Chapter 3 - Customers?

Chapter 3 – Customers?

It's been a week since Medea became a worker at Tempest café.

She has settled in for the most part. Rimuru and Ciel didn't want to reveal their powers to her, so they went furniture shopping with Medea for her room.

Although, it was easier than they thought since Medea could just use magic to transport everything back. It saved the hassle of getting everything to floor 24.

Her room ended up having quite a dark vibe to it. The colour theme was black, or just an extremely muted colour. Everything was either white, grey or black. The only glimpse of some colour are the yellow beams of sunlight every day.

Despite the fact that she was still in shock over how much and how rich her master's mana was, she was able to adapt quickly.

The café's business wasn't too good though. For the first couple days, there was barely anyone, so everyone just spent the time sitting around the table and talked to each other about whatever they wanted. It was mostly Rimuru asking Medea questions regarding the holy grail way.

"Do you know any servants?"

"Umm..."

"Any servants near us?"

"Em..."

"How powerful are they?"

"Er..."

"Do you think you can beat them?"

"..."

"To what extent do you think you are able to triumph over them. Include figure 1 and your own unde-"

That question was swiftly ended by a chop on the head by Ciel.

Needless to say, Medea was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed the atmosphere was. She feels like she's got a grasp on the type of people here.

Ciel was the strict but loving type. She cared for everyone and was married to Rimuru.

Rimuru was the playful and curious one. He was somehow a male and was married to Ciel.

Although, Medea didn't know how this marriage worked out since both looked practically identical. (Wasn't it awkward to kiss someone who looked exactly like yourself? Oh well, not my problem.)

On some days, Rimuru started complaining that there was no business. Medea thought that it was only given since this café opened so suddenly, and there was no advertising. Obviously, Ciel didn't keep that fact to herself: "Of course we have no business. You have to patient. Here, have some Gabriel cake."

Then there was the matter of food. Apparently, although this was a café, there was every cooking tool ever invented just stored in the kitchen. One evening, Ciel cooked an absolutely perfect steak and Medea could still remember the heavenly taste of it to this day. It was so good that she even forgot to question how and why they had a slice of A5 wagyu beef just randomly in the fridge.

There was still some customers, however. This person called Kobayashi, one day, walked in drunk. She then asked for the strongest drink available. The sight was quite comical.

*ding "HAHARUG *hiccup HEY! THiS PlaCE IS NEw RIGht? *hiccup LetS SEe Wah YoU GOt. GimmE THE StronGEsT"

The thing is, not even Medea knows what the strongest drink is. They never really discussed the menu, because there wasn't anything really to talk about. So she just looked at it. (Crimson demon's beverage – very strong flavour and has alcohol, proceed with care. This should be quite strong.)

She then gave that order to Ciel, who was the cook. Rimuru was just at the counter, smirking about Rimuru knows what, looking at them both.

Then, a powerful smell permeated through the air.

The alcohol was quite tempting, even to Medea. (This smell is sooo good. If I'm not drunk on my master's mana, then I would probably be even more tempted than this. This is actually my first time seeing this beverage. What's this weird looking face doing on the top. Looks ugly.) Needless to say, when she told that to Rimuru after, he burst out laughing.

Poor Kobayashi downed the entire glass in one go, and was knocked out straight after. "It was too good. I could get drunk on the smell itself" She said after she sobered up. So she then came quite often after that, although not all the times she was drunk.

All in all, Medea's days were quite peaceful and fulfilling.

Until...

...

One day,

*Ding "-rcher, since when was this place open?"

"Since a week ago, you just failed to notice it."

A girl with twin tails and a red jumper with a cross on it walked in with a taller, tanned man. He had white hair and was dressed really strangely. However, Medea realised who they were straight away, (a servant and a master). She looked towards her own master, only to find him slumped on the counter, snoring away. Naturally, a god-like being like Rimuru doesn't have the need to sleep, but he has enabled that feature ever since he arrived in this world. He said to Ciel that it was part of his vacation, the ability to do absolutely nothing at all.

Medea then took a look into the kitchen to find Ciel, only to see her making some strange concoction with red and purple bubbles coming out of it, with headphones on singing to some tune.

"I'm hurtin' babyyy"

She was off in her own world and Medea decided to not interrupt her.

(Forget it, I will simply do my job. There is no need to fight as long as they stay peaceful.)

So she went up to them and introduced herself.

As she approached, the male immediately looked alarmed. The girl sensed this and communicated in their heads.

("Rin, that's a servant")

("Really, so the owner of this place is a master?")

("Not sure but probably.")

("We'll just observe for now. She could be an ally but if she proves dangerous, then we'll discuss afterwards.")

("... As you wish.")

("But what are they chances that we just happen to meet a servant here. She's even a waiter at a café.")

The man just stayed silent. He appeared calm, collected and on guard on the outside, but take a look inside, and you would find a mess. He was currently panicking and in inner turmoil.

