Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: New Face Pink Hair (6)
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"Do you drink at all?"
"A little..."
"Not really into it, huh. I'll order enough for three with a bit extra, then."
Dras scratched his bearded chin before calling over the server to order dinner and drinks. The easy banter with the server made it clear he was a regular.
Leimi kept a bored expression, while Mina was openly fuming. Neither spoke until Dras finished ordering and the server left.
Confirming no one nearby could overhear, Leimi spoke first.
"We agreed not to pry into each other's pasts, right?"
"..."
"Look, the cafe manager's such a soft touch that even if you go back tomorrow, he'll just chuckle it off while wiping cups. But that doesn't mean you get to poke at a perfectly normal guy's wounds."
Tsk. Leimi shook her head.
"I get that space mages can't relate, but you know how rough the road is from the kingdom's heartland to Labyrinth City Astraea?"
"I, uh, heard hardly anyone travels it alone."
"Even someone with real combat sense like her—who's been diving into the labyrinth lately—wouldn't find it easy solo."
Dras chimed in as Leimi poked Mina to emphasize her point.
His expression was milder than the other two's, so Karin averted her eyes toward him.
"Leimi here was the first to meet the cafe manager, I think."
"...There were circumstances."
Rubbing her brow like she had a headache, she sighed deeply and continued awkwardly.
"Basically, Labyrinth City Astraea gets almost no newcomers in winter. The surrounding environment turns so brutal it makes you question your sanity."
"Deserts where nothing grows due to the labyrinth's influence, monsters and wild beasts fiercer than usual. Hardly any settlements, so starving wild animals can be scarier than monsters sometimes."
"Right. So anyone crawling in during winter is either blessed by the gods—a lucky fool—or skilled enough to jump straight to high-rank adventurer status. And the cafe manager? He strolled in alone that winter with just a backpack and no proper gear."
"Whoa, really? I knew he was skilled, but not that."
"Then what does he do? Sells off his possessions, buys a shuttered tavern with the cash. What would you think if a talented newbie skips adventurer registration to open a shop?"
"Uh, like... a magic item store or something?"
"Exactly. I thought some rival had set up shop right under my nose, so I started tailing him secretly after he took over."
"You were stalking him."
"Shut it, old man."
Leimi growled at Dras for his constant interjections, then crossed her arms and legs in a slouch. She paused as the food arrived.
She took a bite of food, chugged half a mug of beer, glanced to ensure the server was gone, and continued.
"So I check out this place that looks like it's run by some squad leader type, and get this. He's brewing coffee with simple meals and basic gear. Astraea in winter is called a natural fortress for a reason—and here's this guy who broke through, just slinging food. Can you imagine how I felt?"
Still embarrassed by her past misunderstanding, she scratched her red hair furiously, drained her mug, and snorted.
"Argh, damn it. I went back to my shop after scarfing pancakes and coffee in that awkward spot, totally baffled. Of course I was dying to know his deal. By all etiquette and demeanor, he's clearly educated. Top-notch fighter too. And there he is in an empty shop, smiling serenely as he wipes glasses and brews coffee?"
"Whoa, whoa. You're getting worked up—dial it back."
"Sigh, fine. Calming down now."
This time she gulped cold water, her reddened eyes glaring at Karin.
Karin bowed her head.
"...I'm from the magic tower too, came here with my own baggage. He's probably the same. And it's not something you'd bring up smiling. What reason could a well-educated guy who lived well have for coming here alone in the dead of winter?"
"No."
"Then why ask?"
"...I thought there were people at the Royal Academy who miss the cafe manager."
"So what? You want him to ditch his hard-earned spot and go back? What'll you do if you learn why—convince those people? You can't even take responsibility."
Leimi munched snacks vigorously, as if declaring she was done. Dras chuckled heartily, downed his beer in one go, and turned to Mina.
"So, elfie, got nothing to say after souring your face without a word?"
"...The cafe manager doesn't show when he's upset."
"Everyone knows that."
"In the labyrinth."
Mina crunched on a veggie fry, chewing a neatly trimmed potato stem before speaking properly.
"Lots of scumbags dive into the labyrinth. It's because the labyrinth demands all kinds of skills."
"Ah, you mean dragging poor kids along as meat shields?"
"Breaking hidden traps or gimmicks needs special eyesight or quick reflexes. Or just tanking it with durability."
"Some react only to specific weights or life signs, so they toss people in to trigger them."
"Exactly."
No need to pay dead kids. It's what you do when you lose skilled allies or start with mediocre ones.
