Chapter 4: The Broken Sword Girl
Inside the Restaurant, the warm lighting cast long, comfortable shadows against the wooden floorboards.
Ren called out to the black-haired girl walking towards the kitchen. His voice was calm, cutting through the tension she had brought in with her like a knife through butter.
The black-haired girl, Amou Kirukiru, paused. She didn't turn around immediately, her shoulders stiff with a mixture of pride and annoyance. She adjusted the collar of her dark uniform, then walked over to a table set slightly apart from Rindou and Momo. She sat on the chair with the grace of a monarch taking a throne, crossed her legs, and looked at Ren with eyes that challenged his very existence.
She whispered, her voice low and demanding, "Give me a Pan-fried Steak with Marsala Wine sauce. Medium rare. And make it bloody."
Ren stood behind the counter, wiping a crystal glass. He smiled, a professional yet patronizing expression, and nodded. "Alright, one Boeuf Bourguignon (Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef)."
The girl's mouth twitched. A vein pulsed visibly on her temple. She didn't explode, but the air around her seemed to drop a few degrees. She continued, trying to regain control of the transaction.
"A Whiskey Sour," she stated, slamming her hand lightly on the table. "Double shot."
Ren nodded again, his smile unwavering. "Alright, one Freshly Squeezed Lemon Fruit Wine (Non-Alcoholic)."
The girl narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp enough to cut glass. She gritted her teeth. "Finally... a Whiskey Brownie."
Ren nodded again with a smile and said, "One Black Forest Cake, one Boeuf Bourguignon, and one Freshly Squeezed Mixed Fruit Juice. Please wait a moment~"
The girl named Kirukiru frowned, slamming both hands on the table this time. "Hey! Wasn't it 'Freshly Squeezed Lemon Fruit Wine' a second ago? Why did it become 'Mixed Fruit Juice'? And I ordered Whiskey!"
The girl seemed to have forgotten that what she initially asked for was a Whiskey Sour, directly and unceremoniously accepting that her order had been changed to juice, only arguing about the type of juice. Although she was questioning him, it was clearly just a verbal protest. She knew, deep down, that in this territory, her "Empress" status held no currency.
Ren tilted his head, his expression innocent. He walked out from behind the counter and reached out a hand toward her.
Kirukiru's survival instincts flared. She watched the hand approach, her muscles tensing. The hand hovered over the top of her head. Ren's eyes indicated for her to stand up, or perhaps, he was daring her to challenge the pressure.
The girl defiantly pushed her head upwards against his palm, refusing to be patted like a pet. She channeled her internal energy, her "Supreme Sword" spirit, into her neck muscles.
And then the air became still.
A silent battle of wills ensued. Ren's hand didn't budge an inch. It was heavy, like a mountain pressing down, yet gentle. Kirukiru's face turned red from exertion, her heels digging into the floor, but she couldn't move him.
"Pfft~"
Kobayashi Rindou completely disregarded the tense atmosphere and burst out laughing. She slapped the table, tears forming in her eyes. "Look at you, Kiru-chan! You look like an angry kitten trying to headbutt a wall!"
The girl glared at her, sending a look that would usually send delinquents running for the hills, but it was no use against the Second Seat.
Ren smiled, withdrew his hand, and said, "So, is there a problem with my order, Amou Kirukiru?"
"Tsk..."
Amou Kirukiru slumped back into her chair, defeated. She originally thought she could resist Ren—she was the Empress of the Private Aichi Symbiosis Academy, after all. But it was clear that she still couldn't even fight back against this mysterious chef. It was precisely because of this overwhelming gap in power that Amou Kirukiru dreamt of conquering Ren. Only the strong were worthy of her.
Akanegakubo Momo looked at the icy queen-like girl from behind her teddy bear. She tugged on Rindou's sleeve and whispered to Kobayashi Rindou, "Rindou-senpai, do you know this girl? She looks... scary."
Before Kobayashi Rindou could speak, Amou Kirukiru's sharp hearing picked up the whisper. She turned her head, her long black hair whipping around.
