CHAPTER 50: CAFÉ

After Lanz finally cooled down from the "insane" revelation — which, in hindsight, really wasn’t that insane — he decided it was probably a good idea to find a spot where he could rest later.

Wandering off in the opposite direction of the river’s flow, he eventually came across an open clearing.

The space was surrounded by trees that seemed to form a natural ring around it, enclosing it just enough to feel private while still letting the sunlight spill in.

At the very center, a waterfall cascaded down in a steady curtain, feeding into the river and then branching off toward the massive lake situated to the right side of the dudgeon.

The water shimmered under the light, while the constant rush filled the air with a deep, steady sound.

The whole place was thick with lush greenery, from the moss creeping along rocks to the ferns that swayed gently in the breeze. It looked pristine, untouched, and absolutely beautiful... in short, it was f*cking majestic.

Then he noticed it — a cave tucked neatly behind the waterfall, half-hidden by the mist.

"Yup, that sh*ts mine now," he said with a satisfied grin. "Gotta remember where this place is."

It was still way too early to even think about resting, and Lanz knew it.

His attention eventually drifted toward the giant, intimidating mass of rock in the distance — a mountain that looked like it had been designed specifically to make people second-guess walking anywhere near it.

Not that you could miss it anyway. The f*cker was massive. It dominated the skyline so completely that pretending it didn’t exist would require a level of denial usually reserved for people ignoring their bank statements.

He decided that, for reasons that probably wouldn’t hold up under logical questioning, he was going to head there.

With one last glance at the clearing he’d just claimed as his future nap zone, Lanz stepped away and began making his way toward the looming shape.

"There’s gotta be something there," he muttered under his breath, the words more of a commitment than a casual observation.

As he walked towards it, the mountain didn’t get any less unnerving as it grew larger in his view — if anything, it felt like it was sizing him up right back.

Either way, this idiot was still going.

*****

The bell above the café door jingled with a soft, almost cautious ring — the kind of sound that knew better than to compete with the steady hum of the afternoon crowd.

It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t trying to be impressive either, it just existed, quietly marking the arrival of whoever had wandered in.

The shop itself was small, wedged between a busted laundromat whose "Out of Order" sign looked like a permanent fixture and a convenience store that’s existed here for a long time.

Inside, though, the café carried that lived-in charm that made regulars treat it less like a business and more like a communal kitchen.

It smelled like coffee and fresh bread, with the faintest trace of sugar hanging in the air, and every inch of the space seemed to have a purpose, even if that purpose was just "look nice so people buy things."

Behind the counter, the glass display case glowed softly under warm lighting, presenting the day’s lineup.

Rows of glossy egg tarts sat with their surfaces catching the light just enough to taunt anyone who thought they could resist.

The melon bread was dusted with sugar so lightly it almost looked fake, and the chocolate chiffon cake slices sat in the corner aware that their existence was temporary, each one doomed to disappear before the afternoon rush was over.

Above the counter, the shelves were lined with neatly bagged coffee beans labeled with serious names like Velmordop House Blend or Dark Roast No. 3, though if we’re being real, they all pretty much smelled like "Please let this coffee fix my life before I throw my laptop into a wall."

... which is quite depressing.

Anyways, Alleana Kuroda — Lanz’s mom — moved behind the counter with the kind of efficiency that suggested she’d been doing this for so long she could probably run the place blindfolded.

Her apron, already dusted with flour, hinted that the baking had started before the sun even considered showing up. Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail.

Near the stools by the counter, a little girl clung to her father’s leg while pointing at the strawberry danishes with the unwavering determination of someone who had already made the most important decision of her young life.

Her father, clearly resigned to the fact that he was not winning this negotiation, sighed and reached for his wallet.

Over at the self-serve sugar station, a tired-looking college student was in the middle of some sort of silent crisis.

She stood perfectly still, one hand holding a coffee cup while the other hovered over the sugar packets like she was about to make a move that could change the course of her day.

She finally dropped in three packets, stirred it once, and took a sip — judging by her expression, it was either perfect or a complete disaster, but either way, she didn’t bother fixing it. So that sh*t was probably perfect.

The background music was jazz.

Not the overwhelming bullsh*t that feels like someone’s trying to impress you with a saxophone for three straight hours, but the kind that just... exists politely in the corner, keeping the atmosphere alive without becoming the main event.

Chill jazz. The objectively superior kind of jazz.

Suddenly, the bell above the café door gave a sharp little ding, the universal signal that someone had just entered or was on their way out.

The sound made one of the newer staff members glance up from the register like he’d been caught in the middle of daydreaming.

