156. Returned First Love (5)
A peaceful daily life.
A peaceful daily life without threats, where the wind blows, the sun rises and sets.
*I feel peaceful either because life is actually peaceful, or because I haven't noticed the threat.*
Just like the situation in the city.
Lee Jun-woo opened the window to check outside.
Though he only had one eye, his vision was good enough to take in the city's situation at a glance.
*People moving busily... people with dark expressions...*
Probably because the empire's pillars had disappeared in an instant.
The Black Crow Knights, called the emperor's left arm.
The collapse of the religious order, the empire's spiritual pillar.
With both pillars rotted and collapsed, the city's situation was clearly not good.
Lee Jun-woo took in the sight of the city for a moment, then closed the window and drew the curtains without hesitation.
"How's the outside air, Aina?"
Aina, who had been lying on the bed getting some air.
She answered with an incredulous look in her eyes.
"What kind of question is that? The air is always cool and refreshing. So what are you going to do?"
"...About what?"
"I said I wanted to go outside. How long do I have to stay cooped up in this room?"
"..."
The window breeze isn't enough?
I don't really want to let her go outside...
Lee Jun-woo met eyes with the complaining Aina.
"I. Want. To. Go. Out. When. Are. We. Going?"
Aina pressed him, cutting her words short. Lee Jun-woo didn't want to let her go outside when her health wasn't good, but.
As if no student could beat their teacher.
He sighed and helped Aina up from the bed.
"Right, a good student listens well to their teacher. Good, good."
Pat pat—
Lee Jun-woo frowned and swatted away Aina's thin hand that had landed on his head.
"...Only one hour. No more than that."
"Who are you to decide the time? I'll do as I please."
Aina said this and began preparing to go outside.
She didn't have much time left and wanted to take in as much of the world as possible.
"More importantly, Jun-woo."
"Yeah."
"Could you step out so I can change? I know you want to eat me up, but isn't this a bit too—"
Bang—!
Lee Jun-woo closed the door and left the room without a word.
"...When did I ever want to eat you up? She's saying weird things."
How absurd.
Lee Jun-woo cooled his heated head by exhaling.
Was it because he got too worked up over Aina's words?
"Ah, Mister?"
"...Luna?"
Why is she sitting here?
He belatedly noticed the girl crouched on the floor.
When he saw Luna caught in the act.
It seemed like she had been eavesdropping on the conversation in the room.
"Luna, don't tell me you were eavesdropping on what was said in the room—"
"I, I wasn't listening! I, I don't know! Don't ask me! Uh, uwaaa—!"
Luna screamed and ran down the corridor.
"...Was there not enough meat at breakfast?"
Why is she acting like that?
The back of Luna's head as she ran down the corridor.
Lee Jun-woo watched it for a moment before looking away.
"I should prepare to go out too."
Lee Jun-woo moved his steps, thinking he should simply prepare his sword.
"Where are Mister and that woman?"
"...They're walking down the street over there."
The Hero Party hiding behind a wall, monitoring Lee Jun-woo and Aina.
They had heard that Mister was going out on a date and were secretly following them.
Luna glared at them with a sharp gaze.
"Why did that woman ask Mister to go outside when she's not even feeling well? My personal training got canceled!!"
"...Be quiet, Luna. If we get caught tailing them, it'll all be your fault."
"Both of you. Be quiet. You're noisy."
Mister and Aina walking around downtown.
The Hero Party chattered as they followed their footsteps.
"Oh, Oppa's going into that store!"
"What kind of store is it?"
"A dessert café!"
A dessert café.
The optimal place to share intimate conversations and the sweetness of love.
Creak—
"...Let's go in too."
Hare knew Aina didn't have much time left.
But since she didn't know what that woman might do while she wasn't around.
She decided to monitor them closely without interfering.
"...There's quite a bit of baggage though."
"Hm? Why? What did you bring?"
"...Haa, it's nothing."
Sighing like that, Hare took the lead and entered the café.
"Welcome! Are there four of you? I'll show you to your seats!"
As soon as they entered, a male employee's loud voice greeted the Hero Party.
*Th-this person's voice is so loud...*
Wh-what should I do?
We weren't caught by Mister, were we?
Hare glanced over to check on Mister.
Fortunately, they were sitting at their table having a conversation with an employee.
*...Th-they were ordering. Thank goodness...*
Glare—
Hare frowned at the employee and said.
"Lower your voice. You're noisy."
