
"Double, huh."
Decent, but underwhelming. Back home, day-robbing lattes went for 5000 won easy.
Then I'll go bigger. Bundle desserts and hike prices devilishly.
'Pure evil genius...'
Four days later.
Brilliant Family Heir Raves! What is Cafe Eclipse?
Jewelry Academia's New Pride: Where Has That Lightning Rush Gone?
I made 10 billion.