The sunlight was blinding. Yoru Moonshadow squinted, tears instinctively welling up from the sudden exposure. He shielded his eyes with his hand and slowly adjusted to the brightness.
Looking around, he found himself surrounded by what must have been over a hundred crystal-blue potion bottles scattered across the floor. He lazily picked one up, twisted off the cap with some effort, and downed it in a single gulp.
"Not bad~"
That was his casual review as he licked his lips and immediately grabbed another. The more he drank, the more refreshed he felt. The effect was almost like a high-powered energy drink fast and potent. After downing several bottles, he felt fully awake and energized, more so than at any other time of day. But beyond that, no further effects followed.
To think this top-grade mana potion, once priceless in other worlds, was reduced to nothing more than a superior coffee substitute here in this mundane world.
Yoru glanced at the Demon King's Ring on his finger. If he poured his entire mental focus into it, he could open a small portal connecting to the ring's internal storage. But that would instantly drain his energy and leave him unconscious again.
Also, that tiny window only connected to a limited section, a small pile of potions whose total number he could no longer recall there were just that many.
"Hm? What's this?"
Amidst the sea of potion bottles, Yoru spotted a white egg, roughly twice the size of his fist. He picked it up, knocked on it lightly, but couldn't remember which world he had collected it from.
Since it had ended up mixed in with this pile, it probably wasn't anything special. Most likely, it was an edible egg he'd intended to save for later. He vaguely remembered that some of these eggs could slightly enhance the human body when consumed.
Given how ordinary the physical laws of this world were, the effects would probably be minimal. Still, a little boost wouldn't hurt.
He decided he would cook it later that evening.
"Already afternoon, huh?"
Judging by the angle and intensity of the sunlight streaming through the large window, Yoru estimated the time.
First things first: cleaning up and tending to his injuries. The pain was unbearable.
Once he was presentable again, he packed his essentials: his laptop, drawing tablet, sketchbooks, and gaming devices. He needed to leave the house best to avoid getting interrupted later.
Destination: the usual place Angel Café.
...
The soft chime of the door greeted him as he stepped inside Angel Café.
"Welcome~"
The warm, gentle voice belonged to the middle-aged man behind the counter. Dressed in a crisp black service uniform, the slender man had a neat part in his hair, a perpetual kind smile, and a perfectly groomed mustache.
"Oh? Hey, it's been a while, Yoru!"
The café owner blinked in surprise. Yoru had once been a regular here, and the two were old acquaintances.
"Yeah, it's been a while, old man. Honestly, I thought you would've shut this place down by now."
Yoru greeted him casually but didn't hold back the blunt jab.
The café's location was pretty average, and the place rarely had many customers. Most people would've given up after a few months. But not this owner he ran the shop purely out of love for coffee, never caring much about profit.
"Oh, right, right, I just got in a new batch from…"
The owner was about to launch into his usual coffee bean lecture.
"The usual. Cappuccino. Actually, scratch that, I'll try your signature blend today."
The owner's signature blend was something he always pushed, but Yoru had refused every time until now. Since it had been a while, he figured he might as well try it.
"My special blend? Great! Please wait a moment~"
The owner practically beamed, clearly delighted, and started preparing the coffee while humming a happy tune.
"Please enjoy~"
The owner served the cup and glanced over to see Yoru sketching something again. Originally, he had wanted to hear Yoru's feedback, but seeing the intense concentration, he decided to give him space.
"Hey, old man, do you think this pose is seductive enough?"
Yoru suddenly called out, holding up his sketch for review. The owner nearly broke into a cold sweat.
Here we go again.
Yoru was casually working on his usual risqué art right in the café, and he often made the owner critique his drafts.
"Ah… well, um…"
The owner's head throbbed. He wasn't young anymore could Yoru please stop testing his heart like this?
"Oh! The kettle nice timing."
The sound of boiling water provided a perfect escape.
"Sorry, I need to check on something."
He quickly retreated, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
"Hm? The flavor…"
The owner glanced back just in time to see Yoru tasting the coffee. His expression was calm but thoughtful.
Was it not to his liking?
"Hmm… pretty good. Almost like a cappuccino."
Yoru's relaxed smile and satisfied tone visibly lifted the owner's spirits.
"I selected those beans especially for you, Yoru, knowing your preference for cappuccino. They're from…"
And here came the bean lecture.
"By the way, old man this place is called Angel Café, right? So why haven't you hired an adorable little angel as your shop girl yet? Wouldn't that attract way more customers?"
Yoru, still working on his sketch, pointed out the obvious flaw. The shop's name gave the impression that there would be cute girls in frilly uniforms, but instead, customers were greeted by a middle-aged man.
"Actually, I did. Just recently, in fact. She's like a real angel. But…"
The owner trailed off, his expression troubled, as if there was a complication.
"Oh? Really? What's she like?"
Yoru's curiosity was piqued. He hadn't expected the owner to actually hire someone.
"Big, sparkling eyes, golden hair, pale skin…"
The description was so vague that Yoru could only sigh. Even the owner looked a bit awkward, realizing he hadn't provided much detail.
"Actually, today is one of her shifts. She should be arriving soon."
The owner glanced at the clock. She was running a bit late.
"Oh, right. Her name is Gabriel White. She seems to be a foreign exchange student, working hard to learn about life here."
"Gabriel White?"
Yoru repeated the name under his breath. It sounded strangely familiar. And for some reason, he felt an odd sense of irritation just hearing it.
He didn't dwell on it and refocused on his sketch.
Unbeknownst to him, outside the café, a group of giggling girls were approaching their lively chatter growing louder as they neared the entrance.
---------------------------------------------------------
If you're enjoying this chaotic journey with Yoru Moonshadow, don't forget to drop a power stone, leave a review, and let's spread the madness together! Your support keeps the story alive.