Chapter 55: The Alcohol-Loving Teacher
Just after Kanzaki Kaori left, disappearing through the dimensional door to return to her rainy Academy City, Ren breathed a sigh of relief. The heavy atmosphere of religious dogma and magical threats dissipated, replaced once again by the warm, jazz-filled air of the dining hall.
He turned and said with a gentle smile to the white-haired girl bouncing on her heels, "You worked hard, Cerberus. That was very professional of you. Go back and rest. I'll make sure there's extra ice cream in the freezer for tomorrow."
Cerberus thought for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger, then shook her head vigorously. Her dog ears flopped with the motion.
Ren was surprised, pausing as he wiped down the counter. "Hmm? What's wrong? Are you not sleepy after waking up? Usually, you're the first to dive back into the blankets."
Cerberus shook her head again, her expression turning serious—or as serious as a girl in puppy pajamas could look.
"Master, Master, Master! We don't actually need sleep, we just like it! But right now, my curiosity is stronger than my laziness! There are some things I want to confirm with Master!"
Ren chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Go ahead. There's nothing to be conflicted about between family. Just ask whatever you want. There's not that much to worry about."
Cerberus nodded, walked closer, and sniffed Ren's sleeve, then looked up with wide, crimson eyes.
"Master, Master, Master! I've actually wanted to know for a long time. I sensed before that your vitality was extraordinarily strong—like a dragon in human skin! And that toy from the customer just now... that steel wire... it didn't hurt you either! You flicked it away like it was a spider web! Are you a master martial artist? Or a hidden God?"
Ren thought for a moment, considering how to explain the mechanics of the Dimensional Restaurant system without breaking the fourth wall too much.
"Inside the Restaurant," Ren began, gesturing to the wooden beams and the kitchen, "I am absolute. Here, I should be considered a master of all trades, invincible and all-knowing. Outside... well, I'm just a bit stronger than an ordinary person. I exercise, after all."
Cerberus scratched her head, processing this. "Oh~ So, inside is Master's territory! Got it! So, Master, were all those previous customers from Another World? The lady with the sword just now, and the guy with the chains?"
Ren nodded without denying it. "Yes. They come from places very far away."
Cerberus's eyes lit up like stars. She grabbed Ren's hand, jumping up and down. "Wow! That's amazing! Then… then, Master! Were everyone in that group chat before all from Another World? Are we surrounded by aliens?"
Ren smiled and shook his head, patting her fluffy hair. "Of course not. Not everyone. Rindou, Karura, and Fusui are from this world—the same Japan we are standing in. And Kirari and Sonoko too. They are just... exceptional humans."
Cerberus nodded, absorbing the information. Then she asked in confusion, a hopeful glint in her eyes, "Then, Master, can we go to their side too? Can I go visit the world of the Chain Man? Or the Sword Lady?"
Ren thought for a moment about the system's capabilities. "Not yet. The connection needs to be stable. But it should be possible later. If I remember correctly, once the bond is strong enough, visitation rights are granted. That's how it should be."
Cerberus was clearly looking forward to it. Her tail wagged so hard it created a small breeze. She had finally left the dreary, monochromatic boredom of Hell, and now she had found the only Master who fed her delicious food and gave her headpats. She felt that her life… her dog-life… had reached its absolute peak! So, she wanted to go and see the multiverse with him.
Ren just smiled when he saw Cerberus's expression. After all, Cerberus's innocence was beyond words. Despite being the Guardian of the Underworld, she was surprisingly pure. For Ren, Cerberus was family, so he naturally had to accommodate her excitement.
"Alright. Questions are done. Time to rest now~. Even if you don't need sleep, lying down is good for the fur."
Cerberus nodded obediently. She turned to run back to the stairs, her bare feet pattering on the floor.
Just as she was about to go upstairs, she heard Ren softly call out.
"Cerberus."
She stopped and looked back. "Yes?"
