OCOB 29

Chapter : 29

“Would you like to buy something from me? You happen to have a fair amount of diamonds right now.”

It was a shameless thing for Millun to say.

After all, it basically sounded like he was going to force a sale the moment I got my hands on diamonds. I narrowed my eyes.

Go on, let’s hear it. If it’s not good, I’ll reject it without mercy!

With that firm resolve, I asked him,

“What kind of item is it?”

“A magical tool I made. Why, do you think I’d sell something strange?”

“That’s not it. Your items are always top-tier, Millun.”

And I meant that sincerely.

Every single tool he made was incredible—things no modern person could ever imagine with their limited creativity.

Every time I used one, I was amazed.

The all-purpose kettle, the container that could grind anything perfectly, and the steamer that even gods would admire!

Whenever I listed his inventions one by one, I remembered how shocked I’d been the first time I used them.

That was exactly why any magical tool Millun made was a must-have if you had the chance.

So I opened my eyes sweetly.

Yeah, what do I even have to hesitate about?

If Millun was offering to sell something, this was a situation where I should shout “Okay!” immediately.

I smiled gently and held out both hands politely toward him.

“So go ahead—sell it to me right now.”

“Didn’t your attitude change rather suddenly?”

“Oh, that’s just your imagination. I’ve always been kind and sweet to you, Millun.”

“…Hah.”

I heard an incredulous chuckle. At the same time, I saw the look of disgust on Millun’s face.

But if I lost momentum here, that wouldn’t be me. I smiled with an exaggerated sweetness—the special smile I used on bosses who were talking nonsense right before telling them to get lost.

Anyone who saw that smile usually shut up and got straight to the point.

Millun was no different.

He moved his lips as if to say something, then sighed. After that, he took something out of his pocket.

“…A broom?”

More precisely, it was a miniature broom.

A tiny broom model, about the size of my palm.

Even so, the bristles gleamed with a strange shine. I blinked at the oddly sparkling little broom.

“What is this?”

“It’s a broom. Can’t you tell by looking?”

“No, of course I know that. I’m asking what kind of ‘tool’ this is.”

“I thought you’d figure it out just by seeing it… You still don’t understand me.”

“…Well, aren’t we still in the stage of getting to know each other?”

There it was again—that disgusted expression.

Seeing it twice in a row… hmm, it felt like I was discovering a new taste.

So when I said lines like that, Millun made that face. Interesting.

I smiled brightly. Another sigh escaped him.

“You sure talk a lot… You said you were cleaning right now?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then I’ll show you directly. You’ll understand better if you see it in action.”

“That works for me!”

“Haa… then follow me.”

After letting out a third sigh, Millun turned his back to me. I could see the back of his head swaying left and right.

I stuck close behind him, chattering nonstop—asking if he saw all the customers today, if he saw how well I worked, and so on.

Well, no answers came back. I didn’t expect any anyway.

We went down to the first floor.

The hall that had been packed with customers earlier now felt strangely empty.

“I’m thinking of moving the closing time earlier starting tomorrow. I set it for ten for now, but with the carriages and everything… maybe I should close around sunset. What do you think?”

“Sounds like a good idea. Otherwise you’ll collapse again from overworking.”

“….”

That hit hard.

But he had a point, so I couldn’t argue. I just stood there sulking and stared at him.

He shrugged lightly and spoke.

“Watch carefully. I’ll only show you once.”

Without waiting for my reply, Millun acted immediately.

The tiny broom model in his hand dropped to the floor.

The small broom touched the ground—

And in that instant—

Whoooooosh!

A powerful wind surged through the café.

It was incredibly fast and fierce—strong enough that, if something went wrong, it could sweep up everything in the neighborhood.

But—

…What?

It was warm?

The wind touching me felt gentle and warm. At the same time, my apron felt oddly clean.

Feeling something was off, I quickly looked around where the wind had passed.

“…Holy crap.”

This is insane too.

The wind erased all the dust piled up everywhere. Even the footprints left by customers and the stains from spilled drinks were completely gone.

In fact, it looked even cleaner than before opening.

I stared with my mouth open in awe.

The wind didn’t stay in the hall. After finishing there, it moved into the kitchen.

The result was the same.

The coffee machine that had gotten filthy from pulling countless espressos was instantly spotless. Cups waiting to be washed, plates—everything sparkled without a speck of dust.

After cleaning everything perfectly, the fierce wind gradually calmed.

Only a pleasant breeze remained, tickling me gently inside the shop.

“…Wow.”

I absolutely have to buy this.

If cleaning can be done in just ten seconds! If I don’t have to get even a single drop of water on my hands!

That tool is revolutionary!

I clapped in amazement. Millun’s shoulders lifted by about a centimeter.

“Well? What do you think?”

“Millun! You’re insane! How do you even make something like this?”

“Ahem. You look satisfied.”

“Just satisfied? My future just got incredibly bright!”

“Your future too? Hahaha!”

Millun burst into laughter. Covering his mouth as he laughed, he handed me the broom that had returned to his hand.

“Ah—ten diamonds.”

“You’ve gotten quicker.”

“I should at least know that much.”

I quickly pulled ten diamonds from my pocket and instantly exchanged them for the broom.

With this, I never have to clean again!

Drunk on that thought, I grinned foolishly. Seeing me like that, Millun shook his head and pointed toward the stairs.

“Then it’s time to sleep. Lock up properly and come upstairs.”

“Of course! Good night, Millun.”

“…Alright. Layla, you sleep well too.”

Millun looked down at me quietly for a moment, then quickly turned his head away and went straight up to the second floor without looking back.

I carefully slipped the miniature broom into my pocket.

A little tune slipped from my lips.

“I should go to bed soon too.”

As Millun said, once I locked the doors, closing was done.

And so ended the first day of the café’s opening.

The day after opening.

“…Yeah, I knew it.”

I sighed and glared at the translucent window floating in front of me.

Main Quest!
– The Path to Becoming a Beginner Owner 2

– Host a tea party within one week
(6 days 23:59:59)

Reward: 3,000 Gold & 10 Diamonds
Failure: Reputation Decrease

I’d have been disappointed if there wasn’t one.

At least this quest seemed easy.

A tea party? Just send out invitations and gather people—that’s all, right?

It sounded very simple. I nodded while looking at the unusually merciful quest.

“Yeah, if you’ve got any mercy, you should do this once in a while.”

But the more I stared at the quest window, the more something bothered me.

“Why give me an entire week for something like this?”

Was there another hidden condition?

Maybe something I hadn’t noticed? Like when I got Freesia’s quest—maybe the contents would change midway.

I stared at the quest window for a while, then got up.

Just looking at it wouldn’t give me answers.

So I prepared to open the café. Illyana, the temporary part-timer for the week, arrived right on time.

Everything went smoothly as we opened and continued business.

“Um… hello.”

The young noble girl I’d unfortunately missed yesterday showed up on her own.

And at the same time—

Main Quest!
– The Path to Becoming a Beginner Owner 2

– Host a tea party within one week
(6 days 23:59:59)

At least 3 nobles must attend.

Reward: 3,000 Gold & 10 Diamonds
Failure: Reputation Decrease

The hidden line was revealed.