Coffee Rosens Branch 1 (1)
I didn't even need to call Pelle to figure it out. That woman was Ergaduk's fiancée. Her name was... Siliafari, I think.
I flashed a calm, nonchalant smile. "Here for a room?"
"Ah...? A room...? No. Sorry, but we're not here to use the inn..."
Siliafari twisted her clasped hands in confusion and bowed her head. I'd heard black dragons were refined and polite, but this much?
"Then what brings you here?"
"Um... well... I-I'm looking for... a human... no, not human... a person..."
"I see."
She must have come all this way tracking Ergaduk's whereabouts. The three black dragons earlier mentioned she'd split off from the group on her own. Talk about nailing the direction—though a day, or maybe just minutes, too late.
"H-Have you... by any chance... seen someone who looks... a lot like me...?"
"Like you, you say?"
"Black hair, black eyes... and really, really tall..."
A perfect match for Ergaduk's description. Black dragons' polymorph forms must stick pretty close to their natural look.
"Hmm. No guest like that has come through here."
"Really...? You're sure they haven't...?"
"Yes. If they looked like that, they'd stand out—a lot. I definitely would've remembered."
"Is that true? Can you swear to it?"
"Pardon...?"
Siliafari cut me off, words tumbling out in a rush. "They must've come here! Maybe late at night, after you'd closed? Or slipped in while you stepped away for a moment?"
"No... nothing like that."
She started gnawing at her thumbnail, grinding it between her teeth.
Where could he have gone...? This is the only stop heading north... Did he go somewhere else? No... if detection magic can't find him, he must be polymorphed. And in human form, he can't move fast or go off-road... So where the hell...? Did he already plunge into the Southern Ocean? No way... A lord successor crashing mid-flight? Get it together, Siliafari. Think rationally. Ergaduk is on this continent. Waiting desperately for me to find him. Poor Ergaduk... Unable to bear the pressure of being lord successor, wandering lost in this unfamiliar land... I'll save you. This Siliafari will find you no matter what. Don't go back to the island. We'll run away together—to a place no one knows. Far from the bloodline's reach. Just the two of us. We'll have a hatchling that looks just like you, and live happily ever after. Forget the lord business. You don't need that. I love you for you, not because you're a lord. Just wait a little longer, Ergaduk. Your Siliafari will be your savior.
Blood trickled from the end of her thumb. She licked it clean with her tongue.
She's completely nuts... right?
I brushed the goosebumps off my arm.
"Y-You're... okay...?"
"Yes...? Oh... sorry. I was mumbling to myself... Sorry... so sorry..."
Siliafari hid her bleeding thumb in her skirt folds and bowed deeply.
"No need to apologize..."
"So... they really haven't been here...?"
As she slowly straightened, her face was ghostly pale, her eyes hollow—like someone on death's door.
"No, they haven't."
"I see... Sorry for the trouble."
Siliafari turned unsteadily and headed for the gate. Just as she was about to step out, she whipped her head back like an owl.
"Mana waves... I feel them...? Why here, of all places—a dimensional gate's ripple...? Did one just close...?"
Shit.
Black dragons can use magic. Which means sensing and wielding mana. Opening a dimensional gate takes a ton of it—must've stirred up the ambient flow.
Damn it... Can't just stand by and let Ergaduk and Liana get screwed.
I stepped in front of her, and fire sparked in her eyes.
"What is it, human?"
Her words came out heavy, almost incantatory. Total one-eighty from before... She really is crazy.
"If you're not using the inn, please leave. You're disturbing the other guests. This is private property."
But Siliafari wasn't in a listening mood. She looked ready to polymorph and blast me with breath.
No choice, then. Was trying to avoid this.
I sighed and fixed her with my gaze.
She met my eyes and froze. But her facial muscles twitched nervously, cold sweat beading on her tense forehead.
My gaze even breaks greater demons. No way a black dragon holds up.
She soon bowed her head, averting her eyes.
"Please go. The person you're looking for isn't here."
"Understood... Sorry..."
Siliafari finally gave up and left the yard. I stood watch until she turned north.
