The bell above the café door rang loudly.
"I survived!"
Lina stumbled dramatically into Moonbean Café like a soldier returning from war.
Several customers looked up immediately.
Ren glanced toward her from behind the counter.
"You say that every day."
"Because every day is a battle against suffering."
"You gathered herbs."
"The herbs fought back emotionally."
Ren sighed while pouring fresh coffee into several cups.
Evening had become the busiest time for the café now.
Especially after adventurers returned from work.
Moonbean Café was completely different from when Ren first arrived.
Warm lights illuminated the wooden interior.
The smell of fresh bread and desserts filled the air.
Conversations echoed comfortably between tables.
And somehow—
Every seat was occupied.
Mira and Kael argued quietly over quest maps near the window.
Boris negotiated loudly with two merchants while eating cookies he clearly did not pay for yet.
Gareth sat in his usual corner looking terrifying while carefully drinking coffee with absolute concentration.
And Serena—
Somehow—
Had ended up here again after work.
The guild receptionist calmly sipped coffee while reviewing paperwork at one table.
"…Do guild employees not go home?" Ren asked.
Serena didn't even look up.
"This is technically a secondary workplace now."
"That sounds deeply unofficial."
"So is Lina."
"I'm sitting right here."
"Unfortunately."
Lina gasped dramatically before collapsing into her usual chair.
"I demand emergency coffee."
"You demand that every night."
"Because every night is an emergency."
Ren already started preparing her cup automatically.
At this point, her order no longer required words.
Extra warm.
Slightly sweet.
Paired with bread whenever she looked especially exhausted.
Lina noticed immediately.
"…You remembered."
"You're predictable."
"That somehow feels insulting."
"It should."
Still—
She smiled anyway.
Fina quietly approached the table carrying fresh cookies carefully in both hands.
"Here," the little girl said softly.
Lina's eyes widened.
"…For me?"
Fina nodded.
"You looked tired."
The adventurer immediately clutched her chest dramatically.
"I'm being emotionally attacked."
"You're always emotional," Kael muttered.
"That's because life keeps happening to me."
Ren hid a small smile while watching the interaction.
Fina had changed noticeably these past few days.
She still spoke softly.
Still apologized too much.
But now she smiled more often.
And occasionally—
Very occasionally—
She laughed.
Moonbean Café was changing everyone little by little.
Even Ren himself.
Then suddenly—
The café door opened again.
Three muddy adventurers stepped inside looking exhausted beyond belief.
Their armor was scratched heavily, and one man limped slightly.
The moment the smell of coffee reached them—
Their expressions visibly softened.
"…We made it," one muttered emotionally.
Lina pointed immediately.
"See? That's the exact reaction."
The exhausted adventurers found empty seats near the back while Ren prepared more drinks.
The café had entered full evening rush now.
Orders overlapped constantly.
Coffee.
Soup.
Desserts.
Fresh bread.
And somehow—
Ren enjoyed every second of it.
His hands moved naturally between brewing stations and tables.
Years of café experience finally felt meaningful instead of exhausting.
This was what he originally dreamed about.
Not endless corporate pressure.
Not impossible quotas.
Just—
People relaxing in a café he built.
A comfortable place filled with warmth and conversation.
Then—
CRASH.
Everyone turned instantly.
Lina froze beside the counter holding a shattered plate.
"…It attacked me."
Ren stared blankly.
"The plate attacked you."
"Yes."
"With gravity."
"That sounds like user error."
"I refuse responsibility."
Serena sighed deeply into her coffee.
"One day I'm going to arrest you for disturbing public peace."
"You'd miss me."
"That's the tragedy."
The café erupted into laughter.
Even Gareth chuckled quietly.
And strangely enough—
Those small moments felt important.
The atmosphere here no longer felt like strangers sharing a room.
People knew each other now.
Customers greeted one another naturally.
Conversations flowed between tables.
Adventurers exchanged quest stories.
Merchants traded rumors.
Even people meeting for the first time relaxed quickly inside Moonbean Café.
The Neutral Ground effect from the system was probably helping.
But honestly—
The warmth felt genuine too.
Then suddenly—
[Ding.]
A notification appeared before Ren.
[Moonbean Café Reputation Increased.]
Current Reputation:
Well-Loved Local Café
New Feature Unlocked:
Customer Requests
"…That sounds dangerous."
"What sounds dangerous?" Boris asked immediately.
"Nothing."
Everyone groaned again.
"You know," Mira muttered while writing notes, "if someone documented your behavior without context, you'd sound deeply suspicious."
"That's fair."
Another smaller notification appeared.
[First Customer Request Available.]
Request:
Create a sweet drink suitable for children.
Requested By:
Fina
Reward:
Unknown
Ren blinked.
Then slowly looked toward Fina.
The little girl sat quietly beside the fireplace while organizing clean utensils carefully.
A sweet drink for children…
Interesting.
Coffee was too bitter for most kids.
Which meant—
He needed something new.
The idea alone excited him unexpectedly.
New recipes.
New drinks.
New experiences.
Moonbean Café was slowly expanding beyond simple coffee already.
Meanwhile—
Outside the windows, more lantern lights appeared along the street as night deepened.
And despite the busy atmosphere inside—
The café still felt peaceful.
Warm.
Comfortable.
A place tired people naturally gathered after difficult days.
A place to return to.
Ren quietly looked around the room again.
Lina laughing loudly.
Serena pretending not to relax.
Boris spreading rumors between cookie bites.
Fina smiling softly near the fireplace.
And customers enjoying the café he created.
For the first time in many years—
Ren genuinely felt proud of something.
.
.
.