Prologue

Soft, soothing lighting that gently eased human eyes filled the now-familiar space.

Was it because it was still daytime?

The shop, devoid of any customers and filled with silence, evoked a strange mix of eerie unease and comfort within its quietude.

How peaceful.

This shouldn’t be happening…

Faced with a situation so different from what I’d imagined, I scratched my head once.

“What are you doing there?”

“Ah, Owner-nim.”

The silence permeating the shop shattered as the Owner arrived.

Why had she come when the shop wasn’t even open yet?

“What brings you here? There’s still some time before we open.”

“…Huh? Why did I come here? I just felt like I needed to be here…”

“…”

“Huh? Wait, did I… hire a part-timer…?”

Oh no.

It seemed not using my ability recently had made the Owner notice something was off.

Though I felt somewhat reluctant about using abilities that manipulated others’ minds…

This ultimately benefited the Owner too.

Rationalizing to myself, I spoke to the Owner in a gentle voice.

“Yes, Owner-nim recently hired a bartender…”

“I… hired a bartender…?”

“That’s right. You kindly allowed someone wandering back alleys without a home to stay here in exchange for room and board…”

“Room… and board…”

I whispered into the ear of the Owner, who was now blankly staring into space.

The soft lighting illuminating the bar seemed to sway dizzyingly.

“Owner-nim? Can you hear me?”

“…”

“Phew… It worked properly.”

Though I felt slightly uneasy about forcibly securing the Owner’s cooperation through hypnosis, I had no choice.

According to the setting I knew, this very bar was where the Academy Principal occasionally visited as a regular.

Without even a resident registration card, my only way into the Academy was to wait here for the Principal who might someday come.

Clap!

To snap the Owner out of her hypnotic state, I clapped my hands loudly once.

The now awakened Owner looked thoroughly confused.

She must be struggling to process the situation with her fragmented memories.

I decided to help her make sense of things.

“Owner-nim, really. Even if this place is comfortable, you shouldn’t sleep here.”

“Huh…? I, I fell asleep?”

“Yes. You were fast asleep. Have you been tired lately?”

“Was I…? Hmm… Maybe…? Thanks for waking me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The Owner, forcing a smile at me, hastily stood up to leave.

She seemed embarrassed about having dozed off so soon after arriving.

“W-well…! I’ll leave the shop to you! I trust you. Take good care of things!”

“Don’t worry.”

Watching the Owner retreat the way she came, I sighed.

Just when would the Academy Principal come?

It feels like the Main Story should be starting soon.

I hope I’m not too late.

As I sighed with these thoughts,

The shop door opened once more.

“Owner-nim? Did you forget someth-”

“Um, excuse me. Are you not open yet?”

“No.”

I smiled as warmly as possible.

Smiling wasn’t difficult at all.

I simply had to contain the laughter bubbling up the moment I saw her face.

“We’ve just opened. Care for a drink?”

Looking at the visitor, I became certain.

This was indeed the game world I’d enjoyed.

Laughter escaped me at the realization that I could finally help those pitiful children.