Once her jet-black hair vanished beyond the stone wall, Kali crawled out from hiding, whimpering.
"You... scared of some dragon?"
But honestly, when she was gnawing her nail and muttering? Even I was spooked.
I scratched Kali's head, praying Ergaduk never reunited with that psycho fiancée.
After even Siliafari left, I headed to the third floor. Wondered what that Aterugar pest was doing holed up in her room.
Sulking 'cause I wasn't giving her work? Happy to slack off? Or just hiding from Ergaduk? Who knows...
With him gone, time to sweet-talk the redhead into managing the monster zoo properly again.
I knocked. No answer.
Opened the door—empty room.
Did she run off...? But Pippi was on the bed, treasure chest still underneath. Not gone.
Curiosity hit at the chest. I shoved my upper body under the bed and touched the lock—jerked back in shock.
Crazy dragon...! She wreathed it in fire?!
My palm blistered red, bubbles forming grotesquely. But my regen kicked in—new skin sprouted before they fully set.
Dragons and their greed, gotta give 'em that.
Black dragons, though? Classy and mild by comparison.
Anyway... where'd the red gremlin vanish to?
Suddenly, the window flew open—a red blur.
Aterugar was dangling from the upper frame, clambering in.
"Coming down from the roof?"
"Eek?! Lame-ass hero! What're you doing in my room?!"
"Nothing. Just checking what you were up to, barricaded in here."
"Hmph... You think... you snuck in to steal my panties... and sniff 'em while jerking off with your other hand...?"
"C'mere, c'mere. Lemme shut that trap."
I took a few steps; she cringed, arms over her head.
"Tch... cocky brat. Came to tell you the black dragon's gone."
"Like I care if he leaves or not? You don't think I was holed up here scared of that darkie, do ya?"
"Yeah, yeah. Back to the zoo tomorrow, normal duties. Got it?"
Figured she'd whine why should I and argue. But she just shrugged it off.
"Got it? Starting tomorrow..."
"Argh, I said yes! Not deaf! Get out!"
Aterugar charged, shoving me wildly.
"Scram! Beat it!"
Small frame, but stronger than most grown men.
"Out tomorrow. Or I bring the holy sword next time."
She slammed the door in my face.
What's her deal, crazy red?
Later, roommate Kosa spilled: Aterugar had hidden under the covers crying every night Ergaduk patrolled the zoo. Afraid she'd be useless at the inn and shipped back to ruined Myanfeld.
Shoulda just worked hard from the start... Tch tch.
Things ran smooth after Ergaduk left. Inn and zoo boomed; employee dorm construction chugged along.
Half-elf influx freed regular staff from chores. They buzzed like ants with their knack for work and quick wits.
Red hair everywhere; whenever I thought need this done, one popped up.
Good call not turning Marim over to the guards back when she was thieving—instead roping her in the hard way.
Late one night, post-"night battle" on the bathhouse second-floor sunbed, Della nestled in my arms asked:
"Roof has that outdoor cafe spot, right? Time to run it?"
"Winter—won't it be cold?"
"Asked Aterugar; she says she can block the wind."
"Hmm... If the redhead can pull it off... Who mans it?"
Could post a sharp staffer or half-elf. Nothing fancy—just serve basement drinks in cups for coin. Low ambition fine.
But I wanted more. Ideally, deal in that coffee.
First tasted it wandering central continent desert nations as a hero. Black, bitter brew that restored vigor, banished fatigue sans sleep. Bitter bite, but subtle aroma; mix with milk or maple syrup, new drink born.
Merchants called it "Saracen's black water," sold for fortunes.
Just need someone skilled with those beans...
"For now, Della—one more round."
"Hehe... Yes..."
Next day, dumped the wrecked sunbed in the back, posted a help-wanted ad right away.
"Now hiring rooftop outdoor cafe operator at Crossroads Troll Inn. Coffee experience preferred."
Half-doubted posting it. Coffee's pricey nobility swill—how many even know it?
My skepticism shattered spectacularly. Days later, an applicant knocked.
But this one was... peculiar.