Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends-Chapter 4.7 - Claimer

(TL Note: Claimer = a complainer, or a “Karen” in the customer service world.)

“You have such beautiful fur. And your hair, that lovely silver-white—it’s mesmerizing to look at.”

“...Thank you.”

“So, have you thought about what I said?”

“...”

“My invitation—to come work at my house. I’d love to hear your answer.”

I didn’t know how to respond and furrowed my brows in uncertainty.

◆

Recently, an unusual customer had been visiting the café.

What made it troublesome was that this person always showed up when Dan, Ruri, and the other regulars weren’t around, leaving me to deal with him on my own.

His name was Albert.

From his refined appearance, I could tell he was probably someone of high status. But for some reason, he only paid attention to me.

The other day, he even invited me to come work at his house for reasons I couldn’t fathom.

But I had no intention of leaving the café. I still hadn’t repaid the guild members for everything they’d done for me.

“...I’m sorry. I want to keep working here. I can’t go anywhere else.”

I bowed deeply, thinking he’d understand since he seemed like a kind person.

Instead, I heard the sharp sound of him clicking his tongue.

“What’s this? You don’t like my offer?”

“It’s not that, I just...”

As I tried to explain, Albert slammed his hand on the table and stood up with a loud bang.

“Do you think it’s acceptable for an employee to take that kind of attitude with a customer?”

“I-I’m sorry...”

A low growl echoed from nearby.

Lulu, who had been watching, bared her teeth, looking ready to pounce. I quickly grabbed her to hold her back.

I expected Albert to lash out further, but instead, he clicked his tongue again and stormed out of the café.

As he left, my body relaxed with relief.

“Are you okay, Kuna-nee?”

When I realized why he’d fled so quickly, Solaris, who had been working with me, appeared with Dan in tow.

Both of them rushed over, looking worried.

“Y-Yeah, thank you.”

“Are you alright, Kuna?”

“Yes. Sorry, I must have said something that upset him.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for not noticing there was a troublesome customer.”

I shook my head weakly.

For some reason, I felt completely drained.

My fingertips were trembling slightly.

“Piyo...?”

The little chicks that had been joining Lulu in glaring at Albert looked at me with concern.

When I patted their heads, their worried black eyes glistened, as if relieved.

“You’re done for today. You must be exhausted,” Dan said.

“Huh? I’m fine,” I replied.

“But—”

“I-I’ll be back to normal after a little break!”

I stubbornly convinced Dan, and despite everything, I finished my shift that day.

However, perhaps because my heart was weighed down with unease, I ended up making several mistakes.

◆

One day.

I had taken out the café’s trash and was on my way back from the garbage area.

Walking through the guild hallway to return to the café, I ran into someone I recognized.

I froze on the spot.

It was Albert...

“Ah, my apologies for the other day,” he said.

“...”

Unable to respond, I just stood there stiffly as Albert approached me.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, he touched my tail.

My entire body shuddered with discomfort.

“Pl-please stop...!”

To humans, a tail might seem no different from a dog’s—a means of expressing emotions.

But for beastkin, it wasn’t the same.

Touching someone’s tail was akin to groping their backside.

Why on earth had this man suddenly touched my tail?

“Stop it...”

Feeling a surge of disgust, I instinctively pushed Albert away.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to do something like that, because he stumbled backward more than I anticipated, falling onto the ground with a thud.

“A... I-I’m s-sorry...”

I hurriedly apologized, but it was too late.

Albert suddenly yelled, his voice echoing down the empty hallway.

“What the hell are you doing?! Do you even know who I am?!”

Overcome with rage, Albert stood up and grabbed my arm.

“I’ve been letting it slide, acting nice to you, but you’ve got some nerve for a beastkin!”

“Ah...”

It hurt.

He twisted my arm as he held onto it.

“I’m the son of the lord from the neighboring town. I’ve donated a significant amount of money to this guild. And yet, this is how you treat me? A mere beastkin woman?”

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“I... I-I’m s-sorry...”

“Sorry won’t cut it. I’ve had enough. Customers are supposed to be gods, aren’t they? I could stop funding this place whenever I want. You’re the one at fault for offending me.”

A chilling sensation ran through my body.

The faint composure I had left was completely shattered, replaced by a suffocating weight in my chest.

What do I do?

I’ve caused trouble.

And now it might bring harm to the guild.

Seeing my pale, frightened face, Albert smirked and said,

“That café, too—I could ruin it if I wanted. All it takes is a single complaint from me.”

“N-no...”

“It’s your fault it’ll be ruined.”

── It’s your fault it’ll be ruined.

Those words echoed in my mind over and over again.

“W-What should I... do?”

“What should you do? That’s obvious.”

As I trembled uncontrollably, Albert let out a derisive snort, about to say something.

But before he could, a calm, steady voice rang out in the hallway.

“What is going on here?”

Two crossed staves forming a sigil.

When I looked up, standing there was Gier.

“What’s wrong, Kuna?”

“Ah...”

I couldn’t speak. No words would come out.

My chest felt tight, constricted.

Noticing that something was clearly wrong, Gier frowned and turned his gaze to Albert.

“What did you do to Kuna?”

“Tch... Why the hell is a Staff Knight here...”

Albert clicked his tongue again and quickly turned to leave.

Gier started to go after him, but he must have noticed something was off about me.

── I couldn’t breathe properly.

I collapsed to the floor right there.

“Hah... hah...”

What’s happening? What should I do?

I can’t breathe.

I’m going to die!!

“Hyperventilating?”

Gier remained calm, even as I was clearly in a panic.

Kneeling beside me, he placed a hand gently on my back.

“Hah... ugh... I-I...”

“Don’t talk. You’ll be fine. You won’t die from hyperventilation.”

“…!”

The pain, the fear—it all overwhelmed me, and tears began to fall.

“Try breathing slowly. Slower, even slower.”

Trembling uncontrollably, I followed his instructions.

“That’s it. You’re doing great. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of everything.”

Though I was still in a state of panic, listening to Gier’s calm voice and steady guidance gradually made it easier to breathe.

It’s okay. I can breathe again now.

“Lulu, can you go call someone? Yes, Simon would be a good choice.”

Lulu should have been at the café, so why was Gier talking to her?

But I felt so utterly drained, I was unable to think clearly or even stand up.