The afternoon passed more quickly than Ren expected.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Moonbean Café remained busy for hours.
Not crowded.
But steady.
A few adventurers entered after hearing rumors from Boris.
Then a pair of merchants stopped by.
Then two city guards came "just to investigate the strange smell."
Both ended up ordering second cups.
Lina found this endlessly entertaining.
"You should've seen your face," she laughed while leaning across the counter. "The guard with the mustache looked like he discovered religion."
"He almost cried after the second sip," Mira added seriously.
"He DID cry," Dain corrected.
"That was emotional sweating."
"That's not a thing."
Ren quietly polished cups while listening to the conversation.
The café atmosphere had changed completely from the empty silence of yesterday.
Warm chatter now filled the room.
Wooden chairs scraped softly against the floor.
Coffee beans ground steadily behind the counter.
The scent of bread and roasted beans lingered comfortably in the air.
It felt alive.
And somehow…
Natural.
As if Moonbean Café had always existed this way.
[Ding.]
A blue screen appeared quietly before Ren.
[New Passive Effect Activated.]
Moonbean Café Lv.2
Effect:
Customers inside the café experience slight emotional relaxation and reduced mental fatigue.
Ren blinked slowly.
"…That explains a lot."
"What explains what?" Lina asked immediately.
"Nothing."
"You say 'nothing' way too often."
"It's my survival instinct."
Lina snorted into her coffee.
By late afternoon, Mira and the others finally prepared to leave for the guild.
Dain stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually feel rested."
Kael nodded slightly.
"My head feels clearer too."
Mira adjusted her glasses.
"I want to study coffee."
Ren nearly laughed.
"You make it sound like an ancient magical artifact."
"…It might be."
Given the system, that possibility honestly existed.
Lina stood up as well, grabbing her sword from beside the table.
"I'll be back tonight."
"You say that like you live here."
"I practically do now."
"You've been here for two days."
"Exactly."
Ren shook his head helplessly.
One by one, the adventurers left the café.
The little bell above the door rang softly each time.
And eventually—
Silence returned.
Not lonely silence.
Peaceful silence.
The kind that settled naturally after good conversation.
Ren leaned against the counter with a long exhale.
"…Busy."
His body felt tired.
But unlike Earth—
This exhaustion felt rewarding.
Then suddenly—
Tap.
Ren blinked.
A small sound came from the window.
Tap. Tap.
He turned his head.
A young girl stood outside the café.
She looked around ten years old.
Maybe younger.
Messy blonde hair framed a thin face, and oversized clothes hung loosely from her small body.
Most noticeable of all—
She was staring directly at the bread behind the counter.
The moment their eyes met, the girl jumped slightly.
Then immediately tried pretending she was not looking.
Very badly.
Ren stared silently for a moment.
The girl slowly began inching away from the window.
"…Wait."
She froze instantly.
Her expression became cautious.
Like a stray cat deciding whether to run.
Ren walked toward the entrance and opened the café door gently.
Warm air drifted outside.
"You've been standing there for a while," he said softly.
The girl avoided eye contact immediately.
"…Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize."
Her stomach growled loudly.
The girl looked ready to disappear into the ground from embarrassment.
Ren pretended not to notice.
"…Are you hungry?"
A long silence followed.
Then—
A tiny nod.
Ren looked down the street briefly.
No parents nearby.
No guardians.
Just the girl alone.
"…Do you have money?"
The girl shook her head immediately and stepped backward.
"I-I wasn't trying to steal anything!"
"I didn't say you were."
"I just smelled something good…"
Her voice became quieter near the end.
Ren's chest tightened slightly.
That expression.
That nervousness.
That instinctive fear of being chased away.
He knew it well.
Back on Earth, he had seen children like this near convenience stores late at night.
Hungry.
Embarrassed.
Trying not to bother anyone.
Ren sighed softly.
"…Come inside."
The girl's eyes widened.
"I really don't have money."
"It's fine."
"…Really?"
"Really."
She hesitated for several seconds before slowly entering the café.
The warmth inside immediately surrounded her.
Her eyes wandered everywhere nervously.
The clean tables.
The warm lights.
The smell of coffee and bread.
It probably looked completely different from outside.
Ren guided her toward a seat near the window.
The girl sat stiffly at the edge of the chair as if afraid she might dirty it.
"What's your name?" Ren asked while preparing food.
"…Fina."
"I'm Ren."
Fina nodded quietly.
She spoke very little.
Even her movements were careful.
Small.
Cautious.
Ren placed warm soup and fresh bread before her a few minutes later.
Fina froze.
Steam rose gently from the bowl.
"You can eat," Ren said.
The girl looked at him uncertainly.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
For a brief second—
Her eyes became watery.
Then she quickly looked down.
"…Thank you."
The first few bites were small and hesitant.
But after realizing nobody would stop her—
She began eating quickly.
Very quickly.
Too quickly.
Ren quietly placed a cup of water beside her.
"Slow down."
Fina immediately stopped.
"…Sorry."
"You apologize a lot too."
Silence.
Then unexpectedly—
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
Ren felt something warm settle in his chest.
Maybe because this café was becoming more than just a business already.
It was becoming a place where people could rest.
Even if only for a little while.
Outside the window, evening sunlight painted the quiet street gold.
Inside Moonbean Café—
A lonely little girl ate warm food while the smell of coffee drifted peacefully through the air.
.
.
.