Ren stared at the glowing blue screen in complete silence.
The pale light illuminated the dusty room while rainless night winds slipped quietly through cracks in the old wooden walls.
Outside the window…
Two moons hung in the sky.
Not one.
Two.
One large and silver.
The other smaller with a faint bluish glow.
His tired mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
"…This has to be a dream."
The words came out weakly.
No answer came.
Only the floating screen remained before him.
[Would you like to initialize Moonbean Café?]
[YES / NO]
Ren rubbed his eyes several times.
The screen remained.
"…I finally worked myself insane."
He laughed nervously, though the sound lacked confidence.
A strange calmness slowly settled over him instead of panic.
Maybe because his life before this had already been exhausting enough.
Or maybe his brain simply could not handle any more shock tonight.
Ren carefully reached toward the floating screen.
His finger passed through it slightly like touching water.
Then—
He pressed YES.
A soft chime echoed through the room.
[Ding.]
[Moonbean Café initialized successfully.]
[Beginner Owner Package has been distributed.]
[Please check inventory.]
The moment the message disappeared—
THUD.
Several objects suddenly appeared on the dusty floor.
"…!"
Ren jumped backward in surprise.
A burlap sack.
Several glass jars.
Fresh cloth.
Cooking utensils.
A small bag of shiny silver coins.
And—
A familiar aroma reached his nose.
Coffee beans.
His eyes widened immediately.
Ren hurried toward the sack and untied it.
Inside were dark brown beans unlike any he had seen before.
They were slightly larger than normal coffee beans and carried a faint golden sheen beneath the moonlight.
But the smell…
"…Coffee."
Warm.
Nutty.
Slightly sweet.
His heart shook faintly.
For the first time since awakening in this strange place, something finally felt real.
Ren picked up a bean carefully.
The scent alone was enough to make his exhausted mind settle.
Then another screen appeared.
Moondew Coffee Beans]
Grade: Common
Quality: Fresh
Description:
Coffee beans native to the continent of Elaria.
Known for their smooth texture and calming aroma.
Additional Effect:
Slightly reduces mental fatigue.
"…Fantasy coffee beans?"
Ren muttered blankly.
The system did not answer.
The room fell silent again.
Only now did Ren finally begin observing his surroundings properly.
The building was old.
Very old.
Dust covered nearly everything.
Several wooden chairs were broken.
The counter had scratches everywhere.
Spider webs hung in the corners.
Yet despite its condition…
It undeniably resembled a café.
Or perhaps a small tavern.
The layout felt strangely comforting.
Near the back wall sat shelves clearly meant for cups and ingredients.
There was even an old stone fireplace beside a seating area.
Ren slowly walked behind the counter.
His fingers brushed across the worn wood surface.
"…Someone really had a café here."
A strange feeling stirred inside him.
Sadness.
Loneliness.
Nostalgia.
As if this place had been abandoned for a very long time.
Then—
Ding.]
[Main Quest Issued.]
[Quest: A New Beginning]
Objective:
Clean Moonbean Café.
Rewards:
Beginner Brewing Set
5 Copper Coins
Basic Bread x5
Failure Penalty:
None.
"…There are quests too?"
Ren sighed quietly.
At least the system seemed straightforward.
Still…
He looked around the dusty café again.
Cleaning all this alone would take hours.
"…Well."
He rolled up his sleeves slowly.
"No point standing around."
If there was one thing Ren was confident in—
It was working.
Several hours passed quietly.
The moons drifted higher into the night sky.
Dust clouds filled the café repeatedly as Ren swept the floors, wiped tables, cleaned shelves, and carried broken furniture outside.
Sweat soaked his shirt.
His arms ached.
But strangely enough…
He felt more alive than he had in years.
No rushing customers.
No manager yelling at him.
No crowded trains.
Only silence.
Work.
And the faint smell of coffee lingering in the air.
By the time he finished cleaning the main room, he collapsed into one of the chairs.
"…I'm exhausted."
Yet unlike before—
This exhaustion felt satisfying.
Ren looked around slowly.
The café still looked old, but now it actually resembled a usable space.
Moonlight illuminated the cleaned wooden floorboards beautifully.
The room felt warm.
Comfortable.
Like a hidden little resting place.
[Ding.]
[Quest Complete.]
[Rewards distributed.]
Several new items appeared on the counter in flashes of light.
A polished hand grinder.
A clean kettle.
A brewing dripper.
White ceramic cups.
Fresh bread wrapped in cloth.
And five small copper coins.
Ren stared at the equipment in shock.
"…This system is ridiculously convenient."
Then—
Growl.
His stomach answered immediately.
"…Right."
He had not eaten since earlier that evening back on Earth.
Ren grabbed one of the bread rolls carefully.
Warm.
Soft.
Steam escaped when he tore it apart.
His eyes widened after the first bite.
"…Delicious."
Simple bread.
Yet unbelievably fresh.
After finishing two rolls, Ren leaned back in his chair with a long sigh.
For the first time in years…
He ate without rushing.
No phones.
No notifications.
No pressure.
Only quietness.
His gaze slowly drifted toward the coffee beans again.
And naturally—
An idea formed in his mind.
"…Let's brew some."
Even in another world…
Coffee came first.
Ren stood up and approached the counter.
The familiar process immediately calmed him.
Measure the beans.
Grind carefully.
Heat the water.
The rich aroma spreading through the café felt almost magical.
And perhaps it truly was.
Because as the scent filled the room—
The atmosphere itself seemed to soften slightly.
Even the cold air felt warmer.
Ren poured the hot water slowly.
The blooming coffee grounds released an aroma so comforting that he nearly closed his eyes on instinct.
Nutty.
Sweet.
Smooth.
Unlike anything from Earth.
"…Amazing…"
He whispered unconsciously.
A few minutes later, Ren held the completed cup carefully in both hands.
Steam rose gently into the quiet café.
Outside the windows, the twin moons illuminated the empty street beyond.
For a moment—
Everything felt unreal.
Another world.
A mysterious system.
An abandoned café.
Fantasy coffee beans.
Yet the warmth in his hands was real.
The scent was real.
Ren took a slow sip.
His eyes widened immediately.
The flavor was rich yet smooth, with faint hints of honey and roasted almonds lingering afterward.
And strangely enough—
The exhaustion clouding his mind faded slightly.
"…So the effect was real."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Not forced.
Not tired.
A genuine smile.
Perhaps for the first time in years.
Ren sat quietly beside the window, drinking coffee while watching the unfamiliar night sky.
Then suddenly—
A faint light appeared outside the café.
He blinked.
"…Hm?"
Someone carrying a lantern was walking slowly down the empty street.
.
.
.