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Chapter : 21
“Th-This is bad!”
I hurriedly jumped out of bed, threw on whatever clothes I could grab, and rushed out of the room.
I realized this was an unfamiliar place—but that wasn’t what mattered right now.
At this rate, I’d fail the special quest for a whole day and get hit with a debuff!
Like my feet were on fire, I sprinted down the hallway. Grabbing the stair railing, I practically slid down like I was on a playground slide.
The moment I reached the first floor, I locked eyes with someone.
“…Why are you rushing out like that?”
It was Millen.
His head tilted slightly, as if he’d just seen something strange. After a brief pause, he placed the teacup he was holding onto the table.
His manner was more elegant than that of royalty.
And somehow, that elegance was what flustered me.
“…Isn’t it already afternoon?”
It really felt like afternoon.
That groggy feeling you get when you oversleep badly.
The same sensation as when you check your phone and see more than ten missed calls from your part-time job boss!
I blinked at Millen.
His expression twisted in a truly bizarre way. It clearly said, How can a person act like that?
He looked like he didn’t even want to explain. After smacking his lips slightly, Millen finally spoke.
“Unfortunately, it’s still morning, Layla. So I suggest you gather your scattered senses before walking around.”
“Ah…”
A deep sigh escaped me on its own. Morning was still okay. I could stop by the grocery store, buy ingredients, then head to the café to prepare.
Even if time was a little tight.
Just as my expression relaxed, Millen shook his head once or twice.
“First, let’s eat. Yesterday, Layla, when you collapsed, more than one person was startled. You should at least tell them you’re fine.”
“Of course. Oh—so this must be the furniture shop.”
“Then where did you think this was?”
“Well… I assumed you’d moved me to a nearby inn. I knew the chances were low, though.”
That icy gaze turned toward me again.
I cleanly ignored it. Once my mind settled, I finally started noticing my surroundings.
Anyone could tell this kitchen bore Frisia’s touch. The furniture was ornate, yet the overall interior felt neat and cohesive.
Exactly my kind of style.
I was taking in the kitchen when a voice suddenly popped up beside me.
“You like it here, don’t you?”
“…Oh, Frisia. I really love it.”
“Did I surprise you? Sorry… more importantly, are you okay? I was really worried yesterday.”
“Hahaha. You were worried because of me? I’m usually pretty sturdy, but I’ve been out of my mind preparing for the café opening lately. I’m really strong, though—don’t worry.”
“That’s a relief…”
With a visibly relieved expression, Frisia gently took my hand.
“More than that… I wanted to thank you first. Thanks to you, my daughter Lumi has become healthy.”
“Oh, come on. That’s just how we help each other. We should still keep an eye on her, though. But if she gets a fever again, let me know. I’ll make another strawberry latte for her.”
“If you do that… I’d be incredibly grateful. And Layla, you can ask me anything anytime. If it’s your request, I’ll do it all for free!”
“Free…!”
My eyes went wide. They say if you get this excited about the word “free,” you’ll go bald someday, but—
‘Furniture isn’t cheap…’
And if Frisia’s offering, why would I refuse?
Of course, I didn’t plan on having everything done for free.
This kind of thing is give-and-take. If I receive something, I should give something back. So taking just an appropriate amount would be wise.
Still—free is nice.
Barely holding back the grin creeping up my face, I replied to Frisia.
“Well, not everything. You’ll go bankrupt at this rate. Do you know how much furniture I need?”
“I’ll do all of it. I’ve basically been resting for almost a year, and my whole body’s itching to work. I was thinking of making my comeback by sponsoring furniture for your café.”
“Really?”
“Of course. So leave all the café furniture to me. I’m a bit possessive, you know.
No furniture that isn’t mine is allowed in the Dragon Café!”
Frisia declared boldly.
My heart actually started pounding. Is this why people like bold, charismatic women?
When I nodded as if enchanted, Frisia gave a thumbs-up and immediately started asking about furniture styles.
How I wanted the café decorated. Whether there were any details I wanted emphasized.
What furniture was needed overall, and how much.
She even pulled out a notebook and pen, brimming with enthusiasm. Watching her, I paused to think.
‘I do have an interior concept in mind.’
Given the café’s location, the interior needed a clear theme.
On the outskirts of the capital—with nothing nearby except a reed field.
No matter how special the menu was… it wouldn’t be easy to draw customers all the way out here.
So I needed a way to bring customers in—and keep them there.
‘Getting them to come is already handled…’
That left keeping them seated for a long time.
‘First of all, the chairs must be comfortable. And the tables should be at just the right height.’
The overall atmosphere should feel cozy.
‘Since the reed field is a focal point, it’d be nice if the café’s vibe matched it.’
So the café’s concept would be nature.
But leaning too heavily into natural materials could make it feel messy. The rest could be figured out together with Frisia.
Furniture plays a huge role in the overall mood, after all.
I explained my interior vision to Frisia in detail. She chimed in now and then, filling page after page of her notebook.
After several sheets were filled—
“Let’s stop here for now. I think I’ll need to see the café in person for the rest.”
“Sure. Come anytime. The inside’s kind of a mess right now… but if you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine.”
Frisia shrugged casually. Watching her, I asked carefully.
“About when do you think the furniture will be ready?”
“Hm? When do you need it by? Since it’s a lot… it’ll take about a week. Simple things like chairs and tables can be done in two days. I’ll send them over as they’re finished, so don’t worry.”
“…So everything will really be done in a week?”
“Of course. I’m the famous Frisia Robotong, after all.”
Oh, Frisia.
If Millen hadn’t been watching, I would’ve praised her endlessly.
‘A week!’
That’s even faster than the special quest!
That means the café can open right when the special quest ends.
That timing would be perfect for attracting the maximum number of customers.
Just announcing the opening schedule now would spread the word in no time.
With my heart pounding, I grabbed Frisia’s hand. She laughed brightly.
“If you’re this happy, it makes me feel even better. But shall we eat first? Millen’s glaring so hard my face might freeze off, Layla.”
“Ah… but I actually have something I need to do right now…”
“Buying ingredients, right? Millen already bought everything earlier. You can have breakfast here, then head to the café.”
“…Millen?”
“Yes. That Millen.”
I doubted my own eyes.
Frisia shook her head like she still couldn’t believe it either.
Same here. Even if Millen watched me work yesterday and knew what ingredients I needed…
‘He’s not the type to do something like that willingly…’
Did he eat something weird?
When I shot him a suspicious look, Millen sharply turned his head away and gracefully took a sip of tea.
‘Guess he’s embarrassed about helping.’
Smiling warmly, I took the seat beside him. Right then, Iliana placed a plate in front of me as if she’d been waiting.
Softly cooked bacon and two fried eggs. A familiar-looking combination.
A smile slipped out without me realizing it.
“Thank you for the meal!”
It was a satisfying breakfast.
And at the same time—
Tutorial Complete!
The first step to becoming a café owner!
Reward: 10 Diamonds, 1,000 Gold
Rewards are distributed immediately.
The tutorial had ended.