"Don't tell Lucifer about Kanzaki or the magic curse, okay? At least not yet. Otherwise, who knows what Lucifer might do."
Cerberus scratched her head, puzzled. "Master, Master, Master! Lucifer wouldn't hurt innocent people… she's just loud! And lazy!"
Ren smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I naturally trust Lucifer very much. After all, Lucifer is just a tsundere little Queen who likes pancakes. What I mean is, I'm afraid Lucifer might run off to 'research' the customers out of boredom, or try to recruit them into a new Hell Legion. Or worse, those in the group chat who don't know about magic might start overthinking things once they find out~. Let's keep the magic talk between us for now."
Cerberus nodded vigorously, making a zipping motion across her mouth. "Understood! Secret mission! I won't say a word!"
Then she dashed upstairs, eager to get back to her warm bed. As for Lucifer, the CEO of Hell truly hadn't woken up the entire time, sleeping soundly through the arrival of a Saint and the casting of spells.
At this moment, the Restaurant once again returned to quiet.
Ren walked to the entrance and pushed open the door slightly. The night air was cool and crisp. He looked at the neon lights still shining on the main street in the distance, contrasting with the dim, quiet alleyway of his shop.
He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "It's as lively as ever out there~. Tokyo never sleeps."
With Kanzaki Kaori's departure, this long, eventful night was also nearing its end. The clock ticked past 2:00 AM. For Ren, daytime not only meant closing for rest but also meant anticipating the arrival of night, where the true stories unfolded.
Just as Ren was enjoying the last quiet peace of the long night, preparing to flip the sign to 'Closed', he suddenly paused.
He poked his head out further and looked towards the dark entrance of the alley.
He thought he had heard footsteps just now. Not the confident stride of a warrior like Kanzaki, nor the heavy chains of Sylas. It was the rhythmic, slightly dragging sound of high heels on pavement—the sound of a corporate soldier marching home.
But Ren didn't see anyone immediately, which made him a bit puzzled.
Ren's hearing wasn't incredibly sharp like a superhero, but hearing footsteps in such a quiet situation shouldn't be difficult. After a while, Ren still didn't see anyone approaching, so he shrugged.
"Must be a stray cat," he muttered.
But just as he was about to turn back into the Restaurant and lock up, the footsteps sounded again. Closer this time.
Click. Click. Click.
Ren turned his head, and this time he saw someone.
Emerging from the shadows was a woman. She looked to be in her late twenties, tall and slender, with long black hair that fell loosely over her shoulders. She was wearing a black pantsuit with a white undershirt that was slightly unbuttoned at the top, suggesting she had been wearing it for far too many hours. Over her shoulder hung a leather bag that looked heavy with paperwork.
She was beautiful, undeniably so, but her expression was one of profound, soul-deep exhaustion. She looked like she had just fought a war, though her battlefield was likely a staff room or a highway.
She stopped in front of the shop, looking at the warm light spilling out. She blinked, as if checking if it was a mirage.
"Eh? Is this really a Restaurant…?" she murmured, her voice husky and laced with fatigue. "In a place like this?"
Ren heard this and smiled, stepping back to hold the door open. "Yes, customer. We are open. Would you like to eat something?"
The young woman looked at Ren, her eyes widening slightly. A spark of hope ignited in her tired gaze. "Can I still order at this hour?! It's past 2 AM. Most places are closed or serving convenient store trash."
Ren smiled warmly and said, "Of course, because this is a night Restaurant. My hours are reversed. Now is equivalent to the afternoon lunch rush in a regular Restaurant. So, you can certainly order anything you like."
The young woman let out a long breath, her shoulders dropping inches as the tension left her body.
"Is that so? That's wonderful," she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I've been working overtime all night... meetings, grading, dealing with problem children... my stomach is practically empty… I feel like I could eat a horse."
