Chapter 244: The Little Glutton Dragon Has Arrived!
"Mm, okay, it's fine..."
"Eh? Alright, I'll ask him for her, hold on..."
As if she had heard something unexpected, a look of surprise appeared on Lucoa's face. She pulled the phone slightly away from her ear and said to Ryohei Tanaka, "Tohru doesn't want to come, says she's not interested. But Kanna wants to."
"Hm?"
Ryohei Tanaka was also very surprised. The Little Glutton Dragon wants to come?
She's just coming for the desserts and the staff meals, isn't she?
Kanna was easy to read, possessing a very strong curiosity and appetite.
Oh well, no beautiful, eye-catching dragon maid, but a cute, dazed loli will do. We'll just have her, Koji, and Binchotan take turns on a small stool, handling the register and bagging.
Ryohei Tanaka nodded to Lucoa. "Tell Kanna to come to the shop after she finishes her meal."
It was already mealtime. He didn't know if Kanna had eaten, but in any case, he hadn't prepared anything for her. They'd skip today and she could join them next time.
"Okay." Lucoa replied, putting the phone back to her ear to relay the message to Tohru.
"Kanna is that little girl with the light purple hair, right?" Yurine Hanazono asked, trying to recall, using her hand to gesture Kanna's height.
"Mm," Ryohei Tanaka nodded lightly.
Yurine joked, "There are more and more kids in the shop. Be careful you don't get reported for child labor."
"That won't happen." Ryohei Tanaka waved his hand dismissively. "It's just a friend's kid helping out. That doesn't count as child labor."
"And if it really becomes a problem, I'll just go find Itsuki Marude and have him smooth it over."
Ryohei Tanaka had no real connection with Itsuki Marude, but the man had to give him face. It would just be a matter of a single phone call.
Just then, Lucoa finished her call and put down her phone. Pushing off the windowsill, she walked over to the dining table. She hooked the back of a chair with one hand, and with a flick of her wrist, deftly spun it around.
Lucoa sat down, straddling the chair, her long, full legs clad in gray yoga pants spread apart. She rested her arms naturally on the H-shaped backrest, leaning forward, her ample chest pressing against the open slats, creating a heart-pounding curve.
"Tohru said they've already eaten and are heading over now."
"Also, Kanna can only work for the summer break. She has to go to school when it's over."
"Mm, no problem."
Ryohei Tanaka retracted his gaze, turning off his auto-aim, and pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'll let Yusa know. If they get there first, she can get Kanna set up."
"Mm."
...
By the time Ryohei Tanaka arrived at the dessert shop, Kanna was already dressed in an extra-small white-fringed apron and a head wrap, standing on a small stool behind the register, busy at work.
She had an expression of pure gluttony, looking like she was about to drool. Her small, chubby hands held the scanner, beeping each of the customer's desserts and putting them in a bag.
The customer in front of her, however, looked hesitant. She probably saw Kanna's expression and wanted to "feed" her, but Ryohei's desserts were not only expensive but also limited and hard to get, requiring a long wait. She couldn't bring herself to part with one, and so she stood there, wavering.
"..." Ryohei Tanaka was speechless. You're a terrible cashier! Look at how troubled you've made the customer!
"Good afternoon~ Lucoa, and Ryohei-kun."
Tohru, who had dropped Kanna off and hadn't left yet, noticed Ryohei's group arrive and waved with a smile.
"Tohru-san." Ryohei Tanaka replied politely. He paused, then offered, "Would you like to come to the breakroom for an after-meal dessert? My treat."
"...Even if you treat me, I'm not going to work for you, you know."
Tohru gave him a suspicious look, suspecting he was trying to bribe her with food. But she wasn't a little glutton like Kanna. She placed a hand on her hip and held up one slender finger to make her point.
"That's not what I meant." Ryohei Tanaka couldn't help but laugh. He waved his hand, explaining, "You're Lucoa's friend, and you came to my new shop, so I just wanted to treat you to a dessert. It's as simple as that."
"..." Lucoa puffed out her chest, extremely pleased. Ryohei's words were really giving her face. She felt like jumping on him and showing some affection. But, considering Yurine was right there, Lucoa restrained herself to avoid making someone jealous.
"Kanna, you come too." Ryohei Tanaka turned and waved to the Little Glutton Dragon, who was still drooling at the register.
"Yay—!"
The Little Glutton Dragon looked at Ryohei, decisively dropped the scanner, and raised both hands, cheering in her cute, monotone, "dazed" voice. She hopped off the stool, and with her purple, spherical tail swaying, she trotted over.
Ryohei smiled and instinctively patted Kanna's head. "After you have dessert, you have to work hard, okay? Not like you were just now."
"Okay~." Kanna tilted her little face up, squinting her eyes, and agreed in the most adorable way.
Ryohei Tanaka turned and drafted JII.
"JII-chan, sorry to trouble you, but could you take over for Kanna for a bit?"
"Later, you, Koji, and the others can have an afternoon tea break together."
"Okay, no problem!"
JII placed a hand on her slender shoulder and turned sideways, flexing a muscle to show she could be counted on. She then marched to the register, full of motivation.
She's starting to look a lot like Minos.
Is it true that you become like those you associate with?
Ryohei Tanaka blinked but didn't dwell on it. He said to the group, "Everyone, grab whatever you'd like to eat." He was a very generous person.
After the group had browsed the first floor and picked their desserts, he took them up to browse the second floor.
Only then did they head to the breakroom.
"..." Tohru looked at the desserts she had chosen. The one she was most interested in was, naturally, the one with the most "special effects": the "Blue Starry Sky."
Based on the principle of saving the best for last, Tohru picked up a blueberry cream lava cake, brought it to her lips, and took a gentle bite...
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter