As Leo made his way back to the café, he immediately noticed the crowd had grown.
"…Seriously? Even more people?"
The place was packed—laughter echoing off the walls, chairs scraping, dishes clinking, and the smell of food hitting him like a punch in the face.
He stopped at the entrance and sighed, watching another group squeeze through the already full tables.
Great. The entire continent must've decided this was the only place to eat tonight.
He crossed his arms, clearly unamused.
Good for Feren, I guess—customers, gold, maybe a reputation boost too. She's thriving. Meanwhile, I'm out here aging in real time waiting for her to be free.
Leo leaned against the doorframe dramatically.
I came here for answers, not to star in the world's busiest café simulation.
He stood there debating whether to pretend he fainted from emotional overload when suddenly, Feren's voice cut through the noise.
"Hey! Hades! Come here!"
Leo blinked. He turned and walked over to the counter, curious. "What happened?"
Feren leaned over the counter, grinning. "You really wanna hear that answer, huh? You've been staring at the crowd like someone just stole your future wife."
Leo awkwardly scratched the back of his head, tapping his mask with a sheepish chuckle. "Maybe just a little."
"Well then," she said, tapping her chin, "how about you help us out?"
Leo froze.
"...Huh?"
She crossed her arms, amused. "I'm not paying you though. Just saying. But if you help, I'll be able to talk to you sooner."
Leo blinked again. She was serious.
A long pause.
Then he rolled up his sleeves. "…Fine."
And just like that, he was behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, hands already dunking into a tub of soapy water like a veteran dishwasher. His plain shirt clung slightly as warm steam from the sink hit him. Plates clinked, suds flew, and Leo scrubbed like a man on a mission—mostly because he was.
Beside him, Feren worked just as fast, her sleeves rolled to the elbows and hair tied back with a small band. "Honestly," she said, "on normal days we finish everything quickly. But tomorrow's the festival. A lot of people came from other regions, even other empires. And don't get me started on home deliveries. I even think my dad's place is slammed tonight too."
Leo glanced over. "Sounds like a nightmare."
Feren gave a small, tired nod. "It is. But hey, that's the job."
He washed another plate, then glanced at her. "Hey, about the festival… why don't you go tomorrow with everyone else? You deserve a break."
She blinked. "Go? I can't just leave the café. Someone has to run it."
"Then close it for a day," Leo said, matter-of-fact. "Just one day. We'll clear out everything tonight. I'll help."
She stared at him for a moment, surprised, then smiled faintly. "Thanks, Hades. That means a lot. Let's try it."
They went back to scrubbing. Silence passed for a few seconds before Feren glanced over again.
"…By the way, doesn't the mask get in your way while washing dishes?"
Leo's hand froze mid-scrub. Slowly, he looked up.
"Ah… n-no, it's fine. I'm used to it."
Feren blinked, then tilted her head curiously. "You sure? You can remove it if it's causing trouble."
A long pause.
Leo looked back down. "Sorry… I can't."
She didn't ask why. Instead, she gave a small nod. "Alright. Just don't let it slip and fall in the water. If we find it in the soup pot, I'm blaming you."
Leo chuckled lightly. "Fair enough."
And together, under the warm glow of the kitchen lights, the masked boy and the smiling café girl worked side by side, scrubbing, rinsing, and clearing away the remnants of a festival-eve rush.
Then.
Leo slumped into the chair with a heavy sigh, tossing his head back.
"Do you guys always do this much work?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Feren dropped into the seat beside him, just as exhausted, letting her arms dangle over the sides. "What, already tired?" she teased with a smirk.
Leo scoffed. "Tired? Nah. Bored? Absolutely. Doing the same thing over and over makes me feel like I'm losing brain cells."
The group nearby—two boys and three girls, Feren's subordinates—burst into soft laughter. Even Feren chuckled, shaking her head.
Just then, the door creaked open, and a group of adventurers peeked in. "Hey! Is the café still open?"
Feren glanced over and gave them a polite smile. "Sorry, we're closed for the night."
"Agh, we're late!" one of them groaned before they all turned around and walked off into the night.
Feren leaned back, stretching her arms, then looked over at her team. "Alright, you guys can head out. Just make sure to lock the door behind you."
They all nodded in sync. "Got it! Bye, Feren!"
With tired but cheerful goodbyes, the staff filtered out one by one, the door clicking shut behind them. The café grew quiet. A few lights still flickered above the counter, casting a soft glow—but the far corner of the room remained in gentle shadow.
Leo sat forward now, more serious, his voice low.
"Now… tell me everything you know."
Feren turned to face him, her playful demeanor fading as she nodded.
"Alright," she said quietly. "Let's get to the main point."