v-rustl

#581 Customers: Slacking Off

Added 2022-12-10 12:33:54 +0000 UTC

My name is Olba, assistant to the great Belphgamilia, the Corrupted of the Heavenly Four.

Though now, Lord Belphgamilia has been given the highest authority to command the army.

He has attained a position far more significant than he was a few years ago.

As his aide, I must do everything I can to support him!

...At least, that’s what I always think to myself.

“Ugh... This is such a pain...”

My master is slacking off as usual.

It’s not the first time today that Lord Belpgamilia is lazing around.

I thought taking on greater responsibility by commanding the entire army would make him a little tenser, but I was completely wrong!

Today, he is in a state of self-indulgence, doing the bare minimum in his military duties.

“...Um, Lord Belpgamilia? Don’t we have a war council this afternoon?”

“I’m having Mamoru attend it for me. It’s nice that he’s so sincere.”

He’s putting all the burden on his younger colleague?!

That’s not nice! Just because Mamoru is hardworking, selfless, and takes the initiative to handle things doesn’t mean you should leave everything to him!

“Oh, are you free right now, Olba? I heard there’s a nice place that just opened up. Let’s go there together.”

“Sir, but I’m not free!”

I’m on duty right now if you can’t see!

But there was no way I could persuade Lord Belphamilia, so I was forced to accompany him anyway...

* * *

We arrive at a building that appears to be a place that serves food and drinks.

Is this a bar?

It’s a violation of military discipline for the army commander to be drinking during the day...!

“It’s fine, porcupine. This place doesn’t serve alcohol. They do serve pretty unusual drinks, I hear.”

Unusual drinks? I wonder what those are.

Oh, there goes Lord Belphgamilia walking ahead without a moment’s pause. I have to follow him.

Chimeee.

Whoa, what was that?

There’s a bell that rings every time you open and close the door? Interesting.

“Welcome, lovelies! Table for two, I presume?”

So, the staff quickly notices the arrival of their customers. Wow.

“I’ve come to have a cup of coffee, which is the talk of the town. Is it available?”

“Of course it is, sir.”

“I’d like a dark roast coffee. Pure black.”

“One dark roast coffee. Okay.”

...Um, we’re first-time customers here, right, Lord Belphgamilia?

How do you already know what to order specifically?

“My friend told me this is the refined way to order here.”

Which friend?!

You’re the army commander, so you should be more careful with your social relationships!

“And what would you like, sir?”

“Oh, um, I’ll take the same thing...!”

Magic words that can be understood everywhere.

The waitress who took our order returns to the back, and once again, there is silence on our table.

...Okay, maybe not exactly silent.

The place is full of customers, and lively conversation can be heard around us.

It seems to be quite a booming place. Is it because the mysterious beverage called “coffee” is so popular?

Looking around, I see Mr. Shax, the chairman of Pandemonium Trading Company.

He has a reputation as a gourmand, so just seeing him here increases the credibility of this place’s coffee.

And the man sitting across from him is... the Izakaya Guildmaster?!

I thought they were on bad terms?

“Hey, hey, Olba.”

What is it, Lord Belphgamilia?

“Stop looking around. You’re bothering the other customers.”

“Oh, yes, you’re right, sir...”

“People come here to relax, even for a bit. If they were to be stared at, it’d make them uncomfortable. You shouldn’t disturb people when they’re taking a break.”

He’s absolutely right.

But if he’s so attentive to other customers here, why can’t he do the same thing to his subordinates in the army?!

“By the way, how are things going for your colleague, Batemy?”

“Um, she told me she’s having a lot of fun in her current job...”

After a few minutes of idle chatter, our order finally arrived.

“Here’s your order, lovelies.”

This is coffee?

It’s black and muddy!

“Is this something people drink? That doesn’t seem to be the case, no matter how you look at it...!”

“That’s what everyone tends to think at first, Olba. Let’s take a sip first and then judge from there.”

After taking a sip...

“It’s bitter. I like it.”

You do, Lord Belphgamilia?

I don’t like anything bitter, so I’ll drink mine with milk and sugar, as the waitress recommended...

“It’s as if the bitterness is bashing my head. It’s knocking the laziness off of me.”

“Mhm, but that’s the effect of the coffee, not the bitterness.”

Huh?

“Coffee has a stimulant effect that rids you of drowsiness and clears the mind. It’s the perfect drink for when you feel sluggish and can’t get any work done.”

If that’s true, this drink will be my lifesaver from now on!

The problem is that the person in front of me drinking it doesn’t want to work, regardless of the situation.

“Then, now that we feel refreshed, how about we go back and work?”

“Aww, but I feel so at home here. The atmosphere is nice, and the coffee is good; I could stay here for days.”

It’s no use.

This coffee shop is so cozy that Lord Belphgamilia is really settling in.

Perhaps, this might be the perfect place for him to skip work!

As if his pile of paperwork isn’t getting any smaller!

This will put even more burden on poor Mamoru!

“Alrighty, I’m getting a little hungry, so I think I’ll order this thirteen-layer pancake. Order whatever you want, Olba. My treat.”

“Yayyy! Free food! ...Yeah, right, Lord Belpgamilia! We need to go back and work! You’re still not excused from this indulgent behavior even if there’s no alcohol involved!”

But my words, as his aide, are futile, and there’s no way I could get this troubled boss to change his mind.

What should I do?!

I already feel bad for Mamoru as it is, but he’s my only hope...!

“...?!”

Huh, what happened all of a sudden?

Lord Belphgamilia’s expression changed, and he started trembling, face ghastly pale.

“What happened, Lord Belphgamilia?”

“Why... Why is he here...?!”

Who’s he?

I followed his gaze and saw a middle-aged man with a sharp look.

Seeing him standing behind the counter made me think he was a staff of this establishment.

But his complexion tells me he’s human.

It’s rare to see a human working in the Demon Capital.

“That’s not it...! He’s... He’s the most fearsome man in this world...!”

What do you mean?

But I thought the most powerful man in the Demon King’s Army fears no one...!

“You’re young, so you don’t know this, but that man has made me go through hell many times. During the Human-Demon War, the mercenaries he led showed up at the most inopportune time and attacked our army, partially destroying us. The mercenary captain of the human army, Gray Silva, A.K.A. Oxidized Silver... That’s him...!”

Lord Belphgamilia’s body trembles as if he remembers the past.

Who knew he had trauma from the battlefield...?

“S-Still, I cannot fathom a stronger person than you, Lord Belphgamilia...”

“The strength of the sword is not the only strength on the battlefield, Olba. Gray Silva, in particular, is a very persistent and troublesome tactician when leading his men. Fortunately for our army, he was a mercenary and was only entrusted with commanding a few units at the time. If he had become a general, we might have lost to him...”

Really?!

But then, why is a man like him running this establishment?!

While I was trying to piece things together...Eek!

The worst mercenary I’ve ever heard of was right by our table before we knew it!

“Here’s your coffee.”

“But we didn’t order another.”

“It’s on the house. Also...”

The mercenary’s sharp gaze pierces through Lord Belphgamilia!

“Don’t trouble your men too much. It’s the duty of those on top to work harder than the people under them, isn’t it?”

“I’m sorry! We’ll get back to work!”

“Without drinking the coffee I brewed especially for you?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll drink every last drop before we get back to work!”