Rain continued falling throughout the afternoon.
Soft and steady.
The kind of rain that made people walk slower through town and search for warm places to rest.
Which, unfortunately for Ren's peaceful plans—
Meant Moonbean Café stayed busy almost the entire day.
"This is your fault," Ren said while grinding another batch of beans.
Boris looked deeply offended.
"My fault?"
"You turned coffee into the town's newest rumor."
"That's called marketing."
"That's called gossip."
"Successful gossip."
Lina pointed dramatically from her chair.
"I support the gossip."
"Of course you do," Serena muttered into her coffee.
The guild receptionist had somehow remained in the café for over three hours already.
Each time she prepared to leave—
She ordered another cup.
Ren noticed.
Lina definitely noticed.
Serena pretended not to notice.
Meanwhile, Fina quietly helped clean empty cups near the counter.
At first Ren tried stopping her.
Then the little girl looked genuinely sad about "not helping."
So now she proudly carried cups that were probably half her body weight.
Carefully.
Very carefully.
"Good job," Ren said as she successfully placed another cleaned cup onto the shelf.
Fina immediately looked happy.
Tiny victories.
Tiny smiles.
The atmosphere inside Moonbean Café felt warmer every hour.
Comfortable conversations drifted between tables while rain tapped softly against the windows.
A pair of merchants discussed caravan routes near the entrance.
Two adventurers argued loudly about monster tracks.
Mira sat in the corner scribbling notes titled:
"Potential Magical Properties of Coffee."
Ren decided not to ask.
Then suddenly—
The café door opened roughly.
A cold gust of wind entered.
And with it—
A massive man covered in soaked leather armor.
The entire room quieted slightly.
The newcomer was enormous.
Tall enough that he nearly ducked beneath the doorway.
A large axe rested across his back, and several scars crossed his rough face.
He looked less like a customer and more like a side quest boss.
The man sniffed the air once.
Then his sharp eyes locked directly onto Boris.
"…You."
Boris nearly choked on his coffee.
"Oh no."
Lina immediately grinned.
"This looks interesting."
Serena sighed into her cup.
"I already feel paperwork approaching."
The large man marched across the café heavily before stopping beside Boris's table.
"You disappeared from the trading hall this morning because of a drink?"
Boris defended himself immediately.
"It's an excellent drink."
"You abandoned negotiations."
"The negotiations were terrible."
"You left ME there."
"Technically, yes."
The large man looked ready to strangle him.
Then—
The smell of fresh coffee reached him again.
His expression paused slightly.
Ren recognized that reaction instantly now.
Curiosity had entered the battlefield.
The man slowly turned toward the counter.
"…That smell," he muttered.
Lina pointed proudly.
"Another victim."
"I am not a victim."
"That's exactly what victims say."
The man ignored her completely and approached Ren instead.
Heavy footsteps shook the floor slightly.
Up close, he looked even larger.
"…You're the owner?"
Ren nodded calmly.
"Yes."
The giant stared down at him for several seconds.
"…You're smaller than expected."
"…Thank you?"
"That wasn't an insult."
"It somehow still felt like one."
Unexpectedly—
The man barked out a loud laugh.
Deep and rough enough to shake the room.
"Good answer."
He pulled out a chair and sat heavily near the counter.
The furniture creaked in fear.
"Name's Gareth."
"Ren."
"Give me whatever drink dragged that idiot merchant away from work."
"Coffee?"
"If that's what it's called."
Ren began brewing another cup.
By now, the process felt smoother than ever.
Natural.
Comfortable.
Moonbean Café had settled into its rhythm.
Warm lights.
Soft rain outside.
Coffee aromas drifting endlessly through the room.
And tired people slowly relaxing one cup at a time.
Gareth watched carefully while Ren brewed.
"You handle that equipment like a craftsman."
Ren paused slightly.
"…I've done it for years."
"Hm."
The warrior leaned back in his chair.
"Most taverns just throw hot water at leaves and call it skill."
"That explains a lot about this town's food quality," Ren muttered.
Several customers immediately agreed.
"TRUE."
"Finally someone said it."
"The stew near the west gate tastes cursed."
"The west gate stew IS cursed."
Serena quietly sipped coffee while pretending not to participate in the slander.
A few minutes later, Ren placed Gareth's cup before him.
The warrior stared suspiciously at the dark liquid.
"…Looks dangerous."
"It's not."
"People keep saying strange things after drinking it."
"That part might be true."
Gareth grunted before taking a sip.
Silence.
Then another sip.
Longer this time.
The giant warrior slowly leaned back in his chair.
"…Huh."
Lina immediately stood up dramatically.
"ANOTHER ONE CLAIMED BY THE BEANS!"
"I still don't know what that means," Gareth muttered.
"But this is good."
Very good."
Ren smiled faintly.
Somehow, hearing those words never got old.
The warrior eventually glanced around the café.
His rough expression softened slightly.
"…This place is strange."
"Because of the coffee?" Ren asked.
Gareth shook his head.
"No."
His gaze drifted toward:
Fina quietly organizing cups
Mira studying while drinking coffee
Lina arguing with Boris
Serena calmly relaxing beside the window
Then back toward Ren.
"…Because everyone looks comfortable here."
The café grew quieter for a moment.
Not silent.
Just thoughtful.
Even Ren paused.
Comfortable.
That word again.
He remembered his dream notebook back on Earth.
The café he always wanted to create.
Not luxurious.
Not famous.
Just warm.
A place people wanted to return to.
Before he could think further—
[Ding.]
A blue screen appeared.
[Hidden Condition Fulfilled.]
Moonbean Café has become a "Comfort Zone."
Passive Effect Enhanced:
Customers recover mental fatigue faster while inside the café.
New Unlock:
Basic Dessert Recipes
Ren blinked slowly.
"…Desserts?"
"What?" Lina immediately asked.
"Nothing."
"You made that face again."
"What face?"
"The weird mysterious face."
"That narrows absolutely nothing down."
Fina quietly tugged Ren's sleeve.
The little girl pointed toward the rain-covered window.
Several people stood outside staring curiously toward the café again.
More customers.
More curious travelers drawn by warmth and coffee.
Ren looked around Moonbean Café quietly.
The once-empty abandoned building now echoed with conversation, laughter, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
And somehow—
For the first time since arriving in this world—
It truly felt like home.
.
.
.