"Amou Kirukiru," she introduced herself curtly. "Also, you're much more pleasing to the eye than that guy next to you with the mischievous smile. At least you have taste in stuffed animals."
Kobayashi Rindou snorted, resting her chin on her hand. "I wonder who gets their order changed every time they come~ You try to act so tough, ordering whiskey, but you know Ren-kun won't let a minor drink in his shop."
"Hmph... It's not about the drink. It's about the principle."
The small Restaurant returned to quiet.
Ren was diligently making dishes in the kitchen. It's important to know that making dishes and enjoying making dishes are two different concepts. For most chefs, the dinner rush is a war. For Ren, it was a symphony.
His movements were fluid. He sautéed the beef, the aroma of red wine and onions instantly filling the room, replacing the tension with hunger. He whipped the cream for the cake, his wrist moving in a blur. Ren's realm was likely that of enjoyment; he treated every ingredient as a partner.
"Here's your Veal Blanquette (Veal Stew in White Sauce), and Rindou, your Seafood Risotto."
Ren placed the plates down.
Momo stared at her dish. The white sauce was glossy, coating the tender chunks of veal and pearl onions perfectly. It smelled of cream, cloves, and a hint of lemon.
Rindou paused, narrowed her eyes at the Seafood Risotto in front of her. The rice was a vibrant yellow from saffron, studded with clams, mussels, and shrimp that looked like they had been caught seconds ago.
She smiled, a genuine, soft expression replacing her usual grin. "You still remember..."
Ren said softly with a gentle smile, wiping his hands on his apron, "Because not many customers come here, and you were my very first customer, so of course, I remember it very clearly~ You ordered this the first time you walked in, soaking wet from the rain."
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled. The memory warmed her chest more than the steam rising from the risotto. Just as she was about to say something sentimental, Ren held out a hand in front of her face.
Kobayashi Rindou froze. She blinked, then recognized the gesture. She smiled broadly and said, "This again! Give it to me quickly!"
Ren sighed, shaking his head theatrically. "Your former cool and aloof demeanor was more interesting. Now, there's a lot less fun~ You used to be a mysterious 'cool beauty'."
As Ren spoke, he opened his palm. There was nothing there. Then, he flicked his wrist, and a delicious-looking orange appeared in his hand as if pulled from thin air.
Akanegakubo Momo was stunned; her eyes went wide. "Eh? Magic?"
Kobayashi Rindou snatched the orange with lightning speed. Then, she grabbed Ren's wrist and shook it vigorously. "There's more! I know there is!"
Sure enough, another one fell out of his sleeve, landing in her lap.
"Hmph~ You want to see me make a fool of myself? No way! Hurry up and make dessert! I want the Chocolate Gateau!"
Kobayashi Rindou held the two oranges but didn't eat them. She polished them against her jacket and carefully put them in her pocket, treating them like rare jewels.
Akanegakubo Momo tilted her head, taking a bite of her veal. "Rindou-senpai, aren't you going to eat them? Oranges are best when fresh."
Kobayashi Rindou snorted and said, patting her pocket, "Of course I won't eat it! This thing has to be kept! This is a weapon!"
"A weapon?" Momo looked confused. "To throw at people?"
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled without speaking, instead swinging her little feet and eating her paella, recalling her first time here.
At that time, three years ago, Kobayashi Rindou was still a very aloof person on the outside. She was a first-year high school student, already holding a seat in the Elite Ten, bearing the weight of expectations and the ruthless politics of Totsuki Academy.
Her first visit was on a very hot, humid day. She had escaped from the academy, wandering aimlessly, trying to outrun the pressure. She stumbled upon this place by accident.
Ren had looked at her—sweaty, tired, and irritable—and recommended a cold, Freshly Squeezed Lemon Fruit Wine to her that day, which also served as an appetizer.
But Kobayashi Rindou merely said indifferently, looking around with disdain, "Your desolate little shop, with no one around, a place that can't even be found on a map... and you're recommending wine to me? Are you trying to poison me?"
Ren tilted his head, unfazed by her venom. He returned to the counter without a word.
Kobayashi Rindou initially thought Ren was scared or offended. She prepared to leave. But Ren walked back, extended a hand, indicating there was nothing in it.