"...Pardon?"
"We'll find our own seats."
"...Yes, I apologize."
Shrink—
The employee bowed his head in apology.
*Th-these troublemaker bastards... They complain whether I guide them or not...*
The employee vented internally while swallowing his tears.
Toward the bowing employee, the Saint placed her hand on his shoulder.
Pat—
"It's okay."
"...Pardon?"
A tone that felt somehow warm.
The employee raised his head at that warmth to check who it was.
White hair and golden eyes.
A girl with an unapproachable appearance was smiling with her hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay!"
"Ah, th-thank you..."
"You don't have to show us to our seats! Just be quiet now! Got it?!"
"...Yes."
Estia, whose only warmth was in her hands.
The employee wiped away tears as he watched the backs of their heads as they left for their seats.
"Tr-troublemaker bastards... I want to quit this job..."
However, the employee didn't know.
He had no idea in his wildest dreams that more of their troublemaking behavior was yet to come.
"This is our first time at a café together! Right?!"
"We didn't come to the café to have fun. We came to tail Mister. Please be aware of your duty—"
"Here! Here! Order here please!"
"..."
Luna, excited about her first café visit.
It was her first time at a restaurant without Mister in the first place.
"They sell really sweet desserts here! And delicious drinks! That's right, isn't it?!"
"Probably."
"Then, have you guys been to a dessert café like this before?!"
"..."
The Hero Party fell silent at that question.
Because they were no different from Luna.
*...How do you order?*
*I wonder if it'll suit my taste.*
*Dessert!*
The Hero Party began to tense up hearing the approaching footsteps of the employee.
How should they order? As they pondered, the same employee from before appeared in front of them.
His lips were turned up, but somehow twisted.
"C-customer. I'll help you with your order."
Help us order?
Saten, who had been looking at the menu, crossed her legs and said.
"Yes, please help quickly."
"...Pardon?"
"I really hate saying things twice. If you said you'd help, then help quickly."
"..."
Ah, I want to quit this job.
As Saten waited for the employee's help, Luna shook her head and shouted.
"What kind of ordering is that! That's not how you order!"
"Is that so? Then how do you do it?"
"Watch carefully! I'll show you!"
Is a normal order finally coming?
The employee held a faint hope.
Luna shouted at the employee.
"Give us four of whatever sells best in this store!"
Finally, a normal order.
The moved employee smiled brightly and exclaimed.
"Yes! Order received! Four of our best-selling parfaits! I'll prepare them! Thank you!"
An order that went between sweet and spicy.
The moment the employee took the order and disappeared.
Saten expressed her dissatisfaction to Luna.
"Why are you deciding my food on your own?"
"You can't order!"
"I can. I just learned."
"If you order what you learned from me, you'd be ordering the same parfait!"
"No, the parfait I order will be more delicious."
"...Stop talking nonsense and everyone be quiet. We might get caught."
Hare calmed the chaotic atmosphere and raised her head to look at the opposite side.
It was a seat where they were far enough that conversation couldn't be heard, but all their actions were visible.
Hare bit her nails as she quietly watched them.
"...The two of them are talking and laughing. He never showed me that kind of smile. I'm jealous. I want to interfere right now."
"Hmm, is that so? Anyway, if we wait, Mister will return to normal. Isn't it better to endure?"
"...Will Mister really return to normal?"
"Of course, once that woman disappears, it'll be just like usual."
"...I don't think so."
Hare observed the two people carefully.
*Right now, those two are probably having a happy and sweet conversation.*
Because Mister and that person aren't just a simple teacher-student relationship.
Because they have the same feelings for each other.
Because unlike me, it's not feelings held by only one person.
Creak—
Hare kept biting her nails in anxiety and jealousy.
"H-here... the parfaits you ordered..."
"Yes, please! Thank you!"
Meanwhile, the parfaits arrived, and when they were placed on the table, Luna and Estia's eyes sparkled as they inhaled the parfaits.
And one minute later.
The employee had to head to the Hero Party's table again.
"Wh-what can I do for you..."
"Two more of the best-sellers!"
"More!"
This is delicious!
Luna and Estia, who had awakened to the refined sweetness.
Their parfait orders showed no end in sight, and.
In the kitchen, they couldn't take a break making the labor-intensive parfaits.
"...If they come here again, don't serve them. Ban them from entering."
It was the moment the Hero Party that would defeat the Demon King ended up on a dessert café's blacklist.