"Welcome! How may I help you today?" he said, putting on the warmest smile he could manage without it looking like an over-the-top customer service ad.

The person standing there didn’t waste time with small talk.

Her voice was soft, but there was a weight to it that made the question feel more like a statement. "Is my mom here?"

It was Miku!

The staff member blinked, caught slightly off-guard by both the bluntness and the complete lack of hesitation. "Y—Your mom? W—What’s her nam—"

Before he could even finish fumbling through the sentence, Alleana appeared behind him. Without warning, she set both hands firmly on his shoulders, stopping him mid-breath.

"Don’t worry, Lem. This is my daughter," she said with the calm authority of someone who wasn’t about to let an awkward exchange spiral into a customer service f*cking drama.

Lem’s expression shifted instantly, all tension gone as if someone had just handed him the missing piece of a puzzle he didn’t realize he was working on.

"Ohh! No wonder you looked familiar!" he said, a little too loudly for how small the café was.

Alleana just chuckled and shifted her gaze to Miku.

"Come, come. You can sit there, Miku," Alleana said, gesturing toward an empty table tucked near the corner.

Miku followed her mother’s hand with her eyes, pausing just long enough to take in the spot before walking over.

She sat down without a word, then tapped the empty chair beside her — the universal, silent request for her mom to join her.

Alleana glanced toward the café’s owner.

The owner gave a small nod, then turned her attention to Miku with a warm smile.

In response, Alleana brought her hands together in front of her, fingers interlaced in a gentle, almost prayer-like gesture, and mouthed a silent "thank you."

Alleana slid into the seat beside Miku, the movement unhurried.

"What’s with the sudden visit?" she asked, reaching over to gently fix a strand of Miku’s hair that had fallen out of place.

"It’s about Lanz," Miku said, her voice steady but carrying that quiet undertone of concern. "I was worried that you’d be worried about that idiot. I know I’m not the only one who feels like he’s hiding something from us. And I think Kaz has picked up on it too."

Alleana let out a soft sigh, her hands falling back to her lap. "Your father and I have been talking about it too," she admitted. "That’s actually one of the reasons Kuro suggested taking a vacation. He— no, WE— wanted to check on Lanz. That, and the fact that he just got a promotion."

Miku’s gaze lingered on her mother, studying her expression for a moment before simply nodding in quiet agreement.

"I—I’ll talk to Kaz about this later tonight. I know he feels something off about Lanz," Miku said, leaning back slightly in her chair. "Wait, what’s bro up to anyway? Do you know, Mom?"

"If I remember correctly, he told me he quit his last job because one of his friends mentioned a spot was open," Alleana replied. "He’s working as a waiter now at the Hilgrogar Cipà. You know, the famous one, and the only five-star restaurant in Velmordop."

Miku’s eyes widened instantly. "Are you being serious?!" she asked, her tone suddenly brighter. "That idiot actually got a good job?!"

"Yes! I am so proud of him," Alleana said with genuine warmth. "Even though we don’t have much, Kaz still managed to find a safe job without ever going to school and without even taking an Awakening test. I just... your father and I wish we could do more—"

Before she could finish, Miku leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her, cutting the sentence short with a hug that left no room for words. "Mom... I just got a ninety-five on my project. You know, the one about the app I made."

Alleana’s eyes glistened, the emotion creeping in before she quickly steadied herself.

She closed her eyes and smiled, holding the hug just a little longer.

"I love you, dear."

"I know, mom... I love you too."

*****

Unfortunately, we are back with this guy. 🙄

Somewhere far from the warm smell of coffee and the safe hum of afternoon chatter, Lanz stood completely still, staring at something.

"What the f*ck is that place," he said, eyes locked on a sight you’ll only find out about next Chapter.

End of Chapter 50.

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ALT SYSTEM — USER PROFILE: ZERO

Level: 14

EXP: 74 / 140

Next Reward: Special Loot Box

Global System Tracking: DISABLED

World Rank Association: UNLINKED

Stats:

STR: 20 | AGI: 10 (Affinity) | VIT: 5 | DEX: 5 | INT: 14 | WIS: 5

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Derived Stat — MANA: 68 / 70]

Skills:

[Crimson Slash Lv. 1]

[Phantom Stride Lv. 2]

[Instinctive Blade Lv.1]

[Predictive Guard Lv.1]

[Skill Fusion Menu: Active]

[Dev Tree: Tier 0 Access Granted]

[Developer Node – Fusion Core Anchor: Active]

[Skill Slot Available — Unassigned]

Equipment:

Aged Blade Fragment (??? Rarity) (Bound)

Training Ring (+1 VIT)

Bag :)