Chapter 99: CAPPUCCINO

(Okay, the girl that you've been waiting for is here!)

 Paris, France

 Near the Eifel tower.  

In a small restaurant with french delicacies,  a man created a commotion.  Some customers had a droop expression cause their relaxation was disturbed.  A man got angry because a wrong order came to him.

 "I ordered cappuccino! Not black coffee !! How in your goddamn mind made a mistake !? The two has great difference !!"

 "I'm sorry sir! I'm sorry"

 The woman was bowing because of her mistakes, she was forcing herself not to cry.

 "Call your manager!"

 The man sought out the restaurant manager to vent his anger.  He was already stressed at work, then this restaurant stressed him again.  He needs to talk to the manager or else he would make an outrage.

 The disturbance caused the other customer to peek.  They couldn't help it, the trouble was in front of them so it's inevitable to look.

 The manager arrived and talk to the angry customer.  To calm the atmosphere, she gave the man a free cappuccino.

 The man accepted it easily.  He only wants to drink a cappuccino, and he knew the problem would get worse if one of them don't back off... He didn't know he was hypnotized. 

 "Thank you, sir"

 The manager and the waitress bow.

 "No, it's okay… it's just sigh ... I'm stressed, so please forgive my uncivilized behavior"

 .  .  .  .

 .  .  .

 .  .

 .

 The manager talked to the waitress.

 "Sasha, how many times did this happened?"

 "I'm sorry ma'am. The effect of the curse is still lingering. I can't focus properly"

 Sasha, the waitress/Hunter, fought banshees last night.  She defeated them, but the Boss gave her a gift before dying.  It should be a curse about memory wiped but a healer saved her.  Now, she was only suffering from the aftereffect, some information was jumbled inside her head, she thought the black coffee was a cappuccino. It would reach a month before she fully healed.

 "Yes, I know it… for now just take a vacation. Visit your parents, I'm sure they miss you. Oh, no clubs and Dungeon okay?"

 "Wow !! Really? Thank you, ma'am. I promise I won't visit a dungeon.

Sasha brightened when she heard that she would have a vacation. 

 "And club?"

 "I won't visit any club!"

 "… Okay. Now pack your things, just leave the restaurant to me"

 The manager was still skeptical about the clubs but she let it slipped.

 "Sigh, it looks like I need to hire a new waitress"

 * Ring ring *

 The restaurant telephone rang.  The manager answered the phone enthusiastically.

 "Hello! Mana Coffee and Pastries! Can I have your order !?"

 "Ah! I finally found you too! It took me almost an hour to find out the number of your restaurant !!"

 "… Miriam. Tch, I shouldn't deactivate my Skill for a minute. And? What are you looking for?"

 "Hey! Don't be rude. We didn't talk for almost two years! I miss you, so don't be annoying!!"

Miriam's tone wasn't angry instead she giggled.

 "Yes yes ~ how's my Mom? Is she okay?"

 "Wow! And now you're asking for your mother after you left her in my care? Tell me Niña? When did you become heartless to your sister?"

Except for Niña, Miriam didn't show this cute side of her to the others. 

 "I'm sorry, okay. Look I don't want Mom to be part of my dangerous life. You know that a whole country is trying to kill me right now."

 "Sigh, okay okay. Your mom is fine. She just misses you… will you visit?"

 "I love to, but you know that many spies are currently hiding in your country. I don't want to compromise my Mom's location… just tell her that I love her and I'm doing fine"

 "Those fucking elves! Hayst, Okay I'll tell her that you love her so much"

 "Thank you. Now, why are you calling me? I know you will not look for me for no reason."

 "Oh right! You better hurry! Mikael woke up !!!"

Miriam excitedly said, when she found out that Mikael was awake, she immediately search for Niña. The outcome, she only found her after a year. 

 "… Miriam how many times have you said that. You can't fool me, if you're just trying to bait me again, then fuck off."

 "No no, this time I'm serious! He really woke up! He's in Africa now!"

Niña's eyes squinted, she paused. 

 "Really? You're not lying !?"

 "No, I'm not !!"

 Niña's heart started to beat faster, she felt like something in her mind has liberated.  She realized that her eyes moistened and her vision became blurred.  She held her breath and cry softly.

 "Niña? Niña are you there? Hello?"

 "Ye- yes I'm here? Mikael… is he healthy? Is there no problem with him?"

 "No, he's doing fine its just…"

 Miriam hesitated, she didn't want to tell her about Niña's possible love rival.

 "Miriam why did you stop !? Did something happen !? What happened to Mikael !!?"

 Niña became erratic.

 "Promise me you won't do anything bad."

 "Miriam tell me what's happening !?"

 She wiped her tears and asked Miriam.  She wanted to know if something bad happened.  She doesn't want to see Mikael be hurt, it would rip her heart to pieces.

 "Mikael met a woman from the cat tribe and… they are planning to marry"

 "… What did you say?"

 Niña's voice deepened and the atmosphere darkened.  Even the customers on the back felt the aura.

 "Yes at first it's just a simple contract… but I felt like something is about to develop. Niña, this time don't kill anyone okay? Remember the Elves are looking for you. Don't add another problem. Beastmen are crazy people "

 "… Tch. Okay"

 "I'm serious okay. Don't do anything bad ca-"

 Niña ended the call.  She already heard everything.

 "Africa right? Which means the Beast Kingdom. Now that I remember it, I think have a client that wants me to infiltrate the kingdom. "

Niña relaxed her beating heart. 

"Huuh, I must remain calm. Maya, Kaya I want you to take care of the restaurant while I'm not here."

 "Yes ma'am"

 The other waitress came and answered Niña's calling.  They're twins with red hair, and they're both hunters.  They are loyal subordinates, Niña saved these two orphans in a monster wave when they were 14 years old. She gave them Skill books to protect themselves and treated them as her little sisters.

 "Can I know where you are going, Miss Niña?"

 "Do you remember Axelle from the Fangs Guild?"

 "Yes ma'am, Axelle is the guildleader of the Fangs Guild. He asked us to find information about Beast Kingdom's royalty."

 Maya answered her question like a secretary.

 "Miss, if you want, I'll do this work. You don't have to go there."

Kaya, the little sister, offered her servitude.

 "No, it's okay. I'll be the one to this personally"

 "Yes ma'am"

 The twins bow and left their Lady.

 "… A rival huh"

 Niña touched her necklace.  It's a silver necklace that had no special effect.  It's just an ordinary necklace that has no power, but for her, it's the most valuable thing she had.  A keychain is tied at the center of the necklace.  Whenever she touches the necklace, a smile always appears on her face. 

( At last!! Niña entered the battlefield!!)

(You can find the link of discord in the synopsis.)