Touka Kirishima, a girl who, to most people, was good-looking but otherwise unremarkable. But her true identity was the famous ghoul 'Rabbit' in the 20th ward. The biggest difference between her and most of her kind was that she tried to integrate into human society as a ghoul. But what she didn't expect was to encounter an unexpected guest while working in the cafe as usual.
"Welcome~"
Accompanied by a practiced greeting, her gaze was instantly attracted by the 'badge' on the man's chest who was walking in front. It was the 'Silver Mokusei Award', and as a ghoul, it was impossible not to recognize this badge, after all, it was something that only the 'executioners' of the CCG had!
She had seen ghoul investigators in the store before, but this was the first time she had seen one wearing this badge. Remembering her past experiences, she suddenly felt like she couldn't contain her anger towards ghoul investigators. But at this moment, a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"I apologize, you two, this child has never served an 'investigator' before, so she's a bit nervous. There are a lot of empty seats in the store right now, how about the one by the window?"
Accompanied by a warm voice, a tall, mature woman with long black hair appeared behind Touka Kirishima, and she also realized that her behavior was a bit abnormal, so she quickly bowed and apologized. It was clear that she intended to use Kaya Irimi words to create such an image for herself.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright~ It's alright~ After all, this kind of thing is very normal. Don't you think so, Lancer?"
Before Lancer could speak, Koutarou Amon, who was standing behind him, spoke up to smooth things over. However, Lancer looked at Koutarou Amon with a strange expression, because in his impression, the other person didn't seem to be the type to like talking? What was wrong with him today?
Koutarou Amon, who was being looked at strangely by Lancer, was a bit annoyed.
'I'm helping you out, what are you standing there for, you punk?'
In the end, the two of them followed Kaya Irimi recommendation and sat by the window, each ordering a dessert and a coffee.
Because they were in a public place, the two of them didn't talk about 'work,' and Koutarou Amon, as Lancer 'senior,' asked him some questions about his daily life. Lancer naturally answered everything, but during this time, his gaze was constantly scanning the cafe...
'Only Touka Kirishima and that female employee? I wonder how long it's been since the 'plot' started?'
All the information Lancer knew about this world started from when the protagonist became a ghoul, but he hadn't heard anything related to it recently.
Although Lancer strength had been strengthened a lot during this time, it was clear that he was still very green in terms of 'eavesdropping.' Not only Koutarou Amon, but even Touka Kirishima and Kaya Irimi, who were working, noticed that something was off about Lancer, especially Touka Kirishima, who was being looked at by Lancer from time to time.
"Irimi-san, have we been discovered?"
Taking advantage of the time to go to the kitchen, Touka Kirishima nervously whispered to the tall woman next to her, but Kaya Irimi just smiled and shook her head.
"Touka~ You're too nervous. Although they are 'doves,' we won't be exposed without an 'Rc gate,' so don't be nervous and just serve them normally. Touka, remember, you are not a ghoul right now, but an ordinary girl!"
Compared to Touka Kirishima, who had never served a dove before, Kaya Irimi had been in the store for several years. What kind of customer hadn't she met? And the other party's almost unconcealed 'gaze' gave her a strange guess...
But when the two of them went back, they only found Lancer sitting alone by the window, pouring and drinking for himself. As for Koutarou Amon on the other side, he was nowhere to be found.
Although they didn't know what was going on, the two of them didn't ask too many questions and just carefully observed Lancer, after all, the other party's identity as a 'dove' was too concerning.
But thankfully, not long after Koutarou Amon left, Lancer also paid the bill and left, which finally made Touka Kirishima truly sigh in relief. After all, having a 'dove' in the ghoul store, and a dove with a 'badge' at that, made her feel uneasy.
Not long after Lancer left, the store manager, Yoshimura, also finally returned.
Although Kaya Irimi had already comforted her, Touka Kirishima still told Yoshimura about Lancer, the 'special customer,' right away.
"A young-looking dove with a 'badge'? It seems like it's him..."
Yoshimura's words stunned Touka Kirishima, and she looked at him with a surprised expression, and Yoshimura just smiled and explained.
"I went to a 'acquaintance' to exchange information tonight, and the other party mentioned the person you talked about today. He is the most famous investigator in the 20th ward recently. It is said that he officially became an investigator a little over a month ago, but after becoming an investigator, he started to hunt ghouls crazily. He was just promoted to a Second Class Investigator today because of his achievements. He is a very dangerous person for us ghouls."
There was no doubt that Lancer actions of hunting ghouls not only in the 20th ward but also in the neighboring wards had attracted a lot of attention recently. Logically, ghouls living in the 20th ward would not not know about Lancer. But Touka Kirishima was different from others. Although her strength was good, she had never joined any ghoul organization, and now she was staying in the 'Anteiku cafe.' She didn't have contact with other ghouls unless necessary, which also led to her never hearing about Lancer.
And now that she learned about Lancer from Yoshimura, her expression became a little ugly.
If her position was already against the CCG investigators because she was a ghoul, then because of her father, she felt a deep hatred for the investigators from the bottom of her heart!
My father never attacked humans! They just wanted to live quietly in the human world...
Even though Touka Kirishima thought she was strong enough, her eyes would always turn a little red every time she recalled what happened back then. And Yoshimura, who had always taken care of her, had nothing more to say besides patting her on the shoulder. After all, some things had to be faced alone, and no one else could influence them.
But just when everyone thought that this matter was over, 'the unexpected' still happened.
Lancer, who had appeared at the 'Anteiku cafe' the day before, appeared there again.
The same combination of a suit and a white briefcase made his identity clear at a glance, but unlike the day before, this time there were not only Touka Kirishima and Kaya Irimi in the store. Everyone was there today.
But Lancer, who was already mentally prepared, didn't show any abnormality and just walked to Touka Kirishima with a straight face.
"One coffee, one dessert."