“Are we ready?” Aster asked, scanning the dungeon chamber.

A week had passed while they crafted and tested and prepared. Tables and chairs sat evenly spaced around the room, each one blanketed with a leaf trimmed down to the shape of a tablecloth. Teapots and teacups awaited their first patrons. Vines and flowers hung from the stone walls, carefully arranged by Milo according to the latest fashion. A stone host stand grew from the ground by the door, and a nook in the back hid the path deeper into the dungeon, where the ovens and boilers awaited, each one crafted from stone and populated by a fire slime. A few trays of steaming hot cookies sat by the edge, test cookies made to test both the ovens and the cooks. The fire slimes munched happily on the rejects, bopping in place to their own beat.

“Who made the cookies? Milo? Or Aster? I won’t eat Aster’s cookies!” Stella declared.

“I made them. We’re ready, but does anyone know about the cafe?” Milo pointed out.

Aster stomped up to the dungeon’s mouth and pointed out at the town far below. In a deep voice, he intoned, “The time has come for those sheep to learn of our presence!”

Stella giggled. She jumped and punched the air. “Yeah!”

Milo rolled his eyes. “Really?”

“Hey, I can watch, right? I really want to watch,” Daiyo called from the back of the dungeon, hidden behind the nook.

“You can watch, but don’t be weird about it,” Aster said. He stretched, leaning left and right, then bending low to flex his hips and legs. “Right. Shall we go?”

“Er, should… should I stay?” Milo asked, raising his hand.

Aster turned. “I already said you can go, if you want.”

Milo shook his head. “If I run into Fontea and Jaro, I’ll have to explain… that is, we’ll have to explain. Isn’t it possible that it could—”

“That’s your problem, not mine,” Aster replied flippantly.

Milo scowled. “Isn’t it yours, too? What if they spread rumors about the dungeon killing people before the café?”

Aster tilted his head, confused. “It’s a dungeon. It kills people all the time.”

I… that’s… dammit, that’s true! Milo grabbed at his robes, frustrated. He took a deep breath, then let go. “I’ll stay here.”

“Alright,” Aster sad, shrugging. No skin off my back. Has he become attached to the dungeon? Doesn’t want to leave it? Somehow, I suddenly feel like a parent trying to kick their kid out after they’ve grown.

Milo drew a fruit out of his robes’ pockets and munched on it. “Bring back some cheese or meat. The dungeon food gets bland after a while.”

If you think so, then head into town yourself! Aster shook his head, chuckling under his breath.

He turned to Stella. “Do you want to come into town?”

Stella glanced out of the dungeon, then shook her head. “Town is full of humans.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“That’s true, but they won’t think to attack you. You’ll be safe there. They’ll only see you as a child, not a monster,” Aster told her.

Stella hesitated, then shook her head. “No.”

Aster snorted. “Then stay near Daiyo, and don’t follow Milo anywhere.”

“Oh, hey,” Milo grumbled.

Stella nodded. She reached up and grabbed Aster’s hand, holding on tight for a moment, then turned and fled into the dungeon. She vanished behind the nook, hidden out of sight. A second later, she peeked back around the edge, her white hair glimmering in the low twilight.

Aster waved. Turning, he took off at a jog, the route now familiar to him. After that first night, no one’s come by. It seems most people respect the dungeon closure. It’s only the Aces who thought they were above the law, so to speak.

I hope I don’t run into Fontea and Jaro again. They’re a troublesome duo. Fontea hates me, and I’m sure she’s doing everything she can to get me kicked out or in trouble with the town’s elder. Still, once I bring the news of progress with the dungeon down to the town, I’ll probably get back in the elder’s graces.

The first few buildings rose up around him. Aster looked around, grinning and nodding at a few passing townsfolk. I should’ve forced Milo to come with me. I don’t know where to start!

He looked down at the advertisements in his hand, then shrugged. Guess I can start handing these out, posting them up…

“Oh! There’s our young Dungeon Keeper. How goes it?”

Aster turned. The village elder stood behind him, clutching a cane in one hand. He walked over, giving Aster a welcoming smile.

Aster handed him an invitation. “The dungeon improves day by day. Part of what it needed was a bit of rest. But the other half…”

“A teahouse, in the dungeon?” the elder asked, peering at the sheet, then looking up at Aster.

Aster leaned in confidentially. “A dungeon needs humans to thrive, much like how humans need dungeons to thrive. Holding this kind of event can help heal the dungeon faster than simply waiting, and… well, I figured some of the townsfolk who work to support the dungeon but never entered it would be interested to take a look.”

“Indeed, indeed! I haven’t seen the dungeon from inside in a great long time. You know, back in my prime, I used to be a bit of a delver myself,” the elder chuckled, shaking his head. He nodded at the invitation. “Do you have a few more? I can share them around the town council’s meeting tonight.”

Town council meeting? That could be troublesome… after all, Fontea and Jaro indicated that they don’t like outsiders around here. Me fixing the dungeon is one thing, but intervening in the town and trying to host an event… it’s very possible someone in the town council could object to that. Aster flashed a smile, pushing away his fears. He peeled off a few copies of the advertisement. “That’s a great idea. Here!”

Too late to worry about it now. Since the elder already knows it’s going to happen, he’ll bring it up regardless. Might as well lean into it. In the worst case, we’ll simply have to advertise further out from the nearby town.

Walking down the main road, Aster handed out the advertisements left and right, pausing to tack them up on the town’s notice boards as he passed. At the small adventurer’s guild, he glanced left and right, then scooted casually inside, tacked up the advertisement, and scooted casually back out. The desk clerk barely looked up, head propped on his head and eyes half-shut.

Phew. At least small-town adventurers’ guilds aren’t staffed by overachievers. Some of the bigger-towns’ guilds would get all hot and bothered when I popped in. It’s not like I’m a serious threat to anyone. Well, except maybe the guild’s stiff, outdated hierarchy…

Backing away from the adventurers’ guild, Aster glanced left and right. Where else should I put these up? Where would people who like a teahouse go? Probably other teahouses, but the village doesn’t have any. Um… think. A social location, to have a light meal…

Aster’s gaze landed on the tavern. He sighed. That doesn’t feel right. I mean, a tavern? Full of hearty men and women quaffing ale and cheering to victories? Would they want to visit a tearoom?

But then, I guess it is the closest equivalency. It’s a social place where one might stop for a drink or small meal, after all. I might as well try.

Aster paused. He put a hand on his chin. “Fontea and Jaro are probably in there, too.”

For a long moment, he stood outside the tavern, considering. At last, he waved a hand. “Oh well. They’ll have to find out eventually. And if they come to the teahouse, won’t it be Milo’s responsibility to tell them?”

The more I consider it, the better it sounds! Aster threw open the doors and walked inside.