Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: New Face Pink Hair (7)
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"How much did you make her drink?"
"I didn't make her drink any. She started chugging bottles on her own halfway through."
"You know you can't have coffee with a hangover, right?"
"Oh, is there some science behind that?"
"Alcohol's the culprit, sure, but the real problem is the stuff your body makes while breaking it down. It's toxic. Distilled spirits might be a bit better, but beer has all sorts of other junk in it too."
"So? Does coffee make the symptoms worse?"
"Yeah. The caffeine pulls water out of your body. You're already dehydrated from the booze, and it amps that up, plus it triggers headaches and stuff. Not good."
Dras and Leimi sis loved these kinds of chats. The academy student at the table—of course, the one with her face buried, pale as a ghost—didn't have the luxury of listening in.
"Ugh... Manager, I'm sorry."
"Hey, I get you want to apologize, but snap out of it first."
Sigh. I pulled out my occasional-use blender, tossed in water, honey, and three chunks of banana, then blended it smooth. The potassium in bananas helps with hangovers, and it tackles low blood sugar too—one of the classic symptoms.
I'd have added milk beforehand, but with a hangover already in full swing, milk wouldn't help much. Water it was.
"Drink this for now. Going on an empty stomach makes it worse."
"Ugh... Th-thank you."
She took the drink in a pitiful croak and sipped it with groans. Hard to tell if her near-death expression was from guilt or the booze, but showing up to apologize in that state? Seemed genuine enough.
"I get what you're sorry for and that you know you messed up. Finish that and rest up."
"Hmph. Just as I thought."
"What?"
"Figured you'd accept the apology and call it done."
"No point dragging it out. Life's taught me bad feelings fade faster if you shake 'em off quick."
"Mostly agree, but shaking it off clean ain't that easy."
"Haha. When your fiancée keeps causing chaos every day, you pick up the trick of not carrying today's anger into tomorrow."
"...Sorry about that."
I handed her some oatmeal stirred into fish broth I'd simmered earlier, then settled into my spot at the bar.
Right then, Leimi sis and Mina sis pushed through the door. Karin, mid-sip of her broth, shrank into the corner as Mina sis shot her a glare.
"I don't like her."
"Come on, don't say that."
"I don't like her."
"Eek."
I brewed their usual coffees, served two cups, and turned back to my seat—only for Mina sis to grab my hand.
"Something I thought of while we were talking yesterday."
"Yeah?"
"Remember those kids I brought last time?"
"Oh, the ones dragged to the labyrinth as sacrifices? Yeah. A few came back for coffee. Said they'd never touch the stuff again, though."
"If you're looking for part-timers, maybe check with them?"
"If they're up for it, no reason to stop 'em. Can you reach them?"
"Adventurer's Guild. They were registered when they got dragged in—or signed up after surviving."
"Ah, got it."
Mina sis was coming in handy here. I rarely stepped outside the cafe, so I didn't run into folks much, but some would wave if they passed by.
Figured the horrors they'd seen killed any itch to return to the labyrinth. Guess they were still grinding away.
"They say the labyrinth bewitches people... Unless you're retirement age, you end up back."
"Just rumors. No mind control. But yeah, tons come back unless they can't adventure anymore."
"Weird how loyalty runs so high for a job that risks your life."
Mina sis nodded quietly. Leimi sis, who'd been listening over her coffee, chimed in.
"You sure you're okay with that? Hiring and training'll take time. Think you'll wrap it up before the emperor shows?"
"If not, make it happen."
"That's the most determined face you've made yet."
"Sis, you ever meet His Majesty?"
"Huh? Seen him from afar, but 'meet' is a stretch."
"Guy's brimming with confidence in his skills, looks, and status. Fair enough. Spots talent? Eyes light up. Fair. He's obsessed with culture and beauty. Fine for a ruler. But put it all together: this perfect, cocky young emperor who'll recruit talent by any means, then nitpicks every result for 'practicality' and 'aesthetics'?"
"...If he were my boss, I'd quit on day one from the workload."
"Exactly. Cabinet's full of foreigners too. Dude doesn't hesitate poaching from other countries."
"...So if he catches wind of our hiding cafe manager, boom—collar and dragged to the capital. Got it."
No plans to hire sketchy thugs anyway. Filtering through Mina sis and folks I knew? Solid idea.
"Sis, round up the ones eager to work?"
"You got it. Trust me. But..."
"Yeah?"
"The ones working now are still greenhorns—no full adventurer badges yet. They need steady gigs, but nights? Labyrinth runs."
"Ah, right."
"So, how about you register as an adventurer too? Help the kids out?"
I didn't answer right away. No hard ban on using strength, but anything outing me as noble Julius Lebedev? Avoid if possible.
Hmm.
As I pondered, Leimi sis and Dras backed Mina sis.
"That accessory we talked about? Nearly done. Worth a test run."
"Sword needs more time, but by the time you hire and train help? Should be ready."
"...Lord. This a setup?"
"Nah. But I am curious about your skills."
"...Gonna send recording crystals to Mina."
"You guys."
Fair enough—they were curious. Skipped a year, but even against upperclassmen at the academy, I'd never lost a spar.
Honestly, my fiancée's antics never got us stabbed in the back partly 'cause crushing us militarily was off the table with me around.
Wonder if she's okay now. That high-and-mighty idiot probably still causes trouble without me.
"Fine. I'll prep too. Ugh, means training part-timers and shaking off rust at once."
"Heehee. Labyrinth together at last."
"...After this, never again."
"Whyy. Come with me."
"Happiest in the cafe corner, sipping coffee, washing cups."
Puff. Mina sis puffed her cheeks and propped her chin on the table.
No amount of wheedling would work. I'd ditched everything for peace—why crawl into the labyrinth?
She wasn't pushing too hard, though. Grabbed her cup and sipped the steaming coffee.
Pout was cute, but open that mouth and it'd be marriage talk again. Better watch her nurse the cup with both hands, sipping away.
"Made it a necklace. Swing by tomorrow."
"Yeah. After closing up."
"I'll call when mine's done. Backyard's too cramped for training—come test it."
"Daytime?"
"Probably. Better in daylight anyway."
They knew I avoided daytime strolls in town, but for weapon tests like Dras said? Day made sense. Gotta see it clearly.
Sure, swinging in dark spots happens, but only after nailing distance and balance in light.
Been ages since I headed out at dawn.
Living like a child of darkness had paled my already fair skin more? Peering in the glass, I spotted Karin approaching behind me.
"...All done. Really, I'm so sorry."
"Eh, whatever. You heard it from Namei anyway. It's fine. Mistakes happen."
"Don't blame Namei-senpai—er, no."
"Good on you for owning it without excuses. Still, give her an earful later. She left for a reason."
"...Yes."
I'd dropped calling Namei "senpai," stuck to formal speech even with juniors like Karin, all 'cause I'd cut ties for good.
Even if I left Labyrinth City Astraea someday for reasons unknown, no heading back to the kingdom.
Reaffirmed my resolve and returned to the manager's seat.
A clean rag for glasses snagged on a half-wiped tumbler.