(What is MEDEA doing here. I knew something was up when a café that didn't exist just... existed. And Medea is here. Shouldn't she be with Souchiro at school. In the original timeline, she was picked up by him after killing her first master. This makes everything so inconvenient, the timeline is already messed up. Is Alaya pulling a prank on me? Am I being MTV pranked?)

"Good morning. Here's the menu. Feel free to find yourselves somewhere to sit and call me when you want to order."

Medea respectfully bowed a slight angle and warmly said to them. She handed them two menus and walked to the side.

(Where's the dignity and pride of being a heroic spirit. The original timeline's Medea would never be like this. Ugghhh my headaches just getting worse. First this world has strange beings all over it, which was strange enough but it didn't interfere with me, but now this. My intuition tells me that this is only the beginning.) Archer argued with his inner self as he plopped himself on a rather comfortable chair.

Meanwhile Rin was confused by the menu. (Who names cake after angels. Is her master some sort of religious fanatic? Sariel – for the hopeful, brave, modest and reverent. Ha-ha-ha this cake is literally speaking to me.)

She put her hand up, "excuse me, can I get a Sariel cake."

"I will get what she gets."

"Okay."

Medea smiled at them and went to the kitchen, only so somehow find two freshly baked Sariel cakes on the counter with a note saying 'do not disturb'. She then looked at Ciel, who was deathly concentrated on whatever she had in that pan.

She sighed and took the cakes back to the pair.

"That was quick."

"Well, we're not that busy at the moment. Please enjoy."

Rin looked at the cake. It was quite beautiful, with wings made out of icing and cream. She then looked at her servant, who looked at the cake with occasional nods. He then used a spoon and slowly started dissecting it like it was some sort of test subject.

"Interesting. The composition is 54.312% this and then there is the golden ratio..." He murmured to himself.

Rin ignored him and took a bite. She was delighted at the taste. Somehow, the cake felt like it resonated with her. All the textures and flavours were perfect, according to her. She then took another bite, and another, and another until there was no more. She debated about licking her plate, but eventually stopped herself.

Archer just about finished as well. He was nodding in appreciation throughout eating it.

A strange feeling crept over them after. They felt more relaxed and satisfied, but they both quickly snapped out of it and put on business looks on their faces.

They approached Medea and Archer took out a sword.

"That was a good cake. Give my compliments to the cook. But now there's something we need to talk about. Why is a servant here? And working as a waiter no less. Is there some trick? I felt a calming sensation after finishing it. Is this how you trick people? Making them lower their guard and ending them then?"

Medea was panicking. She wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"Umm no. There isn't any intention of ending them after they had their cake. It was probably just your imagination-"

"Stop lying. What are the ingredients to that cake?"

"Your gonna have to ask the chef or manager for that."

"Okay, then call them then."

"...Umm, please give me a second."

She then went behind the counter and gently tapped Rimuru.

"Hey, Rimuru, wake up" she whispered.

There was no signs of awakening however, so she gradually tapped harder.

A she tapped, a tick mark started growing on her head. How is she still snoring?

"*snore Har-errr. Hehe, hard—" Before Rimuru finished that sentence, a fist met his face. If anyone from Tempest saw this, Medea would suffer a fate worse from death, however this was actually normal. For the past days, acts like this was done to Rimuru not just by Medea. In fact, it was Ciel who told her to do this in the first place.

It seemed that the punch did the trick, as he started stirring.

He slowly opened his eyes, and met the eye of a tanned figure.

In the moment both eyes met, Archer felt something different.

Horror

Archer never felt like this before. The pure instinct of danger and running away. Not even when he fought Gilgamesh in the past. That paled in comparison to the sheer horrow that Rimuru's eyes gave off. He felt like he has been seen through, there existed no secrets between them.

However, that feeling disappeared as quickly as it came, as the next moment, the eyes became normal again, albeit the colour was gold, which was quite strange.

(What was that? The feeling's gone now, was it my imagination? No, I need to stay on guard. She's dangerous.)

When Rimuru woke up, he saw a school girl and their guardian? This intrigued him, but then Medea whispered into his ear, "master, they are a master and servant, Do you wish for me to fight them?"

It was then Rimuru's turn to look confused, before looking back at them and a smile appeared on his face.

"No it's fine."

He stood up and confronted them.

He cheerfully said, "welcome to Tempest café. How can I help?"

"Well, we would like to know who you are, why there is a servant here, and whether you are an ally or not." The school girl asked.

"Huh. Oh right. *ahem I am THE Rimuru Tempest and a male. This is my servant of the Caster class, Medea from the age of gods, and whether I'm an ally or not depends on what you want us to be." He proudly introduced himself with his head held high and his hand on his chest.

Silence soon fell, before Medea broke it.

"Master, you are not meant to tell them that."

"...Oh"