Author: Sasaki Ichiro	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Tanaka	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

The sharp screech of emergency brakes rang out, followed by the heavy crash of something hitting the ground nearby. A moment later, a tremor rippled beneath my feet, shaking the pavement in steady waves.

“There’s been an accident!”
“It’s a truck!”
“Steel beams fell off! It’s all over the sidewalk!”
“That was close! We were nearly hit!”
“Is anyone hurt?!”

It looked like a truck had overturned or lost control, scattering its cargo—steel beams—across the street and sidewalk.

A crowd quickly gathered, surging in the direction I had been heading. Some pulled out their phones to take photos or call someone, while others simply hovered nearby to gawk at the scene.

I had no interest in the chaos. Letting out a sigh, I turned around and retraced my steps, taking a longer, alternate route despite the detour.

Snow had been falling since morning, and trudging through it wasn’t easy. I checked my watch and picked up my pace, hurrying toward the meeting place.

◆◇◆◇

The last time I had visited the café with the signboard reading “La Rosel” was a year ago, during an offline meetup with our group from “E.H.O.” My memories of it were hazy, but thanks to the map notes and the café’s sign, I managed to arrive within the scheduled time.

A soft bell rang as I opened the wooden door, and the rich aroma of coffee immediately filled my senses. I stepped inside and closed the door quickly to keep the cold out, placing my folded vinyl umbrella neatly in the stand. A quiet sigh of relief escaped my lips.

Compared to the biting cold outside, the café was warm and inviting. The ambient lighting and gentle heat created a cozy atmosphere, and the wood-paneled interior added to the homely charm, wrapping the space in a sense of calm and comfort.

I had only been here once, and that was at night for a group meeting on the second floor. Back then, I hadn’t realized the first floor actually operated as a functional café. Though somewhat modest, it had charm. Behind the worn wooden counter stood several drip coffee machines, their slow, rhythmic dripping echoing like the quiet ticking of time itself.

“Welcome. Table for one?” The greeting came from an older gentleman, wiping down cups with his back to the machines.

He was a slender man dressed in a white shirt, bow tie, and black vest, the kind of classic look that had become rare, yet unmistakably declared him the café’s master. The way he carried himself wasn’t something one could imitate overnight. It was the polish of years spent mastering a craft, someone who had made this lifestyle his own.

“Um… I’m here to meet someone.” I glanced around the café, scanning for a familiar face.

The café was small, just enough to seat around twenty people including the counter. From the entrance, the entire space was visible, yet I didn’t spot the large-built man I was here to meet.

Maybe he hadn’t arrived yet? I was about to find a seat and message him when a voice called from the back, a spot partly hidden behind a tall ornamental plant.

“Ah! Miss Hiyuki, over here!”

Hearing my name so loudly startled me. I quickly hurried over to the table, keeping my head low out of reflex.

“Stop it, Dev—I mean, Mr. Kitamura. Don’t say my name so loudly, it’s embarrassing—” I started to object but stopped mid-sentence as my eyes fully registered him. My voice faltered, and I froze in place, stunned by how drastically he had changed.

He, Hideki Kitamura—also known as «Devta»—had once been the guild master and founder of «E.H.O»’s largest guild, the «Metabolic Knight Order». I had first met him a little over a year ago, and back then, much like a certain famous blue raccoon, he had weighed well over 100 kilograms.

Now, just a year later, his transformation was nothing short of shocking. Whatever diet or lifestyle change he had followed, the broad figure he once had was completely gone. He looked like he had shed at least half his previous weight.

Where once he had given off the impression of being plump—well-fed, to put it politely—he was now the picture of leanness. In fact, he had probably outdone most slim men I had met.

“What happened to your body?! Where did all that… flesh go?! And why aren’t you wearing your usual costume?!”

It felt like watching a Mugly shed its fur, only to realize it wasn’t a Mugly anymore. I knew the comparison was ridiculous, but the shock overwhelmed me as I stepped closer and confronted him.

“Ah, well, my current job is pretty demanding. After working non-stop, I just ended up like this,” he explained with a familiar smile, scratching the back of his head.

“But never mind me. You’re looking adorable—no, even more adorable than before, Miss Hiyuki.”

Oh, shut up already.

◆◇◆◇

“Not this again…”

In the dim haze of the Void Mist, I stood at the edge of a seemingly endless glowing path and let out a deep sigh.

I didn’t need a mirror to know my face must have been contorted into something awful. Probably hideous enough to kill off the undying affection of Christoff or Maroudo—though Kuin was an exception, since his fondness clearly stemmed from… elsewhere.

Scowling, I began trudging down the corridor, each step heavy as lead as I pressed deeper into this miserable world.

I wondered bitterly what kind of farce would play out next. I kept walking, annoyed and resigned, until about thirty minutes in when something finally changed.

“Another door?”

This time, the road split into two separate paths. At the end of each stood a wooden door—one red, the other black.

“Well, this is dramatic. Is this one of those fairy tale tests? One door to heaven, the other to hell? Definitely feels like something out of a psych textbook.” I paused at the fork, weighing my options.

Usually, in situations like this, there’s a hidden third route or some clever workaround. But no matter where I looked, there was nothing. No clues, no signs—just the two doors.

Since logic wasn’t helping, I tried brute force and fired off a spell, but it vanished the moment it hit the air, like an illusion. So it really did want me to make a decision, huh.

“Fine, whatever. Red it is, I guess… since it’s closer.” I muttered the words out loud, then abruptly feinted and threw open the black door instead.

◆◇◆◇

After removing my coat and scarf, I sat down at a table facing the opposite seat. Shortly after, a waitress appeared, dressed in a traditional navy dress with a crisp white apron. Sticking with something simple, I ordered a blend coffee.

While wiping my hands with the warm towel, I glanced at Devta’s now sharply defined face. His cheekbones stood out more than ever.

“So, you said it’s because of work. Are things going well for you?” I actually wanted to ask if he’d gotten stuck in one of those exploitative black companies, but I held my tongue.

Mr. Devta gave a wry smile, clearly catching the concern in my tone, and reassured me. “Ah, well… it’s a reasonably legitimate startup. The company’s called «Technos Crown».”

“«Technos Crown»? Wait, you mean the company behind E.H.O?!” I was genuinely surprised by the revelation.

“Yeah. I had already been in touch with them about the game, and last year I joined as a part-timer. Then about three months ago, I got promoted to full-time.” He scratched his cheek with a sheepish smile that was equal parts shy and pleased.

‘Ah, so that explains it,’ I thought, finally understanding the reason behind his earlier decision. “So that’s why you gave up your position as guild leader.”

“More or less. I figured it wouldn’t be right for someone on the company side to stay in the spotlight.”
“That really clears everything up.”

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