NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18 - Episode 018: Headhunter, Welcoming the Serious Glasses-Wearing Youth
Episode 018: Headhunter, Welcoming the Serious Glasses-Wearing Youth
“Hmm. Still no one coming.”
“Yeah, no one.”
The Fluff Café was as deserted as it was yesterday.
“Kyunn”
“Kuuu”
Tina sat down on one chair after another, resting her chin in her hands, while Snow let out a big yawn. Despite undoubtedly increasing their visibility, there was still no sign of any customers.
Being the second-largest city in the Kingdom of Karm, there were hundreds of thousands of people living in Farmrest. It seemed that a few hundred flyers were still not enough.
“Shall we go advertise?”
“Yeah.”
Closing the shop, they took the flyers they had made through the night since returning yesterday and went into the city again today, distributing flyers in different locations than yesterday.
“We’re running a café.”
“Oh, really?”
“A café, come visit.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Kyunn”
“Flyers for a café?”
Though puzzled, people in the city accepted the flyers again today.
“Please come to the café.”
“It’s cute—Huh!?”
Some impure thoughts crossed the minds of a few upon seeing Tina’s overwhelming cuteness, but they quickly fled under Ack’s stern gaze.
Ack’s gaze was sharp enough to kill, so it was no wonder.
After finishing handing out the flyers for the day, they returned to the shop. Women who saw Ack carrying Tina and leading the Fluffs also became fans today.
And as one person who received a flyer from a distance turned around, their eyes sparkled, and they watched Ack and his companions’ backs.
“Fluff Café…”
The person’s murmurs melted away in the wind.
A week passed since they started distributing flyers, but still, no customers had come.
“Today, we’ll give out drinks and food for free.”
“Got it.”
So, Ack decided to change his advertising strategy. It was a plan to make it easier for people to come by experiencing the taste of the café and playing with the Fluffs.
“We’re running a café on the outskirts. This is free. Please try it.”
“Okay.”
When approached by Ack, people stopped in their tracks due to the stark contrast between his appearance and his intimidating presence, and ended up accepting the fruit juice.
“It’s free. We’re running a café outside the city.”
“Are you helping your dad? Good job!”
In contrast, Tina stopped people with her angelic cuteness, and Ack handed out bread he had baked in the morning.
“It’s delicious!!”
Those who tried it exclaimed.
And then, Snow and Chiffon, with moist eyes, cuddled up as if to flatter.
“Kyunn”
“Oh, now that I look closely, these monsters are cute.”
“Kuu”
“Although they’re monsters, they’re incredibly cute…”
People who were trying the samples also changed their minds about the fluff monsters’ cuteness upon closer inspection.
And seeing this, others nearby gathered around, and the juice and bread, which had been prepared in quite a large quantity, disappeared before they knew it.
Judging solely by the results, the sample distribution was a great success. Since they also distributed flyers along with it, and the visibility should have increased, there would be no complaints if actual customers came now.
“Why…?”
“I don’t know.”
Yet still, no customers came to Ack’s shop.
Ack was at a loss, and Tina, due to her lack of common sense from her previous lifestyle, couldn’t think of any problems either.
In fact, the main reason was the location.
The outskirts were places where there was a possibility of being attacked by monsters. For people who didn’t make a living by fighting, going to the outskirts was a high hurdle.
Moreover, even from the city center, it took quite a bit of time to get to the Fluff Café.
Many people would think it was sufficient to visit a café in the city center rather than going all the way to the Fluff Café.
Because he was too strong, Ack couldn’t see it at all.
*Sigh*
Ack let out a sigh at the cafe’s management, which was not going well.
“Maybe—”
Just as he was about to say whether to close the shop, the sound of the bell attached to the door echoed inside the shop.
*Chirin Chirin*
“Welcome.”
“Are you still open?”
“Yeah. Please take a seat wherever you like.”
Entering the shop was a young man wearing a neatly-maintained Adventurers Guild uniform and glasses, looking very serious.
From the appearance alone, it didn’t seem like the young man had any interest in the Fluffy Cafe.
The young man took a seat at a corner table.
“Here’s the menu.”
“Thank you.”
Tina approached the young man’s table and placed the menu and water.
The young man treated Tina as a proper waitress, responding with polite words.
Ack hadn’t intended for Tina to do such things, but since she insisted on helping, he entrusted her with this relatively easy task.
“This is… *cough*”
The young man opened the menu, let out a surprised sound, but quickly composed himself and examined the menu.
“Decided?”
“I’ll have one ham and cucumber sandwich and one iced coffee.”
“Understood.”
After a while, Ack came over to the young man and took his order.
“Delicious…”
The young man, after savoring the dishes that were ready a few minutes later, let out a sigh.
Upon hearing his voice, Ack felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment and achievement.
Then, without saying anything, the young man finished his sandwich, drank his coffee, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and looked up at the sky.
He seemed to be basking in satisfaction.
“Kyu.”
“What’s… what’s wrong? Do you want food?”
Upon hearing the voice, the young man opened his eyes and looked down to find Snow gazing up at him with her round eyes.
It was cunning. But that was fine.
“She just wants attention. If you’re okay with it, pet her. If you handle her gently, she won’t mind being picked up.”
“No, I’ll pass on that.”
The bespectacled young man declined Ack’s suggestion with a strained expression, as if he were enduring something.
“Kyurun.”
Snow, lying in front of the young man, tilted her head with a small jump onto his lap.
“Grr…”
The young man grabbed his chest and bit his lip, enduring some pain.
“Kyuun.”
Snow rubbed her head against the young man’s body.
“Waaahhhh!!”
The bespectacled young man let out a cry as if a dam had burst.
“It’s not good to hold back. I’ve stopped too. It’s okay to be honest with yourself.”
Ack placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder and gave a gentle smile.
“Haa… haa… I see. Understood. I’ll be honest with myself.”
Upon hearing Ack’s words, the young man timidly began to pet Snow’s head.
“Howa…”
The moment he touched her, the young man’s serious face crumbled unexpectedly, and he showed a blissful expression.
With just one stroke, the soft and fluffy feeling overwhelmed the young man, who became captivated.
And from him, a happy aura overflowed.
*Chirin Chirin*
“Thank you for the meal. I’ll come again.”
“Sure. We’ll be waiting.”
Having thoroughly enjoyed Snow’s fluffiness, the young man left the shop with a very contented expression.
“I’m glad he enjoyed it.”
“Yeah.”
Seeing a first-time visitor leaving with a satisfied look, Ack and Tina smiled happily at each other, watching the bespectacled young man’s back until he disappeared.
“Kyu!!”
“Kukuu!!”
Snow and the others crowded around Ack and Tina, as if to say, “We’re here too.”
Ack also stroked Snow and the others, with a loose expression on his face.