Kobayashi Rindou frowned. "What is this? Are you asking for money before I even order?"
Ren chuckled and clenched his hand into a fist, gesturing to Kobayashi Rindou. Kobayashi Rindou didn't move, her guard up. Ren pursed his lips, blew gently on his fist, and then opened his palm, revealing a delicious-looking orange.
It was so bright, so vibrant against the dull gray of her mood.
Kobayashi Rindou instantly showed a surprised expression and said in a deep voice, trying to maintain her composure, "Is this a Restaurant or a circus?"
Ren placed the orange in front of Kobayashi Rindou and said with a smile, "If I try to do anything funny, you can choose to retaliate with this orange. It's quite hard. This orange is of very high quality!"
Kobayashi Rindou was stunned.
Wasn't this just a childish tactic? A cheap magic trick to get close to her and make her happy? He didn't treat her like "The Elite Ten's Rindou." He treated her like a sulking child who needed a snack.
Kobayashi Rindou said blankly, touching the cool skin of the fruit, "Is this useful?"
"I don't know~ But you can try. Oh, and..."
"Hmm?"
"Here. There's another one."
Saying that, he conjured another one from his sleeve, placing it on top of the first one like a snowman.
Kobayashi Rindou tilted her head, the corners of her mouth twitching upward against her will. "You still want me to throw it at you?"
"Ah? This one is for eating~ Vitamin C is good for stress. Well, I'll go prepare the dishes now."
Many things happened that day. Kobayashi Rindou didn't even know how she got back to the dormitory. In any case, she had forgotten her original purpose, forgotten the politics of the Elite Ten. But the Restaurant's dishes—simple yet filled with warmth—and the Shop itself had sparked a strong interest in her.
Slowly, Kobayashi Rindou became a regular. Few people came to the Shop. Kobayashi Rindou was always the last to leave because when no one else was around, she would occasionally choose to talk to Ren about her worries. Ren would never offer unsolicited advice; he would just listen quietly, occasionally passing her an orange or a glass of water.
Three years passed like this.
Ren couldn't remember exactly when Kobayashi Rindou had changed into this cheerful, clingy cat-like girl. However, if Kobayashi Rindou didn't tell him herself, Ren would never be able to guess.
Because the reason Kobayashi Rindou completely fell for Ren was a very small thing. It was the safety. The feeling that inside these walls, she didn't have to be the "Second Seat." She could just be Rindou.
No one other than Kobayashi Rindou could possibly know the specific reason.
Ren in the kitchen suddenly paused. His knife hovered over the cutting board.
He looked towards the entrance.
Usually, he only had three or four customers all night. Why were they coming so frequently today? The flow of mana—or whatever energy governed the door—was fluctuating wildly.
Kobayashi Rindou and Amou Kirukiru also looked puzzled. They sensed the shift in the air. Kirukiru's hand instinctively went to her side, where her sword would usually be.
They turned their heads to see the door creak open.
A white-haired girl walked in.
She was in a sorry state. Her skin was smeared with dirt and dried blood. Her clothes were tattered, consisting of leather straps and worn fabric that didn't resemble that of modern people at all; it looked somewhat like the clothing worn in historical coliseums or fantasy battlefields. A single, heavy pauldron rested on her shoulder, and in her hand, she dragged a massive, broken runic blade that scraped against the floor.
Her eyes, however, were unbroken. They held a determination and stubbornness that burned brighter than the shop's lights.
The girl scanned the room, her grip tightening on the handle of her broken weapon. She spoke with a hint of wariness, her voice raspy from disuse and shouting battle cries.
"Where... is this?"
Hearing this, Ren smiled. He wiped his hands and stepped out of the kitchen.
The first customer from Another World... had arrived.
[Akarin's Note: The new arrival is Riven, the Exile, from League of Legends. She wields a broken runic blade and seeks redemption.]
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Founding Pillars" (normally $20), but at a much cheaper rate.
These slots are extremely limited:
"The Plot Uncoverer": $4.99 (Save 75% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots
"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 50% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots
"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 25% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]