And those mediocrities sometimes abandon the bait kids in the labyrinth and wipe out.
"I've rescued plenty left behind like that. The Adventurer Guild Master handles most, but sometimes I have to shelter them briefly if she can't."
"Not like you to do noble deeds."
"Got a problem?"
"I thought you had no manners back in the day. Guess you've matured."
"I'm still young. Anyway, even if I take them in temporarily, I can't do much. Can't cook, suck at housework. So I had no choice but to take them to the cafe manager for meals."
She bit into a sweet potato stem fry, sighed deeply, closed her eyes, and said,
"Kids filthy with dust and blood, no clean clothes—he'd hug each one to ease their tension, wash them with his own supplies, feed them proper meals. Even if they dirtied the cafe or broke stuff by accident, he'd just warn them gently, never lose his cool."
"...That happened?"
"After all that trouble and nuisance, he tells me 'you've got it rough too' without complaining about his own hardship. Said it was no big deal. But."
Mina glared at Karin, her voice thick with anger.
"That cafe manager made an irritated face and tone. I know how serious that is."
"Eh, enough from the filtered-vision noble. Frankly, I got no beef with the cafe manager personally, but something feels off."
"What?"
"He's too kind and commoner-like for high nobility. Though everyone's guessing—weren't you two from decent stock too?"
"Don't ask."
"Think the magic tower lets in randos? Not exactly a secret."
"So, any noble you know who could live like that for over a year?"
Dras sipped his drink slowly. Chugging to get smashed was fine, but savoring like this wasn't bad either.
"So, what kind of person is the cafe manager?"
"Dunno. Point is, he's not simple. But kiddo, these things? You bottle 'em up inside."
"Yes..."
"Life throws all sorts of questions your way—about the world, people. But for stuff you can't learn naturally? Always be cautious."
There's a reason no one knows, a reason no one says.
Dras made a bitter face even while enjoying his favorite brew. Seemingly regretting something, he popped a tobacco chew as a chaser.
Old habit from smoking, perhaps—he exhaled with a whoosh.
"And when people hurt each other? Even if the wound seems healed, the scar lingers forever. Dwarves live way longer than humans, but I knew a brother who remembered words from his youth right up to his dying breath."
"Did I... reopen an old wound by bringing up the past?"
"Maybe, maybe not. But did you want to risk that with the cafe manager?"
"No."
"Then it was a mistake. A big one, but to a forgiving guy, and you're young. Hurry back, lay it all out. Why you asked, what you hoped he'd do. Apologize for prying without tact."
"...Yes. I will."
"I'm still mad."
"That's your crush talking."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. You're young, like you said. Young folks sort it out. Just don't take it out on the kid."
"Sigh. I feel like an idiot for sharing. ...But honestly, it's understandable, right? If Mina went to another city to sell side dishes, I'd wanna gouge my eyes out!"
"Starting to ramble from the booze. Here, kiddo. Reflection time's over—drink up, our favorite newface regular."
Karin thought.
The cafe manager's Royal Academy self and his here-self were both real.
But if asking about it only widened the gap, better swallow personal curiosity and enjoy the time together.
Then it hit her.
This was Labyrinth City Astraea. No social circles ripping at flaws, no watchful acquaintances, no student status binding actions.
Just a city buzzing with adventurers charging into the labyrinth and merchants awaiting them. A bold vibe where minor flaws weren't issues.
He probably stayed for that reason, though she wasn't sure.
And maybe he hated her acting like she did at the academy in a place like this.
Tomorrow, apologize for sure.
And this new doubt? Keep it buried until he shares first.
She was just a newbie starting to frequent the place.
A newface regular.
Today's blunder was arrogance from thinking they were close.
"Mr. Dras, Ms. Leimi, Ms. Mina—I'm truly sorry for today!"
"Not really my place to accept... actually, it kinda is. My evening coffee unwind got wrecked."
"Gotta cleanse my eyes, polluted by angry cafe manager, with smiling cafe manager. Find a way to make him laugh."
"Old folks' lives are like that. Just explain sincerely to the cafe manager later and apologize properly."
Seeing them brush it off after making time to talk—for the cafe manager or for her—brought tears to Karin's eyes.
Ah, whatever. If he goes back, fine; if not, so what? Namei-senior? Nice lady, but I left despite her— no reason to return. Why worry about her love life? Screw it!
Karin collapsed, having drunk more booze in one night than her lifetime total up to yesterday, amid a storm of emotions.