Ren stepped aside completely and gestured inside. "Please come in. You must be very tired. The seats are comfortable. Is there anything you'd like to eat? Any dish is fine. I don't have a fixed menu."
The young woman walked in, the scent of timber and savory broth greeting her. She was stunned by his words.
She turned to him in disbelief. "You mean there's no menu? I can order anything, and you can make anything? Shopkeeper, aren't you bragging a bit too much? You're too amazing if that's true!"
Ren smiled and didn't say anything, just confident silence.
After a moment of shock, the young woman walked to the counter and sat down heavily on a stool. She placed her bag on the floor and loosened her tie slightly.
She tapped her finger on the counter, thinking.
"If I have to order myself all of a sudden… my brain is fried…" She mumbled. Then, her eyes sharpened with a specific craving. "I still want to eat this, after all… It's the only thing that heals the soul after work."
She looked at Ren seriously.
"Shopkeeper, please give me an Omurice. Not the fancy kind, just the classic style. And a serving of Pickled Scallions (Rakkyo) with miso dip. And..."
She paused, a slight blush of anticipation on her cheeks.
"A glass of Sake. Cold. And… never mind. Shopkeeper, you can just pick a few small side dishes to go with the sake. Something salty."
Ren nodded and smiled, taking note of the order. "Hmm. I understand. Classic comfort food and a drink to wash away the stress. I can tell you're a lady who enjoys drinking quite a bit."
"Eh?" The woman blinked, looking defensive. "Why do you say that? Do I smell like alcohol? I haven't had a drop yet!"
"No, you don't smell," Ren assured her. "It's your choice of side dish. Because many people who come here are very capable drinkers, but their side dishes are all sorts of strange things—fried chicken, cheese, heavy meats. However, there's a specific type of person who, while not necessarily heavy drinkers, are very skilled drinkers. Connoisseurs of relaxation. And they all specifically order something crisp and palate-cleansing like pickled scallions with dip to balance the sake~"
The young woman smiled, a genuine, charming smile that took years off her face. "You have a sharp eye, Shopkeeper. You caught me. Because pickled scallions with dip are indeed very delicious~. The crunch is essential."
"Hmm. Indeed. Then please wait a moment~. I will start with the appetizer."
After saying that, Ren turned and went into the kitchen.
The young woman—Shizuka Hiratsuka, the terrifyingly beautiful but perpetually single teacher of Sobu High—let out a long sigh. She swiveled slightly on her stool, looking at the Restaurant's layout.
Such a clean, spacious, fragrant, warm, and quiet Restaurant. It was a hidden gem. It didn't have the grease of a ramen shop or the noise of an Izakaya. It felt like a home.
I might have found my new hideout, she thought. If the food is good, I might never leave.
Not long after, Ren came out again. This time holding a small, elegant ceramic plate and a black, steaming cup.
"So, here are your Pickled Scallions with Dip. I used a special moromi miso for the dipping sauce. The sake is chilling and will be brought over with the side dishes when they're ready. For now, have some Hojicha tea to warm your stomach and prepare it for the alcohol~"
Shizuka nodded gratefully. She looked at the plate.
The pickled scallions were beautiful. They weren't the shriveled things from a jar. They were plump, white like polished jade, with tiny water droplets glistening on their surface. Next to them was a dollop of rich, dark coffee-colored miso sauce.
The fatigue from overtime work eased considerably just looking at it. Nothing could relax a tense mind more than the promise of sleep and the reality of delicious food.
Shizuka reached out with her chopsticks. She picked up a white jade-like scallion, dipped the tip into the special miso sauce, and put it into her mouth.
Crunch.
A crisp, vibrant sound rang out in the quiet shop.
Shizuka's eyes lit up immediately. The sharp, refreshing acidity of the scallion cut through the mental fog, while the savory, earthy depth of the miso grounded her.
At this moment, watching the steam rise from her tea and chewing the crisp appetizer, she truly confirmed that she was off work. The battle was over. The night was hers.
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